Body Slam

IN Conan the Barbarian—one of the few Arnold Schwarzenegger films Jesse Ventura wasn’t in—a tired king enlists the aid of an able-bodied and uncouth warrior to defeat his enemy. Conan defeats the king’s enemies, and later wins the throne himself. This is a lesson conservatives should keep in mind, because Jesse Ventura surely does.

Ventura, out with a new book which is probably the prelude to a presidential bid, is one of the most popular politicians in America. For conservatives, he is a useful ally on tax cuts and limited government. He speaks honestly about obvious things, which puts him at odds with the pieties of political correctness: He said, for example, that many lives could have been spared at Columbine if a school official had only carried a gun. Sure, he favors legalizing prostitution and decriminalizing most drugs, but even this magazine favors the latter. So why should conservatives be so wary?

About the Author

Jonah Goldberg

Jonah Goldberg is a National Review contributing editor.

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IN Conan the Barbarian—one of the few Arnold Schwarzenegger films Jesse Ventura wasn’t in—a tired king enlists the aid of an able-bodied and uncouth warrior to defeat his enemy. Conan defeats the king’s enemies, and later wins the throne himself. This is a lesson conservatives should keep in mind, because Jesse Ventura surely does.

Ventura, out with a new book which is probably the prelude to a presidential bid, is one of the most popular politicians in America. For conservatives, he is a useful ally on tax cuts and limited government. He speaks honestly about obvious things, which puts him at odds with the pieties of political correctness: He said, for example, that many lives could have been spared at Columbine if a school official had only carried a gun. Sure, he favors legalizing prostitution and decriminalizing most drugs, but even this magazine favors the latter. So why should conservatives be so wary?