I am thinking that a lot of folks are talking past one another in this thread.
Few conservatives, I suspect, have paid close attention to Carlin over his long career.
Some of us remember some funny moments (some of which were really funny but some of which we just THOUGHT were funny because we were young ourselves and a little rebellious).
Others of us have caught some of his really angry, America-hating, nihilistic bile, which I think was more a product of his later years.
I wish to weigh in with those who feel that the profound nastiness and bitterness of this man completely outweighed his humor.
I urge those who are remembering him affectionately to be sure that they are aware of the full range of his material before they go too far in celebrating him, even for the laughs he gave. Anyone who thinks that his dark side was nothing more than seven dirty words and a bit of biting political humor has no idea.
I don’t think there is anyone in mainstream American culture — not Sean Penn or Natalie Maines or Michael Moore or Jane Fonda or Alec Baldwin — none of them have poured more bitter bile on America than this man. I can not feign sadness at his passing.