Big Daddy

Hey Big Daddy,
So, I see the gubernatorial candidates finally all got together. What’s your sense of the field at this point? And what do you make of the Bill Clinton endorsement of Gavin Newsom?

Hey Watching,
It’s good to see our governor’s race is already getting some national attention. Now, here’s a little advice: Go home, get some sleep and call me some time in March. That’s when things are going to get interesting.

In the meantime, Gavin Newsom continues to run against a ghost, and Meg Whitman thinks she’s going to be appointed governor by the editorial board of the Wall St. Journal and the hosts on Fox News, or something like that.

There’s ain’t a whole lot to see right now. And frankly, I’m not sure there’s going to be a heck of a lot once we do start paying attention. And no, that wasn’t an Oakland joke.

As for the Bill and Gavin thing, well, heck, I’m sure you can come up with your own reasons. We’ve all been reminded by now that Jerry said something mean about Hillary Clinton in 1992. And there’s a reason why forgiveness is not a trait we associate with the Clinton name. It’s probably the same reason Clinton survived some political circumstances that would have made a lesser politician crumble (See Duvall, Mike).

Politically speaking, Bill Clinton is a cold-blooded killer. Kind of like Michael Jordan was on the basketball court. And when the time comes to be gracious, Clinton, like Jordan, often demures. Anyone who watched Bill Clinton on the campaign trail in 2008, or caught a glimpse of Michael Jordan’s hall of fame induction speech knows exactly what I’m talking about.

But wasn’t this inevitable? Gavin endorsed Hillary. And now, this. Certain things were made to go together: Peanut butter and jelly; Mike Duvall and Eye-patch underwear; Bill and Gavin. I mean, really, doesn’t the punch line write itself? Tell me the two things you know about Gavin Newsom? Now, quick, what’s the first thing you think of when you think of Bill Clinton?

I rest my case.

For those of you who decided not to play along at home, I’m certainly not talking about the hair. Though I am always hesitant around politicians who seem to invest too heavily in their hair, be it gelled, blown dry or otherwise.

The point being, again, that there probably is no point. Steve Poizner is coming out as a supply-sider on taxes, while Meg Whitman continues to give him the proverbial Heisman treatment. And as long as Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman say there is no governor’s race going on, I’m going to go ahead and agree with them until the voters show me otherwise.