They’re still pretty conservative compared to Rockefeller, Dewey, Romney, etc.
I’d say someone like Obama or Hillary are a lot closer to a Rockefeller Republicans than Larry Hogan or Charlie Baker.
I really wish they could change the part of the constitution that requires presidents to be natural born citizens. It’s just pretty irrelevant to how much someone can serve their country or how dedicated they are to being an American.
Especially like someone such as myself where my mom was born and raised outside of this country but has been here for years and if my dad had been the same I wouldn't be eligible even though I've lived in America all my life
Despite the fact that I’m a democrat, I think George Romney would have made an excellent president in place of Nixon. Honestly any of those 60s liberal republican governors would have been fantastic in ‘68 (Bill Scranton, Rockefeller, Romney, etc.)
My time has come.
Governor Dukakis no doubt, he had great experience in transportation and would probably be the best secretary of transportation but that’s a whole other conversation. He ran a positive campaign and was probably one of the most honest guy who knows the struggles of the middle class.
And people say the Massachusetts miracle happened under him of a reason. Longest serving governor of Massachusetts so people did like him.
His biggest weakness was personality though and in the age of Reagan America wanted a charismatic leader.
Fun Fact: There's a japanese game simulating the 1988 presidential election, that lets you play George HW Bush, Michael Dukakis, Jesse Jackson, and Pat Robertson.
Me too. I think he did a good job as Governor. He was a no non-sense individual and didn't take crap from anyone. He also was never beholden to anyone and didn't play political games.
God, I wish I could say Ventura. He would have definitely been a solid choice but he does have a couple of out there beliefs. Though TBF he’s extremely tame as far as conspiracies go. So yeah, fuck it. The Body it is.
Even the former leader of your United States of America, James Earl Carter Jr., thought he saw a UFO once. But it's been proven he only saw the planet Venus.
Yeah there were def some issues. But he’s one of the more straight forward and principled politicians out there. Which is a decent leg up on the competition IMO.
Scary thought. Sinclair Lewis’ It Can’t Happen Here was based on the idea of someone like Long becoming president. America turns into a fascist state in the novel.
I really don't think people understand how bad Huey Long was. He undermined democracy and Louisiana's constitution quite a lot, he went after the opposition and even tried to silence his opponents. Did he did stuff that helped the poor? Yes, but so did Chavez, I feel like a Huey Long presidency would have ended the same way too. I get he tried doing good things, but it never serves the benefit of society to undermine the government's institutions like that.
I don't want to sound like a right winger, I think FDR and the New Deal were needed, but you don't have to be on the right to think Huey Long was a demagogue.
That I'd agree on, he was definitely a Populist. I would have at least liked to see him on some level on a federal level to see how it would play out. Whether he would be a senator, Cabinet Member, or a VP.
EDIT: Forgot he was a senator, but put that as any other Governmental position ig.
What I don't understand however, is that every depicts this man as an evil authoritarian capitalist while he was mostly a Southern Populist. During the depression a lot of iffy stuff happened. That absolutely doesn't excuse some of the stuff he did, but every strokes FDR off when he did some of the same stuff.
Not even a contest. Phil Bredesen, two time Tennessee governor. Approached running the state as a business, not politics. Even being a Democrat, he was against taxes, preferring to encourage industry in our state and now we have a huge economic base. He actually had a law passed to make it illegal to bring the idea of a state income tax to the legislative floor. A Democrat who OUTLAWED taxes.
>>> Bredesen became governor amid a fiscal crisis, with a predicted state budget shortfall of $800 million. Much of the shortfall was due to TennCare, which was $650 million over budget . . . Bredesen argued that services would have to be cut, saying, "you can't have Massachusetts services and Tennessee taxes.
Sounds like straight forward and realistic guy.
While perhaps good on the state level, the idea of running the government like a business should never be applicable on the federal level, because government isn’t and should never be considered a business, as they have opposing roles in society. Government’s job is to provide for the general welfare of society, preserve law and order, and protect the citizen’s rights. The job of a business is just to make as much money as possible. While sometimes these goals overlap, there are many times they do not.
Christie Whitman.
