Five years ago, Paul Wellstone was in a tough reelection battle and George W. Bush was pushing us down the path to war. In a speech given just a month before Election Day, Paul announced that he would vote against the use of force resolution. Many pundits predicted it was the end of his political career. But Paul confounded conventional wisdom and surged in the polls. In fact, five years ago today, Paul Wellstone was on his way to victory.
We all know, however, what happened five years ago today.
In the years since Paul’s untimely death, the war in Iraq has gone from shock and awe to quagmire. We’ve had Abu Ghraib and IEDs and sectarian violence. We’ve seen billions of dollars of deficit spending and our country’s reputation sullied perhaps beyond repair. Most horrifically, we’ve watched thousands of our brave men and women give their lives, and seen even more horribly wounded. So much has happened over these past five years, its almost unreal.
It was not, however, inevitable.
Standing on the floor of the United States Senate five years ago, Paul Wellstone predicted that a war in Iraq would cost us a fortune in blood and treasure. He predicted that oil prices would rise and that Al Qaeda would use U.S. intervention as a recruiting tool. He predicted that our reputation around the world would suffer and so would our war on terror and our efforts in Afghanistan. He predicted “a years-long effort to stabilize Iraq after an invasion.”
Its sad, because this whole nightmare could have been avoided if more people had listened. But its also inspiring, because it shows what is possible in our political system. It is still possible for a good man to be elected to the world’s most deliberative body and for that man to make decisions not based on what is politically expedient for him, but rather what is right for his country.
As we enter the Presidential primary season, I think its important to remember what Paul said and did five years ago. We shouldn’t settle for excuses and apologies. We should elect someone who, five years from now, will make us as proud of them as I am of Paul.
Take a few moments today to listen and remember Paul Wellstone.
All I was interested in, five years ago today, was trying to console my 16 year old daughter. Us old farts having been through this too many times weren’t able to express our feelings completely. Why is it, John, Martin, Robert, now Paul? I’m not a conspiracy advocate but, damn, doesn’t it seem like there’s a trend here? It’s much more difficult to kill the idea then the man. Paul’s conscience live’s on in people like my daughter who, when they stopped crying, became iron. No compromise, no giving in. What’s right is right, what’s evil is evil. My daughter is hell on wheels now because of Wellstone
I only shook Paul’s hand once, but his death affected me more deeply than I could have possibly imagined at that moment.
I am from a new generation of Minnesota politics, one that emerged from the masses of individuals who learned with Pauls’ death, that we had allowed him to carry too much on his shoulders.
It was weird, but what I felt was shame.
Shame that I had not done more. That I was too satisfied being well represented.
My partner and I were hosting our first political fundraiser for Paul, something we decided to do after his Iraq war vote. We went out shopping for food for that event, when a friend called my cell phone to tell me his plane had gone down.
Back then I had a different career, a different life. Almost everyone I know now did as well. We changed. We became better. Because losing Paul was seeringly painful, but it made us want to do more.
I am a better person because of Paul Wellstone.
Paul, I miss you so much. But I thank you for changing me.
Five years ago, my husband and I were at the RCTC Field House watching the 2002 Senate Debates. I recalled how smooth Paul Wellstone was and what a jerk Norm Coleman was acting like.
A pasionate voice in the Senate was lost. A voice who spoke for people rather than for himself. A man whom one felt proud to be with, yet made you feel you were the most important person in the room. My husband and I lost a dear friend 5 years ago.
I would like to add that the passionate words of Paul Wellstone resonate louder as the costs have been insurmountable, the lives lost irreplacable, and the world less secure as when he left it.
And now my annual pet peeve …. There were other people on that plane whose loss has and will have profound effects on our society. Other can speak more compentently to the accomplishements of Will and Tom but I want to speak to the wonder that was Mary McEvoy.
At the time of the crash she was on leave from her position as Chair of the Educational Psychology Department at the U of MN. One of the ways she excelled in that feild, in addition to her research, was as an advocate of taking the research they were doing and bringing it to policy makers to make childrens lives better through early education and other programs.
Plus, she honestly was one of the funnest women to be around I have ever know. You might almost forget she was a transplant from Tennessee until she got mad about something … then the drawl would slip back in amongst the other words that I should probably not repeat here.
Finally, we focus on the contributions of people like the Wellstones, Mary, Will and Tom because they did the political work that is valued by the readers of this forum but we should also stop to honor the work of the two pilots, I am ashamed to say I don’t remember their names.
Kathy — you couldn’t help yourself and took a shot at Norm Coleman.
Get some class.
Paul Wellstone was a very kind and decent man. He was also a politician. I find it a little bit disturbing when people put politicians on the same plane as religious figures.
I met Paul Wellstone once, when I was in high school. I won’t repeat what does not need to be repeated, what is already known, about his decency, courage, and power to inspire. I might not always have believed in every on of his policies, but I never had any doubts about his character.
We’re living now in a time were too often, one side mistakes dissent for treason and the other mistakes bitterness and rage for character and conviction. Paul was someone who showed that personal respect and civility were not antithetical to, were indeed vital to, the truly effective principle that puts actions above words. And he stood firm when panic, fear, and stupidity were sweeping many good people, on both sides, along in there wake.
I think today is as good a day as any other to remember some good people, and to remember how good people working together can elect a good, decent, and deeply human man to the highest body in the land. I think its a lesson that we need to keep in mind, after five years have put us in a place unimaginably worse than the one we were in five years ago today.
Chris,
I see nothing wrong with people speaking about how an individual changed their path. I certainly wouldn’t limit these types of statements as being appropriate to only religious figures, however it is that you are defining that term.
People affect other people - to me, that’s one of the joys of community. Paul personified what community meant, and means, to many people - and because of that, he was part of a process that changed many people.
Havent you had someone in your life make an impact that was profound enough to cause you to pause and assess something? We all can be changed by our relationships, by our friendships, and by our pain. Many of these posts speak to this.
Marc
Paul was an amazing man. Senator Byrd gave a good speech about him today on the Senate floor.
I had the distinct pleasure of knowing his daughter Marcia and she was quite possibly one of the most decent human beings I have ever known. I was crushed upon hearing that she was on the plane. We used to tease each other all the time about our differing political views, all in good fun.
While I disagreed with most of what her father stood for I admired him as a human being. Through Marcia I met and talked to Paul once and he truly was one of a kind.
To talk of a conspiracy or that the plane was deliberately taken down is disgusting. Having known someone who died on that plane I am deeply offended.
No doubt that Wellstone was one of our most passionate public service — he carved a niche in Minnesota history all his own. Every time I see someone compared to him I chuckle — he is one of those guys who you really can’t try to categorize.
Rational Republicans respected him greatly and were deeply saddened that it ended the way it did.
It’s true, Dan. There is no comparison in current political life. Paul Wellstone came to speak at my high school when he was running the first time, and his passion was something I’ll never forget. He was a politican, but was no politican.
That night 5 years ago, St.Paul Guy, Norm was being a jerk. The crowd was uneasy with his remarks, attacking Paul. Were you there that night at the Senate Debate when it was held in Rochester??? I do have class.
There were others too that were lost, whose lives affcted others in ways that can be considered immeasurable. They are missed along with the Wellstones.
Just watched the video that was posted … when he spoke, you really knew he meant it. And I’m not saying that to take anything away from our current Senators — very few politicians on either side of the aisle have the gift that Wellstone did.
That’s called PASSION DanTheMan. Very unusual at the time. It’s beginning to make a comeback slowly in several newly elected officials from Minnesota.
this is Freedom from Wellstonian Socialism day
“this is Freedom from Wellstonian Socialism day”
Worst comment in the history of MNPublius. Pull the plug on this prick.
When I came in from lunch on October 25, 2002, my massively competent, always upbeat admin was sitting at her desk with her face in her hands, crying.
I hope someone carves something in a similar spirit on your headstone, john. What a sh*thead. Multiple conservatives on here managed to point out their disagreements with Paul while still being respectful.
I remember this speech to this day. My only regret was that the constitutional question of congress abdicating responsibility and giving the president war authority was not centered to show that it was not being unpatriotic to comply with the constitutioon and not give the president advance war authority.
In the fall of 2002 I was running against Henry Hyde, who, as Chairman of the House International Relations Committee had steered through a resolution giving the President the authority to go to war with Iraq conditioned on any subsequent failed attempt to negotiate with the United Nations, justified on the pretext that the President needed the war authority authorization in order to strengthen his hand in negotiations with the United Nations.
Congress has the power to declare war, not the President! Congress abdicated its responsibility in granting the President a conditional declaration of war. I was on record that we were violating the intent of the U.S. Constitution, that we needed more people in Congress who would not cave in to pressure from the administration to give our President this kind of authority, that it is improper for any President to ask Congress for war authority in order to strengthen his hand in negotiations, that all we had to do was hold up the Constitution and say “No! We can’t do it,” and this was not being unpatriotic in the face of an election. I was angry then, and I am beyond angry today.
Today’s current police action in Iraq is a monumental disaster; we need to extricate ourselves as soon as possible. Moreover, it is abundantly clear that we are not in Iraq for the benefit of the Iraq citizens, of whom we’ve killed hundreds of thousands, but primarily for our oil companies to be in position to exploit a ruinous situation for exorbitant profits and the lion’s share of oil out of Iraq.
We need to do several things:
1 Immediately redeploy our troops out of harm’s way to serve as modifiable strike forces if needed. We can’t be the policemen of the world, and we did not conquer a country, nor should we.
2. Encourage Iraq to reexamine its Constitution with a view to outlawing production sharing agreements with foreign investors, in order to allow Iraq to control its own oil and preclude massive exploitation of the Iraq government and Iraq citizens.
3. Set up an “Economic Energy Commission” answerable to Congress to insure that the oil industry is only allowed to earn a “reasonable” rate of return, as their operations directly affect the public interest.
4. Set up a “Health Care Commission” answerable to Congress to insure that the health care industry (including pharmaceuticals and health care insurance companies) is only allowed to earn a “reasonable” rate of return, as their operations directly affect the public interest.
Moving in this direction will honor the legacy of Paul Wellstone.
Tom Berry
Some people represent why Bush still manages 25% approval rating so very very well, such as john here at Publius.
Lucky us to be reminded how truly ugly some Americans are. Thank god for those of us who remember how to respect one another.
That’s something Paul did so very well.
I disagreed with Wellstone on almost every issue but respected him simply due to the fact he understood his responsibilities as a senator. His independence allowed an intelligent and productive debate between people with diverse philosophies. The vote he made on the use of force resolution was the right one and in my opinion his most important. He was able to show with that one vote that you do not have to be in the majority to be right or win to make a difference. That speech and the vote that followed gives us the chance to separate the true public servants from those who are simply self serving.
The fact that Franken and Hillary are the front runners for their respective nominations is an unfortunate sign of how little was learned from Wellstone’s stand on the war. The characteristics that made Wellstone a loved figure among Democrats and respected one among his rational opponents are nowhere to be found in the current batch of Democrats or Republicans. I for one am saddened by that and disappointed in those people that so easily gave up on the standards Wellstone represented and chose winning over being right.
I respect how free MN Publius is with the comments, but I really hope someone who would make the sort of comment John just did would earn a banning. I appreciate the respect other commentors who may not have shared Wellstone’s politics have shown — they understand that a person’s death is a tragedy above politics.
I was very sorry to hear he had died. I wanted nothing more than to witness his loss to Coleman. I wanted him to become the insignificant liberal he was. His record speaks for itself. He accomplished very little. Sure he was passionate about his beliefs, did not mange to do much about it besides wave his arms and get his followers all worked up, but in the end he did very little. I will never understand why this man is worshiped like a religous figure.
I disagreed with his politics, but, having seen him in places I would never have expected to see a U.S. Senator (the local gym, for instance), the common man persona he emitted seemed genuine.
I really and truly cannot believe you people. Someone died. And whatever you may think of him, he was beloved by his family and friends and his loss, and the loss of the other people on his plane, was a tragedy. And you bemoan his death because you wanted to see him lose?
You are a pathetic, horrible, cruel person.
It is ironic that someone who was so inspiring through his passion and compassion for others reveals the utter worst in the opposite side. This is the face of people who bomb other countries without a thought, this is the face of people who deny health insurance to those who need it, this is the face of people who cut services to people less fortunate, this is the face of those who rail about honoring America but refuse to protect the soliders and the firefighters, this is the face of George Bush’s party. Congratulations.
