California Needs a Gem Like Meg Whitman

As many of you know, California is on the verge of bankruptcy. As a Californian, it is hard for me to see a state that was once a strong, beacon of light dim to a tiny flame. The California Gubernatorial Election of 2010 is perhaps the most important election that will ever take because there is so much riding on the future of the once-Golden State. Many candidates are debating a run for governor, and they have all come to the table with different ideas on how California should proceed. One candidate debating a run is former eBay President and CEO, Meg Whitman. If elected, she would become California's first female governor. I first became familiar with Whitman when she pledged her support behind John McCain and Sarah Palin during the 2008 presidential race. I immediately drew a liking to her because she was a strong, intelligent, pro-business woman.

Margaret "Meg" Whitman was born in 1957 in Long Island, New York, the youngest of three children. Her father owned a loan business, her mother was a homemaker as well as a member of a women's delegation. According to Encyclopedia of World Biography: Notable Biographies, upon her mother's return from a historic trip to China, Whitman's recalls her mother's words of wisdom in an interview with "Christian Science Monitor's" Patrick Dillion: "When my mother came home after this great adventure, she told me what this experience taught her. She realized she could do anything she wanted, and she wanted me to recognize that I could do the same." During her high school years, Whitman was great athlete who played field hockey, lacrosse, and basketball; she was also the captain of her swim team (Encyclopedia of the World Biography...). Perhaps this is where Whitman gets her drive. Her time as a high school athlete is one of the many things I like about her. As a former high school athlete myself (softball), athletes are taught the value of team work and determination, two things that are definitely present in the life Whitman has led thus far. Perhaps this is partially where Whitman gets the intellect and determination that has led her to do great things.

Whitman went on to graduate from Princeton in 1977 with a degree in Economics. During her time at Princeton, she found enjoyment in working for a student magazine in advertising sales. After college, Whitman went on to get a masters' degree in business administration from Harvard. In 1979, Whitman began working for Procter and Gamble where one of her colleagues was Steve Case, founder of American Online. She also got married to a doctor, Griffith Harsh IV, whom she met while working at Procter and Gamble, and the couple eventually relocated, for a short time, to San Francisco for Harsh's residency in neurosurgery. Whitman went on to work for a variety of high-profile corporations, including Bain and Company, Disney, Stride Right, Florists Transworld Delivery (FTD), and eventually eBay (Encyclopedia of the World Biography...). It is her job with eBay, that impresses me the most. Although she had never even heard of the company, she agreed to return to California for an interview. Perhaps it was fate that called Whitman back once again to the Golden-State. Whitman joined eBay in March 1998 as the company's president and CEO. During her 10 years with the company, eBay was transformed from a little-known company to a business powerhouse. Prior to her arrival, eBay was a United States only auction-based trading site with 500,000 registered users, only 30 employees, and a revenue of $4.7 million. As of 2008, eBay has hundreds of millions of users all over the world, over 15,000 employees, and a revenue of $7.7 billion. With Whitman's help, eBay has become one of the fastest-growing businesses in history. Pierre Omidyar, eBay's founder and chairman of the board, thinks the world of Meg Whitman: "With humor, smarts and unflappable determination, Meg took a small, barely known online auction site and helped it become an integral part of our lives" (eBay News Release). It is undeniable that everyone either uses eBay themselves or knows someone who uses eBay; it has become a household name. In returning to California, Whitman not only helped eBay to become one of the most successful companies of all time, but without even knowing it may have come to California to help save the state I have come to know and love.

If Meg Whitman was able to transform a virtual unknown company into a business megahouse, I have no doubt that she can make California the Golden State it once again. Whitman has the business smarts and savvy to restore California. On her website, Whitman discusses what needs to be done in order for California to lead once again: "We've got to fix the state's economy. We've got to start creating jobs again. We've got to bring taxes into line with what hard Californians can afford, and not what government demands. And we've got treat education and the environment like the priorities they should be." The leaders of California have ignored the problems and have continued to spent in excess ignoring coming reality. Well, this reality has arrived. If this business-as-usual tax and spend game continues, my children and grandchildren are going to grow up in a California in which those historical figures who struggled to make this state great would not recognize. I want people to come to California with a dream of success that one day becomes a reality, a reality that so many experienced during the days under our great former California Governor, Ronald Reagan. I fully trust Meg Whitman to make California great again. According to FamousEntrepreneurs.net, Whitman is like many Californians in her love for the outdoors. In her free time, she enjoys fishing, skiing and exercising (I love to fish to, which is yet another reason I like her :) Whitman stresses the need for a NEW California on her website: "The Combination of the Golden States rich heritage, natural beauty and optimistic people combined with a future where we have the strongest economy, best schools, solid infrastructure and quality of life." Well said, Meg. This New California will provide a lasting legacy that our children and grandchildren will experience as well. If anyone can make California the Golden State again, it is MEG WHITMAN. Meg's story is a success story. This is a woman who seems to turn everything she touches into gold, you betcha she's going to do the same for California. She has my full support, and I hope after reading this yours too. For more information of Meg Whitman and her platform, visit her website at www.megwhitman.com

