The Horses They Rode in

The Horses They Rode in On - The Independence Party's Dean Barkley's term in the Senate is over. Jesse Ventura leaves office tomorrow.

So long guys. Don't let the doors smack you on the way out.

Ventura went out with his one of his patented, pointlessly-combative, petulant press conferences.

Ventura went out much as he came in nearly four years ago -- outspoken and combative.

He pointed out that his 72nd and final judicial appointee, Terrence Walters of Rochester, had been an unsuccessful finalist for the bench several times before, and he likened him to a Navy sailor who vomited while doggedly trying to qualify for frogman duty.

Ventura even tossed a parting shot at his predecessor, saying that former Gov. Arne Carlson had denied him and his aides access to the governor's office until noon on Inauguration Day of 1999. On Monday, Ventura said, things will be different.

The Pawlenty team will have the run of the place beginning at 8 a.m., several hours before the governor-elect is sworn in.

While refusing to disclose what he will be doing as a private citizen -- a national cable TV talk show has been rumored -- Ventura dropped one small hint. At an invitation-only $100-a-person going-away party at the Marriott City Center Hotel in Minneapolis tonight, he said, "my new boss will be there."

Asked at a State Capitol news conference what his new job will be, he said: "None of your business."

He also said he expects to have no future role in public affairs except as a voter. "I'd rather critique the media," he added, "because no one does that, and I think someone should. As of Monday, you will fear me."

Friends in the media - including some of his former radio industry colleagues - say Ventura has the most irredeemably bloated ego in the history of Minnesota Politics.

If you're not from Minnesota, you might still be buying into the myths he and his handlers were passing off four years ago. He ran as a libertarian, populist conservative - all about personal responsibility, lowering fees, concealed carry reform, cutting taxes. In dealing with a (at that time) perennial surplus, he asked Minnesotans in a famous radio ad "How does $1000 for every man, woman and child in your household sound?".

As soon as he got into office, though, he surrounded himself with DFLers - Tim Penny, Dean Barkley, Ted Mondale; his cabinet included only one Republican, Charlie Weaver. He raced for the left - he caved in to Roger Moe on his first three budgets. His administration raced for the left - spending surpluses, de-emphasizing roads for light rail, caving in to the left on issue after issue.

For all of his populist/libertarian rhetoric, his administration was a make-work program for "moderate" DFLers who couldn't get endorsed at a regular DFL convention.

Speaking of which - Dean Barkley, whom Ventura appointed to finish Paul Wellstone's term, also left office last week.

Barkley, who was sworn in on Nov. 12, served only seven weeks, but his tenure was long enough to whet his appetite.

"It's not a bad gig, if you can get it," he said.

In an interview, Barkley said he "definitely would consider running for higher office again, if the right opportunity came."

Having worked as a top official in Gov. Jesse Ventura's administration, his aspirations are not necessarily limited to the Senate.

"I learned a lot about what it's like to be governor, and that's a nice job also," he said.

Barkley's Senate service gained him a mention in the record books. He is one of at least 30 senators in the nation's history who served less than two months, according to a list compiled by Betty Koed, assistant historian with the Senate Historical Office.

Barkley, like Independence party gubernatorial candidate Tim Penny, was a career DFLer - perhaps more "moderate" than the DFL leadership, but only slightly less liberal in practice.

Adios, Dean. Good Riddance, Jesse.

Posted by Mitch at January 5, 2003 11:44 AM