Who will be our next Paul Wellstone?

[latteromden]

It seems like an insensitive question to ask, maybe, but I'm sitting here with a copy of Conscience of a Liberal that I picked up over the weekend, at, well, Camp Wellstone. And the entire time I was there, I was wondering - who can be to the Democratic Party what Paul was to us? Who will be the one that jumps up the table to give a speech to help the little guy and risk a future political career? Who's going to invest in the politics of hope, in the power of young voters, in the inherent good of the American people?

Nobody that I can think of in office right now even comes close. People throw out names: Russ Feingold, Barbara Boxer, maybe Barack Obama one day, but in all honesty, how many of them are going to risk their jobs to go to jail with a bunch of farmers and everyday workers, no matter how noble the cause?

Are we looking in the wrong place? Do we need to be looking at schools, in city councils, in places that we too often forget? There must be others out there with the same passion, the same "stuff" that Paul Wellstone had. We need them, and soon - and now. Where do we look?

[CalebHayes]

1. Jim McDermott?

I could be bias based on my location. But I just saw the man speak yesterday and he was great. He is a fighter.

[Erika]

2. Howard Dean

is the only Democrat to show the passssion of Wellstone.

[latteromden]

4. I did actually think of Dean, too. He's pretty damn close.

[ClarkUSA]

5. Wellstone was a passionate champion of campaign finance

Dean opted out in 2004

I say Russ Feingold.

[DFLforever]

8. The Dean campaign was finance reform itself.

Small donor vs corporate buyer of the conventional campaign.

Opting out allowed the small contributions to continue to roll in.

[ClarkUSA]

17. The whole idea of campaign finance was to restrict the amount of money

period.

The money spent in 2004 was obscene.

[cali]

21. I like Dean a lot but Bernie Sanders

is much more like Wellstone. Bernie's been working for the little guy for years and years, first as mayor of Burlington, then as a U.S. rep. Even though Jeffords has indicated that he's running, there's a lot of talk here, that he may not do so. Everyone knows that if he doesn't, Bernie will run and easily win. And it's highly unlikely that Dean will run against him.

[Dr.Phool]

3. Dennis Kucinich

He's always been very progressive.

[regnaD kciN]

6. To play Devil's Advocate on this...

...while Senator Wellstone was beloved of the grassroots progressive bloc of the Democratic Party, until his death brought him quasi-martyr status, the D.C. Establishment Dems considered him a bit of an embarrassment -- an "out there" liberal who would say aloud what they themselves were too "respected," "mainstream," and "acceptable" to utter...or maybe even think. To those in the Congressional Establishment, a Paul Wellstone was useful to keep populists loyal to the party, but not someone who they themselves would take seriously, or to whom they want to be tied too closely.

By that standard, it would seem that Barbara Boxer is well on her way to becoming the new Wellstone.

:shrug:

[DFLforever]

11. I agree, right now it's Barbara's turn.

I recall she was one of the handful of senators who spoke at the Senate memorial shortly after his death, saying that like Paul, she would not allow herself to be silenced! Prophetic.

But the great thing about Wellstone is that though there will never be another like him, his spirit lives on and will continue to inspire and encourage many of us.

[mahina]

14. Excuse me, who EVER cared what they think?

"the D.C. Establishment" has nothing to do with anything. They are republicans as far as I can tell.

my dog is snoring, time for bed. I mean it though, really. They suck.

Wellstone was a hero long before he died. I contributed to his campaign from all the way across the Pacific. I loved him.
If he embarrassed them they can kiss my behind, they couldn't shine his shoes.

[zann725]

7. Don't underestimate. Only a Woman could straighten this out!

And Barbara Boxer's the woman!

[loudsue]

9. Kucinich, Dean, Boxer, Conyers, Tubbs-Jones, McKinney,.....a few others...

We've got a pretty good core crop, but we need to build on them. Actually, Wes Clark and John Kerry are pretty darned close, in my opinion.... they're more reserved, and more tactical, but I believe in their passion and integrity. John Kerry won me over to his side during the election.

I'm looking forward to seeing Barak Obama grow into a real dynamo, too! He's off to a great start, really.


Oh! And don't forget Ted Kennedy! He's been growing a pair lately, too! And Robert Byrd will always be one of my heroes.

Still a minority, but we've got a pretty good base crop to build on. We just need to get a whole helluva lot of the Dems replaced...SOON! LIEberman, for one, has GOT to go!! And Feinstein...yuck!

