Jesse Ventura Decries the Dumbing Down of America, Lack of 9/11 Inquiry; and Vows To Maybe Stand for Election in 2012

The Ron Paul-a-palooza in Minneapolis proceeds apace. Jesse "The Body" Ventura has just finished an incredible stem-winder in which he favored Mexican immigrants; attacked Dems and Reps; questioned why Osama Bin Laden hasn't been charged with anything in relation to the 9/11 attacks; and threatened to maybe run for office in 2012 if and only if (and maybe) if the Ron Paul movement showed him something this time around.

This is some event—earlier presences included an off-key military warbler working his way through the worst rendition of the National Anthem since Leslie Neilsen as Enrico Pallazo, Americans for Tax Reform's Grover Norquist, and the president of the John Birch Society.

Stream it live at C-SPAN.

What say you, Hit & Runners?

reason on Ron Paul.

Comments

J sub D | September 2, 2008, 6:02pm | #

The troofers got Jesse! Just like Predator did.
Man the barricades!

Jerry | September 2, 2008, 6:09pm | #

It still beats listening to some old cranky wasp lady talk at the RNC.

Gene Berkman | September 2, 2008, 6:10pm | #

You can watch the Rally for the Republic on live streaming video @ http://www.campaignforliberty.com/

It is also being shown on CSPAN 2.

Jesse Ventura made a great speech! And he introduced Sen. Dean Barkley, candidate to reclaim his Senate seat. More info @ http://www.barkleyforsenate.org/home.html

the innominate one | September 2, 2008, 6:15pm | #

for some reason the Zappa song "Flakes" comes to mind

Pro Libertate | September 2, 2008, 6:22pm | #

Why did it have to be Predator that was divinely blessed with political power (soon, Carl Weathers, soon)? Why not, say, Big Trouble in Little China? President Kurt Russell. Senator (and engineer) James Hong. Governor Kim Cattrall. Ambassador to the U.N., Victor Wong. And so on.

Mo | September 2, 2008, 6:27pm | #

Ron-a-palooza or Paul-a-palooza sounds better than Ron Paul-a-palooza. The extra syllable sounds clunky.

Just saying.

The Angry Optimist | September 2, 2008, 6:27pm | #

Woah, woah...clearly the political power movie is The Running Man.

Screw Carl Weathers! Richard Dawson for governor.

Jerry | September 2, 2008, 6:29pm | #

Johnson is great. He must be high.

Naga Sadow | September 2, 2008, 6:31pm | #

*transmitted from the bunker where Bush ordered the CIA to destroy the World Trade Center*

2012? Fool! Jesse apparently has time to bleed now . . . the pussy.

Naga Sadow | September 2, 2008, 6:33pm | #

Angry Optimist,

Apparently you need to review The Running Man. Ben Richards: I'm not into politics. I'm into survival.

GG | September 2, 2008, 6:42pm | #

Gary Johnson 2012 FTW!

Orange Line Special | September 2, 2008, 6:45pm | #

Crikey! In all my years of not subscribing to Reason, I never thought I'd say this, but: MattY is eating Reason's sidewalk bacon dog. Why, a question he asked even made it onto CSPAN.

And, all Reason can offer is "coverage" that doesn't give much of a hint to what someone said. What exactly does "favored" mean? That he prefers immigrants/"immigrants" to his fellow citizens? And, is he a truther in the bad sense, or does he just want a better inquiry?

As for the JBS, guess what they and Reason have in common. Hint: The Kochtopus Knows All.

SIV | September 2, 2008, 6:46pm | #

Gary Johnson 2012 FTW!

His State collects more federal welfare than Alaska !

Terry | September 2, 2008, 6:51pm | #

Jesse is fucking nuts and a coward. Why do you even quote him, never mind make him the subject of a post?

BTW: Osama Bin Laden is DEAD.

John Wright | September 2, 2008, 6:57pm | #

Jesse appears to think we all care passionately about any potential presidential run of his. It's a Ron Paul rally, jackass, it's not about you.

Funny, Very Funny | September 2, 2008, 7:21pm | #

It's Tme for Some Campaigning:

http://www.peteyandpetunia.com/VoteHere/VoteHere.htm

B | September 2, 2008, 7:51pm | #

Why and the fuck does anyone continue to invite Jesse Ventura to meetings, campaign gatherings, conventions, etc.? The guy is a total fucking joke. The constant mentioning of his name in relation to libertarians reminds me of the movie Casino where Robert DeNiro complains about his name always being mentioned together with Joe Pesci's.

And what the hell does charging Osama bin Laden accomplish? Does this mean we are intending to arrest him and try him in a court of law? I think Jesse Ventura and Barack Obama are the only two people in the United States who think bin Laden is still alive. Of course when Obama fails to catch bin Laden, something for which he constantly attacks the Bush Administration, he too will finally realize the fucker is dead.

It is this kind of stupidity that causes people to laugh when they think of the Libertarian party and libertarians in general. Honestly, how seriously do you expect the general public to take you when you are providing a forum to a douchebag who "suspects" 9/11 was an inside job? And if the asshole is so concerned about the dumbing down of America, he should commit suicide.

Brian24 | September 2, 2008, 8:15pm | #

I agree that charging bin Laden is a weird thing to get exercised over. But "the only 2 people who think he's alive?" I think he's alive. As far as I can tell most of America thinks he's alive.

joe | September 2, 2008, 8:24pm | #

Pretty much everybody thinks he's alive.

Saying that Osama is dead is a talking point favored by Bushbots still embarrassed that Commander Guy had better things to do than keep his word.

Chilli Benz | September 2, 2008, 8:32pm | #

Nick Gillespie, shame on you. Any professional can stand on a stage and sing a perfect song, and any hack can critique it. It takes no guts at all in either case. But I doubt that most of us would have the guts that it took for that young soldier to stand there in front of that arena of 10,000 people and to sing an anthem to his country as best he could. I'm embarrassed for you and for Reason.

idiotface | September 2, 2008, 8:53pm | #

i'm just plain embarrassed. drink-a-roo!

idiotface | September 2, 2008, 8:56pm | #

jesse is my favorite ex-wwf rastler, besides the iron "mutha-fuckin" sheik. just sayin.

seriously tho, i drank the paul kool aid, but I could really use my dough back.

/toolbelt

Dagny T. | September 2, 2008, 9:08pm | #

...the worst rendition of the National Anthem...

Maybe the worst version of the US National Anthem. This is the worst rendition of the Canadian anthem. Ever.

(Note for the uninitiated: "O Canada" should NOT sound like "O Christmas Tree.")

John C jaxson | September 2, 2008, 9:17pm | #

I guess I will always be confused about Ron paul.

I thought he was a libertarian and I just assumed he had libertarian views on economics and immigration.

As far as "border security" I thought he was against illegal immigration for a "law and order" and "must shrink welfare state first" reasons. I have heard him say he was opposed to "scapegoating immigrants" and that he opposed building a wall.

I also thought he was FOR Free trade, but against "so-called free trade agreements."

But half his friends/speakers are xenophobic protectionists and a large % of his "fans" are basically carbon copies of Lou Dobbs?

tim | September 2, 2008, 9:25pm | #

Jesse was a disaster as a governor. He will lose any office short of dog catcher if he runs in this state again.

//voted for jesse ... won't again

Lefiti | September 2, 2008, 9:28pm | #

Some of them (Ron Paul's supporters) are carbon copies of Goebbels.

Episiarch | September 2, 2008, 9:46pm | #

Maybe the worst version of the US National Anthem. This is the worst rendition of the Canadian anthem. Ever.

I'm going to suggest a new warning: NSFE, or Not Safe For Ears.

That was just cruel, Dagny.

JDM | September 2, 2008, 9:56pm | #

Jesse Ventura, former wrestler turned Governor, decries the dumbing down of America.

Nice.

idiotface | September 2, 2008, 11:12pm | #

if you think of professional wrestling as a poor man's opera, you can turn your elitism upside down, dummy!

Dedalus | September 2, 2008, 11:24pm | #

"What say you, Hit & Runners?"

I say: "Nick, you are a dick."

The Wine Commonsewer | September 2, 2008, 11:49pm | #

While sitting around the pool imbibing multiple glasses of the red yesterday a casual conversation ensued with a buddy of mine about Sarah Palin and the Republicans.

He confided that he'd voted Republican 4 times in a row.

Then he told me that he used to like Ron Paul until the scandal came out. He said he saw the .pdf's and the Glen Beck interview (is that right? Glen Beck interviewed RP?)

