(00:00:00) Thank you. Erik. Six minutes past eleven o'clock. Today's programming is made possible in part by The Advocates of Minnesota Public Radio contributors include the McKnight Foundation working to strengthen families and communities. Good morning. Welcome to midday on Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary eichten. Glad you could join us. Well from all indications Governor. Jesse Ventura is taking Washington DC by storm. The governor is in Washington for the winter meeting of the national Governors Association yesterday. Mr. Ventura was one of three governors featured on NBC's Meet the Press program last night Governor joined his fellow governors in a black-tie Gala at the White House this morning as you heard, he and other Governors have been meeting with the president this noon Governor Ventura is the featured speaker at the national Press Club. The only governor who is speaking at the Press Club this week. We'll be broadcasting his address live here on midday over the noon hour. Governor. Ventura is drawing crowds wherever he goes in Washington, and apparently he's getting rave reviews in the nation's capital both for what he is saying and for the way he's saying it this first hour of midday leading up to the speech this noon. We'd like your assessment of how Governor Ventura is doing give us a call. What's your grade for the governor? 6512276 thousand. That's our Twin City area number six, five. One two, two seven six thousand outside the Twin Cities. You can reach us toll-free and that number is 1-800-218-4243 or 1-800 to for to to 828 as we get ready for the governor's speech at the Press Club today. We'd like your assessment of just how the governor has been doing these first. Well actually first weeks in office first couple of months as our governor elect, and now governor Snow as we said Washington sure seems taken with Governor Ventura Martin kosti reports from the nation's capital Governor Ventura captured the attention of the Washington news media from the moment. He swaggered into the governor's meeting half an hour late and wearing his famous tasseled leather jacket Brian Wilson a White House correspondent for the Fox News channel was one of the 20 or so reporters who immediately mob the government. This is button-down conservative, Washington DC. You saw the governor's they're in their blue suits and their power ties and here comes Jesse Ventura walking in the room in his Buckskin glory and he's a fascinating character Wilson says Ventura has colorful manner is only part of the attraction. He says he and his colleagues are also intrigued by what Ventura will do with all of his Newfound star power. There's an old saying about about educating people. That's first you have to get their attention. Well, he's got their attention and now it's a matter to see whether he takes that Natural end. The people have in him and he does anything with it. The governor is well aware of the opportunities in all this free publicity despite his grumbling about being badgered by reporters. He's gone out of his way to give them good pictures and good sound bites on Saturday his staff invited the media to watch him take a stroll down the mall with Angus King of Maine the only other governor who's not a Republican or Democrat Ventura and king led a throng of reporters and Camera Crews to Independence Avenue where they stopped and proclaim the rising power of independent candidates. I know I didn't do the math. But if we double it each election till we have the power how many years will it be not all that long to that's right because we're go from 2 to 4 and 4 to 8 and 8 to 16 16 to 32 and we'd be pretty powerful then in about in about 10 years. Not everyone in Washington takes this prediction seriously print reporters are especially skeptical Washington Post veteran. David Broder says Ventura is Thing but he's not unique there been a lot of insurgent candidates that people like me like me have covered over the years Ross Perot George Wallace. (00:04:10) It's not a brand new phenomenon. It it's not a surprise that people are mean the weakness of the political parties is an old story (00:04:20) still Broder and his colleagues can hardly ignore a politician who has such obvious popular appeal when Ventura went for a stroll down Independence Avenue people cheered him from passing cars and tourists rushed up to get his (00:04:32) autograph. Where you from Pennsylvania. I been there to I've been all 50 states as one of the enjoyments I've had in my life. I gave it to every (00:04:41) state been Torres says the national media should pay close attention to the effect. He has on people I give it a lot Minnesota here. We are in (00:04:52) Washington making it happen and you know, who knows if I get enthusiastic enough, maybe I'll take Al Gore's next. (00:05:00) Ventura spent the weekend teasing the Washington media with hints of presidential Ambitions and then immediately taking the hints back calling them jokes, but for Ralph Kohler a federal employee from upstate New York the idea of Ventura. Mm is not laughable Kohler says seeing Ventura walk through the hotel lobby was a welcome surprise and a portent of things to come. We were talking about the draft Jesse for president movement this morning at breakfast. Honestly, it was at we were half joking about it, but I think especially that the the national coverage that he got from the bullhorn incident at College there about 10 days ago and the coverage on Rush Limbaugh. I think I think he's moving in the right direction for National the national stage when Ventura is serious. He insists he has no ambition to come to Washington and he says what he'd like to see is retired General Colin Powell running for president on the Reform Party ticket. But almost in the same breath Ventura also says he'd never say never to run for higher office. That's a comment that left many Washington reporters. Like so many of their