Monday, November 01, 2010

Brown/Whitman

It is probably the most important race in the country tomorrow. A typically blue state running a moderate Republican against a career politician with an independent streak in an election where Republicans are going to take a lot of House Seats back from the Democrats because of frustration with Obama's inability to fix the economy.

Tough call. I watched a debate on Youtube tonight. On the one hand, I think California needs to get out of the morass of public employee unions and state bureaucrats and intuitively, it would seem like an outsider like Whitman would have the better chance a fixing things. You look at Brown and think - jeez - when this guy got into politics - California was the model state - and now it barely functions. You could place the blame for the state of our state on him and other career politicians like him.

But Meg Whitman sounds like a fucking robot. And the woman didn't even vote. I mean, I almost can't take her seriously. What reason do we have to believe she is running for Governor other than vanity? Is she competent? I honestly don't know. I suppose you need to be competent to make 100 Billion dollars or whatever she has. Or did she just get into Silicon Valley at the right time? It's not like she's a Bill Gates or Steve Jobs or someone who invented some product. She was a business lady who got put in charge of Ebay. I don't even use Ebay.

Plus, wasn't voting in Arnold Schwarzenegger supposed to be the "outsider" who could fix this state? Obviously, that hasn't worked out as planned. And he is entirely more charismatic than Whitman.

It is a very tough call. Brown is a likable guy, I have to admit. He is laugh out loud funny and unlike McCain, seems pretty damn vigorous and healthy for his age. I think Whitman is right - he is beholden to the Unions and I don't like his "green job" ideas for stimulating the economy. But then again, maybe the way to negotiate with the Unions to get someone friendly with them to get them to give up concessions...I mean, they can't keep going at this pace, it'll bankrupt he state.

But let's face it, Republicans are all talk. They yammer on about tax breaks and what not and yet, the tax code is endlessly complicated. When they get into office, they run up against interests and everything else and rarely reform anything. At least Brown seems to have his head on his shoulders and understands how the system works. And he loves California. Whitman is phony. I can read that in 5 minutes. The only question is whether she can be an effective phony. Maybe or maybe not -- but I'd bet on a person instead.

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