Being a politcial animal, and a life-long Democrat like Bobby, I'm
even more inspired by Bobby's courage to stand by what he believed in
even if it cost him fans, work, and brought down the ever present
wrath of the written media upon him.

Since this is such an historic election year, I've paid even more
attention to the songs Bobby wrote during his "Big Sur" years. Having
also just watched him as the week long co-host on the Mike Douglas
Show in 1970, I'm reminded once again what an extraordinary human
being Bobby was, what a tradegy that he wasn't given more time, not
just for his incomparable and endless talent in his chosen profession,
but also for the positive good he would have continued to do.

A song he wrote called The Proper Gander from the Born Walden Robert
Cassotto album has become my anthem lately. I can't stop playing it.
What a visionary he was, and what a grasp of events. The song is so
clever and so true. It is still relevant today.
The muckety muck is still at it with the scary chance of another one
taking his place. I have no reason to think that Bobby's political
philosophy would have changed as he always championed the underdog,
spoke out for those less fortunate, those discriminated against, those
disenfrachised, and he saw right through those who used fear and hate
to further their agenda. Bobby was and is a hero to me. He
accomplished so much in so little time while fighting ill health, his
own private demons, and the spector, always, of a short life.
Yet, he cared deeply for the plight of others and never gave in to the
pressures and censors around him.

With his seventy-second birthday drawing near, this year it's
especially important to mark and celebrate the birth of this
Renaissance Man. We were blessed to have him for thirty-seven years.
His spirit lives on in all of us who love and cherish him.

Karen