There may be some people on this list who remember Paul Wellstone and what happened as a result of his funeral. Senator Wellstone was a great man and a great American. He was also very progressive and an amazing speaker and thinker. His famous line was, “I am from the democratic wing of the democratic party.” I feel like we could really use that line in 2024. He died tragically and unexpectedly in a plane crash leaving a void in many people’s lives.
There was a memorial ceremony soon after the death held in a large arena. Many of Senator Wellstone’s colleagues, still devastated by the death stood up to speak, about his life and about his dream About what it meant to be progressive, and the ways he devoted his life to fighting against the forces on conservatism which he saw as creeping radicalism. The speeches were beautiful but emotional. The Republicans went nuts. They claimed that the remembrances were horrible political theater and these people who loved Senator Wellstone were using his death for political purposes. They beat down everything that was said and the press (in those days it was all mainstream) gleefully went along with them. Most people who heard about the memorial had heard little more than snippets. The gaslighting was horrific and Senator Wellstone’s memory was being used to silence progressives, to take away their voice. And to put a cap on all progressive dialogue as somehow wrong and divisive. Even as Karl Rove was implementing one of the most vicious attack strategies in U.S. history to protect George Bush and his march to war. It was successful. It quelled debate. Every little critique from every corner was amplified and portrayed as terrible. People forget this was one of the major reasons there was so little push back against the Iraq war. Too many politicians became scared to make any critique. Democratic politicians had the same spines they had then now.
I fear the same thing happening with this attempt on Trump’s life. Republican are using it as a way to quell any critique of Trump and his fascist movement. You cannot say what is true because it is wrong to say it. People are being removed from news shows to control language (see what happened on MSNBC). Republicans as saying anything to get the idea the democrats cannot critique Trump into the political ether. I don’t think what J.D. Vance and others said was a mistake at all. There is a concerted attempt to control language and try and destroy anybody who does not follow this. The MSM is going along. If it were not for social media it might be Paul Wellston redux. Do not let it happen. Heed Santayana, study history and understand consequences.