Jerk Jerk Grey Jerk

I got a sad E-Mail response from to an E-Mail I sent to the draft Dean Barkley website linked off the Independence Party website.

"Ventura is a jerk, keep him away from the party."

I'm sorry but I want public policy from the jerks among us not the nice guy. The Independence Party if its showed any consistency has shown it with honest politics. Unfortunately niceness and honesty means nobody will respect you.

Show me the candidate that can get 51% and I'm on board but I'll take the jerk and hope for 37%. Oh by the way when compared side by side with Franken and Coleman at least Jesse will be the jerk they can respect.

And oh by the way if jerks like this are currently working behind the scenes, the long term fate of the party is very clear as Ventura and even Barkley need the party less then the party needs them.

So much for linking my passion and excitement for Ventura or Barkley to the Independence Party, that party has left us.

The senerio

The initial reaction to Jeese Ventura's increased speculation has been interesting, listening to the radio yesterday I both Joe Souchery and Dan Barriaro (did I spell his name right? Who cares) went out of their way to make it clear they did not respect the Governor. Up until that point I felt the scenario was clear as day, but you know what back in 98 at this point the media showed him no respect for different reasons.

The three biggest things that still line up in Ventura's favor

1. 35% and he's in (in other words if most people you talk to don't like him that does not mean he can't win)

2. Al Franken didn't pay his taxes (If this even increases Ventura's vote total by as little as 1% that's huge)

3. Ventura knows how the game is played (none of this well reality suggest taxes might have to be raised or jeez driving with cell phones is bad press conferences)

I think day one of a Ventura campaign Franken is eliminated from contention, then it becomes Coleman versus Ventura battling for 70-75% of the vote. The weired thing is in this scenario the better Democrats do the the top of the ticket at better Ventura will do.

If and when he does win again very few people will be shocked, surprised? Sure, but only the Joe Soucerey's and Dan Barrairro's of the world will be shocked.

It's official

Either former Governor Jesse Ventura or US Senator Dean Barkley will challenge Norm Coleman for US Senate. Best bet is it will be Jesse Ventura, and despite the fact he suggest he will not campaign other then debating his opponent (that right Jesse makes the current DFL front runner so insignificant he or she is not worth mention) I suspect that in the end Jesse will have as active of a campaign as the people want. Granted he won't have multimillion on hand he will be able to cover the basics and then some.

It's tough to predict victory, but at least one of the asinine statements his detractors made up has been proven wrong, Jesse Ventura does have the guts to get back on that line and take all the abuse that comes with it win or lose.