Wallace Cleaver

 

Wallace Cleaver, ca1945 -

VP candidate for Give America the Business Party (2008)

Running mate with nominee: Theodore Cleaver (b. ca1948)
Popular vote: ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

In five-minute Youtube entitled The Beaver for President 2008 (slightly revised on 7/21/08), a user named snicky58 presented the Presidential campaign of Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver running under the banner of Give America the Business Party.

Cleaver is, of course, the fictitious title character of the hit family-oriented television series Leave it to Beaver which aired from 1957-1963. The role of Beaver was played by child actor Jerry Mathers. Some of us Boomers remember it well when it originally aired, but the program has lived on in syndication.

The video is in the form of an interview, in which candidate Cleaver says, among other things--

-He does not like Sam Donaldson of ABC News.
-Would push legislation to not force boys to wear aprons while fingerpainting in class.
-Does not have a problem with Gay marriage.

The video advertised a bumper sticker that proclaimed: "The Beaver for President: He's Not as Dumb as Dubya."

The presentation ends with Beaver's running-mate revealed as his older brother Wallace "Wally" Cleaver, who was played by actor Tony Dow in the classic series. Wally was older enough to be sort of a half-parent and experienced voice, as well as translator/communicator between his little brother and their parents, Ward and June. Wally's regular warning to Beaver of "When Dad finds out he's gonna clobber you," offers a hint there was some form of abusive physical punishment in the Cleaver household the viewer never sees and perhaps the family was far more dysfunctional than we imagined.

The fact these two nominees were brothers was not unusual in Electoral politics. Other brother tickets have included: Larry Brant Sargeant/Perry David Sargeant - American Freedom Party (1976), Lowell Jackson Fellure/James Monroe Fellure - Independent (2000), Keith Russell Judd/Monty Wayne Judd - Nonpartisan (2008), and Randal Gene Trackwell/Byron Lee Trackwell - Bullmoose Progressive Party (2008).

Although Beaver and Wally were technically old enough to serve in office, the fact they were still encapsulated in the television pixel bodies of juveniles would have probably required some sort of court ruling in the event of their victory. In the canon, sequels had been produced with the adult versions of the characters, but in this 2008 campaign the original incarnations were the ones being electioneered. In the sequels, Wally becomes an attorney.

Beaver and Wally were both residents of whatever state their town of Mayfield was in, which posed another Constitutional problem. Oh, right, they were also fictitious characters, another small legality to consider.

The Cleaver/Cleaver ticket did not appear on any ballots, nor were they registered as write-ins, and hence no votes were reported.

Election history: none.

Other occupations: newspaper boy, soda jerk, ice cream vendor, attorney

Notes:
Beaver Cleaver is not related to Eldridge Cleaver.
In the Desperate Hours, Humphrey Bogart's character was killed in a hail of police bullets on the same front yard set that later became the Cleaver house.

Byron Lee Trackwell

 

                                                                 Randal Trackwell 2009

Byron Lee Trackwell, September 16, 1951 (Topeka, Kan.) -

VP candidate for Bullmoose Progressive Party (2008)

Running mate with nominee: Randal Gene Trackwell (1946-2014)
Popular vote: 0 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
 
The campaign:

Randal Trackwell of Topeka, Kan. ran for President in 2004, 2008, and 2012. Something of a local perennial candidate, he had also run for Mayor at least seven times. A Vietnam combat vet with a degree in criminal justice, Trackwell worked as a private investigator, custodian, factory line worker, electrical technician and cab driver.

Although I could not locate a running-mate for 2004 or 2012, in 2008 Randal's VP was his younger brother, Byron who was also an official resident of Topeka. Both of them filed with the FEC late in the campaign season, Oct. 10, 2008.

Byron had made the news briefly in Feb. 2004 when he initiated a lawsuit against the US government on the grounds President Bush violated at least four articles of the Constitution in the act of invading Iraq in 2003. He told a reporter, "I am really enjoying it - being involved with our government's politics and constitution, learning the court procedures. I'm enjoying the fight."

Other brother Presidential tickets in the past include Larry Brant Sargeant/Perry David Sargeant - American Freedom Party (1976), Lowell Jackson Fellure/James Monroe Fellure - Independent (2000), Keith Russell Judd/Monty Wayne Judd - Nonpartisan (2008).

Randal Trackwell's 2008 platform had 15 points--

1.  Full medical and dental coverage for all U.S. children. Full medical for all U.S. adults.
2.  Use our scientific technology to remove all manmade carcinogens from enviorment [sic], air-water-food chain.
3.  Strictly enforce anti-trust and monopoly laws. Update if necessary.
4.  Direct government and corporate mobility, to provide for the American people, an eletric [sic] car for short trip city driving. The "Model       E," 5O mile range at a cost of $2000 or less, A.S.A.P.
5.  No foreign ownership of U.S. farmland, rangeland, mining or manufacturing.  
6.  Cancel N.A.F.T.A. & G.A.T.T. Rebuild our factory systems ruined by trade agreements.
7.  Severely regulate or remove corporate power from farming. In particular the "food factory" concept in livestock production. It's cruel,         nasty and disrespects animals. It leads to disease in livestock and humans.
8.  Organize "The President's Farmers Market" in all cities.
9.  Stop foreign aid until our national debt is under control.
10. Repeal marijuana prohibition. Also use for paper  production.
11. Stop all emigration until our unemployment & homeless problems are solved. Strictly enforce emigration laws.
12. Secure United States & Mexico border.
13. Direct some defence spending to provide immediate aid to famine victims anywhere in the world.
14. Remove U.S. forces from Iraq & Afghanistan.
15. Plant trees, clean up America's rivers. Plan & build new rail-roads for people & freight. Repair & rebuild U.S. intra-structures.

