Ventura speaks out on recall

[NewYorkerfromMass]

Just what we were waiting for, and personally i wish he had kept his mouth shut:

"...Jesse Ventura is calling the effort to recall California Governor Gray Davis "absurd."

The former Minnesota governor says Davis has done nothing that should prevent him from finishing out his term.

Ventura tells N-B-C's "Today" show that the dozens of candidates trying to replace Davis may never get around to talking about the issues. He says the candidates should have to answer the "tough questions." But he says maybe California voters would prefer what he calls a "popularity contest."

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=1398638

[Fovea]

1. Hmm

I certainly listen to Jessie as my dominant political expert, dont you?
I think his behavior after the Wellstone memorial disqualifies him from telling anyone that their behavior is sub par.

[LynneSin]

3. He does have a point

In all reality - California is now a media circus where anyone with $3,500 and 10,000 signatures can run for governor.

It's a joke, Jesse was merely pointing it out to all of us!

[demdave]

11. $3500 and 64 signiture.....10, 000 sigs and $0

That is what I heard on the news.

[shanti]

12. yeah, we californians

already know this, jesse....:eyes: rub it in, why don't ya?

[Nobody]

4. He does have a point, though

The recall is ridiculous. The media is presenting this as a popularity contest, look at all the focus on Arnold. Some media outlets are acting as if Arnold is already the gov. They haven't said much about the issues and if this continues, it WILL be a popularity contest.

(on edit: #*@*$ typo!)

[JI7]

6. yes, he can be an asshole , but right on many issues

he also supports gay rights, abortion rights, and is overall pretty much a social liberal. people who agree with us on issues can be assholes also as seen with ventura's behavior with paul wellstone's death. i do n't like jesse ventura, but he still makes good points at times as on the recall.

[tom_paine]

20. It doesn't matter what his stance on the issues

The Busheviks will use him like a condom. He is there to insure access to Bushevik Operatives to the California Voting Computers.

That is all he is there for.

Well, and considering the curious timing of the Hatch Amendment (allowing foreign-born Emperors) allows for Arnold to be given the Imperial Crown in 2017 between Emperor Jeb and the Mad Emperor George P. Caligula in 2025.

Arnold fits the bill perfectly for the 2017-2025 slot for Emperor I'm-a-Bushevik-but-my-name-ain't-Bush-so-stop-saying-we-are-a-hereditary-Empire.

At first I thought it might be Ridge, but my guess is that the Busheviks will want a malleable idiot who will let them run hogwild a la Raygun.

As I said, Arnold quite fits the bill

[TahitiNut]

17. Even a blind chipmunk ...

... turns up an acorn once in awhile. :eyes:

[T Roosevelt]

2. At least he didn't say something stupid

and what he said is true - it is absurd, and they should have to answer the tough questions. I imagine the "popularity contest" remark was sarcastic...

[NewYorkerfromMass]

5. OMG realpolitik, I forgot about his post Wellstone pronouncements

I HATE THAT IDIOT!!!!

[goforit]

7. Ventura.......You're a little late!!!. and you're just blowing hot air.

You lost your credibility with you're handling of the
Wellstone airplane crash by allowing the airports to
behave in a totally negligent fashion.

You also lost your credibility by suppressing the freedom
of speech at the Wellstone Memorial.

And you were a naval seal while our country has been taken over
by a tyrrannical dictator!!!!

Just keep blowing hot air..............no one respects you!!!

[DS1]

8. Jeez, this thread is so indicative of why few people speak

what we think.

He's right, but it's "quit blowing hot air", "you're a political buffoon", "too little, too late" (paraphrasing)

With friends like us...

[underpants]

10. I agree. I saw it this morning

It was almost strange for ANYONE to day what is obvious-that this whole thing is ridiculous, a waste of time and money, and undemocratic.

The press is so excited about the circus and AHHHNOLD being in the race they have forgotten ( maybe not the right word) to even question/explain what is happening and how it came about.

[Snellius]

9. He compared it to trying to replay the Superbowl

On MSNBC he said the Republicans were acting like wimps. Like losing the Superbowl and trying to do it over again because they didn't like the way it turned. I thought Ventura was right on target, especially putting it into a viceral moral context of sportsmanship, poor losers who, if they can't win fair and square, have to cheat.

California is in for a major backlash of buyers' regret.

[The Sushi Bandit]

13. I share the same views

Jessie speaks true!

[bvar22]

14. Minnesota resident here.

Jesse infinitley preferable to current asshole in charge.

