VOTE FOR ME AND IF I WIN I WILL IMMUNE YOU FROM ALL STATE CRIMES FOR THE REST OF YOU LIFE!

July 27, 2010 10:08 PM

I'm Basil Marceaux dot com, the Republican candidate for Governor. I like to recall all permit, and registration, for guns. Everyone carry guns. If you kill someone though, you get murdered, you go to jail, and uh, I'd like to put... plant grass or vegetation across in the state on any vacant lot, and sell it for gas, so we can use it for our expenses. Also, I'm gonna remove all gold fringe flags from the state and fly the real flag with three stripes. I also wanna stop traffic stops; set it up like the Supreme Court ruled in Knowles v Iowa: you can't find innocent car, you can't look. I want you all to vote for Basil Marceaux. I want to say the Pledge of Allegiance to a Republic in the morning when you come out... and we all pray to God and say Amen and everyone... have a nice day. And I'll see you all at the polls. Thank you... have a nice day.

(previously)

posted by joannemerriam (93 comments total)

8. Education ,let us put phonics back in school if you can not read you can not do History, Math, English. And that where we are now. Let make it mandatory in high school to read the minutes to the U.S. Congress , the Congressional Globe the real history of the U.S

He does make a compelling argument for this.
posted by thorny at 10:12 PM on July 27, 2010 [11 favorites]

VOTE FOR ME AND IF I WIN I WILL IMMUNE YOU FROM ALL STATE CRIMES FOR THE REST OF YOU LIFE!
posted by Burhanistan at 10:12 PM on July 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

It's good that he can make his own uniform based loosely on his past affiliations.
posted by Burhanistan at 10:14 PM on July 27, 2010

Even dumber than Sarah Palin, I don't believe it.
posted by Daddy-O at 10:18 PM on July 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

I have no idea why Tennessee is cornering the market on crazy this election cycle, but it's sure working out that way. People in South Carolina are laughing at us.
posted by blucevalo at 10:20 PM on July 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

Even dumber than Sarah Palin, I don't believe it.

If they breed, I believe a sorcerer is inevitable.

His uniform shows eight octarine stripes...
posted by maxwelton at 10:21 PM on July 27, 2010 [12 favorites]

See why dental is not in most plans a tooth aches hurt more than a back aches and no teeths depresses people

He's got a point there. He speaks tooth to power.
posted by Crane Shot at 10:30 PM on July 27, 2010 [39 favorites]

Speaking of dumb things coming out of Tennessee, how about the opposition to the mosque in Murfreesboro? Despite everything that's happened with the GOP, I didn't expect this sort of naked bigotry to be on full display. The whole "ground zero mosque" spectacle is utterly disgusting. Former half-term governor and seasoned grifter Sarah Palin was even inspired to invent a new word. Noted monster Bill Kristol points out that it isn't dumb, you're just a word Nazi, like Marx.
posted by HotPants at 10:41 PM on July 27, 2010 [7 favorites]

Ladies & Gentelmen, I present the candidate from Timecube.
posted by KingEdRa at 10:44 PM on July 27, 2010 [11 favorites]

Incidentally, I used to sing with Bill Kristol's daughter, Ann Kristol, in choir in college. She's a pleasant person, but I really enjoyed that she stuck with the same fundraiser year after year, even though it was never particularly successful. She stayed the course and never admitted defeat.
posted by HotPants at 10:47 PM on July 27, 2010

Don't forget about "Crazy Man" James Reesor, Independent Candidate for Governor of TN, and his philosophy of Amerijericho!
posted by sklero at 10:47 PM on July 27, 2010

Reminds me of Glenn Moon.
posted by kafziel at 10:49 PM on July 27, 2010

Ain't democracy grand.
posted by vverse23 at 10:50 PM on July 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

This is someone my mother would have referred to as "simple, God love him." He really has his finger to the wind, his hand on the political pulse, and he so unabashedly wants to be loved and elected for having the "right" opinions. He's absorbed all those talking points in such a pure way and reflected them with his own unique flair in his stump speech.

