Jim Oberstar buried in Maryland today. This kind of hurts - is it just me?

[scarletwoman]

I'm Minnesota born and bred, and I've always been proud of it. Although I moved around in my younger years, and lived in a number of other states, by 1995 after 6 years in Alaska, I came "home" to Minnesota, because there was no where else I really wanted to be, but here where my deepest roots have always been.

Even though I grew up in St. Paul, Up North was always my favorite place to be, so when I moved back from Alaska, I headed north of the Cities to find a place to live in the woods. I ended up in the 8th District - Oberstar's district. I got active in local DFL politics, got to meet Oberstar and talk with him, and I admired him greatly. To my mind, he was a damn fine Minnesotan - smart, economically left, and very much in touch with the Union and populist roots of the DFL.

I honestly wept when he lost the 2010 election (yes, I voted), I was utterly heartsick. But events marched on, and by 2012 I focused on getting Nolan elected - I mean, FUCK that asshole Chip Cravack!

The thing is, I had no idea that in the meantime, Oberstar had moved to Maryland. I had assumed that once he was out of Congress, he'd be back home in Minnesota. It wasn't until his sudden and unexpected death was announced last Saturday that I found out he'd been living elsewhere.

And today I've just heard on MPR that he was buried in Maryland. I have to admit this makes me very sad. It's probably stupid, I know, but not having him buried here in Minnesota, his native land, makes me feel an even greater loss than just the loss of his living self. There will be no gravesite in the Iron Range where his longtime constituents can go to honor him and remember his many years of service.

Maybe it's stupid and ridiculous and absurd, but I feel cheated.

[Brickbat]

1. I hear you, and I agree.

I'm trying to think about how pretty much every road and bike trail in the 8th is a monument to Jim. The port in Duluth is a testimony to his advocacy. The call center on the Range. There are a thousand living memorials to his work. It's not the same, but his stamp really is all over this district.

[scarletwoman]

6. Very well put, thank you.

Yes, he left his mark in a very good way. Well said!

[BainsBane]

2. I hear you

Particularly since that district is so beautiful, or at least many parts of it.

I think when these representatives spend so much time in DC, they move their families and everything out there. Still, it seems sad that he isn't buried in the place he came from and represented for so many years.

[scarletwoman]

5. Thank you.

As said in my post below, I thought Representatives were supposed to maintain a residence in the district they represent. I understand that they need to live near DC as well, but I thought they still kept a home in their home district.

Still, it seems sad that he isn't buried in the place he came from and represented for so many years.

Yes, that's how I feel about it.

[riverwalker]

3. lived in DC most of his life

(but he never forgot where he came from.)

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_25724818/former-rep-jim-oberstar-remembered-family-man
Oberstar had lived in the Washington area most of his adult life, since going to work for his predecessor in Congress, John Blatnik, in 1963.

[scarletwoman]

4. I understand that congress critters need to have a place to live while they're working in DC,

but I always thought that they also needed to maintain a residence in the district that they're representing.

If I'm wrong about that, chalk it up to ignorance.

[Jenoch]

7. Yes, a U.S. House member must maintain a residence in their district.

You have come upon about the only criticism opponents of Rep. Oberstar that was actually somewhat true. He did spend most of his time out east. For around the first 20 years in office he used his mother's home as his Minnesota residence. He continued that after his mother died.

That being said, he represented the 8th district well. The 8th now has another good representative in Rick Nolan. He was my rep. when I was a kid in sw Minnesota.

[jwirr]

8. It is not just you.

[scarletwoman]

9. Thank you. I've gone through my stages of grief and reached "acceptance", but

it still makes me sad that there will no gravesite in MN.

[jwirr]

10. Yes. I would like to know that he was resting here with us.

[glinda]

11. Maybe it has to do with his wife or family related decisions.

[scarletwoman]

12. Yes, I understand that.

It just took me by surprise, is all. I've gotten over it.