'The Body' Has Eye on Tackling White House in 2008 (Picks GOP'er Charles Barkley as Running Mate)

Boston Herald ^ | March 23, 2004 | Liz Beardsley

[threat matrix]

Wrestler turned politician Jesse Ventura all but threw his hat into the 2008 presidential ring yesterday-and said he's already decided to tap basketball star Charles Barkley as a running mate.

And he said he's not kidding. 'Everyone laughs, he said. 'They told me in Minnesota a wrestler couldn't become governor, and I proved them wrong.'

Bragging he bucked the old school political system by appointing 73 judges without knowing a single one, Ventura said 'he's setting up for 2008.'

'It's time to put a wrestler in the White House, said Ventura, who is known as 'The Body' from his professional body slamming days.

At age 52, Ventura said he's 'learned never to say never.'

As an independent, Ventura admitted it would be hard to gain nationwide ballot access-but added he's interested enough to have already tapped Barkley, the outspoken former NBA star.

[threat matrix]

I hope Charles has already agreed to this.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

'It's time to put a wrestler in the White House, said Ventura...

I believe Clinton used to do a little "wrestling" in the White House.

[beckett]

Ventura crawled out of the Minnesota governorship on his hands and knees, thoroughly and decisively whipped by the political process. He showed himself to be a crybaby and loser. He is permanently finished in politics.

[TheBigB]

Barkley was a vocal supporter of John Edwards. No support from me.

[MNlurker]

Most look back on that and won't even admit they voted for him. He was a nothing when he left office and when he is put up against Pawlenty the entire state realized what a leader with decisive ideas really meant.

The last time he was really even in the news here for more than a blurb was when his official portrait was revealed. In that situation it was a relief to the state that he hadn't made a mockery of that too.

His days as any type of public figure ended with his last day in office. He is a nothing and deservedly so.

[P.O.E.]

Ventura Vs. Schwartzenegger?

The Pay-Per-View revenue alone would wipe out the deficit.

[mountaineer]

Barkley once vowed that after basketball he would run for governor of Alabama. He's changed his mind.

"Politics are crooked," he said. "Instead of knocking heads with lobby groups, I can do more where I am now."

He's against the United States going to war with Iraq.

"Nobody wins," he said. "We need to start treating other countries better. They all hate us. We've got to be doing something wrong."

source: http://www.nba.com/suns/news/azcentral_030318.html

---

Barkley supported John Edwards in the Dem primary. He's no GOPer:

Edwards will be back in Atlanta on Saturday and he will have former NBA star Charles Barkley campaigning with him. Then, on Monday, musician Darius Rucker and his band, Hootie and the Blowfish, will campaign with Edwards.
http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=43530

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Barkley is a horse's ass. He spouts opinions on both sides of the fence, but I permanently tuned him out after he tried to make a case that Augusta National was lengthening their golf course as a racist move to prevent Tiger from winning more Masters.

[freebilly]

"We need to start treating other countries better. They all hate us. We've got to be doing something wrong."

Yup, it's time for America to stop being successful so other countries won't envy and hate us. Too much success is bad for the world....

[sarasota]

You can fool some of the people (to become governor) some of the time but you can't...yeah, get a clue Jes. Your glory days are behind you.

[threat matrix]

How is Arnold going to get around the Consitutional requirement of birth in the US to run for president?

[threat matrix]

Rush always says he talks to Charles Barkley about runnning as Governor of Alabama for the GOP. <

[Freedom of Speech Wins]

Charles the Round Mound of Rebound Barkley and Jesse the Body Ventura would make quite a political tag team here.

[Integrityrocks]

I know that, and you know that, but.... there are a whole lot of stupid, ignorant, people who would think nothing of using their "vote" as some sort of a gaming token. Sad but true. Never underestimate the amount of people who would think that nut case would be "refreshing."

[threat matrix]

I saw some of that during the NBA playoffs.

Chuck is convinced that the extra length was to prevent Tiger from winning the Masters tourney, what he doesn't realize is that on those super fast greens Tiger acutally hits his mid to long range irons HIGHER than most players which is better for him!

[P.O.E.]

Ask Ted Kennedy

[pubmom]

Ventura must be suffering from a prolonged case of hypoxia.

[OrioleFan]

I believe Clinton used to do a little "wrestling" in the White House.

President Bush had the carpet replaced in the Oval Office - I guess Jesse will put down a mat.

[Dead Corpse]

I voted for him. And? He was doing great right up until he started getting visits from Algore and Slick Willie. Then he started going back on every single one of his campaign promises (light rail ring a bell?) and getting pissy with the media for calling him on it.

[weegee]

A sizeable population in the United States already celebrates Cinco de Mayo (even though it would make more sense for much of America to celebrate Texas Independence Day or even the date of the sale of the Louisiana Purchase).

Maybe if more Americans took to celebrating Bastille Day, we could be more like the French in modern affairs and just roll over.