Remembering Paul Wellstone
By bluegal Wednesday Oct 24, 2007 7:46pmSenator Paul Wellstone died five years ago today. He is a hero to many of us here at C&L, not only because he was a constant force in progressive politics, but because his courage to stand up for truth in the face of administration lies was sadly rare in 2002. h/t Mnpublius for this video:
Wellstone Action is holding a memorial service at 7:30 tonight in St. Paul.
Majority Leader Harry Reid remembers Senator Wellstone:
“I recall that when he first arrived in the Senate, he arrived one morning in his office to find that things had been cleaned and tidied over night. He asked a member of his staff how this had happened. The staffer explained that the Senate employs custodians who clean and maintain the offices late at night. True to form, that night Paul stayed very late – well into the night – long past the time his staff had left. He stayed so he could meet the people who cleaned his office – to introduce himself, shake their hands, and thank them for the work they did. In a nutshell, that was Paul."
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yeah, he was good. that's why he died.
matter of fact, can anybody name any important GOPers who died at crucial times in strange ways? on the dem side we have
JFK
RFK
MLK
Wellstone
Carnahan
JFK Jr.
JFK Jr really burns me up. he was about to launch a career in politics until one night, perfectly clear, perfect weather, for no reason, he flew his plane straight into the ocean. dude would have been president, twice, no problem.
seriously @ 2:
Nope. Can't think of any.
aaaaahhh, such rational and compasionate thought. its almost as if he could see the future. very akward hearing the profound reasoning before the tragedy. so sad where we are now.
And Strom Thurmond lived for over a hundred years... evil holds on to life with it's claws.
seriously @ 1:
Exactly. Senator Paul Wellstone is one of my heroes. Rest in Peace Sir.
I lived in St. Paul when he was senetor. I ran into him at Block Buster on Grand Ave.. No security, no entourage just him and his slight but powerful presence. He noticed me pointing him out to my chlldren and approached us. He introduced himself to my kids and had the most sincere "pleased to meet you" I have ever heard in my life.
If he were here to see the mess were in he would be the LEADER of the anti-war and impeachment movements. No doubt about it.
What a great man. We miss him.
[please, let's keep the conspiracy theories down to a minimum - site monitor]
Man, I might have to switch sides, if not for the very sake of living longer *snarf snarf*
Thank God for Al Franken, who is preparing to take back Wellstone's seat. There's an awesome article in the most recent Nation about him, how he was a good friend of Wellstone, and how he's fighting to take it back from Coleman. A good read, if I may suggest.
If you have a little extra cash, send it Al's way. Help him kick Coleman's butt.
Paul Wellstone RIP-
only the good die young, ( because sometimes the evil kill them)
L.A. Confidential @ 8:
Wellstone's death came just 11 days before his potential re-election in a crucial race to maintain Democratic control of the Senate.
No just had to be a coincidence.
When Carter V. P. Walter Mondale replaced him as a candidate it was hardly mentioned in the press, but he announced he would NOT be doing any campaign stops using air transport. You KNOW why.
I cry every time I see video of Wellstone, not only because I miss him
but I miss that kind of spirit and drive that propelled Wellstone into
politics in the first place...he truly cared about 'us'.
I remember the big stink the Right Wingers made over people actually having the nerve to smile or laugh during Pauls Service.
Life is Grim!
Conspiracy theories were short lived but very active in the liberal circles in Minnesota the weeks and months after the crash. One thing I remember well is the total destruction at the crash scene made it difficult to determine the cause. Paul was a thorn in Bushes side and was the only Senator screaming out in opposition to the invasion of Iraq. I have been looking for clips on this but there are hard to find. Any help out there?
Too many loose ends surrounding the death of a servant who just would get with the program. RIP.
FOUND
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF2CLRZLK2E
Wow. It seems like a lot longer than 5 years to me. It has been a loooooong 5 years. Wow.
Unfortunately, what I remember most about his death is how shitty the right wing were about his service.
Michael in Chicago @ 15:
No sorry. They were probably listening to Paul. You know, warrant less wiretapping and stuff.
L.A. Confidential @ 14:
That's because they cared so...
/sarcasm
So how did Minnesota voters honor this great man's memory - they elected a GOP slug named Norm Coleman. People of Minnesota, don't make the same mistake twice - vote for Al Franken. Rest in Peace, Mr. Wellstone, you are sorely missed by decent people everywhere.
Paul @ 16:
Too many loose ends surrounding the death of a servant who just would (not) get with the program.
