Jesse Ventura Says He Will Run in 2012, Bob Barr Continuing to Build Momentum
Jesse Ventura stated at Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty rally in St. Paul, Minnesota, that he would run for president in 2012 if he determined that the grassroots made significant political advances in the interim. It is doubtful he would run for the Libertarian party nod, given that his name alone is bigger than the entire Libertarian party. Ventura could run as an Independent, getting onto all 50 state ballots and possibly winning. This is something that I will be following personally. It looks like the grassroots is already starting to generate momentum for a run in 2012.
As for the current Presidential race, libertarian Bob Barr is continuing to shape up as a viable third party candidate. For somebody who used to be a “McCain” Republican (who then thankfully renounced his pro-Patriot Act ways), he has convincingly won over the liberty crowd. It is still not known how much of an impact he will have this election, but it is possible that he will cost both McCain and Obama a few % points each. He will undoubtedly take more from the Republican Party because of the strong support from the “Ron Paul faction.”
What about strategy? Bob Barr needs to present his candidacy not as a “third party choice,” but a true new choice. People sure as hell do want change this election. I, along with many others do not think that the “changes” offered from either Republicans or the Democrats are necessarily good changes.
Barr is young enough that if he can garner a significant following this election, I do not see any reason why he wouldn’t be able to campaign again. He should continue campaigning for change (and for the presidency). People are demanding change, but the question is: how much change do they truly want? Bob Barr’s ideas may be considered “too radical” during this year’s election. However, once the country has had a taste of the “changes” being promoted by Obama and McCain, look for Bob Barr (and all pro-liberty candidates) to really shine in 2012.
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Comment by Alexander Nobles on 3 September 2008:
Digg Link:
http://digg.com/political_opinion/Jesse_Ventura_Says_He_Will_Run_in_2012_Bob_Barr_Continuing
Comment by Chris Kahn on 3 September 2008:
Jesse’s speech was great, but he’s still got a long way to go. Perhaps a little time at the Ludwig von Mises Institute would help.
Bob Barr has not won over the “liberty crowd.” At best he has carved out a moderately significant faction, but he has by no means picked up the mantle. I wish him luck getting in the debates. The more voices the better.
The bottom line is the liberty movement is going to happen from the ground up or it’s not going to happen at all.
Comment by Matt on 4 September 2008:
Let’s help get this movement going. We will need to use all four years to get this thing to work. Go to jesseventura2012.net and jesseventura2012.blogspot.com
Comment by Supertruth on 4 September 2008:
The electorate chooses our “leaders”. They do not allow small government ideas to get into the mainstream marketplace. They give us big money, bloodthirsty warriors who think nothing of abusing citizens to fulfill their goals with our money. That is why it would be good to support Jesse Ventura even though he may need a few years of Von Mises study. He can get the ideas out there. The rest of us can help him carry them out. We need to start now…today…to develop the 2012 campaign.
Comment by Nathek on 4 September 2008:
Forums set up and ready to get this going.
VenturaForums.com
Comment by Corie on 4 September 2008:
He’s on a slippery slope with his 9/11 stuff.
Granted he’s not straight up saying it’s an inside job - he’s asking why Bin Laden hasn’t been charged. Fair enough, but in that speech at the Rally for the Republic, you can just hear those idiot truthers screaming shit about 9/11 being an inside job …
The worst thing that has happened to the pro-liberty movement is those ridiculous truthers. It has made normal libertarians and conservatives afraid. I for one had to distance myself from the Ron Paul movement because of those assholes … and I think Jesse Ventura is sort of bordering on being one of them himself.
Comment by Ken Bailie on 12 September 2008:
Mr Barr has failed the revolution completely. He has exactly zero momentum now that he has demonstrated his self serving ego driven quest for power by agreeing and then abruptly withdrawing at the last minute from Dr. Pauls national press conference. And I told his campaign manager :
“I find the actions of Mr Barr to be reprehensible. Failure to attend Doctor Pauls press conference unifying the third party voice of the american voter has cast an undeniable pall on the face of your campaign.
Dr. Paul exceeds Mr. Barr as presidential in every aspect. This clearly egotistic and self serving move has highlighted that clearly to the entire body politic revolution.
Epic Fail.”
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One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is
that you end up being governed by your inferiors.
- Plato
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“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
– Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759