Do I Stand Alone?: Going to the Mat Against Political Pawns and Media Jackals [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Jesse Ventura (Author, Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2000

With jackhammer force and candor, Governor Ventura issues an urgent wake-up call to America -- a resounding indictment of our creeping national cynicism, and how our political system rewards mediocrity while turning a blind eye to accountability.

In Do I Stand Alone? Ventura decries the ease with which most Americans surrender their freedoms and apathetically accept a system of governance driven more by pork and patronage than by the best interests of the constituency. He also denounces an irresponsible media, taking them to task for too often confusing fame with notoriety, and for driving the news instead of simply reporting it. And he unabashedly speaks out on today's hot-button issues, including welfare, racism, abortion, campaign finance reform, and gay rights.

Giving us fascinating insights into the future of independent parties, Governor Ventura ushers us deep into the polished corridors of power, exposing the best -- and worst -- of our current crop of political personalities while laying out a workable strategy for bringing our political system -- and its politicians -- back to greatness.

In a forthright, razor-sharp, and entertaining critique, Governor Jesse Ventura has once again thrown down the gauntlet -- challenging today's politicians as well as a disenchanted public to transcend the tired rhetoric and defiantly reclaim the freedom and opportunity that is our American birthright.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Minnesota's pugnaciously quotable governor stood in the national spotlight when he took office: his subsequent book, I Ain't Got Time to Bleed, told his life story. This follow-up offers a smorgasbord of quick stands on specific issues; longer critiques of the political process, the parties and the media; and feelings about his time in government. The governor is against "pork-barrel politics," "government bloat" and "public careerism," and he's upset about the structural advantage enjoyed by incumbents over challengers. He's quite angry at local and national press, especially when he believes they misquote him to create scandals. If some of his positions seem far-out, others can pack a commonsense wallop. He thinks "we're far too dependent on automobiles" and hopes for "more mass transit." He dislikes most gun-control laws, he hates the IRS and even hopes to replace income tax with a national sales tax. And, he's against the death penalty, three-strikes laws and the drug war: "Prison should be reserved for violent offenders." One chapter offers readers an amendment-by-amendment guide to the Bill of Rights, along with the governor's views on how to interpret them; a later chapter proffers generalized advice for resisting hype and spin; another gives programs for electoral and campaign finance reform (four-year synchronized terms for all officeholders, unicameral legislatures and restrictions on private donors). Ventura and coauthor Mooney, of the American Enterprise Institute, capture Jesse the Body's bare-knuckled attitude and his appeal. Though much of the book consists of soothing sound bites, the remainder is a real message from the most successful third-party politician in America: it turns out he's got some useful things to say.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Jesse Ventura was born George Janos in Minneapolis. After a six-year stint as a member of the U.S. Navy's elite SEAL teams, he became one of the world's top professional wrestlers, starred in several major Hollywood films, and was later a popular talk radio host. Elected governor of Minnesota in 1998 as the only Reform Party candidate ever to win statewide office, he currently enjoys one of the highest popularity ratings of any national political figure. He lives in St. Paul with Terry, his wife of twenty-four years, and their two children.

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Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Audioworks; Abridged edition (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743506448
• ISBN-13: 978-0743506441
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,333,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Governor Jesse Ventura served as the 38th governor of Minnesota from January 4, 1999, to January 6, 2003, but he is more than a politician. In fact, he doesn't like being referred to as a politician at all. Before entering the world of politics, he served his country as part of a U.S. Navy UDT team (the forerunner of the SEALs), won fame as a professional wrestler, worked as a bodyguard for big-name rock and roll acts like the Rolling Stones, and had roles in major motion pictures, including "The Running Man" and "Predator."

Governor Ventura first entered the public eye in the mid-1970s as a profession wrestler, gaining fame for his physique and wrestling as Jesse "The Body" Ventura. He wrestled until 1984, when blood clots in his lungs ended his in-ring career. After a failed comeback bid, he worked as a color commentator on television for "All-Star Wrestling" and later "Superstars of Wrestling," hosted his own talk segment on the WWF's "Superstars of Wrestling" called "The Body Shop," and did color commentary on radio for a few National Football League teams (among them, the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers). Ventura most notably co-hosted "Saturday Night's Main Event" with Vince McMahon and the first six WrestleManias (1985-1990).

Ventura's acting career was a natural extension of his television work. He appeared in "Predator" (which starred future California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger). He had a starring role in the 1990 sci-fi movie "Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe," and had supporting roles in "The Running Man," "Demolition Man," "Repossessed," "Ricochet," "The Master of Disguise" (in which he steals the Liberty Bell), and "Batman & Robin." Ventura also made a cameo appearance in "Major League II" as "White Lightning" and appeared as a self-help guru (voice only) in "The Ringer" trying to turn Johnny Knoxville into a more confident worker. In addition, Ventura had a cameo in "The X-Files episode" "Jose Chung's From Outer Space" as a Man in Black alongside fellow 'MiB' Alex Trebek.

