Wellstone Was For Kerry and Grassroots Movement To Reform The System

[WiseMen]

If Paul Wellstone were here today, I believe he would be campaigning with John Kerry.

Together they worked on a strategy for winning politics in America by building a progressive force to organize within the Democratic Party using a grassroots campaign for clean money/clean elections.

Wellstone-Kerry Clean Money Clean Elections bill (S. 982) was by far the most comprehensive effort to get corporate influence money out of the political process.

Wellstone-Kerry bill proposes a system of grants, indexed to to a state’s voting age population for candidates meeting qualifying requirements and agreeing to abide to abide by the Clean Money rules like adopting strict spending and contribution caps.

For Senate campaigns, for example, the grants would have a floor of $760,000 and a ceiling of $4,400,000 and would be modified to reflect a state’s media market(s). Grants would include independent and third-party candidates. Along with grants Wellstone-Kerry would mandate big discounts on postage rates and television advertisements.

Wellstone-Kerry is so far-reaching the it likely will never pass without a Democratic President, House and Senate. This path will not be easy; it will require a sustained grassroots effort; but it is brightest hope for political reform.

Following: Excerpt from Wellstone Interview

An interview with Paul Wellstone. (US Senator)(Interview)
Tikkun, Jan-Feb, 1998, by Jack Newfield

NEWFIELD: Let's talk a little bit about an issue like campaign finance reform, because one of the things that I wonder about is (A) whether the average voter really cares about it. And (B) to go back to the lessons of the Sixties, whether you can do anything in the Senate without a grassroots movement for it.
WELLSTONE: I think people care. The Catch-22 problem is that people don't think it's going to happen. They feel absolutely disempowered about this, and therefore, there isn't nearly the amount of grassroots activism you need for the pressure external to this Congress, the mode of power, to make the changes that we need. So you know, we're not even going to be able to pass a quarter of a loaf of a bread, which is the McCain-Feingold bill.
I introduced this Clean Money/Clean Election option with John Kerry (D, MA) and then we got some other people to join us. They passed it in Maine, they passed it in Vermont. They've got initiatives in Washington and Massachusetts and Missouri. They're going to pass this in a lot of states. And I think it's more populist. It basically gets all the private money out. It's public financing. Just set up a dean election fund. And I think it offers a better chance for change because the pressure's going to bubble up from the work that we can do at the state level, and then put the pressure back here in Washington.

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m1548/n1_v13/20430917/p5/article.jhtml?term=



John Kerry is clearly reaching out to the progressive movement that he has championed during 30 years of public services.

Progressive are called on to make a choice this year. Join John Kerry to ignite a true state to state grassroots effort for change; OR continue to criticize him for any and all of his centrists positions and blame him for working with the system without their help.

[Raya]

1. I Really wonder whether many new "progressives" know Paul Wellstone

That is the sad aspect of recent anti-war activism. A lot of the
great energy is not guided by experience.

[Rich Hunt]

7. yes

Lately, a lot of people bandy about the word 'progressive' without (apparently) having taken the time to understand the history of progressivism and the connotation of the word. It's not a synonym for 'liberal' or even 'very liberal'. This drives me up the wall. According to a number of people, apparently just about everyone in the Democratic party is 'progressive', when the reality is that very few of them are.


http://progressiveliving.org/progressivism.htm

Progressives are typically portrayed as being "far left", and yet this characterization is in many ways misleading. This impression arises largely because the elitist mass media simplistically portrays American politics as being a one-dimensional split between "liberals" and "conservatives". In fact, American politics are far more complex, and can't be properly understood unless we add (at least) one more dimension: elitism vs. populism. When we add this additional dimension, it becomes clearer that many self-styled "conservatives" are in fact wealthy economic elitists who have little in common with cultural conservatives or cultural liberals, and that their distance from the political center is much greater by far than the distance of progressives, whose views, when accurately represented, are far more mainstream than those of virtually any elitist.

[Cuban_Liberal]

2. Misleading subject line.

Wellstone was not 'for Kerry' unless he managed to come back from the grave. This is pure hyperbole on your part-- he would just as likely have been for Kucinich.

What a total crock, bold 'headers' and all..

3. I'm with you on that

Nothing wrong with defending Kerry and saying he worked with Wellstone, but it's not the same as saying Wellstone was/is for Kerry.

[Raya]

4. Is this just an baseless comment? Seems weird.

[Cuban_Liberal]

5. No, it's a factual observation.

Dead men don't endorse anyone, and it's laughable to assert that they do, as the subject line clearly does...

[Raya]

66. God. No detractors seem to have anything other that personal venom? Weird

[WiseMen]

10. Could you show me evidence that Wellstone worked w or supported Kucinich

Please I am very interested. I know personally that Wellstone worked
a lot with Kerry, but I don't know about the relationship with
DK that you seem to know about.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

12. They were both members of the Progressive Caucus in Congress

In fact, Wellstone was the only Senator in the Progressive Caucus.

As a recent returnee to Minnesota, I never had the privilege of seeing Wellstone in person, but those who have seen both Wellstone and Kucinich in person tell me that they have the same type of presence.

[Cuban_Liberal]

14. Can you provide PROOF of the horseshit you're asserting?

Not some lame-ass 'call former Wellstone staffers' stuff, but something we can ALL check, like a link to a speech, or a document, or something? :wtf:

[WiseMen]

27. I told you the correct way to get another judgement, but links may help

John Kerry’s long March for political reform began with his first run for the senate in which he refused PAC money which was the staple fundraising mechanism at the time.

After Wellstone got into the senate in 1990 he worked quite closely with Kerry on reform proposals. They collaborated on many things including personal fundraising, environment, campaign finance and even discussions of running for President.

The best way to confirm this is for you to contact someone from one of Wellstone’s former staff, since you don’t believe me. I post here some links to show that these guys collaborated.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Back in 1999, I got a Wellstone for President T-Shirt. It is deep forest green. I wear it around the house because it reminds me of a time when we had a lot of hope that the climb toward truly progressive democracy (as opposed to capitalism masquerading as democracy)was imminent.
We used to see Paul Wellstone around our neighborhood. He was completely approachable and always seemed aware and present.
When I was first dating my husband (he has worked for various Senators over the years), I asked him if any of these guys were honest, in his opinion.
"Two," he said. "Paul Wellstone and John Kerry."
I believe that climb toward truly progressive and participatory democracy is imminent again.
That's why I'm here.
Posted by Karen at October 24, 2003 08:06 PM

http://www.blog.johnkerry.com/cgi-bin/mt-comments.cgi?entry_id=542


The money raised by progressive women in Hollywood could never compete with that offered up by the special interests. Also, the pool of politicians whom the committee could in good conscience support was shrinking out of sight. And some closest to the group, like Ted Kennedy, John Kerry and Paul Wellstone, refused to take money from any PAC.

http://www.robertscheer.com/1_natcolumn/97_columns/041597.htm



The New Republic 2 May 2002 at 8:57:37 AM
http://www.thenewrepublic.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020506&s=editorial050602
Green Blues
by the Editors
Post date: 04.30.02
Issue date: 05.06.02
In an April 19 New York Times photo, John Kerry and Paul Wellstone high-five as if they've just won the Super Bowl; various staffers and environmental lobbyists look on, clapping. The victory party was to celebrate last week's defeat of the Bush administration's plan for exploratory oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The defeat was happy news for Kerry's presidential prospects, for green fund-raising, and for Democratic political positioning in the 2002 congressional campaign. But it was bad news for the nation.

http://www.free-market.net/forums/environment9906/messages/478562974.html





Gore could benefit if too many liberals crowd the Democratic primary field. The candidacies of Senators Paul Wellstone and John Kerry would pare Gephardt's support.

http://www-tech.mit.edu/V117/N68/ring.68c.html



A few passionate Democrats — Russ Feingold, Dennis Kucinich, Paul Wellstone and John Kerry, and (finally!) Al Gore and Ted Kennedy — along with a handful of Republicans including Chuck Hagel and Dick Armey (!) have been audibly remonstrating with the administration.

http://www.democracycollaborative.org/publications/books/barber2.html

[Padraig18]

28. None of that CRAP is out of Paul Wellstone's mouth.

Lame! :eyes:

[WiseMen]

37. Of course not. He is dead. That was not the point of the post. The point

was a long history of Kerry-Wellstone collaboration on political
reform which most here seem ignorant of but which goal may be
still within reach despite Wellstone's tragic passing.

