Posted on 10/24/2003 5:19:14 PM PDT by sharpink
Politics Page: A Wellstone Tribute
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By E. Andrew Eccleston
10-24-03
As we come up on the one year anniversary of the death of Senator Paul Wellstone, I have reflected on his life and this passing year. To begin with it is only fair to point out that I never voted for Wellstone. His leftist ideology and populist rhetoric never appealed to me. The only thing I liked about the Senator was his energy and principled if misguided stands on the issues. Throughout the state of Minnesota where I hail from memorials for the fallen Senator are still everywhere. It is not unusual to still see Wellstone yard signs and bumper stickers and even the memorial “What Would Wellstone Do” bumper stickers. I marvel at the level of devotion and genuine grief for the late Senator.
I wonder and (please know that no disrespect is intended) if the devotion is genuine. Not that I think it’s insincere but sometimes when a person dies tragically they transcend their actual accomplishments and become a symbol. Before his death he was engaged in a tight race for his seat with Norm Coleman. His support from the state was waning as he ran for a third term something he promised not to do. We will never know what the outcome of that election might have been and holding on to his seat was no certainty.
However a year makes a great difference. The late Senator can in retrospect be forgiven for running for a third term when one views the battle in the Senate for judicial nominees and numerous other issues. Either way the election turned out I believe that Wellstone would have emerged a winner. Only today as I thought about Wellstone, I remembered that the late Senator exploring a run for President. Hearing this over a year ago I cracked up at the thought of Paul Wellstone in the race for the Whitehouse. Now I’m not so sure.
No one had better left credentials than Paul Wellstone. Not a single Democratic Presidential candidate could possibly flank him on the left. As far as charisma and energy and populist rhetoric who out of the numbing nine could match him. In fact current frontrunner Howard Dean comes off as a pale imitation of the late Senator when the democratic base seems to be hungering for the real deal. I think if Senator was alive today it is very likely that he would be the leading democratic contender for President. A year later this possibility doesn’t seem as far fetched.
This however is something we will never know. Because of tragedy we will never know what lay in store for the Senator. The possibilities are compelling and sure to garner greater adoration of Senator Wellstone. The one thing I am sure of is that we are witnessing the birth of an American folk hero. A status few people let alone politicians ever achieve.
Well, that's believable.
I marvel at how, presented with the eveidence, some can ignore their self interest.
It is going to be so much fun. Lots of booze, lewinskis, dems going wild, you knowm typical dem stuff. Hillie certainly did a great job, taking out the only guy with national attention who was to the left of her. She didn't know about Dean but she's still got time to work on him if he gets too big.
Today's Minneapolis Star Tribune, bastion of all things liberal, actually condescended to print the letters of a few politically incorrect iconoclasts (judged by Strib standards, anyway) on the proposal to rename Lake Calhoun Lake Wellstone.
No to Lake Wellstone
In response to an Oct. 18 counterpoint suggesting that Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis be renamed "Lake Wellstone," I would remind the writer of two facts.
The first is that Paul Wellstone was not universally admired in this state. Some thought that he was a divisive exponent of class warfare and an opportunist. Many thought he would not be reelected to the Senate. Approximately half of Minnesota voters were solid for Norm Coleman.
The second is that Lake Calhoun already suffers from significant pollution. Why add to it?
Jack Uecker, Minneapolis.
Name a lake after the late Sen. Wellstone? Why not instead name an abortion clinic after this champion of choice? Let the inscription beneath his name read, "He stood up for the little guy."
Michael W. Bird, St. Anthony.
A synthesis of the Star Tribune's Oct. 18 coverage of Paul Wellstone and Al Franken might suggest that, were Minneapolis to rename Lake Calhoun, a "fair and balanced" name might be "Lake Frankenstone."
Oh well, "Lake Calhoun" really isn't such a bad name.
Gene Delaune, New Brighton.
Hey, I like that idea! That would be so appropriate!
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