[Love Bug]

15. Never thought I'd say that but I'd rather have Jesse than Pawlenty, too

As obnoxious as Jesse is, what you see is what you get. Pawlenty is just another neocon bent on supporting his corporate backers at the expense of MN taxpayers.

[GAspnes]

19. Agreed

Jesse is thin-skinned (hence his attitude towards the press, and his comments about the Wellstone memorial service), but it was Timmy the Cowpat who blocked his balanced budget for 1999/2000 with a bunch o' accounting gimmicks, giving us the financial tragedy we had in 2001 and 2002. Jesse wanted to give back money when the state was ahead, and took a rational approach to taxes and budget when things started to get tight.

The one I really miss is Arne Carlson. Didn't care for his social policies much, but that man could run a state government. (weird thing for a librul to say.)

on edit: it's interesting that Jesse would be so critical of the recall, given that he and Arnold are buds from 'way back. At least Jesse had mayoral experience before he became governor of MN.

[dflprincess]

25. I agree with everything my fellow citizens

from the great state of Minnesota have said (I'm practicing in case I ever run for statewide office). Even GAspnes comments about Arne Carlson - at least he was sane. And, compared to Pawlenty his social policies even look better. Of course, the the right wing of his own party hates him so that we know Arne can't be all bad.

I thought I'd fallen down the rabbit hole when I heard Jesse on Hardball tonight, never have I agreed with everything the man said before. I thought his analogy about the Super Bowl was great. (Oh, God, I better take some asprin and lie down now.)

[NewYorkerfromMass]

26. All Jesse said is true

but it's hypocritical for him to knock the muscle man when he benefitted from celebrity status himself, which is why I rolled my eyes at the mere thought of him speaking. The only thing he has over Arnie is that he didn't depend on an undemocratic recall to win his governorship.

[wellst0nev0ter]

27. Arne Carlson

You're right, I sure miss the days when electing Republicans in our state doesn't signify the end of the world - figuratively or literally.

[mediaman007]

21. By the way...

Pawlenty makes a great case FOR affirmative action. Obviously he hasn't had to apply for the jobs with the telecommunication companies. It seems that just like W *, Pawlenty has had plenty of people to put him on salary.

Now if you were trying to get out from poverty, and you were a minority, who do you know that would be willing to take you on as an employee. Yet, alone pay you $4,000 a month for very little. How many minorities, or low income people, get to sit on a board of directors.

I think that the wealthy have a pretty closed club. They aren't letting us in. And they have convinced enough well-meaning, but ignorant, Americans that it is a good system.

[Voltaire99]

28. From "crutch for weak-minded" to evangelical governor!

How I do miss the old cueball. :-) At least he would shake up the sleepy midwestern mind with his oddly-timed outbursts. The way he'd get all pissy and stomp out of press conferences was good vaudeville, and his attempts to stop political cartoonists from drawing his copyrighted likeness were a hoot. But I'll always be grateful to him for his crowning achievement as governor: forcing the "Jackal" buttons on the corporate news whores.

Ah, what we've lost! There was a time when Ventura would go on TV and let loose with the observation that "weak-minded" people rely upon religion as a "crutch." Here in St. Paul, MN, today under our holy roller governor, it's as if we've been transported to the dark ages. Official "days of prayer" declared, handguns for Jesus, Jesus this and Jesus that--we've gone from wrasslin' to walkin' on water in the blink of an eye.

If only Wellstone could rise from the dead and smite these idiots. ;-)

[THUNDER HANDS]

16. I've always like Jesse Ventura

Read both his books, thought he made a lot of sense.

I like guys who are libertarian with a streak of left-leaning populism.

[bspence]

18. You've got to stop posting that Ashcroft eye thing

It's freakin' me out, man!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

22. Very Monty Python! nt

[Drifter]

23. He may not have turned out to be a great Governor ...

BUT, the thing that got him elected was his no BS approach to politics (and everything else). He has an articulate way of connecting with the common folks. His message might jar the reality in some of these people who normally go along with the state run media.

Cheers
Drifter

[zekeson]

24. I saw the interview and appreciated it

He certainly didn't offer an endorsement of Arnie - and of course, blasted the process. He has been an ass, I did not enjoy his time as governor of my state, but I give him props for his effort today.

That said, his plain-spokenness helped get him elected in Minn, but what also helped was incredibly weak offerings from both the DFL and the Repukes.

on eidt - Cool! 666 posts!

[PennyLane]

29. Somebody.........

.......finally said it! I'm glad somebody else said what I've been thinking all along! What has this guy done to deserve this??}(