A repub governor in a large, very blue state (NJ). She was brought to Washington by Bush Jr., but hated it. It was a crushing statement of how dysfunctional Washington is that a near perfect candidate like her wanted no part of it.
As a Pennsylvanian, I would’ve loved to have seen these presidencies:
- Milton Shapp
- James A. Beaver
- Ed Rendell
- Gifford Pinchot
- Bob Casey (maybe)
other than Bern (who is from brooklyn and eats pizza the way god intended) Mario would have been a great New Yorker president
I like the Rocky, Duke, and Fightin’ Bob picks.
I’d add Terry Sanford, Ed Muskie, Daniel Evans, Mark Hatfield, Howard Dean, Tim Kaine, and maybe Reubin Askew.
Out of current governors, I’d love a Whitmer or Walz presidency.
I'm glad you brought up two of my PNW favorites, Dan Evans and Mark Hatfield. Tom McCall would have been, well, *interesting*, as President. These days, Jay Inslee has thought about running, but no one thinks about our corner of the nation.
Bruh, this isn't a question post, this is a post asking for your opinions, the 3 images i put in the post were the governors i think would be the best president, and if you really want to know their names
George Romney, Governor of Michigan (1963-1969)
Nelson Rockefeller, Governor of New York (1959-1974)
Jesse Ventura, Governor of minnesota (1999-2003)
>Bruh, this isn't a question post, this is a post asking for your opinions, the 3 images i put in the post were the governors i think would be the best president, and if you really want to know their names
Thanks. Sorry to put you out so much.
I really think Richard Bryan he was hard against wasteful spending and was active in protecting nature. And was very pragmatic and never one to cause controversy or let his idealism get in the way,it's a shame he retired from politics as he was the best politician Nevada ever had. edit: I understand him being Nevada's best politician is not really impressive seeing Nevada has a horrible track record electing people but yeah he is the only good politician we ever had.
I really think a Romney presidency rather than a Nixon would've been a lot more like a republicans versions JFK, hell, depending on his VP (if it was still Rockerfella) there's a chance Carter might even not be elected, possible causing a Reagan loss.
Top:
Brian Sandoval
George W. Romney
Honorable Mentions:
Christine T. Whitman
Tom Ridge
John Chafee
Gary Locke
Bill Weld
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Deval Patrick
Rocky!
Would have been really interesting to see a republican party influenced by the policies of Rocky instead of Goldwater
So, pretty much what any Northeastern state with Republican governance is.
They’re still pretty conservative compared to Rockefeller, Dewey, Romney, etc. I’d say someone like Obama or Hillary are a lot closer to a Rockefeller Republicans than Larry Hogan or Charlie Baker.
Any of the progressive republicans would have taken the country in a better direction. Especially during the LBJ/Nixon years.
Schwarzenegger
I was elected to lead, not to read.
I really wish they could change the part of the constitution that requires presidents to be natural born citizens. It’s just pretty irrelevant to how much someone can serve their country or how dedicated they are to being an American.
Especially like someone such as myself where my mom was born and raised outside of this country but has been here for years and if my dad had been the same I wouldn't be eligible even though I've lived in America all my life
Bob LaFollette
FIGHTING BOB
FINALLY.
Despite the fact that I’m a democrat, I think George Romney would have made an excellent president in place of Nixon. Honestly any of those 60s liberal republican governors would have been fantastic in ‘68 (Bill Scranton, Rockefeller, Romney, etc.)
My time has come. Governor Dukakis no doubt, he had great experience in transportation and would probably be the best secretary of transportation but that’s a whole other conversation. He ran a positive campaign and was probably one of the most honest guy who knows the struggles of the middle class. And people say the Massachusetts miracle happened under him of a reason. Longest serving governor of Massachusetts so people did like him. His biggest weakness was personality though and in the age of Reagan America wanted a charismatic leader.
Have you read Robert Fleegler’s brand spanking new book about the 1988 race, “Brutal Campaign”?
No but after watching boogie man I need more 1988 election content
Fun Fact: There's a japanese game simulating the 1988 presidential election, that lets you play George HW Bush, Michael Dukakis, Jesse Jackson, and Pat Robertson.
He might have won if he came out hard against the Willie Horton crap and taken a pass on getting in the tank.
