Michael Joseph Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson, August 29, 1958 (Gary, Ind.) – June 25, 2009 (Los Angeles, Calif.)

VP candidate for Independent (aka Independent Republican) (2000, 2008)

Running mate with nominee (2000, 2008): Roger Henry Jewell (b. 1960)
Popular vote (2000, 2008): ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote (2000, 2008): 0/538

The campaign (2000):

On Nov. 29, 1998, reporter Robert Gavin disclosed, "Roger Jewell of Phoenix, Ariz., also was a candidate in 1996. This time he's apparently hoping a well-known running mate will put him over the top. In addition to his own committee, he formed the 'Draft Michael Jackson (King of Pop) for VP 2000 Committee,' according to FEC records."

From what I can gather, Jewell has run for President in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2016. Although he has initially filed as a Republican or Libertarian on occasion it seems he usually settles into an independent status by Election Day.

Jewell has also created numerous PACs over the course of his political career, here are several I have identified that provide a window into his platform--

ROGER JEWELL FOR PRESIDENT '96 COMMITTEE
REPUBLICAN DEMOCRAT UNIFICATION PROJECT
FRIENDS OF THE LIGHT PARTY
COMMITTEE FOR FAIR AND OPEN ELECTIONS
AMERICANS AGAINST ABORTION
ISRAEL/PALESTINE PEACE MEDIATION COMMITTEE
AMERICAN WAR CRIMES INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE
PEACE IN IRAQ NOW COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION FOR EQUAL
   OPPORTUNITY FOR PRESIDENCY
DRAFT MICHAEL JACKSON (KING OF POP) FOR VP 2000 COMMITTEE
DRAFT MICHAEL JACKSON KING OF POP FOR VP 2008 CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
COALITION OF INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
COMMITTEE FOR THE DECLASSIFICATION OF OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO
  UFOS
ROGER JEWELL FOR PRESIDENT 2008
REPARATIONS NOW!
EXPLORATION COMMITTEE FOR PEACEFUL FORMATION OF A SPACE NATION
AGENCY FOR DECRIMINALIZATION OF DRUG LAWS
CARING CHRISTIANS FOR FAIRNESS AND GAY MARRIAGE
VETERANS FOR ROGER JEWELL FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008
AMERICANS FOR FAIR TAX STRUCTURE
GET UP STAND UP STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS COMMITTEE
PATRIOTS FOR STRICTER GUN POLICIES
FIGHT THE POWER COMMITTEE
ROGER JEWELL DRAFT MICHAEL JACKSON KING OF POP PRESIDENT CAMPAIGN
  COMMITTEE 2008
JEWISH-CHRISTIAN COALITION FOR ROGER JEWELL FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008
PATRIOTS FOR THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS AND ASSAULT WEAPONS (AS PER THE
  CONSTITUTION)
JEWELL FOR PRESIDENT '96 COMMITTEE
MUSLIMS FOR JEWELL FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008
COMMITTEE INVES/POSSIBLE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT/1996 REP PRES CAND ROGER
  JEWELL
ROGER JEWELL FOR PRESIDENT 2000 CAMPAIGN
FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL DISABILITY PARTY
ELECTORAL COLLEGE FOR ROGER JEWELL 2015
ROGER JEWELL FOR LIBERTARIAN PRESIDENT 2016
ROGER JEWELL FOR PRESIDENT 2016

Not sure what his connection was with the Light Party or the National Disability Party. The 1996 assassination attempt is a story yet to be uncovered.

In a 2014 too-much-personal-information interview, Jewell expressed admiration for Presidents Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush, coming across as something of a centrist conservative peppered with a few social libertarian policies.

Jewell's choice of Michael Jackson as a running-mate, was, I assume, news to Mr. Jackson if in fact he knew about it. The Jewell-created PAC called Draft Michael Jackson (King of Pop) For VP 2000 Committee could possibly have attracted Jackson's attention. In 2000 Jackson was living in New York City and working on his 10th solo album, Invincible.

I could not locate any states where Jewell was a certified write-in candidate in 2000.

The campaign (2008):

Although Jewell had run for President in 2004 there is not a lot data about that campaign. But in 2008 he once again indicated Jackson would be a fine running-mate as Jewell formed a PAC called Draft Michael Jackson King of Pop For VP 2008 Campaign Committee. Demonstrating a possible inner conflict, Jewell also formed the PAC known as Roger Jewell Draft Michael Jackson King of Pop President Campaign Committee 2008.

