Editor's Pick
JULY 16, 2010 12:14AM
Rate: 15
Anyone recall Martha Coakley? How about California’s Prop 8? Prop 14? What about the fact that mean-girl-newbie Carly Fiorina trounced respectable and seasoned Tom Campbell?
A new poll done by CBS-5 and duplicated in part by others shows that Meg Whitman is ahead of Jerry Brown and/or neck and neck. She ought to be lagging far behind in liberal California, but she is not. Why? Because people are planning to go to the polls to cast a ballot for whatever is different and not the same song they’ve heard a hundred thousand times before. They don’t care what it is – just that it is different.
The economy is stalled. We have birthers and tea baggers running for office screaming that the nation will be given over to Kenyans if we aren’t careful. We have talking idiots on the television every single day praying for deliverance and shouting out foolish sound bites that substitute for real journalism. We have Sarah Palin screeching from podiums everywhere for a hefty fee. Arizona is so tired of immigration problems that they enacted a law that clearly reeks of a time that led the planet into World War ll. If my grandparents were still alive, just the words “show me your papers” would give them a coronary having lived through that in another time and place.
In spite of all that and more, we march toward the 2010 elections. In California it is quite possible that this November we will be calling Meg Whitman, Governor-elect Whitman. She has a competent political machine working for her that seems to be seasoned enough even if the candidate is not. She has managed to bypass some major faux pas and come out ahead. The candidate is not a tea bagger. She is not a birther. She is a semi-moderate republican who has made it clear that she has a bit of compassion, at least in public. Whitman is firm on a commitment to immigration reform but refuses to penalize the children of immigrants. She won’t take away their state funded health care services, nor will she toss them out of school. She will however, not let them enter state colleges. By today’s standards that is almost too sympathetic.
Whitman wants to win. It is in her nature to win. She is competitive – you don’t get to be CEO of anything without being competitive. Though she never was a Silicon Valley star, she clearly wasn’t hated by everyone (hello: Fiorina). Yes, she has a temper and some determined journalists finally dug up an incident when she was at eBay. But seriously, they had to dig for that one. There just isn’t anything particularly gnarly about Whitman that would make voters run for the hills.
Sure, she has a lousy citizen voting record which she has admitted. Mea culpa. And people buy that apology. And yes, she dug herself in a big fat hole with the Goldman Sachs debacle, but that is old news. No one cares these days – at least those who matter, which would be those voters who will go to the polls in November.
She is busy preparing for those debates with Jerry Brown. Rest assured that her handlers are schooling her in every nuance that will make her sound learned, kind, sincere, and smarter than Brown (good luck). And she is a good pupil. If nothing else, her biography demonstrates a young girl and young woman who studied harder than anyone in order to get good grades and succeed. She will do nothing less now either.
The problem with republican Whitman is that she is not extreme. She comes across as reasonable; her
This is not an endorsement for Whitman. I do not want her to be our Governor. But it is a momentary pause and worried glance around the landscape to see where we are. And where we are is not very pretty.
After Prop 8, and Prop 14, after selecting Fiorina v. Campbell, it is quite likely that should things remain the same in California and across the nation, we might well be watching the swearing in ceremony for Governor Whitman this January.
The boss of Mr. Potato Head becomes Governor of California after Governor Terminator completes his term. Need more?
Comments
Well done and informative. R
Governor Meg Whitman.... Governor Carly Fiorina... boy aren't you folks lucky. You either get to "Buy it Now" or "Pay for it Later". You'll yearn for good ole days back with the Governator before its all over. But hey, at least it'll be clean-- rats will leave a sinking ship. Now, about those deck chairs...
I too see dark days of Whitman in our future.
God damn I hope I'm wrong...
God damn I hope I'm wrong...
I would think that most who follow politics and vote (I do neither) would want a successful business person to enter-in to office.
Think Bloomberg. The guy's not beholden to anyone (it seems) and appears to have done a decent job in NYC.
Locally, I just read where the mayor is hiring a professional business manager for his staff ... makes sense, considering that the most pressing issues seem to be financial.
(R)
Think Bloomberg. The guy's not beholden to anyone (it seems) and appears to have done a decent job in NYC.
