Ventura says if he might consider presidential run 5.18 p.m. ET (2127 GMT) October 26, 1999

By Rochelle Olson, Associated Press

ST. PAUL (AP)  Reform Party Gov. Jesse Ventura says he would consider a presidential run next year if Minnesotans mobilize behind him.

The governor made the comment Tuesday in an interview with Harvard Current magazine. Ventura has previously said he did not want the job of president, would not run and planned to fulfill his commitment to serve a four-year gubernatorial term begun in 1999.

"If I turn around and run for president then I lied to all the people of Minnesota,'' he said. "So unless you can get Minnesotans to say, 'Go ahead, Governor Ventura, run for president, we give you our backing ...'''

An interviewer asked whether Ventura would run if Minnesotans mobilized fully behind him.

"I'd consider it, but then again I got to want the job and I'd have to consider it with my family and I don't know if my family would want me to do that.''

He continued, "If you can mobilize Minnesota to do it, then, you know, there we are.''

The magazine interviewer asked, "What do you mean, 'There we are'?''

Ventura responded, "That would open the door for the possibility of it. But by no means am I telling you I would do it.''

The interviewer asked, "But there is a possibility, a hope?''

Ventura, "Yeah.''

The governor's spokesman John Wodele was traveling with Ventura, but refused to comment on the contents of the interview or hand the phone to Ventura, who was sitting next to him.

"I don't see any reason for me or any one else to expand on what he said,'' Wodele said. "What he said is what he said.''

In a separate interview Tuesday with WCCO Radio, Ventura sent a different signal about the presidential contest.

"I'm the natural candidate to do it, but I don't want to do it. You gotta want the job. I don't want the job; it's that simple. I do not want the job,'' Ventura said.

Minnesota Planning Agency director Dean Barkley, who recruited Ventura to run for governor, said Ventura's comments to the Harvard Current ran counter to any discussions he had with him.

"In all of our discussions, he has always expressed the clear-cut desire not to get involved in the presidential race. I haven't heard anything different,'' Barkley said. "He's clearly told me that he's not interested in running.''

Ventura, however, has recently expressed some interest. In an interview conducted in early October and published Sunday, Ventura told a New York Times Magazine reporter, "I know I should be the candidate. But what do I do? I'm between a rock and a hard place.''

-- a (a@a.a), October 26, 1999

Answers

If you recall Ventura's comments in the Playboy interview, I suspect God had nothing to do with it.

Kook

-- Y2Kook (Y2Kook@usa.net), October 26, 1999.

Actually, what he meant was that he didn't need to be in a church to talk to God and that he didn't need instructions from another human on how to pray.

-- a (a@a.a), October 26, 1999.

He's got my vote!

-- ~~~~ (~~~@~~~.com), October 26, 1999.

"My President Can Beat Up Your President"... It'd be an interesting bumper sticker...

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), October 26, 1999.

If our choices come down to

Bush

Gore

Buchanan

Trump

I won't feel so bad if Y2K turns out to be an 11.

-- GoJessieGo (@ .), October 26, 1999.

I personally like his foreign policy and his forthright stand on Y2K. That is I am sure I will like his foreign policy and stand on Y2K. As soon as we explain that foreign policy is not a sex tour of the Orient and Y2K may be a problem. Then I am sure I will like his honesty.

-- Mr. Pinochle (pinochledd@aol.com), October 26, 1999.

So far he's the only one who doesn't make me completely sick.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), October 26, 1999.

Glad to see Jesse V thinkin about runnin for national office. He would make a excellent president and it would be a nice change from the career politicians.

He could be another Ronnie Reagan and he definately would shake things up in this country, unlike the failed Republican Revolution of 1994.

-- The Village Y2K Idiot (BAMECW@aol.com), October 26, 1999.

Jesse the Joke.... No way . You people are really nuts.

-- ------ (insanity@here.foreal), October 26, 1999.

He's got my vote too. He was on the Tonite Show last night and said if Colin Powell(sp)? would run for president, then he'd break his promise to the people of Minnesota and be his running mate. He said he spoke to Colin, who doesn't want the job, but is considering it.

I think he/they could win. There are a sh*tload of people out there who are just fed up with all the crap that's been going on. No one is the least bit excited about Gore and even Pat Buchanan is sick of the Republicans.

Like I've been telling Liberty, there's not a thing wrong with this country that can't be fixed at the voting booth. It's time for a change folks...

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), October 26, 1999.

1) One does NOT get where he has gotten without brains. SEALs tend to be right up there in the brain ddepartment due tothe typs of assignments they are expected to complete.

