The American Spectator : Nervous Instincts

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Nervous Instincts

By The Prowler on 11.24.09 @ 6:08AM

Meg Whitman in moderation. Plus: Obama's surge communication.

WITH MODERATION
With rumors swirling that her mentor and former colleague at Bain Capital, ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, intends to mount his 2012 presidential race running as the moderate he has always been, prospective California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman seems to making no bones about her political instincts.

First, she was caught on video touting the intelligence and efforts of disgraced Obama Administration adviser Van Jones. Now Whitman's campaign book is due for release and its co-author, Joan O'C Hamilton, is revealed to be the co-author of a book written with leftist California District Attorney candidate -- and current San Francisco DA -- Kamala Harris. Harris was an early backer of Barack Obama, and was mentioned for a number of senior Obama White House positions.

Whitman, who has never run for public office, has built a large and impressive campaign team, many of whom worked for Romney's presidential campaign.

Hamilton, is a well-known business journalist, who has co-authored a number of books for business executives and thought leaders. "If you've worked in Silicon Valley, as Meg has, Joan is probably one of two or three writers you'd want to work with, particularly on a business or leadership book," says a Washington-based Whitman adviser. "There is no political connection there; it's just about finding the best person to work with."

SLOW SURGE
Some Republicans on Capitol Hill are wondering how it's possible for President Barack Obama to call a joint session of Congress to tout his economic plans, but not his plans for the war in Afghanistan. "It's a set of policies with far greater immediate implications," says a Senate Republican leadership aide. "But the White House seems to think it's worthy of a teleprompter speech and a lot of spinning by White House officials. We'd prefer that he come up here and make his case before the American people."

The White House has not indicated how it will roll out the Afghanistan surge policies, though a major rollout is no doubt in the works, from morning shows to late night spinning. Rumors have had an announcement taking place any time from days before Thanksgiving, to the more likely post-Thanksgiving week lull.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (25) | Leave a comment

Rich in NH| 11.24.09 @ 7:08AM

Meg and Mitt - a 'marriage' to scare the H*LL out of anyone who embraces conservatism. Mitt was an absolute failure as Governor in Mass. leaving the Republican party an even bigger joke than it was before. He has been a successful businessman, he is neither a leader nor a conservative. Meg appears to be a political opportunist - I wouldn't trust ANY Silicone (sic) Valley 'Techie-Wonder' in a position of political power.

Tim| 11.24.09 @ 11:59AM

I agree, Romney's tenure in Massachusetts was a political one night stand: he got serviced and he walked away.

loulou| 11.24.09 @ 8:26PM

I agree. Romney couldn't even win a primary--even with the fortune he spent. He's a RINO.

Derek Leaberry| 11.24.09 @ 8:50AM

Conservatives are better off foisting the responsibility of the California government onto Jerry Brown's capricious shoulders and pounce on him when he inevitably fails. California is currently ungovernable. It needs to collapse before it can be reborn.

Ken (Old Texican)| 11.24.09 @ 9:06AM

Derek
I am afraid you are precisely correct. The problem is that Obama and Pelosi NEED California. They will take everyone else's tax dollars and prop them up.
...Cocaine, free to a hopeless addict. Food and shelter as well.
There are some other States just about as bad off proportionately, same deal.
Man! talk about redistributing the wealth...whew!

Bruce| 11.24.09 @ 10:31AM

Meg Whitman, Van Jones, Obama.

I do believe I have discovered yet another reason to absolutely despise eBay. But then Whitman runs that like Obama runs (sic) the administration - deceit and lies. Refuse to allow sellers to take payment in any form they wish? Must use (eBay owned) PayPal?

No - I don't think so.

Margie| 11.24.09 @ 11:06AM

I'm a seller myself. Here's the deal. You can accept payment other than thru Paypal, but the trick is you're not allowed to advertise it on your listings. It makes it nearly impossible because buyers want to pay quickly and right after the auction is up they just click on over. You have to contact them immediately after the auction ends to ask them if they wouldn't mind sending a check, m.o., etc. I have seen some power sellers who DO still advertise this on their listings. I guess it's just a matter of time before they get booted. The problem is you can say you accept other forms of payment on your invoice, but most pay asap and don't even wait for the invoice.
So yes indeed they have made things ridiculously unfair for us because they "tax" us twice. They take both an ebay fee, and then a Paypal fee, which is owned by ebay.
I've just raised my selling prices mucho, and I do just fine.
Sounds like the former (?) CEO of ebay, Meg Whitman will bring the same PC insanity to Calif. that she brought to ebay. Ugh.

Ryan| 11.24.09 @ 11:23AM

I'm pretty much the same way, but in recent months it looks like Ebay has actually ceded a little more to the small seller. I like the idea of paypal, and haven't gotten messed over like some horror stories that I've heard (FAR too buyer-centric). I just bump my shipping prices up to cover the fees (just a couple bucks) and became a near-expert on shipping via USPS.

I wasn't crazy about Whitman's term at ebay - I think she catered a little too much to big-business interests and pushed to be Amazon-lite and started leaving the small seller behind. If you know how to play it, you can still make a little money on the side.

