(Continued...)

I'm guessing you're a big music fan, not just from your recent singing performance, but from the list of musicians who endorsed your campaign in 2004, including Jello Biafra and Willie Nelson.

I do love music. And my music tastes are quite eclectic. I'm really into classical music. There's a lot of comfort in it but there's also a tremendous help in writing speeches and poetry, because the rhythms of classical music really respond to the order of the universe. You've heard about the music of the spheres? Well, I think that all composers drew their music from that world of thought, which corresponds to universal rhythms. So to me it is very important and I'm constantly listening to music of all kinds—and it's great to have the support of so many people who are in music.

Are you friendly with Willie Nelson? Have you spent time with him?
Willie's a good friend of mine. He's funny, he's a brilliant writer, he's thoughtful, and a pretty good golfer.

I didn't know that about him.
He's a very good golfer.

And I assume he supports your stance in favor of drug legalization.
Well, you know, I really haven't talked to him that much about it. I myself have never done drugs, I don't even smoke, so I'm not trying to advocate for myself here, but I can tell you that I think America is ready for some new thinking. I think the debate over medical marijuana was unfortunate, destructive, lacking in compassion. There are certain laws that relate to criminalization that should be looked at. But these are my opinions.

"I myself have never done drugs, so I'm not trying to advocate for myself here, but I can tell you that I think that America is ready for some new thinking"Speaking of green, you're one of the more environmentally thoughtful candidates running for president. Let's say that you were to win the election: As president, would you become carbon neutral, as Al Gore recently has, and refrain from traveling on Air Force One to set an example?
Well, while in my own life I try to be very sensible and sensitive in conserving energy and in the car I drive—which gets pretty good mileage ... a Ford Focus, made in the USA I might add—my priority as president would be to immediately reach out to the world community. There've been so many fractures and so much alienation that the world's waiting for an American president who can help unite it, so I would use whatever technologies we could to bring people together, and that includes whatever transportation means that are available to move around as quickly as possible. And then, as you do that, then you can communicate by e-mail—but there needs to be a lot of face-to-face so that people can see that the face of America is no longer hostile. At the same time, I want to find ways to implement immediately into mass society ways in which people can save energy and create energy usage patterns that reduce their own carbon footprint.

You would be the first vegan president in our history. If elected, would you make the White House menu all vegan?
Vegan food would be on the menu, but there'd be a choice for people who weren't vegans. There would be room at my table for everyone. It would be a friendly table.

You once said that the three pillars of civilization were—
Polka, bowling, and kielbasa!

I take it you haven't had kielbasa in a while?
I've been a vegan for about 12 years, but let me tell you, there's a place in Oregon that sells kielbasa made out of tofu and texturized protein. And they sell tofurkey too, so it's amazing what's possible when you determine to take a new direction in your diet. I wouldn't have believed it until I saw it but they do make kielbasa out of something other than what standard kielbasa is made of. You know how they say, Don't ever ask how laws or sausages are made? Well, I can attest to the wisdom of that with the exception of kielbasa made with tofu.

How about bowling? Do you still bowl?
Well sure, I keep a bowling ball nearby. I don't use it as often as I'd like, but I love bowling.

What's your high score?
I've hit over 200 a few times. I'm not the best bowler, but when I get in a groove I can do okay.