Minnesota colleagues not quite knowing what to think in Washington. I'm Martin kosti Minnesota Public Radio again, we'll be broadcasting the governor's speech at the Press Club at noon today the title of his speech by the way, three yards and a cloud of dust the up the middle strategy of Governor Jesse Ventura, for those of you who aren't football fans that refers to the old Ohio State strategy of just plowing up the middle of the of the field. Nothing fancy. Well live coverage of governor's speech at the Press Club at noon today right now. We'd like your assessment of how the governor has been doing. He has officially been governor for about seven weeks. He's been kind of the de facto governor for about 4 months. He's named his And he's produced his first budget weighed in on a lot of the major issues. What do you think? Give us a call? Six five? One two, two seven six thousand Yuan City area number six five. One two, two seven six thousand outside the Twin Cities 1-800 to for 22828 first caller is from Minneapolis. Good morning Eric. (00:07:18) Good morning. Thanks for calling. Thanks and thanks for taking my call. I just wanted to what I've been seeing since Jesse took office and also in his choice of legislative tactics and the people he's chosen to work in his administration is that first of all, if it's not part of Jesse's life experience than it's not important. So because Jesse's never been a single mother because Jesse owns a snowmobile and because Jesse Owens some watercraft and because Jesse has an expensive car those things become his priorities that You have to lower taxes on people who have personal watercraft and snowmobiles and and expensive cars, but people who don't have health insurance and people who are single mothers and trying to go to college. Well, you know, that's not part of my life experience and while I pulled myself up by my bootstraps and so you can go Stick It and the other thing that is coming out and I've seen this with people who are Jesse's supporters, very strongly is this kind of Soul culture of selfishness which is which is a very new thing in Minnesota where people are kind of going. Yeah. I don't want to pay fifty dollars a year for my you know for my snowmobile license. Yeah. I don't want to, you know have to have to obey the DNR rules when I go fishing or hunting and it's and it's very kind of discouraging to to what I think was was a very open in selfless culture in many I had in Minnesota, and and I really don't like the way it's going. (00:08:56) Okay. Thanks for your comments. You're welcome. Next caller. Is from Northfield Minnesota Stephanie, how would you rate the governor's performance to this point? (00:09:06) Well, I'm sure he's doing many good things. I'm a farmer's Union member and I'm concerned about survival of family farms and I was so pleased when I called in a question during the campaign to Ventura on the radio asking him about his position on a moratorium on the large feedlots and our manure concerns out here and he was very much with us. But by golly once he got in office we were waiting for his appointment for Commissioner of Agriculture, and he reappointed Gene Hugoton. And and so that's been a great disappointment. We don't think he's following through with the concerns that he expressed during the campaign on the farm issues. Yeah. (00:09:46) He has some proposal some proposals in his budget at 4-4 are he has a proposal I should say for some Farm relief for Farmers. Would that be of much help to (00:09:57) you? Well, it depends on how its allocated. If there's a cap on the size of the operation that gets that relief that would that would certainly work. But if it's going across the board Farm Bureau seems to be more closely tied in with him at this point. I wish he would pay a bit more attention to Our advice from from Farmers Union on that. (00:10:19) Okay. Thanks for your call. Thank you. If you're just joining us, so we are talking with those of you listening this our getting your assessment of how Governor Ventura has done these first couple of months as Minnesota's Governor. He speaking at the Press Club at noon today and that will be in a dress that will well it is getting lots of attention around the country folks in Washington apparently very interested in in the governor and his views and we thought leading up to the speech today would be interesting to find out how how you folks. Right? The governor's performance thus far six 512276 thousand or one eight hundred two four two two eight. 2:8 and next caller is from Shore View (00:11:02) and good morning morning. I'm very grateful for the callers, but the two colors that have preceded me because I'm afraid I'm echoing or sentiments. I think that we in Minnesota aside from the press and I hate to say this Gary but even you media folks seem to have fallen for the glamour of the self-serving. Mr. Ventura. I was willing to give this man a chance and I thought well perhaps we will have a fresh voice but I find that he is full of the same sort of facile hyperbole that say President Reagan was capable of where they can tell a good story, but they often lie and I give as an example of this when mr. Rosen Toro was on a national show just not this week Sunday, but we could go he was he was interviewed by one of the national commentators and they asked him what about this business of you and the Bullhorn. In fact, I know what was it was on the Tom Snyder show in the evening. Tom Snyder asked him. He said what about this business of you with the bullhorn? And the young woman who was asking you questions about being a single parent and I was I was appalled to hear. Mr. Ventura say, well, this was a young woman whose husband had run out on her and therefore she was there left as a single parent and he said, you know, I had to really let her know that she has to be responsible. Well, we all know here in Minnesota when we heard those comments and I heard that exact