Just corrected your post.
Anyone else thinking that Wellstone would have had some choice words for Reid?
E Ryno @ 22:
seriously @ 2:
The facts about Wellstone's "accident" are also highly troubling. No doubt about it - he had them worried.
He's sorely missed.
Trittydi @ 26:
Yes I remember Bush smiling and saying "who'd a ever thunk I'd get the trifecta" at some speech.
Pete @ 5:
Rather - evil has no conscience about the road it pursues and the roadblocks it deems necessary to remove.
*
Maybe a Blackwater Special Ops job?
Trittydi @ 28:
What evil does is tempt you, use you, then dump you. Evil is truly the ultimate in cowardice.
Sean Upinatem @ 9:
Yes, do this. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the unusually intelligent and decent way you'll be treated by the Franken team. It'll let you know that Paul's ghost lives.
The Secret Service works for Israel!!!! What are you blind? Why do you think Reagan was actually shot with a bullet. They have people for that!!! Stupid!!!!
Whatever happened to unapologetic politicians?
Oh yeah, only Republicans get to be unapologetic these days.
Liberals or progressives or whatever you want to call them must wring their hands and be apologetic at all times.
seriously @ 2:
seriously @ 2:
Flying a plane into the ocean on a clear, perfect-weathered day, sounds like the oaf we have as the current 'president'.
Why do we have gotdamned 'Sellout' Reid giving a Wellstone quote?
He's the last corrupt lil' bastard I want to here anything from now; much less,
a statement about a true progressive like Senator Wellstone.
Someone help me here. If memory serves, his aircraft crashed in a very remote area yet "officials" were on site within a short time and the FBI kept the NTSB away for over 8 hours.
Trittydi @ 26:
I remember reading that Cheney threatened him if he didn't go along with the derangement of the middle east.
seriously @ 2:
Ken Lay.
dennis @ 40:
The question was directed to name only human beings .....
dennis @ 40:
He wasn't important in the political/populist sense. He was ready to sing and he knew too much.
He was a great guy and didn't back down on issues he was concerned about. He was one of the ones who actually did have a spine.
Free Speech TV had a really good special on his campaign against Coleman (who Bush supported) and the tragedy, "The Green Bus Tour." You all have to see it. Hopefully FSTV will air it again or the DVD is available somewhere.
It's really a shame he's gone. It's actually a crying shame he's gone.
Harry "Spaghetti Spine" Reid probably shouldn't have put out a statement. Now people may draw comparisons between Reid and Wellstone (and they should), and Fightin' Harry won't look so good. That being said, this is a totally depressing anniversary to observe.
Pete @ 5:
Too true. Exhibit B: Dick Cheney.
The story about Wellstone's staying late is quite a testimony to his truly being a man of the people. If it weren't for his death, I doubt Bush, who can't relate to poor people AT ALL, would still be in office today because Wellstone would have continued to drive home his message about the war.
In honor of all the messages about Dems dying under mysterious circumstances, I suggest another viewing of "Wag the Dog." Starts out with humor but ends with scary grimness.
Chip @ 43:
It truly is. Imagine the good he could do for us today. You always want to hope that someone else would stand in his place and carry on his beliefs, but unfortunately, that doesn't always happen. And that is the real tragedy of his passing.
It is strange that John "give peace a chance" Lennon and Diana "ban land mines and lets marry Arabs" Spencer are killed while the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter live.
MCMetal @ 41:
Humor is lost on you, McMetal. How about Abraham Lincoln- human being enough for you?
Paul Wellstone was a champion of the little guy!
We all miss him!
I think a big part of the spinal problems in Congress is from remembering Wellstone. RIP, hero.
dennis @ 49:
You believe there's "humor" in someone's untimely demise ?
seriously @ 2:
Right wingers that have died under mysterious circumstances before they could do full damge:
J. Edgar Hoover? No, he lived long enough to do major civil liberties damage as head of the FBI
Ted Nugent? Nope, still strumming.
Hitler? Nope, lived to 56. 56 years too long.
Pat Robertson? Still Preaching.
Reagan? Lived long and didn't remember a thing.
Bush I? Still kicking.
My god, is right wing crypto fascism the key to eternal, or at least long, life?
Call Oil of Olay, I'm getting a bottle of Tom Delay's blood and we're getting rich.
My guess is Wellstone was dropped from the sky by the M-I-C nutjobs Eisenhower warned us about, probably via EMP.
It was just a week before the 2002 election.