Bottom line is that some of us can get past it and others can't. My buddy is not a true believer. He's on the outside looking in. And he's black.

All I could do is nod and say something inane like yeah, that really hurt RP.

Inside I'm wondering if he's wondering why I failed to mention the newsletter shit last year.

This all sounded better in my head. [shrugs]

Dagny T. | September 2, 2008, 11:53pm | #

I'm going to suggest a new warning: NSFE, or Not Safe For Ears.

I did say it was gonna be bad. If it's possible, his hair just might have been worse.

The Wine Commonsewer | September 2, 2008, 11:53pm | #

For the record, the worst rendition of the National Anthem was Roseanne's......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FhndWwWt8I

B | September 3, 2008, 11:16am | #

"Pretty much everybody thinks he's alive."

Bullshit, you stupid fuck. I swear to god, you make shit up as you go along.

ed | September 3, 2008, 11:17am | #

Just about every rendition of the Anthem is bad because, for some reason, we Americans still believe we cannot begin a sporting event without stupidly mouthing our patriotism. We get it already. We won the War of 1812. Huzzah!

B | September 3, 2008, 11:19am | #

"Some of them (Ron Paul's supporters) are carbon copies of Goebbels."

Even taking into consideration joe's unbelievable stupidity, the above quote is quite possibly the stupidest thing I have ever read on this message board.

B | September 3, 2008, 11:23am | #

"Saying that Osama is dead is a talking point favored by Bushbots still embarrassed that Commander Guy had better things to do than keep his word."

I guess the Saudi Arabian secret service and the French Secret Service, as well as high-ranking Pakistani politicians like the late Benazir Bhutto must be Bushbots then. The guy has not made a new video in several years; until he shows up in a new video discussing current events, there is no proof that he is still alive.

B | September 3, 2008, 11:26am | #

And it pretty hilarious that a guy whose sycophantic, cult-of-personalityesque suck-uppery in regards to Obama would make Keith Olbermann blush is accusing someone else of using talking points and being a bot.

B | September 3, 2008, 11:31am | #

"Just about every rendition of the Anthem is bad because, for some reason, we Americans still believe we cannot begin a sporting event without stupidly mouthing our patriotism. We get it already. We won the War of 1812. Huzzah"

Most countries, and most sporting events (such as the Olympics) play national anthems prior to the start of a game, or when awards are being handed out. The United States is not unique in this regard. I doubt those extra two minutes you have to wait before the start of the game are going to kill you.

Zeb | September 3, 2008, 12:54pm | #

B, just because you have reason to believe that he is dead does not mean most people think so. It is also my experience that most people seem to think he is still alive. I have no opinion on the matter as I have no basis to believe one way or the other.

TrickyVic | September 3, 2008, 1:33pm | #

""""I guess the Saudi Arabian secret service and the French Secret Service, as well as high-ranking Pakistani politicians like the late Benazir Bhutto must be Bushbots then. The guy has not made a new video in several years; until he shows up in a new video discussing current events, there is no proof that he is still alive."""

The guy that complains about everyone else and loves name calling, can't seem to get the concept that no proof of him being alive is NOT proof of his death.

B, You lack of reasoning skill is obvious. No amount of name calling can make up for it.

Tom Walls | September 3, 2008, 6:06pm | #

Geez, everyone's a critic. Jesse definitely commands a presence, and did give a good speech. I think it was a fine idea to invite him.

Don't know what I think of his kooky 9/11 coverup stuff though.

Arraya | September 4, 2008, 10:25am | #

9/11 was the psychological pretext used to get the Wars on Afghanistan, Iraq and possibly Iran started. While it is a relief to finally see much of the country turn against the War on Iraq, there has been very little overt discussion of this pretext, or what the motivations were to start the illegal, unnecessary, destabilizing wars. While the full details remain obscure, it is documented beyond any reasonable doubt that the administration was repeatedly warned (by Britain, France, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Germany, Russia and other countries) that 9/11 was about to happen and at least five FBI investigations were squashed to make sure the attacks were not stopped. It is also very well documented that the administration knew the world was about to reach "Peak Oil" and that soon demand for petroleum would start to outstrip supplies. Cheney's secretive Energy Task Force examined maps of Middle East oil fields in the months before 9/11 and the start of the alleged "War on Terror" - so it seems reasonable to conclude that 9/11 was desired in order to allow the seizure of Iraqi oil fields, the second largest on the planet.

