You know, I was actually saddened by Paul Wellstone's death (and not just because it probably increased the probability of the Democrats retaining the seat).

I just listened to excerpts from the "memorial service" on Fox News, and heard his son speaking.

This thing doesn't sound like a service to honor the dead. It was more of a cross between a campaign rally and an awards ceremony. The son spent several minutes thanking all the people who made it possible, and how important it was to uphold Senator Wellstone's ideals next week, and it was hard for me to discern any sense of grief in his voice as he spoke.

It was spooky, and not in the literal sense. Is this what the Democratic Party has come to?

It's particularly disgusting in the wake of the Democrats' charges that the Repubs are playing politics, when Coleman has basically shut down his campaign.

I also hear that they're playing games to put Mondale on the ballot as late as possible. There seems to be a pattern here, from Florida and Missouri in 2000, to New Jersey and Minnesota this year.

The Democrats win elections the old fashioned way--any damned way they can, and to hell with the law or decency...

[Update a couple minutes later]

Instantman shows that those Dems sure know how to partythrow a wake.

[Update at 10 PM PST]

It occurs to me that Dick Cheney must be wiping his brow in relief that he didn't have to attend this macabre Demfest.

Geez. The Dems must be really confident. Time was Clinton knew enough to pretend to be sad when the cameras were on at a memorial service.

I saw that part too. For a grieving son, that guy was having too much fun. He was relaxed, confident and confidently predicting victory. What seemed to bother him was that he wouldn't be able to "horn" in the victory party on Tuesday. Odd behavior for a person who lost his Father, Mother and sister just last week.

Wellstone was their guy, so I suppose if the Dems want to put on an undignified hootenanny for the mob by way of remembrance (with concession stands selling hot dogs and soda pop!), that's their privelege.

But clearly this was also the kickoff rally for Fritz Mondale's campaign. Equally clearly, Norm Coleman is released from any moral obligation to refrain from campaigning now. It was fascinating, in a sickening sort of way, to watch the Democrats dance in the blood of the dead.

I've been witness to politics, particularly Minnesota politics for a very long time.

Last night's rally was the most nakedly political "memorial" that I have ever seen.

Nakedly political. Embarassing. Opportunistic. Unruly. For long stretches it was breathlessly hysterical in shouting out the extremist Liberal mantra. Ultimately it was without much substance.

Wait a minute - in fact as a memorial to Paul Wellstone - it could not have been more fitting.

What I found fascinating at Instantman's site was the updates wherein (liberal) folks wrote-in to criticize Reynolds for describing the picture in the terms he did. I haven't seen much condemnation or decrying, however, of the conversion of a memorial service for a dead senator into a political rally.

I have to wonder, too:

When it's Strom and Jesse Helms' turns to meet their Maker, will Teddy Kennedy and Tom Daschle have similarly kind words to say for THEM, as Helms had to say for Wellstone?

When it's Strom and Jesse Helms' turns to meet their Maker, will Teddy Kennedy and Tom Daschle have similarly kind words to say for THEM, as Helms had to say for Wellstone?

Yes, probably.

I doubt, however, that Anne Coulter will opine that the Democrats killed their own guy. Does the Right have a counterpart for Rall?

Does the "right" have a counterpart for Rall?

Hmmmm...That's a good question.

If so, it's not Ann. She's too witty and entertaining (though she does tend to go over the top occasionally).

I think a get-out-the-vote rally is exactly what Wellstone would have wanted. It's their party, gang. Get over it.

Did anybody catch Tommy Thompson's Gore-like comment about the service?

CNN says that Thompson said that the partisan nature of the service did not surprise or upset him (see last lines of story).

"I was not offended by it, but some other people might be."

Reminds me of the Gore quote "I have not raised these issues, but others have."

OMG!!! Fox just had a story on Rall LOL!

The whole Nazi rally/PR stunt/ memorial service reminded me of the rally part of Pink Floyd's "The Wall". I was waiting for Harkin to shave his eyebrows off and a mob to start chasing Tommy Thompson around so Jabba the Kennedy could sit on him a crush him.

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It occurs to me that Dick Cheney must be wiping his brow in relief that he didn't have to attend this macabre Demfest.
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Um, yeah, and the way it turned out casts Cheney's disinvitation in a whole new light. It certainly would've been more difficult to do what they did under the nose of a major administration player. Not saying they wouldn't have, but there might be a shred of decency left in someone involved that said not to.