Do ex governors make the best Presidents,

[yortsed snacilbuper]

aside from foreign policy they have experience running a state and making decisions?

[pipoman]

1. better than Washington insiders imo

[MADem]

3. Chris Christie...?

I would rather any Dem Washington insider than him...any one at all.

[MADem]

2. George W. Bush was a former governor...so was Ronald Reagan.

Last edited Sat Jan 11, 2014, 05:37 PM - Edit history (1)

Kennedy and Johnson were not. Neither was Obama.

Clinton was. GHW Bush was not.

Jimmy Carter was, he only got one term. Gerald Ford, appointed/interim, was not.

FDR was (corrected); Harry Truman, Ike--they never governed a state.

I think the leadership qualities of the PERSON trump any particular experience requirement. That said, the more "real world" experience a person has, where actual leadership is demanded--be it military or governmental--can often make the difference. A governor from a "weak governor" state where the ability of the governor to actually do anything is constrained (MA is one, TX is another) might not have as much leadership talent as one thinks.

[Proud Public Servant]

9. FDR? WTF?

He was governor of NY!

[MADem]

10. Of course he was!!! I had a brain fart! I'll correct that immediately!

Too focused on his time with the Navy Department, I was...!!!

[Still Sensible]

4. Not really. n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

5. Except when they make the worst Presidents like Govs. G W Bush and Ronald

Reagan.

[Proud Public Servant]

7. I think some executive experience trumps none

And I think it's no mistake that conventional lists of our ten greatest presidents generally list 9 with previous executive experience as governors, generals, or both (the exception is Truman, the quintessential example of someone who had greatness thrust upon him).

[spin]

8. I feel that having management experience helps a President. ...

An ex governor has a background in political leadership that can be very beneficial. An ex general or a CEO of a major corporation would also have leadership experience, but the culture of the military or the business world differ considerably from that found in the Washington D.C political environment.

Probably no previous job can adequately prepare you to be the President of the United States.

[MADem]

11. Speaker of the House or Senate Majority Leader is helpful if the agenda is moving legislation.

Any senior leadership position in the legislative administrative end of things helps.

LBJ knew how to arm-twist, as he held leadership positions in the House and was, as Robert Caro termed him, the "Master of the Senate."

Never hurts to know the players and know how to persuade them...

[spin]

15. True. LBJ knew how to play and win the Washington D.C. game. (n/t)

[whistler162]

12. Yup because Ronald Reagan and George the younger

where great Presidents!

[yortsed snacilbuper]

13. Thanks for the feedback,

It seems like all the repub governors are dirt bags!

Tom Corbett, Pennsylvania

Nikki Haley, South Carolina

Jan Brewer, Arizona

Paul LePage, Maine

Chris Christie, New Jersey

Rick Perry, Texas

John Kasich, Ohio

Rick Snyder, Michigan

Scott Walker, Wisconsin

Rick Scott, Florida

[malthaussen]

14. Seeing all those names in a group like that...

... gives me thoughts that would get me banned if I expressed them.

-- Mal

[MADem]

17. You're not the only one who is repulsed by that crew!

I'll bet a lot of us share those thoughts!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

16. Not always

[Beacool]

18. Yes, I think that it helps.

I think that running a state is like running a mini country. A governor has to make many executive decisions throughout his tenure. He needs to balance the budget and handle the state legislature. He also needs to think on his feet when the unexpected happens (such as natural disasters).

I think that executive experience is a plus in a president. Obviously it's not a guarantee of success, Bush Jr. being a prime example, but it sure is a positive. That's why there have been more former governors as president than senators.