Former Governor, Frogman, Pro Wrestler, Actor, Biker Jesse Ventura on His Latest Book: Democrips and Rebloodicans; Supports Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson’s Libertarian Presidential Bid; Talks Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, His Relationship with Vince McMahon After Not Endorsing Linda, Expendables II, More
CYInterview began focusing on politics – along with entertainment, sports, books, pop culture, etc. – four years ago when we spoke with former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura. Today, in our fourth go round with him, the independent minded former pro wrestler takes on the two party duopoly, discussing his latest book titled, Democrips and Rebloodicans: No More Gangs in Government.
You can listen to the entire 50 plus minute CYInterview below. Featured columnist Jay Bildstein joins me for a conversation you do not want to miss:
Listen to the entire Jesse Ventura CYInterview:
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Former Governor Ventura tells us he supports third party candidate Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party, in the 2012 presidential elections. Johnson, the former two term Governor of New Mexico joined us recently on CYInterview [see here]. Ventura said the following:
“Absolutely. If Ron Paul’s out of it after the Republican Convention, if Congressman Paul goes home and retires and doesn’t leave the Republican Party and even if he does, I will still support Governor Johnson. He, I will tell you this, the Libertarians got a hold of me in Mexico and wanted to know if I wanted to run with him. And unfortunately I don’t leave Mexico for any reason early because I don’t fly, I have to drive it. And so I declined. But I told them that anything I can do for Governor Johnson in his campaign I will be happy to do.
And they left the door open. They said, ‘Would you consider 2016?’ I said, ‘Well, will cross that bridge when I get to it.’ But I will fully support Governor Johnson. I know him. We were Governors at the same time. He is a terrific man. He’s left the Republican Party because he sees what a farce they are and I urge everybody that reads this book vote for Gary Johnson for president. Don’t vote for Democrats or Republicans. Vote for Governor Johnson.”
Ventura further stated about his support of Gary Johnson for President of the United States:
“If Ron Paul drops completely out, Gary Johnson will have my complete support, absolutely. And even if Ron Paul, wait, let me say this, even if Ron Paul stays in, Gary Johnson might get my support anyway. You know, totally you can go public and state that I will endorse Gary Johnson for president.”
Commenting on Jay’s three part plan – which we have been discussing with a variety of people across the political spectrum – that members of Congress, the president and vice president take a 50 percent pay cut and give up their rich after office benefits, accept a lifetime ban on lobbying and that members of Congress be subject to term limits, former Governor Ventura gave his thoughts and offered his own suggestions:
“They’re very valid. Let me take the last one first, term limits, I can tell you and it kind of ties into the first two, I can tell you how to get term limits without even getting them, you know how? Take away retirement. Why should you get a retirement for public service?…They spend 20 years there and they get some fat ass retirement, you take away retirement and most of these guys are not gonna serve. Nobody’s gonna put 20 years into something they don’t get a retirement for…No politician should be allowed to go into the lobbying business when they leave office because that’s what they all do too. Once they leave office they become a lobbyist because they know all the ropes, they know how to do the bribery, they know how to manipulate the whole system out there and that’s another way they get rich.”
Speaking of the last time he heard from Vince McMahon [Chairman of the Board of Directors & Chief Executive Officer of World Wrestling Entertainment] Governor Ventura says this:
“I haven’t spoken to Vince since he got mad at me ‘cause I wouldn’t endorse Linda for the senate…He got mad at me because I was on Good Morning America or something and they asked me would you support Linda McMahon? And I said no. But let me explain, I don’t support any Democrats or Republicans. She’s running as a Republican and I don’t support anyone from those two parties no matter who they are and so it was nothing personal against Linda, but Vince got real mad at me that I said that on national TV, but he should’ve known better.”
Speaking of the last time he spoke to former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger:
“I haven’t spoken to Arnold since he became the governor. I did try to visit him once when I was in Sacramento but he was off and gone so I just left him a nice message and said to say hello, but I know how busy you are at those jobs having been a governor that and so no I haven’t spoken to Arnold in a bit. I was very disappointed though of what he did to Maria [Shriver]. I have great respect for his wife Maria Shriver and she did not deserve what she got on that deal…No. I haven’t spoken to Arnold at all ever since he became the Governor of California.”
On Jesse being in The Expendables movies:
“Nobody reached out to me for Expendable[s] 1 and I kind of said to my son who works out there, I said, ‘Gee, I am kind of disappointed.’ And he laughingly said, ‘Don’t worry. Sly always makes sequels. I’m sure he’ll get you in the other one.’ Nobody’s reached out for me for Expendable[s] 2 either.”
As far as acting, Jesse will be in a movie with Tom Sizemore called The Drunk. It’s a little bit of art imitating life for the former Minnesota Governor. Jesse speaks about Sizemore overcoming his past troubles:
“My role is I play the independent Governor of Indiana who’s leaving office. So I think I have a pretty good past for that…Tom seemed right on when I met him. He was fun to work with. He was super professional and I wish him well because he’s a wonderful guy. He’s had some demons in his life which we all have had, but I think Tom has gotten over the hump hopefully and that those demons may not bother him like they did.”
In his latest book, Ventura tells the world he was part of the Mongol Motorcycle Club in the 1970s. Jesse reveals to us a secret.
“I am retired and in good standing with them. In fact I’ll give you another little first, they have a fight song that they sing within the club, ‘We are Mongol raiders, we’re raiders of the night.’ I am the composer of it.”
To sum up the state of America, what with the incredibly high government debt many are concerned about, Jesse says this about today’s politicians:
“It’s beyond belief you know how much in debt we are. In fact let me put it to you this way, if these Democrats and Republicans handled their home finances the way they’ve handled the country’s, they’d be street people pushing carts from the grocery store out on the street if they handled their own personal finances the way they’ve handled the finance of the country.”
You can find more information and purchase a copy of Jesse Ventura’s DemoCRIPS and ReBLOODlicans clicking here
The following are Jesse Ventura’s upcoming book signings:
Monday, June 18th
7 PM
Barnes & Noble
Apache Mall
1201 12th Street SW Suite 425
Rochester, MN 55902
507-281-7950
Thursday, June 21st
7 PM
Barnes & Noble
2100 North Snelling Avenue
Roseville, MN 55113
(651) 639-9256
You can email Chris Yandek at ChrisYandek@CYInterview.com Chris is available for interviews to comment on anything featured on CYInterview.
You can follow Chris Yandek on Twitter here.
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