[Padraig18]

41. The SUBJECT LINE OF THE POST was meant to deceive.

And virtually eevery poster in this thread has pointed that out to you, but you still don't get it. Not everyone else is wrong here, WiseMen, YOU ARE!

[WiseMen]

49. I guess you are a mind reader. It was not. What other subject lines are

on opinion pieces are you comparing it with.

I think the reason for the angst is the fact that evidence is
counter to prevailing assumptions in some quarters.

Don't you realize this. Please be honest.

[Padraig18]

50. Why don't YOU be honest?

You cobbled together some half-assed argument about Paul wellstone supporting John Kerry and then posted a misleading subject line. It's positively GHOULISH, and I'm not the ONLY person who's told you that.

Face it, you and this pompous, pretentious piece of horsehsit have been busted!

[WiseMen]

51. Here are some other p.1 opinion posts. Why don't you flame there

Does Kerry pass the baloney sandwich test?

The only strategic vote until the Convention is a vote for Kucinich

March 20 - big anti-war protest. Edwards people will stay home I take

[Padraig18]

52. Why don't you quit being a ghoul?

Maybe that should be a clue....

[WiseMen]

57. Provide Counter Evidence re. Edwards, DK Al. Then further comment is

meaningfull. Your continued personal attack don't do you much
credit.

[Padraig18]

60. I don't have to provide evidence to counter complete horseshit.

And that's precisely what it is. *I* didn't make the ridiculous statement that Paul Wellstone would have endorsed John Kerry-- YOU did. A much better bet would be that he would have been running against him!

[WiseMen]

16. Still waiting for Wellstone work with Kucinich. Maybe on DK's site.

There must be some evidence. It is plausible. Do some work to support your insulting libel against me.

[Eloriel]

23. His "insulting libel" isn't -- it's the truth. Your headline is

misleading, apparently intentionally so. And now you're trying to distract by taking on a side issue, Kucinich, and going on the attack with that.

YOUR HEADLINE IS DISHONEST. That's the bottom line.

[WiseMen]

32. I gave my opinion based on past. Show me counter evidence.

It is interesting how little you know about Wellstone so
you have to use Ad Hominen to argue.

[Padraig18]

33. Unfortunately, you failed to state that it was an OPINION in the subject

You're busted and dissembling like a 3rd-grader caught peeking at daddy's porn mags...

[WiseMen]

43. What does "I believe" mean? Your continued Ad Hominen is infromative

[Padraig18]

44. Nowhere in your *subject line* do you state 'I believe'!

You're busted, ghoul!

[goobergunch]

26. You know what's insulting libel?

The original post.

[WiseMen]

53. Wrong. Opinion was clearly stated based on long record of collab.

John Kerry’s long March for political reform began with his first run for the senate in which he refused PAC money which was the staple fundraising mechanism at the time.

After Wellstone got into the senate in 1990 he worked quite closely with Kerry on reform proposals. They collaborated on many things including personal fundraising, environment, campaign finance and even discussions of running for President.

The best way to confirm this is for you to contact someone from one of Wellstone’s former staff, since you don’t believe me. I post here some links to show that these guys collaborated.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Back in 1999, I got a Wellstone for President T-Shirt. It is deep forest green. I wear it around the house because it reminds me of a time when we had a lot of hope that the climb toward truly progressive democracy (as opposed to capitalism masquerading as democracy)was imminent.
We used to see Paul Wellstone around our neighborhood. He was completely approachable and always seemed aware and present.
When I was first dating my husband (he has worked for various Senators over the years), I asked him if any of these guys were honest, in his opinion.
"Two," he said. "Paul Wellstone and John Kerry."
I believe that climb toward truly progressive and participatory democracy is imminent again.
That's why I'm here.
Posted by Karen at October 24, 2003 08:06 PM

http://www.blog.johnkerry.com/cgi-bin/mt-comments.cgi?entry_id=542


The money raised by progressive women in Hollywood could never compete with that offered up by the special interests. Also, the pool of politicians whom the committee could in good conscience support was shrinking out of sight. And some closest to the group, like Ted Kennedy, John Kerry and Paul Wellstone, refused to take money from any PAC.

