Updated:Ex-Mn Gov Jesse Ventura endorses Kerry!!!

[MinnesotaMike31]

http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S3582.html?cat=1

& From Minneapolis Star Tribune:
Former Gov. Jesse Ventura apparently is now supporting John Kerry for president - but he's not saying why.

The former Minnesota governor made a trip back to the Capitol complex in St. Paul Friday, but defiantly refused to utter a word during the 30-minute news conference.

Ventura stood next to former Maine Gov. Angus King when King was saying why Kerry should be president. King said Ventura wouldn't be talking, but had authorized King to answer questions on his behalf.

King said Ventura apparently changed his mind from a couple of weeks ago when he said he didn't have anyone to vote for after watching the debates.

Asked if Ventura's presence meant he's endorsing Kerry, replied: ``Yes.''

``He came here today and he didn't just happen by,'' King said.

Organizers didn't even know for sure if Ventura was going to show up until the news conference started. He was sporting his new braided beard look, with black pants, a Navy hat, a black SEAL T-shirt and white tennis shoes.

He just shook his head when reporters asked him questions and motioned toward King.

Followed out to his car by reporters afterward, Ventura said he would be doing interviews in Los Angeles.

[JI7]

1. i don't like him

[cosmicaug]

12. It's better than...

It's better than an endorsement from Iran. Sure, his media jackal schtick wore tiresome very quickly (there really was no need for all that idiocy on his part) but not getting anything done (which is what he's often accused of) is better than getting the wrong thing done.

And by the way, his first instinct with respect to the tax refunds (keep the surplus for the rainy day fund) was correct. Too bad he didn't go with it in the end.

[Mountainman]

Some freeper heads will explode over this I think.

I can hear them now. Pop! Bang! Kaboom!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

2. and people think Bush has a chance in Minnesota?

not likely. Kerry is winning MN easily.

[DrFunkenstein]

3. Ventura Vs. Schwarzeneggar - Whoever wins...

We lose!!!

But, c'mon, the original Predator was a bad ass movie!

[Walt Starr]

4. BEST ENDORSEMENT POSSIBLE IN THE STATE!!!

Ventura is big with the independents!

[tridim]

7. Probably, but Franken endorsed Kerry today as well

:)

[WI_DEM]

8. Agreed, plus he also did well with young voters

especially young males.

[JI7]

11. is he still ? i thought he was unpopular when he left

or was that mostly among democrats and republicans ?

it would be interesting to see him go to ohio and campaign for kerry when arnold is scheduled to be there.

[rndmprsn]

24. yeah i don't like the guy too much, but thats what i was thinking too

[troublemaker]

5. edit to put "Jesse Ventura" in your headline and many more folks will find

this post.

[MinnesotaMike31]

9. done. thanks!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. Interesting.

Not too long ago he said he wasn't going to vote for either candidate. I'm not sure whether Jesse's support is a good thing or not -- he's an, um, ODD character, and he managed to wear out his welcome with a lot of Minnesotans because of his temperamental and often self-serving behavior. On the other hand, a lot of people still like him precisely because he is so unusual and un-politician-like. So it will be interesting to hear why he changed his mind. Knowing Jesse, it's probably just because he can't stand Bush.

[LittleClarkie]

17. I hope he gives interviews and explains why

He could help with the machismo vote.

But then again he might just want to be on the side that's winning.

[LTR]

10. Didn't Arne Carlson (GOP ex-gov) endorse Kerry?

Or he may have said he supports neither.

Elmer Anderson, a former GOP governor, has endorsed Kerry.

[MinnesotaMike31]

13. He's an interesting guy to say the least!

[omnithrope]

14. OH BOY! Who is HULK HOGAN voting for!?!?!

Like I give a shit who this bozo votes for.

[ollie3]

15. Ventura a hero to many independents in MN

When I moved to Mn 4 years ago, he was still quite the controversial governor. While some folks love him and others hate him, let's get one thing very, very clear. Ventura still has a following among many independents in MN. They like his style and his ability to speak his mind frankly. My opinions of him are irrelevant. Ventura's endorsement will certainly give Kerry some extra votes among swing voters.
Not a doubt in my mind about that. And, in a very close race, that is very good news.

