I can't finish Wellstone's "Conscience of a Liberal", it's too painful.

[liberalhistorian]

I started it this week, finally, and today I had to put it down only half-read because it's just too heartbreaking. The magnitude of what we've lost, and the reality that he's just never coming back, finally truly hit me and it's just too much right now.

The fact that the very people he fought so hard against, and who are against almost anything that benefits the average person or the poor, are so totally in control right now is just beyond hearbreaking, it's infuriating and frustrating and maddening and a million other adjectives I could think of. The fact that they barely hide their glee over his death, and their smirks and their laughter, and the fact that I will never, no matter what, ever believe that his death was just an "accident", even though we may never be able to prove otherwise, and that I hold those people responsible, is even more unbearable.

And then to have to look at that lowdown sleazeball business-as-usual corporate and Bushista ass-kisser who replaced him, and to know that he's only in the senate seat he so long lusted after (and not to help people, either, but to further the power of the powerful and corporations, etc.) because of Wellstone's "accident" is just too much. Thank God I don't live in Minnesota, or I'd really go nuts having to deal with him as my senator.

Why is it always the liberal/progressive champion of those without power who have to be taken from us like that? Why can't it ever be one of those damn fucking smug repukes? Will we ever be able to get back the kind of hope and inspiration and grass-roots activism he exemplified in his every waking hour, that was responsible for so much positive change in people's lives? I'm not so sure anymore, and that is what's really heartbreaking, because every page of his book I've read so far just shines with that kind of optimism and faith, and I just don't see that anymore.

[loftycity]

1. Did The Wellstone Critical Dialogue on Wednesday

I was chosen to be Mod at the next one coming up for Universal Health Care. You should go to Wellstone's web site and go to "The Critical Dialogue" section and see if they are having one of these meetups close to you or start your own.:hi:

[liberalhistorian]

8. I had signed up to host

a discussion of his book through their Civic Dialogue series, which is how I got a copy of the book in the first place. I figured my home could hold about 15 people (my son and I live with my parents, so I got my mom's permission), and was very excited, but NO ONE SIGNED UP. Not one single person, which was REALLY depressing, lemme tell ya! And I live near Kucinich's district, too.

[loftycity]

12. We had thirty people and I have more support for the

Health care ideas and putting them to work. I think we should have at least 50 people at the Health care dialogue.
We are doing the dialogue at the local library. Wellstone headquarters should be able to help you on finding a public space to secure. Even I could make some calls for you.

[liberalhistorian]

13. That would be great,

if you could do that. Health care is an issue of particular concern to me, and one I want to be much more of an activist on.

[camero]

11. Hi Lofty

They are here in Tampa next week but it's full and my funds are low.
Shucks, I signed up though. :hi:

[loftycity]

15. Hey Camero

Hope you can get to one of the Dialogues. It was great!
They were full..wow..maybe you should start your own.

[camero]

17. Not a bad idea

Maybe there are people in my county who would attend. I read Demo Kid's thread about the Veterans Hospital up there. Good to see it may be working. :)

[Nobody]

24. Cool, I'm there if I don't have a conflict

Paul Wellstone was one of the few who truly represented the constituents. Coleman is such a Bush Butt Buddy (tm) and seems to think that the job of a senator is being a rubber stamp for Bush and not representing the state.

We have one senator and his name is Mark Dayton.

Universal Health Care is one of my pet issues this time around.

[Product of Evolution]

2. He still wasn't good enough for the Greens...

DOMA and the DMCA got them to run a candidate against him.

Those were shameful votes, yes, but nothing worth trying to fuck a progressive over for.

[liberalhistorian]

6. I know, that was particularly

infuriating, wasn't it? And the guy the Greens nominated wasn't even as liberal/progressive as Wellstone, especially on environmental issues. That really soured me on the Greens right there.

[camero]

3. I wish I knew

They always seem to take the good ones don't they? :(

[mgc1961]

4. I was just thinking...

...along those same lines after I listened to a recording of DK on Mike Malloy and passed it on to my sister and parents. The lack of attention given to him is heartbreaking.

[lastknowngood]

5. It's like reading the MLK I have a dream speach it touches

the soul.

[Edge]

7. I was fortunate enough to have Wellstone as a Senator...

and I miss him a lot. He was the best politician there ever was. I bought Conscience of a Liberal at the end of last year and I have long since read it. I agree. It is depressing. But the book still gives us hope. That's the way I saw it anyways.

Too bad there isn't anyone else out there who's come even close to Wellstone as a human being. He really did stand up for those of us who couldn't. He did a lot of great for the state of Minnesota as well as the country.

It shocked and pissed me off that the people of Minnesota put an end to his campaign when they voted for that horseface Norm Coleman for senator. It was really depressing...especially since it was almost a week after his death.

