Mystery of Mike explained
The N&O's Under the Dome blog gets an expert to help figure out how long it might have taken Gov. Mike Easley to make the "elaborate black walnut secretary and a tiger maple dining table" he gave his wife for Christmas.
Answer: four to five weeks for a professional working full time, more than six months for an amateur.
Dome seems to have solved the mystery of Easley's long absences from public view. He was holed up in his wood shop somewhere in the governor's mansion.
It explains a lot:
"Governor, we've got a budget crisis. Your cabinet wants to meet with you."
"Tell them to go away. I'm not making a cabinet this year."
"Governor, the mental health system is breaking down."
"I can't deal with that now. But I suggest they get their patients into woodworking. I find it therapeutic myself."
"Governor, the economic development people in Greensboro would like you to call the CEO of a company they're recruiting and make a pitch."
"Sorry, I'm making a table."
"Governor, we've got criminals on probation going around committing more and more crimes. What should we do about it?"
"Well, if you get some of these executions going again, I'll be happy to slap together some pine box coffins down here."
Comments (4)
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For the life of me, I can't understand why Mike Easley ran for governor, much less for two terms. It's clear from the amount of time he does - or doesn't - spend on the job that he doesn't really want to be governor.
Being governor simply isn't a 9-to-5 job - it's way bigger than that. Regardless of political leanings, I hope our next governor brings more of a work ethic to the office.
Posted on December 31, 2008 1:55 PM
It's not a job for a caretaker or someone who doesn't want to interact with the public a lot.
As you know, we weren't supporters of Bev Perdue in the election, but I am ready to wipe that slate clean and start out with the expectation that she will work hard to be a very active and accessible governor. I believe we will notice an immediate difference.
Posted on December 31, 2008 2:10 PM
If, I remember right all the newspapers endorsed Tax Hike Mike both terms, and gave him a 100% clean ride until a few weeks ago.
Can not recall one criticism of him .
Perdue, go top off your gas tanks, just the kind of cool thinking, we need.
Posted on December 31, 2008 9:49 PM
DJ, you're pretty close to right. Most newspapers endorsed Easley. This one did both times.
My memory is hazy, but I think the High Point Enterprise may have endorsed Richard Vinroot in 2000 when I was editorial page editor there.
The fact is, Easley had a lot of people fooled for a long time. He gives the appearance of being very engaged and competent. Maybe he was but simply lost interest in the job somewhere along the way.
Posted on January 1, 2009 11:49 AM