On the departure of Senator Dayton

Not very many people will miss Senator Dayton when he steps down next year. His announcement that he's not running for re-election in 2006 was surprising, but frankly, a relief to many Minnesota DFLers, myself included. Most of you probably know him as the kook who closed his office late last year over concerns about terrorism.

Mark Dayton is a bit of a kook, and he's a terrible politician. He's awkward in social situations (as some of my fellow ROH posters can attest), he's a horrible public speaker, and he seems to have no political sense (best demonstrated by the time he showed up at an event with Rev. Moon). He was right when he said in his announcement that he is "not the best candidate to lead the DFL party to victory next year."

But not many people got to hear what he said right before that in his announcement: "Everything I've worked for, and everything I believe in, depends upon this Senate seat remaining in the Democratic caucus in 2007." Part of what makes Dayton seem wacky to many of us is that he is the real deal. Because he's so politically inept, he didn't get what the ramifications would be of closing his office, for example. But he did that for the exact reason he said he did--because he didn't think it was fair to put his staff in (what he considered to be) harm's way when he wasn't going to be there himself. A kook, perhaps, but a genuine one at that.

Senator Dayton personally sponsors busloads of poor, elderly Minnesotans going to Canada each year to buy cheap prescription drugs. Unlike the aforementioned Norm Coleman, he was willing to stand up against this Administration and call them to task for their immoral conduct of this war and the treatment of prisoners. He doesn't take a salary from the government for his work. When I've mentioned this to some people, they say, "Sure, but he's loaded. Big deal. If I were as rich as him, I wouldn't need a salary, either." True, he's rich--does that mean he's obligated to work for free? Dick Cheney is rich, too. I'm pretty sure he's still on the payroll. What we're talking about here is a genuinely good man.

Don't get me wrong--I think Dayton is right, that he is giving the Dems a better chance to win his seat by stepping down. The guy is no Paul Wellstone, and you gotta know how hard it must be to live in the shadow of someone that amazing. (People in Minnesota still have Wellstone yard signs up two years later, for God's sake.) But I'm always sad when we lose good people from public service because they don't give a good speech, and can't make rich people want to yank out their checkbooks. Next time you make a joke about him (which you should, because he's at least a little ridiculous, and it will be funny), at least remember that he fights the good fight.