[MinnesotaMike31]

16. For those who think this isnt big news... you dont know Minnesota politics

[sandnsea]

18. Really?

I thought alot of Minnesotans didn't like Ventura. ???

[LittleClarkie]

19. Not to mention that, unlike Hulk Hogan, Jesse..

actually held public office. That earns him relevance and respect points, regardless of what you think of the man.

I wish I knew more about Minn. politics, actually.

[omnithrope]

20. If you think that "earns him relevance and respect points"...

... you're a sucker.
He's just an attention whore.

[LittleClarkie]

25. Who has held public office

I've never done that. And you?

So would that make the people who still like him in MN suckers too?

[omnithrope]

29. actually...

yes. yes, I would call them suckers.

[MinnesotaMike31]

22. I'm saying the wake up call to the state (maybe the country)....

that was made when he was elected Gov.

He had (some say, still has) a big following & still is important in some ppl eyes here in Minnesota, especially independents and we need their votes too!

so to say "its no big deal" is very silly. in a state that could be very close on election day, almost any endorsement is great for kerry at this time!

[MoonRiver]

21. I checked the CNN webpage and saw narry a mention of this.

Surprise! NOT. :puke:

[helpisontheway]

23. I'm sorry....

I have no reason to dislike this man but what a dumb ass. Why go out of your way to show up at a conference if you aren't going to at least make a brief statement. If he was going to refer his comments to someone else then why be there?

[MinnesotaMike31]

26. I think he was trying to make a statement by not saying anything but...

yet endorse John Kerry. Who knows...but just a thought.

[scarletwoman]

27. oh. whoo. pee.

Speaking as a Minnesotan, I'm not really sure if this helps or hurts. He's not exactly a respected political figure. He may have been an amusing novelty act when he first got elected governor, but he ended up being largely looked upon as an embarrassment, even among those who were all excited about him at the beginning.

Especially with his "new look", I think he turns more people off than he engenders any residual good will. I think he just hates to be out of the public eye -- I personally wish he would just quietly fade away...

sw

[TheKingfish]

28. I will never forget the look on Paul Krugman's face

When he had to explain to Ventura that farm subsidies create a price floor and not a price ceiling on Bill Maher's show.

Here is the exchange :
MAHER: Yeah, that’s right. And the big issue is farmers, because farmers around the world – starving farmers in Third World countries, could do a lot better and a lot of people could be lifted from poverty if we in the West didn’t give enormous subsidies, because farmers are the biggest welfare queens in the world. They get $190 billion from this country—

VENTURA: Wait a minute—

MAHER: --$300 billion overall in the world. You know why taxes are high? Because of corporate welfare from queens like farmers.

VENTURA: All right, wait a minute now, Bill. It’s time for you to understand the other side of the coin. Farmers also have price controls put on them. So if you’re going to take their subsidies from them, then allow them to sell their food on a free market to where they could all get together then and charge $50 a bushel for corn. And so—

MAHER: Is that true?

KRUGMAN: Yeah.

VENTURA: That’s the fight you’re looking at.

KRUGMAN: There’s a controlled price. It’s—

VENTURA: They are under controlled prices by the government.

KRUGMAN: It’s a floor.

VENTURA: They can only sell their product for a government price that allow them to do so.

MAHER: But, please—

KRUGMAN: It’s a price floor and not a price ceiling.

VENTURA: Am I right?

MAHER: Yes, please—

KRUGMAN: It’s a price floor.

MAHER: Please answer this, Paul Krugman.

KRUGMAN: No, the prices are legislated up. That’s why the subsidies are so high, to keep – to pay them not to grow stuff or to buy the extra crop to keep the prices up. I’m sorry, I’m just losing it here.

http://www.safesearching.com/billmaher/print/t_hbo_realtime_091203.htm

[MinnesotaMike31]

30. Endorsement hits Yahoo Headlines....

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=1963&e=3&u=/ap/20041022/ap_on_el_pr/ventura_kerry