Could former Governor John Engler make a good run for president?

[Applezz]

The 3 term Governor of Michigan signed 32 tax cuts into law, saving taxpayers nearly $32 billion. The state inheritance tax and capital gains taxes have been eliminated.  Since 1990 when he took office, more than 800,000 jobs were created in Michigan, cutting the state's unemployment rate from over 9 percent the year he took office to 3.4 percent in 2000 - the lowest annual level ever recorded. For an unprecedented five years in a row, Michigan has led the nation with the most new factories and expansion projects. He transformed the $1.8 billion deficit he inherited to a $1.3 billion surplus and reduced violent crime by more than 25 percent.

Is he presidential?

[Psychic Octopus]

He's a has-been.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

No one give a damn about someone who was Governor like 300 years ago.

[paul718]

I don't see why not.  He was considered for the Bush ticket in 2000, but I can't remember hearing his name at any point during the '08 race.  It's like he disappeared.

[pbrower2a]

I don't see why not.  He was considered for the Bush ticket in 2000, but I can't remember hearing his name at any point during the '08 race.  It's like he disappeared.

He was dropped as a potential VP candidate after it was disclosed that he was 4-F for being a couple of pounds heavier than the military allows for a draftee.   

[AndrewTX]

Nope. He could be a VP pick, but I doubt that. He would need to elected back to the Governors office, or hold an appointed position to get his credibility back up. In these days, if you've been out of office for more than 4 years, people tend to forget what you've done, and just dont care.

[California8429]

he'd need the spotlight

Newt served in 90's, but he hasn't shut up since then which is why he's potential 2012

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

he'd need the spotlight

Newt served in 90's, but he hasn't shut up since then which is why he's potential 2012

Yes, but have we heard about Engler recently? Guess not.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

No.  Granholm won blaming him for putting us into the economic disaster.  And he hasn't really done anything since he's left office.

[wdecker1]

I doubt that Engler can make a good run being that he has not been well-known for a long time.

[DS0816]

He's a has-been.

I didn't read much responses until arriving at yours: I just want to say that there was speculation that then-Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole [R-Kansas] was considering selecting then-Gov. John Engler [R-Michigan] as his 1996 running mate.

[pbrower2a]

 Here is as good background as I can find:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://www.nam.org/preview/

It is a powerful right-wing lobbying group for American business, ferociously anti-union and dedicated to giving all power to American corporations. It heavily sponsored the anti-HCR effort. It and the GOP seem heavily intertwined.

John Engler is not without political influence. He is the sort who could become President of the United States only as a front-man for a plutocratic dictatorship. He does not need to be President of the United States to wield great influence on American life.

[dmmidmi]

I almost laughed out loud when I saw the title of this thread. Gov. Engler was passed over as a VP choice when he failed to deliver on his promise to ensure that Bush would win Michigan in the 2000 GOP primaries.

Though after 8 years of Granholm some look back on his time as Governor fondly, he simply doesn't have the political capital that he once had.

[pbrower2a]

I almost laughed out loud when I saw the title of this thread. Gov. Engler was passed over as a VP choice when he failed to deliver on his promise to ensure that Bush would win Michigan in the 2000 GOP primaries.

Though after 8 years of Granholm some look back on his time as Governor fondly, he simply doesn't have the political capital that he once had.

I can only wonder what he would have had to do to "ensure" that Dubya would win the Michigan primary. Maybe he would have been in a position in which to do much the same in Michigan in November.

[Nym90]

He also gave many state employment contracts to EDS (Electronic Data Systems) a company based in Texas (thus using Michigan taxpayers' funds to subsidize jobs in Texas), which promptly gave him a cushy job after leaving office.

[The Mikado]

Has-been.  If you haven't held office since 2002 and your name's not Newt, you're not going anywhere.

[phk]

Has-been.  If you haven't held office since 2002 and your name's not Newt, you're not going anywhere.

[Iosif]

Has-been.  If you haven't held office since 2002 and your name's not Newt, you're not going anywhere.

Clearly you haven't heard of Gary E. '47-state' Johnson.

[segwaystyle2012]

Has-been.  If you haven't held office since 2002 and your name's not Newt, you're not going anywhere.

Clearly you haven't heard of Gary E. '47-state' Johnson.

They'll know him by 2012 though.