Leaning Toward Meg (Whitman)
While I have made clear my choice in the Republican primary for the United States Senate seat from the Golden State, I have yet to weigh in on the contest for Governor. Up until recently, I had been equally impressed by both candidates, former eBay CEO Meg Whitman and State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner.
This is not to say that I find either an ideal candidate. I have concerns about both. It’s just that they would both be better than the likely Democratic candidate former Governor Jerry Moonbeam Medfly Brown. Given the red ink our state faces, we can’t afford to have Brown back in the Governor’s chair.
I wanted to follow the gubernatorial campaign to see which Republican could better take on an out-of-control state legislature all but controlled by the public employee unions. From their record in the private sector, it’s clear the Republicans know how to meet a payroll and how to hold the line on expenses.
I always thought I’d just wait until a few days before the primary and vote for whoever was polling better against Moonbeam Brown. But, Poizner’s actions in recent days have caused me to question his strength of character. When Mike Murphy, a political consultant working for Whitman, tried to persuade Poizner to withdraw from the race (he trails Whitman by as much as 30 points in polls), the Golden State Insurance Commissioner announced he’d asked law enforcement to “investigate improper conduct” that “threatens the integrity of the electoral process.”
Improper conduct to do what candidates regularly do in contested primaries?
Not the way to respond to such an offer. Doesn’t really show much strength or confidence your campaign. A more secure candidate would have brushed the offer off, saying once the campaign heated up, he’d surge ahead. A candidate who doesn’t have the fortitude to stand up to an offer from a Republican rival likely wouldn’t have the fortitude to stand up to a Democratic legislators used to pushing the Governor around.
His behavior certainly makes me more enthusiastic about Mrs. Whitman. But, I’m not yet sold. She’s been saying all the right things on taxes and spending, but I want to hear her say that she believes the state’s domestic partnership program is “settled” law.
Should she do that, she’d likely have my vote in the primary–and maybe even this blog’s endorsement.
And even if her answers aren’t as I’d like them on all issues, should she win the nomination, I’ll be voting for her. There are few things that would be worse for the Golden State that four more years of Jerry Brown as Governor.
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Dan, just to play devil’s advocate for a moment: Doesn’t Poizner have kind of a point? From your Skelton link:
That *is* bribery, and the politicos arranging electoral outcomes. You support me for President now, I’ll support your son Joe for MA office in 1944.
Now, Skelton, you and others have made the point that it is standard political deal-making. Quite so. And isn’t standard political deal-making part of what has brought us to the present crisis? I have no particular support for Poizner, indeed I barely know about him. I’m just struck by the blase attitude in the Skelton article. Another sample:
True. And yet at the same time: Ew! (hey, it rhymes
) I mean, isn’t that the attitude that just gave us ObamaCare complete with Louisiana Purchase, Cornhusker Kickback, etc.? Poizner may be for all I know a weenie who is unfit to govern; I’m just sayin’.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — February 9, 2010 @ 10:41 am - February 9, 2010
P.S. Plus, that time I was down last summer and we went to Pride and hung out with the LCR folks a bit, I met a nice lady who was enthusiastic about Poizner. Sorry I forget her name.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — February 9, 2010 @ 10:46 am - February 9, 2010
(That is 100% true, she was nice and a great person to talk to, but I am very slightly kidding in that I think she might have been one of his campaign workers or volunteers.)
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — February 9, 2010 @ 10:56 am - February 9, 2010
ILC, this is just standard political practice. It would be one thing if Poizner decried the actions, quite another to make a federal, er, state case out of it.
He sounded insecure rather than defiant, not the man you want facing a spendthrift Democratic legislature.
Comment by B. Daniel Blatt — February 9, 2010 @ 11:08 am - February 9, 2010
I haven’t even started to think about this yet, so I don’t know which I’d support… if any.
Comment by Sonicfrog — February 9, 2010 @ 11:19 am - February 9, 2010
Since my comment already acknowledged that, repeating it is not much of an answer.
So if he did the same thing, but had sounded more defiant, you would have written a different post?
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — February 9, 2010 @ 11:30 am - February 9, 2010
But part of your point is, since it is standard, why try to make a legal case of it? Why bother law enforcement with it? Conceded.
Comment by ILoveCapitalism — February 9, 2010 @ 11:41 am - February 9, 2010
The point of the matter is, is that nothing illegal happen. An aurgument was made by Murphy that with a 30 pt Whitman lead, the 2 sides could spend upteen millions of dollars giving Brown ammunition for the general election or the two could work together to elect the candidate that is way ahead in the polls, money and organization. Poizner decided to do the former.
Comment by HCN — February 9, 2010 @ 5:52 pm - February 9, 2010
I thought Tom Campbell was running? What happened to him? Gay-friendly fiscal conservative.
Comment by Eddie — February 9, 2010 @ 11:35 pm - February 9, 2010
Ah, he’s running for Senate…my bad.
Comment by Eddie — February 9, 2010 @ 11:36 pm - February 9, 2010
I like Meg, too.
I worry about how any gov (R or D) will be able to get union employee pension promises back in line with reality.
But, if we can keep that 50% budget prop from passing we at least have a chance.
Our local Dems are like Obama: they think they should just tax more and never cut a thing.
Comment by Nan G — February 11, 2010 @ 4:14 pm - February 11, 2010
[...] my choice in the California gubernatorial primary, I wrote last week, “I always thought I’d just wait until a few days before the primary and vote for whoever was pollin…Moonbeam Brown.” If the latest polls are any indication, that’ll be Meg Whitman: [...]
Pingback by GayPatriot » Leaning Toward Meg, Part II — February 16, 2010 @ 4:24 pm - February 16, 2010