Use him a template for debating all Republicans, treat them gently and with compassion as you would treat Basil.
posted by eegphalanges at 10:51 PM on July 27, 2010 [4 favorites]

We shouldn't make fun of the mentally disabled.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:53 PM on July 27, 2010 [13 favorites]

Mmmm-hmmm, mock him all you like, but you've forgotten one critical factor ... the public would definitely have a beer with this guy.
posted by adipocere at 10:57 PM on July 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

LOLthementallyill? Metafilter's better than this, or should be...
posted by jokeefe at 11:02 PM on July 27, 2010 [5 favorites]

"ground zero mosque"

There was a meetup a long time ago, down here in an industrial loft at 12 Warren St. At that time this mosque, that was displaced by the sale of the building where they had rented for something like 20 years, was on the second floor of that building. That's some few hundred yards from where they want to set up their new mosque, they've been part of this neighborhood longer than all but a very few.
posted by StickyCarpet at 11:12 PM on July 27, 2010 [2 favorites]

LOLthementallyill? Metafilter's better than this, or should be...

It's a bit different in this case where it's more like LOLyougotmediacoverageasalegitimatecandidateforyourpartyandpeoplemightvoteforyouforlackofbetteroptionsandyoumightbegovernor so it's worth seeing what he has to say.
posted by setanor at 11:13 PM on July 27, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh look, he has sound bites and no actual policies. The modern Republican party is indistinguishable from a clearly mentally disabled person.
posted by Doublewhiskeycokenoice at 11:30 PM on July 27, 2010 [7 favorites]

Still more qualified than Sarah Palin.
posted by empath at 11:47 PM on July 27, 2010 [3 favorites]

Anyone care to talk about Alvin Greene?
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:49 PM on July 27, 2010

Anyone care to talk about Sarah Palin?
posted by stavrogin at 12:00 AM on July 28, 2010

Home Studies:
1. Evecutive Motivation Program, By Paul Meyer
2. Dynamics of Creative Selling, By Paul Meyer
3. Person Success Planning,By Paul Meyer
4. Seed of Greatness, By Dennis Waitly
5. Marketing Plan workshop,James Makens
6.Human Resource Director, By Mary Cook
7.Executive Time Management,By Thomas Publishing
posted by talaitha at 12:07 AM on July 28, 2010

This just makes me sad. I kind of want to give this guy a hug and ask him if he needs any help, or just someone to talk to. I'd probably regret that, but I feel like I should ask.
posted by Saxon Kane at 12:14 AM on July 28, 2010

I know it's wrong, but I kind of love this guy too... in the sense that I have to quote some more from his website. It's not just that his campaign promises are hilarious (and yet somehow inspiring,) it's that he quotes Mr Spock:

if elected i will give everyone annuity and clean all records, empty jails with the understanding that no law suits will be allowed. a house cleaning of this magnitude would bankrupt the state for 150 years . at time like this we need to think what mr. spock said the whole more important than the one. as you governor i will not allow this to continue. let me say even as a governor it will be hard for me to stop it because there to many people involved . how do you stop 160 years old crimes? what is the crimes? kidnapping. extortion, racketeering , jury fixing all felonies. and felonier can’t vote or hold office. as a candidate for governor and u.s. senate, an u.s. marine force and bn. recon sworn to protect the constitution for life , and a citizen of this great state had to try to stop this practices. so i civil arrested everyone by the way of a law suit in davidson county chancy court which is being sent to tennessee supreme court every soon.

nOTE: THEY REFUSED TO HEAR IT
posted by hap_hazard at 12:45 AM on July 28, 2010

Damn, man, like Spock said that as he was dying. Respect.
posted by XMLicious at 1:01 AM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Can someone help a non-American out here: is this guy actually the Republican candidate? Or is he just seeking nomination as the Republican candidate? (Is there a primary or something, like in the Presidential election?).
posted by Infinite Jest at 1:17 AM on July 28, 2010

Can someone help a non-American out here: is this guy actually the Republican candidate?

Yes, it might look a bit strange to foreign eyes. LOL Republicans. This is a primary election. Like the first round of American Idol. The top two Idols (in terms of votes) move on to the final elimination round in November.

Primaries usually attract a fair number of nutjobs of all stripes. I vote in the State of Washington. There is plenty of nutty on the ballot.