Anonymous | September 4, 2008, 10:29am | #

Arraya, when Peak Oil is finally vindicated, we will just go to war with Europa, full of mystery and abiogenic fuels. Would the corporations have it any other way?

Man, those eugenics socialists had it all wrong. You don't kill the mentally ill. You set them to work for you.

Arraya | September 4, 2008, 10:33am | #

General Ralph Eberhart, who was in charge of NORAD (air defense) on 9/11, was the first commander of the new "Northern Command," the domestic unified military command established in October 2002. If the domestic use of the U.S. military escalates into full-scale martial law, the Northern Command would essentially manage it. If 9/11 had been an "intelligence failure," it is likely that General Eberhart would have been court-martialed instead of promoted.

Arraya | September 4, 2008, 10:38am | #

Agency planned exercise on Sept. 11 built around a plane crashing into a building
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2002/08/21/national1518EDT0686.DTL
JOHN J. LUMPKIN, Associated Press Writer Wednesday, August 21, 2002
(08-21) 15:08 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --
"Agency planned exercise on Sept. 11 built around a plane crashing into a building"
By John J. Lumpkin, Associated Press
WASHINGTON [September 2002]

"In what the government describes as a bizarre coincidence, one U.S. intelligence agency was planning an exercise last Sept. 11 in which an errant aircraft would crash into one of its buildings. But the cause wasn't terrorism -- it was to be a simulated accident.
"Officials at the Chantilly, Va.-based National Reconnaissance Office had scheduled an exercise that morning in which a small corporate jet would crash into one of the four towers at the agency's headquarters building after experiencing a mechanical failure.
The agency is about four miles from the runways of Washington Dulles International Airport. Adding to the coincidence, American Airlines Flight 77 -- the Boeing 767 that was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon -- took off from Dulles at 8:10 a.m. on Sept. 11, 50 minutes before the exercise was to begin. It struck the Pentagon around 9:40 a.m., killing 64 aboard the plane and 125 on the ground.
The National Reconnaissance Office operates many of the nation's spy satellites. It draws its personnel from the military and the CIA

Arraya | September 4, 2008, 10:42am | #

On September 11, the National Reconnaissance Office (which runs the spy satellites), was conducting a "plane into building" scenario with the CIA at the NRO's Virginia headquarters (near Dulles airport). This was not a "terrorism" exercise, it merely tested the emergency response that would be be needed if a plane crashed into the NRO headquarters. This exercise resulted in the evacuation of America's spy satellite control center just as the 9/11 "attacks" began, reducing the number of intelligence officials capable of monitoring what was going on.

NORAD was also conducting war games on 9/11 -- Vigilant Guardian, Vigilant Warrior, Northern Guardian and Northern Vigilance -- war games that managed to paralyze part of the air defense system, making an effective response to the hijacked planes impossible. The "new Warren Commission" did not investigate the NRO or NORAD war games on 9/11.

Arraya | September 4, 2008, 10:43am | #

The 9/11 Commission report blames the failure of the military to protect the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on the Federal Aviation Administration's alleged incompetence. Supposedly, the FAA was unable to follow long established procedures to alert the Air Force that four planes were off course. However, the FAA was competent enough to safely land more than four thousand four hundred planes at airports that were not expecting them (when all planes were ordered out of the air shortly after the second tower was struck). Obviously, the FAA has less political power than NORAD, and therefore had to take the blame

Arraya | September 4, 2008, 10:44am | #

Rebuilding America's Defenses, September 2000, Project for a New American Century
Dick Cheney, Jeb Bush and the rest of the neo-conservatives

... While the unresolved conflict with Iraq provides the immediate justification, the need for a substantial American force presence in the Gulf transcends the issue of the regime of Saddam Hussein ...
... the process of [military] transformation, even if it brings revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event - like a new Pearl Harbor ...
... advanced forms of biological warfare that can "target" specific genotypes may transform biological warfare from the realm of terror to a politically useful tool.

"Moreover, as America becomes an increasingly multicultural society, it may find it more difficult to fashion a consensus on foreign policy issues, except in the circumstance of a truly massive and widely perceived direct external threat."
-- "The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and its Geostrategic Imperatives," by Zbigniew Brzezinski (1997), Council on Foreign Relations, National Security Advisor to President Carter and adviser to Presidents Reagan and Bush the First