of radio transcription is when he said to the young woman, she said to him I'm a single parent and she said my husband is an engineer. We are paying our mortgage. We don't have medical insurance. We need help he then said to her. What about thinking about that when you have a kid? I don't like the fact that you folks seem so enamored of this man and he is a very self-serving person and like the first caller said he does not bring out the best of what we minnesotans have always prided ourselves in and that is the progressive attitude that we have that if we are doing well. So should our neighbor do well including the farmers and the people in the cities. (00:12:59) Wondering in terms of the media and of course, he has quite a different view as to how he's been treated by the (00:13:04) media. That's because he's a self-serving individual. He wants you to love him and van over him. Somebody said something to him. That was very revealing on Sundays program. They said something about does it make you humble to see the way that the people all respond to you and I think almost anyone who is not a supreme egotist might have at least been capable of saying yeah, you know, it's a little bit surprising. He said, oh, no, not at all. It just makes me see that you know, everybody needs Jesse will come (00:13:29) on. (00:13:31) This is something that it might be okay, but I was troubled by the fact that when he even went to that that high school last week. He said he had to get out amongst the people give me a break. He's only been in office less than a month. He said he didn't want to get away from the people. I think we're going to have someone who will be delegating all of the actual work of the office to others, but he himself is going to be the glamour boy going about being a Chauncey Garner from being they're saying things that the Press just falls in love with I'm dying to hear I'm today on the show because I want to see what other misrepresentations he's going to put forward. I hope you will keep a keen ear to those types of (00:14:08) things. All right, thank you for your call. Let's move on to Harold who joins us now from Crystal and your assessment of the governor's performance thus far (00:14:16) Harold. Well, I tend to disagree with the last caller. And the first one I like to give somebody enough time to really show their stuff and yes, he's been elected as a governor elect for four months. And then now he's just starting to get going but it's amazing how quickly these people are willing to hang someone for a few statements that I dare say that they're human too and they think an off-the-cuff may make a mistake or two that may not sound as good as they would like it to the fact the matter is a lot of people voted for this guy because they're sick of the same old same old wear. These people call it Progressive conferment. Some of us will call it socialist government and we'd like to see something a little different. The fact is two-thirds of the people voted for the type of government that Jesse represents which is people getting out of your pocketbook and letting government do some of the more basic things such as roads police fire and acquit taxing the people that worked to death. Why don't we can Pander to the people that are going to get votes for the Democrats? I'm sorry, but I you know, these people that want to say that the rest of us are evil and vile because we are tired being taxed to death just must make a whole lot of money out there and shore of you but the folks here in Crystal, you know, we work ourselves a hard and the money that we get we shirt like to keep so that we can you know, maybe put a few new clothes on our kids back and stuff like (00:15:56) that Harold before you run there. It sounds like your Maybe giving out on you but I have to ask you are you surprised that so far in terms of the governor's relations with the legislature he seems to have gotten in more squabbles with the Republicans then let the (00:16:12) Democrats. No, not at all. See. That's the thing. That really is amusing here is you've got people that are in my opinion representing a very hardcore left-wing agenda and the man himself if you look at it the way he takes stands on things. It's a moderate position. He's fighting the Republicans right now. And I tend to agree with what he's saying is, you know, let's try and get as much money back to the people. This is money. That was overcharged. Let's get it back to the people and if there is a real need out there for additional funds in the government then let's budgeted. Okay, let's let's not go on a spend a van. You know, how would people like it if NSP took our extra money? And went ahead and put up power lines in the ground or whatever kind of fancy project. They wanted like a you know, let's repair our nuke down there right? But but (00:17:10) the Republican complaint has been to some degree anyway that he's not returning enough money to (00:17:16) people. Well, I think that and maybe I'm misunderstanding they wanted the money now and what he is saying is let's wait until we get all the money in before we go and spend it and that's part of the I think that's rational if you're looking at your budget or my budget, that's how we work. We don't go out and buy a new car before the boss actually puts the nail the bonus check in your hand and that's what this is in my mind. It's kind of like a bonus, you know, and I don't go out and buy a brand new car, you know and quite frankly my cars aren't new, but I don't go and buy a car until I can until I get some money in hand to cover (00:17:56) it, right? Okay. Thanks for your call. (00:17:58) Earl well, thank you, bye-bye. (00:18:00) Let's move on to another caller. By the way. If you're just joining us the governor is going to be Governor Ventura is going to be speaking at the national Press Club at noon today. The speech is attracting lots of national attention. The governor has