You’re probably like me. When you sit down at Thanksgiving dinner and think about what you’re thankful for this year, your thoughts will quickly turn to Meg Whitman.
Yes, she lost her run for governor. Tragically. But her campaign continues to benefit many people, including myself. Here are five reasons I’m thankful for Meg’s campaign.
5. It produced the most delicious political story of the year, the allegations by Meg’s former housekeeper Nicky Diaz Santillan and her attorney Gloria Allred. Yes, the story didn’t give you anyone to root for—everyone was profoundly self-interested in this tale. But it offered a glimpse into the reality of California life – both for the very rich and for the working poor – and thus provided a brief bit of honesty in a thoroughly dishonest election season.
4. The one-woman economic stimulus. As bad as the California economy is, where would be without the $160 million-plus her campaign pumped into the state economy? At least there’s one Republican politician in this state who believes in stimulus. Thanks again, Meg.
3. Keeping alive a dying media. All of Meg’s ads were a boon to broadcasters. And as a blogger for NBC’s stations in California, I benefited personally. Christmas will be a little bit better this year because of you, Meg. Thanks.
2. For closing the door on Steve Poizner and giving us Jerry Brown. It took Meg tens of millions but she shut down Poizner and his opportunistic immigrant-bashing. And her futile campaign gave us four years of Brown, which should be, at the very least, entertaining.
1. For making me feel better about the things that didn’t go well this year. Like just about everyone, I’ve had a few setbacks and disappointments in 2010. A few stories failed to make the impact I would have liked. But I’ve never failed as badly or as grandly as Meg did in her campaign. When the billionaires are screwing up worse than you are, well, I know it puts a smile on my face.
Happy Thanksgiving, Meg.