EBay's retiring chief executive may be considering a run for California governor

[RamboLiberal]

Source: LA Times

As she prepares to depart from EBay after a decade at the helm, Chief Executive Meg Whitman appears to be investigating a new career -- in politics.

Whitman has talked with top Republicans about the possibility of a run for California governor in 2010, according to three operatives who have had discussions with her. Whitman is said to be asking detailed questions about the logistics of a run and the impact she could have as governor, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to reveal the conversations.

Whitman did not make herself available for comment. A source close to her said she had been talking with Republicans around the state and had become "fascinated" by politics in her work as a fundraiser for GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts and a former colleague of Whitman at the consulting firm Bain & Company.

The source close to Whitman, however, downplayed the seriousness of the conversations, saying that Whitman was still new to politics and that California Republicans, not Whitman, were the ones driving the discussion.



Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-whitman25jan25,0,7858915.story

[Wickerman]

1. I'm beginning to better understand why I am spending less and less

time on eBay. The site has become over-aggressive, too fee-based - has such a commerce attitude to it. Makes sense its a Republican venture. I miss the early days when it felt like the swap meet it was instead of a mega-mall.

[murielm99]

6. Is that why it stopped being fun?

I have largely stopped bidding on items there.

I have contacted some of the stores and bought directly from them. I love 1950's kitchenware. I found a guy in PA. I buy directly from him. He put me in touch with someone who has refurbished some of my old Revere Ware, too.

All ever I wanted was from E-Bay was a chance to buy some of the collectibles I like. I have always been willing to pay a fair price for things.

[quispquake]

8. I completely agree...

I did a sale a few months ago (getting rid of some vintage paperbacks...). Between the listing fees, the post-auction fees, and the Paypal fees...I must have lost 20% of the auction value...Takes a lot of the fun out of Ebay...

[AX10]

2. No more Republicans!

They are proven disasters.

[thunder rising]

3. California is non-understood state. They keep falling for rich and or famous dickheads.

[ronnykmarshall]

5. and you're from Florida talking shit about California?

Please.

[AndyTiedye]

7. Only If They are TV Stars

Being a TV star guarantees you a large majority in the southern part of the state.

[davidinalameda]

4. that would go nowhere fast

any Democrat would wipe the floor with her