Of Sound(ing Off About) "The Mind" and "The Body"
And there was much rejoicing.
And there was much more complaining.
For some reason, few people seemed able to grasp that a former professional wrassler could become a governor. Certainly, we've seen plenty of athletes in office. J. C. Watts, Steve Largent, Jim Bunning, and Bill Bradley to name a few. We've had a few movie and television stars in office, too. The likes of Sonny Bono, Fred Grandy, Clint Eastwood, and Ronald Reagan have graced public servant posts. Even in Minnesota, we've had Duane Benson (a former NFL player) and Rod Grams (a former television personality) in office. So athletes and entertainers in office aren't unheard of, yet there seemed to be a nation-wide wig-out when an athlete-entertainer (athletainer?) was elected. What gives?
Once in office, Jesse Ventura could do nothing right. No matter what he did, right or wrong, it was wrong.
He wrote a book or two while in office. Lots of people write books while in office. Why shouldn't Jesse Ventura?
He appeared on television shows. Lots of elected officials appear on television programs. You ever heard of Larry King? Politicians are on his show all the time. You ever heard of Meet the Press? That's a television show built around having politicians on television.
Okay, so the complaint changes to, "Those shows are information news programs. What about Jay Leno and David Letterman?" Ah, yes. Entertaining television programs. Well, bad news, folks. Being on Leno and Letterman is practically required for politicians these days. It makes them seem more human and it hits the "I ain't gonna watch Meet the Press" demographic. Plus, even the previous governor, Arne Carlson, made at least one prime-time stop: Al Franken's short-lived sitcom "LateLine." Maybe it's a twist to a philosophical question: If a television program is aired but no one watches it; does the politician who was on it really become a disgrace to the office of Governor of Minnesota?
So what makes Jesse Ventura so bad? Is it because professional wrasslin' is a dishonorable profession? Maybe so, but, again, look at the other politicians: real estate agents, lobbyists, business-people, investment firm representatives, lawyers. LAWYERS! Certainly, a lawyer is less honorable than professional wrassler? Right?
At least one congressperson was an auctioneer. Perfect for a congressperson. ("We have 500 dollars for my vote. Do I hear 550? 550! Do I hear 600? Going once, going twice, SOLD for $550!) Yet we're worried about an entertainer in the mix?
The funniest part of the entire thing is that having Jesse Ventura as governor supposedly makes Minnesota the laughingstock of the United States. Hello? Has anyone checked on the fellow occupying the White House? A slacker for most of his life, Bush Inc. decided to get his act together and get a job. He was given positions in business ... and failed. The only thing he had done successfully before winning elections using his dad's name was conning citizens into buying a stadium for the Texas Rangers. (Even his position in the Rangers front office was given to him.) Then, when Bush Inc. was named president (yet ANOTHER position all but given to him), he spends most of his first seven months on vacation. And Jesse Ventura is the embarrassment? If self-made Jesse Ventura is more of an embarrassment than a silver-spooned Bush Inc, then I say a lot of people have priorities way out of whack.
Calling him thin-skinned is pretty funny, too. Check the White House again, people. When you scrutinize Jesse Ventura, you're called a jackal. When you scrutinize Bush Inc, you're called a terrorist. Now THAT'S thin-skinned!
A big complaint about Jesse Ventura is that he whines a lot. HE does? You should hear the people talking about him! I don't mind complaining about Ventura or by Ventura. What bothers me is it isn't even-handed. Like I've said, most of what people complain about is applicable to many, if not most, politicians. Yet they only complain when it is Jesse Ventura. It is only wrong because Jesse Ventura is doing it. Even in the it's-only-wrong-when-the-other-side-does-it world of politics, this is hypocritical. It just gets old after a while. (Especially after enduring eight years of lame Republican attacks on the Clinton administration.)
I'm not a fan of Jesse Ventura. I think he dropped the ball. He had most of the state behind him and chose mostly to bask in it. What I do appreciate is that he broke through the Democrat (DFL)-Republican (pardon the wrasslin' expression) stranglehold. It took a lot of effort, a lot of luck, and a lot of election-day whim by voters. But he did it.
The DFLers and Republicans dropped the ball, too. They could have used this shocker to wake up and smell the lutefisk. But they didn't.
I have no clue what the Republicans did other than roll their eyes at the voters.
The DFL think tanks responded with a three-pronged plan:
Two notes on that. First, not one of the three prongs included actually LISTENING to people. Second, they didn't enact any of the three prongs. They can't even pout in denial successfully.Change the name back to Democrats. This was based under the belief that new people to the state didn't vote DFL because they didn't realize DFL is synonymous with Democrat--which, theoretically, it isn't or they'd have called themselves Democrats in the first place.
Move the primary election up. With an earlier primary election, they'd have more time to tell us their virtues and their opponents' vices, I guess.
Finally, they would not endorse a candidate at the convention. Endorsing a candidate causes too much confusion since it didn't stop anyone from continuing his or her candidacy anyway. Plus the party appears divided when they endorse one candidate and another one wins the nomination.
Ventura, the Republicans, and the DFLers all had the opportunity to improve Minnesota. Because they all spent too much time concentrating on finding things to whine about, they all fumbled the opportunity. Ladies and gentleman, with all the dropsies in St. Paul, I think we've finally found a group that the Washington Generals basketball team can beat.
I think you could make a strong case that Ventura wasn't a good governor. If that's your opinion, fine. I just hope that it is based on something more than "he's a loud-mouthed former wrassler who isn't a Democrat or a Republican" or some variation of that. Good or bad, he brought us rebates. Good or bad, he had a "Big Plan" that never came to fruition. Good or bad, he didn't give money to Carl Pohlad or Red McCombs for sports arenas. Good or bad, some fireworks are legal. Good or bad, schools are facing budget cuts. Good or bad, he's making trade agreements around the world. Good or bad, most of the property tax cuts he signed went to lakeside homes, businesses, and apartment complexes. Good or bad, major tax breaks went to people with expensive cars. There are plenty more decisions he made as governor. Judge his work on the work he did (or didn't do).
One last gripe about Jesse Ventura is that he didn't lead when the legislature was in session. His view was that legislators have jobs to do and they should do them. The legislators' view was that Ventura should have provided leadership. Two of those complaining about Ventura's lack of leadership were Tim Pawlenty and Roger Moe -- two candidates running for governor. I won't be voting for either one. Why? Because Jesse Ventura won't be there to hold the winner's hand. Judging by their comments during the session, having their hands held is what they needed all along.
Or were they just whining?
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The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer and do not neccessarily reflect those of the rest of the family.
© 2002, Mark Wentz