attracted lots of attention during his visit to Washington this week and leading up to the speech. We thought it would be interesting to get your assessment of just how the governor has been doing. So far the public opinion poll that was released a couple of weeks ago seems to indicate a huge approval rating for the governor very very good ratings, but we were interested in your assessment 6512276 thousand. That's the Twin City area number outside the Twin Cities one eight hundred two, four two two eight two eight arick joins us from Minneapolis. Good morning, sir. (00:18:46) Hi puncture a hole and some of the demographics. I'm a liberal Democrat and proud of it McGovern night, but I voted for Jesse and I give him an a - b plus so far during the And it seemed to me that the attorney general in the mayor of st. Paul were sleepwalking through the campaign just reciting positions by rote and Jesse seemed to be like a real human being a citizen who was responding in thinking about the issues is they came along and figured as well. Roger said Democrats are people you can only stand so long Republicans not so long as that every now and then my party need shaking up. I thought that Jesse would be good for the system and that if he did take two extreme position on something that's what we have legislature for in his governance so far. He has proved much more moderate and Progressive than some of my friends were suggesting he would be the nature of his rebate is Progressive which is why the Republicans hated and Democrats like it. It's favoring the disadvantaged the Republicans simply want to give more money to the richest. They always do is indicated in his governance that he is. In fact not against student loans. He's saying meet me halfway work hard and then we'll help you too. I do disagree disagree. Him about cutting funding for public TV and radio and about making handguns more readily available. But I disagree with everybody about something so far. I'm willing to give the governor of the benefit of the doubt (00:20:08) a couple of the early callers suggested that he is selfish or at least gives off that appearance that he is betraying the long-standing Minnesota tradition of trying to help the guy who needs help you as a little liberal Democrat. Do you agree with that (00:20:26) assessment? As I said, I think that his budget is more sensible and Humane and Progressive than some of my friends on the left. We're saying it would be its So I think well, I think there's been a lot of just sheer elitism and then people disparaging the fact that young people supported him. So that were a bad thing there that he empowered a bunch of young people to vote and and just making type of demeaning comments about the people who voted for him that they wouldn't dream of making about members of the other party the other major party. No, I don't think so. I think that he is a basically libertarian in principle, which means I agree with him on some shoes and disagree with them on others, but he's believed strongly in personal responsibility what the thing I'd fall time on it is a lot of us Governor a lot of us voted for you because you had the best sense of humor the candidates. So go easy on this stuff like forcing this woman to sending out greeting cards with your image on them. I mean that that's kind of out of line, but I think that he can learn and we'll listen to what people have to say. (00:21:36) All right, Eric. Thanks for your call. Sure. Let's move on to another caller Peter who joins us from the white Earth reservation morning, sir. Good morning. How are you? Just fine. How would you rate the governor's performance thus far? (00:21:50) Well, I'd say that the state of Minnesota has needed someone like that to shake up the establishment for a long time. However, I take issue with him on a couple of things this morning. I heard a sound bite on his disagreement with the federal government taking school money and then redistributing it back through the states and he seems to think that state of Minnesota comes up short. Well, he said look at our taxing agreement that we have with the state of Minnesota and we have the same problem with the state. I believe we come up short also in our taxing and last night. I believe I heard another sound bite on sovereignty as to Indian should go back to maybe fishing and canoes again, and apparently the man is hasn't read our treaty or is ignorant of the facts that are in there and that we are a Sovereign Nation and the state of Minnesota calls itself a Sovereign Nation and yet they have obligations that come from the federal government and they put their hand out at the same time and we have the same thing and I don't believe that that he's taken the time to look into some of the issues that he's making some comments about. However, I believe he's the best thing that's happened to the state of Minnesota in quite some time because it makes the people in this state realized that the Republicans and the Democrats are just like what we have on our own reservation here, which is the good guys and the bad guys and it takes someone to step in and stand in the middle and maybe make some independent decisions with no holes anywhere and I wish you would give us the same opportunity. (00:23:31) Okay. Thanks for call Peter. All right, thank you. Let's get at least one more caller on here before we catch up on some news headlines. Mike is with us from st. Paul and your assessment of the governor's performance thus far (00:23:42) sir coming to work this morning. We will do a little bumper sticker polling here. I think everybody's seen the my governor. Eat up your Governor type bumper stickers Etc like that. I seen one this morning. It was really chuckled me and it said Minnesota's Governor is a moron all others are normal. So I think there's a large segment of the population out here. That really is not a Ventura supporter. (00:24:10) What about you