cannabisnews.com: Ventura for President? Ventura for President? Posted by CN Staff on April 16, 2004 at 10:20:58 PT By Karen Testa, Associated Press Writer Source: Associated Press Cambridge, Mass. - Refreshed from a semester as a visiting professor at Harvard University, former pro wrestler and Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura says he's considering an independent run for the White House in 2008, although he acknowledges that being leader of the free world might be too confining for him."That's an issue with me. I love my freedom," Ventura said in an interview with The Associated Press at his office at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. "The part that would bug me is I wouldn't be able to get up in the night and drive to the 7-11 for a Slurpee, not without them blocking off the roads, welding the manhole covers shut, and everything else that goes along with it." Ventura has not made a firm decision on a presidential run. He is weighing the concerns of his wife, Terry, who has told him she won't go with him if he wins the White House. His solution: move the White House to Minnesota."What would hold me back would be my family. The brutality of the campaign, the ruthlessness of the Democrats and Republicans," he said. "If it looks like I might win, there's no telling what they would do. They're very desperate people when it comes to third parties."Still, Ventura speaks like a man preparing to be a candidate. He said he'll decide next year because he'll need plenty of time to get on the ballot. And he won't have a political affiliation - "No party, no nothing," he said.He's already come up with a campaign message: "Elect someone who truly is not controlled by special-interest money. With me, you would get a true check and balance," Ventura said.One of his first acts would be to try to abolish the income tax in favor of a sales tax, which Ventura says is a better indicator of wealth.Ventura, 52, shocked the political establishment in 1998 when he used his message of social liberalism and fiscal conservatism - and his sizable personality - to defeat two better-known and better-funded candidates to become Minnesota's governor on a third-party ticket.But he left office four years later, disillusioned and discouraged after a frustrating final year.His semester at Harvard - including parties until the wee hours - has renewed his faith in America and his political ambitions, he said."The best way I can describe it is rehab," Ventura said. "For someone getting out of office like me, even though I've been out for over a year now, it's equivalent I think to an alcoholic or the drug addict going to the Betty Ford clinic."Harvard took a calculated risk in inviting the boisterous Ventura, a former Navy SEAL, talk-show host and movie star with only a high school diploma. In his pro wrestling persona, The Body, he draped himself in a pink feather boa.Harvard Institute of Politics director Dan Glickman, the former congressman and Clinton administration agriculture secretary, said he knew some people privately questioned whether Ventura belonged. Yet by the end of the semester, which concludes Friday, some faculty poked around Ventura's office, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man whose study groups were unconventional but always well attended."Quite frankly, he's an important historical force in American politics," Glickman said. Note: Former governor, pro-wrestler Jesse Ventura has eye on White House in 2008.Source: Associated Press Author: Karen Testa, Associated Press Writer Published: April 16, 2004 Copyright: 2004 The Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:Jesse Ventura http://www.jesseventura.org/Transcript: Jesse Ventura's America http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17972.shtmlVentura Disappointed in Bush Administration http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11598.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #13 posted by FoM on April 16, 2004 at 15:25:34 PT billos You're right and the whole thing breaks my heart. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by billos on April 16, 2004 at 15:23:39 PT: FOM I believe that Dover Air Base where the deceased are flown back into the states has been declared of limits by the White House, both to the press and the relatives of the poor souls who gave their lives for Daddy bush. I'm afraid that the dead come home to something they are now forever in. Darkness. It's a damn sure bet that bush-boy hasn't met one plane yet. He's been too busy at his ranch. This is an atrocity. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by FoM on April 16, 2004 at 14:30:10 PT BGreen I Saw A Picture I saw a picture on the news the other day and I only saw it once. It was a soldier carrying another soldier in a body bag over his shoulder. They won't show the boys that were killed coming home. It's just like Vietnam was. That means over 600 boys have been buried and where is the news? Nowhere. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by BGreen on April 16, 2004 at 14:21:59 PT They all matter to me, American AND Iraqi My point (that I didn't make) was that when a soldier from Missouri dies it is covered in the press with at least a picture and a story so you can't help but be affected, whereas all we get about other soldiers is a brief announcement of their death and the updated tally of the American dead.Such is the media as we know it. Gotta have time for coverage of the Billy Bob Good 'ol Boy Annual 'baccy Chewin' and Regressive Thinking Festival.The Reverend Bud Green [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Petard on April 16, 2004 at 14:12:45 PT Sincerity Sincerity is not necessarily a "good thing". Bushy Boy may indeed be sincere, that doesn't make him "right" though. Hell, the Flat Earthers were completely sincere. They were also completely wrong.Hell, a heroin addict who steals, kills, and robs to get his fix is, in other words, just trying to "stay his course" in getting his fix, instead of attempting to change his direction and beat his addiction. And, this same addict is probably sincere in his belief that he has no other choice than to commit crimes in order to "stay the course".Bushy Boy is a Power, Death, and War addict and is sincerely trying to stay his course to get his fix IMO. He probably needs an intervention, possibly by armed thugs in jackboots carrying automatic weapons and hoods to hide their faces. Incarceration with daily beatings and anal rape sounds like an appropriate addiction treatment program for him the same as he and his thugs "prescribe" for other addicts. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on April 16, 2004 at 13:52:32 PT BGreen It doesn't matter to me what state a person is from. I believe each life is precious and I just can't accept even one persons death in war any war. I just never could. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by BGreen on April 16, 2004 at 13:47:39 PT A death from Missouri is still a slap to me no matter how far away geographically.To use a COPS analogy, the police states are the abusive husband and Iraq is the battered wife. Unlike COPS, instead of trying to stop the violence, we're praising the abuser with accolades like "he's decisive," "once he makes up his mind he sticks to his guns," "he's focused," "we can't stop now that it's already started," and "if we stop before we defeat the enemy then all of the soldiers who were killed or wounded did so in vain."This macho BS is disgusting.The Reverend Bud Green [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on April 16, 2004 at 13:23:53 PT BGreen Batavia is near Cincinnati I think. That is about as far as you can get from where we live. This war is pathetic. I made a mistake and watched Hannity and Colmes last night and I was so upset that it took me a while just to get over it. What will happen to Fox News if Kerry is elected? They sure are burning bridges behind them. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by BGreen on April 16, 2004 at 13:12:16 PT FoM, is Batavia, OH in your neck of the woods?* That's where that young man who was taken hostage in Iraq is from.There's nothing that brings it all home like having a local hurt, killed or captured.How much more pain is necessary before we're all free?The Reverend Bud Green [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by mayan on April 16, 2004 at 13:02:54 PT They'd Kill Him... "What would hold me back would be my family. The brutality of the campaign, the ruthlessness of the Democrats and Republicans," he said. "If it looks like I might win, there's no telling what they would do. They're very desperate people when it comes to third parties."I think Jesse fears for his life. He would win an un-rigged election against tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum and the powers that be know it. They would assassinate him rather than lose their strangle-hold on power. Here's more on the "liberal media"....Liberal talk radio is pulled after just two weeks: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=511873The only way out...Ooops! -- Tenet Lied (I mean 'misspoke') Under Oath: http://www.911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=230&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on April 16, 2004 at 12:50:04 PT About John Kerry Recently John Kerry hasn't been as good as he was. They did have a big turnout today to a rally but I have no doubt it was to see and hear Bon Jovi. I hope he is searching for the dynamics that made his campaign take off like it did. I will vote for Kerry but only because I really am afraid of Bush. That's a real shame too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dididadadidit on April 16, 2004 at 12:30:02 PT: Ventura for President? Here's hoping he goes for it and slays the fascist two headed "alien" that has taken over our country, running Bush lite Kerry out of the office of president. If we can start at the top with a "second" party president, we can then work down to replacing repugnacrats controlling congress with fresh faces not owned and controlled corporate lobbyists. Then we may be able to revamp schedule 1 and start to legislate with some sense.In the meantime, not all fascist are created equal and the first order of business is to replace the "Germans" now in charge with the more moderate "Italians". Hold your nose and vote for Kerry.Cheers [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 16, 2004 at 10:31:57 PT Go Jesse!!! Ra! Ra! Ra! I hope you all can hear me cheering! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment