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I remember in 1984 Firing Line did a debate on the subject "Should Ronald Reagan be reelected". One of the debaters for the pro side was Jack Kemp. One of the debaters for the anti side was Jessie Jackson. Kemp was simply in another league than anyone else, WFB included. He annihilated Jackson. When Jackson spoke, Kemp aggressively took notes, then hammered away, point by point, rending Jackson's statement totally crushed into dust.

Unfortunately, that was not the Jack Kemp who showed up to debate Algore in 1996. I don't think Kemp's heart was in that run.

Yes, he would have been a great running mate for Reagan, and after that 1984 debate, I was a huge fan. I really wanted George H. W. Bush to pick Kemp as his running mate. I understand Bush not wanting to have such a strong personality on the ticket, but I think the Republican party would be much stronger today had Kemp been VP in the 1988 election. He would have been able to balance Poppy Bush's foreign policy expertise with his own domestic policy skills, and probably would have prevented Clinton's election in 1992.

I wish he had not been sick, as we really need someone who can champion free market conservatism today.

He will be missed.

I saw him do the same thing to Patricia Schroeder. He mopped up the floor with her so badly (though with good manners), that I almost felt sorry for her.

Unfortunately, that was not the Jack Kemp who showed up to debate Algore in 1996. I don't think Kemp's heart was in that run.

I couldn't agree more. I expected him to eviscerate algore, but I was shocked when he appeared to just be mailing it in - a sensation I felt again with Fred Thompson in 2008. And he would have made a great running mate for Bush the elder and an even better one for Reagan......