LATE NOTE: Yesterday, I read online that the Associated Press reported John McCain is expected to endorse Whitman. According to AP Political Writer Michael R. Blood, "The former eBay executive has not formally declared her candidacy, but a spokesman said Wednesday that she will pick up the 2008 Republican presidential nominee's endorsement at an event in Orange County on Friday" (Yahoo! Finance).

Works Cited:
eBay News release, January 23, 2008
news.ebay.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=289314

Encyclopedia of the World Biography
www.notablebiographies.com/news/Sh-Z/Whitman-Meg.html

FamousEntrepreneurs.net
www.famousentreprenuers.net/meg_whitman,html

Meg Whitman's website: "Meg 2010: A New California"
www.megwhitman.com

Yahoo! Finance
biz.yahoo.com/ap/090527/ca_mccain_whitman.html?.v=1

MAC Crashed :(

Hi, readers, I'm on my blackberry typing this because unfortunately my MAC crashed on me tonight, right when I was in the middle of a fabulous feature story on former eBay President and CEO Meg Whitman, who is poised to run for Governor of California.luckily, I have the draft saved on my dad's MAC, only problem's his computer is 2 slow and needs 2 be updated. When it get updated, I'll post the story, which is a must-read about an incredible woman w/ a remarkable life story; that's the teaser, so you'll just have 2 wait a little while, but it will be up and back on track soon! Thanks 2 you all for taking the time 2 read my posts. In the meantime, check out my friend's blog "Why Mommy is a Republican!" you will love it; make sure 2 follow cuz its a great blog!!! Hugs, Rachelle

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER!!!

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Hilarious Spoof about the One and Only "Gaffetastic" Joe the Biden Via The Onion

Shirtless Biden Washes Trans Am In White House Driveway

May 5, 2009 | Issue 45•19 (Via The Onion)

WASHINGTON—Taking advantage of the warm spring weather Monday, Vice President Joe Biden parked his 1981 Trans Am in the White House driveway, removed his undershirt, and spent a leisurely afternoon washing the muscle car and drinking beer.
Enlarge Image Shirtless Biden

Vice President Biden ditched a day of presiding over the Senate to "give the twin cannons some sun."

"This baby just needs a little scrub down," said Biden, addressing a tour group as he tucked the sweat-covered top into the belt loop of his cutoff jean shorts. "Gotta get her looking good so I can impress the chicks when I'm cruising down Pennsylvania [Avenue]."

White House aides said that Biden pulled into the driveway shortly before noon, the chorus of Night Ranger's "(You Can Still) Rock In America" blaring from his car's stereo. According to witnesses, Biden spent several minutes maneuvering the Trans Am into the perfect spot, and was observed drumming his fingers on the steering wheel until the song came to a close.

The shirtless 66-year-old then entered the executive residence and greeted employees with a round of high fives and a variety of nicknames.

"Hey, hot stuff, looking good," Biden told a passing aide. "Would you know where I could get a little bucket and sponge action? My mean machine needs to be cleaned."

After acquiring the necessary washing materials, the bare-chested second-in-command returned to the driveway, where he spent several moments staring in apparent awe at the firebird decal on the hood of his car.
Enlarge Image Biden Cleaning Car

Biden wipes down the interior, and picks up any loose change, cigarette butts, and discarded condom wrappers.

Biden, who purchased the white Pontiac in 1983, has made an annual tradition of taking time off each spring to wash and tune-up his vehicle. In 2008 alone, the veteran politician reportedly missed two dozen Senate sessions in order to spend some quality time "taking care of [his] baby."

