Senate Passes Resolution Honoring Paul Wellstone

[CatWoman]

Before adjourning last week, the Senate passed a resolution praising the accomplishments of the late progressive Senator from Minnesota Paul Wellstone, who died in a tragic plane crash on October 25, 2002.

The measure introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) stated that “Senator Paul Wellstone should be remembered for his compassion and leadership on social issues throughout his career,” particularly his tireless work to advance mental health parity for all Americans.

While introducing the resolution on the Senate floor, Durbin recalled one particular moment that stood out in his mind that exemplified Wellstone’s vision and courage:

I can recall the last time I saw him. He was a few feet away from me here. It was the night we cast our vote on the Iraqi war. It was a vote that was a hard one. …

Twenty-three of us voted against the war that night. I was one, Paul Wellstone was another. It was even later than now that night, and I came to the well on the floor to say goodbye to Paul because we were both off for the reelection campaigns of 4 years ago. I came over to wish him well, and I said, “Paul, I hope that vote doesn’t cost you the election.” He said, “You know, it is OK if it does because that is what I believe and that is who I am. The people of Minnesota would expect nothing less from me.” It was the last time I ever saw him. He went home, and within 2 weeks he was killed in a plane crash with his wife and staff members.

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/24/wellstone-resolution/

[DemBones DemBones]

1. Nice, but I wonder why it took so long?

:shrug:

[femmocrat]

4. Probably had to wait for the democrats to initiate and pass it?

:shrug:

[Monkeyman]

6. Yep

[CatWoman]

7. like the republicans would

hell, they are still trying to resurrect Strom.

[DemBones DemBones]

8. Except the Dems don't have the majority until

the new Congress convenes in January. Maybe all the Republicans who lost had already left town before the vote?

[William769]

2. What a waste.

Paul Wellstone, you will be missed. :(

[Nikki Stone1]

3. Paul Wellstone, you are missed.

:kick:

[Rainscents]

5. I really missed Paul.

He was a great man!

[salin]

9. I remember so clearly the day of his crash

I had one eye on the news, and one ear on the phone to another DUer - trying to work through the sadness and surealness of the events. While I was too young to remember the assasinations and deaths of heros in the sixties - the death of Welstone is indelible in my memory. If only there were just half, or better more than half, the body of the Senate that showed such personal integrity on a regular basis... The discussion with Durbin, above, embodies the integrity of which I speak. In short he says so be it if this one vote costs my election (which the poll #s at the time suggest that he would not have lost) - the vote (against the IWR) is my conscience, and my electorate expect me to vote my conscience (unsaid: whether or not they agree, and whether or not it means I am reelected.) Oh, how I miss Senator Wellstone.

[Seabiscuit]

10. If Paul Wellstone and JFK, Jr. had lived, imagine

what 8 years of a Wellstone Presidency (with JFK, Jr. as VP) and another 8 years of a JFK, Jr. Presidency might have been like!

[Joe Chi Minh]

11. What a great initiative! American through and through. Honouring character.

[bianca2001]

12. GREAT NEWS!!!

Does anyone else ever wonder why so many inspirational, idealistic and
altogether wonderful men have been taken from us since that awful day,
November 22nd, in Dallas? And what might have been?

They may have been physically removed, but their impact is still there
for many of us who still draw inspiration from their words and deeds.

They are the HEROES of our own PANTHEON and the STARS of our own
FIRMAMENT......