Nugent
02-24-2006, 09:37 AM
#61
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Hagerstown, MD
Posts: 689
RE: Nugent
Jesse Ventura was a former Navy SEAL (an officer), and had a Master's Degree. SEALs are not only selected for their courage and fighting ability, but also for their ability to make life-or-death decisions under fire.Now, for the record, I like Ted Nugent. I thinks he's an incredible guitarist, an experienced outdoorsman and hunter, and probably a fine human being. But to compare a highly educated, formerNavy SEAL to a middle-aged rocker...well...
02-24-2006, 02:18 PM
#62
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: The Tar Heel State
Posts: 314
RE: Nugent
Well, Richard Petty made a bid for Governor of North Carolina when I first moved here, and it went nowhere, even after his much-publicized "bumping" of some "roadhog" on the highway, which endeared him to anyonewho hasever gotten behind one (including this former Upstate New Yorker)! If the King (with his 200 NASCARwins)couldn't get in office in NC, then apparently you need more than star power!
Of course Jesse did have that feather boa...!
Of course Jesse did have that feather boa...!
02-25-2006, 10:42 AM
#69
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 19,137
RE: Nugent
I do not doubt Jesse Ventura is a very intelligent man and a brave soldier, but I doubt those things got him elected into office. His name and his star power were probably the greatest contributing factor to being elected.
MINNESOTA MADE Ventura's race possible because it provides matching funds for candidates who get more than 5% of the vote. Because Ventura was getting much more than that in the polls, he was able to get a bank to loan him $300,000 so he could run TV ads in the last two weeks of the campaign. Ventura hired Bill Hillsman, who created the humorous and highly effective ads that helped U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone upset Rudy Boschwitz in 1990.
One of Ventura's ads showed two kids playing with the "Jesse Ventura action figure" who battles with the "special interest" man. In another ad Ventura wore nothing but boxer shorts, sitting in the position of Rodin's "Thinker," while the narrator talks about Jesse "The Mind" Ventura's positions. It ends with a close-up of Jesse's face as he winks at the camera.
State laws also limited the major party candidates to expenditures of $2 million each, so they could not drown out Ventura's ads (although their parties and allied political action committees were able to spend more). Ventura spent an estimated $500,000.
One of Ventura's ads showed two kids playing with the "Jesse Ventura action figure" who battles with the "special interest" man. In another ad Ventura wore nothing but boxer shorts, sitting in the position of Rodin's "Thinker," while the narrator talks about Jesse "The Mind" Ventura's positions. It ends with a close-up of Jesse's face as he winks at the camera.
State laws also limited the major party candidates to expenditures of $2 million each, so they could not drown out Ventura's ads (although their parties and allied political action committees were able to spend more). Ventura spent an estimated $500,000.
Ventura ran as someone who was not a career politician, who spoke the language of working folks and would say whatever was on his mind. A vote for Jesse was a poke in the eye and a chair over the head of the establishment while the referee wasn't looking.
Ventura's positions may be described as fiscally conservative and socially liberal with a libertarian streak. He's pro-choice on abortion and supports domestic partnership benefits for gay couples. He's open to the legalization of drugs and prostitution. But he's no progressive. He attacks "big government," and calls for unspecified tax cuts to refund all budget surplus to the taxpayers. He claims that class sizes can be reduced without providing any additional money to schools through "more efficient use of funds." His popularity among college students came despite his opposition to state aid for college students (he says they should work their way through college). He also opposes state subsidies for day care and "socialized medicine."
