He was a populist who combined fierce progressive values with forceful rhetoric and seemingly boundless energy. He fearlessly stood up to Big Oil and Big Pharma on behalf of working people. He campaigned relentlessly for the environment, for health care reform, for education, the needs of children etc. He was an unapologetic liberal. (And yes, that last sentence is redundant.)

You know how if you call or write your senator of member of congress, you occasionally might get back a form letter a month or so later? Thank you for contacting me blah blah blah. And quite often the form letter has nothing to do with the issue that you attempted to voice an opinion on? It was not uncommon, during his time in office, for some Minnesotans to get a personal phone call from Wellstone himself.

Someone on Youtube commented that his spirit "lives on in all democracts." Nice sentiment. But clearly not true. If the late Senator Wellstone were typical of our national leaders rather than an outstanding exception to the rule, we would be living in a very different country.

This is a newer video someone put together last week.