Why Jeff Bezos Bought the Washington Post

I don’t actually think the theory I’m about to throw out there is true.  I don’t actually know enough about the principal character to even form a good conspiracy theory, but since everybody seems to have an opinion about why Jeff Bezos bought the Washington Post, and this is one theory that I haven’t heard anybody suggest yet, allow me to be the first.  If it turns out to be true, be it noted that today, August 7th, 2012, at 11:08 p.m. Central European Time, I wrote: Jeff Bezos bought the Washington Post to launch his political career.

Jeff Bezos, Media Mogul

Why not?  It certainly gives him a platform, both with which to promote his own positions, and from which to destroy his opponents.  40 years ago the Washington Post was capable of bringing down corrupt politicians – perhaps it could be again.  Also, the very act of buying it has got him a lot of free publicity.  Sure, people who follow either internet goings on or the world of high finance already knew his name – he is, after all, the founder of Amazon.com and has about 25 billion dollars – but I didn’t know anything about him until yesterday, and I imagine there are millions of Americans who are just like me.

This could play out one of 2 ways.  Maybe he’s trying to pull a Steve Forbes and just buy himself a high political office outright.  Even the presidency – if somebody was willing to spend a billion or two of their own money, it would at least make them a contender.  Also,  I’m sure he has more charisma than Steve Forbes, because a turd on the living room floor has more charisma than Steve Forbes.

Or, perhaps, he would just use it to support candidates and causes he likes, a la Rupert Murdoch.  I don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing because I don’t know that much about his politics.  I know he’s a supporter of gay marriage, and I’m cool with that.  I also know that he is a big space nut, like Richard Branson, and I’m a huge supporter of that.

But, since he has 25  billion dollars,  ten times as much as Mitt Romney, there is also the possibility that he’s not too big on rich people having to pay their fair share in taxes.

Anyway, I will be watching with great interest to see what, if anything, he does with the Washington Post. (maybe he just felt like buying a newspaper, the way other rich people buy  baseball teams)

If my prediction turns out to be correct, though, remember you read it here first.