For his part, Jackson was preparing for a new concert tour. Back in California, Century 21 had not been kind the King of Pop. He lost his contract with Sony, was taken to court as a result of various child sexual abuse allegations, and he was on the edge of financial ruin. Also his health was rapidly declining. If the Jewell/Jackson ticket had emerged victorious in 2008, the Vice-President would have died only six months after taking office if Fate kept the same timetable.

Jewell did not run for President in 2012, instead acting as the Executive Director of the Draft Sarah Palin for President Committee. But in 2016 he made another run for the White House.

Election history: none

Other occupations: entertainer, King of Pop

Buried: Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale, Calif.)

Notes:
Washington State trivia alert! Roger Jewell was born in Tacoma. I knew some Jewells in Olympia in
  the 1960s. Related?
In addition to a long list of celebrities, Jackson is buried in the same cemetery as fellow third party
 VPs Claude Alonzo Watson (1885-1978), Prohibition Party 1936, and Job Harriman (1861-1925),
  Social Democratic Party 1900. Like Jackson, Harriman was also born in Indiana.

Baby

Baby, June 5, 1991 -

VP candidate for Beak and Freedom Party (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016)

Running mate with nominee: King Crayon (b. 1990)
Popular vote: ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

King Crayon, a beautiful parrot with one of the coolest names ever for a candidate, is making his sixth run for the US Presidency in 2020 as the standard bearer for the Beak and Freedom Party.

It started in Santa Clara, Calif. where his keepers Tony and Jennifer Sopranzi lived. As you might imagine his platform is very bird centered. King Crayon had a campaign webpage that in 2000 was actually more sophisticated than many of his human opponents.

His running-mate in the first five of his six elections is a bit of a mystery. Officially named Baby, but nicknamed Senator Baby, the green parrot is called "he" in 2000 and 2004, and "she" in 2012 and 2016. I can't find a lot of info on their 2008 campaign except to confirm Baby is indeed the VP selection. When comparing the 2000 and 2016 photos, the bird looks the same to me.

Back in the late 1960s/early 1970s at parties we would speculate on the "Paul is Dead" hoax perpetuated by the Beatles. Did Paul die in a car wreck and then was replaced by a lookalike? Could the Beak and Freedom Party have the same sort of mystery?

The Baby in the 2012 and 2016 campaigns was born in 1991, so would have been around for the earlier electioneering. In any event, Baby was replaced on the ticket for the 2020 election with Molly, born in 2012. No reason for Baby's absence was supplied.

There were four major obstacles to a King Crayon/Baby ticket moving into the White House in the event of their victory. First, they are birds. Second, they under the legally required age of 35. Third, they were residents of the same state. And fourth, although I don't really know, it is highly possible they were born in a foreign country.

Election history: none

Other occupations: Chief Operating Bird of NutTell Corp.

Buried: Cannot confirm if Baby is deceased or alive

Notes:
Another candidate who should not be on a debate stage with Morris the Cat.

Yarash Junior

Yarash Junior, March 24, 2000 (Maryland) - January 20, 2002 (Maryland)

VP candidate for Hamster Party (2000)

Running mate with nominee: Diddley Squat IV (2000-2002)
Popular vote: ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

In 1996, with low fanfare and apparently minus a running-mate, a hamster in Maryland by the name of Mr. Ganja ran for President of the United States. His campaign for 2000 was brought to an end by his death at age 2 1/2 in 1998. The Hamster Party quickly replaced him with Ms. Ganjette and her running-mate, Scratch. But to compound the complications both of them died in the first half of 2000.

Before the demise of Ms. Ganjette the following ad appeared on her website:

VOTE FOR MS. GANJETTE:
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 2000

Human beings have made a mess of politics. They get all tangled up overseas, spending hundreds of billions of dollars every year interfering in the politics and private lives of people they do not even know. They bring violence to every corner of the world and they sow corruption in all places they spend their ill-gotten money. They have become insensitive and gross, and are obsessed with laws that turn working people against one another and make life just one big, complicated mess for everybody.

