He also seems rather lukewarm to Tom's skills as consigliere.
I'm not sure about this because of the act that Vito took Tom aside to tell him "I never thought you were a bad consigliere, I thought Santino was a bad Don, rest in peace." But then again Vito did acceed to Michael's wish that Tom not be a part of the 1955 Massacre becaue he was not a wartime consigliere.
Right about the Massacre. Plus, "I never thought you were a bad
consigliere" is hardly a ringing endorsement.
Going back to TB's hypothesis for a political career for Michael, I agree he could have made it to congress and then gerrymandered a district that could have kept him there for life. This may have been enough for him to conrol powerful committees and build a machine in New York City and State that could, through surrogates help the Corleones in numerous ways.
I don't think Michael could win NY .. because of the prejudice. He wouldnt get a vote north of Westchester County.
I'm not sure that Michael was electable. It's one thing to vote for a candidate that is the son of a big Mafia chief. It's another to vote for someone accused of the assassination of two men, including a police captain.
