November 5, 1998 - George Latimer, former St. Paul mayor, shares his thoughts of the role of public service and politicians. Topics include the recent election of “non-politician” Jesse Ventura, the change in electorate, governmental knowledge as a functioning public good, and the “legislative center.” Latimer also answers listener questions.
November 5, 1998 - Governor-elect Jesse Ventura spent the day basking in the national limelight, with a photo shoot for Newsweek this morning and one for TIME magazine this evening -- possibly for the cover. Ventura says he'll keep talking to the national media through Sunday, but after that he intends to focus full-time on preparing his transition into power. The fledgling Reform Party is doing what it can to share some of Ventura's newfound fame; Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: In the media frenzy surrounding Jesse Ventura's upset victory, his party has been lost in the shuffle. The Reformers tried to fix that with a Capitol Hill news conference -- one that attracted more reporters and camera crews than any Reform Party news conference in recent memory. Party Chair Diane Goldman says she wants to seize the moment to grow the party's membership:
November 5, 1998 - For Minnesotans having a tough time defending our choice for governor to out-of-staters, Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts has a few tips. HOST TAG: Minnesota Public Radio's Chris Roberts and Mike Mulcahy. with apologies to David Letterman.
November 5, 1998 - Business and labor leaders have had a few days now to absorb the news of Jesse Ventura's suprise victory Tuesday night. While neither side claims to know a great deal about the Ventura agenda, both claim they'll find common ground with his administration. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo surveys the new landscape. NARRATION: In this year's election, quite predictably, business gave their support to Republican Norm Coleman and labor backed D-F-Ler Skip Humphrey. Neither expected Reform candidate Jesse Ventura would prevail. But now that the contest is over, leaders of both business AND labor express optimism that Ventura, a relatively unknown political quantity, represents a new opportunity for both of their camps.
November 5, 1998 - After electing Reform Party candidate and former pro wrestler Jesse Ventura as their governor, Minnesotans suddenly find themselves having to explain to the outside world what the front page of the New York Times calls an "earth rattling political upset". People from around the country and the world are calling relatives and friends in Minnesota, and asking how it happened, and why. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports. As the news of Jesse Ventura's victory spread, the David Letterman show ran wisecracks about a governor whose shorts glitter-
November 5, 1998 - Although the cause of the split limbs, extra legs, missing eyes and other frog deformities reported from Minnesota and many other states is still unknown, evidence linking deformed frogs and farm chemicals continues to mount. Researchers will discuss those findings and others in San Diego this week at a conference sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Losure reports. When researcher Martin Ouellet first began finding deformed frogs along the St. Lawrence River in Quebec in 1992, he suspected a link betw
November 5, 1998 - There has been a lot of head scratching among the Jesse-Ventura-pilloried "experts" about how the reform Party Candidate came to be Minnesota's Governor elect--- particularly in the face of two party-machine-groomed opponents. The Ventura victory has been described as a protest by disenfranchised voters: but Minnesota Public RAdio's Lynette Nyman reports it could be more complicated than that.... The common wisdom is the Jesse Ventura voter is like an Edina Woman named Mary, who called in to an MPR post-election show. Mary said she was undecided till the end....but then placed her faith in Jesse. 1:06:08 I wanted to make a statement....
November 5, 1998 - JESSE VENTURA'S SURPRISING VICTORY IN THE MINNESOTA GOVERNOR'S RACE IS ATTRACTING ATTENTION FROM AROUND THE WORLD. ONCE VENTURA TAKES OFFICE HIS PERFORMANCE IS ALSO LIKELY TO BE SCRUTINIZED NATIONALLY ... ESPECIALLY BY THOSE SEEKING TO GAUGE THE VIABILITY OF THE REFORM PARTY AND THIRD PARTIES GENERALLY. MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO'S WILLIAM WILCOXEN REPORTS... AT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING -- LESS THAN AN HOUR AFTER JESSE VENTURA PROCLAIMED HE'D SHOCKED THE WORLD -- QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REFORM PARTY'S STAYING POWER WERE ALREADY FILTERING THROUGH THE SMOKE FROM VENTURA VICTORY CIGARS. MEDIA CONSULTANT BILL HILLSMAN SAID THE PARTY DID NOT PRODUCE JESSE'S WIN BUT IT MIGHT BE ABLE TO BUILD ON IT...
November 5, 1998 - Tuesday's election results mean big changes ahead in state government, and education could be a key test for the new administration. School choice advocates say they don't expect any support from Reform Party Governor Jesse Ventura...but a Republican House should help keep their reforms in place. Teachers say they're counting on one of their own, Ventura's lieutenant governor Mae Schunk, to help address their issues. Schunk, a veteran teacher who's never held elected office, is promising to do good things for public schools. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports... (Sound of cheering)
November 6, 1998 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with Governor-elect Jesse Ventura about his election victory, the transition to his administration, and the national attention he's been getting. Program begins with Ventura reflecting on election night. Ventura also answers listener questions.