Given the fact that things could not possibly be worse, we urge you to VOTE HAMSTER in the presidential election of the year 2000. If Ms. Ganjette is not on your ballot, either in the party-of-your-choice primary or in the general election, you should write in her name. Why a hamster? Well, we can give you at least ten good reasons:

        Hamsters don't do 'phone sex'
        Hamsters are for peace
        Hamsters will not waste money on stupid stuff
        Hamsters will not interfere with your life
        Hamsters will never lie to you
        Hamsters won't use courts to persecute their adversaries
        Hamsters will cut your taxes down to dimes and pennies
        Hamsters are not arrogant, authoritarian, power-hungry idiots
        Hamsters do not defend the interests of a cannibalistic ruling class
        Hamsters stand for orderly anarchy

The final replacement team consisted of Diddley Squat IV for President and Yarash Junior for VP. Yes, we are talking about hamsters here, but they certainly were the cutest looking political ticket in 2000. Good thing they did not get on a debate stage with Morris the Cat.

A very authentic-looking photo found on the Yarash the Magnificent webpage suggests he had a career as a Presidential advisor in Clinton's second term.

The Hamster Party has run candidates for the White House in every subsequent Presidential election to the present. Since hamsters have such short lifespans, it is highly unlikely any elected ticket with these creatures would ever survive a four-year term.

Putting aside the tiny detail that both candidates were hamsters, there are the two Constitutional problems: They were way below the required age of 35 and also they were residents of the same state. But if by some miracle they had attained the offices they sought, both of them died within a few months of each other, first the VP and then the President. Even though some might say the US Senate is already occupied by fellow rodents (rats) it seems unlikely they would have confirmed a hamster as an appointed replacement, which would have elevated later-to-be imprisoned sex offender, financial criminal and all around felon Republican Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert to the Presidency after the death of President of the United States Diddley Squat IV. Now there's an alternative history story for you where the moral of the tale is that a hamster as President might not be so bad after all!

Election history: none

Other occupations: hamster, Presidential advisor

Buried: ?

Notes:
Diddley Squat IV died June 18, 2002.

Luke Skywalker

Luke Skywalker, May 25, 1977 (19 BBY) (Los Angeles, Calif.) -

VP candidate for Sith Party (2000)
VP candidate for Independent (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024)

Running mate with nominee (2000): Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker) (1977-1983 ; 41.9 BBY- 4 ABY)
Running mate with nominee (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024): Obi-Wan Kenobi (1977 ; 57 BBY - 0 BBY)
Popular vote (2000, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020): ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote (2000, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020): 0/538

The campaign (2000):

By 2000 Internet had become a commonplace household utility and the number of offbeat Presidential candidates had a huge spike thanks to free online publicity. The Darth Vader/Luke Skywalker team was not (spoiler ahead for the dozen or so of you who have never seen Star Wars) the first father-son ticket, but easily it was the most dysfunctional family Prez/VP team of this subset. Vader's whole pitch was that he would make order out of chaos, perhaps like Mussolini making the trains run on time. It did not appear the Vader website was officially sanctioned by the merchandisers of the Star Wars franchise.

There were four major obstacles for this ticket. First, they were not born US citizens. Second, having been introduced and "born" in 1977, they were both under the age of 35 as required by the Constitution. Third, by 2000 the Vader character had been dead for 17 years. And fourth, I can't believe I have to say this but in these days we live in I'm afraid I have to, they are fictitious characters.

The campaign (2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024):

The fantasy ticket of Obi-Wan Kenobi ("Our Only Hope") and Skywalker became a widespread merchandising activity dating back at least to 2008. Alec Guinness, the actor who portrayed Obi-Wan, had died in 2000.

Election history: none

Other occupations: Jedi knight

Notes:
Mark Hamill, the actor who portrayed Luke Skywalker, is active with the Democratic Party.
One wonders how the Skywalker surname came into being.

Vacant

Vacant

VP candidate for Duct Tape Party (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008)

Running mate with nominees (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008): Tim Nyberg (b. ca1954) and Jim Berg (b. ca1964)
Popular vote (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008): ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008): 0/538

The campaigns (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008):

Every now and then I run across Presidential nominees who deliberately do not select a Vice Presidential running-mate and if I find their reasons to be of interest I'll include them here. In 1940 Gracie Allen of the Surprise Party did not have a Vice-President because her administration would not abide any vice. Jean Pierre, an independent in 1972, said she considered a VP position to be "unnecessary" and refused to name a running-mate.

