FEBRUARY 3, 2010 12:53AM
Rate: 22
Jerry Brown has not gotten around to announcing that he is actually running for Governor. Hands down, he would win, even if he announces his intention at the very last moment. He is that popular in California. Brown seems to be letting the Republican candidates duke it out in the forum we all have grown to love like speed-bumps, the ever present media - the good, the bad and the very naughty.The very naughty media (talking to you Gawker) is running a trio of news blips about Meg
Her husband, Griff Harsh IV, a neurosurgeon at Stanford, follows in his father's footsteps. Griff Harsh III was also a neurosurgeon in Alabama where his bio reads like a true religious driven conservative. Nothing wrong with that except religion usually doesn't merit a mention in a professional bio. How far do apples, Harsh IV and V fall from that tree? And does it matter?
Whitman is well known for her support of Prop 8 and her disinclination to support gay marriage. Only recently did she disavow any relationship with a former supporter, Santa Clarita Councilman and confirmed racist, Bob Kellar. That intersection between disavowed and former supporter may be harder to travel than she thinks. If her website comments are any indication, Whitman is attracting the same kind of supremacist type followers that support Kellar.
Whitman's new book, The Power of Many, ghosted by guest co-author, Joan OC Hamilton, is apparently a folksy read. Some say it is similar in style to another Republican we all know
Moving on the Google, she chastises the founders for setting up a company with wildly attractive employee perks because it is doomed to disappoint when the perks are off the table in lean times. Perhaps no one has invited Meg to a lean-time lunch at Google lately? The perks live long. She sticks to these kinds of great insights throughout the tome.
Whitman recently mentioned her very instrospective and reproving disappointment in Citizen Whitman. No. Not her errant children. Her own voting record. Until 2002 she wasn't even a registered voter. And until 2007 she was registered without claiming a party. Her voting record is spotty. She blames it on her busy life as a wife and mother and moving so frequently. Somehow the only thing that kind of excuse will elicit is a raised eyebrow from the millions of other moms who manage to vote and take care of their kids and homes. Sorry, Meg. That sucks for you.
As the candidates beat a path to the final stages of the primaries, the dirt is flying in their wake. Are Whitman's allegedly racist children an issue for the voters? Should her lack of civic duty before 2002 matter? Is her inability to firm up a date to debate her Republican primary opponents meaningful?
And where did it read in the severance contracts for both Whitman (EBay) and Fiorina (HP) that they should take some of their parachute-millions and run for high office because they were once CEOs? Is there an MBA syllabus that says post-CEO parachute - use those millions to run for office even if you’ve never seen the inside of a voting booth?
Jerry Brown is no Martha Coakley, but if he doesn't come out and show his intentions soon, some of us may be relocating to a planet other than California.
former co-chair, let me count the ways
Comments
I had no idea she was running for anything. Wow. And yuck. Who doesn't register to vote?
Whitman is proof that corporations don't need the hand-up and out they just got from the Supremes -- they can just let ex-CEOs buy office. Republicans are no longer even bothering with the thinly-disguised racism of Reagan, Atwater and Rove, now they're letting it all hang out as the 21st Century rendition of the American Independent Party. Aryan Nation uber alles!!!
I find her quite frightening. Great post. _r
LuluandPhoebe, I already knew a little bit about Meg Whitman, but your informative post has really helped me to get current on all of this. The lack of registering/voting should be a huge embarrassment but she has a ready made excuse for that, apparently!
I guess linking Obama to his Marxist professors and Reverend Wright would be out of the question.
The candidacy of Whitman is the business of Californians, I know. This woman just annoys me and for the very sexist reason of her gender. I do not mind so much that she is conservative, I mind that she is anti choice in all things and is female! I know, sexist! i just expect more from successful women... How can a woman, any woman , be anti choice on any life decision? I wonder does this female get the reason that she is not washing dishes in pearls while her big daddy hubby sweetly agrees to dry them once in a while are the countless women who fought for right to choose in all things? I have followed her as I think she may have national ambitions, and any woman who is close to the glass ceiling , takes millions in a golden parachute, and then chooses to deny the dignity of choice to others, male or female, is just gum on the shoes of society.
Westtexas 10, You are right that Meg Whitman is California's business. But remember when Sarah Palin was just Alaska's business?
When you pick a planet - let me know. I wanna come with.
holy hell. how can you not be registered to vote until 2002 and expect that to not be a problem? she seems like an absolute ass...being on the opposite coast, I thank you for bringing this to my attention. xx A
This was just plain excellent. (At first I thought the title was "Where in the World is the Real Meg Ryan?") ;)
Every time I hear one of Meg Whitman's radio ads, I'm newly outraged-- who is SHE to think that she's qualified to run this complicated, proposition-addled state and one of the biggest economies in the world? (Same goes for Carly Fiorina.) This is no time to bring in the amateurs.
Corporations would be hesitant to bring in a leader from a different industry. I can't see the former head of a tech company being the best choice for, say, a media company or a fashion company. Why should anyone assume that Meg Whitman's experience would transfer any better to government? She's smart and I'm sure she'd work hard, but how in the world can she reasonably be considered the *best* choice for the governor's chair?
Corporations would be hesitant to bring in a leader from a different industry. I can't see the former head of a tech company being the best choice for, say, a media company or a fashion company. Why should anyone assume that Meg Whitman's experience would transfer any better to government? She's smart and I'm sure she'd work hard, but how in the world can she reasonably be considered the *best* choice for the governor's chair?
Whit-less would describe her.
The most telling thing about Meg Whitman is her failure to vote for most of her adult life. For me, that's quite enough. She can spend 80 million. But she ain't getting my vote.
Julie - oh yeah, she's running. but it was hard to tell at first. she tip-toed to the gate. same as she is doing re: debates. eventually they will have to happen.
Tom - frightening and yet oh so true.
Joan - she scares me, too.
designanator - and she brought it up herself. does she think a mea culpa means that voters would look the other way? silly candidate! tricks are for kids.
Blackflon - sure, feel free.
Westtexas10 - all good questions. and most anything CA should be of interest to the whole nation. not because we are so big or so great, but the economics matter as do the environmental issues and the social issues. Everything you mentioned is important!
Eric - I've heard the same about those ads from others. Vague sound bites and quite conservative.
Ann - "you betcha" would not be the first planet I'd pick, nor "pleased as punch" (a whit-icism). maybe the little red one? I hear there's a rover we could use if we can get it out of the sand trap....
Akopsa - oh yeah. she sure is underestimating that one.
Patricia - many thanks! And I did want to write Meg Ryan...Whitman gives me heartburn.
Typo - hopefully voters think the same way you do about both Whitman and Fiorina. Yikes. That's like asking Steve Jobs to run Estee Lauder. iSmellgood. iEye. (getting carried away...)
Sheepy - thank you. I'm sure it's been used before, but I do think it has merit.
Bonnie - I hope more people see it that way, too.
Tom - frightening and yet oh so true.
Joan - she scares me, too.
designanator - and she brought it up herself. does she think a mea culpa means that voters would look the other way? silly candidate! tricks are for kids.
Blackflon - sure, feel free.
Westtexas10 - all good questions. and most anything CA should be of interest to the whole nation. not because we are so big or so great, but the economics matter as do the environmental issues and the social issues. Everything you mentioned is important!
Eric - I've heard the same about those ads from others. Vague sound bites and quite conservative.
Ann - "you betcha" would not be the first planet I'd pick, nor "pleased as punch" (a whit-icism). maybe the little red one? I hear there's a rover we could use if we can get it out of the sand trap....
Akopsa - oh yeah. she sure is underestimating that one.
Patricia - many thanks! And I did want to write Meg Ryan...Whitman gives me heartburn.
Typo - hopefully voters think the same way you do about both Whitman and Fiorina. Yikes. That's like asking Steve Jobs to run Estee Lauder. iSmellgood. iEye. (getting carried away...)
Sheepy - thank you. I'm sure it's been used before, but I do think it has merit.
Bonnie - I hope more people see it that way, too.
Silicon Valley is like surfing Pipeline, only the insiders know whats going on. Again, the public knowledge is minuscule, so know the following: This woman is EVIL, like most valley CEO's. You don't get to the top of that rat race by being nice or fair, this is the real no-holds barred world. So, know this, this woman is CANCER. First, eBay is NOT a success, profits and business are down down down ... the company's future lies increasingly in payments, not in auctions, and payments WERE NOT HER DIVISION- she has literally had NOTHING to do with the most successful and best long term prospects of the company, these are facts, check em out. More facts, and those that reveal who this horrible horrible person Meg Whitman actually is, are easily Googled in reference to your Craigslist reference ... Craig Newmark is not someone I admire, yet, he comes out looking like Christ himself as Whitman's true colors are revealed in one of the sketchiest deals ever, even by valley standards ... to know her is to ... AUWE
Thanks for the recap and for reading stuff I don't want to!
I have 2 thoughts about Whitman. One is this idiotic thing she (and other ex-CEO's) have about "running California like a business" (as she says in her campaign commercials.) Stop right there. It ain't a business, it has different goals, it can't be run like one and if that's how you see it, you don't even understand the job, much less have the wits to do it. She reminds me of Sarah Palin sputtering about what the job of the VP really is. Clueless.
But second, who wants this job?? Not just because Calif is in such bad shape but because the legislature is going to defeat you at every turn until there's some changes in the state constitution to change the budgetary rules. So in a way, I say...let the fool have it! She'll fail to make any changes just like Schwarzenegger did. Better to let the Reps fail again and then maybe we can have some real reform.
I also think this may be why Jerry Brown hasn't declared. He may be unsure whether he really wants a thankless and futile job (again).