And no one ever solved those anthrax attacks, which were sent only to Democratic Senators Tom Daschle and ("Go f*ck yourself") Patrick Leahy, right as the vote for the "Patriot" Act was up.
And didn't it com out that the anthrax came from a U.S, military base?
"his courage to stand up for truth in the face of administration lies was sadly rare in 2002."
Rare? SIXTY PERCENT NAY VOTES IN THE HOUSE, and nearly half the Dem Senators also voted nay.
Wellstone's courage is not in doubt. But he was part of a caucus, and even in the Senate resistance was not 'rare' among Democrats. It was nearly an even split.
People have looked at selected comments by Democrats -- taken out of context -- to bash the party for that vote. But actually, the resistance was substantial.
And that's part of why, IMO, the Wellstones died. Had he been the only courageous voice, he might have simply been ignored. But he was a leader in that fight, and I believe a message was sent -- a message rather blatantly obvious in the Amerithrax attacks exclusively on Democratic leaders in 2001.
Hope I didn't violate the policy. This is not a conspiracy theory -- this is simply a knowledge of how mafias work.
See, all the good Democrats die young. The D. C. Dems are all worthless, they're the people who brought Clinton down.
MCMetal @ 52:
Not at all. It was humorous when people claimed he faked his death to escape prison.
I am always struck by the similarities between Paul Wellstone and Mel Carnahan's demise.
The assassins gave themselves away on the Carnahan hit.
Ashcroft was all but in, until Mrs. Carnahan ran in his place, and Ashcroft lost to a dead man!
I guess they had to make it up to him, so they made him attorney general.
So they did it again for AbNorm Coleman, and this time, it worked.
And this time, they made sure his wife was with him.
Here's the whole story, for those who don't know it already:
http://www.wanttoknow.info/wellstonecarnahan
kaT @ 56:
Oh? So you're arguing the vote was unanimous?
Two counts of impeachment in the House: 228-206, 221-212
Trial in the Senate failed, 45-55
As you can plainly see, these were partyline votes. So your statement is entirely UNTRUE of the caucus at large.
Did some Dems vote for impeachment? Some few did. Blaming the entire caucus for a few votes is not honorable reporting.
[let's remember the man and his work, and keep the conspiracy theories down, please. - site monitor]
99 @ 51:
between wellstone and the anthrax, I bet every time a repug whispers 'wellstone' or 'anthrax' to a dem, the dems drips a bit into their pantalets.
it's like they were paid a visit by the 'predator', who walked off with their skull and spine, leaving a mindless, spineless mass of quivering flesh behind.
dennis @ 56:
Yeah ..........Because only Dickhead Cheney and Chimpy the Wonder Monkey are that type.
BaScOmBe @ 59:
Bluegal, I wish you could edit the blog post to mention his wife and their child Marcia, who also died in the crash. Here's Wikipedia:
"The other victims were his wife, Sheila, one of his three children, Marcia, the two pilots, and campaign staffers Will McLaughlin, Tom Lapic and Mary McEvoy." -- wikipedia
Wellstone represented everything that was right about America. His passion to help others was limitless. I see Wellstone's spirit alive and well in the blogosphere and progressive talk radio
As a resident of Minnesota, I can still remember where I was when I heard the news.
Hard to believe that it was 5 years ago that "they" had him killed.
dennis @ 48:
A good choice. Unfortunately, Lincoln would be shocked at how debased and corrupt his shell of a Republican party has become today. I believe that he and Paul Wellstone would have much in common.
Please donate to Al Franken's campaign. Please.
I still remember Norm Coleman's first appearance on TV, after Wellstone's plane crashed. Some local news crew caught up with him at an airport hangar, of all places. In the background of the live shot was the empennage of an airplane. How totally crass. They could have easily shot the interview anywhere inside or outside of the hangar so that it wouldn't include the airplane. It was as if he was saying to everyone "Hey...my plane didn't crash today--it's right there behind me. How 'bout that." I can't believe that no one from his staff, or the news crew, or the FBO realized the insensitivity of how that shot was framed. Coleman is a smarmy wimp in a sham marriage.
As much as I miss the bright light of Mr. Wellstone, I am glad he is not alive to see what has become of the country he so loved.
Tom (not Tom) @ 23:
Actually, if Sen. Wellstone were still alive, I don't think Harry Reid would be in the position he is. So, actually, I don't think Sen. Wellstone would have any cross words for him.
Sen. Wellstone's leadership would have made enough of an impact that we wouldn't be in a situation where someone needs to have some cross words for Harry Reid...if that makes sense.
