Video on Meg Whitman

Brian Calle, a young fellow the Register hired only a few months ago to write editorials when Steve Greenhut left, is proving quite valuable. He is much more comfortable with electronic toys than some of us dinosaurs, and I think his value is shown by the series of videos he took of California Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman. I don't think there's a better way to get at least a sense of what kind candidate she is at this stage of what has proven to be a successful campaign -- the Field Poll shows her leading Steve Poizner 68-14 -- than these videos. Enjoy.

Welcome to the jungle, Jerry

Heaven help me, I am actually rather pleased that old Jerry Brown -- who now that he is bald looks like the spittin' image of his father -- has finally exerted himself to get into the governor's race in California. Of course, having scared off most of the other Democrats with the rumor of his likely candidacy -- and in the case of Dianne Feinstein being too smart to try fro a job no sane person should want given the mess the politicians have made of the state -- he didn't have much choice if he didn't want to cede the job to Meg Whitman. Unless he's completely lost his touch in his old age, he should at least make the race and, if he wins, the government and all its follies interesting. I expect I'll disagree with some 80% of his policy positions, but it will be fun to have him around. MOst politicians are so careful not to say anything that could be interpreted or misinterpreted as controversial that they are b-o-r-r-r-i-n-g.