http://www.robertscheer.com/1_natcolumn/97_columns/041597.htm



The New Republic 2 May 2002 at 8:57:37 AM
http://www.thenewrepublic.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020506&s=editorial050602
Green Blues
by the Editors
Post date: 04.30.02
Issue date: 05.06.02
In an April 19 New York Times photo, John Kerry and Paul Wellstone high-five as if they've just won the Super Bowl; various staffers and environmental lobbyists look on, clapping. The victory party was to celebrate last week's defeat of the Bush administration's plan for exploratory oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The defeat was happy news for Kerry's presidential prospects, for green fund-raising, and for Democratic political positioning in the 2002 congressional campaign. But it was bad news for the nation.

http://www.free-market.net/forums/environment9906/messages/478562974.html





Gore could benefit if too many liberals crowd the Democratic primary field. The candidacies of Senators Paul Wellstone and John Kerry would pare Gephardt's support.

http://www-tech.mit.edu/V117/N68/ring.68c.html



A few passionate Democrats — Russ Feingold, Dennis Kucinich, Paul Wellstone and John Kerry, and (finally!) Al Gore and Ted Kennedy — along with a handful of Republicans including Chuck Hagel and Dick Armey (!) have been audibly remonstrating with the administration.

http://www.democracycollaborative.org/publications/books/barber2.html

[Padraig18]

54. They teach 'cut and paste' in ghoul school now?

No matter how many times you post that cobbled-together horseshit, it's still ghoulish, just like the initial post.

[waldenx]

6. Kerry would have a different opinion if

if he wasn't rich.
And your misleading headline is a fucking insult to Wellstone.

[WiseMen]

11. The headline is correct. Call former Wellstone Staffers to check.

Kerry was encouraged to run in 2000. Wellstone was supportive along
with Kennedy and Hollings.

[Cuban_Liberal]

13. Oh yeah, like we can do that!

What the fuck ever, WiseMen. This is lame, misleading horseshit. :eyes:

[goobergunch]

24. Got a link?

Or a phone number?

[WiseMen]

45. Do your research. I gave you my knowledge. Some links to show connections

But the best is to talk to people in the Know.

One of my contacts in on CNN right now.


John Kerry’s long March for political reform began with his first run for the senate in which he refused PAC money which was the staple fundraising mechanism at the time.

After Wellstone got into the senate in 1990 he worked quite closely with Kerry on reform proposals. They collaborated on many things including personal fundraising, environment, campaign finance and even discussions of running for President.

The best way to confirm this is for you to contact someone from one of Wellstone’s former staff, since you don’t believe me. I post here some links to show that these guys collaborated.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Back in 1999, I got a Wellstone for President T-Shirt. It is deep forest green. I wear it around the house because it reminds me of a time when we had a lot of hope that the climb toward truly progressive democracy (as opposed to capitalism masquerading as democracy)was imminent.
We used to see Paul Wellstone around our neighborhood. He was completely approachable and always seemed aware and present.
When I was first dating my husband (he has worked for various Senators over the years), I asked him if any of these guys were honest, in his opinion.
"Two," he said. "Paul Wellstone and John Kerry."
I believe that climb toward truly progressive and participatory democracy is imminent again.
That's why I'm here.
Posted by Karen at October 24, 2003 08:06 PM

http://www.blog.johnkerry.com/cgi-bin/mt-comments.cgi?entry_id=542


The money raised by progressive women in Hollywood could never compete with that offered up by the special interests. Also, the pool of politicians whom the committee could in good conscience support was shrinking out of sight. And some closest to the group, like Ted Kennedy, John Kerry and Paul Wellstone, refused to take money from any PAC.

http://www.robertscheer.com/1_natcolumn/97_columns/041597.htm



The New Republic 2 May 2002 at 8:57:37 AM
http://www.thenewrepublic.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020506&s=editorial050602
Green Blues
by the Editors
Post date: 04.30.02
Issue date: 05.06.02
In an April 19 New York Times photo, John Kerry and Paul Wellstone high-five as if they've just won the Super Bowl; various staffers and environmental lobbyists look on, clapping. The victory party was to celebrate last week's defeat of the Bush administration's plan for exploratory oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The defeat was happy news for Kerry's presidential prospects, for green fund-raising, and for Democratic political positioning in the 2002 congressional campaign. But it was bad news for the nation.

