Yes, as in former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura.\u00a0 A couple of weeks ago one of the local TV stations broadcast a short interview in which he stated that he hadn’t decided yet, but felt he had a credible chance.\u00a0 It’s an interesting statement, partly because of what he has going for him, and partly in self-analysis of my (and wife’s reaction), which was a slight shock of disbelief, which is no doubt due to his former career as a pro wrestler.<\/p>\n
So throw out the emotional reaction, as important as it may be in analyzing his chances, and look at what he brings to the table:<\/p>\n
Compare to the GOP contenders.\u00a0 Jeb Bush ran a state, perhaps relatively competently, for two terms; Huckabee comes off less well, with hints of scandal.\u00a0 Fiorina is more or less an incompetent at high posts, while Carson is a brilliant surgeon but doesn’t appear to know much about the principles of American government.\u00a0 Trump is Trump – near bankruptcy, then success, bankruptcy, user of condemnation proceedings, no public service experience – his focus is money.\u00a0 Rubio is a midget next to Ventura in terms of experience, as is Cruz.\u00a0 And etc.<\/p>\n
It’s rather eye-opening.\u00a0 Toss out the emotions, and Ventura actually comes off rather well against that side.\u00a0 But it’s not clear to me how much foreign policy experience would be available in a Ventura Administration.\u00a0 Clinton has him badly beat there, and Sanders has at least some as well.<\/p>\n
No endorsement here – like his gubernatorial run, I’d have to hear more before I’d consider him worth voting for.\u00a0 But I did vote for him in that race, and I would have reelected him – the State did well, despite all the outrage from the professional political class, but when the politicians got together to put together a particularly disastrous budget, he stepped out and let someone else take that gig.\u00a0 Minnesota struggled under Governor Pawlenty, partially because of that budget.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Yes, as in former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura.\u00a0 A couple of weeks ago one of the local TV stations broadcast a short interview in which he stated that he hadn’t decided yet, but felt he had a credible chance.\u00a0 It’s an interesting statement, partly because of what he has going \u2026 Continue reading