As I write this, it has been nine days now. So, I think itâ<80><99>s safe to rant.
Last Tuesday, July 15, the filing deadline for the United States Senate election ended. Former Minnesota Governor and retired pro wrestler/commentator Jesse Ventura teased a run for the office, only to decline, giving the reason that he did not want to subject his children to the media attention.
B.S.
I am a lifelong Minnesota resident. Hell, I voted for Jesse back in 1998 when he ran for Guv, thinking (rather foolishly) that he would make a difference. But not without my hesitation and fears that all came to fruition.
Jesse Ventura doesnâ<80><99>t believe in public service. Jesse Ventura doesnâ<80><99>t believe in the greater good of this state or this country. Jesse Ventura does not give a frogâ<80><99>s fat ass about anyone but himself. Jesse Ventura is only focused on what he wants, everyone else be damned.
Oh sure, he comes across as a maverick. A guy who will shake things up. Seems to me, he had four years to do that and fell very short. The third-party movement became all about Jesse. Now, I wouldnâ<80><99>t call him a colossal failure as a governor. He surrounded himself with qualified individuals who put forth decent ideas and initiatives. But only because Jesse didnâ<80><99>t want to do the heavy lifting. He viewed being governor as a 9 to 5 job. No nights. No weekends.
Fearing that people would forget his name, Jesse decided to make the rounds and float the idea of a Ventura senate candidacy. Hereâ<80><99>s the punch line. He never intended to run. He just wanted the attention from the media that he claims to despise so much.
Did I say that he doesnâ<80><99>t want to work? HE DOESNâ<80><99>T WANT TO WORK! He wants to surf, write the occasional bad book, dye his fringe, and grow another variation of the lamest goatee known to man. One of his own advisors admitted that Jesse called him to see how much the Senate actually meets while he was pondering his options. No, he wanted to find out how much time off he could have.
As far as his excuse of not subjecting his children to media attention, I donâ<80><99>t buy it. Yeah, the media got all over his son for partying in the governorâ<80><99>s mansion and trashing the place towards the end of Jesseâ<80><99>s term. Yet, instead of taking the brat to the woodshed, Jesse turned his vitriol towards the media.
Can you sense my hostility? That only comes from the fact that Jesse had potential. Like the Rock gaining mainstream success in Hollywood, Jesse Ventura could have truly done something in the world of politics. Everyone joked that a wrestler could not be governor. He was. And he could have been senator. But he is delusional, thin-skinned, and lacks the ability to be self-deprecating. That is a dangerous combo platter.
And then thereâ<80><99>s that whole work ethic thing.
But enough about his time in WCW.
