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Jesse Ventura on Foreign Policy
Former Independent MN Governor
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Visited Cuba & Fidel Castro, despite presidential opposition
In 2002, I got the opportunity to meet Fidel Castro. A few of America's sanctions against Cuba dealing with food and agricultural products had finally been lifted, so Minnesota was able to put together a trade mission for humanitarian purposes. Pres.
Bush was very opposed to my going along, but I decided it was my right as a American citizen.I'd grown up in fear of Fidel Castro. I was young when his revolution took place in 1959, but I remember the propaganda. I vaguely recall hearing about the
Bay of Pigs invasion.
I met Castro at the trade fair. The first words out of his mouth were, "You are a man of great courage." I was puzzled; he looked at me and said, "You defied your president to come here." I guess he has pretty good "intel."
And
I looked right back at him and said, "Well, Mr. President, you'll find that I defy most everything." I told him that I felt the U.S. boycott was wrong. It did nothing positive for either of our countries, and it was time for Americans to get over it.
Source: American Conspiracies, by Jesse Ventura, p. 26-27
, Mar 8, 2010
Global cooperation OK; world government not
I believe that the one-world government everyone’s chattering about probably isn’t going to happen. People are incorrigible individualists; they’re never going to be happy with a single system of government. I think enough people realize that they’re
better off with choices. If they really can’t stand the government in one country, they can emigrate to another. Just look at the people from around the world who line up to get into the US. If enough people get fed up with their government, they can
change it-witness the fall of Communism in Europe.Can you imagine the potential for corruption that would exist within a single global government? We have enough trouble trying to rein in corruption in our own federal government! The temptation to
abuse power on a global scale would be sure to attract the worst of humankind. I’m all for nations cooperating with each other, being peaceful & friendly, and keeping trade free and borders open, but I don’t ever want to see a single worldwide government
Source: Do I Stand Alone, by Jesse Ventura, p.221
, Jul 2, 2000
Buchanan is an unrealistic isolationist
Having watched the national Reform Party in recent months, I have concluded that it is best for the Reform Party of Minnesota to disaffiliate from the national Reform Party and reclaim its original Independence Party name. I’m also recommending
disaffiliation and a name change for ideological reasons. Pat Buchanan is now a figure in the Reform Party and is virtually unopposed in the quest for the Reform Party nomination. Buchanan is an anti-abortion extremist and unrealistic isolationist.
The Minnesota Reform Party is the party of the political center. In Minnesota, we cannot maintain our socially moderate identity while a right-winger heads our national ticket. If we are to win state and local elections in
Minnesota, we must stick to our proven success formula. We must continue to stand as fiscal conservatives and social moderates.
Source: Letter Regarding National Parties
, Feb 11, 2000
Page last updated: Nov 23, 2011