Locally, I just read where the mayor is hiring a professional business manager for his staff ... makes sense, considering that the most pressing issues seem to be financial.
(R)
A change? I think not. Whitman will give Gov. S a third term. Too bad Jerry Brown chose not to run.
Nobody who cares about elections is ever too busy to vote. Whitman's lack of interest in voting implies she believed that voting didn't matter because it was irrelevant. She knew better that the levers of power were moved in others ways, by money and corporate influence. Thus, as a crossover candidate, she brings dangerous attitudes to process. It's one thing to be a CEO who believes that voting doesn't matter. It's quite another to believe that as a governor.
Professional business managers should be just that and stay out of politics. I want someone who cares about me and fights for what is right and free. I dont want to be managed. Fiorina and Whitman are power hungry machines. Brown moved into the slums to see what it was really like and to help people. Ill take Brown anytime. But I think Im just blowing into the wind. Time to get out of America.
These posts about your candidate make my breakfast oatmeal churn in my tummy, remembering how several Republican governors came to office in the Republic of Massachusetts. When it's a female candidate, I feel extra churney. Does it seem that the worst examples of womanhood get to the top offices? Maybe the media makes it seem so.
@zanelle's comment
Oh that's rich (pun intended).
You'd want career politicians in government instead of business professionals. You know, those guys and gals who make decisions/govern based on what will keep them in office instead of doing what's "right and free".
The ones who ultimately are "business" themselves by rewarding corporate donors with wildly unpopular bills and loopholes.
Don't let the door hit ya on the way out of the U.S. You won't be missed.
Oh that's rich (pun intended).
You'd want career politicians in government instead of business professionals. You know, those guys and gals who make decisions/govern based on what will keep them in office instead of doing what's "right and free".
The ones who ultimately are "business" themselves by rewarding corporate donors with wildly unpopular bills and loopholes.
Don't let the door hit ya on the way out of the U.S. You won't be missed.
Sheila, thank you.
Mr. E - Fiorina is running against Boxer, for the Senate. Whitman is running for Gov.
Prog - I hope I'm wrong too. People have to show up at the polls.
Craze - that makes sense, if only Whitman were savvy like Bloomberg. She is not. Never has been. She studies hard, does homework, but doesn't have the intuitive stuff necessary. And Bloomberg has his issues.
Run - Jerry is running against Whitman. Schwarzenegger's term ends by law. He can't run this time.
Steve - I absolutely agree. She is about as qualified as Mr. Potato Head. The things she has said during the primary campaign magnify how much she doesn't know, but voters are not listening. The only counter to that is for Brown to trounce her in the debates and for people to care enough to show up at the polls. Brown has to wrap his head around the fact that she can win and fight for the job.
zanelle - If Brown wishes to win he will need to really highlight what Whitman lacks so that it counters her zillion dollar ad campaign.
green - thoughtful questions you bring up. I've thought about that and don't have an answer, but it sure does seem that way.
Mr. E - Fiorina is running against Boxer, for the Senate. Whitman is running for Gov.
Prog - I hope I'm wrong too. People have to show up at the polls.
Craze - that makes sense, if only Whitman were savvy like Bloomberg. She is not. Never has been. She studies hard, does homework, but doesn't have the intuitive stuff necessary. And Bloomberg has his issues.
Run - Jerry is running against Whitman. Schwarzenegger's term ends by law. He can't run this time.
Steve - I absolutely agree. She is about as qualified as Mr. Potato Head. The things she has said during the primary campaign magnify how much she doesn't know, but voters are not listening. The only counter to that is for Brown to trounce her in the debates and for people to care enough to show up at the polls. Brown has to wrap his head around the fact that she can win and fight for the job.
zanelle - If Brown wishes to win he will need to really highlight what Whitman lacks so that it counters her zillion dollar ad campaign.
green - thoughtful questions you bring up. I've thought about that and don't have an answer, but it sure does seem that way.
Sharron Angle -- now there's a real piece of work. She makes Meg look human.
A disengaged citizenry will be susceptible to such political chicanery.
Shhhhh..... make the bad thing go away.
john - yeah, she does. scary thought. Angle is, well, Sarah Palin with white gloves. yikes.
E.L. - they'd best engage then.
surly - man, I wish I could. could we send her the goaticorn? might scare her.
