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Much of the DemocRats' strategy appears to be shaping up as relying on voter ignorance of what venture capitalists do.

The subcurrent is that Simon is a "failed businessman" because so many ventures he's invested-in have gone the way of Pacific Coin.

Their bet, of course, is that people don't understand the vital role that VCs play in the national and State economy: they invest in the riskiest of endeavors on the bet that perhaps one out of a hundred will hit it big. This is the true engine of economic progress and job-creation for America, and Simon's firm has a great track record in this respect as this award makes clear.

We need to start focusing on Simon's success stories. "Bill Simon didn't just complain about smut on TV, he did something about it, and today we have the PAX TV network." That sort of thing.

I'd add, of course, "He didn't just complain about greasy, tasteless, overcooked Chinese food, he did something about it, and today we have PF Chang's." ;-)

I agree, and I've touched on this in other threads.

Most of the reporting about Pacific Coin seems to imply that Pacific Coin was Simon's basic responsibility, and he was either a hands-on owner who failed, or a neglectful owner who failed - with him losing each way.

Actually, the documents make clear that his family - not even him personally - was not meant to be a hands-on owner, delegating responsibility to Hinderlang. I strongly suspect Hinderlang himself encouraged the fatal mergers; he certainly didn't vote against them. His actual behaviour is entirely consistent with someone looking forward to an IPO, and inconsistent with any other behaviour.

Venture capitalists generally introduce a management team to a venture, and are hands-off after that; they are busy finding new ventures. But the accounts in the press make you think they're neglecting Pacific Coin and instead going out in their jet on a Carribean vacation on their yacht. Sadly, this just isn't so.

So yes, I believe there is an appalling ignorance on the part of the public. Unfortunately, I don't know how fixable it is, since I think the public's interest in the details is pretty low.

D

Please send that idea to the Simon campaign. I'm sure they have ideas, but they may not realize they are spending a lot of time down-talking Davis (which isn't hard to do), and they also need to add a few ads which tout Simon's successes.

"Much of the DemocRats' strategy appears to be shaping up as relying on voter ignorance of what venture capitalists do."

My 'bumper sticker' thought for today--

IGNORANT??? Vote Davis!!!