2) He simply speaks his mind. Does ANYONE remember the Redford film - The Candidate-- where Redford is offered all the backing, trappings etc of a full candidate, can say anything he wants as long as he remembers the match-book punchline?? "You LOSE" ???

3) Because of the requirement to do things most of us mere mortals would consider impossible, and do them in a particular way, most SEALs have a very pragmetic world view. this differs from the standard issue world view of most of the folks in the country right now. this is his current problem.

4) I kinda like the breath of fresh air. To find out where he stands, look at what he says. You don't have to go find one of his handlers, or look at several days worth of papers, just listen.

His PR secretary must alternate between "This is the easiest job in the world." and "RRRRAAALLPF......EEEEAAARRRRLLLP *flush* WHY did I get myself into this...OH NO HE'S GOT HIS MOUTH OPEN AGAIN!!"

CHuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), October 27, 1999.

Thank God??? I wonder when humans will start thanking a deity for kindred human beings that are not salivating after a "leader", and who decide to decry the lie that humans need a "leader" in order to live.

Lead yourself. There is no "leader."

Not a popular opinion but I'm partial to it.

-- Donna (moment@pacbell.net), October 27, 1999.

Jesse is the ONLY politian I would vote for, no more f*ckin republocrats. His comments about organized religion (pa-too) are exactly right. I don't agree 100% with him, but he's a heck of a lot better than the spineless garbage we're supposed to choose from.

-- Dan G (thepcguru@hotmail.com), October 27, 1999.

Jesse the mouth. He would quickly become the president you love to hate. It is true that the problem is in the voting booth. But the people who elected Bill the zipper, twice, are the same minds of mush that will vote next year. This country consists of citizens that are a product of the public school system, sports channels, MTV and the nightly manipulated news. There are exceptions, but, for the most part, this country lacks character.

-- enough is (enough@enough.com), October 27, 1999.

It would take quite a bit of urging from the folks in MN to get him to break his promise of serving out his term as governor. He is a man of his word.

If he should decide to go for it, I would work my ass off for him here in FL. And he would need a lot of help from us real people, because the elites of the two parties would go after him with both barrels. They would be slinging more mud his way than a monster truck stuck in the bayou.

I would also like to see the Libertarians support his run, as he is the closest thing to a true Libertarian holding major office. Don't know if that would happen, but I can dream.

GO FOR IT JESSE! I think you'll be surprised how much support you'll get from us "little guys".

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), October 27, 1999.

THE VOTE IS BROKEN.

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), October 27, 1999.

I wasn't too wild about his waffling after the Playboy interview:

Playboy: You religious types are weak in the head.

Aftermath: Hey I didn't mean to offend anybody and anyway, I need you (weak-in-the-head-types) for my Big Plan.

Yeah, sure you do.

-- David Palm (djpalm64@yahoo.com), October 27, 1999.

Welllll, Jesse, you big fella, You can cum to my bighouse anytime for a personal tour! I know you want to be reincarnated as a big-bossomed woman's brazziere, so let's get you some practice. Maybe I can stick around here for a few more years and "service" the public...

Call me- Hillary

-- Hillary Clinton (hillary@bighouse.com), October 27, 1999.

"Ventura" (in quotes 'cuz it ain't his actual name), is an arrogant phoney, a statist bastard, and a two-faced POS.

He's anti-2nd Amendment (except for himself, of course -- did I mention that he's a hypocrite too?), and as the dust settles, the people who elected him seem to be less than thrilled with how things turned out.

Would they be *willing* to let him go?

Hell, they'd probably pay his airfare. Does the phrase "kicked upstairs" ring a bell?

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), October 27, 1999.

The guy has a thousand opinions he knows you're just dying to hear. I would sooner, and gladly, give my vote to Warren Beatty.

-- Gia (laureltree7@hotmail.com), October 28, 1999.

Ron,

He's anti-2nd Amendment (except for himself, of course -- did I mention that he's a hypocrite too?)

What the hell are you talking about??? I've heard him say on several occasions that the assault weapons ban should be repealed. Did you forget to take your prozac today?

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), October 28, 1999.

Viva la Ventura

He's the only hope I see for a country that will be as fucked up as this one come November 2000.

-- a (a@a.a), October 28, 1999.

Thank God??? I wonder when humans will start thanking a deity for kindred human beings that are not salivating after a "leader", and who decide to decry the lie that humans need a "leader" in order to live.

Lead yourself. There is no "leader."

Not a popular opinion but I'm partial to it.

HERE HERE!!! I AGREE WITH YOU 100%!

I am still on the fence about this latest Presidential election. Few candidates appeal to me although the libertarians are looking pretty good nowadays...

-- coprolith (coprolith@rocketship.com), October 28, 1999.