My Eulogy for Paul Wellstone

self | October 28, 2002 | Jim Noble

[Jim Noble]

Paul Wellstone died pursuing his values. He was logical, consistent, passionate, and, above all, honest about what he believed and how he was trying to transform America to conform to his vision of an ideal society.

(Insert usual disclaimers here)

There is no Republican Paul Wellstone. If there were one, we would be better off. If there were fifty, we could get our country back.

[The Old Hoosier]

There is no Republican Paul Wellstone.

Jesse Helms.

[wideawake]

I'm reminded of the famous dictum by Yeats: "the best lack all conviction while the worst are filled with passionate intensity".

[NittanyLion]

If there were one, we would be better off. If there were fifty, we could get our country back.

Well said. If the Senate contained 50 Paul Wellstones, and 50 conservative counterparts, the country would be in much better shape.

[1bigdictator]

I mourn the loss of a family man... but I can't say I morn the loss of a decent person. His appeasment policies and ideology cost innocent and American lives.

[MarkT]

"There is no Republican Paul Wellstone."

Rick Santorum - R. - PA.

[Solson]

He wasn't logical, he wasn't consistent and he did NOT represent the majority of his constituency in MN. He was a politician, plain and simple. He was a good politician and certainly, the GOP needs more.

[Real Cynic No More]

There is no Republican Paul Wellstone.

There used to be, but we kicked him out: Newt Gingrich.

We Republicans are honorable; we eat our own.

[montag813]

My eulogy: Good riddance you Commie dog!

[dfwgator]

There is one Republican...Ron Paul.

[Jim Noble]

>>There used to be, but we kicked him out: Newt Gingrich<<

I agree 100%.

[Jim Noble]

>>There is one Republican...Ron Paul<<

I should have said "Republican Senator". I stand corrected.

[cynicom]

Paul Wellstone violated his word from day one. If I recall, there was something about a guarantee or promise to serve no more than two terms. May he rest in peace.

[kimosabe31]

Is this an attempt at humor?? If there were 50 repubs like Wellstone, no one's life or property would be safe on the entire planet....as was the case under clintoon.

[hgro]

A tradegy for the Wellstone family, but lets face it, he was a Jimmy Carter incarnate.

[The Glaswegian]

There was one, who now sleeps in the bliss of his own mind, Ronald Wilson Reagan achieved remarkable accomplishments without the support of the Congress or any media. I will not preach to the choir but America in 1980 was lost and without hope his clear vision restored our pride and our purpose.

[grania]

Good eulogy. I agree. From all accounts, Senator Wellstone genuinely believed in those principles he championed.

I think back to the summer of '68, when I did some temping in a black radio station. Some there were talking about voting for Wallace because they "knew where he was at and what he believed".

That's what I want, at these difficult and frightening times. Someone who believes in something. Mondale just might fit that bill. Personally, in Massachusetts I'm going to vote for Jill Stein, the Green candidate for that reason.

But I wander. Prayers to Wellstone's remaining family, friends and constituents. By all accounts you have lost a good man who served you well.

[johnny7]

Just vote Republican on Nov. 5th and quit your blubbering.

If you don't, the dems are gonna give you some free cheese and a jar of vaseline.

Take heed... you were advised.

[breakem]

Wellstone made a commitment to the people of Minn. He did not meet that commitment because his ego told him he was indispensible to the country.

[kimosabe31]

This thread is full of slobbering "horseshit" about wellstone. Montag, I like your eulogy and it's worth repeating:

"My eulogy: Good riddance you Commie dog!"

[elmer fudd]

My sentiments exactly. I could care less about what a fine and upright man he was. He chose to align himself with the folks who are tearing this country apart. Good riddance.

