Business and politics

[nancylebov]

Is there anyone who's good at business who's gone into politics?

For a first whack at a definition, "good at business" means having been in a position to make major decisions (possibly limited to CEO, but I'm not sure about this), made money most years, never went bankrupt. Doing something useful is a bonus.

If any such people went into politics and got elected, did their business background seem to have done any good?

One of my friends mentioned Truman as someone who was bad at business who was a good enough president, but that's not the category I'm looking for.

For those of you who think not wanting to be president should be a qualification for the job, what do you think of conscripting Warren Buffett? Anyone else you'd want to try? (I think consent matters, so I don't recommend this.)

This post has been inspired by Donald Trump and GWB.

Comments

[sinboy.livejournal.com]

Bloomberg has had a mixed bag, but in running NYC he's been not-horrible. I think there are situations where his business skill has helped, and situations where it's hindered him.

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

I think I disagree with your assessment of Bloomberg.

[sinboy.livejournal.com]

I'm probably still comparing him to the previous mayor, who was so unutterably assholish that Bloomberg was a refreshing change. I don't like Mayor Mike, but I don't loathe him the way I loathe Rudy.

[sodyera.livejournal.com]

Mike Bloomberg's main flaw has been in trying to run NYC as if it were NYC, Inc., a division of Bloomberg, Inc. E.g., take Liz Black--PLEASE! She was a corporate croney with no education background who Mikey hired like just another mgr. Fortunately, she failed quickly and was replaced by a Deputy Mayor who actually had an education background and kids in the public school system.