Before We Begin—Political Tickets, Please
Part 1. Fringe Candidates in the Eighteenth to Early Twentieth Centuries
The First Fringe Candidates: “Scattered” and “Other”
John Donkey: America’s First Cartoon Candidate
Leonard “Live Forever” Jones: High Moral Party
George Francis Train: “Spread-Eagleism”
Victoria Woodhull: First Woman to Run for President
James B. Walker: From Mainstream to Fringe—Anti-Masonic Party
Mark Twain: First Celebrity Candidate
George Edwin Taylor: First African American Candidate
Part 2. Running onto the New Field of Radio and Television
John Maxwell: Vegetarian Party
Homer Tomlinson: “King of the World” Candidate
Gabriel Green: Universal Flying Saucer Party
Part 3. The Earthquake of 1968 and Its Aftershocks
Louis Abolafia: World Love Party
Pat Paulsen: TV Comedian—STAG Party
Eldridge Cleaver: Black Panther—Peace and Freedom Party
Dick Gregory: TV Comedian—Freedom and Peace Party
Aftershocks: Nobody for President
Joan Jett Blakk: Queer Nation Candidate
Part 4. Clowns and Quixotes Stampede the Internet and Cable TV
Vermin Supreme: “Why Not the Worst?”
Jonathon “The Impaler” Sharkey: Vampires Witches and Pagans Party
Stephen Colbert: “Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow”
Frank Moore: Just Makes Sense Party
Keith Russell Judd: Federal Inmate 11593-051
Roseanne Barr: First Female Serious Comedian Candidate
Jimmy McMillan: Rent Is Too Damn High Party
Naked Cowboy: Independent in Underpants
Deez Nuts: Games with Balls Candidate
Andrew Basiago: Time Travel Candidate