“Acting now on our own might be a sign of our power; acting sensibly…in concert with our allies and bi-partisan support would be a mark of our strength.” -Paul Wellstone
October 25 was the anniversary of the death of one of my political heroes and one of the greatest senators the great state of Minnesota has ever seen, Paul Wellstone. I loved this dude, and many, many, many other Minnesotans did too. For me he literally epitomized a fighter and was TRULY always thinking of the little guy.
At the time of his death he was locked in a close re-election battle with Norm Coleman. Wellstone, like many other politicians (R or D) at the time, had questions and concerns about Bush’s leadership and wartime skill set and didn’t believe a war with Iraq was necessary. What’s more he was leery of the specious nexus being concocted by the administration and marketed to the masses. However, unlike those other politicians, Wellstone did what he thought was (and turned out to be) right, by voting against the resolution.
If you recall, at the time the administration had successfully marketed the ‘if you’re against what Bush wants to do then you’re against America’ conditional to many Americans. It was this successful marketing and Wellstone’s rock solid ethos of doing what you thought right (essentially rejecting the false conditional) that would have likely cost him re-election if he had lived. Paul Wellstone was a hero for me, because he was NOT scared to run to when everyone else was running from.
With the Bush debacle in Iraq it turns out Wellstone’s judgment has proved prescient and his wisdom and decision making have been vindicated. This is a fact that no one, not even the opportunistic, slick and slippery Coleman can deny.
It’s sad that more of our politicians don’t have these true convictions. If Hillary Clinton had voted against the war in 2002 (like she wanted too) instead of trying to position herself for 2008, by showing she was hawkish she would have mopped the floor with Obama and she would be on her way to the presidency…if she had had conviction.
It’s sad that more of our politicians don’t have these true convictions. If John McCain had stayed in opposition to Bush on many of the issues which he was originally right on, like immigration, tax cuts, ideological conservatism and religiosity instead of trying to position himself for 2008, by being his best friend he would have been WAY up on Obama and a President McCain would be on deck.
There was a speech that Obama gave on change…it was to a high school class back in 1991 and it was eerily similar to his stump speeches some 15 years later. Conviction. Maybe the country is ready for someone who has conviction and not wishy washy political ethos. I know Minnesota was ready for Paul Wellstone.
Paul Wellstone…my guy!