The Trackwells did not appear on any ballots or were registered write-ins. The fact they were both residents of the same state would have posed a problem with the Constitution in the event of their victory.

Election history: none

Other occupations: Qatar Petroleum operations engineer, actor

Notes:
Uncredited actor playing a soldier in the film Gardens of Stone (1987). According to the IMDb, Byron is also known as "Buzz."

Monty Wayne Judd

 

Below, Keith Judd in the center, 1989

Monty Wayne Judd, October 15, 1960 (Albuquerque, NM) -

VP candidate for Nonpartisan (aka Green Party of the United States aka Independent Democrat) (2008)

Running mate with nominee: Keith Russell Judd (b. 1958)
Popular vote: ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Keith Judd, called a gifted musician by some, was not so gifted as a criminal as evidenced by his court records and convictions. By 2008 he had become a perennial candidate having run for President since 1996.

In 1999 he was sentenced to over 17 years for extortion via mail and in 2008 was a prison inmate in Beaumont, Tex.  Early in the year Judd actually made the ballot for the Democratic Party primary in Idaho. "We got conned," admitted Idaho Sec. of State Ben Ysura. With no petition signatures required, Judd was able to pay the $1000 fee. Two of the phone numbers on his filing form turned out to be a newspaper in Beaumont, and the IRS helpline. On the Voice for Inmates website, Judd declared: I AM ON THE MAY 27, 2008 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION
in IDAHO, ALL CONVICTED FELONS CAN VOTE!!

Judd continued his quest for the White House with his younger brother Monty, of Albuquerque, NM, as his running-mate. Other brother Presidential tickets in the past include Larry Brant Sargeant/Perry David Sargeant - American Freedom Party (1976), and Lowell Jackson Fellure/James Monroe Fellure - Independent (2000).

He filed with the FEC in Feb. 2005 as a "Non-Party candidate", refiled in Aug. 2007 as a Democrat, and refiled yet again in Feb. 2008 under the Green Party.

Judd's entries into the Votesmart database are intriguing, and gave journalists the opportunity to fact check his claims, some of which were rather dubious. Here are some of the entries I found most interesting--

Full Name:
Keith 'Mtr. President, Dark Priest, W.D., Rusy...' Russell Judd

Religion:
Rastafarian-Christian

Education
University of California
Attended, Political Science, John F. Kennedy School of Politics, Harvard University, 1998
Attended, Business/Music/Dance/Speech Communications, University of New Mexico, 1992, Grade Point Average of 3.4
University of California Los Angeles, 1972-1978
Attended, Bethany Nazarene College, Oklahoma, 1976

Professional Experience
Agent/Individual Contractor, New York Society of Reproductive Medicine
Band Leader, United States Air Force
Educator, Piano/Music, FCC Low, Education/Recreation Department, Beaumont, Texas, 2006-2007
Sound Engineer, Conavan East Nite Club, 1985-1998
Recording Musician/Writer/Producer, Nadine's Music, Hollywood, California, 1968-1998
Bass Player, Norman Frasier Band, 1995
Sales, Grandma's Music & Sound, 1984-1989
Recording Consultant/Research and Development, Nadine's Music, 1982-1983
Quality Assurance, Inspector, General Electric Aircraft Engine Group, 1978-1982

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships
Activist, Lamesa Neighborhood Association, 1972-present
Activist, Trumble Neighborhood Association, 1972-present
Organizer, Homeless Peoples Voting Rights Association, National, 1968-present
Founder, World Peace Through Musical Communications Skills, 1963-present
Member, American Civil Liberties Union, 1992-2007
Member, Families Against Mandatory Minimums, 1999-2007
Member, National Rifle Association, 1972-2007
Volunteer/Honorary Member, Albuquerque Police Officer's Association, 1997-1998
Member, Musicians-Entertainment Union Los Angeles, 1982-1998
Founder, Rehabilitation of Homeless Association, 1997-1998
Promoter, Musicians Union, 1982-1983
Member, Federation of Super Heroes, 1976-1982
Member, Machinist Union, 1980-1982
Bass Player, Albuquerque Youth Symphony, 1970-1976

Favorite President and Why:
Richard Nixon: He got us out of Vietnam, and began world peace with China and the Soviets

Hobbies or Special Talents:
I Bowled a Sanctioned 300 Perfect Game, and Tournaments. ESP, Telling the Future

Name one thing you would most like to do before you die:
I would like to record another album and go on tour

Personal Hero and Why:
My father, Homer T. Judd. He designed the first Atomic Bomb and worked for the Atomic Energy Commissions 30 years

Person Most Want to Meet (Dead or Alive):
Mozart. He was cool

Priority Issues:
Judicial Accountability Commission and U.S. Department of Justice Accountability Commission. U.S. Treasury Accountability Commission; Federal Reserve Bank System Accountability Commission. Reinvent the Public School System with ties to Industries, Community Job-Placement and Higher Education

Judd was a registered write-in, mostly with Monty as VP, in at least eight states: Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia. Since some states basically ignored reporting write-ins, it is difficult to guess how many votes they received. In Minnesota, Montana, and Utah Judd identified himself as a member of the Green Party. In Washington Judd was a write-in candidate as a Democrat.

We will be revisiting Keith Judd later in the 2012 campaign when he made national news.

Election history: none

Other occupations: sound and light man for Revolver (Keith Judd's rock band)

Notes:
Custom car enthusiast.