Ventura Wants To Run For President, in 2008

with Charles Barkley as a runningmate.

Wrestler-turned-politician Jesse Ventura (I) "all but threw his hat into the 2008 presidential ring yesterday -- and said he's already decided to tap basketball star Charles Barkley as a running mate," the Boston Herald( http://news.bostonherald.com/national/view.bg?articleid=1479 ) reports.

"And he said he's not kidding. 'Everyone laughs,' he said. 'They told me in Minnesota a wrestler couldn't become governor, and I proved them wrong.'"

... and that turned out to be quite true.

If he actually does this, it will be like watching a train wreck in progress without being able to turn away out of pure morbid curiosity.

Watch for the real 'Running Man' version to be played out in 2008 when Ahnold gets his wish and the rules altered to allow foreign-born citizens to run for Pres.

Or maybe 2012, if it takes that long.

or more like decades, or centuries (in the case of congressional pay amendment). I bet that if the constitution is changed to allow that, he won't be able to benefit from that.

We can only hope.

The fundies would probably try to kill him if it looked like he might have a real chance of winning.

willing to elect Arnold Schwarzenegger.

for being a reformer for a while. Ask anyone in Minnesota though, they hate him. He didn't seek re-election because he would have gotten his ass handed to him.

Then I remember how he handled the Wellstone Memorial service. HE was truly disgraceful, not those he accused. When he got up and walked out and made a big deal of it during the ceremony, it affirmed that everything that man does is for publicity.

Sure, he can be a dick, but he was the only one to tell the truth about Minnesota's budget crisis and all of the backroom deals going on at the Minnesota Legislature. If they had listened to him, Minnesota would be in a lot better financial condition now.

He also spoke out loud and clear for reproductive choice, gay rights, and separation of church and state regardless of where those issues would place him in opinion polls.

sure, not all Minnesotans hate him. Almost all I talked to do, which is mostly Southern Minnesotans, as I am, or was, a Northern Iowan, till I moved to Des Moines.

Yes, because he's a liberatarian I could agree with him on 1/2 of things, esp. personal liberties issues, but wasn't real great on human needs issues.

But I stand corrected.

I have to say I'm not really keen on what I perceive as a recent trend of well known people (actors, sports figures, etc). running for public office.

Why?

Because they run on their notoriety and don't need to understand issues. I have a hard time believing Arny grasps any of the issues with which he's faced.

I lived in MN when The Body was governor. His election (in 98 I think) was in many cases the result of people being disenchanted with the other candidates and voting for him...enough people did. I wish I'd paid more attention at the time to his policies, but it is true--I had a very negative perception of him, mostly because I think he viewed his position the same way he approached wrestling--you just go in to win. As such, he didn't compromise at all (and say what you will, but sometimes that's important). The net result was pissing off Dems and Repubs alike...and not getting a damn thing accomplished.

If he does run in 08, he won't have my support.