http://www.free-market.net/forums/environment9906/messages/478562974.html





Gore could benefit if too many liberals crowd the Democratic primary field. The candidacies of Senators Paul Wellstone and John Kerry would pare Gephardt's support.

http://www-tech.mit.edu/V117/N68/ring.68c.html



A few passionate Democrats — Russ Feingold, Dennis Kucinich, Paul Wellstone and John Kerry, and (finally!) Al Gore and Ted Kennedy — along with a handful of Republicans including Chuck Hagel and Dick Armey (!) have been audibly remonstrating with the administration.

http://www.democracycollaborative.org/publications/books/barber2.html

[Padraig18]

46. That's not knowledge, it's blowing smoke up our asses.

A cobbled-together rationalization capitalizing on a dead man's name.

[WiseMen]

47. I remember you saying similar when I tried to inform on issue with Dean's

campaign and the probability that it could not assure the
Governor the nomination.

I provided solid arguments which were met with similar personal
attacks rather that counter-argument of any substance.

Thank you for your continued pattern of appreciation.

[Padraig18]

48. Thank you for contributing to the pompous quotient.

Your arguments than were about as sound as this cobbled-together piece of ghoulish shit you posted tonight...

[bearfartinthewoods]

8. miss cleo? is that you?

[Cuban_Liberal]

9. No, Miss Cleo doesn't use important looking 'bold' stuff around her BS!

:P

[scarletwoman]

15. As a Minnesotan and former Wellstone volunteer, I find your assertion

insulting and dishonest. I, for one, would like an apology. You do not have the right, in any way, shape, or form, to use Wellstone's honorable name to add gloss to your candidate.

In case you've forgotten, Wellstone voted AGAINST the IWR -- and you "believe" he'd support Kerry?!?!

Furthermore, Wellstone while living, was ALREADY allied with Kucinich. Since Paul found it impossible to form a Senate Progressive Caucus (gee, where was Kerry for THAT if he's so "progressive"?), he sat in with the House Progressive Caucus, then chaired by Dennis Kucinich (now co-chaired by DK).

I've got no beef with you supporting Kerry, but DON'T drag Wellstone's good name into your efforts to paint Kerry as a "progressive". I KNOW who's the REAL progressive in this race, and whose agenda Wellstone actually supported in life -- but I would not PRESUME to make a posthumous endorsement on Wellstone's behalf, even for Dennis Kucinich.

sw

[WiseMen]

30. PLEASE LOOK AT THE RECORD. Even on IWR they work together to stop Bush

pushing towards war even though Kerry voted no and Wellstone no.

I am giving you my opinion based on the fact that they had a joint
strategy of political reform which involved one of them taking the
Presidency.


- - - - - -
A few passionate Democrats — Russ Feingold, Dennis Kucinich, Paul Wellstone and John Kerry, and (finally!) Al Gore and Ted Kennedy — along with a handful of Republicans including Chuck Hagel and Dick Armey (!) have been audibly remonstrating with the administration.

http://www.democracycollaborative.org/publications/books/barber2.html

[Padraig18]

31. Unfortunately, that isn't what THIS says:

"Wellstone Was For Kerry and Grassroots Movement To Reform The System"

Your headline was nothing but a cheap, political cobbling-on of Paul Wellstone's memory to John Kerry, and an insult to EVERY progressive who loved and admired him!

:grr::nuke:

[WiseMen]

34. No. I am pointing out a beautiful long collaboration that pseudo-activists

here don't seem to be aware of but was well know in other circles.

[Padraig18]

35. No, you were running a con.

And you insulted the memory of a man MANY of us wept real tears for when he died...

[scarletwoman]

39. I'm still waiting for your apology...

Your headline is bogus, and an affront.

sw

[Padraig18]

42. Ghouls don't apologize, apparently. n/t

[WiseMen]

63. I stated my strongly held opinion and supported it. I accept counter

evidence.

