"So many people who never knew Paul are better off because of him. We all loved Paul for his energy and independence. He was the pied piper of modern politics - so many people heard him and wanted to follow him in his fight. His loss is monumental. I loved his passion, his spirit, and his zest for making peoples' lives better. This is sad beyond any words." - Sen. John Kerry
Two years ago today, my wife, our 19 year old daughter and I were on the way to Washington D.C. to participate in what was to be the first of the really big anti-war rallies of this century when we heard the news about Paul Wellstone. We were shocked and saddened beyond belief.
One thing that helped make his loss bearable was being in the company of tens of thousands of similarly grieving compatriots. Even though our hearts were heavy, our voices were strong. "Remember Paul" became one of our rallying cries that day.
And, as I reflect back , I can't help but wonder how things would be today if Paul were still amongst us.
Without the shameful exploitation by the republic party and their collaborators in the media of the Wellstone Memorial, perhaps the election would have turned out differently. At the very least, Norm Coleman would now be a deputy assistant boot-licker in some federal department rather than a Senator. Chaffee, Collins, or Snowe might have jumped ship, thereby giving us control of the Senate.
Hey, a guy can dream, can't he.
But here we are two years later in the political fight of our lives. And as election day closes in, I take strength and solace in Paul's legacy and will fight all the harder to make his vision a reality.
"Politics isn't about big money or power games, it's about the improvement of people's lives."- Paul Wellstone