Eva,
If you want to call out certain people for saying things you think are offensive go right ahead but be specific. Using as you did the behavior of a few to smear a larger population is bigotry pure and simple. Most people here have been nothing but respectful even if they may have disagreed with Wellstone on most policy issues. Your rant using a few crude comments to vilify all those who may disagree with you on health care or other policies makes you little better than they those you are commenting on.
I appreciate your post, and I understand, but I commended you and others on your respect above. I insulted Big Kahuna, by proxy John, George W. Bush, and much of Congress. And if being bigoted means being angry toward people who would deny health care to kids whose families can’t afford it for ideological grounds, or to placate insurance companies, well, that is between me and my God.
Nobody’s denying anyone health care, only denying them of government funded health insurance — but I digress.
Senator Wellstone was a good man.
Eva,
Your disagreement with people on policy like health care was not the issue. It was that you used the presence of a few bad actors to disparage everyone who does not agree with you. It is no different than a person using the fact that one child molester is gay to say that all homosexuals are child molesters. You could have called out the specific actions you found offensive and chose instead to use the opportunity to try and score an unrelated political point. That is why your actions were no better than those you disparaged. It is also ironic that you did so while lauding Wellstone for his compassionate qualities.
I am really and truly not painting every Republican as like BK here. I am painting the very specific kind that makes comments such as that — it’s this heartlessness and thoughtlessness which I believe GWB shares that drives much of his policies, and has created this certain type of Republican that is nothing like the party it was.I’m angry — I’m angry about Ann Coulter and Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh and their ilk creating people like BK and John. I’m angry that America has become so heartless under GWB, and I’m angry at the people who have helped create this situation.
And no, I have no compassion for that.
But Dan is right. Senator Wellstone was a good man.
Yes Eva you did.
“This is the face of people who bomb other countries without a thought, this is the face of people who deny health insurance to those who need it, this is the face of people who cut services to people less fortunate, this is the face of those who rail about honoring America but refuse to protect the soliders and the firefighters, this is the face of George Bush’s party.”
You painted everyone who disagrees you on the policies you mentioned and every republican party member with the same brush. If you did it out of carelessness or with forethought I can’t pretend to know.
Eva, your God is my God, and everyone else’s God, a country that allows the killing of unborn people is already heartless… GWB’s approval rating is 35%..10 points higher than the D controlled congress
BTW I spent 14 as a proffessional firefighter, I never once felt the government needed to protect me, what a country of girls
John the firefighter.
Does a person who seeks to mutate a thread like this, actually protect & serve?
Or understand people who DO?
(I rather question it, based upon what you’ve said so far).
=========
Anyway this thread is about Wellstone, a person who had a commitment to the public & those who he represented.
It seems that such people are rare - and we need to recognize them for being, or having been special.
If y’all are interested in a reading list, I’ve compiled a list of books that Paul Wellstone either mentioned, or blurbed or cited at some point, in no particular order:
“When Work Disappears: The World of the New Urban Poor” by William Julius Wilson (mentioned in a speech at Stanford University in 1997)
“Crime and Servitude: An Expose of the Traffic in Women for Prostitution from the Newly Independent States” by Gillian Caldwell (mentioned in a Senate floor speech in 2000 on human rights)
“Lucky Man: A Memoir” by Michael J. Fox (identified in an October 15, 2002 debate as a book he’s reading)
“Sakharov: A Biography” by Richard Lourie (identified in an October 15, 2002 debate as a book he’s reading)
“Globalization and its Discontents” by Joseph Stiglitz (identified in an October 15, 2002 debate as a book he’s reading)
“Let Them Eat Promises: The Politics of Hunger in America” by Nick Kotz (mentioned in numerous speeches in ‘97-‘98 as his inspiration for his ‘97 poverty tour; used to assign to his students)
“Children of Crisis: Volumes 1-5” by Robert Coles (cited in bibliography for “How the Rural Poor Got Power”; used to assign them to his students)
“Death at An Early Age” by Jon Kozol (frequently mentioned in Senate floor speeches, as with the other Kozol books)
“Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools” by Jon Kozol
“Amazing Grace: Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation” by Jon Kozol
“Ordinary Resurrections: Children in the Years of Hope” by Jon Kozol
