'Queen of mean' Leona Helmsley dies

[Dan J.]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20358637/?GT1=10252

She died of heart failure.



NEW YORK - Leona Helmsley, the cutthroat hotel magnate whose title as the “queen of mean” was sealed during a tax evasion case in which she was quoted as snarling “only little people pay taxes,” died Monday at age 87.

[dixieman]

Even when old bags like this die... and everyone will eventually die... I wonder how many a celebrating who were employed by her... I guess it could become a national holiday... fortunately I did not know or even meet her but, she reminds me of some of my favorite aunts... their gone too!

[Iggy]

Leona is a clear example of women being considered witches for doing the same thing that men do when they have money and power.

I think she was out of touch with reality and pretty full of her herself as far as what power she had, but I think the witch hunt against her was far worse then anything she actually did in reality.

Here's to Leona -She knew wet lettuce when she saw it.

[Queen Tokelove]

I remember her and agrees with Iggy about it being because she was a woman and doing just like men. Now who is going to get all the cake she left? She sure as hell can't take it with her...RIP Bitch and I mean that in  a good way...

[jack]

this woman was screwed by the media. screwed.

[pozniceguy]

Leona was the personification of the American Dream   came from a modest background  worked in a cutthroat business dominated by men (  High dollar real estate) was very successful  then married well into a bigger fortune....she was used as an "example" by the IRS for doing what was common practice in the business......she took advantage of every possible deduction including a few that were questionable...not an unusual situation...but instead of "settling" the IRS decided to prosecute to let others know they were watching....   BIG Brother is always watching!!!!

Nick

[bear60]

You will not believe what people are posting on aol in the comments about this story:

"She will be deary missed and I applaud the way she routinely abused and degreaded your BLACKS, your Spanish, and other second and third class aliens!
They are the dregs of the earth and are always looking for the easy way out and cannot be trusted to do their duties with constant oversight...........bye Leona, we will try to carry on without and will certainly treat these peons with daily disdain and insult them whenever we get the chance............."

[aztecan]

I feel neither disdain for this woman nor admiration.

I do feel disdain for the society and social mores that created her, but America and the world are rife with that today, so there is no escaping it.

i do wish she could have toned down the lipstick though.

HUGS,

Mark

[AlanBama]

didn't she do time for tax evasion?



RIP Leona