“Governor Veto” for President? Can such things be?

I’m back from seeing Gary Johnson speak at the University of Michigan, and even though it’s past my normal blogtime, I thought I would share a few thoughts.

Unless you’ve been in a longterm coma, you know we are in a real crisis now. Not just the usual crisis (or the usual “emergency“) they like to declare, but a real one. The government is going broke, and the United States is headed towards the Argentina Syndrome (I hope there’s already such an expression, for I wouldn’t want to invent it).

There is no question in my mind that not only does Gary Johnson recognize this, but unlike any other candidate I know of, he has walked the walk in terms of knowing how to deal with it. 

When he was governor, the man vetoed 750 bills for wasteful spending. At the time, that was more than the the other 49 governors in the country combined.

If there was a Guinness Book of World Records category for greatest number of bills vetoed by an American executive, he would hold it. No president — in the entire history of the United States — has vetoed more bills. (This earned him the nickname “Governor Veto.”)

So he is the real deal. A lot of politicians talk about the tough choices that need to be made and make all sort of promises, but for those who are looking for someone who can really do it, he not only can, but he already has. Who else can say that?

Yet this is not a ruthless man who loves wielding the ax for its own sake. His ability to patiently explain in detail the reasons for every cut he made is very endearing. He comes across not as a cruel Ebenezer Scrooge, but as a naturally compassionate and humane man. That he was elected and reelected in a state which is 2-1 Democrat is nothing short of amazing, and a testament to his ability to patiently explain these things to people on the other side. (In fairness, his social liberalism probably helps soften the blow too….) He comes across as mild-mannered, self-effacing, humorous, and one of the most approachable men I have yet met in politics. I walked right up to him and chatted, and there was none of the usual pomposity I associate with finger-to-the-wind poseurs hiding behind canned bombastic slogans. I told him that I was tired of holding my nose and voting for Republicans I didn’t like, and he immediately knew what I meant. I specifically asked him about one of my pet peeves, which is the federal assumption of vast powers never mentioned in the Constitution (such as Homeland Security, Department of Education, the FDA, etc.), and he said that he would simply abolish them.

And you know what? He meant it.

There isn’t anyone like that running who’s been a two term governor. It is amazing that he is running for president, and whether he wins the nomination or not, I am just delighted that he’ll be putting these issues before the public and the other candidates in a way they cannot ignore. 

I am not saying he is perfect (is anyone?), but I don’t think the country could find a man better equipped to deal with the crisis we face.

Hell, I just feel lucky to have been in the audience.

MORE: For some reason, there is no local news coverage of the event.