Fun_People Archive
9 Nov
The Body Politic

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From: Peter Langston <psl>
Date: Mon,  9 Nov 98 15:46:11 -0800
To: Fun_People
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Subject: The Body Politic

X-Lib-of-Cong-ISSN: 1098-7649
Forwarded-by: Jeannine Mosely <j9@concentra.com>

I composed this last night and thought I'd send it around while it's still
timely.  Spread the joy!   --Dave (aka Quiz)

 THOUGHTS ON MINNESOTA'S 1998 ELECTION
 What could it have been that allowed him to win?
 Just an off-kilter phase of the moon?
 Were the ballots abstract?  Is it linked to the fact
 Their official state bird is the loon?
 Any guy with his past should've finished dead last!
 But the votes that were counted insure a
 New gov in the Hall at the heart of St. Paul
 Known as Jesse "The Body" Ventura.

 That a single-term mayor and third-party player
 Who used to cry "murder the ref!"
 And who wore cape and tights in the fictional fights
 of the WWF--
 That this scary bald pate is the head of a state--
 Well, the pundits are stunned!  It's a sin!
 But if Jesse "The Body" Ventura can do it,
 There's hope if you see the right spin...

 I admit he's a brute, but it could be a hoot!
 Here's a governor no one can cow!
 He can break senate deadlocks by threatening headlocks!
 He'll butt heads with buttheads--and how!
 Maybe someday he'll be a state rep in D.C.--
 He'd give "floor of the House" a new meaning!
 It could turn C-SPAN 2 into prime pay-per-view!
 (And I'd buy the front row at the screening.)

 In a cynical time when invention's a crime
 And where change is defanged by committees,
 And the usual wins are political "ins"
 Who have friends stuffing pork in their kitties,
 It's a joy knowing folks can elect their own jokes,
 Not the ones that the experts have handy.
 So if Jesse "The Body" Ventura can do it,
 Democracy's doing just dandy.

 - --D. Ellis Dickerson

© 1998 Peter Langston