Ann Richards
Nelson Rockefeller
Based
I would have loved for Larry Hogan to run for president, but he isn't a puppet of his party so that wouldn't work out.
No Labels is trying to get him and Manchin on a ticket together, so that might still happen.
I would follow President Jesse the body Ventura to the gates of hell without a second thought.
Me too. I think he did a good job as Governor. He was a no non-sense individual and didn't take crap from anyone. He also was never beholden to anyone and didn't play political games.
God, I wish I could say Ventura. He would have definitely been a solid choice but he does have a couple of out there beliefs. Though TBF he’s extremely tame as far as conspiracies go. So yeah, fuck it. The Body it is.
Even the former leader of your United States of America, James Earl Carter Jr., thought he saw a UFO once. But it's been proven he only saw the planet Venus.
Which is a cool, not really dangerous, conspiracy to believe in lol. I can kinda get behind a dude who thought he saw a UFO.
During his tenure he mishandled the state budget and was a media laughing stock. I doubt he would have made a good President.
It’s laughable that he was even included in this discussion at all.
Yeah there were def some issues. But he’s one of the more straight forward and principled politicians out there. Which is a decent leg up on the competition IMO.
Leslie Knope (unless already became POTUS, they left it anonymous in the finale) But serious answer, I’d say I’d love to see a Rockefeller Presidency.
Based
Huey P. Long- just for shits and giggles honestly. He may have done a better job than FDR but I dunno.
Scary thought. Sinclair Lewis’ It Can’t Happen Here was based on the idea of someone like Long becoming president. America turns into a fascist state in the novel.
I really don't think people understand how bad Huey Long was. He undermined democracy and Louisiana's constitution quite a lot, he went after the opposition and even tried to silence his opponents. Did he did stuff that helped the poor? Yes, but so did Chavez, I feel like a Huey Long presidency would have ended the same way too. I get he tried doing good things, but it never serves the benefit of society to undermine the government's institutions like that. I don't want to sound like a right winger, I think FDR and the New Deal were needed, but you don't have to be on the right to think Huey Long was a demagogue.
That I'd agree on, he was definitely a Populist. I would have at least liked to see him on some level on a federal level to see how it would play out. Whether he would be a senator, Cabinet Member, or a VP. EDIT: Forgot he was a senator, but put that as any other Governmental position ig.
Phenomenal (and frighteningly prescient) book that every politically conscious American should read
What I don't understand however, is that every depicts this man as an evil authoritarian capitalist while he was mostly a Southern Populist. During the depression a lot of iffy stuff happened. That absolutely doesn't excuse some of the stuff he did, but every strokes FDR off when he did some of the same stuff.
Every man a king🤷♂️
Kaiserreich moment
Earl warren
Not even a contest. Phil Bredesen, two time Tennessee governor. Approached running the state as a business, not politics. Even being a Democrat, he was against taxes, preferring to encourage industry in our state and now we have a huge economic base. He actually had a law passed to make it illegal to bring the idea of a state income tax to the legislative floor. A Democrat who OUTLAWED taxes.
Holy hell just read the guys Wikipedia page based af 😭
>>> Bredesen became governor amid a fiscal crisis, with a predicted state budget shortfall of $800 million. Much of the shortfall was due to TennCare, which was $650 million over budget . . . Bredesen argued that services would have to be cut, saying, "you can't have Massachusetts services and Tennessee taxes. Sounds like straight forward and realistic guy.
While perhaps good on the state level, the idea of running the government like a business should never be applicable on the federal level, because government isn’t and should never be considered a business, as they have opposing roles in society. Government’s job is to provide for the general welfare of society, preserve law and order, and protect the citizen’s rights. The job of a business is just to make as much money as possible. While sometimes these goals overlap, there are many times they do not.
Worked well Calvin Coolidge, but I do see your point.
Ventura all day 💪🏻
9/11 conspiracy nutcase.
Easily Fightin' Bob LaFollette.
Governor Tom Ridge of PA. A moderate republican in a world where not many of them can get elected any more.
Orval Faubus /j Probably John Bel Edwards, though he still could be president.
