Jesse Ventura, a real man in office. A real representative of the people. A regular old Joe Blow. That’s what people across the country were saying when Ventura took office as the governor of Minnesota this past January.

The ex-wrestler cleaned up pretty well, trading in his feather boas and sequined tights for a suit and tie. Political types were forced to give this guy the benefit of the doubt.

And he didn’t do too bad. He got his budget in on time, giving the people of Minnesota a $2.9 billion tax relief package.

Political analysts across the country credited the reform party’s victory to a collective call for a change by the people of Minnesota. They were tired of the usual suits running things in the state’s most important office; so they elected Ventura, a regular Minnesotan.

A regular Minnesotan who is a former Navy SEAL, never went to college, fought in Vietnam and made a buttload as a professional wrestler.

He hasn’t screwed up anything major yet, but he has been running his mouth a bit too much. He was on Jay Leno shortly after the election talking about how hot his wife is and how he would never cheat on her. He was then quoted as saying he wouldn’t give the public radio station in Minnesota any money because no one listens to it anyway.

Then, my favorite one, after allegations broke about the academic misconduct in the University of Minnesota’s men’s basketball team he said, “My view is to eliminate this cheating, or the possibility of it; why not let kids go to college and just be athletes while they’re there?”

He continued, “No classes, let them simply play. Then when they are done, if they don’t make it in the NFL, if they don’t make it in the NBA, if they don’t make it in pro baseball, whatever it might be, then give them their scholarship.”

After all, he said, “How many great athletes simply aren’t smart?”

What a good idea. Why didn’t anyone think of that before?

Aside from these early blunders, Ventura has just hit an all-time low. I bet there’s a lot of people up in Duluth kicking themselves in the pants this week.

His book, “I Ain’t Got Time to Bleed,” was released last week. With the help of a ghostwriter, Ventura pours out all sorts of dark secrets. He brags about gallivanting around with prostitutes, one of which, he proudly states, paid him. He talks about taking steroids and smoking marijuana. Oh, and he lost his virginity at 16. Way to go Jesse.

Remember when some kid asked Clinton if he wore boxers or briefs? Well, don’t worry, Ventura said he doesn’t where any. At all. Ever.

Approximately 18 percent of the book is devoted to public policy and politics. No one is actually going to buy the book to read that anyway. People will just be flipping through it to get to the good stuff.

Speaking of garbage, did anyone catch the movie on NBC Sunday night? I watched the Jesse Ventura story with my younger brothers to show them how fake professional wrestling is, not that they are allowed to watch it anyway.

A narrator dressed as Ventura showed us the tricks of the wrestling trade, and the road Ventura took to the office. It was the worst show I have ever watched, and I watched the “Days of Our Lives” episodes in which Marlena was possessed by the devil.

Jesse Ventura obviously hasn’t heard the advice: “You should never miss a good opportunity to shut up.” All of this press has more than validated the growing popular opinion that he’s an idiot. An opinion that needs to be brought to the attention of the oversized official. He is actually thinking about running for president.

He’s been flapping his jaws all over Minnesota and Washington about how he is eyeing the 2000 race. It’s getting a little late in the day for a new candidate to jump in, but who knows about this guy. He was a late bloomer in last year’s governor’s race, too.

I think that Ventura’s stint as governor will be a good lesson for America as a whole. When electing a third party candidate, his position on the issues, educational level and character matter more than popularity and muscles.

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Sarah Leonard is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Lawler.