|
|
| |
| Thu, Nov. 20, 2008 |  |
 |
|
||
| |
Hardin sinking as others swim, float Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 By David J. Sanders With the temperatures hovering around the century mark, it is only fitting that we head to the pool party and check in with those who are sinking, swimming or treading water. Gov. Mike Beebe, swimming: No that's not Olympian Michael Phelps, that's the Arkansas governor in the lap pool with everyone cheering him on. From the standpoint of policy, I heard a Republican complimenting Beebe the other day for not only cutting taxes, which he did, but also for having an administration that's not afraid to scale back government by curtailing its revenue projections. His pal and Democratic chairman, Bill Gwatney, committed him to expending some of that hard-earned political capital to give Barack Obama a fighting chance at a victory in the Natural State, and why not? Obama did come to Arkansas back in 2006 (on a Razorback game day no less) and turned out quite a crowd for Beebe and his fellow Democrats. But, despite Gwatney's predictions, it remains to be seen whether the popular governor will become an agent for change. Lu Hardin, sinking: After Friday's board meeting, it appears the president of the University of Central Arkansas created elaborate designs for the purposes of receiving a huge payout, but did so while making it appear it was everyone else's idea and trying to conceal his own fingerprints. Being forthright and honest is always the best policy. Hardin has demonstrated that being forced to tell the truth can be very painful for everyone involved. So what now? With the announcement that his eye cancer has returned, Hardin has an immediate battle. It goes without saying that he will enjoy the prayers from family, friends and total strangers. But, as far as a possible future run for office, it remains to be seen whether this unpleasantness at UCA has forever tarnished his political viability. I'm not sure if Hardin's path to redemption even exists, but if it does, I suspect it's a long, treacherous, uphill road. Chesapeake Energy, swimming, (actually sponsoring the pool party): The natural gas giant continues to make friends and win influence in the Natural State. Longtime (and now retired) television news anchor Anne Jansen has been hitting the airwaves over the past few weeks on Chesapeake's behalf in a newsy-looking promotional video, which tells the story of the Fayetteville Shale. On Monday, Chesapeake allowed itself to be put under the microscope, as the state Game and Fish Commission announced it will allow the company to drill in state forests. Bobby Petrino, treading water (for now): The new head hog faced the press at SEC media days and came away with low expectations, which is the best possible position he could find himself. Fall practice cannot start soon enough, that is with the seemingly endless hit parade of Arkansas players who can't steer clear of the law. Watching and reading the coverage from Alabama, it was clear that even without calling a single play, Petrino has already earned the respect of his fellow SEC coaches, most of whom predicted that he would be successful at Arkansas. Everyone, of course, is looking forward to Houston Nutt's return to Fayetteville when he brings his Ole Miss Rebels to town. Writers and TV and radio types outside of Arkansas apparently think the game's intangibles will benefit Nutt since he was "mistreated" by the University of Arkansas and sent packing. But, I suspect the 77,000-plus yelling and screaming intangibles sitting in Reynolds Razorback Stadium might have something to say about that. Regardless, it's good to have a head coach and not a drama king. ------- David Sanders writes twice weekly for the Arkansas News Bureau in Little Rock and is a host of the Arkansas Education Television Network's "Unconventional Wisdom." His e-mail address is DavidJSanders@aol.com. |