Candidate for U.S. Senate, Mohammad Said, for example:, "Though long life democrat, I am running now on Centrist party losing my faith in both democratic and republican parties establishment as they are subservient to special interest groups particularly to AIPAC."

Another candidate for U.S. Senate, running as a Democrat, is Goodspaceguy: "Dear fellow sheeple, you are the flim-flammed, manipulated power base. Please think of your Earth as a beautiful spaceship, traveling around your Sun in your solar system. Please think of yourselves as crewmembers, helping to operate and improve Spaceship Earth (for even the homeless.)"

We have Mike the Mover, who has run (apparently unsuccessfully) for 17 Canidacies.

And Will Baker of the Reform Party who thinks "the number one issue in the 2010 U.S. Senate election should be the illegal and unethical election practices used by President Barack Obama."

Also running for U.S. Senate is Norma D. Gruber who prefers the Republican party and submitted no information at all.

And of course, topping the wacky list incumbent Senator Patty Murray: "I've always put Washington state's families first and fought for you."

There is plenty of LOL to go around.
posted by three blind mice at 1:54 AM on July 28, 2010 [5 favorites]

I also wanna stop traffic stops

If I were someone with a whiskey nose who swayed back and forth during my largely incoherent campaign speech, I'd want that too.
posted by jamaro at 2:05 AM on July 28, 2010 [2 favorites]

Interesting fact... this was actually the exact same platform that Ulysses S. Grant ran on for President, and won. In fact, his campaign speeches were delivered pretty much exactly the same way, which is pretty uncanny.
posted by crunchland at 3:18 AM on July 28, 2010 [3 favorites]

Things I done for my citizens

8 Fix the Flag at Mill Park to fly right at a high cost of 12 stun by stun gun and now it fly right thank to 311.

Wait, he was stunned while trying to correct the flying of a flag? Am I reading that correctly? After being stunned twelve times, it eventually was a call to his 311 service that resolved the issue? I would like to read more about this.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 3:44 AM on July 28, 2010 [5 favorites]

Today, we are all Basil Marceaux dot com.
posted by Wolfdog at 4:04 AM on July 28, 2010 [3 favorites]

I can't laugh at him because he's too obviously mental... unlike Palin, who straddles both worlds.
posted by Monkeymoo at 4:04 AM on July 28, 2010

"Though long life democrat, I am running now on Centrist party losing my faith in both democratic and republican parties establishment as they are subservient to special interest groups particularly to AIPAC."

I was once a long life Democrat too. But I smoke too much and got moved over to the "soon to be dead" caucus of the party. Seriously though, this statement is considered something a "nutjob" would say?
posted by IvoShandor at 4:23 AM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

My friends a beer stores say they must check 200 D/L a day that 400 minutes a day per clerk which is over 6 hours at $ 7.00 a hour that $ 42.00, with it mandatory then we must pay them.


I can't make heads or tails of this. Is he suggesting that the state pay the clerks to check for I.D.?

9 Look for my citizens enemy!

Oh, I'm looking all right.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:34 AM on July 28, 2010

Goodspaceguy sounds like Dr. Bronner.
posted by valrus at 4:36 AM on July 28, 2010

Things I done for my citizens

9 Ran for governor for three times, state senator 4 times, U.S. Senate once.

Basil, your citizens thank you for all the work you have done for them but they think it is time you took a little time off and had a good rest. We'll call you when we need you again!
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 4:38 AM on July 28, 2010

Look for my citizens enemy!
All your Basil belong to us!
posted by Wolfdog at 4:49 AM on July 28, 2010 [2 favorites]

"Before you dismiss these men and their words, take heed of their conviction; for their passion is of the same cloth. They know your truths as you see theirs."

I don't know what this is from, or if I even quoted it right. It was the caption of a Huey Long photo in my dad's office. It was right next to the photo of my dad with Jimmy Carter... the one where Jimmy looks scared shitless and my dad is smiling with his eyes closed.

