Strange Candidates #2: Homer Tomlinson

Continuing the exploration of strange presidential candidates:

"Mighty Man of God" Homer Tomlinson (1892-1969)

Tomlinson was the founder of the Church of God (World Headquarters). His plan was to bring about the kingdom of God on earth by getting the members of his church elected to public office. Therefore, he ran for President in 1952, 1960, 1964, and 1968 as the candidate for the "Theocratic Party" (which he also founded).

His campaign promises included: substituting tithing for taxes, creating cabinet posts for "Secretary of Righteousness" and "Secretary of the Holy Bible," unifying church and state, and establishing Bible reading and prayer in all schools.

Tomlinson never won an election, though he did receive 24 votes in 1964. But that didn't matter, because in 1965 he declared himself "King of the World." He ruled the world from a hotel room in Jerusalem, wearing a gold-painted crown and sitting on a folding chair. From a 1966 New Yorker profile of him:


More info at Ron's Parlour Tricks. Also, Legacy America is selling a leaflet from his 1964 campaign.

Posted By: Alex - Tue Sep 23, 2008 - Comments (4)
Category: Politics, Strange Candidates

Dolls and Waffles

These look like instant collector's items -- if you're a collector of politically-incorrect political memorabilia.

The Sarah Palin School Girl action figure, sold by HeroBuilders.com. Kathleen Angco-Vieweg, an assistant professor of sociology at American International College in Springfield, Mass., has denounced it as sexist, saying it implies that the only power attractive women have "is to turn on a man instead of using their brains and intellect."

Then there are Obama Waffles, which some entrepreneurs were selling at the recent Values Voter Summit. The AP reports that they "play off the old image of the pancake-mix icon Aunt Jemima, which has been widely criticized as a demeaning stereotype. Obama is portrayed with popping eyes and big, thick lips as he stares at a plate of waffles and smiles broadly."

So where's all the politically-incorrect McCain memorabilia?

Posted By: Alex - Tue Sep 16, 2008 - Comments (4)
Category: Politics

Alternating Baldies

NPR reports on a puzzling pattern in the hair growth of Russia's leaders. Its bald leaders (such as Lenin and Khrushchev) always are followed in power by hairy men who, in turn, are followed by bald men. The full line of succession:


What could this mean? Probably nothing. But it is an odd coincidence.

America, by contrast, almost never elects bald presidents. NPR calls this our "baldness barrier." (Thanks to Big Gary!)

Posted By: Alex - Wed Sep 10, 2008 - Comments (2)
Category: Politics

Strange Candidates #1: Live-Forever Jones

With the Presidential election now less than two months away, I thought it would be appropriate to devote some posts to the stranger candidates who have run for President over the years. First up we have "Live Forever" Jones.

Leonard "Live-Forever" Jones
Born: July 3, 1797. A resident of Louisville, Kentucky.

Jones was something of a perennial candidate, declaring himself a candidate for President in every election between the late 1840s and 1860s. But his ambitions were not limited to the Presidency. He declared himself to be a candidate for every high office, both State and Federal. When, in 1867, he failed to be elected Governor of Kentucky (he received no votes), he declared himself to be the rightful Governor. He considered himself vindicated when the elected governor, John Larue Helm, died five days into his second term. Similarly, he considered Lincoln's assassination to be divine punishment for the nation's failure to elect himself.

Affiliation: Live-Forever Jones was a member of the "High Moral" party. In fact, he was its only member. The central doctrine he promoted was the belief that immortality could be achieved through a regimen of prayer and fasting. Naturally, he considered himself to be immortal. Thus, his name. He had an unusual manner of speechifying on behalf of his views. He would jump up and down while banging a hickory cane on a table to emphasize his points. Often he would bang so loudly that he would drown out his own voice.

Sadly but predictably, Jones failed to live up to his name. He caught pneumonia, refusing any medical aid because he insisted his sickness was moral, not physical. He died on August 30, 1868.

Despite his odd behavior, he was one of Louisville's favorite eccentrics. Politicians humored him by actually filing the ballots he presented to them, and when he spoke he drew huge crowds who applauded wildly at all his schemes and assertions.

Source: Keven McQueen, Offbeat Kentuckians.

Posted By: Alex - Mon Sep 08, 2008 - Comments (3)
Category: Politics, Strange Candidates

Obama = Antichrist?!?

Did John McCain and posse really intend to portray Barack Obama as the Antichrist in this recent campaign ad?

Decide for yourself....

Posted By: Paul - Sun Aug 10, 2008 - Comments (9)
Category: Celebrities, Frauds, Cons and Scams, Government, Officials, Humor, Politics, Religion, ShowBiz, Television, Video, Advertising

Micronations

The concept of micronations is a fascinating idea. I utilized the notion in one of my recent stories, the title piece from The Emperor of Gondwanaland and Other Stories. But I hardly began to exhaust the narrative possibilities of the idea.










Here's a recent article on one such place, the Republic of Molossia.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Jul 28, 2008 - Comments (1)
Category: Art, Performance Art, Customs, Foreign Customs, Eccentrics, Government, Officials, Regulations, History, Law, Military, Obsessions, Patriotism, Politics, Travel

Obama Lincoln

Check out this new portrait from famed painter Ron English, and read what happened in Boston when it was recently displayed.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Jul 09, 2008 - Comments (3)
Category: Art, Business, Advertising, Government, Officials, History, Historical Figure, Politics