though, sir? (00:24:12) I'm not really a supporter of my disagree with the one gentleman who says he's left wing. I think he's far right wing. He supports too much for big business corporate welfare, like hockey teams Lawson software that type of thing, you know, that's why our taxes are so high because of the corporate welfare structure in our (00:24:32) state. I thought he opposed the Lawson deal and the and the Minnesota (00:24:37) Wild from what from what I've heard he wants it so I don't know. That's okay. Who knows, you know? Okay. So you'd like going by what the people say (00:24:45) hear right? You'd like to see a little more Progressive type. Approach to legislation (00:24:51) that probably so I would I would think so. Okay. Thanks a lot for your call very much for call appreciate it. (00:24:57) We are getting your assessment this hour of the governor's performance Governor. Jesse Ventura is in Washington to attend the national Governors Association meetings. He has been asked to speak at the national Press Club at noon today. The only governor who will be speaking at the Press Club Nationwide forum for our governor. And the speech is attracting. Lots of attention will be broadcasting it live. Of course over the noon hour here on our midday program this first hour. We would like your assessment of how the governor is doing 6512276 thousand. That's our Twin City area number six, five. One two, two seven six thousand outside the Twin Cities 1-800 to for 22828 and we'll get to some more callers in just a moment. How long have you listened to Minnesota Public Radio chances are you've been listening a long time or maybe you're a public radio transplant? Sound NPR when you moved here think about the value it's added to your life where else can you find accurate information and intelligent conversation on the issues that matter to you now place a financial value on Minnesota Public Radio call 1-800 to to 728 11 or send in your renewal today your membership matters. Thanks programming an MPR is supported by Minnesota 9 News at 9:00 with Robin Robinson and Jeff pass old at 9 and a 10 with Jeff pass old and Angela Hampton on the web at www.kttape.com news headlines. Now, here's Eric Janssen Eric. Good morning, Gary. The president of Serbia says he may be willing to bend a little and having NATO troops beliefs of Kosovo peace deal, but he says he'll discuss the issue only after a piece of cord is reached us officials are trying to get an agreement before tomorrow's deadline. A federal judge has found to Clinton cabinet members and contempt over the government's delay in producing records of Indian trust funds us. Judge, Royce Lamberth issued the contempt order today saying treasury secretary Robert Rubin and interior. Secretary Bruce Babbitt failed to produce documents related to a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of Indian trust funds the secretaries and assistant interior. Secretary. Kevin Gover were ordered to pay legal fees and other expenses that resulted from them from their delay. Harry. Krishna's won't be able to ask for donations at Miami International Airport the Supreme Court today turned away an appeal to let the group solicit donations are several legislature at the airport Hari krishna's argued the restrictions violate Free Speech rights jurors in Jasper Texas are expected to hear some gruesome testimony today prosecutors plan to call a pathologist to testify about the details of James Birds Death as he was chained to a pickup truck and drag along a dirt road for several miles. Big cuts at Levi Strauss & Company after disappointing sales, the jeans maker has decided to close half of its North American plants and layoffs close to 6,000 workers. The company will shift production to overseas plants in Regional news Concordia College in Moorhead has named Thomas Thompson as the ninth president of the college the 45 year old Thompson has been president of Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa since 1996 Thompson says concordia's is strong academically and financially, he looks forward to moving it into the next Century. He assumes the presidency July 1st replacing pulled over who is retiring after leading Concordia for 24 years weather this afternoon still have snow advisory in the southwest corner of Minnesota overnight to increasing clouds in the South and West with some occasional snow. They're mostly cloudy with a few flurries in the Northeast. All right. Now, we have partly sunny skies and 25 degrees in International Falls. St. Cloud sunny and 30 Duluth sunny and 23 in the Twin Cities right now partly sunny and 32 degrees. That's the latest back to midday with Gary. Eichten my character. Five minutes now before noon again live coverage of Governor Ventura is speech at the Press Club coming up over the noon hour today this hour of midday your assessment of how the governor is doing. Apparently he's getting rave reviews in Washington people interested in what he has to say the way he has to say in his General demeanor and the speech at noon today is getting lots of attention. We thought though it would be interesting to get your assessment. We've had a chance to see the governor up close now for a few months and interested in how you would assess his performance. Give us a call six five. One two, two seven six thousand outside the Twin Cities 1-800 to for 22828 Louis. Thank you for calling in. What's your assessment sir? (00:29:19) Good morning, Gary and thank you for taking my call. Well, I'm listening to some of the comments, you know for a man that has been in the office for seven weeks and they've drawn their conclusions already really kind of tells you that no matter what the Man is going to do it's not going to satisfy them. But if you if you really listen to what he is saying and trying to do and study what what his plans are and so on I think you'll find that he is really a person of the people I voted for Jesse. I have four