How I wish Rep. Morris K. Udall were still alive, fighting the good, liberal fight.

[gauguin57]

I've been thinking about him a lot lately. I suppose I've never truly given my liberal heart to a Democratic politician like I did to Udall back in 1976, after I heard him give a stirring speech on my college campus about standing up against the big oil companies and protecting the environment. I voted for him in my very first presidential primary, and I bawled my head off when he was nominated and rejected at the Democratic convention that year. He stood up against strip mining, he co-sponsored legislation that expanded the national parks and wilderness systems, and he worked for campaign finance reform. He was also a proponent of national health care. He stopped being an active member of the Mormon church back when that church would not allow African-Americans to be bishops, and stood up against that policy.

He was the man.

He was also a war veteran and a former pro. basketball player (Denver Nuggets); he held a pilot's licence (despite losing an eye at age 6). And he had a wonderful, sharp wit.

http://www.udall.gov/AboutMKUdall/AboutMKUdall.aspx

I read something sad in his Wikipedia entry: In the 1990s, as Udall got sicker from Parkinson's toward the end of his life -- despite 14 terms in Congress -- the only politician who came to visit him was John McCain.

A foundation that provides scholarships to students of environmental policy still bears Udall's name.

To this day, he's my favorite Democratic politician of my lifetime. Other wonderful liberals have come and gone, but my political heart will always belong to Morris King Udall.

[SwampG8r]

1. yes i miss a lot of the old school black and white no greys guys

from yesteryear on both sides
you didnt always agree with them but you always knew what they really believed

[elocs]

2. I worked for Mo back in '76 in the WI primary.

He was doing well until at the last moment the farmers went for Carter and swung the election his way. He would have been a great president.

[gauguin57]

3. Thank you for working for his campaign.

Did you ever meet him in person?

[elocs]

6. No, never did. The farmers in WI really swung the primary election here for Carter

because they figured he was a fellow farmer. I think if Carter had lost WI he would have pulled out.

[blondeatlast]

4. He was a wonderful man and a real inspiration--and very witty as well.

And this Arizonan is very proud to claim him as one of ours.

[bobbolink]

5. I wish his son, Mark, would follow in his father's footsteps...

....instead of being one more corporate toady.

[Omaha Steve]

7. I always wonder what would America be like if he beat Carter for the nomination?

He dropped out before the Nebraska primary. Marta and I had planned on voting for him. Our first presidential election.

K&R!