Back to the future for California

Katy Grimes: Jerry Brown has regained the governor’s office he first held in the 1970s, despite former eBay CEO Meg Whitman using more than $160 million of her own money in the race.

Californians over age 45 are having a deja vu with “Brownisms.” Brown, in his acceptance speech late last night – described as short and apparently off-the-cuff – said that while the votes aren’t all counted, it was “good enough for government work.”

As he was speaking, I scanned Twitter and Google feeds for comments. There were so many comments about Brown’s strange speech, and some were really funny:

“No word from Meg Whitman yet, but Brown gave his acceptance speech!”

“I am loving Jerry Brown’s rambling acceptance speech- his honesty is so authentic.”

“Jerry Brown’s acceptance speech is the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen.”

People watchcing the speech, described it as “awkward,” “bizarre,” “pointless and vague,” and “weird.”

One of his more interesting rambling comments during his off-the-cuff during the speech, indclude him describing being the Governor as, “This politics thing…” When asked what he will do as Governor, Brown said, “I don’t need a plan.”

 And today, Brown is denying that he ever said he will be a one-term Governor. Did he forget this promise, or has he just changed his mind now that the blue Plymouth is coming out of mothballs?

It’s back to the future for California, circa 1974.

(And Whitman’s concession speech is totally unmemorable, just like her campaign.)

NOV. 3, 2010