Irving Kristol, a brave intellectual who defected from the left and led many others behind him, has passed. I number myself among many influenced by his writing, and have always felt I owed him a debt of gratitude. Hillel Italie of the Associated Press has a reasonably objective obituary for those not aware of the remarkable role he played in the public discourse. In my book, Kristol was a giant, a man who influenced the politics of his era through his mind.His son William Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard, his wife, the historian Gertrude Himmelfarb, and the rest of his family have my sympathy. Irving Kristol's good works linger behind him. Rest in Peace.Update: John Podhoretz has a fitting tribute to his friend and mentor here.(Read Full Post)