I was going to explain the type of guy my dad is, but I guess that's a pretty good analogy.
posted by Bathtub Bobsled at 4:52 AM on July 28, 2010 [2 favorites]

My man Basil. He's something of a fixture here in Chattanooga. Sometime around the 2004 election, I ran into him at Lowe's. The Kerry/Edwards sticker on a friend's truck was his reason to walk up and spend 10 minutes ranting about the flag. At first it was kind of funny, but I finally had to end it with something to the effect of "Get the fuck away from me, you fucking lunatic."
posted by lost_cause at 4:57 AM on July 28, 2010 [10 favorites]

You know, whenever I read stories about guys like Basil here, I wish I could have some alternate universe where he actually gets elected. Then I could sit back and watch the drama play out.

Now that I think about it, ever wonder if we're living in some alternate universe where the 2004 Presidential Election was someone else's thought experiment?
posted by smoothvirus at 5:04 AM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Fun fact: Basil Marceaux is very nearly an anagram of "A Rube's Climax"
posted by MuffinMan at 5:15 AM on July 28, 2010 [3 favorites]

Can someone help a non-American out here: is this guy actually the Republican candidate?

No -- one of many. There are three main candidates. We've got one somewhat moderately sane candidate who is being attacked by the other two because he's seen as a stealth liberal, one candidate who's had to backtrack because he called for Tennessee to secede from the Union in an interview, and one who's said he thinks Islam may be a cult and therefore unentitled to 1st Amendment protections. The Democratic candidate just started putting ads (very stale ones) up this past week and might as well not be running for all of the visibility and odds he has of getting anywhere against the winner of the Republican primary.

So, like I said above, a continuum of crazy here in TN. Good times.
posted by blucevalo at 5:18 AM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Burhanistan: "It's good that he can make his own uniform based loosely on his past affiliations."


His badge has the USMC seal, and I can just make out the words "A GREAT MAN" in the top banner.
posted by mwhybark at 5:28 AM on July 28, 2010

The Wikipedia entry for Tennessee gubernatorial election, 2010 lists the following current candidates:

Bill Haslam, Mayor of Knoxville
Joe Kirkpatrick, Businessman
Basil Marceaux, Anti-traffic Stoppist
Ron Ramsey, Lieutenant Governor
Zach Wamp, U.S. Representative, 3rd district
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 5:42 AM on July 28, 2010 [9 favorites]

[not traffic stoppist]
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 5:42 AM on July 28, 2010 [6 favorites]

It...It's like the community theater production of Idiocracy...
posted by Thorzdad at 5:55 AM on July 28, 2010 [8 favorites]

I feel really bad for this guy, and I hope he never realizes how ridiculous he is. I hope he dies thinking he was a smart, engaging politician. I also hope he never ever wins any sort of election.
posted by Tarumba at 6:13 AM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

is this guy actually the Republican candidate? Or is he just seeking nomination as the Republican candidate?

As others have noted, he's just seeking nomination.

I just wanted to remind our non-US folks that the party organization has essentially no control over any stage of the process, and that any jackass that wants to can run in the Republican primary, and whoever gets the most votes in that primary is the party's nominee.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:13 AM on July 28, 2010

Also running for U.S. Senate is Norma D. Gruber who prefers the Republican party and submitted no information at all.

Grubers who run as Republicans are sullying a perfectly good surname. I WANT JUSTICE
posted by grubi at 6:41 AM on July 28, 2010

In his picture, he's wearing 8 Marine Corps service stripes sewn onto the sleeves of his jacket.

If these are meant to represent what they do on actual USMC uniforms, then they would represent a Marine Corps career lasting more than 32 years. Which would be rere.
posted by CRM114 at 7:03 AM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh, god, this is killing me. It's people like Marceaux (and Ramsey and Wamp) that make me glad I left my home state of Tennessee and moved to a better place. I can't stand the thought of being represented by any of those jokers.

That's why I'm in Louisiana now. It's so much better.
posted by komara at 7:16 AM on July 28, 2010

After being stunned twelve times, it eventually was a call to his 311 service that resolved the issue?

No, the band 311 flew out to TN and fixed the flag.
posted by inigo2 at 7:20 AM on July 28, 2010

Fuck this dude. Two words and out:

Charlie

Rangel
posted by fourcheesemac at 7:21 AM on July 28, 2010

You know, whenever I read stories about guys like Basil here, I wish I could have some alternate universe where he actually gets elected. Then I could sit back and watch the drama play out.