years look for an alternative to the two-party system. I think the the assholes that we just witnessed the that went on in Washington the downfalls of two-party system and I think he had a lot a lot of good to do these fees and so on so forth that he's trying to get rid of the gentleman made a comment on the snowmobile, you know, that's just one that's the automobile plates. There's no reason the world. I can see why I have to pay three hundred seventy-five dollars for a license plate for my automobile. I think it's outrageous when we have neighboring states that 25 35 dollars is what they pay. But if you add all of those fees up that have been tacked on over the years by the two-party system to raise money to spend for whatever it's it's like a fifteen or twenty percent tax (00:30:53) increase. So you're giving the governor good marks or at least willing to wait for a while and see how things pan up. (00:31:01) Well at this point, I would give him March, you know, it's a get-acquainted a period between between him and in the legislature there. They you got three different ideas coming to the table and and it's a negotiation of the sorted out. You know, what's really good for the people but I think what it's done more than anything is this Force to Democrats and Republicans to really take a look at what is good for the people and and and the the deep pocket special interests are just going to have to stand on the sidelines and wait. (00:31:31) All right. Thank you, sir. Appreciate the call. Thank you. Let's move on to Rochester. Bill is on the line. Good morning. Good morning. Your assessment of the governor's performance Place. (00:31:41) Well, I'm a counselor for works with young people and I'm really upset that he is suck being such a poor role model. He doesn't have any sense of humor when it comes to himself. He seems to have a an ego as big as all outdoors. And of course a lot of but most politicians do but he is lacking in a sensitivity to people his comments to the to the college students week or two ago his his demeanor is not what we would hope in a person not only that's in public life, but the way people deal with people and so I think he's got a great chance. It was I didn't vote for him, but I wasn't that upset when he was elected because I too thought the two-party system has not served us very well and here's a chance for something different, but I think he has a lot of rough edges, which hopefully he will be able To to smooth things out a little bit. (00:32:39) There are people who say that the his approach his comments that are startling sometimes I guess it's is one word is exactly what's needed because that's exactly what a lot of people think about these issues rather than kind of mealy mouth around on it. (00:32:59) Well, I guess certainly I agree with that concept that yeah, we've worked around the problems and sweet-talk things a lot but there's still a way to do that that does not antagonize and intimidate intimidate people. It seems like intimidation certainly worked well for him in the wrestling ring, but it's not working quite so well, I don't believe in working with real people. (00:33:25) Thanks Bill you bet. Let's move on to Pat who joins us from Arden Hills. Good morning. Hello. All right. How are you? Well, I'm just fine. What's your assessment of the governor's performance so far? (00:33:36) Well, let me qualify this by saying I am a single parent and trying to raise children without child support and I think the governor has done single Parenthood a grave Injustice. I think he is a very short-sighted that he's losing the long-term impact of some of the statements that he's making. I think he's more Brawn than brains. I think he's tactless. I did not vote for him and I did not want somebody with in the entertainment business managing my statement projecting an image to the world of you know, the the WWF. (00:34:23) I are you primarily upset with his position on issues pant or on his style (00:34:29) both both. That's why it's been so painful, you know, if you could if you could swallow one of them. The other one would be a little more acceptable but it's you know what he says and how he says it and sometimes it's not so much what he says but how he says it and has militant style. I think he I think his whole world has been when Jesse's talks people jump, right and it's Jesse's way or the highway and he's in a position right now where he he's not we're not bowing to him. We have put him in this position and I expect him. I expect him to do it with class and dignity and a self respect that he can represent the state of Minnesota better than anybody else can and I don't think he's doing that and I really don't think that if he hadn't been a wrestler and had this whole entertainment hip Lihue haha behind him that his words would be just the same as any other Governor that resides in the United States. So I think you've gone a whole whole Whole long way on his boy in life. And I think he's coming to the end of his boy. Thanks pal. Sure. (00:35:43) Let's move on to Michael who calls in from Minneapolis this morning. Good morning, Michael. Good morning. How are you today? I'm just fine. And what's your reading here on Jesse? Ventura is performance. (00:35:52) Okay, my reading on Jesse's performance at this point is I'm not so concerned with his performance but our response to his performance. I'm not from Minnesota. I've lived here for over 25 years. And one thing I really noticed about people in Minnesota is they are so incredibly image-conscious. I mean this thing called Minnesota nice where so many people in Minnesota will bend over backwards not to offend and it is such a relief to have somebody in there who simply speaks his mind now, I don't agree with everything the governor says and I agree with the previous caller and his statements about single parents. However, I think this is a guy in there who's willing to listen willing to