From our William Rivers Pitt

[BonnieJW]

His Name Was Wellstone
By William Rivers Pitt
t r u t h o u t | Columnist

Thursday 01 November 2007

If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for, at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them.
- Paul Wellstone


Five years ago, Senator Paul Wellstone (D-Minnesota) died when his plane went down in the woods of northern Minnesota. The crash also took the lives of his wife Sheila, his daughter Marcia, campaign staffers Will McLaughlin, Tom Lapic and Mary McEvoy, along with pilots Michael Guess and Richard Conry.

This grim remembrance is a marker for the Democratic majority in Congress, a moment for unblinking self-assessment, a chance to compare and contrast the vast gulf between who Wellstone was in life and what his party has become since his death.

Wellstone's political life was dominated by his efforts to improve economic and social conditions for millions of Americans. He began as a community organizer during the 1970's, advocating on behalf of working families and the poor for better health care, affordable housing, better public education, day care and other essential programs and policies. Through these activities, he created a powerful network of activists, union members, farmers and other newly involved citizens.

The effectiveness of this network made the difference in his long-shot 1990 campaign for US Senate against Rudy Boschwitz, an entrenched incumbent with far greater financial resources. Over the next twelve years, Senator Wellstone served as a tireless advocate for environmental protections, labor rights, victims of domestic violence, veterans, campaign finance reform and sensible US foreign policy.

More

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/printer_110107A.shtml

[mmonk]

1. A big recommend.

[Frustratedlady]

2. Good timing. I was just asking why people thought he was killed.

I wasn't following politics this closely during his time in office, so I missed the reason why people thought he had been killed. I will check out this writing.

[yurbud]

3. these paragraphs would do it:

"Authorizing the pre-emptive, go-it-alone use of force now," he said, "right in the midst of continuing efforts to enlist the world community to back a tough new disarmament resolution on Iraq, could be a costly mistake for our country."

A week and a day later, the IWR passed in the Senate. Five days after that vote, it was signed into law by George W. Bush. Nine days after that signature, five years ago, Paul Wellstone was gone. His words from October 3, 2002, however, still remain. No other floor statement given by any senator before the IWR vote echoes with such prescience. Wellstone was right, and voted accordingly. He was a beacon in the darkness that has spread and spread until, five years later, this nation and the world entire have become almost completely cloaked in shadow.

After Wellstone's death, his staff released a transcript of his last 2002 midterm election campaign commercial, which had been slated for airing just before the November vote. "I don't represent the big oil companies," said Wellstone in the ad; "I don't represent the big pharmaceutical companies, I don't represent the Enrons of this world. But you know what, they already have great representation in Washington. It's the rest of the people that need it. I represent the people of Minnesota." Little else needs to be said; his own words are more than enough.

What can be said, on the other hand, about the Senate he served so well? What about the Democrats who now enjoy majority control but flee the very thought of representing the will of the American people? They called Wellstone "The conscience of the Senate," and that honorable title seems more true today than ever. Since that conscience died, the Democrats - time after time after time again - have performed unconscionable acts of cowardice, ambivalence and betrayal.

[Frustratedlady]

4. Then maybe our outcry should be "Remember Wellstone!"

Remind them, day after day. Maybe Wellstone is the reason why they stop short of performing as they should. "They" are never going to allow honest men/women in Washington without having some control over them. I am convinced.

Perhaps "Remember Wellstone!" will wake them up and make them mad enough, they will unite and conquer.

Well, it sounds good, anyway!

Thanks for your reply!

[yurbud]

6. how to pick president: hook them up to lie detector and have them read Wellstone's last commercial

If they fail, send them straight to K Street (they're going to end up there anyway).

[yurbud]

7. variation: failing test automatically activates electrodes attached to nuts

[Raster]

5. No tinfoil, no conspiracies, no rampant speculation. If Wellstone were alive, cheney*/bush* would

NOT have gotten the Congressional "free pass" they enjoy today. Not from Paul. And he would have been MOST vocal in his disapproval and dissent. And most important, people listened to Wellstone.

[Gregorian]

8. Thanks.

I did not know who Paul Wellstone was until I came to Democratic Underground. Thanks to the people like you, I do know.

It's hard to believe that one man could make such a difference. Both by his strength and caring, but also by the fact that there are so few like him. It's this last part that is so disturbing.

I just rushed to the vets with my cat. When the doctor began his workup, we also began a conversation about just where this country has gone in the last few years. He was very keen to mention the media sugarcoat and conservative twists to being one major issue. He works, and probably long hours. There are millions like him. Essentially silent and busy.

I know we worry, but I also think there really is a genuine core of those who know better and care for the future of this country. It's hard to believe it given the turn of events.

I think there are more Wellstones on the way. I mean that with all respect to him.

[jackster]

9. Will hitting one outa the ballpark

Thankfull, Mass is represented by two of the USUAL exceptions but even now I'm thinking we need to throw all the bums out and start all over! The state of this empasse with the Congress just goes to show how deep our representatives are in the pockets of the corporations.