E.L. - they'd best engage then.
surly - man, I wish I could. could we send her the goaticorn? might scare her.
Good caption...but why didn't you include Prop 16? PG&E spent about 40 million against about 30k and they didn't win. A ray of hope!
ick, uck, oock.
cool. the spammers are paying attention. now, if only the voters would....
Of course, given California's financial condition --- having Meg Whitman as Governor could be karmic justice. And she could fund the state on her credit card.
Maybe you're secretly working for Brown, portraying
Whitman as "different."
But I usually think what you see is what you get. So let's
start over.
Whitman's the different one?! In the manner of
Phil Silvers in "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World,"
"what are you, some kinda nut?"
How's working with Mother Teresa, making
Oakland a case-study turnaround, lowering UC tuition,
balancing California's state budget despite Prop 13
AND winning kudos from Howard Jarvis, ?
Whatever's left of California's once (still?) vaulted
academic institutions is still entirely owed to
coasting on the work of Jerry Brown and Pat Brown.
Whitman supported the SS-style profiling of hispanic-
looking car occupants but then changed her mind
(remembering this is California and hispanics vote?)
In a way, you know, maybe that is different.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1544707682&play=1
http://sites.google.com/site/evernewecon/
Whitman as "different."
But I usually think what you see is what you get. So let's
start over.
Whitman's the different one?! In the manner of
Phil Silvers in "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World,"
"what are you, some kinda nut?"
How's working with Mother Teresa, making
Oakland a case-study turnaround, lowering UC tuition,
balancing California's state budget despite Prop 13
AND winning kudos from Howard Jarvis, ?
Whatever's left of California's once (still?) vaulted
academic institutions is still entirely owed to
coasting on the work of Jerry Brown and Pat Brown.
Whitman supported the SS-style profiling of hispanic-
looking car occupants but then changed her mind
(remembering this is California and hispanics vote?)
In a way, you know, maybe that is different.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1544707682&play=1
http://sites.google.com/site/evernewecon/
I really dun mind Brown, but wat the hack Whitman will also do. I just dun trust the Teleprompter!!
I have watched Whitmans attack dog ads when she ran in the primaries and watching them now when she runs for governor. She uses Karl Rove tactics as far as I'm concerned just like a card carrying member of the 3rd Reich. I don't vote for people who want to buy the office. I don't vote for attack dog politicos and don't vote for people who don't vote.
I will vote for Jerry Brown, a damn good guy, an honest guy who was and will be a good Governor. If Meggie wins, I'm moving to another state.
Read Harv: http://theHARVview.blogspot.com
Support my site: www.attitudejewelry.com
I will vote for Jerry Brown, a damn good guy, an honest guy who was and will be a good Governor. If Meggie wins, I'm moving to another state.
Read Harv: http://theHARVview.blogspot.com
Support my site: www.attitudejewelry.com
I'm with Connie Mack.
All I've heard from Whitman are smears against her opponents and complaints about our taxes being "sky high" when tax rates are actually at a 60 year low. And look where tax cuts ultimately get us--states across the nation are hurting financially.
Ugh, that woman turns my stomach.
Gerry Brown..... will YOU PLEASE GET YOUR ASS OFF THE GROUND AND RUN FOR OFFICE??????
All I've heard from Whitman are smears against her opponents and complaints about our taxes being "sky high" when tax rates are actually at a 60 year low. And look where tax cuts ultimately get us--states across the nation are hurting financially.
Ugh, that woman turns my stomach.
Gerry Brown..... will YOU PLEASE GET YOUR ASS OFF THE GROUND AND RUN FOR OFFICE??????
I fear for you. I fear for all of us.
Meg Whitman is too close to the corrupt and fraudulent investment banker, Goldman Sachs. If elected, Whitman will give more corporate tax breaks to eBay, Hewlett-Packard, Chevron and the likes, and take away wheelchairs for people in the In-Home Supportive Services and throw them out, onto the streets of nothingness.
Geez, I guess the voters of California now see the governorship as an entry level position. And who can blame them? It turned out so well with Schwarzenegger.
The political landscape you describe is dystopic. Do you know what I do when I'm feeling dystopic? I bake ginger banana cookies. Try it some time.
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