Senator Paul Wellstone (D MN) has died in small plane crash. A storty is on CNN’s front page. Despite my obvious philosophical differences with him, I always admired his steadfast dedication to his own principles.
I’m a bit speechless now. It’s why I kept delaying posting a thread- thanks for starting one, Lib.
Yup, still speechless.
Wife and daughter were on the plane as well. 
And what lno said.
This is almost a mirror of the death of Sen. Carnahan from Missouri.
If Wellstone wins, who will Ventura send to Washington?
This is beyond imaginable. So sad. He was such a nice guy.
I hope they all died instantly. They haven’t released the staff members’ or pilots’ names yet.
Not necessarily anyone, plnnr. Minnesota law allows the party to place a new name on the ballot up to four days before the election.
If they do not, and Wellstone wins the election, then the appointment is in Ventura’s hands.
I had the good fortune of seeing Senator Wellstone a few years ago when I was an audience member of a public-television broadcast on agricultural issues. He argued in favor of the family farmers so passionately, and with such good information that he made then-Senator Rod Grams look positively stupid. After the broadcast, I went up and shook his hand. He introduced himself as Paul, and I’ve been a strong admirer ever since that night.
plnnr, I hate to nitpick, but Mel Carnahan was governor of Missouri before his plane crash, not senator. His wife is Senator Carnahan, however.
Robin
When I voted for the first time after turning 18, I voted for Wellstone for senate. I’ve never regretted it.
I’m shocked and saddened by the news. He stood for what he believed, never sacrificing his values for the sake of political expediency.
He’ll be missed.
What a tragedy…
Above everything else - yes, even above his political position, his life’s work - he was a father and a grandfather. There are two sons now fatherless, motherless and without a sister. There are six grandchildren who have lost a grandfather, a grandmother and an aunt. There are people who have lost a boss, a friend, a co-worker, a neighbour.
Let us not forget his staff and the plane’s crew - they, too, had family, friends, loved ones and acquaintances who will feel the loss just as deeply.
A sad event indeed.
Hopefully, too, the political angle of it all will sort itself out for the better.
I lived in Minnesota for a time, and he was a good politician, and strongly stood for what he believed in. This is a great loss for Minnesota and our US Senate.
I first found out about it at lunch today. The TV in the restaurant was tuned to Fox news, and I just caught the headline “Wellstone dies in plane crash” for about a half-second before it switched to something else. I thought, “that couldn’t have said what I thought it said.” I was wrong.
Holy cow.
/rubes bows his head for a moment of silence.
indeed.
Here’s to the families that are involved, and here’s to those who follow his example in the years to come… we need more people like him in politics.
This is so sad… He was a wonderful senator and a wonderful person. I met him a long time ago, when I was maybe 3 or 4, and I still remember how much I liked him.
He will be missed. Sometimes life is just. so. wrong. He certainly was passionate and commited. I will miss him.
I am deeply saddened.
I didn’t know much about Sen. Wellstone, but now that I’ve read the articles about his career, I wish there were more in Congress like him.
It’s a sad day for Minnesota, and for the country.
Editorial from the Minneapolis Star- Tribune.
It is a testament to the man’s goodness that accolades have come unreservedly from every point on the political spectrum.
One conservative colleague was unable even to complete an interview. His aid had to come on the phone and cut it off. Another remembered how kindly and respectfully Paul had treated staff members in the Senate, and said that he knew from that alone that he was a good man. I have yet to hear a single “but”, “except for”, or “on the other hand”.
This man had the unqualified admiration even of his opponents.