I'm going to cry... Paul Wellstone 1944-2002

I've spent the last hour trying to find a way to fill this space. There are few times in my life where I am rendered speechless, and this is one of them.

My heart is heavy, not just for Wellstone, or his family, but for our nation. Hate him or love him, Wellstone was the conscience of the Senate. At a time when Senators from both parties use "morality" to grandstand on pet issues, Wellstone was unapologetic in his compassion, was unabashedly progressive, and true to his ideals in the face of intense political pressures. His opponents accused him of having a short list of accomplishments, but that's because he wouldn't compromise on his ideals. Perhaps that made him weak as a politician, but as a human being he had few parallels.

In Ancient Greece, coliseum crowds praised their favorite gladiators with the chant "die now!" -- better to leave this earth at the height of your glory than to wither and waste away forgotten. Wellstone died a hero, at the height of his glory. There's no stronger monument to his legacy than the fact that his last vote was cast courageously against the Bush Administration's reckless war plans.

Regardless who replaces him, the Senate will be far poorer without Wellstone -- a tragic loss to the progressive movement, the State of Minnesota, and our great country.

Posted October 25, 2002 10:54 AM | Comments (69)