Margie| 11.24.09 @ 12:38PM

Hey fellow ebayer! Been buying & selling since 2001. Vintage things mostly. Ebay has been a life saver for us. My husband has become the expert shipper, prints it all out from home, the whole 9 yards, like you. I do the collecting & selling, mostly.
I'm all for "big business" it's the PC nonsense that ruins it. But yes, I see that they've changed some things for the good. It's funny.. I got that Top Seller ribbon thingy now on my listings, and ever since then I get all kinds of inquiries from people, and I believe it's helped with sales.
Paypal is definately a good thing, but the "double taxation" is just plain mean.
As for horror stories, you wouldn't even believe some I've experienced. Like the guy from the UK who sold me an antique paperweight. It had a huge scratch. He refunded me partially so I went thru my bank to get the money back. He then proceeded to threaten my life, and my husband's life in repeated e mails. But 99% of my experiences have been great and I've met some friends as well.
I think the newest thing now is that we can't charge the customer for insurance anymore. So we have to incorporate it into the selling price. Another dumb move. But hey~~ I still really can't complain. Honestly, I have to thank God for ebay.

Ryan| 11.24.09 @ 2:10PM

The only time I ran into an insurance issue is when a customer asked for it, but I rarely sell anything worth insuring. Mostly toys and stuff I snag at garage sales that I know has value.

Stephen Zierak| 11.24.09 @ 10:33AM

Another California RINO, just like la fiorina (or maybe even worse!). If Republicans run such candidates in 2010 it will totally undermine any chance to reform the government and rebuild the stupid party's brand. And as for Romney, he's just like his dad, a total opportunist. If he "moderates" (read, levels about his liberal views), will his "National Review" lackeys still support him even so as "the best we can expect". My goodness, Rich, you must come to eventually understand that Romney's crap really does stink.

Adam Smith| 11.24.09 @ 3:35PM

Meg had to take down the forum on her site because it was so swamped with issues she refused to address, all the time pushing her gender as the main selling point. It was very funny to read and the plants from the campaign were painfully obvious. Her campaign is a clone of the woman's who looted HP...can't remember her name now Catty something or other..

We don't need more of the cult of personality types pushing identity politics and pandering to special interest groups.

Go run as a democrat Meg and take Catty Carly with you. Both of you were complete failures as ceo's and are running out of vanity now, not some burning desire to contribute your suspect skillset.

Have not both of you enough ill gotten gains to keep you happy?

And the public trough seems occupied to capacity right now anyway...

Alan Brooks| 11.24.09 @ 4:41PM

I will definitely vote for Obama in '12, as the GOP is now an anti-conservative party; they do not conserve much at all.
They have to please so many factions today that it negates the purpose of republicanism. You don't buy it that the GOP has any intention of doing anything substantial about the Mexican border, do you? Basically, many or most Republicans are simply clueless.

But, you fight your own wars and dig your own graves. And should you not like the future? then go to church-- that's all that's left for you and yours. Guaranteed.

Adam Smith| 11.24.09 @ 6:03PM

Frustrating isn't it?

Alan Brooks| 11.24.09 @ 8:09PM

no. Hopeless.
the Cold War has been over for 18- 20 years, and the Grand Old Potatoheads are more out of touch than the Dems.

Ken (Old Texican)| 11.24.09 @ 7:42PM

Alan, hello you communist lying squirt-bag.

We finally sniffed you out in your own words. Any jerk voting for Obama in 2012 is my enemy.
Did you hear that, squirt-bag?
Any well-meaning idiot could vote for him last time.
Hopey changey idiots can be forgiven.
Let's read Alan's words again:
""I will definitely vote for Obama in '12, as the GOP is now an anti-conservative party; they do not conserve much at all.
They have to please so many factions today that it negates the purpose of republicanism. You don't buy it that the GOP has any intention of doing anything substantial about the Mexican border, do you? Basically, many or most Republicans are simply clueless.

But, you fight your own wars and dig your own graves. And should you not like the future? then go to church-- that's all that's left for you and yours. Guaranteed. ""

WELL GOLLLLLEEE!

Alan, I am not a very good church goer. I am a Christian, though, and you simply do not know what you have helped get on the newswires. Heh!

Good versus evil folks...you just read it in their own words. These cowardly little squirrels have removed their masks now. They think we just go quietly into the night..
WRONG!
Alan, you cowardly little dousche-bag, we will never quite identify you in mommie's basement, you cowardly little skank.
We shall break your heart though.
We Christians now understand that we might very well be in the "end time".
If our Creator thinks we have "lost" we believe He brings down the curtain on history.

(uh...and you and yours go to an eternal darkness.)

So whatever happens...you lose...ONCE AGAIN!!!

SEEK LIFE VERY CAREFULLY IN THESE DAYS.
THEY MAY BE YOUR LAST.

Margie| 11.24.09 @ 9:23PM

Jeremiah said "Here am I, send me!" to God. He wanted to serve Him.
"Choose this day whom you will serve.. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Josh. 24:15).
Looks like some have chosen.
The GOP isn't an anti-conservative party. But there are those who wish to destroy it.
Who's side are you on? The RinoWhiners are the destroyers. The complainers are the destroyers.
Either you're building up or you're tearing down.
Part of the problem~or part of the solution.
Choose this day!
I choose to work to build up and not to tear down.

Alan Brooks| 11.24.09 @ 8:13PM

You did a HEAVENLY job with Dole and McCain.
Hope you are proud.
Too bad Kemp is gone-- but only the good die young.

Roy| 11.25.09 @ 2:59AM

Dole and McCain a) weren't our choices; and b) beat the living, pustulating crap out of Clinton and Obama.

Margie| 11.27.09 @ 12:32PM

And your vote for Obama, the brother to him who destroys? (Prov. 18:9).

fallen earth chips| 11.24.09 @ 8:54PM

karen kelly| 11.24.09 @ 8:56PM

Mitt is my worst nightmare as president after Obama. His MittneyCare is a disaster - and he keeps insisting it's working! However, I do think if someone who is an actual conservative runs that person will win over Mittney.