Jim Berg and Tim Nyberg, brothers-in-law in Minnesota, are humorists, authors, and performers who have operated under the name of The Duct Tape Guys since 1993. In four consecutive elections, 1996-2008, they ran for President as a marketing gimmick. Their 1996 run was apparently sort of under the radar compared to their later efforts from what I can glean. It was their stated intention to share the Presidency, "The Office of President is too big a position for any one person, therefore, Jim and Tim will share the Presidency. The Vice President really doesn't do that much anyway, and we can use the extra office to warehouse extra duct tape rolls."

They had a platform entitled "All that ails America can be fixed with duct tape." It included issuing a roll of duct tape to every American including children before they are out of their cribs, replacing foreign aid dollars with gifts of duct tape, and changing the White House to the Gray House by covering it with duct tape "so it will not be exposed to harmful acid rain and other damaging elements--repairs will be a lot cheaper, and it will be a fitting tribute to the product that truly holds this great land together." Duct tape was used as a metaphor throughout the platform for bringing people together in various ways.

Although the Duct Tape Guys concept of a co-Presidency is refreshing, they might have encountered a Constitutional roadblock in assuming office in the event of their victory in any of the four elections since they were residents of the same state, not to mention the whole 2-in-1 concept. Also, it appears Berg was under the mandated age of 35 in the 1996 election.

Election history: none

Other occupations: none

Notes:
My own 108-year old home has parts that are basically held together with duct tape.

Kathie Lee Gifford

 Regis and Kathie farewell show

Kathie Lee Gifford, August 16, 1953 (Paris, France) -

VP candidate for Reform Party of the United States of America / Independent (2000)

Running mate with nominee: Uncle Duke (b. 1974)
Popular vote: ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Uncle Duke is a character in Garry Trudeau's long-running political comic strip Doonesbury. It was never clear if Duke was his surname or first name, but he was initially alleged to be the uncle of Zonker Harris. The drug-soaked comic character was clearly based on Hunter S. Thompson who was surprisingly angered by this cartoon version of himself. If I recall, Thompson at the time said he would rip Trudeau's lungs out if they ever met. It was a clash of two iconoclasts and Thompson demonstrated a low tolerance for being on the other end of parody. As an admirer of both gentlemen at the time I recall being disappointed in Thompson's inability to accept the honor of being famous enough to be spoofed.

Uncle Duke's campaign included a webpage and merchandise. Trudeau told the press in Feb. 2000, "Duke characterizes his overall political philosophy as either compassionate fascism or coercive libertarianism. At his core, he holds libertarian values, but he believes in a kind of wide-ranging, state-sponsored political freedom. He'd require gun ownership and regulate marijuana packaging and distribution to help save the family farmer. He wants to underwrite a massive rebuilding of the nation's aging racetracks."

Duke had made a bid, via Internet and the printed comic strip, for the Reform Party nomination but eventually ran as an independent. For his running-mate he selected TV co-host Kathie Lee Gifford of the iconic Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee, where she appeared with Regis Philbin on a regular morning talk show. After 12 years she went to other pursuits about the same time she was nominated for VP.

Uncle Duke announced his running-mate during an interview with Larry King on Mar. 13, 2000:

KING: We're not going to have a -- we're not going to have a first lady?

DUKE: Let me tell you something: I am going to have a -- let me -- I'm going to announce it exclusively right here on LARRY KING. Speaking of first lady, I want to talk about my vice presidential candidate. I want to announce that it's going to be Kathie Lee Gifford. You know why, Larry?

KING: Why?

DUKE: One, she's available. Two, she's used to being, you know, VP, second banana. She's been vice president under Regis for a long time. She's tough. She knows how to run a string of sweatshops. And lastly, she's perky. You know, I mean, perky, that's key. You know, we haven't had a perky vice president, since you know, well, you have to go all the way back to Dan Quayle. And perky, like a cheerleader, and she's also headline-bait.

That's why -- I think Kathie Lee is going to really help out this -- this campaign.

KING: It's Duke and Kathie Lee Gifford, is the ticket...

DUKE: That's exactly right. Thank you, Larry, for saying that so well. 

Unfortunately for the Uncle Duke campaign, it was announced in Sept. 2000 that Gifford apparently sent word via her attorney that she did not desire to be on the ticket or associated in any way with the electioneering. But Duke, it seems, never replaced her and apparently continued as if she was still the VP.

