Bow Tied Democratic Hero and former Senator from Illinois Paul Simon died early Tuesday after surgery on his heart. Simon's relentless honesty and social/political brilliance-blending fiscal rationality with social and individual freedom -- was the model of modern liberalism, more so than any post-LBJ figure. He was a hero to many including myself and his death signals the passing of one of America's true great statesmen. My only regret is that I was never able to vote for him.