Come on Jesse, laugh a little
Published 12:00 am Monday, March 29, 1999
Gov.
Monday, March 29, 1999
Gov. Jesse Ventura isn’t laughing these days.
A banana cream pie apparently tossed in Ventura’s direction Thursday night has given him further proof that he needs more security. The pie throwing incident occurred Thursday at a Minneapolis park at a gathering of more than 500 area residents. The pie hit Ventura’s body guard in the back of the head and some of the filling splattered on the sleeve of the governor. The pie-thrower escaped and no suspects have been identified.
Even prior to the incident Ventura was seeking six additional guards, a state trooper and the transfer of two more state troopers to his security detail. According to legislators the requests amount to a nine-fold increase over previous governors and would cost the state an additional $1.4 million. Ventura has also requested additional security at his Maple Grove home, a request past governors have had fulfilled.
Beefing up this governor’s security nine-fold doesn’t seem to be a prudent use of the state’s tax dollars. After all, isn’t Gov. Ventura one of the state’s most popular political figures?
We can understand the need to afford his home extra security, but a nine-fold increase in personal security detail seems to error on the high side.
Ventura already has a permit to carry a gun and has refused to divulge why he feels the need to carry one. If Gov. Ventura wants a nine-fold increase in his security detail, then he should perhaps tell us all what exactly he’s afraid of.
Granted his security is important, but Gov. Ventura’s "me" issues are becoming a bit tedious. First, his wife needs to get paid for being the First Lady, then it’s his tour of national TV shows and Hollywood and now his personal security. Maybe if he would spend more time talking about what Minnesotans need and deserve and less about "Jesse" he wouldn’t need additional security.