Al Quie was a Republican from the good ol’ days

From  Jim Thoreen, 

Glenwood

Minnesotans last week lost another politician from a string of marvelously enlightened public servants. Governor Al Quie lived a full 99 years, most of them in dedicated service to citizens of our great state either as a public servant or in his deeply held religious faith. He was one of a string of Minnesota Republicans who worked from a place on the political scale which today is foreign. Well, both Trumpers would call it “treasonous.” Quie understood that members of both parties represented and served people of all persuasions whether they voted for him or his opponent.

Among Al Quie’s greatest contribution to both politics and legislative successes was his ability to work “from the middle.” Yes, he belonged to a political party but above all else he earned the respect of fellow Congressmen with his straight edged ability to persuade and to build trust.

For this Democrat who twice sought election to legislature and was twice unsuccessful (I didn’t just lose to my Republican opponent in those elections, one of them fairly easily won, the other “crushed” me) I now find myself offering words of praise to Republican office holders from the “good ol’ days”. Keep in mind that the current “Republican” party bears no resemblance to the GOP prior to Donald Trump or, for the matter, prior to Newt Gingrich. But that’s another story.

We in Minnesota have been so well served by Republicans who worked “from the middle.” My list of these public servants includes Al Quie, Sen. Dave Durenberger, Gov. Arne Carlson, Gov. Elmer L. Anderson, State Senator Nancy Brataas and State Senator Dave Senjem, both from Rochester.

Now before my Democratic friends start throwing rotten tomatoes, please note that mine is a very short list and includes people who came from a different Republican party than that which now burdens our nation. The good people listed in the above paragraph were, or are, thinkers. They needed to walk a very narrow path of faith to the party while keeping open minds to the public good. We sorely need men and women of that mind set today…be they Democrats or Republicans.