A.Citizen @ 35:
I had sorta the same thought. The only thing that cowardly appeasing worm should feel when he remembers Senator Wellstone, is a deep sense of shame.
Yes I remember and honor this brave man, who stood up to this administration at a time when many Americans were waving flags and singing cum bi ya.
It was very lonely at that time as I believe that the only folks blasting this administration was this fellow, myself and the gang from Move ON.com. We were crying out to anyone that would listen and there were not many.
I have always been very suspicious about his death and there is nothing that will ever change my mind to that reality.
Thanks very much. Hell, watching that video makes me tear up.
Paul taught at my college. The first vote I ever cast was for him. I had friends who worked on his campaign. It was always such a joy and breath of fresh air to hear him speak on the Senate floor. I still miss him.
Here's another indicator of how cool Paul was. Even though he and Jesse Helms were politically about as far apart as people can be, they managed to develop a very civil relationship, in large part due to Paul. Apparently, when Helms was in the hospital, the first call he got after his wife was from Paul. Hell, he his wife and kid died because they were attending a funeral.
He won respect from many foes due to his passion and sincerity. He really believed in the power of ideas, and that if a policy was genuinely good, he could convince you of that and gain your support. And even with some very cynical, jaded and corrupt politicians in Washington, he was able to do it sometimes. We really could use many more like him.
The circumstances surrounding Paul Wellstone's death were indeed suspicious. Just add him to the list of progressives/liberal/Dems who have met similar fates after bucking the system. I didn't use to believe in these conspiratorial assasinations, but the closer I've watched the right winger operate the last few years, the more I believe there are those among their ranks who would literally stop short of nothing to silence opposition to maintain power.
After Coleman was elected he said to a colleauge that he was 99% better than Wellstone. That, Mr. Coleman, is unforgiveable.
I remember that day like I rememer 9/11. A colleauge tearfully came up to my office and told me. I went to a memorial that night.
He was a great one, all the progressives, the changers of the future are always killed or die just when they are about to impact the future in a great way...
If you want to keep Wellstone's spirit alive, then help his good friend get elected and keep the torch burning http://www.alfranken.com
cluck kent @22,
Many thanks.
One of my memories of Senator Wellstone is of him at the Science Musuem talking to the young woman at the coffee cart about how important it was to raise the minimum wage. Again like those above stated, no entourage, just him and a low-paid worker. At least he gave us a glimpse of political honesty and integrity. He is missed.
The Dem's certainly need more Wellstone's to stand up for the vast majority and get a damn backbone.
The first thing I thought when Paul's plane went down was: they got him. They took him out.
Honestly, how could that NOT be a possibility? It's not just a movie plot notion or a cheap conspiracy theory. These things DO happen in America - all the time. The Bush Machine is entirely suspect, on many, many levels. Mafia tactics are employed every day, and there's plenty of proof. This is not a paranoid interpretation; it's perfectly reasonable to entertain the idea that Wellstone was bumped off for any number of reasons. America is awash with crime shows, reality crime shows and websites, mysteries and whodunits. The Wellstone case is a mystery that isn't too hard to figure out. The thing that's particularly galling about it is that we can't expect the truth to be revealed because it's too highly connected, like so many cases today, from Abu Ghraib to Blackwater.
RIP Paul Wellstone. You will never be forgotten.
We have no representation anymoire. 70% is agaisnt starting fake wars and immorally morgaging our childrens future, yet congress gives into this administration every time. We want people who asks us before committing to destroying this country.
Al Franken is no Paul Wellstone, but then again, who is?
When someone as noble at Wellstone runs up against the ignoble likes of Cheney, nobility loses every time. When you look at this excerpt from the period of the run-up to the war you realize that his form of balanced rationality didn't stand a chance. Still doesn't.
L.A. Confidential @ 14:
But it was okay for them to trot Reagan around all over the place for an entire
week or more after he died...it's only okay when they do it. Their
hypocrisy is amazing.
Strange how we can all see the disparite events coming together in one fell swoop. Wellstone, anthrax, 9/11, patriot act, Iraq, oil profits etc. Still we are considered the loons. Still "the conspiracy" is clear to anyone paying attention and is able to multi process.
We are living under a yet-to-be-defined coup. They are smart. They give us nothing to hit back at. SO we give sacrafice gems like wellstone and treasures such as the constitution.
We better figure something out and quick.
Paul Wellstone was a great Senator.
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