'Governor' Meg Whitman? Um, no

Rod Blagojevich got elected governor. So can Meg Whitman be that much of a long shot?

We may find out soon. eBay's former numero uno is said to be mulling her entry into California's gubernatorial race, according to The Wall Street Journal, which adds that Whitman will decide within the next six weeks whether to try to succeed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger after his final term runs out in January 2011.

I'm not sold on the idea, but more about that in a moment. I'm sure the political consultants advising Whitman believe it's a stroke of genius. On paper, at least, Whitman does have the makings of a dream candidate: smart, successful, and super-rich. And a tech type, to boot. Well, not a pure techie. She's an MBA who made the most of the opportunity after being plucked from Hasbro's ranks to become eBay's chief executive in 1998. But close enough for the campaign materials to present her as a Silicon Valley mover and shaker.

Maybe this would have gone down well before the dot-com bubble burst. A similar story line worked for Maria Cantwell, who went from being multi-millionaire vice president of marketing at RealNetworks to becoming a U.S. senator for Washington state after winning the 2000 race. (It did not work as well for another eBay veteran, Steve Westley, a few years later. He made it as far as California controller, but then spent $35 million of his own money in a losing race against Phil Angelides for the Democratic nomination to run for governor.)

But on the eve of the most compelling transfer of national power in my lifetime, post-Wall Street meltdown, post-Bernie Madoff, post-bailout of everyone with a pulse (except you and me), we're living with a different zeitgeist. Out in the real world, where most folks are destined to lives of drudgery until they punch the clock one final time, the American Dream is on hold until further notice. Fact is that if you have a job these days, then congratulations, you're ahead of the game.

That's not the way Silicon Valley sees things. Out here, there's a widely shared belief that we're all destined to get rich. I suppose that one of the tech industry's better features is an unyielding optimism that things are destined to get better, that someone will build that better mousetrap which becomes the next big thing.

You see that at mini-conferences around here where the same strivers congregate, peering over each other's shoulder in hopes of catching a glimpse of the Golden Fleece. I don't know if this constitutes an elite as much as a self-contained community, an echo chamber where the received wisdom of libertarianism and free market capitalism gives this place its daily marching orders.

The problem for a would-be politician from this community is that the achievements of ultra-rich yuppie technocrats don't fascinate us the way they once did. Sure, infectious greed is alive and well in many corners. But with so many down and out, there's something about Barack Obama's background that touches people far more profoundly.

Maybe what Whitman needs is a season or two as a community organizer before she hits the stumps, Rudy Giuliani notwithstanding.

[J. Blow]

It would be terrible to have a super successful smart executive get elected. Who would want someone who navigated a company through a massive downturn while continuing to grow it. And no one would want someone who is optimistic and interested in bringing properity to get elected.

Nope, some lifetime bureaucrat who's determined to "help" is probably the best choice, no doubt about it.

There's a telling joke about liberals: They can't wait to give you a crutch, and if you don't need it, they'll break your leg so you do. They just want to help.

Go Meg!

[Dalkorian]

You know, I was right with you until that idiotic liberal line. There's a telling joke about retardicans: They can't wait to take your crutch away and if you don't need it, they'll break your leg so you do. They just want to hurt.

[stuxstu]

I wonder if you would have the same opinion if she was wanting to run as a democrat?

Oh and we still haven't even got close to an unemployment rate of the recessions of 1992-93, 1978-82 or 1963-65. Let alone the 25% unemployment of the 1930s.

Yippee! More yellow journalism from CNET. Welcome to the crowd.

[Dalkorian]

You want to compare our current, doctored, "edited for content" unemployment rate with those of the past? Are you stupid or just high? Hint: there hasn't been one truth told by the White House since 2000. Not one.

[spiffy1001]

I am a Republican, and as a general rule I don't vote for Democrats (I did vote for Obama tho). Why can't you admit you don't like her because she has an 'R' next to her name. She is a Conservative, you are a Liberal, there is no shame in admitting that.

[P_F_M]

I really wish CNET would stick to writting about technology and that you would go write for a political rag. What a shame to have a smart person considering a run for public office. This is another slanted article. The only thing you forgot to enlighten us with is how Ebay's former numero uno feels about Proposition Ocho.

[Dans1942]

spiffy1001, I don't think you will go to hell for voting the bamster but real close to it. I personally have never voted for a demorat and will never in fact I'd like to see the American Independent Party put the Repblicrats out to pasture. Both parties want to rule with an iron fist and enslave us all and make the state GOD.

[Dalkorian]

I noticed how pointedly you stated you "have never voted for a demorat", but never mentioned if you voted for fuhrer bushit or not. Come on Dans, tell us the truth. We know you're not part of the solution, but were you part of the problem?

[alegr]

You mean American Independent Party will be better when it gets power? Dream on. Power spoils everybody. There was a play by Russian author E.Schwartz: "To Kill a Dragon". What happened in the end was that another knight who killed the dragon was becoming enamored with the dragon's gold, and eventually turned into one. Then another knight comes, and on, and on.

[Dans1942]

Charles Cooper; Guess he loves the Calif. Democratic party and there ability to not ballance anything but an olive on a tooth pick. The Demorats have put the state into a 3 or 4th world race for the sewer. Arni sucks but he is married to a Demorat so he is a RINO not a Republican Maybe Meg will use that line item veto that we the people of the State of Ca. gave him so he if he has guts will keep us fiscally sound. We American need all the fiscal help we can muster with Bammsetr in the White House.

[tundraboy]

Amazing these repiglicans! After their moron president and psychopath vice president pretty much flushed the nation down the toilet they still have the gall to claim that liberals have been and will be the ruin of the country. Wow! What fantasy world are these feeble little minds inhabiting?

[NocturnalCT]

Hey, it's terrific when rich people run for office. The more the merrier I say. Put some of that money back into the pool. I know, it's just advertising dollars but it's either that or another mega-mansion somewhere.

As for Meg's qualifications, I have no idea. She swam with McCain so we can guess what her ideology is like but maybe there's still hope.