Ventura ran for governor of Minnesota as the nominee for the Reform Party of Minnesota. His campaign consisted of a combination of aggressive grassroots events and original television spots using the phrase "Don't vote for politics as usual." He spent considerably less than his opponents (about $300,000) and was a pioneer in his using the Internet as a medium of reaching out to voters in a political campaign. He won the election narrowly--and unexpectedly--defeating the major-party candidates, Norm Coleman (Republican) and Minnesota Attorney General Hubert H. "Skip" Humphrey III (Democratic-Farmer-Labor).

Deciding not to seek a second term in office, Ventura left the political arena, but continued to speak out about the issues he cares most about. He taught a study group at Harvard University as a visiting fellow at the Kennedy School of Government's Institute of Politics in which he focused on third party politics, campaign finance, the war on drugs, and other relevant political issues. He has written two books since leaving office, both with Dick Russell, "Don't Start the Revolution Without Me!" and "American Conspiracies." He also writes and hosts the television series "Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura," which airs on TruTV.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Too bad he won't run for President, September 8, 2000

By 

Harry Thomas (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Do I Stand Alone?: Going to the Mat Against Political Pawns and Media Jackals (Hardcover)

If you've read Tom Clancy's Executive Orders and the recent Bear and the Dragon, you know that Clancy's main protagonist, Jack Ryan, is the President of the United States. And because he is not a political operator, other politicians, the media and even other governments try to tear him down. Reading Jesse Ventura's book, I was struck by an eerie sense of déjà vu. The stories he tells of the political sniping he has had to endure from the established body politic and the media are remarkably similar to what Clancy described of Ryan's experiences.

This book should be issued to all American civics classes in our schools. And the most important part, the part to be marked with the yellow highlighter, is the part that says that we, the voting public, must take back control of our government from the career politicians and spit-licking sycophants that surround them.

What hurts the most for me is the (justified) media-bashing that Ventura does. As a member of the media, I have seen first hand the petty bias that my profession is capable of. That's why I won't run for office myself, because I know what my "colleagues" are capable of. I'd apologize for their behavior, but I'm not high enough on the totem pole to make it stick. Hopefully, I can reach that high someday, because I believe the power of the press can be used judiciously and properly.

After reading this book, I remembered a line from the late Robert A. Heinlein's book, Time Enough For Love. To paraphrase; "If you are part of a society that votes, do so. If you don't know who or what to vote for, then at least know what you want to vote against."

If there was a space on the ballot to do so, I would write Jesse's name in for President. There isn't one, mostly because the career politicians don't want it there. Keep talking like this, Jesse, and we might just draft you for the job.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Glad I DIDN'T stand alone in voting for this man!, September 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Do I Stand Alone?: Going to the Mat Against Political Pawns and Media Jackals (Hardcover)

Do I Stand Alone? is a gem. Truly, it is a much-needed slap in the face of irresponsible, sensationalist members of the media and corrupt, out-of-touch career politicians, phrased in Gov. Ventura's signature candid manner, and it is clearly a "wake-up call" to the voting public. What truly makes this book shine, however, is Gov. Ventura's underlying message that we need to think critically about current events, public figures, the media, and our own beliefs. More than once, Gov.Ventura urges his audience to examine and evaluate evidence and claims, consider sources of information and their assumptions and biases, scrutinize one's own viewpoints carefully, and form reasonable, logical, independent judgments. This is precisely what educational researchers, philosophers, and teachers have been urging for years! And as someone who researches and teaches critical thinking, and a supporter of the Governor's, I hope strongly that this easy-to-read, absorbing, and lively book will make the importance of critical thinking evident to a very broad audience. Bravo, Gov. Ventura!

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jesse "The Mind" Shows His Stuff, September 7, 2000

By 

Tom Johnson (Rochester, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Do I Stand Alone?: Going to the Mat Against Political Pawns and Media Jackals (Audio Cassette)

Governor Jesse Ventura's first book "Ain't Got Time to Bleed" told of his adventurous past and the circumstances that led him into politics. His new book "Do I Stand Alone" takes a hard look at the connection between politics and media along with many other societal issues. In a sense it could be described as a road-map for continuing democracy in the 21st Century.

Ventura's common sense style is well-suited to not only pinpoint the essential problems in our society, but also to offer manageable solutions. He provides an intricate appraisal of the Amendments to the US Constitution. It is a section that should be required reading for new age students who no longer study the roots of government in the United States.

It is not without a few flashpoints, probably the only ones that will be quoted on TV news shows. The Governor of MN takes some jabs at the two party system and returns a few salvos to the media -especially the local flatfoots who have done their finest to search for some disparity in his message. But this book is mostly a comparison between today's perceptions and the original intents of our country's founders.

All in all, it is less about individuals and more about the philosophy of governing. Combine that with Ventura's vision for a better America and this book should strike fear into the heart of the two party system, the corporate power-brokers, and the degenerative media. Jesse "The Mind" Ventura is here to stay.