Libertarian Bob Barr and Constitution Party candidate Chuck Baldwin have both sought the mantle of “next Ron Paul” — i.e. the person who would carry on the R3VOLution through November. Thus far, both have failed to generate even a sizable fraction of the Texas congressman’s political or financial support. Barr, an ex-CIA man, is insufficiently specific on his policy proposals and lacks the radicalism and principled populism that made Paul so appealing. Baldwin, although closer to Paul, does not speak in libertarian language and alienates a good two-thirds of Paul’s base with his fundamentalist Christian leanings. But there is a third candidate who may emerge as “the next Ron Paul” — former governor Jesse Ventura.
R3VOLutionaries are hungry for a real victory, and Ventura’s potential candidacy for U.S. Senate in Minnesota would make winning a real possibility. He’s already won a statewide race against one of the two major-party opponents he’d face in November, and the concentrated force of the R3VOLution in one relatively small state would be staggering — particularly considering the fact that “The Body” was able to win the governorship ten years ago without the massive out-of-state support he’s likely to generate this time.
Jesse Ventura is much more statist than Ron Paul, but probably no more so than Barr or Baldwin. For those who “strong borders” is a major issue, Ventura may not be attractive, as he’s made it clear he thinks the issue is overblown. However, his position to the “left” of Paul may work to his advantage, rather than his detriment.
Even to those who do not agree with Ventura on every issue, Ventura’s status as a true maverick is appealing. Just as Ron Paul was able to unite libertarians and conservative constitutionalists, Ventura might be able to do the same and bring far-left liberals into the fold as well — he was invited to the Green Party’s national convention. A Ventura R3VOLution could be a united front of Libertarians, Constitution Party members, and Greens — along with the good people of Minnesota, who are unusually hospitable to third-party politics — against the neocon/liberal consensus.
Of course, this all depends on whether or not Jess runs. Find out by tuning into Larry King Live tonight.
11 responses so far ↓
1 Mike Theodore // Jul 14, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Unfortunately, in these days, maybe only a celebrity can realistically win office with this message.
2 Peter Orvetti // Jul 14, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Any bets on what he’ll do? I’d say there’s an 80% chance he’s in.
3 Fred Church Ortiz // Jul 14, 2008 at 8:14 pm
I say he’ll run, and I’ll say GE’s mostly right in the article (though I don’t think Ventura’s support will be coming from the R3VOLution+ “far left”, rather the R3VOLution + “far center”).
4 Mike Theodore // Jul 14, 2008 at 8:15 pm
First, my thoughts (hahaha, your screwed now!).
I still have the feeling that if he’d run, Coleman would win. The last thing the U.S. Senate needs now is Coleman back. But every time I hear him speak, I get a twinge of hope. REAL HOPE!
I think with the way he’s been putting himself out there, it’s now or never. In two years, America will be put to sleep by the Obama Administration. Outrage at little things will be replaced by a good feeling. The nation’s ideological streak will begin dying.
I don’t think he has a choice.
Ventura for Senate.
Wager?
5 Fred Church Ortiz // Jul 14, 2008 at 8:18 pm
“In two years, America will be put to sleep by the Obama Administration. Outrage at little things will be replaced by a good feeling. The nation’s ideological streak will begin dying.”
Nah. Republican Revolution II in 2010. Ventura vs. Bloomberg in 2012 leads to depressing anticlimax.
6 Mike Theodore // Jul 14, 2008 at 8:22 pm
I might cry.
Good news. I have CNN over here.
Live
Action
Coverage
7 darren // Jul 14, 2008 at 8:45 pm
So Ventura’s winning coalition is a bunch of fringe groups that will make up maybe 10% of the vote? No way. If he wins it will be by grabbing the solid middle and running as a change candidate to ride on Obama’s coattails. Hard to see Paul’s active supporters motivated to travel to Minnesota for an open borders, pro-choice “radical centrist” who disappointed libertarians and conservatives as governor. Maybe if he said that 9/11 was staged…
8 G.E. // Jul 14, 2008 at 8:46 pm
He basically has.
In my experience, I’d say close to 50% of Ron Paul supporters are pro-choice, and a good 1/3 are pro-immigration.
It’s not about traveling, it’s about money. The “radical center” does not give. Ron Paulians do.
It is more about image with Ron Paulians. Ventura’s image fits the bill.
9 inDglass // Jul 14, 2008 at 8:58 pm
darren,
Ventura, as a former explosives specialist for the Navy Seals, has said that he thinks controlled demolition must have been used to bring down the three WTC buildings. He has expressed many doubts about the 9/11 official story on the Alex Jones and Howard Stern shows. He has done a lot of research and formed the strongest talking points I have heard out of the 9/11 truth movement yet.
10 Mike Theodore // Jul 14, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Here we go.
11 George Donnelly // Jul 15, 2008 at 8:41 am
This is a lot of nonsense.
Ventura is an airhead. He’s no Ron Paul. Please. Let’s no get desperate now.
> If he wins it will be by grabbing the solid middle and running as a change candidate to ride on Obama’s coattails
Obama stopped being the candidate of change weeks ago. Catch up.
When your civil liberties are in the trash can and your dollars are in worthless bc of Fed bailouts and the evidence from 9/11 is long gone, who the heck cares about what happened to the towers?!
My point is that we may never know what really happened and there are more important issues to deal with.
I’m more worried about what they’re going to do next and how to reverse this trend.
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