Ken Lay

I wouldn't be surprised if convicted former Enron Chairman Ken Lay's death were a suicide. Even if it weren't, clearly the stress had something to do with yesterday's massive coronary. Cliff Baxter, another former Enron exec, committed suicide back in 2002.

But I feel sorry for any family's loss, and I won't speak ill of the dead. So RIP.

I do hope this, however. I hope that the President comes out and expresses his condolences for his good friend. Not only was Lay the biggest Bush campaign contributor in the 2000 election, but Bush had a decades-long relationship with the guy, which he abruptly ended as soon as Lay got into legal trouble. The President shouldn't have to be asked about it. He should come out and express his sorrow that his personal friend Ken Lay has died.

UPDATE: Someone more brilliant than I remembered this passage from The Godfather, Part II:

EXT. THE ARMY POST - DAY

Hagen and Pentangeli outside, by the electric fence. They cannot be overheard. Pentangeli takes out some cigars and offers Hagen one. Hagen takes it and Pentangeli lights both their cigars. They puff on them contentedly. They are comfortable together, almost.

PENTANGELI
Tom, what do I do now?

The light is beginning to turn reddish as the sun falls.

HAGEN
Frankie, you were always interested in politics, in history. I remember you talking about Hitler back in '43. We were young then.

PENTANGELI
Yeah, I still read a lot. They bring me stuff.

HAGEN
You were around the old timers who dreamed up how the Families should be organized, how they based it on the old Roman Legions, and called them 'Regimes'... with the 'Capos' and 'Soldiers,' and it worked.

PENTANGELI
Yeah, it worked. Those were great old days. We was like the Roman Empire. The Corleone family was like the Roman Empire.

HAGEN
(sadly)
Yeah, it was once.

They both puff on their cigars. Pentangeli lets himself be carried away by thoughts of old days of glory; Hagen thinks of other days too.

HAGEN
(very gently)
The Roman Empire... when a plot against the Emperor failed, the plotters were always given a chance to let their families keep their fortunes.

PENTANGELI
Yeah, but only the rich guys. The little guys got knocked off. If they got arrested and executed, all their estate went to the Emperor. If they just went home and killed themselves, up front, nothing happened.

HAGEN
Yeah, that was a good break. A nice deal.

Pentangeli looks at Hagen; he understands.

PENTANGELI
They went home and sat in a hot bath and opened their veins, and bled to death. Sometimes they gave a little party before they did it.

Hagen throws away his cigar. Pentangeli puffs on his.

HAGEN
Don't worry about anything, Frankie Five-Angels.

PENTANGELI
Thanks, Tom. Thanks.