You should watch what happens with Mike McGinn in Seattle then. OK, he's not quite batshitinsane, more like naive and idealistic without any previous experience, but it's still been an interesting year watching him try to put through all his plans, in the face of strong opposition from the established bureaucracy. Right now he's fighting the City Council, because he doesn't believe it when every lawyer says the state can't force the city to pay for cost overruns on a state highway project. When local news interviews a city council member, you can tell they really want to just tear into him as if he was just as crazy as this guy.
posted by nomisxid at 7:41 AM on July 28, 2010

Grubers who run as Republicans are sullying a perfectly good surname. I WANT JUSTICE

My last name is Coulter. Imagine how I feel.
posted by EarBucket at 7:42 AM on July 28, 2010 [2 favorites]

The name and the reality are at odds in this case, though. Basil Marceaux sounds so...Oscar Wilde, that I really cannot believe this is his real name.
posted by Tarumba at 7:52 AM on July 28, 2010

ROU_Xenophobe: I just wanted to remind our non-US folks that the party organization has essentially no control over any stage of the process, and that any jackass that wants to can run in the Republican primary, and whoever gets the most votes in that primary is the party's nominee.

Which may be true, but on the other hand, the party in this case is perfectly happy to have what some people in other parts of the country and world (and some here in TN, too, believe it or not) consider loons running for elected office. Leaving aside the drunken swaying in the youtube video and the other hurf-durf aspcts of his candidacy, The views of Mr. Marceaux (such as they are) are mostly talking points from FOX News and the RNC broken down and reconstituted into some sort of personal patois to better reflect his own obsessions.

Although expressed in a unique way, they aren't all that radically divergent from actual "legitimate" GOP candidates' views. Immunity from "state crimes" for life: states' rights -- check. No gun restrictions -- check. Respect the flag -- check. Make sure Obamacare doesn't come with any requirement to measure your waistline: evil socialist plot to destroy America -- check. All officeholders break their promises the day after they're elected: angry white male rage -- check.

komara: That's why I'm in Louisiana now. It's so much better.

I don't know. I think there's lots of crazy to go around most places these days, Louisiana included.
posted by blucevalo at 7:55 AM on July 28, 2010

I think you missed komara's tongue firmly pressed in-cheek there, blucevalo.
posted by mikeh at 8:01 AM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

It's a huge viral long con. Basil Marceaux will be moving to Bon Temps next season and running for local office on a anti-fanger platform.
posted by Babblesort at 8:08 AM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Ah. When voting, I like to give the 3rd party candidates a shot, and usually briefly read their policy positions before voting. One in particular stands out in my mind:

In 2008, on the New Jersey Presidential ballot, I noticed a candidate named Jeffrey "Jeff" Boss running under the "VOTE HERE" party (admittedly an amusing subversion of the way that the ballots are formatted).

His website makes the Time Cube guy seem sane by comparison. His entire platform appears to be "I know who caused 9/11, but the government won't let me tell you." Yikes. How the heck do these people get on the ballots?
posted by schmod at 8:09 AM on July 28, 2010

It's a huge viral long con. Basil Marceaux will be moving to Bon Temps next season and running for local office on a anti-fanger platform. -- Are you sure? I heard he was going to be the next spokesman for Old Spice.
posted by crunchland at 8:12 AM on July 28, 2010

Didn't John Kennedy Toole write about this already?
posted by mullicious at 8:34 AM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm gonna guess this has something to do with those giant Google ads at the top of the page...
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 8:50 AM on July 28, 2010

I think you missed komara's tongue firmly pressed in-cheek there, blucevalo.

I've been known to do that. My apologies.
posted by blucevalo at 9:19 AM on July 28, 2010

Darn, and I just missed the cut-off to get my absentee ballot, too.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 9:21 AM on July 28, 2010

This is somehow very endearing and heartwarming. Isn't it great that anyone, including people like him, have a shot at participating in the democratic process.

On the other hand, if he can have a shot at it, why is it that actual intelligent people refuse it? Even among Republicans there must be some well-spoken learned individuals, right? Where the hell are they?
posted by Harry at 9:28 AM on July 28, 2010

Anyone care to talk about Alvin Greene?

I hear he's on the scene.
posted by krinklyfig at 9:32 AM on July 28, 2010

In addition to my comment above.. Every time I watch that video I love him more. Unlike Sarah Palin or the vast majority of politicians.. I actually believe him. He absolutely has a (admittedly unrealistic and ignorant) vision for which he is willing to stand.

He just wants to live in a kind of patriotic Wild West cartoon version of America, where every God-fearing full-blooded American salutes the flag and carries a gun. He probably doesn't want power, glory or money for himself. He just genuinely wants to change his country. And because of that, he is probably the most honest Republican we've seen in the past 10 years.
posted by Harry at 9:39 AM on July 28, 2010 [2 favorites]

Even among Republicans there must be some well-spoken learned individuals, right? Where the hell are they?

Buried under a mountain of moldy National Review magazines with the ghosts of Nelson Rockefeller and Millicent Fenwick.
posted by blucevalo at 9:56 AM on July 28, 2010 [2 favorites]

Oh Center Justified Text, you never let me down in identifying the crazies. But the badge, stripes, and pins certainly help to confirm your initial assessment.

Also, he's a hat, pair of small glasses and a salute away from looking just like someone else.
posted by quin at 10:03 AM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Anyone care to talk about Alvin Greene?

I loved Let's Stay Together.
posted by dirigibleman at 10:27 AM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

The Youtube link also recommends Opie and Anthony Interview Basil Marceaux Obviously, NSFW.
posted by jeffmik at 10:27 AM on July 28, 2010

I wish he could get the nomination. Can you imagine the attack ads? They'd write themselves for christ's sake.
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 10:50 AM on July 28, 2010

Making fun of mentally ill people and reminding us that Sarah Palin is dumb? Hi, I'm on Metafilter and I can overshoot a barrel of fish.
posted by thescientificmethhead at 11:16 AM on July 28, 2010

The real life version of Idiocracy is so much better.
posted by rageagainsttherobots at 1:18 PM on July 28, 2010

I don't understand why Chris-Chan links were deleted but this gets to stay up.
posted by ShawnStruck at 1:47 PM on July 28, 2010

Because Chris-Chan was not put forth by one of the two major political parties in the United States as a suitable potential governor for a state with a $30,000,000,000 budget and more than 6,000,000 people in it.
posted by kafziel at 3:17 PM on July 28, 2010

kafziel, I believe you have hit upon a new project for /b/.

I don't believe Marceaux is necessarily mentally ill. He holds marginal, poorly supported beliefs, and articulates them badly. He might have a mild disorder of some kind. But he's got a family of his own, and apparently some kind of career. I'm not going to say he's ill.

(Speaking of career . . . that's a fake uniform? It looks bizarre and wrong but what do I know about the Marines -- he made it up from whole cloth? As it were?)
posted by Countess Elena at 3:51 PM on July 28, 2010

Because Chris-Chan was not put forth by one of the two major political parties in the United States as a suitable potential governor for a state with a $30,000,000,000 budget and more than 6,000,000 people in it.

Neither was Marceaux. He fulfilled the legal requirements to be a candidate in the Republican primary, which notably do not require any sort of approval by the Republican Party. He was not "put forth" by the Republican Party; the Republican Party had no say in the matter.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 4:09 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

That said, and looking at those requirements, "get the signature of 25 registered voters" is a pretty low bar and maybe has something to do with the amount of crazy in Tennessee primary candidates; I think most states require significantly more.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 4:13 PM on July 28, 2010

Hey, I wish all republicans listed education, equal access to health and dental care, the environment and FREE GIFTS as their priorities.

