Yahoo! to Microsoft: your bid is distracting our workforce

Yahoo, Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) sure does seem to have a big head on its shoulders these days. After Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) stated its intention to by Yahoo! almost a month ago, the shots started flying. At first, Yahoo! seemed to be considering the bid. Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) started crying foul, claiming that this combination would limit internet innovation.

Yahoo! then rebuffed the offer from Microsoft, stating that the $44 billion offer was too low. For a company that's ran a decent business in the last few years -- but has been sideswiped by Google in every possible way -- what did Yahoo! expect? A $75 billion buyout package? Rumor has it that current CEO and co-founder Jerry Yang loathed the idea of being part of Microsoft. Personal distaste, though, should never get in the way of what's best for Yahoo!'s shareholders, right?

Yahoo! has looked a some partnerships in February that would keep it from Microsoft's clutches, but is now stating that the software maker's attempt to buy it is distracting its own workforce. Bull. Yahoo!'s workforce apparently is already highly distracted if it can't seem to find a business model that would sustain innovation and profitable growth. Yahoo! says the bid is making it harder to hire and retain "key employees and hire new talent."

Are you serious, Yahoo!? The company may be thinking too highly of itself, and if so, it needs to put its ego on the shelf and find a way to partner with somebody -- anybody -- to help it compete against Google. There is no way it can do this itself, as it's been shown for years now. Until then, distractions from the Microsoft bid are the order of the day. Get used to it, Yahoo! -- and don't give a lame excuse of "distracting the company" while it happens. Shareholders know better.