The next governor of California: Steve Jobs?

Could it be Stevie J. vs. the Governator in next year's California gubernatorial race? We always figured the only political office he'd ever settle for would be "God", or perhaps, "Supreme Deity," but the San Francisco Chronicle reports that "Democratic actvists" have been whispering about the possibility of Steve Jobs running for governor of California in the 2006 election (of course, they're also talking about a Robin Williams candidacy, so take this as you will). He'd definitely have the Mac fanatic vote all locked up if he decides to run, but it's hard to imagine His Steveness dealing with something as chaotic and disorderly as California's political system.

[Seth @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Now if you criticize him in the papers, he can ban you from the newsstands!

[someone @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

ipods for everyone!

[Daniel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

All I can say is LOL!!!

Steve 4 guv'nuh, and next he's gonna want to be President.

I think Democrats are going to change their chant from "Hillary in 2008" to Steve in 2008.

Think about it. They can use the popularity of the iPod to drive votes, just like the Mac!

[7of7 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Wow, I hate Governator and I hate Steve Jobs. I'm lucky to not have to vote in that election.

/would vote for Jobs because I hate Neo-Conservatism.

[Giuliano Riosa @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I wonder if the reality distortion field works in the candidacy speeches, lol.

[Matthew @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Man! That would be a win-win! I'm a conservative but I could vote for a no-nonsense Dem like Jobs. Jobs may be a Democrat, but he's no liberal. Everyone would find that out the first time an aid brought him a report in the wrong font:

"You are a complete bozo! You're fired!"

Jobs would make John Bolton look like Ms. Manners!

[Coolest Gadgets @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

If Arnie can be a politician I think anybody can. So Stevie wants to do it, why not go for it. Just pleased I live in the UK :)

[aheapofaluminum @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

jobs, hands down. though i agree, i can't even imagine him dealing with any other crappy silicon valley company (and believe me, they ALL suck), let alone the california political system.

[narco @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I'm not sure how I feel about this. Being a Mac user and L.A. resident, it would be kind of fun having him as my Governor, but then again it'd take some of his duties away from Apple (where I would like most of his attention to go to).

Plus, having a billion Apple stores in California, it'd so the California Mac-base is pretty large. Hopefully I can get as excited over his political speeches as I do his keynotes.

Fishes,
narco.

[uclatommy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Has our political system degenerated into a popularity contest like it was in high school? The trend of so many celebrities running for some sort of government office is unnerving; and this trend seems to have been increasing lately. High school was a joke and now it seems that so is our current political system.

[falling whale number 42 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Governor of California declares war on Washington Sate... More after this break....

... in other news, today Arnie was confused for a 'neo-con', which made this reporter laugh out loud. Arnie is as much a 'neo-con' as he is an actor. He is so far to the left that in Texas he is considered a communists (with a small 'c').

[Rusty @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

This is about the dumbest thing I've ever heard of. First it was Arnold, now Jobs? Hell, why don't we turn over running the entire country to a bunch of "celebrites" instead of people who have a sense on how this country works. Good grief, our pop culture has gotten us into so much trouble in the past 20 or so years. We are more concerned on who's dating/having a baby/in rehad etc ect than we are about what's really going on in the world!

[Velvet Revolver @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Speaking of dumb things. Arnold may be a celebrity, but he still has a degree in economics. And Steve Jobs is not a celebrity, he's a CEO of two companies. I think he may know a thing or two about running and managing things. That said, I'm a huge mac fan, but I still wouldn't vote for Steve, because I don't want no stinking hippy running my government, plus, we need him much more at Apple anyway. So he doesn't have all of the mac fanatic vote locked up.

[digiguy23 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Who is to say that a celebrity is worst than a politician. The dumb ass polician is the one who bans GTA, not people like Arnold or Jobs.

[uclatommy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Well, the only reason why the democratic party is thinking about nominating a celebrity is because they feel that it is the only way they are going to be able to put a democrat back in power in California. California is largely a democratic state, so why did a republican win the office of governor? The democrats realize that the general public is stupid and will vote for whoever is famous. I'm a mac fan, but I don't feel that Jobs is cut out for the office of governor. He's a power hungry hippie who did drugs back in his Berkeley days. He doesn't care about anyone but himself and I'm not sure I would want someone like that in any political office.

[PXLated @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Jobs would go mad.
The only reason celebrities come into play is there are no "statesmen" out there, just "politicians" and "celebrities" to choose from. No vision, just partisanship...sad!