Here is my theory on this guy:
One day he woke up, went to the "beer store" to talk to his "friend" and buy beer, then drank lots of beer, got pulled over TWICE for swerving, somehow got out of being arrested, went to the park to drink more beer, noticed the flag was displayed improperly, tried to climb the flagpole in vain until the police showed up, tased him 12 times and as a result of all the electricity he developed superpowers and the inspiration to run for office. If somebody made a comic book about this guy it would be amazing.
posted by ryaninoakland at 4:21 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh and Frank Chu should be either his sidekick or nemesis.
posted by ryaninoakland at 4:25 PM on July 28, 2010

thescientificmethhead: "Making fun of mentally ill people and reminding us that Sarah Palin is dumb? "

What makes you think he's mentally ill? He's not well educated or a good (or even poor) communicator, but he's got a platform and a vision and I bet in a number of ways, it lines up with the views of a lot of people's: guns, flags, small government and 4th of July parades.

He's a citizen; he has every right to run and frankly, he's doing something a lot of people wouldn't have the guts to do. He's kinda, you know, living the dream we're all supposed to be able to live. I mean, isn't this the most fundamental element of democracy?

Frankly, I'd love it if more freaks and not-clinging-to-the-absolute-fucking-center candidates ran for what they believe in, even if it's not what I believe in. I mean, I hope he loses, but honestly - more power to him. Good for him.

He really, really needs a campaign manager though.
posted by DarlingBri at 4:43 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Neither was Marceaux. He fulfilled the legal requirements to be a candidate in the Republican primary, which notably do not require any sort of approval by the Republican Party. He was not "put forth" by the Republican Party; the Republican Party had no say in the matter.

Those are the legal requirements to be listed on the actual ballot, either as an independent or with a party endorsement. The Republican party absolutely has the say in who they put on their primary, to get the party's nomination. And the Tennessee Republican Party has decided Mr. Marceaux is a worthy contender for that.
posted by kafziel at 4:48 PM on July 28, 2010

He really, really needs a campaign manager though.

Maybe Basil, Jr can spare [e-mail] for a while? Well, you know, if he's not too busy fighting political predjudist, that is.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 5:11 PM on July 28, 2010

The Republican party absolutely has the say in who they put on their primary, to get the party's nomination.

Nope. Pretty well any jackass that wants to can enter it.

The most stringent requirement the TN Republicans impose, even in theory, is that you be a bona fide Republican: that is, you recently voted in a couple of Republican primaries. Whether they can actually enforce that is unknown.

The whole point of having a primary is that the party organization doesn't get a say in who's in it, or who wins, or who is the eventual nominee. Which is a dumb point, but it's still the point.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 5:44 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Even among Republicans there must be some well-spoken learned individuals, right? Where the hell are they?

In the private sector making a hell of a lot more money than they would as public officials, I should think.

You can read this as a comment on what we should be paying public officials, or on what Republicans' priorities in life are, or whatever you want.
posted by naoko at 8:32 PM on July 28, 2010

Colbert mocked Marceaux on his show last night. Must say ..... not one of Colbert's shining moments.
posted by blucevalo at 5:48 AM on July 29, 2010

He's a citizen; he has every right to run and frankly, he's doing something a lot of people wouldn't have the guts to do. He's kinda, you know, living the dream we're all supposed to be able to live. I mean, isn't this the most fundamental element of democracy?

Yeah ... sort of. Just because everyone can run doesn't mean everyone is qualified to govern. But just because someone's qualified to govern doesn't mean they will be moral or even practice good governance. However ... I just don't see any outcome for a guy like this who wins that doesn't sound like a Kurt Vonnegut novel.
posted by krinklyfig at 10:41 AM on July 29, 2010

From the local paper, Web hit: Marceaux goes viral with views. "Does anybody else think this guy looks like Dr. Bombay on Bewitched?"
posted by lost_cause at 8:11 PM on July 29, 2010

krinklyfig: " Just because everyone can run doesn't mean everyone is qualified to govern."

Absolutely. But surely that is the rest of the democratic process in action - he gets to run, we get to tell him "no thank you" at the polls.

I do find the recent spate of loony winger candidates refreshing, even if they're troublesome individuals. Generally upon entering a voting booth, the candidates before you have been so processed and sanitised that their greatest defining characteristic is their party affiliation. You can look back and see it wasn't always thus; many successful candidates, from Washington straight down the line, were outliers and renegades in their ways. A little freaky is no bad thing in my book.
posted by DarlingBri at 8:45 PM on July 29, 2010