[woofie]

You're upset that there are no Wellstone(ie principled) Republicans? ....Why dont you run....yes you Jim Noble....Im sure you are a great candidate....get out there and fund raise and mortgage your house...Then make sure you have a raport with the press (they can bury you if they want)...now make sure you say principled things to everyone so you can get elected ....of course there are at least 50% of the voters that disagree with you....It will be easy...thats why you can do it...Have fun

[clintonh8r]

History is full of tyrants, dictators, hypocrites, thieves, and all manner of wretches who "genuinely believed in those principles (they) championed." Sorry, but just being a true believer doesn't pass the Fawning Eulogy Test.

[BibChr]

Amen! Yes! Thank you, I have thought of that MORE TIMES in recent days, but just too lazy to source it and get it right! VERY apposite, on MANY threads -- including this one!

Dan

[SevenDaysInMay]

In all the talk about this Democrat, no one has mentioned that he was a devout socialist.

[JavaTheHutt]

Paul Wellstone violated his word from day one. If I recall, there was something about a guarantee or promise to serve no more than two terms. May he rest in peace.

Correction:
May he rest in pieces

He finally made a positive impact on the country, pun intended. Good riddance to the commie.

[mg39]

By all accounts, Wellstone was a decent and honorable person.

To those of you hear snarling "Good riddance" and calling him a "commie dog," I say: you are an embarrassment to this website and the human race. Take your brownshirts and your rabid hatred over to Aryan Nations or similar site.

[Spiff]

Good eulogy. I agree. From all accounts, Senator Wellstone genuinely believed in those principles he championed.

So did Marx, Lenin, Mao, and Stalin, yet I've shed no tears over their deaths.

[The Other Harry]

Nice eulogy. Very well written.

I was never a fan of Wellstone, but I do beleive he was truly committed to the causes he championed. I would much rather lose him in an election than in an airplane crash.

[mg39]

By all accounts, Wellstone was a decent and honorable person.

To those of you here snarling "Good riddance" and calling him a "commie dog," I say: you are an embarrassment to this website and the human race. Take your brownshirts and your rabid hatred over to Aryan Nations or similar site.

[tracer]

"Paul Wellstone died pursuing his values. He was logical, consistent, passionate, and, above all, honest about what he believed and how he was trying to transform America to conform to his vision of an ideal society."

And Adolph Hitler, too, died pursuing his values. He was logical -- albeit, in a sick sort of way -- consistent, passionate, and, above all, honest about what he believed and how he was trying to transform Deutschland to conform to his vision of an ideal society.

So what's your point, if any??

[BonnieJ]

What I found most remarkable about him in the various film clips being shown the past few days was his ability to argue his beliefs in such a respectful way. Even against Bill O'Reilly he kept saying O'R. had "made some good points" and "I can understand how you feel that way" and "that is a good way to look at it", etc, then would follow with his own thoughts but not in a combative or insulting way but still enthusiastic about his convictions. That quality is sadly lacking in other Democratic leaders, in fact in most people in politics.

[JavaTheHutt]

To those of you hear snarling "Good riddance" and calling him a "commie dog," I say: you are an embarrassment to this website and the human race. Take your brownshirts and your rabid hatred over to Aryan Nations or similar site.

I'll repeat what I said on a different thread:
It's just a shame the plane wasn't larger and filled with more traitorous leftists like this scumbag. Good riddance!

[kimosabe31]

Good eulogy. I agree. From all accounts, Senator Wellstone genuinely believed in those principles he championed.

grania...Charley Manson, Bin Laden, Adolph Hitler and Joe Stalin...just to mention a few...also believed in those principles they championed. Judging from your comments, you're another new england "air head". Do the country a big favor...don't vote on Nov 5.

[Mr. Bob]

For God's sake, someone post his voting record.

[cynicom]

Power has an eternal habit of corrupting. Whether it be a thirst or a lust for power, many a man has lost his way and all their ideals become meaningless. Wellstone was such.