[goobergunch]

72. This post is factually inaccurate

...pushing towards war even though Kerry voted no and Wellstone no.

Kerry voted for Public Law 107-243, the Iraq Resolution.

[robbedvoter]

17. He sure as hell wouldn't be for Edwards who joined repukes against

Wellstone's corporate loopholes closing amendment - the one Democrat doing so.
I dunno more than that.

[Cuban_Liberal]

18. Breaking news: FDR, JFK and HST endorse Joe Lieberman.

Film at 11:00....

[Cheswick2.0]

19. No Way in hell would Paul have been endorsing Kerry

Shame on you for even suggesting such a thing when Paul is not here to defend himself. He would have fought almost everything Kerry voted for in the last 3 years.

[Padraig18]

20. He'd have endorsed Kucinich, I believe.

no way in HELL would he have endorsed Kerry. This post is an insult to his memory... :grr::nuke:

[goobergunch]

25. I don't know who Wellstone would have endorsed

But I agree with you that this post is an insult to him.

[WiseMen]

62. Say "No Way in Heaven"

[West Coast Democrat]

21. Wellstone would have endorsed the nominee

whom he might have endorsed in the primaries, be it Kerry, Dean, Kucinich, Clark, Edwards, etc....is pure speculation. Perhaps he wouldn't have endorsed anyone in the primaries.

[Eloriel]

22. You gotta be kiddin' me

Join John Kerry to ignite a true state to state grassroots effort for change

Riiight.

About as credible as most of your other rants.

Next you'll tell us that the DNC and maybe even the DLC are all in favor of "grassroots" efforts and democracy too. Or maybe that Kerry already has "the greatest grassroots movement" in history, as he said in one stump speech not all that long ago.

One thing you and your friends might want to ponder. Abraham Lincoln said it best: You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.

Some of us are sick and tired of gimmicks. We're also tired of campaign lies and lip service, pandering, saying one thing and doing another or doing one thing and claiming by God you actually did another, etc.

You'll never get their votes (incl. my vote) with the candidate you've got, because he represents everything and I do mean everything we are totally fed up with.

But don't worry about it -- Kerry is the ELECTABLE one. You don't need our votes. And it's a damn good thing, too.

[AP]

29. And people accuse Edwards of channeling the dead.

[quaker bill]

36. John Kerry is not a progressive, so stop saying that!

Kerry is a bit more progressive than Bush*, but then so was Nixon. I am sorry but Kerry couldn't ignite a progressive grassroots movement with a blowtorch.

Progressives offered their inspiration and wisdom to Kerry and he voted for IWR anyway. Better yet, he locked them out of his office.

Kerry's "Progressive Internationalism" states that liberals and progressives make "no meaningful contribution" to the debate on foriegn policy. Why then should we want to make a meaningful contribution to his campaign?

[Padraig18]

38. John Kerry wouldn't know what 'progressive' was if it bit him in the ass!

What you said, bill!

[Raya]

67. Should be taking that to RW talk radio. Does not help here.

[quaker bill]

71. Truth is painful?

In fact, he did lock progressives and liberals out of his office over IWR.

In fact, "Progressive Internationalism" does state that liberals and progressives "make no meaningful contribution" to the debate over foriegn policy.

I wouldn't want to pollute the proceeding with unwanted progressive notions. Kerry will have a hard enough time getting rid of the "MA Liberal" label during the general election campaign. He doesn't need folks like me screwing up his 'electability' image.

I am simply willing to accept his judgement that a progressive like me has nothing meaningful to offer and follow through accordingly.

[dsc]

40. Putting words in the mouths of the dead is nothing short of goulish

Wellstone can no longer speak for himself and thus no one, except his kids, should be speaking for him.

[WiseMen]

55. Are you in denial regarding the historical record of collaboration over

10 years. Why is this an issue. I would not be an issue if you
were more informed in my view.

[dsc]

69. It is one thing to work with someone

another to endorse them. I can't say who he would have endorsed but Kucinich has at least as valid a claim.

[WiseMen]

56. Sorry that Detractors are so Bothered. Trying to provide a correct view

of the record and indicate the hope and aspirations of those of
us who have been in the fight for political reform in our country
for a long time.