:kick::kick::kick:

[ProgressiveConn]

10. How can a former KKK member be one of your heroes?

I do completely agree with you about booting Joey L and Mrs Feinstein though. Dems from liberal states should be uhhh liberal. =)

[DFLforever]

12. I'm not loudsue, but I would think "former" is the operative word here.

As one might say that Kucinich he is a 'former' pro-lifer.

Or Dean is a 'former' pro-Naftar

[loudsue]

13. The key word there is "FORMER". I happen to LIKE people who get it!

Not everyone is BORN with Democratic values. Some of the best, staunchest Democrats are the ones who finally see the light. They're even better than 'born agains'.

:kick::kick::kick:

[ProgressiveConn]

15. Once a racist always a racist.

Joining the KKK is a conscious choice to join a terrorist group dedicated to the murder and repression of people based upon the color of their skin. Personally I think Byrd being a member of our party is a disgrace even if I do agree with him on many issues.

It is not like changing from Republican to Democrat. It is like going from being a card carrying nazi to being a Democrat. That is not an overstatement either.

[w4rma]

19. Don't try that BS here, ProgressiveConn.

…
But Byrd, unlike Thurmond, renounced his youthful participation in a racist cause. See, for example, this exchange with CNN's Bernard Shaw in Dec. 1993:

Q: What has been your biggest mistake and your biggest success?

A: Well, it's easy to state what has been my biggest mistake. The greatest mistake I ever made was joining the Ku Klux Klan. And I've said that many times. But one cannot erase what he has done. He can only change his ways and his thoughts. That was an albatross around my neck that I will always wear. You will read it in my obituary that I was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

Contrast that with an interview Thurmond gave Joseph Stroud of the Charlotte Observer in July 1998 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his presidential bid on the segregationist Dixiecrat ticket. Asked if he wanted to apologize, Thurmond said, “I don't have anything to apologize for,” and “I don't have any regrets.” Asked if he thought the Dixiecrats were right, Thurmond said, “Yes, I do.” Thurmond said this four years ago!
…
http://slate.msn.com/id/2075662/

• 2001-2002 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Byrd voted their preferred position 79 percent of the time.
• 2001-2002 On the votes that the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights considered the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Byrd voted their preferred position 71 percent of the time.
• 2001 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered to be the most important in 2001, Senator Byrd voted their preferred position 77 percent of the time.
• 2000 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered to be the most important in 2000, Senator Byrd voted their preferred position 93 percent of the time.

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=S0950103#Civil+Rights

• 2001-2002 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Frist voted their preferred position 15 percent of the time.
• 2001-2002 On the votes that the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights considered to be the most important in 2001-2002, Senator Frist voted their preferred position 0 percent of the time.
• 2001 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered the most important in 2001, Senator Frist voted their preferred position 9 percent of the time.
• 2000 On the votes that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People considered to be the most important in 2000, Senator Frist voted their preferred position 20 percent of the time.

http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=CNIP7879#Civil+Rights

[ProgressiveConn]

20. Don't get me wrong.

Senator Byrd has done a lot of good things in his career. I think the man has learned a lot (or at least has become really good at faking it). I however see racism as a very simple thing. Either you feel skin color matters or you don't.

The fact that he admits it was a massive mistake is a great thing. I do not fault him for it. I do however see joining the KKK as something that should mark a man for life. Further IMO his biggest mistake was not joining the KKK it was being a racist. One begets the other.

He should have this hanging over his head until the day he passes on. Just like in fifty years when a member of Al Queda stands up and says that joining AQ was the biggest mistake of their lives it wont be good enough.

KKK + Opposing the Civil Rights Act should be enough to keep the man out of any non-racist's list of heroes. Then again the fact that our founding fathers were slaveholders is enough to keep them off my list of heroes, same goes for Lincoln having to be slowly persuaded to end slavery. That is enough to keep him off my list.

[eridani]

22. Oh, please. Even George Wallace apologized for his racism

and said that he was wrong about fighting for segregation.

[w4rma]

18. I'd add Sen. Dayton, Sen. Feingold and Sen. Corzine to that list. (nt)

[LibertyorDeath]

16. Well whomever it is I'm sure they'll come to an untimely death

Fascism is breathing down your neck America.....

[jfern]

23. It definitely looks like Senator Boxer

[marcologico]

24. In the Senate it looks like Boxer, Kennedy, Kerry, period. Several reps.

including Conyers and Tubb-Jones.