learn. I really appreciate the straightforward qualities of his comments. I think it's about time we had somebody in Who did speak his mind and in speaking your mind you're going to make mistakes? Well, that's a human quality everybody. Does that well, the press everybody but politicians and it's nice to have somebody in there. Just leveling it. (00:36:49) What about the argument though that at least part of what Pat was saying that there is a going in her mind going to be some long-term implications and and problems caused by the things he's saying and the way he's saying the never mind whether he you know, you appreciate that that straightforward quality but goodness (00:37:10) gracious. I think it's way too early to make judgments like that. The guys only been doing this for a few weeks, you know, and this is a whole new thing for him. It's a whole new thing for us again. Like I said at the beginning, how are we going to respond to this? Are we going to become resistant and sort of dig in our heels which then might force him into a situation like that or are we going to say? Look, let's work together. Let's learn together. Let's figure out what's going on when he was on. Tell that to the other night talking about the profiles of learning you fully admitted. He didn't know everything about it and it seemed to me that this is a person who will give an opinion on something. But if you can give him an education and teach him some more about it, he may change his mind and not be a politician and putz around and wishy-washy is way he's going to say where he is now, I think you'll say where he is another time to (00:37:57) do you think a long term he would then be accused of flip-flopping you often hear so-called career politicians accused of flip-flopping on the issues if he changes his mind, will he be accused of that? (00:38:09) Sure. I don't think he'd care. I think if he learned something and he changed his mind he's going to do it. I think that's called growth, you know, we all tend to change our minds as we grow older politicians consider this a threat I think Jesse and the rest of us would consider it a blessing to have somebody listen learn and then respond. (00:38:26) Thanks for your call Michael welcome. Appreciate it. Let's move on to another caller from Minneapolis George. Hello. Yes, you're on the air. Thanks. (00:38:35) I am kind of disturbed about this carrying concealed weapons that he's been talking about on television and he claimed to have been threatened with his life being taken and you are reported this morning that what that was about was some guy at a gas pump next to him saying you better watch your mouth or you're going to get in trouble. I mean, that's a real Distortion and it seems to me it took the press a while to label a per-page governor Goofy and Arnie Governor grumpy, but I'm wondering how long it'll be before somebody labels him Governor greedy if he keeps on with all of his Personal (00:39:18) Agenda. Okay, so obviously you're not giving the governor High marks at all (00:39:23) not in his personal style. He's very arrogant and very thin-skinned and the media politician. Can't be very thin skin. That the media sure are keeping their distance from him and terms of challenging him on that and when he was a talk show host. He used to lambaste all the politicians all the time, but boy Minnesota meteor the worst in the world according to him. So I just wonder on the policy issue. It's too soon to tell I can't really gripe a lot about what he's done. But he's drawing a salary of over a hundred twenty thousand a year and claiming to still be learning and getting a lot of on the job training and I'm the one day and for it. Maybe you should take a salary cut. Alrighty learns the (00:40:11) job. All right. Thank you George. Let's move on to Dave who joins us from Litchfield this morning. Good morning, sir. (00:40:17) Hello Gary. Good morning to you. Well, I'd like to give I went to high school with Jesse. I was a year behind him at Roosevelt. I didn't know him then but he was captain of the swimming team. I like to give them a couple other Kudos he did. He did become a seal in the military and that's very difficult job and he did become a professional wrestler both which required an exceptional amount of fortitude diligence perseverance Etc. And I think he's on a on a huge learning curve and if he's going to steer the state in a different direction or two, he better get big shoulders and a thick skin because he's going to take some hits for it. We can't have a guy whining up there. I've made fun of them a little bit. I've called him. He may be potentially the squealing feel and we don't need that. We have we have a two year old as the governor God help us and what is he is he is he threatening the journalist, but is he a menacing man? What is he doing? He can't do that. He's got a cool off and understand the way the game works. It is a game the governance of our state. Is it got a huge? I mean, there's a huge range of responsibilities there. He better learn them. Well, (00:41:31) not a high mark on the style points. (00:41:34) I tell you know, he's playing spoken, but I wish he would leave his history of womanizing alone. I don't care about that. I hate it and frankly. I wish you would be plain spoken and not vulgar. We don't need vulgar. I don't really want to rock and roller in the capital, but he's there and I actually do wish him well because we're stuck with him for (00:41:57) years. All right. Thanks for your call Dave. Thank you. Another caller joins us from outside the metro area Marv on the line from Hibbing. Good morning. Hello. Yes, Marv. You're on the air. What's your assessment of the governor's performance, please? (00:42:12) Well, I'm willing to give him a chance. I like some of his some of his opinions and I like his opinions towards education and and the tax refund in particular. I do think he's mistaken in the criticizing the money that goes to public radio because he seems to be forgetting that we all pay for all of radio and all of Television through everything we buy without hitting any voice about how the money is spent. Only PBS doesn't spend 80% of it on Android that to ad agencies. The other thing is I think the response to to Jesse is sometimes sometimes a little bit knee jerk. And a lot of people but a lot of people are not making the distinction between Fame and (00:43:02) notoriety. Okay, so overall but incomplete grade at this point or (00:43:12) yeah, I think it's too soon to tell how things are going to turn out. Okay. Thanks Marvin. Sure, (00:43:18) the governor Jesse Ventura is speaking at the national Press Club over the noon hour today about 10 minutes from now and we'll have live coverage of the governor's speech. The address is getting lots of national attention. Governor has cut a pretty wide swath during his visit to Washington and we'll be broadcasting that speech live this hour. We've been talking with listeners about your assessment of the governor's performance. Thus far we've got time for a couple more callers Harry's on the line from Isanti. Go ahead (00:43:49) sir. Yeah. Well, I want to go right off the bat and tell you that I'm more than opposition to him when he was running. I had didn't think he had a chance on Earth to get in and unfortunately he did and I'm still I did actually work for a little while. I try to get my shop but everything he does he's he's violent. I mean he comes off he's so like he attacked that little girl at the education rally. They had their reminded me of the time that he knocked a reporter down when he reporter. This is some years ago when he said that he thought wrestling was fake. Well, everybody knows it is and but Jesse noxious guy down said walls that pig and he's like that he I don't think he does us a bit of good. I think it's this thing with the nation wide popularity. The word is right. I think it's just well, it's like a panda bear. I mean look at look what we got here somebody that's completely out of the loop don't have uh, no clue what to do his whole life in as from what I can understand. It has been the same way. I mean, he was a Navy SEAL. Okay, but that that was just, you know kind of play games too. He's I don't know that he's ever had and a real job except that he was on the radio and it was I couldn't stand to listen to my road with a guy that list July and I had to quit riding with him because it was just so so so I don't know how well it couldn't (00:45:34) stand not happy with the governor. (00:45:36) No, not at all. I think that we're going to we probably pay for this one. We've withstood some lot of bad ones and I think we're going to pay for this (00:45:46) one. All right here. Thanks for your call you but let's get at least one more caller on here before we wrap up Eileen your assessment of Governors performance, please (00:45:57) I started off I did not vote for him. It's I started off being quite hopeful that he was somebody who was going to Common sense and assess issues in a straight-talking common sense kind of a way he does do that. But one day I remember like about a month after the election. It clicked with me that what he is is a Libertarian because I really didn't know what reform party stood for what he stood for but it seems that the positions he's taking our from a Libertarian standpoint in that he believes that government should not be involved when that's at all possible. What concerns me about that is I don't see the compassion. I'm concerned about his positions about college students about the way he responded to single parent issues about his comments on childcare his comments about homelessness for instance saying that unless you're a homeless vet. You probably got into it on your own and you really don't need to be helped out of it on in terms of his thinking what concerns me is I'm not sure he knows how to think in Cabo. Complex issues he cuts cuts through the cuts through things but I don't know that he knows how to think about complex topics. And as a governor if he can't do that, he's not going to be able to do the job. (00:47:19) Okay. Thanks Eileen. Okay. Bye one more caller before we wrap up Eliza. Yes. Hi your assessment of the governor's performance. We've only got about 30 (00:47:28) seconds. Okay. Well, I think he's doing all right. He's only been in for a little while. I think people are judging way too harshly. They're making their assuming things about him and regards to the education rally when he made that comment to that woman. I was all for it. I mean you make your bed you lie in it when I went to college. Nobody helped me I had to struggle to and I think people are saying he's so violent and attacked her will she attacked him? I think because he's a man he just Express his opinion should make a difference. I think he's very strong. I think he's going to bring Minnesota into the next True with a lot of Pride. Okay. Thanks for your call. You (00:48:08) some listener comments judging the performance of Governor Jesse Ventura seven weeks now officially as governor, and of course it's been about four months since he was elected governor over the noon hour today. He's going to speak at the national Press Club and we'll have live coverage. So stay tuned. Brenda's daughter was born HIV (00:48:27) positive when she was five. It was let's go pick out the casket and where do we want her buried and that kind of thing and now it's well, where does she want to go to college? And what did she want to be? And will she ever be able to have (00:48:39) children? That's the kind of thing. She thinks about now being a teen is Tough Enough, imagine having HIV the positive life a new documentary today at 3:30 and 5:30 on all things considered Minnesota Public Radio Canada wfm 91.1 in the Twin Cities by the way will be broadcasting that documentary over the noon hour tomorrow here on midday.