VENTURA TO APPOINT INDEPENDENT TO VACANT WELLSTONE SENATE SEAT!

(red)Star Tribune ^ | 10/30/02

[That Subliminal Kid]

Adding another complication, Gov. Jesse Ventura, upset by what he felt was a partisan tone of the Wellstone memorial service, said he will try to appoint an independent instead of a Democrat to temporarily fill Wellstone's seat until the winner of the Nov. 5 election is certified.

Ventura had said he favored a replacement from Wellstone's party, but that was before he walked out of Tuesday night's service. He referred to a speech by one of Wellstone's closest friends, Rick Kahn, in which Kahn told the crowd, ``I'm begging you to help us win this Senate election for Paul Wellstone.''

``It drove the first lady to tears,'' Ventura said Wednesday on a talk radio show. He did not say who he might name as the temporary replacement.

[mhking]

He did not say who he might name as the temporary replacement.

Could Jesse himself go?!?

Let's look at this - he's implied that he would step down prior to the end of his turn, which would put Lt. Gov. Mae Schunk in the Governor's mansion until the newly elected governor takes office in January - which he said was one of his goals for the final weeks of his term. It would certainly put an "Independant" in the Senate. It would drive Daschle clean up the wall.

It sounds like a win-win situation for everyone involved...

[Dengar01]

Good for Jesse, screw the democrats. People aren't as stupid as the dems think and their behavior at the "memorial service" will anger people and open the eyes to the partisinship of the demoncat party.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Jesse has already said he will not appoint himself but that was before he had to sit through that ghoulfest last night.
I hope he changes his mind.

[That Subliminal Kid]

Jesse said he would not appoint himself the day of Wellstone's death. It would be pretty funny and cool if he did anyway. Jesse's a nut but he's fun.

[ambrose]

I don't think Ventura will resign to have himself appointed. It would effectively destroy his political career in Minnesota.

Read this: http://minnesotapolitics.net/Governors/33WendellAnderson.htm

[Sideshow Bob]

Yes, Jesse could appoint himself - but he earlier said he would not do so.

Also, the term of service of ANY appointed senator does NOT run until the new Congress is seated in January. Per Minnesota law, the appointment will only last until the winner of November 5th race is certified and sworn in.

Unless there is a significant delay in certifying next Tuesday's winner, any appointed Senator will serve for not more than a week.

Why bother?

[FreedomPoster]

>>Jesse's a nut but he's fun.

Less nutty than the leftist democratic socialists who think their misguided policies will actually work and solve prolems.

[FreedomPoster]

prolemsproblems.

Can't type today; I guess I should just be glad I'm getting posts through.

[mlo]

You changed the title of the article to make it sound like Jesse has already decided to make an appointment. He has not. The winner of the Nov. 5 election will automatically assume the seat for the remainder of the current term, whether Jesse appoints anyone or not. Unless the certification is held up in court for a while, something that is not yet clear will happen, there is no point to Jesse appointing anyone.

[mlo]

You changed the title of the article to make it sound like Jesse has already decided to make an appointment. He has not. The winner of the Nov. 5 election will automatically assume the seat for the remainder of the current term, whether Jesse appoints anyone or not. Unless the certification is held up in court for a while, something that is not yet clear will happen, there is no point to Jesse appointing anyone.

[wallcrawlr]

ALREADY HERE

[Yankee]

It really says something about Democrats, when a former pro wrestler says that they have gone beyond the boundaries of good taste and common decency.

[Eva]

The reason to bother is that the Democrats have already filed a court case regarding the absentee ballots which promises to delay the swearing in of any candidate. This would not have been a problem for the donkeys if Ventura appointeed one of their members, but an independent will throw a monkeywrench into their plans.

[RabidBartender]

If the Republicans win the Senate race in MN (as well as SD, MO, NJ, & anywhere else), I think it's a sure bet the democrats will run to court and try to cheat that way. There's no telling how long it will be until the Senate is seated.

My scenario for Ventura announcing the successor? Rumors leak out that Ventura will name Ric "The Nature Boy" Flair (Wooooooo!) as Wellstone's successor. Then, at the press conference, Ventura hits Flair over the head with a steel chair. He then rips off his suit and tie revealing a black muscle shirt with the acronym RPWO (Reform Party World Order) in huge white letters on it.

That would be fun to watch.

[Eva]

The Demorats have already filed their court case. I guess they could withdraw it if the donkey wins. That has probably been their plan, all along, anything to keep a GOP candidate out of the seat.

[BJungNan]

I figured Ventura would insert some sanity back into the process when I heard he walked out of the "memorial." Think it would have been better had he gone with a Republican and called it like it is...but final judgement should be held until we see his pick.

On a somewhat related matter, came across a good take and presentation at Betty's Mailbox on why Cheney was not invited to the Wellstone memorial service.

Link Here

Definately worth a look.

[mlo]

I'm aware there is a current court case. It isn't a very good one and there really isn't a mechanism in it for delaying the election results. It is possible for a contest of the results to be raised after the election, but that is not something we know will happen. It certainly will not if Mondale wins.

The point remains, the winner Nov. 5 will assume the seat and all the talk about Ventura appointing anyone is likely just talk.

[concerned about politics]

The state Supreme Court scheduled a hearing for Thursday. Meanwhile, election officials in the state's two largest counties, Hennepin and Ramsey, broke with the secretary of state's office and said they would mail new absentee ballots to anyone who asked.

Here's where the overwhelming vote fraud sets in.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

Good for Jesse. I probably like him more than your average FReeper, but then again, anyone who says to a socialist, after being ambushed by said socialist, that 'it's not the gov'ts responsibility to pay for your education' isn't all that bad.