I have 2 thoughts about Whitman. One is this idiotic thing she (and other ex-CEO's) have about "running California like a business" (as she says in her campaign commercials.) Stop right there. It ain't a business, it has different goals, it can't be run like one and if that's how you see it, you don't even understand the job, much less have the wits to do it. She reminds me of Sarah Palin sputtering about what the job of the VP really is. Clueless.
But second, who wants this job?? Not just because Calif is in such bad shape but because the legislature is going to defeat you at every turn until there's some changes in the state constitution to change the budgetary rules. So in a way, I say...let the fool have it! She'll fail to make any changes just like Schwarzenegger did. Better to let the Reps fail again and then maybe we can have some real reform.
I also think this may be why Jerry Brown hasn't declared. He may be unsure whether he really wants a thankless and futile job (again).
I'm from CA. We had Reagan. The voters are morons.
What a great post...I remember John McCain extolling her virtues during the election year. More evidence that with money, you can buy your way into a lot of things. Her lack of experience and distaste of gay marriage are deal breakers and hopefully most Californians will recognize that...then again. Prop 8 passed. It doesn't look good.
She is horrid, just horrid. Jerry better hurry. What is the delay. He needs to get a field campaign going. These California voters are a bit nuts. I am sure her sons are creeps.
I hope both her and Carly Fiorina go down in defeat! Ick.
I still think Poizner should defeat her in the primary.
And she's just totally b.s. as a politician, as a representative, as an advocate - of what? I've never liked her; nor Fiorina. And yes, it creeeps me out mightily, how many women there are that are anti-women. WTF?
Yeah, JBrown oughta stop the passive-aggressive act and get the show on the road. He's got a very busy office over there, and over here, and he's going to have to make time and space for this. Now.
And she's just totally b.s. as a politician, as a representative, as an advocate - of what? I've never liked her; nor Fiorina. And yes, it creeeps me out mightily, how many women there are that are anti-women. WTF?
Yeah, JBrown oughta stop the passive-aggressive act and get the show on the road. He's got a very busy office over there, and over here, and he's going to have to make time and space for this. Now.
Oahu - there are insiders and then there are insiders. the real Whitman is known to few. love the surfing metaphor. perfect.
Silk - both points are valid and true. that translation from business CEO to running a government is just plain dumb. and the other point about the job is very true. that budget mess is a killer for anyone in that office. hoping that JB is not unsure, but must waiting until Whitman and Poizner duke it out. it certainly is getting nasty.
jb- moreso in the south and that place we call Orange.
mtk - you'd think logic would carry the day, but then there is prop 8, so you could be right. we could be doomed. however, she will sink herself. the latest news today is her alleged (getting used to using that word) with Poizner to get him to drop out in favor of backing him for a Senate seat in 2012. fiction says the Whitless camp and true story from the Poizner camp with emails to prove it. more soap opera than politics at this point.
Stellaa - I love that you never hold back, hehehe. All (allegedly) and probably on the mark. Where in the world is Jerry Brown?!
Dragon - here's hoping. And probably.
Connie - at least Poizner has some experience. Some. see my reply to mtk for the latest on Whitman v. Poizner. Crazy stuff. And I could not agree more about Brown.
Silk - both points are valid and true. that translation from business CEO to running a government is just plain dumb. and the other point about the job is very true. that budget mess is a killer for anyone in that office. hoping that JB is not unsure, but must waiting until Whitman and Poizner duke it out. it certainly is getting nasty.
jb- moreso in the south and that place we call Orange.
mtk - you'd think logic would carry the day, but then there is prop 8, so you could be right. we could be doomed. however, she will sink herself. the latest news today is her alleged (getting used to using that word) with Poizner to get him to drop out in favor of backing him for a Senate seat in 2012. fiction says the Whitless camp and true story from the Poizner camp with emails to prove it. more soap opera than politics at this point.
Stellaa - I love that you never hold back, hehehe. All (allegedly) and probably on the mark. Where in the world is Jerry Brown?!
Dragon - here's hoping. And probably.
Connie - at least Poizner has some experience. Some. see my reply to mtk for the latest on Whitman v. Poizner. Crazy stuff. And I could not agree more about Brown.
I just want Arnold gone! But no, wouldn't vote for her to get it done!
Great analysis.
I think California should be auctioned off on ebay.
Thanks for the info. That she sounds horrible almost goes without saying, though it IS important to say it. But for the many who say that being a CEO doesn't qualify you to be governor of a huge, complicated and near-ungovernable state like California, well, past voters showed what they thought of qualifications when they elected Reagan and Arnie.
Maybe Silkstone has a point - thing must get lots worse before they can get better.
Maybe Silkstone has a point - thing must get lots worse before they can get better.
I have thought of two nicknames for Whitman:
Megalomaniac and Nutmeg.
Hee hee hee...
Megalomaniac and Nutmeg.
Hee hee hee...
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