ever say that Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura doesn't speak his mind. The former Navy Seal and wrestling doyen pyramided his charisma and straightforward agenda to become a Governor, and a major figure in the Reform Party. Now, he's at the center of controversy again thanks to a series of remarks made in interviews for Playboy Magazine.

   The November issue featuring the Ventura interview goes on sale Monday. It is typical Ventura free style, where "Jesse the Mind" gives his opinions on everything from sex to politics, as well as his thoughts on organized religion. Ventura is already known as an outspoken atheist and defender of the First Amendment separation of church and state; he was the only governor, for instance, who refused to support the National Day of Prayer event last May.

   Ventura's latest remarks, though, could land him in deeper trouble with America's religious community. According to Associated Press, Ventura "blamed organized religion for the unpopularity of legalized prostitution, which he has said should be considered." Ventura is also quoted as telling Playboy: "Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers. It tells people to go out and stick their noses in other people's business."

   Already, the story has made it to the top of Matt Drudge's internet site ("Ventura: Organized Religion For Weak..."). In St. Paul, Minn., a flak catcher for the governor said that Ventura "was talking about extremists of the religious right who are often intolerant, and the governor cannot stand intolerance."

   There are other tidbits from the interview leaking out to the media. Ventura reportedly says that the Tailhook scandal in the U.S. Navy was overblown. He states that while he does not condone the behavior of male aviators who groped and mistreated female officers during a three-day conference in Las Vegas in 1991, he understands the mentality. "These are people who live on a razor's edge and defy death and do things where people die. They're not going to consider grabbing a woman's breast or buttock a major situation..."

   He also theorized that President John Kennedy's death was a plot by the military industrial complex, and that the late president "was going to withdraw us from Vietnam and there were factions that didn't want that." Ventura goes on to compare the office of governor with being king, adding "The best thing is that there's no one in this state who can tell me what to do."

   He also called for decriminalization of drugs and establishment of "places where the addict can go get it," and he admitted -- yes, he inhaled and had smoked marijuana.

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