[Dustin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I'm pretty far left, fidel and I just scheduled a lunch. However, beyond the initial ridiculousness of it, I think arnold has been doing ok. He might be conservative a little, but his wife helps balance him out a lot I think. As far as conservatives go, he's pretty good.

Now Jobs? I think he'd be awesome as a governor, he's know how to run stuff, and is decently liberal. I just can't imagine what would happen if he lost, he might loose it.

[xVariable @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Daniel ~#2: Presdent? Of America? I certainly hope not. Given he is afflicted with Borderline Personality Disorder (read: he's an incouragable narcissist), he may turn-out to be the third anti-Christ. ;-)

Here's what I think: Steve is part of the same generation that made itsself establishing all these civil and human rights, only to sell them out in the last 20 years once they got to the top (in a bald-faced move to conslidate their power and protect their socio-economic interests).

Steve *would* be better than The Terminator, you think? Such a convction flies in the face both of the man's personality, and the modus operandi of his entire generation, liberal or conservative.

[Connor @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

if jobs denyed the 2 button mouse for so long, and then came out with a five button mouse, I'd be interested in what he'd do in government.

[Michael Domingues @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

This could be interesting. We'll just have to wait and see.

[John F @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I think Bill Gates should run for president

[Greg R @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I second that motion!

[Asher @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

It wasn't a motion...it was just a thought.

[Lelia Katherine Thomas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Lord, the bad thing is, I can really see this happening. Hell, any state that would have Arnold as their governor will do anything. I can't say Arnold has done a terrible job, from what I've seen, being on the other side of the country. But nevertheless, it's Arnold, for God's sake.

It wouldn't surprise me to see this happen.

xVariable: Does he really have BPD? Because, if so, I live with someone who has that and bipolar, and I wouldn't wish his presence on another soul, because he's a complete nut job. :|

Good luck, Cali. :|

[Saif @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

There's no reason why Jobs' status as a CEO makes him any different from anyone else who runs for public office. Too many people who read this website see Steve Jobs as a celebrity, but none of the non-technophiles in this country treat him the same way they treat a former movie star, like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Jobs is a businessman, not a Teen People cover story.

If you want to compare Jobs to others who have run for public office, you should compare him to Dick Cheney. I mean, I don't believe he ever really *left* Halliburton, the way they instantly got the Iraq reconstruction contract. Look at your public servants and see how many of them have credentials in big business before you lump Jobs into the same category as Schwarzenegger.

That said, I think Jobs would do good things for California. I consider myself extremely liberal, but I think Jobs would be just mainstream enough as a Democrat to win voters on both sides. California needs a lot of cleaning up, the kind of cleaning up that a lot of conservatives were expecting Schwarzenegger to do, that he never got around to.

[David Oh @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

The lack of political knowledge displayed by some here is apalling. Then again, this is a tech site, so who am I to crticize? Whether Arnold is a con or a lib is irrelevant. What's important is that for the first couple of months he pushed through some things and got small things done. Now he's pretty much dead weight because of the largely democreatic legisiclature.

Regardless of what I feel about some of his policies, I understand that misunderestimating him really hurt the dems for a little bit. But some of his policies inlucluding redistricting I really support.

[Finished.Law.School @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I hope not. He would screw CA.

[Erik Cohen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Too much prior public drug issues...he wouldn't try/win anyway.

[Mart @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I'm a "Mac fanatic" but nobody as far left leaning as Jobs would "lock up" my vote. Steve is patently incapable of being a politician. The world of politics is one of messy diplomacy, Machiavellian maneuverings and compromise. He may be able to evangelize about his company and its products, but the world of business, hardware and software engineering and design is nothing like the political world of California.
And if he left Apple to pursue politics then the company is going to the dogs once again like it did after he first left it. He has invested far too much of himself in Apple to hand it over to some other CEO.

[marvel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

You could always listen to his campaign speech by downloading it through iTunes Podcast.

[Tim @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

It's official, i renounce my citizenship of this fucked up country. Peace on earth.

[i.p.freely @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

He might be liberal or democrat, but one thing he has never done is be a blatant political whore like all the Celebrity-cum-politicians.

He knows that his view might offend half of his consumers. Even he said himself.

