Why didn't the rest of you “Learn” from it?
Not too many years ago amid a political climate where neither of the two major party's offered a choice the majority of Minnesota voters where happy with, “we” tried something else. I use the small “we” deliberately as I was not one of those knuckleheads that helped elect Jessie “the Body” Ventura as our Governor. What we got was something else indeed. He didn't have the "Rock star Charisma" that Barry Obama is supposed to posses. What he did have was a dedicated following of younger voters that propelled him to our states highest office.
Mercifully, he was a one term experiment with “something else” that the people of Minnesota are still paying for in many respects. He was plain spoken on the campaign trail occasionally even making sense. Predictably after inauguration day he began a long trail of retractions of his frequent bold statements. In many cases they came in the form of clarifications of what he really meant to say. These were usually forced upon him by his handlers and staff. They were largely comprised of disaffected democrats who simply couldn't get along with other democrats in a state awash in them. Add into the mix Jessie Ventura's natural confusion and paranoia and you have a late night comic's wet dream. For the voters who elected him you have something more closely approximating a nightmare.
His election victory was by the thinnest of margins. He bested Republican Norm Coleman by 3% and Democrat Skip Humphrey by 9% largely on a strong showing by younger voters. Many of which figured he couldn't do much worse than a “real” Politician. Well they were wrong, he did just as bad and in many senses much, much worse. What this experiment proved to me as a resident of the state where a pro wrestler was “King for a day” was that elections do have consequences. When the reality of what had happened set in, I knew as many Minnesotans did “we were screwed.” A bull had been unleashed in our china shop, and there was going to be some major breakage. The only people truly happy about it were those in the media looking for golden material for radio show bits and stand up comedy routines.
On the campaign trail Ventura spoke much like a conservative, but in the Governors mansion he spent like a liberal. This was fitting since he refused to align himself with either sides basic philosophy, often describing himself as “fiscally conservative and socially liberal.” His administration inherited a nifty budget surplus but with the help of Democrats in the legislature squandered it quickly. Education spending, Light rail spending, and a bizarre scheme attempting to reform school funding and property taxes at the same time.
He left office angry and even more confused. Unable to control his and the legislatures spending habits there was a $4.3 billion dollar deficit laying around for his successor to clean up. So much for the fiscal conservatism. Jesse did fire on all cylinders with regard to the social liberalism though, taking strong stances on Gay rights including military service, abortion rights, and medical marijuana. Eventually Ventura even had difficulty with being an “Independent.” Mid-way through his tenure he moved his banner from the established Reform party to the never before heard of Independence party of Minnesota.
Governor Ventura was essentially an empty vessel with few if any guiding convictions beyond his incessant desire to plump up his own wallet. “What's in it for me,” was an oft quoted remark from Minnesota's accidental governor. His most lasting legislative action was a major reduction in the cost of auto license fees. This was spurred by his personal pique at the outrageous amount he had to pay for his new Porsche Carrera. He was often heard complaining that his Porsche didn't get any more use out of Minnesota's roads than a 12 year old Buick, why should he have to pay ten times as much? Always cost conscious where his personal budget was concerned he would have done well to give the states budget similar scrutiny.
Ventura eventually resorted to moonlighting as his gubernatorial salary just wasn't enough. He made cameo appearances on daytime soaps, guest refereed for WWF events and spent part of 2001 giving color commentary for XFL broadcasts. The failed football league mirrored Ventrua's political career. Everyone knew it was pretty much a joke at the onset. It might have proved interesting for a few minutes but quickly lost its luster. He came on strong early but quickly started shifting his stance on any given subject as needed. Just like any other politician would. His decision to surround himself with former democrats essentially had Ventura governing pretty much as a democrat would have. The consequences for the state where both unpleasant and long lasting. In the end he was never really any of the things his surprise victory portended for our state. He was a disaster.
Looking toward Washington and the current leadership in House, Senate, and White House we can see a similar disaster in the making. One that doesn't even trouble itself with paying lip-service to conservative voters as Ventura occasionally did. Once more a vast tide of younger voters who responded to flash over substance helped to elect an empty vessel with few if any guiding convictions. Well, aside from his incessant desire to make America a third rate nation regardless of the cost. Barrack Obama's presidency looks to me like a repeat of what made Minnesota a national “Joke” from 1999 until 2003 when Ventura's reign mercifully ended after a single term.
We should be so lucky if we can be rid of “Barry” so quickly. Sticking with the repeat theme I'll simply state that , “the consequences for the country will be unpleasant and long lasting. In the end he will never really be any of the things his surprise victory portended for our country. He is disaster.”
What were you thinking America? Why didn't you learn?
