[link|http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2002/11/26/national1350EST0618.DTL|Making an Irish wake look dignified by comparison]

Excerpt:

The event almost happened in an entirely different way.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source familiar with the planning meeting the day after Wellstone died said the small group considered holding the service in a more somber setting such as a cathedral. But that idea was rejected for a variety of reasons.

One reason was that the senator was Jewish. But organizers also believed that any tribute to Wellstone had to reflect the populist bent of the man. Thus the big arena.

To those paying close attention, the intent of the memorial was clear in the advertised theme: "Stand up, keep fighting."

I say:

Fighting for what, precisely? This whole election cycle was about foreign policy, namely, whether we should have one or not, with the Democrats on the losing side of the question. It didn't have to be that way. It just happened by default.

Maybe a more accurate slogan would have been: "Party on, dudes!"