Jesse Ventura SPEAKS!

[AnnInLa]

Ventura gets big ovation at St. Olaf
Dane Smith, Star Tribune
April 5, 2005 VENTURA0405


NORTHFIELD -- Former Gov. Jesse Ventura brought his high-priced national road show back to Minnesota and to St. Olaf College Monday night, where he delivered a vintage speech punctuated with familiar attacks on political parties and the news media, and harsh criticisms of the war in Iraq as well as efforts in Minnesota to ban gay marriage and expand gambling.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/5330083.html

"Ventura gets big ovation at St. Olaf" (There IS such a place???)

In an hour-and-a-half performance, Ventura had his audience of about 1,000 roaring with laughter and they gave him a standing ovation, but Ventura predicted that the media would probably "tell you I was booed off the stage."

Ventura stepped up attacks on Minnesota's current political leaders for supporting an expansion of gambling and the building of stadiums. "They can't solve the budget because they have no balls," he said.
Jesse Ventura
Jim Mcknight
Associated Press

"All these religious Republicans don't have a problem with gambling to balance their budgets."

He also warned darkly about what he described as a serious erosion of First Amendment rights under the Bush administration. He told the students, "Speaking out about your government is healthy and wholesome. ... Don't go along to get along."

more at link above

[Straight Shooter]

1. "... don't have a problem with gambling to balance their budgets."

How true. They gamble with money, they gamble with lives, they gamble with the future of our environment, and they gamble with the security of the world and its occupants.

[Viking12]

15. He's referring to proposals by MN repug leaders

to balance the state budget through state run and/or state-partnered casinos at the Mall of America and other venues.

But the extrapolation you make is accurate as well.

[Clark2008]

2. Was Rose there?

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

Interesting story, btw.

[Wapsie B]

3. I like the guy.

Don't care what anyone else says. We need more people like him in office not afraid of upsetting the status quo in this country. Too bad he didn't run for reelection.

[Radical Activist]

4. Its pretty scary when Ventura is making more sense

than most Republicans and Democrats. Some of his positions piss me off, but Ventura is a good example of how showing conviction and being frank with the voters can win more votes than always talking about whatever issue polls well.

[Discord]

5. I tend to like the guy too.

I was a WWF fan during his time there, so I might have a bit of a bias. As far as his polotics, while I don't agree with everything, he is probably one of the least offensive Republicans I can remember in recent times. He's outspoken, and not afraid to butt heads with his party lines when he doesn't agree.

[Clark2008]

10. He wasn't a Republican. He was an Independent.

Just to clarify.

[theboss]

12. He's not a Republican

He ran as an Independent. If I had to catergorize him, I would call him a Libertarian.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

17. never forgive him for the wellstone funeral

he demonstrated his allegience to the reich wing that day

[GetTheRightVote]

6. Jesse can still reach them and I like how open he is about media

& other issues.

:kick:

[Arkana]

7. Jesse "The Body" making sense!

I never thought Jesse could be a political leader--but he's right. Republicans have no problem gambling, as long it's not their money.

[madrchsod]

8. jesse is one of the few politicians

who will give you a straight answer. yes there is a "st olaf"

[Toots]

9. I think Ventura could be the Dark Horse people would vote for

He is a straight shooter who tells it like it is. Pulls no punches and America would swoon for a guy like him. I don't agree with some of the things he has said and done but I would vote for him over any Democratic candidate so far.

[Mr Rabble]

13. So would I

It feels really good to hear someone call repubs "liars". You will seldom hear truth spoken by career politicians.

[tomreedtoon]

14. More reflective of Democratic problems...

The fact that this guy - a known ham actor, what else are pro wrestlers? - got attention that no Democrat could in his state indicates how spiritless Democrats are. This might raise several points:

1) There are no Democrats who are ham actors; who deliberately go all out, even at the risk of looking ridiculous, to appeal to a crowd. (Like playing a saxophone on a talk show, for instance.)

2) There are no Democrats who, despite being ham actors, have any personal principles they try to promote in public life with conviction. (They prefer to be Republican-Lite to get votes. Easier to sell out principles for which they have no personal love, like gay rights or abortion rights, than to stand up forcefully for those ideas.)

3) There are no Democrats who are courageous enough to break the cordon of handlers and analysts who do "professional" campaigns and just be real. In fact, there are many in this forum who think a successful candidate needs the same armies of professional liars that the Republicans have - "our" radio, "our" press, "our" media conglomerates. A candidate with courage could break through that nonsense with a clear voice, but there are no Democrats who have one.

[Blecht]

11. Too bad the guy is so anti-education ...

Take this statement, "They can't solve the budget because they have no balls."

His first solution as governor was always to gut education -- keep that in mind when you think he's not such a bad guy. He is an enemy of education.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

16. St. Olaf? What did Rose Nyland have to say about it?

just curious

[Toots]

18. She suggested that St Olaf was a hotbed of Wisdom...

:crazy: