Replies

Apparently a few "conservatives" on this board could heed a bit of their own advice. When Rush Limbaugh announced that he had gone deaf, there was a chorus of extreme-left rhetoric that said, basically, that he deserved it. I recall the outrage that emanated from this board that liberals would actually wish physical harm on their political opponents.

However, there is apparently a strain of so-called "conservatives" (though I would severely question the depth of their belief in true conservatism) that celebrate the loss of an avowed leftist. Wellstone was compared, in this very thread, to the likes of Stalin. This is not representative of the inherent decency of conservatism.

I am no fan of Paul Wellstone, and I sincerely wished him political defeat - but to celebrate the death of a political opponent is the most dispicable display of inhumanity I can fathom. He was a liberal - but a principled liberal. He was wrong - but he fought valiantly for what he thought best for the nation. He made no political calulations, and surrendered his principles to no one. There are conservatives - in office, and on this board - that could learn a great many things from Wellstone.

The truly conservative would mourn the death of a worthy adversary, not trample on his grave as if his death is some sort of victory for conservatism. No such victory occurred. No liberal mind has been swayed, and no heart changed. The nation has exactly the same ratio of conservatives to liberals. But, this conservative has lost a lot of respect for the "conservatives" on this board. I always thought the liberal stereotype of rank-and-file conservatives as "mean spirited" was just a method of casting dispersions on a political opponent. Now I see that their observations may have some merit.

Conservatism is, at its root, about a common decency toward mankind (in morality, economics, work-ethic, and foreign policy). It is about promoting good over evil in society. This board is populated by far fewer true conservatives than I had once suspected.

Cordially,
ADE

He was a liberal - but a principled liberal. He was wrong - but he fought valiantly for what he thought best for the nation. He made no political calulations, and surrendered his principles to no one.

Well said. I would happily take 50 Paul Wellstones if it also meant 50 conservative counterparts. Wellstone seemed to truly believe his way was the best course for the country, as opposed to the vast majority of senators - whose political ambitions outweigh any consideration for the country.