[dfwgator]

Marx, Lenin, Mao, and Stalin,

Get real, those guys had no principles, they only believed in power, and would do anything to achieve it. Wellstone was not about that, he was just naive about the way the world works. Wellstone knew that being an unabashed liberal was not going to be a ticket to the White House. Evil men like Clinton will say whatever they have to, even appearing to be moderate or even conservative, to get power. Then and only then do they show their true liberal colors.

[Belial]

It's just a shame the plane wasn't larger and filled with more traitorous leftists like this scumbag. Good riddance!

It's easy posting on the Internet, isn't it? I have a feeling you'd take your hat off if you were talking to Wellstone's family in MN, big guy.

[TheAdvocate]

It is quite tactful to post nice things about people who have died.

Why are you posting?

Wellstones' beliefs were of the most disturbing in the Democratic Party. He was a traitor to the US Constitution. He made his living off the poor in this country by exploiting their plight and KEEPING THEM DOWN.

I applaud the powers-that-be that caused his plane to go down. I see it almost as divine intervention. I am only crying because Ted Kennedy was not with him at the time.

[Mr. Bob]

For God's sake, someone post his voting record.

[mwl1]

Let's see if we can achieve consensus.

I live in Minnesota. I deeply regret the loss of life, but I will not be a hypocrite, either. Wellstone was a menace to taxpayers nationwide, a modern-day Robin Hood, and a genuine threat to national security and constitutional principles.

[Lurking Libertarian]

too lazy to source it

It's from Yeats' "The Second Coming", which you can find at
http://www.well.com/user/eob/poetry/The_Second_Coming.html

[Illbay]

Nice sentiment and all, but aren't there scads of "Paul Wellstone, R.I.P." threads? Why another one, and a vanity at that?

I continue to ask: Is this the result of a NEW POLICY on FR, or do the old rules regarding Vanities still apply?

If so, are you just overrun with Vanities such that you can't find time to move them (or remove them, as the case might be?)

Can't we figure this out? The Vanities are bumping out REAL news, which is why the majority of us, I submit, come to FR; NOT to hear the opinions of various and sundry. If we want that, Yahoo! has plenty of BBSes for the purpose.

I simply hate to see FR turning into nothing but a Bulletin Board. In the past, we've taken steps to make sure that doesn't happen. Why not now?

[texson66]

We all mourn the passing of any individual especially in an accident like this one. However, as far as I am concerned, the Nation is better off without a Liberal of Wellstone's ilk in the Senate.

His tightly held liberal views of Marxism don't make me feel that we have lost someone special. His "democratic idea" of tax-spend is morally equivalent to robbery.

If Barry Goldwater had died in a plane crash, the media would be falling all over itself to point out what a "right-wing, gun-toting conservative nazi" he was.

You would think Wellstone is up for sainthood...jeesh!

[1bigdictator]

BTTT.... if the principles are amoral or lead to an evil outcome if taken to their logical conclusion... what good did he contribute? His death, while tragic, will ultimately save American lives... A Dem majority in the Senate = Appease Arab terror.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

An honest Leftist? Hmmm. Guess this is slightly better than a lying Leftist. At least you knew where he was coming from.

[cactusSharp]

ditto.

[JavaTheHutt]

I have a feeling you'd take your hat off if you were talking to Wellstone's family in MN, big guy.

I have a feeling you'd lose money betting on it.

[No dems 2002]

I don't expect that you would have said all this if he hadn't died the way he did.

Paul Wellstone was a consistent obstacle to righteousness and righteous legislation in the Senate, especially under President Bush. I can't imagine how you can eulogise someone who was an enemy of everything we stand for (if we're conservative).

Paul Wellstone wasn't a good man plain and simple.

[Dataman]

Wellstone died because, like all egotistical self-important politicians, the truth to him was relative. I personally heard him promise not to run a second term and argued with his son at the Sherburne County Fair when he broke that promise. I personally heard him promise not to run a 3rd term. If he had kept his promise, he'd likely be alive today. He died because he lied.