If Al Franken, an unfunny comedian, can be a U.S. Senator from Minnesota, then surely Steven Seagal, America’s leatheriest direct-to-video badass, can be the governor of Arizona.
The star of “Marked for Death” and “Under Siege 2: Dark Territory” said he is mulling a run to become Arizona’s next governor, reports Phoenix ABC affiliate KNXV.
Seagal, 61, announced the possibility of his prospective candidacy while promoting a new reality series called “Steven Seagal — Lawman: Maricopa County” (The Lost Episodes).
The flamboyant B-movie colossus and 7th-dan black belt in Aikido said he has talked about the matter in-depth with Maricopa County, Ariz. Sheriff Joe Arpaio, “America’s Toughest Sheriff.”
Seagal also discussed his belief that illegal immigration is a significant problem for the United States. Among his platform aims would likely be a significant increase border security.
The actor has no executive experience, per se, but he is nevertheless something of a lawman, having been deputized by sheriff’s offices in Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico.
As CBS News notes, Seagal also belongs to Arpaio’s substantial, unpaid posse, which is composed of 3,000 unpaid civilians.
The last time The Daily Caller checked in with the legendary VHS action hero, he was having lunch with Russian dictator president Vladmir Putin before attending a judo competition in Moscow. That was in March. (RELATED: Vladmir Putin dined with Steven Seagal before judo match, because why not?)
According to Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, “Putin and Seagal have long been friends, and they regularly meet each other.”
A month earlier, in February, Arpaio enlisted Seagal to lead a training event in suburban Phoenix designed to show 40 armed volunteers how to respond properly to a school shooting. (RELATED: Steven Seagal will show Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s posse how to handle school shootings)
The volunteers also belonged to Arpaio’s posse. They learned “entry room tactics and hand-to-hand tactics.” The plan had been for a bunch of teenagers played the parts of students.
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