“Common Purpose: Strengthening Families and Neighborhoods to Rebuild America” by Lisbeth Schorr (mentioned in a commencement speech somewhere)
“Small Victories: The Real World of a Teacher, Her Students, and Their High School” by Samuel Freedman (seen on his coffee table by a Star-Tribune reporter on election day, 1990)
“Biko” by Donald Woods (seen on his Senate office bookshelves)
“Bob Dylan: Behind the Shades” by Clinton Heylin (seen on his Senate office bookshelves)
“Possible Lives” by Mike Rose (mentioned in a Senate floor speech on ESEA renewal in 2000)
“Deadly Gambits: The Reagan Administration and the Stalemate in Nuclear” by Strobe Talbott (seen on his Senate office bookshelves)
“Rules for Radicals” by Saul Alinsky (used to assign it to his students; cited in bibliography of “How the Rural Poor Got Power”)
“Sleepwalking Through History: America in the Reagan Years” by Haynes Johnson (mentioned in Senate floor speech, 1991)
“The Courage to Stand Alone: Letters from Prison and Other Writings” by Wei Jingsheng (mentioned in Senate floor speeches on China, ‘98-‘00)
“Your Money or Your Health: America’s Cruel, Bureaucratic, and Horrendously Expensive Health Care System: How it Got that Way and What to do About It” by Neil Rolde (provided blurb for back cover)
“An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness” by Kay Redfield Jamison (mentioned in Senate floor speech, 2001)
“Maximum Feasible Misunderstanding: Community Action in the War on Poverty” by Daniel Patrick Moynihan (used to assign to students)
“The Politics of a Guaranteed Income: The Nixon Administration and the Family Assistance Plan” by Daniel Patrick Moynihan (used to assign to students)
“Make Gentle the Life of This World: The Vision of Robert F. Kennedy” by Maxwell Kennedy (mentioned in Senate floor speech, 1998, and in Swarthmore commencement address, ‘98)
“The Story of American Freedom” by Eric Foner (mentioned in Senate floor speech on McCain-Feingold bill, 1999)
“The Populist Persuasion: An American History” by Michael Kazin (provided blurb for back cover)
“The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court” by Bob Woodward (seen on Senate office bookshelves)
“The Lobbying and Advocacy Handbook for Nonprofit Organizations: Shaping Public Policy at the State and Local Level” by Marcia Avner (provided blurb for back cover)
“The Bridge Over the Racial Divide: Rising Inequality and Coalition Politics” by William Julius Wilson (provided blurb for back cover)
“Let Us Now Praise Famous Men” by James Agee (overheard recommending to reporter; cited in bibliography of “How the Rural Poor Got Power”)
“Our Land Too” by Anthony Dunbar (cited in bibliography of “How the Rural Poor Got Power”)
“Where do we go from Here? Chaos or Community” by Martin Luther King Jr. (mentioned in Senate floor speech on Ashcroft confirmation debate, 2001)
“Toward the Beloved Community: Martin Luther King Jr. and South Africa” by Lewis Baldwin (cited in bibliography for an unpublished essay on the Beloved Community, same as next three)
“Building King’s Beloved Community: Foundations for Pastoral Care and Counseling with the Oppressed” by Donald Chinula
“Search for the Beloved Community: The Thinking of Martin Luther King Jr.” by Kenneth Smith and Ira Zepp
“Beloved Community: The Cultural Criticism of Randolph Bourne, Van Wyck Brooks, Waldo Frank, and Lewis Mumford” by Casey Nelson Blake
“Thurgood Marshall: American Revolutionary” by Juan Williams (said he “loved” the book in the October 15, 2002 debate)
“Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement” by John Lewis (provided blurb for back cover)
“The War Against Parents” by Cornel West and Sylvia Ann Hewlett (mentioned in interview with Tikkun magazine)
“Civility” by Stephen Carter (mentioned in 2002 DFL Convention speech)
“Unearthing the Seeds of Fire: The Idea of Highlander” by Frank Adams (cited in bibliography for “How the Rural Poor Got Power”)
“Political Organizations” by James Q. Wilson (cited in bibliography for “How the Rural Poor Got Power”)
“The Abandonment of the Jews: America and the Holocaust, 1941-1945” by David Wyman (mentioned in Senate floor speeches on Bosnia ‘92-‘93)
“Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities in a Global Age” by Michael Shuman (mentioned in a Nation article; provided blurb for back cover)
“The Politics of Rich and Poor” by Kevin Phillips (cited in campaign speeches, 1990)
“The Theory of Democratic Elitism” by Peter Bachrach (cited in bibliography for “How the Rural Poor Got Power”)
“Regulating the Poor: The Functions of Public Welfare” by Frances Fox Piven and Richard Cloward (cited in bibliography for “How the Rural Poor Got Power”; used to assign to students)
“Still the Best Congress Money Can Buy” by Philip Stern (mentioned in Phil Donahue interview, 1992)
“There’s Nothing in the Middle of the Road but Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos: A Work of Political Subversion” by Jim Hightower (provided blurb for back cover)
“Political Upheaval: Minnesota and the Vietnam War Protest” by Alpha Smaby (mentioned in Senate floor speech, 1991, in eulogy for Smaby)
“Nellie Stone Johnson: Life of an Activist” by Steve Perry (donated to charity)
Eva you go right ahead and try to claim the high ground, it is very visible your emotions get the better of you.