Election history: none

Other occupations: television host, actress, author, songwriter, singer

Notes:
Born to American parents in Paris, France.
Brush with fame-- I have a copy of Doonesbury : a Musical Comedy (1984) inscribed by Garry
 Trudeau to the actor Keith Szarabajka who portrayed the character of B.D. in the play. It reads:
 Keith, this is the final script, okay? No more cuts or changes. I promise. Your pal, Garry. Sept. '84.

John Loy Rocker

John Loy Rocker, October 17, 1974 (Statesboro, Ga.) -

VP candidate for Populist Democratic Viking Party (2000)

Running mate with nominee: Clay Oliver Hill (b. 1953)
Popular vote: 0 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Clay O. Hill of Kissimmee, Fla. had run for US Congress as a write-in in 1998 and was making a second try in 2000. At the same he was also making a run for President of the United States.

One newspaper account described Hill as "the self-described conspiracy theorist says he's trying to give people another choice. And the 47-year old said he wants to fight widespread global corruption that has involved everyone from Yoko Ono to Napoleon to the CIA." Another report said "he was worried about the international terrorist rings that he believed had headquarters near his house."

"I doubt I'll be invited to the debates," Hill observed.

Hill's choice of a running-mate was controversial Atlanta Braves baseball pitcher John Rocker. He was frequently in the news due to his unapologetic statements widely considered racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, anti-single mothers, and anti-NYC. Here's a sample statement from his 1999 Sports Illustrated interview when he was asked if he would ever play for the Mets or the Yankees:

I would retire first. It’s the most hectic, nerve-racking city. Imagine having to take the [Number] 7 train to the ballpark, looking like you're [riding through] Beirut next to some kid with purple hair next to some queer with AIDS right next to some dude who just got out of jail for the fourth time right next to some 20-year-old mom with four kids. It's depressing.

... The biggest thing I don't like about New York are the foreigners. I'm not a very big fan of foreigners. You can walk an entire block in Times Square and not hear anybody speaking English. Asians and Koreans and Vietnamese and Indians and Russians and Spanish people and everything up there. How the hell did they get in this country?

Rocker characterized himself as a conservative Republican. He ridiculed the sensitivity courses he was required to attend and years later admitted he used steroids. I have not found if he had an opinion about or if he even knew Hill had selected him as his VP choice.

Hill won six popular votes in his independent write-in bid for Congress in 2000. The Hill/Rocker ticket had zero reported votes for President/VP. In any event, their victory would have faced the Constitutional roadblock of the VP nominee being 26 years old, nine years younger than the legally required age to hold that office.

Hill would go on to run for public office again, including for US Congress as of this year (June 2020), becoming known as a perennial candidate.

Election history: none

Other occupations: baseball player, actor, author, columnist

Notes:
Endorsed Trump in 2016.
Rocker threw left and batted right, and I thought I was the only one who did that.

Anthony Brent Cook

Anthony Brent Cook, June 12, 1980 (Brunswick, Ga.) -

VP candidate for Independent (2000)

Running mate with nominee: Lamar Echols III
Popular vote: ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Lamar Echols III of Georgia tossed his hat into the Presidential race and nominated his fishing pal Brent "Snag" Cook as his VP. Brent's brother John "Rad" Cook was promised the Attorney General position.

It was repeated in several sources that: "Independent Lamar Echols III proposes reducing school violence by having parents 'take a vital part out of their children's car' every night so that children won't be able to stay out all night and therefore won't fall under the influences of violence."

In the summer of 1999 Echols ended his campaign and endorsed the independent ticket of Fred Cook and Emmett Ezell. Fred Cook was Brent's father and Ezell was his grandfather.

There were two blockades to the Echols/Cook ticket taking office in the event of their victory. Cook (and probably Echols as well) was much too young at age 20 to legally assume office. Plus, both candidates were residents of the same state which is verboten according to the Constitution.
   
Election history: ?

Other occupations: ?

Notes:
I imagine there were some lively political discussions at the Cook family dinners.

Derrick Christopher Johnson

 Above: Johnson / Below: Bellis

Derrick Christopher Johnson, July 1, 1965 -

VP candidate for America's Party (2000)

Running mate with nominee: Joseph Kidd Bellis III (b. 1955)
Popular vote: ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Joe Bellis, a former evangelical minister who worked in the computer software business in Kansas, started America's Party around 1998. The Party was considerably to the Right of the Republicans, which is the political camp where Bellis had previously resided.

