Wayne Allyn Root, Libertarian Party Vice Presidential Candidate in 2008 is already looking to the 2012 Presidential race. This week he announced his goal for 2012 on “Abdul in the Morning” a radio show in Indianapolis. You can listen to the whole interview on this link. “Im going to look for a billionaire candidate who can spend 50 million so we dont have to raise 50 million. So we can get our voice out, our face out, our message out. And more importantly if you start with 50 million, now you can use that to hire good field operatives and fundraisers who can help you raise another 50 million from individuals who don’t want to see our government given away to corporations.”
If Wayne secures the Libertarian Party endorsement in 2012, it will be the first time in US History that two college classmates ran for President against each other.
Money doesn’t grow on trees, and neither do billionaires, so after listening to the interview I decided to do some research. There are only a handful of people in the US that are billionaires, so I started thinking “who would be up for the task?” I looked at the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans and took a look at who would be a viable political candidate and who might be willing to undertake something of this magnitude.
Here are my top 5 “billionaire VP” picks for Wayne Root in no particular order:
1. Charles Ergen, 55, from Colorado: A former professional gambler who made his money selling satellite dishes. He started off selling them door to door and built his company to what is now DISH Network. He takes his gambler’s mentality to the boardroom, he once gave a whole town free satellite dishes to lure them away from another company.
Why he might: Ergen has a history of taking on the establishment. He’s gone against Rupert Murdoch’s DirectTV and the FCC. He may be the gutsiet guy on this list, and thats really saying something. Ergen has changed the way people watch Satellite TV, he might be up for tearing down the establishment of all establishments; the two party system of government we live under.
Why he might not: I can’t find anything on the internet that shows a shred of political interest. He might not be interested in running for VP.
2. James Kennedy, 60, from Atlanta: Inherited a lot of his money, his grandfather was a 3 term Governor of Ohio and ran for President back in 1920 with FDR as his VP.
Why he might: He has a lot of money and he didn’t make it all himself, that tends to leave someone somewhat unsatisfied. Therefore he may be up for the challenge to finish what his Grandfather started. There is something about fulfilling Familial dreams.
Why he might not: He’s probably a Democrat and/or a big Obama guy, considering his Grandfather ran with FDR.
3. Glen Taylor, 67, from Minnesota: A former Republican State Senator from Minnesota, started as a napkin stamper. Now owns a printing/food service company. Also the majority owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Why he might: He is a former elected offical from one of the most politically active/aware states in the Nation. The “political bug” doesn’t always go away easily. He might be up for the task. Keep in mind, the people of Minnesota elected Jesse Ventura. They are hardworking Americans that will call BS on you quicker than most people. Mr. Taylor is probably sick to his stomach at what has become of American politics and Minnesota politics. Al Franken might be the next Senator from Minnesota that alone might be enough to make him want to make a comeback.
Why he might not: The election is four years away so that would make Mr. Taylor 71 years young. He might want to put his focus elsewhere at that time in his life.
4. H. Ross Perot Jr., 49, from Texas.
Why he might: Never too late to finish what the old man started. He is young enough that he could serve two terms as VP and two terms as President.
Why he might not: He remembers what a toll the 1992 election took on his father and he may not be willing to open up his life to the level of public scrutiny that people who run for President/VP go through. He also might have no interest in politics.
5. Thomas Barrack Jr. ,61, from Los Angeles: Self made billionaire, mostly from real estate, was an international finance attorney before that. What lawyer doesn’t want to be a politican? Also it would help the ticket in terms of International travel, economy, etc. He also served as Deputy Undersecretary of the Department of the Interior in the Reagan Administration.
Why he might: He served under President Reagan so he might be longing for the days of true conservatism and now that he has the means to change the US, he may be willing to undertake such a tall order.
Why he might not: He’s happy where he is and no longer has an interest in politics.
This brings many questions to mind: Is this where we are as a country now? Is this the only way to get the attention of the American people? Are we this shackled to the two party system that only a billionaire can get us to think outside the box? Did Obama win the election on ideas, or did he win because he raised more money?
But for now, this is the only question I want all of you to answer:
[poll id=”67″]
Wayne should go after the top spot himself. Barr was a disaster.
Wayne is an excellent, very dynamic speaker, has a helluva presence on air and isn’t poor either. He’d be a great presidential candidate.
WAR should pick a real “libertarian” — at least there would be one on his ticket.
Yeah, lets vote for another millionaire republican for president – THAT will keep the county out of the hands of the corporations.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA