Forget Whitman, Brown: Tap John Cusack for Calif. Gov

California's Democrats should turn to John Cusack if they want to move into the governor's mansion this year, argues Greg Dewar. The last thing California needs after 7 years of "Governor Doofinator" is another vain billionaire in charge. But Meg Whitman's certain to win if the Democrats can't find a better candidate than the savvy but nearly invisible Jerry Brown, he writes.

Cusack seems very bright and engaged, Dewar writes, and his post-'80s career success makes him known to voters of all ages. It's a pretty wild idea, and Cusack probably has better things to do, Dewar admits, but Cusack or just about any other Democratic candidate could have upset Brown "if they'd just had the courage to step up for both the party, and more importantly, the improvement of the state of California." (More Meg Whitman stories.)