On speaking ill of the recently departed

Charlie Sykes and I have had a little disagreement over whether protocol demands that we only talk about the good in people and refrain from criticism when they die, at least in the short-term. (I'm sure that's not how he would characterize the disagreement, but he has his own blog if he wants to disagree.)

At issue was a post I did after the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist, pointing out that he was not without fault when it came to his record on civil liberties, among other things.

Now, James Widgerson, on his blog, Widgerson Library and Pub, referees, admits to a few post-mortem criticisms himself, and gives me his blessing, of sorts.