With his slogan being: "Not a Lawyer! Not a Washington Insider! Not a Politician! Just an American, like you," Bellis invested $60,000 of his own dollars into the campaign.

Bellis' running-mate was Derrick Johnson, a graduate student at George Fox University in Oregon although apparently he was considered a resident of Vancouver, Wash. (Washington State trivia alert!!!). Johnson had initially aimed for the Republican Presidential nomination prior to joining America's Party in Dec. 1999.

Johnson's campaign webpage was headed with: Congressional Liberty Heroes-- Congressman Bob Barr, Congressman Ron Paul, Congressman James Traficant.

The following part of Johnson's introduction was filled with hot links that are no longer operable, but it does spell out his political platform and agenda:

Fellow Americans,

I encourage you to visit the news sites listed to the right (and the links below) and take time to get informed and ACTIVE about the issues that affect all of us.  Particularly those issues that have to do with recent defense issues, federal land grabs, campaign financing scandals committed by BOTH parties, the unconstitutional “federalization” of law enforcement, enviromental “takings” of private land,  judicial activism and the various confiscatory & ILLEGAL actions of our beloved federal bureaucrats. And, beware of the NRST (national retail sales tax) issue... see our “News & Info” page for more on this tax issue--we need tax reform or preferrably elimination, but the NRST is NOT the way to resolve this problem--UNLESS you wish to pay an unconstitutional 23 cents in taxes on every dollar you spend!!!!!

Reality dictates that THIS ROUND of elections will likely see one of the two major party candidates becoming President of the United States... but, I have not and will not back off until I have reached that office. How will that happen??? “Where God guides He provides” as someone close to me recently said, so perhaps now is not my time but sometime in the future it will be “my time” and I will take action on the things that other candidates & officeholders will not tackle. From crime (not gun-control) and the 2nd Amendment to government waste to “glo-bull warming” to family and defense issues, I will be “on the job” and doing the RIGHT THING for not only these issues, but also every thing else that I encounter as President (or VP).  You can count on that... this much I can promise and deliver on.

So, take heart, keep praying for America and stay involved & informed. Do not give up hope, for hope and a vision for the future are what we need to see us through these uncertain and tempestuous times. The Constitution is STILL the supreme law of the land, defend it and prize it, for it is OUR only protection against bureaucratic and political tyranny--something we are perilously close to experiencing.

                                           Derrick C. Johnson
                                           Candidate for President of the United States

Please Support Political Unity In A
Culturally Diverse America...

The Bellis campaign came to an abrupt halt after it appeared Pat Buchanan would secure the Reform Party nomination. Said Bellis in a press release: "In January 1999, I made a promise to the American people regarding this goal. I stated that if Pat Buchanan or Alan Keyes achieved ballot access for the November 2000 election, I would end my campaign. I am an honorable man." Bellis endorsed Buchanan for the general election in Aug. 2000.

Bellis later ran for US Congress and the US Senate variously in the Libertarian and Reform parties.
   
Election history:
1994 - US House of Representatives (Ore.) (Republican) - primary - defeated
2000 - Republican nomination for US President - withdrew

Other occupations: US Army, marriage and family therapist

Notes:
Currently in Nevada.

Barbie Millicent Roberts

Barbie Millicent Roberts, March 9, 1959 (Willows, Wis.) -

VP candidate for USA interParty (aka interParty) (2000)
VP candidate for Independent (2016)
VP candidate for Independent (OTC) (2016)

Running mate with nominee (2000): Raymond Kenneth Petry
Running mate with nominee (2016): Barbie Millicent Roberts (b. 1959)
Running mate with nominee (2016): Drunk Menopausal Barbie (b. 1959)
Popular vote (2000, 2016): ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote (2000, 2016): 0/538
 

The campaign (2000):

Raymond K. Petry of Honolulu had run for President in 1992 and 1996, but in 2000 he made a concerted effort to be drafted as Vice-President instead. No one took him up on his offer so he relaunched as a Presidential candidate under the USA interParty banner. According to his webpage, "Barbi" [i.e. Barbie] was nominated as his VP, presumably for the Barbie and Ken humor value: "Petry is leading the interplanetary space effort in this decade, and America is not going alone: Barbi has been nominated for Vice President: Sign the on-line Petition to put Ken and Barbi on the Ballot in your State."

