If You Don't Expect Too Much From Me, You Might Not Be Let Down

It was five years ago today when a plane carrying Senator Paul Wellstone crashed into a Northeastern Minnesota forest killing all aboard. Minnesota Democrats have spent every waking hour since trying to reanimate him.

Case in point...this piece from today's Minneapolis Star Tribune (registration required, but strongly discouraged) attempts to illustrate how "Wellstone's legacy remains vibrant five years after his death":

The names of Paul and Sheila Wellstone have been attached to buildings, awards and legislation.

No fewer than three schools, three community centers, two affordable housing developments, two gardens and a hospital now carry the name Wellstone.

Awards in their names are granted by the Campaign for America's Future, Freedom Network USA, the American Public Health Association and Families USA.

That's all very nice and well and good. People love to put Paul's name on lots and lots of buildings and awards and gardens and things ...but where, exactly, is evidence of Senator Wellstone's actual legacy?

The very next paragraph locates it for us:

And years after Wellstone introduced a bill in Congress that would grant parity for mental health in health insurance, legislation toward that end and bearing his name remains pending in Congress.

Paul Wellstone has been dead for five years and a piece of legislation bearing his name still holds the high honor of being considered "pending in Congress". Kind of reminds me of every piece of legislation he put his name on when he was alive.

Now that's a legacy to be proud of.