[Padraig18]

61. The 'detractors' are upset with your ghoulish attempts to marry...

...a beloved, respected and progressive deceased US Senator's memory to a political WHORE like John Kerry.

[Sensitivity]

65. Brother, you are sure determined. I don't get your point though. Post as

justfied as most. What's your problem?

[revcarol]

58. I looked at the picture of Wellstone, from The Nation, that I have

on the wall...and there Wellstone is...yelling...shaking his fist...

KERRY is the man this fiery grass-roots populist would have endorsed???

Just so we have another example: Wellstone also worked well with R-Senator Domenici, so certainly he would have LOVED Domenici's budget cuts on veterans.He would have wanted Domenici to be re-elected forever.

[WiseMen]

59. Surprisingly they were both passionate about politcal reform and Wellstone

was in Kerry's corner to an amazing degree. Do some research and you
will find that to be the case. A few links may point to this, though
I know his former staffers would confirm this to you.


John Kerry’s long March for political reform began with his first run for the senate in which he refused PAC money which was the staple fundraising mechanism at the time.

After Wellstone got into the senate in 1990 he worked quite closely with Kerry on reform proposals. They collaborated on many things including personal fundraising, environment, campaign finance and even discussions of running for President.

The best way to confirm this is for you to contact someone from one of Wellstone’s former staff, since you don’t believe me. I post here some links to show that these guys collaborated.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Back in 1999, I got a Wellstone for President T-Shirt. It is deep forest green. I wear it around the house because it reminds me of a time when we had a lot of hope that the climb toward truly progressive democracy (as opposed to capitalism masquerading as democracy)was imminent.
We used to see Paul Wellstone around our neighborhood. He was completely approachable and always seemed aware and present.
When I was first dating my husband (he has worked for various Senators over the years), I asked him if any of these guys were honest, in his opinion.
"Two," he said. "Paul Wellstone and John Kerry."
I believe that climb toward truly progressive and participatory democracy is imminent again.
That's why I'm here.
Posted by Karen at October 24, 2003 08:06 PM

http://www.blog.johnkerry.com/cgi-bin/mt-comments.cgi?entry_id=542


The money raised by progressive women in Hollywood could never compete with that offered up by the special interests. Also, the pool of politicians whom the committee could in good conscience support was shrinking out of sight. And some closest to the group, like Ted Kennedy, John Kerry and Paul Wellstone, refused to take money from any PAC.

http://www.robertscheer.com/1_natcolumn/97_columns/041597.htm



The New Republic 2 May 2002 at 8:57:37 AM
http://www.thenewrepublic.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020506&s=editorial050602
Green Blues
by the Editors
Post date: 04.30.02
Issue date: 05.06.02
In an April 19 New York Times photo, John Kerry and Paul Wellstone high-five as if they've just won the Super Bowl; various staffers and environmental lobbyists look on, clapping. The victory party was to celebrate last week's defeat of the Bush administration's plan for exploratory oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The defeat was happy news for Kerry's presidential prospects, for green fund-raising, and for Democratic political positioning in the 2002 congressional campaign. But it was bad news for the nation.

http://www.free-market.net/forums/environment9906/messages/478562974.html





Gore could benefit if too many liberals crowd the Democratic primary field. The candidacies of Senators Paul Wellstone and John Kerry would pare Gephardt's support.

http://www-tech.mit.edu/V117/N68/ring.68c.html



A few passionate Democrats — Russ Feingold, Dennis Kucinich, Paul Wellstone and John Kerry, and (finally!) Al Gore and Ted Kennedy — along with a handful of Republicans including Chuck Hagel and Dick Armey (!) have been audibly remonstrating with the administration.

http://www.democracycollaborative.org/publications/books/barber2.html

[Sensitivity]

64. Interesting thread. I learned a lot, thanks.

[lojasmo]

68. Ugh

This was before Paul died, and before Kerry decided to bow to the neocons in order to bolster his run for POTUS. Paul would be sickened by kerry's performance over the last 2 years. IMO, Paul would NOT have endorsed Kerry at this point.

[Forkboy]

70. Bring out your dead!

This is truly a deranged post.

Is using the dead to prop up Kerry really the best you can do in your support of him?