"He does this every year and it really seems to rejuvenate him," Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) said. "Back in 2001, the car was up on blocks in the National Mall, and he was so busy rotating those tires that he bailed on the confirmation hearings for secretary of state."

"What're you gonna do, though?" Dodd added. "That car rocks."

As Biden gently applied a sponge to the hood and moved it in small circular motions across the car's contours, a number of White House interns walked by and caught the vice president's attention.

"She's a real beaut, ain't she?" said Biden, popping open a wide-mouth can of Coors Light and tilting back his head to take a long drink. "Back when Smokey And The Bandit came out, everyone wanted the black paint job, but looking back now, I'm thankful the dealership didn't have it in stock."

"Oops, looks like I got a little brewha in the flavor-saver," added Biden, referring to his wispy, four-day-old mustache. "Any of you girls care to join me for another tallboy?"

Biden then spent the next 15 minutes boasting about the features on his Trans Am.

"They don't make kick-ass T-tops like this anymore, sweetheart," said Biden, shaking his head in exaggerated disappointment. "And check out these gold snowflake rims. They're a real bitch to clean, but they're totally worth it."

"Back in the day we used to call 'em panty-melters," Biden continued. "One babe caught a glimpse of those rims after a Cinderella concert in '86 and she couldn't get into that backseat fast enough. If any of you girls wanna take a ride, just let ol' Joe know."

For the remainder of the day, Biden occupied himself with hosing off his car, giving the side doors an extra coat of wax, and throwing out a variety of items from beneath its front seats, including crumpled-up fast food wrappers, a number of soft packs of Doral kings, an issue of Cheri magazine from 1991, and Senate bill S. 486.

According to White House officials, Biden was still hanging out in the driveway long after dusk, revving the engine at passersby and explaining the intricacies of a turbocharged V-8 motor to anyone within earshot.

As of press time, Biden had convinced Jennifer Britmore, a 41-year-old mother of four visiting from Indiana, to let him show her around D.C.

For photos, visit http://tinyurl.com/cwxzd4
Article courtesy http://www.theonion.com

"Sarah, Sarah, Sarah"

The night before John McCain was to announce his running mate, speculation was running rampant. Journalists were fighting tooth and nail in an attempt to get any shred of information regarding the "top-secret" pick. For me personally, the "night before" speculation has become a "where were you the night before the world was introduced to Sarah Palin?" Just as I am able to recall where I was when OJ Simpson, in his White Ford Bronco, was being chased down the highway by police, I am able to recall where I was on, what would become, the eve Republican Party history would be made. I was watching Hannity and Colmes with my mom, listening to the guys’ debate on who they felt would be picked. Names such as Romney, Pawlenty, Huckabee, Jindal and even Lieberman were thrown around like a football. As a young conservative woman, I have tremendous respect for all of the men above, but I did not have the enthusiasm I would soon have when I turned the news on the next morning. Sarah Palin IS the reason why I have centered this blog on strong, conservative female candidates. It was Sarah Palin who re-energized a party that was split. Before Sarah Palin, John McCain was struggling to stay afloat, struggling to keep up with the glitzy, charismatic candidate that was Barack Obama. Sarah Palin was his "hole in one." I remember saying to my mom, "Why doesn't the Republican Party have any strong, conservative female candidates?" Well, I didn't have to wait that long for my answer because it came the next morning in the form of AK Governor Sarah Palin. I will never forget hugging my mom, tears in my eyes saying that I finally had an American political role model. Here she was, a self-described hockey mom who had a loving husband and five adorable children. What was not to love about her? Like many, I have so much in common with her; she is an every woman of sorts. An individual who started out just like many Americans, who learned to work hard and in the end achieve great things. A woman who mothers can cite as an example to their young daughters that they too can have a family and be whatever they want to be. Of all the decisions John McCain made during the campaign, his choice of running mate was the best by far.

On a final note, I have to admit that it was fun to watch the MSM trip over themselves throughout the day of the announcement as they scrambled to uncover any little tidbit they could about the Alaskan governor: "She hunts, she fishes, she's the hottest governor in the coldest state, she was a beauty pageant contestant..." The MSM could not get enough of Sarah. Although the stories about her soon turned into negative tabloid journalism, it was memorable to see that for once, Barack Obama had been overshadowed. It is as if Sarah Palin and Barack Obama were characters straight from the "Brady Bunch," with Barack crying out "Sarah, Sarah, Sarah."