Hopefully the work of Wellstone will never fade...

[liberalhistorian]

9. I think that was more a vote against

Mondale than for Coleman, at least I certainly hope that's true. And let's hope the good people of MN will realize the magnitude of their loss by the time of the next election and get Coleman the fuck out and send him back under his rock.

[Edge]

10. Amen to that...

Coleman fucked up this state enough. I hope people do vote him out come the next election.

[loftycity]

14. Everyone hates Coleman even Garrison Keilor wrote a

letter to Coleman ..so cutting it was a great moment. I don't get how he won. But the repukes were here constantly in the year before the election. The freeper's were working overtime. Someday I will share with you my run in's with Coleman.

[liberalhistorian]

16. I've heard that he wasn't that

popular in the state, and I'm very glad to hear it. Someone needs to wipe that fucking smug smirk off of his face, too, hopefully MN voters will do that in a few years.

So you've had run-ins with him? I hope you told him off good!

[loftycity]

20. Have you ever seen the movie "The Green Mile"

The crazy murderer reminds me of Coleman. Looks like him.

I would always run in to Coleman in Minneapolis. I said to him "aren't you the Mayor of Saint Paul..how come you are always here?"
He is very big into "Stripper Bar Scene." A judge friend of mine has witnessed this a few times.
And he was always out clubbing it.

better stories for another time.

[Nobody]

23. Please do, I'd be interested

Especially since I worked hundreds of hours on Paul's campaign that summer.

[bvar22]

18. Miss you, Paul

Wellstone kicking conservative ass at a Labor Day rally shortly before his death.


Wellstone valued people and treated everyone with respect.

They could kill the body, but the spirit lives on. I am a Wellstonian Democrat!
Thanks, Paul.

[camero]

19. I've never seen any pics of him like that

He looks like he used to be a wrestler. That's what we have in common.

[loftycity]

21. He was a Wrestling Coach for years. n/t

[camero]

22. I had heard that

A good one too I heard. :)

[AlFrankenFan]

25. It's very hard to even look at that book on my shelf without crying a bit

damn i miss him :(

[ComerPerro]

26. I haven't gotten past the first chapter

I just can't.

I start reading, he talks about his work in college and his twenties, his visions, his goals...

The compassion, the genuine concern, the sacrafice and effort, the social conscience...

The problem is, I read this, and then I can't help but think of Bush and Norm asshole Coleman. Then I think about what the country lost, and the elitist, fascist fuckheads that are in power, and it is just overwhelming.

I would love to read this book someday, but right now I just can't take it.

[liberalhistorian]

27. I know, that is

EXACTLY the way I feel, and why I just can't finish it right now, it's too much.

But it's really nice to see I'm not alone in this, and you've all made me feel at least a little better, thanks for that!:hi:

[RFKHumphreyObama]

28. When I was in Minnesota….

My very generous and wonderful host provided me with a copy of Wellstone’s memorial service and the coverage surrounding his death. I watched for about half an hour and discovered what a courageous, visionary, compassionate, inspirational and beautiful man Paul Wellstone was. I subsequently had to choke back the tears and turn the video off. It was too painful for me to think of what a truly wonderful and visionary man the world lost in 2002 and how the neo-cons exploited his funeral for their cheap political purposes.

Even here in Australia, Paul Wellstone was one person who could help me sleep at night with the knowledge that there was still honourable and courageous individuals in this world who were willing to stand up for truth, social justice and equality. When he died, the pain and sadness was overwhelming and it still is

[Nobody]

29. Have you been to Wellstone Action's site?

The link is

http://www.wellstone.org

There is a link to archives such as his campaign ads, the last update of the campaign web page, the memorial service in its entirety (which I attended in person).

This is the phoenix rising from the ashes of the best Senator we've had, the Senator that really did give a damn about the people who he represented.

I was at campaign HQ working for Paul the day his plane went down.

[revree]

30. FINISH READING IT...

and then vow to go out and live it. That will not only keep his dream alive, but make you feel empowered, too. Carry on his torch. Someone has to have the courage, so why not you?

I want you to know that because of your post, I plan to buy this book tomorrow. See, you had a positive affect on someone already!!!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

31. One reason that I became politically active

was that it occurred to me that we had sort of been depending on Wellstone to do all the heavy lifting.

After he was killed, I realized that if we wanted change in this country, we all had to become our own Wellstone and work for the future that we want.

[liberalhistorian]

32. Thank you for telling me that,

I needed to hear it! And you're absolutely right, I will wait a day or so and then will start reading it again. It wouldn't be so painful if the damn fucking smug repukes who embody everything he stood against weren't so firmly in charge, though.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

33. i understand exactly what you mean

:cry: