Paul Wellstone, senator from my state of Minnesota, was killed today in a plane crash. Wellstone is one of the only politicians I’ve ever felt genuine respect for. He was running for re-election and this may effect the balance of power in the senate, but right now I just feel grief. This isn’t really a rant but I just wanted to say something…
Diogenes, I too am very sad. Not only was he “the only true liberal” in Congress, he was also a man I admired and planned to vote for in the upcoming election. I was elated to have received an email from him last Sunday in response to one I’d sent him. Although the email was most likely not written by Senator Wellstone himself, I felt it showed immense amounts of class for him to make sure that mail from his constituents did get answered. Made me a Wellstone supporter for life. So now I’m doubly sad.
He was an honorable man indeed.
Snicks
On his way to a funeral, no less. Surely one of the worst things that could happen to a family, within such a short time. To lose one family member, then to lose a husband, wife, and daughter on their way to the funeral…absolutely tragic in all senses of the word.
He’s being described by both parties as a man who cared passionately and sincerely about the issues he championed, and that’s one of the best things you can say about anyone in the political sphere. And, by all accounts, a sincere and genuine person, personally liked by his colleagues. Judge Andrew Napolitano praised many of the senator’s positions and gave him the brief eulogy on O’Reilley’s radio show minutes after the news broke as “the maverick champion who stood up for civil liberties.”
All the best to his relations in recovering from such a shocking tragedy.
I met him a couple of times at the state fair in St. paul. I always found him to be genuine and decent. He never seemed arrogant or condescending and he treated everyone he met with the same courtesy, whether they were on his staff, or bringing him lemonade. He was an unapologetic liberal and voted his conscience even if it was politically detrimental to him. he is a real loss for our state.
I’m not a liberal, but I feel for him and his family. My thoughts are with his surviving family members. What a horrible horrible tragedy.
Incidentally, Peggy Noonan has a very good column on OpinionJournal.com today (posted at 3:50) about Wellstone’s death.
Many of us in this fair State look to the north and see a State that can serve as a model of the best blend of urban and rural, of agriculture and industry and commerce. Like our view of Minnesota, Senator Wellstone was a man many of us admired and wish we had instead of what we got. His death is a tragedy for his friends and family and a severe loss to decency in big time politics. I can only hope that someplace between the river bluffs and the prairies another good man with brains and guts will rise up to replace him. What a shame.
Thanks fang. A nice eulogy from a conservative.
Even though he was a freedom hater, I will certainly not celebrate his death.
He was scheduled to debate at one of the colleges here in Duluth tonight. I was going to go see him. 
I got to see him speak once. It was at a College Democrats event at GW University here in DC. He was a pretty good speaker, although I was surprised at how short he was. Very humorous guy.
Funny thing about how he died in a plane crash just a few weeks before the elections…funny thing, huh? Sorry, but someone had to say it.
Nice. What kind of asshole crashes a wake to insult the dead and expect the mourners to be happy 'cause at least you won’t be dancing on the departed’s grave?
Shit head.
Only if the person is an idiot.
My parents have always volunteered for Wellstone. They said he was a true man, if he stated he believed in something, his life reflected it in reality.
This is sad indeed, especially as now I worry as to what will happen here in MN…
It is not my intent to be insulting. I’m saddened by his death as any reasonable and moral person would be. But as a conservative/libertarian, I have always regarded him as a “freedom hater.” Would it not be disingenuous of me to suddenly change my opinion on account of his death?
Are you a fucking moron? This is a thread of mourning, and even people who disagreed with Wellstone respected his integrity and devotion to public duty. At a wake, you say nice things about the deceased and keep the negative stuff to yourself!
The decent thing for you to do is to apologize for being an ass and not knowing how to behave in public.
I don’t think anyone is asking you to change your opinion because of his death…but…what purpose do you have for saying something negative here in the midst of this pain?
Ah well, I am getting the same comments here at work. I was speaking with a co-worker just now and he believes that the ** only [\b] sad thing regarding this is the death of the pilots… apparently Wellstone, his wife, his children are nothing, no loss, not even people?.. I don’t understand.
How about simply not posting, for heaven’s sake? Remember what Thumper’s mother said: “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” And no, saying that you won’t celebrate his death is not “nice” - it’s what’s expected in civilized society. Talk about a backhanded compliment.
I’m not very familiar with Sen. Wellstone, but it seems he was an exemplary senator, and that’s something our country can ill-afford to lose.