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Peggy Noonan- Paul Wellstone: An Appreciation
Opinion Journal ^ | 10/25/2002 | Peggy Noonan

Posted on 10/25/2002 5:00:39 PM PDT by Pokey78

Edited on 04/23/2004 12:04:55 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

Liberals don't appreciate conservatives enough. Conservatives don't appreciate liberals enough either. Here's an appreciation of Paul Wellstone, who died a few hours ago in the middle of a great battle in the heart of the great democracy.

I met him only once, in Washington, in 1996. I wish I'd taken notes and could refer to them now. We met in the halls of the Senate, introduced by a mutual acquaintance, and what I remember is Wellstone was funny and modest and shy, and I thought: Good guy. It was an instinctive response, an instinctive read, and I trusted it.


(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: peggynoonanlist
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1 posted on 10/25/2002 5:00:39 PM PDT by Pokey78
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To: Howlin; Miss Marple; summer; mombonn; Sabertooth; beckett; BlueAngel; JohnHuang2; ...
Pinging the Noonan list.
2 posted on 10/25/2002 5:03:59 PM PDT by Pokey78
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To: Pokey78
Excellent eulogy. I would have wished Mr. Wellstone out of the Senate, but not in this way. I disagree vehemently with his ultra-liberal philosophy, but always considered him sincere, the antithesis of the Bill Clintonized modern Democrat party.

Rest In Peace, Mr. Wellstone, along with your loved ones. And condolences to those who remain behind.

3 posted on 10/25/2002 5:06:15 PM PDT by Illbay
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To: Pokey78
Thanks, Pokey. Peggy Noonan's a far better person than I; I never had a bit of use for Senator Wellstone. It's a wonderful gift to be able to see the best in people. Charity is good.
4 posted on 10/25/2002 5:08:18 PM PDT by solzhenitsyn
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To: Pokey78
Oh, brother.

Paul was a nice guy, was well-liked and most probably SINCERELY meant well - but he was completely misguided about the concept of 'defending the country from enemies both domestic and foreign', an oath he swore to uphold.

Prayers for his family, friends, staff and supporters mourning his untimely and unfortunate demise; no one, I hope, is glad to see him depart the earth in this manner.

BTW, could someone PLEASE inform Ms. Noonan that we live in a

Constitutional Republic

and not a democracy?
5 posted on 10/25/2002 5:09:19 PM PDT by ApesForEvolution
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To: ApesForEvolution
I cannot help but wonder how the Dims and media would handle the situation if an "unapologetic" conservative passed away. God forbid that it happens, but I hear all of the Republicans and conservative pundits in the media being very gracious and respectful. Somehow, I cannot picture the same coming from the other side of the political fence.
6 posted on 10/25/2002 5:14:14 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
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To: Pokey78
I hated his politics, but I think he was an honorable man.

It's a rarity for Democratic politicians.

7 posted on 10/25/2002 5:16:09 PM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: solzhenitsyn
It's not charity when you believe someone to be honestly sincere in their beliefs. They may not match your own but there is an incredible difference between political posturing and a true belief system.
8 posted on 10/25/2002 5:17:05 PM PDT by riley1992
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To: Pokey78
But when you disagree with someone on politics and you know the person you're disagreeing with isn't cynical or mean but well meaning and ardent and serious--well, that isn't souring or embittering. That's democracy, the best of democracy, what democracy ought to be about.

So true, and exactly why, despite disagreeing with Paul Wellstone on most issues, I truly liked him. Much the same way I like Jerry Brown and Noam Chompski. I oppose their ideas, but I trust them. They really believe what they say.

I feel sorry. This is a sad day. Peggy Noonan has done an eloquent job, as always.

9 posted on 10/25/2002 5:21:26 PM PDT by zevonfan
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To: Paul Atreides
Actually, I believe when Senator Paul Coverdale of Georgia died suddenly, there were quite a few nice articles and comments about him.

Despite the Clintonistas, character does count. Senator Wellstone, although misguided and often foolish, had character, and he will be missed.

10 posted on 10/25/2002 5:23:09 PM PDT by Miss Marple
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To: Pokey78
Pokey, I need to be on this list . . .
11 posted on 10/25/2002 5:26:47 PM PDT by BraveMan
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To: Pokey78
Well done.
12 posted on 10/25/2002 5:26:58 PM PDT by ChadGore
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To: Pokey78
Thanks Pokey! I didn't agree with Wellstone much, but he did seem to have the courage of his convictions.
13 posted on 10/25/2002 5:29:06 PM PDT by Amelia
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To: Pokey78
I don't get it.

People have been excoriated - and their posts deleted - all day for expressing something less than sympathy for Sen. Wellstone's fate. And rightly so I believe. With the exception of someone who is unarguably evil, it is not right to celebrate someone's death. So my reaction has been to remain silent on the issue.

But when someone like Peggy Noonan writes what is essentially a love letter to the guy, I have to say "Why?"

Wellstone was one of, if not THE most socialistic members of the federal govenment. Which means that he believes he has a divine right to my (our) time, effort and ability. Which makes him (in my mind) something just above a slaveholder.

While I certainly would not wish death upon him, I don't understand how he could be construed as a "good guy" buy anyone on our side.
14 posted on 10/25/2002 5:31:03 PM PDT by Golan Trevize
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To: Paul Atreides
'Gracious' and 'respectful' remarks are appropriate, and, honestly, Sen. Wellstone was a really nice guy who believed (total, 100% self-deceived bleeding heart if ever there was one) what he espoused.

But, Sen. Wellstone was anything but a beholder of the American Constitution. He worked like a cancer to gut it. Too bad that all freedom-loving Minnesotans won't have the opportunity to hand his ideas the defeat they deserved.
15 posted on 10/25/2002 5:32:47 PM PDT by ApesForEvolution
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To: Pokey78
How does she do it? How I wish I could write like her. She IS a NATIONAL TREASURE. Paul Wellstone, as Rush said today, was a true passionate liberal. He REALLY did belive in his cause. God bless him,his wife and his daughter. May they rest in peace and much love and comfort to the family.
16 posted on 10/25/2002 5:33:09 PM PDT by JOE6PAK
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To: Pokey78
Proverbs 2
12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,
13 who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways,
14 who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
15 whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.
16 It will save you also from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God.
18 For her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead. 19 None who go to her return or attain the paths of life.
20 Thus you will walk in the ways of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it;
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.
17 posted on 10/25/2002 5:33:25 PM PDT by Russell Scott
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To: Pokey78
How does she do it? How I wish I could write like her. She IS a NATIONAL TREASURE. Paul Wellstone, as Rush said today, was a true passionate liberal. He REALLY did belive in his cause. God bless him,his wife and his daughter. May they rest in peace and much love and comfort to the family.
18 posted on 10/25/2002 5:36:02 PM PDT by JOE6PAK
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To: Paul Atreides
Somehow, I cannot picture the same coming from the other side of the political fence.

There have been some liberals who openly make fun of Reagan's health and say they can't wait for him to go. Real nice they are.

19 posted on 10/25/2002 5:37:41 PM PDT by Reaganwuzthebest
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To: Paul Atreides
Somehow, I cannot picture the same coming from the other side of the political fence.

There have been some liberals who openly make fun of Reagan's health and say they can't wait for him to go. Real nice they are.

20 posted on 10/25/2002 5:39:28 PM PDT by Reaganwuzthebest
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