Plus campaign excerpts from Jello Biafra, Lowell Darling, Wavy Gravy, Pat Paulsen, Randy of the Redwoods, R.U. Sirius and Zippy the Pinhead-and many, many surprises! Many artists have entered the political arena not to gain power but to rupture the sanctity of the two-party system. These interventions have brought disruption, satire, and often, political lucidity to that seemingly impregnable entity called the campaign. Performance artist Lowell Darling ran a rip-roaring gubernatorial campaign against Jerry Brown and garnered 60,000 votes. His platform included designating parts of the state "No Smoking" areas and giving every Californian $30,000 a year for "just being themselves." Berkeley's own Wavy Gravy has been running on the "Nobody for President" ticket since 1976. His is a campaign of conspicuous absence with slogans like "Who Lowered Your Taxes? Nobody!" Pat Paulsen began his straight-faced political career in 1968, running against Tricky Dick. "I will not run if nominated. And if elected, I will not serve," says this perennial candidate. San Francisco playwright Bill Talen's docu-play Apple Pie with George and Jane is a satiric, incisive glimpse into the campaign of George Cudahy, a Clinton-clone with a penchant for pandering and a knack for hyperbole ("I want to extend full credit-card privileges to fetal America!"). Cudahy's wife Jane is a tranquilized accessory-up to a point. This premiere video version was staged in a hotel conference room in New Hampshire, adding a dose of stump-jumper authenticity. -Steve Seid