This is tragic and bitter news.
Tragic because Dean was so young and full of life, and fought so hard against cystic fibrosis, and had so much left to do. Bitter because he was a friend.
I first got to know Dean through Soxblog, before he hit the big time with Hugh Hewitt and the Weekly Standard, back when he was still anonymous. Since he was a Bostonian and a Red Sox fan, it was natural to correspond and then to meet, as I have with so many other New England bloggers. Not only was Dean a wonderful writer, he was a personable, warm, and witty guy who was generous in lending a hand to lesser-known writers like me.
He will be missed. Please send your condolences and prayers to his family.
[NOTE: Hugh Hewitt's tribute to Dean is here. And here's a great article Dean wrote about some promising developments in the treatment of CF. More of Dean's writing can be found at his blog, at Hugh Hewitt's, and at the Weekly Standard.]
Previously a lifelong Democrat, born in New York and living in New England, surrounded by liberals on all sides, I've found myself slowly but surely 
October 27th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
While he had a deforming and debilitating disease, Dean did not let the disease deform his spirit. We can all take a lesson from the life he led.
October 27th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
The beauty of the blogosphere is the people you get to know, first through their voices and ideas, and sometimes in person.
Condolences. And prayers for his friends and family.
October 28th, 2008 at 12:14 am
I never had read his work or heard his voice, but still the loss of someone so well thought of is a loss to all. Prayers for his family and friends.
My wife has a friend who now lives in a Denver suburb. They went to high school and college together. My wife had, in fact, dated this friend’s brother for awhile. The woman has cystic fibrosis and she is now 49 years old, still living with it, and still doing her treatments. Utterly amazing. Even more amazing is the fact that her doctors here in New Hampshire years ago told her that moving to the Denver area would not be good for her condition.
October 28th, 2008 at 4:37 am
Farewell, Dean Barnett…
“As I grew sicker, I had what for me was an extremely comforting insight. I came to view serious and progressive illness as an ever constricting circle with oneself at the center. The interior of the circle represents the contents of one’s life. As …
October 28th, 2008 at 7:05 am
Hi Neo,
My sincerest condolences. I had yet to reach the point where I could add met him to read him and frequently corresponded with him. His charm and his humor were the marks of a man who knew that this mortal coil was something we would all someday shake off, but as long as we wore it, we should do so with grace and with style.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:44 am
My sympathies go out to his family, friends and fans. While I know he is in a better place, free from the pains and disappointments of this life, I know that is small comfort to those who loved him.
God bless and keep you.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
What a pleasure it was to get into my car after a lousy day at work and find that Dean Barnett was hosting Hewitt’s radio show. I am sorry that I will never have that pleasure again. God bless those who knew and loved him.
October 28th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Dean was a great man. I really enjoyed listening to him on Hugh’s show. Like Tony Snow, the man was all class.. all dignity.
He is a great role model for anyone following the political world and speaks about it. Surely I could learn lots of lessons from his style.
I listened to his last show..not realizing it would be his last.
I have no doubt he’s Home now and in a place that provides much happier things to comment on.