Citing Manifest Destiny, Petry advocated expanding the space program for colonization of the Moon, Mars, and even Pluto.

"With a bit of web-clatter the oval office is being prepared for Mr. Petry: We're culling and gleening for Election year AD 2000 ... and, Mr. Petry is preparing himself to run for the Presidency - an unprecedented move: the former VeeP candidate is going for the Presidency - [maybe just to be VeeP] - so, this'll be extra challenging for Mr. Petry - he's been acting as President for the next four years, now he's ready for office in AD 2001 - Mr. Petry has proven to America that he's a better President than any of them, and that America has been better-off in four years with him acting President - so, America will let him take office ... and if America ever needed a government-within-the-government, this is it: Mr. Petry is ready."

As a reflection of his background and interest in mathematics, much of Petry's platform was science-based.

Meanwhile Barbie, full name Barbie Millicent Roberts, was already running for President in 2000 on her own and fending off a challenge from the Vanessa/Eva doll ticket.

The campaign (2016):

OK, I'm not sure how this works but Barbie was her own running-mate, sort of a split-personality thing. Not unlike Austin Burton serving as his own VP nominee in 1976.

In the year where Hillary Clinton was the Democratic nominee, Mattel spokesperson told the press, "The President and Vice President dolls continue our efforts to expose girls to inspiring careers that are underrepresented by women ... We see this doll set as a timely and topical platform to further the conversation around female leadership."

Mattel had worked with She Should Run, "a nonpartisan nonprofit working to dramatically increase the number of women considering a run for public office" in the development of the dolls.

VP Barbie's main difference from Presidential Barbie was that she wore glasses.

The campaign (2016 : OTC):

The OTC Comedy Troupe is based in Georgia and has an online presence via Youtube. In Sept.-Oct. 2016 actress Kelley Cody-Grimm presented a campaign running her "Drunk Menopausal Barbie" character for President.

Using the slogan, "Let's make America fabulous," Drunk Menopausal Barbie presented an African American Barbie doll as the Vice Presidential nominee.

Election history:
1992 - US President (Independent) - defeated
2000 - US President (Independent) - defeated
2004 - US President (Party of Girls) - defeated
2008 - US President (Independent) - defeated
2012 - US President (B Party) - defeated
2016 - US President (Independent) - defeated
2016 - US President (Independent : OTC) - defeated

Other occupations: over 200 careers

Notes:
Barbie sat out the 1996 Presidential election, and seems to be in 2020 as well, so far.

Michael G. Muckian

Above: Mike Muckin ; Below, Bruce Muckian from politics1.com

Michael G. Muckian, February 12, 1958 -

VP candidate for Committee to Reform American Politics (2000)

Running mate with nominee: Bruce James Muckian (b. 1953)
Popular vote: ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Bruce Muckian, a system analyst in Federal Way, Wash. and his third cousin Mike Muckian of Illinois, formed the Committee to Reform American Politics (CRAP) because the USA needed "nonpolitician outsider" leaders. Mike said he was qualified to be Vice-President as he shared a birthday with Lincoln. 

Bruce had briefly made the news in 1994 as a potential opponent for US Rep. Jennifer Dunn (R-Wash.). Muckian, who was called a resident a resident of Puyallup, was rather outspoken, calling most incumbents "hypocrites, liars, tax cheats and power-mad egomaniacs." Depending on the news source, he was going to run in the primary as a Republican or in the general as an independent, but neither scenario appears to have played out.

The Muckians did not register with the FEC nor become certified write-ins in any state. But their campaign did have some pretty catchy slogans: "The Mucks stop here" [displayed with a photo of the White House], "You've Done Worse and Vote for Muck-- The Others Suck," and "At least they're not the Clintons."

Bruce predicted their chances of winning the election were "somewhere between astronomical and totally outrageous!" and claimed he was really running in order to raise enough money to take his family on a vacation to Ireland via the Concorde.

In 2001 Bruce made an unsuccessful run for a position on the Puyallup School Board.
   
Election history: none

Other occupations: Health resource executive

Notes:
Washington State trivia alert!!!
A friend of mine from Alabama was driving on I-5 when his 1959 GMC pickup died. He coasted into
 the first gas station and asked the attendant where he was. "Federal Way" was the answer. My pal
 said, "Yeah, but what city is this?"
Puyallup = pronounced Pew-AL-Lup