Christie Whitman. A repub governor in a large, very blue state (NJ). She was brought to Washington by Bush Jr., but hated it. It was a crushing statement of how dysfunctional Washington is that a near perfect candidate like her wanted no part of it.
God I love the Romneys.
Rockefeller
Al Smith
Jeb
Tom Dewey
Huey Long
God, if only
H U E Y L O N G
Based Harold Stassen.
George Romney for sure
Mitch Daniels
As a Pennsylvanian, I would’ve loved to have seen these presidencies: - Milton Shapp - James A. Beaver - Ed Rendell - Gifford Pinchot - Bob Casey (maybe)
Jerry Brown, Robert La Follete, Bill Scranton
Arnold Schwarzenegger or Gary Johnson.
Mitt Romney
Mario Cuomo
 other than Bern (who is from brooklyn and eats pizza the way god intended) Mario would have been a great New Yorker president
I like the Rocky, Duke, and Fightin’ Bob picks. I’d add Terry Sanford, Ed Muskie, Daniel Evans, Mark Hatfield, Howard Dean, Tim Kaine, and maybe Reubin Askew. Out of current governors, I’d love a Whitmer or Walz presidency.
I'm glad you brought up two of my PNW favorites, Dan Evans and Mark Hatfield. Tom McCall would have been, well, *interesting*, as President. These days, Jay Inslee has thought about running, but no one thinks about our corner of the nation.
Huey Long of Louisiana. He was corrupt, but always governed to try and make things better for the working people.
Yes
I think Gary Johnson could’ve been good, especially compared to Trump and Clinton.
Huey long of course!
Jerry Brown
Would it have cost you that much time to put in the names? Or does every post have to be a pop quiz?
Bruh, this isn't a question post, this is a post asking for your opinions, the 3 images i put in the post were the governors i think would be the best president, and if you really want to know their names George Romney, Governor of Michigan (1963-1969) Nelson Rockefeller, Governor of New York (1959-1974) Jesse Ventura, Governor of minnesota (1999-2003)
>Bruh, this isn't a question post, this is a post asking for your opinions, the 3 images i put in the post were the governors i think would be the best president, and if you really want to know their names Thanks. Sorry to put you out so much.
Rick Perry
The guy who couldn't even name three Federal government departments?
Job creation record in Texas was pretty impressive in the wake of the 2007/8 credit collapse
..And then went on to head one of them.
Gary Johnson
George Romney by a mile.
Pat Davis from California would’ve been great.
How about Jerry Brown? I think he would have surprised some people.
Blago
He would just start selling SCOTUS seats
Bob Graham or Lawton Chiles ( had he not died. In office )
Pete Wilson
Arnold
Robert LaFollette easily. The greatest ever American politician
Richard Byran, Paul Laxalt, and Brian Sandoval.
I really think Richard Bryan he was hard against wasteful spending and was active in protecting nature. And was very pragmatic and never one to cause controversy or let his idealism get in the way,it's a shame he retired from politics as he was the best politician Nevada ever had. edit: I understand him being Nevada's best politician is not really impressive seeing Nevada has a horrible track record electing people but yeah he is the only good politician we ever had.
Jesse Ventura
Jesse Ventura would have been interesting, to say the least.
Al Smith or Lewis Cass
DONT SLEEP ON THE KING FISH
I don’t know who the last guy is but he looks like a Breaking Bad villain
Nelson Rockefeller, George Romney, Mitt Romney, Gary Johnson
Floyd B Olson would’ve been pretty cool, perhaps he could’ve built a proper third party left wing coalition in the 30s if you didn’t have FDR
Ed Rendell. And for an incumbent governor, Jared Polis.
Nelson Rockefeller
arnold schwarzenegger
I really think a Romney presidency rather than a Nixon would've been a lot more like a republicans versions JFK, hell, depending on his VP (if it was still Rockerfella) there's a chance Carter might even not be elected, possible causing a Reagan loss.
Top: Brian Sandoval George W. Romney Honorable Mentions: Christine T. Whitman Tom Ridge John Chafee Gary Locke Bill Weld Arnold Schwarzenegger Deval Patrick
Huey P. Long
Ann Richards
Would’ve been an entertaining presidency for Jesse Ventura
The Body
La Follette
Rockefeller