The best governors in U.S. history
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  The best governors in U.S. history
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Author Topic: The best governors in U.S. history  (Read 5808 times)
President Johnson
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« on: March 19, 2017, 04:37:13 AM »
« edited: March 19, 2017, 04:38:51 AM by President Johnson »

Any suggestions who were the best governors in U.S. history?

I would consider those names very strong state chief executives, though my list is probably missing a few names: Nelson Rockefeller (R-NY; for civil rights, education, transportation, urban housing etc.; only Drug Laws were a failure in retrospect), Hiram Johnson (R-CA; progressive reforms), Robert LaFolette (R-WI; progressive reforms), Pat Brown (D-CA; several landmark reforms) and FDR (D-NY) of course, as he was fighting the depression. George Romney (R-MI) was also a fairly good governor, similar to Rocky. During our time, Jerry Brown is definitely the best one. Mario Cuomo and Bill Weld were also not bad.
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Bismarck
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« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2017, 11:10:36 AM »

In Indiana the three who get mentioned most are Oliver P. Morton (R:1861-1867) who kept Indiana strongly in the Union and held off the forces who were sympathetic to the south. Paul V. McNutt (D: 1933-1937) and Mitch Daniels (R:2005-2013).
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Lincoln Republican
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« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2017, 12:17:09 PM »

George Romney, Michigan

By 1967, a looming deficit prompted the legislature to overhaul Michigan's tax structure. Personal and corporate state income taxes were created while business receipts and corporation franchise taxes were eliminated. Passage of an income levy had eluded past Michigan governors, no matter which party controlled of the legislature. Romney's success convincing Democratic and Republican factions to compromise on the details of the measure was considered a key test of his political ability. (Wikipedia)

Mitt Romney, Massachusetts

Upon entering office in the middle of a fiscal year, he faced an immediate $650 million shortfall and a projected $3 billion deficit for the next year. Unexpected revenue of $1.0–1.3 billion from a previously enacted capital gains tax increase and $500 million in new federal grants decreased the deficit to $1.2–1.5 billion. Through a combination of spending cuts, increased fees, and removal of corporate tax loopholes, the state achieved surpluses of around $600–700 million during Romney's last two full fiscal years in office, although it began running deficits again after that. (Wikipedia)
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Mr. Smith
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« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2017, 04:35:47 PM »

Overall: Huey Long
Home State: Hiram Johnson
Currently in Office: Jerry Brown
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World politics is up Schmitt creek
Nathan
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« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2017, 09:11:42 PM »


ayy lmao
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President Johnson
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« Reply #5 on: March 25, 2017, 05:23:46 AM »


I personally rate him #1 or #2
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Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers
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« Reply #6 on: March 26, 2017, 04:01:53 PM »

Eddie Rendell-PA(2003-2011)
Bill Richardson-NM (2003-2011)
Jerry Brown-CA (2011-2019)

Jim Edgar-IL (1991-99)
Kasich - OH (2011-2019)
Jeb Bush-FL (1999-2007)
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Kingpoleon
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« Reply #7 on: March 29, 2017, 08:41:58 PM »

You ignored Thomas Kean, Earl Warren, and Winthrop Rockefeller.
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FEMA Camp Administrator
Cathcon
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« Reply #8 on: March 29, 2017, 11:50:21 PM »

You ignored Thomas Kean, Earl Warren, and Winthrop Rockefeller.

Oh wow, Rockefeller Republicans, really!?
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Lincoln Republican
Winfield
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« Reply #9 on: March 30, 2017, 11:24:30 AM »

Nelson Rockefeller New York

He was far ahead of his time.

Among many other things:

Rockefeller achieved virtual total prohibition of discrimination in housing and places of public accommodation. He outlawed job discrimination based on gender or age; increased by nearly 50% the number of African Americans and Hispanics holding state jobs; appointed women to head the largest number of state agencies in state history; prohibited discrimination against women in education, employment, housing and credit applications; admitted the first women to the State Police; He outlawed "block-busting" as a means of artificially depressing housing values and banned discrimination in the sale of all forms of insurance. Wikipedia
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RINO Tom
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« Reply #10 on: March 31, 2017, 09:43:31 AM »

You ignored Thomas Kean, Earl Warren, and Winthrop Rockefeller.

Oh wow, Rockefeller Republicans, really!?

Satan's spawn, amirite?
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Kingpoleon
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« Reply #11 on: April 01, 2017, 05:09:12 PM »

You ignored Thomas Kean, Earl Warren, and Winthrop Rockefeller.

Oh wow, Rockefeller Republicans, really!?

Earl Warren was hardly a Rockefeller Republican.
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LastMcGovernite
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« Reply #12 on: May 17, 2017, 07:59:37 AM »

I don't really know enough about 19th century governors to say, although I think DeWitt Clinton deserves more love than he's getting. And just about any Reconstruction governor.

If I had to make a 20th-21st century list, though, my top ten would be, in no particular order:

1. Dan Evans (R- Washington)
2. Mark Hatfield (R- Oregon)
3. Jerry Brown (D- California)
4. Floyd Olson (DFL- Minnesota- great catch, Mondale!)
5. Robert LaFollette (R- Wisconsin)
6. Nelson Rockefeller (R- New York)
7. Frank Murphy (D- Michigan)
8. Reuben Askew (D- Florida)
9. Terry Sanford (D- South Carolina)
10. George Aiken (R- Vermont)
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#gravelgang #lessiglad
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« Reply #13 on: May 18, 2017, 11:52:17 AM »

Thirded on La Folette.

Seconded on Daniels.
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Shadows
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« Reply #14 on: May 20, 2017, 02:56:42 PM »

I have been wanting to discuss Rockefeller & am borrowing from his Wiki page -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Rockefeller

Under his governorship, the university grew from 29 campuses and 38,000 full-time students to 72 campuses and 232,000 full-time students. Other accomplishments included more than quadrupling state aid to primary and secondary schools; providing the first state financial support for educational television; and requiring special education for children with disabilities in public schools.

He raised $300 million for acquisition of park and forest land and he built/started 55 new state parks. Rockefeller initiated studies of environmental issues, such as loss of agricultural land through development—an issue now characterized as "sprawl. By 1973, the Rockefeller administration had completed or started over 88,000 units of housing for limited income families and the aging. He proposed the first statewide minimum wage law in the U.S. which was increased five times during his administration.  In 1972, he vetoed another bill that would have restored the abortion ban.

Very progressive politician for his time & should be admired for some of his work. And he actually proposed a version of universal healthcare in the 70's
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Zinneke
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« Reply #15 on: June 25, 2017, 04:56:32 PM »

Jesse Ventura
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