So this is one of those "Liberal day dream"

[MACALEX @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Steve is governor of CA? LOL
Give me a break! He is not a politician, he hates all this staff, but who knows, maybe Al Gore has convert him to become politician. ;)
All this speculations in media makes me sick. I rememeber when media wrote about S. Jobs become a president of Disney, now they say that he'll become governor, give me break. It't not even the 1'st of the April. :)

[Nick @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

All I know is that if he does become governer of California, it won't be long before cable in California only works on TV's sold in California, gas will recieve special additives that will make it only work in cars bought in California and all the standards will become California proprietary crap.

Nick

[jeremy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

"California needs a lot of cleaning up, the kind of cleaning up that a lot of conservatives were expecting Schwarzenegger to do, that he never got around to."

Yes like not giving in to liberals ideas and becoming one of the "girly men" that he criticizes.

Arnold is a moderate libertarian, not a Republican. He wants to restrict the government economically (somewhat, there are a lot of exceptions, especially w/Arnold.) But socially, Arnold is a liberal.

[Cranium @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Does this mean I have to take the doorknobs and light switches off my house and paint it white?

[3rdsun @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

it wont be to long before windows are banned in california(glass windows included), everything would be renamed with the "i" prefix, and the whole state would be sealed off from outsiders. did someone say commuini(st)ty.

[Adam @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

"From now on, all houses in the state of California will be built without windows."

[yjs @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

America is a joke.

[ryecob @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Steve, in case you're reading, please keep your focus on events in Cupertino and not Sacramento.

[The Jeremy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

The problem with California does not rest with the Governor's Office and its current occupant. The problems with California has to do with the State Legislature. The way the whole thing is set up, only extremely liberal Democrats and extremely right-wing Republicans are elected. And the result is a Legislature full of politicians who do not represent the majority (i.e. "moderate") views of California's electorate. Its a total cluster-frak that isn't going to be solved until there is serious redistricting mandated by the people through an initiative. Futhermore, for a State that should be its own Nation, we have too many elected statewide officials who sit around, blame each other, and jockey for higher office. Why is the Lt. Governor elected separately from the Governor? We haven't elected a Vice President at the Federal level for more than 100 years, and it is completely irresponsible to do the same for a State with the population of a moderately sized European nation. The same goes for the other separately elected statewide offices (Attorney General, Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Superintendent of Schools, etc.). They should all be appointed by the Governor, that way the electorate knows who to blame directly when one crosses the line. Unfortunately, that does not happen in the State. Government works best when it works together, not when it promotes gridlock that perpetuates waste. This is what the current Governor should be doing instead of wasting efforts to dismantle pension funds (CalPERS & CalSTRS) of the heavily union represented professions such as the Firemen, the Police Officers, the Nurses, and the State employees. He's made enemies of all of them instead of concentrating on the structural deficiencies promoted by the worthless Legislature, that in the historical words of Oliver Cromwell, are "rogues who have sat too long." Why have a bicameral Legislature? Do we have Lords? No. Then why do we need a Senate in the California Legislature? Get rid of the Senate and increase the number of representatives in the Assembly and maybe that institution might actually function at representing us Californians for a change instead of the special interests. At least there'd be a better chance at it.

[Daniel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

18 xVariable:

ya, i was jk. you know, making fun... of apple's marketing... nvm

[jorge @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Noooooo.... listen, I would love to see Steve run for political office...AFTER HE RETIRES, but as an Apple shareholder, it would be ruinous for the company. Apple is Steve and Steve is Apple. I don't care who you are but two CEO jobs and a governorship is tooo much for anyone to handle competently. Focus on making good products and keep raising that share price. Politics later. Arnold is a great leader and doesn't need replacing and Democrats suck major balls.

[primary0 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Governator vs i-Governor?

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

In the words of Chris Rock:

"Some issues I am conservative about ... some I am liberal about ... Crime, I'm conservative ... Prostitution, I'm liberal"

Seriously, for the ignorant people out there, please don't trivialize all the issues down to 'Democrats suck major balls' or 'I hate neo-cons' ... be human, think for yourself ...

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Introducing the 'iGov'.

[Thomas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

At least everything the goverment did would look good and be user friendly. :D

[Conglacio @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

I think he might end up moving the 'i' in the state's name....

iCalfornia

[mikhail @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

Why on earth would Steve Jobs want to be the Governor of California? He has two much more interesting jobs already, and arguably more power to influence the world.

[Gabriel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:18AM]

GO CALIFORNIA!!!! WE RULE!!! I want California to become its own nation! WE CAN DOO EEEET!