Why even in the Star Tribune today they mention what a lackluster senate career Wellstone had. Only after his death may something he had a hand in pass.
I did not say the man was a horrible human, father or anything else personal. I met him many times and while we were on opposite sides of political issues he was always civil to me. His supporters on the other hand could not stand for anyone to disagree with him. I was impressed one time when he told some supporters to back off and I had a right to say my peace as well as they did.
Wellstone merely became the figure head of uber- leftist who did indeed accomplish very little while in the senate. His political stances were more often than not full of hypocrisy! I still believe his political leaning were 100% wrong and very out of touch which is also why nothing happened under him.
If you cannot separate critical comments about his political career and personal attacks then your emotions have clouded any judgment you may have had.
Wellstone bothered me a great deal but nothing compared to those who made him a political messiah! There is nothing more vile than Wellstone supporters! Talk about a group who goes way out of their way to crush any opposition to their ideas!! Good lord even now they still think it is heresy to speak of St. Wellstone in anything but positive light.
Wellstone was a hero. He set the bar very high for everyone else.
Um, what bar was set so high?? Just because he was YOUR political hero does not actually make him a hero.
Why should he be given any more respect for his convictions than Michelle Bachman?
Funny thing is, Michelle does not share the same views as Wellstone supporters so she must be the devil.
“Big”
LOLOLS
Yes, we must hate Wellstone or we’re painting a fake hero.
It’s like a troll parade in here sometimes. Good grief!
At least you keep reminding us, “Big” what the Republican base is thinking, so you do provide a service.
Thank you.
Nitro
Oct 26th, 2007 at 7:37 am
Some people represent why Bush still manages 25% approval rating so very very well, such as john here at Publius.
Funny, still a higher approval rating than the democRat congress….
Talk about the loonie left trolls…..
That is a false argument, because the disapproval of Cangress is because there is not a veto-proof majority. It is Republicans who are in the way, and everyone knows it.
Soon there will be.
“Big Kahuna”
Isn’t your name a half truth or lie?
Just asking.
The disapproval of congress is in part due to the fact that people are more willing to disprove of nameless bodies than specific individuals. The second reason is that the Democrats in congress have more or less failed to give anything but the most feeble attempt to do what they said they were going to do before the election. That and the highest profile Democrat, Hillary, continues to beat the same war drum Bush does because she thinks it will help her in the general election. In the end the Democrats not only have Republicans mad at them but independents and anti-war Democrats as well.
KH,
Exactly.
You have my round of applause.
That is a false argument, because the disapproval of Cangress is because there is not a veto-proof majority. It is Republicans who are in the way, and everyone knows it.
Oh boy you showed me the real proof there Nitro.
Funny because it seems to me it is the anti-war democrats who are the most unhappy with congress. Why would the numbers drop as the democRats take over as majority? Oh yes, it must be those evil Republicans.
I don’t need any proof to show trolls on parade other than your posts, “BIG”…>>>>>>>oof.
OMG YOU ARE SO SMART BIG KAHUNA!!!!!!
You win.
WAXMAN is bald and needs to get a better toupee’? Funny stuff.