I guess I don't understand the relationship between the two most senior leaders in our state government but something really does bother me about recent comments made by Governor Beebe. I've always been taught that you critize or rebuke in private and praise in public.
Apparently Lt. Gov. Darr signed a bill into law while Governor Beebe was out of state and that irritated the governor so much that he felt compelled to publicly rail against what happened. He even went so far as to publicly state his mistrust of Lt. Gov. Darr. That to me seemed totally out of character for him and quite frankly, my respect for him dropped dramatically because of his statements to the media. Both Channel 11 and Channel 16 covered it in detail. Why would he not have simply engaged Lt. Gov. Darr in private conversation so that an apparent rift between them would not be so obvious to the public.
I really believe leadership should present a united front (even though our current POTUS, the Senate, and the House of Representatives don't practice that). We here in Arkansas can and should do better than what is practiced in Washington.
Although I'm a registered Republican (who knew?) I actually voted for Governor Beebe when he last ran for office. He has held a tremendously high approval rating, unheard of for most politicians especially considering this is a more conservative state now than ever before. Why then would he react this way toward Lt. Gov. Darr who, in my opinion, thought he was doing the right thing?
Is there more to the story, and if so, what is the "more"? I'm open to learning more about this. I really would like to think more highly of our governor than I do right now so if anyone can convince me I'm looking at this incorrectly please feel free to comment upon it.
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Maybe this was just a symptom of a much larger issue between them? If so this is the first I've heard of issues between them but because of their different party affiliations I would not be surprised.
wait...what?
Politicians arguing? This is news!
It isn't the arguing that I'm bothered by..
It is the disrespectful "he did that and I'm mad about it" attitude that was presented to the press.. Why lower yourself to act like that when it could be settled like gentlemen in a private setting?
well
Maybe they had a "gentleman's agreement" to not sign the bill and Darr did it anyway.
We may never know. There's just not a lot of investigative journalism these days, it's either snippets of breaking news or low-detail recaps of events.
Usurping power
I'm not using the term lightly.
As lieutenant governor, the second is supposed to sign documents in emergencies. He's supposed to be able to take care of the state should, say the national guard be needed, for example.
In this case, Darr signed a bill Beebe meant to become law anyway in an apparent power grab during a very contentious legislative session. The only reason Darr didn't sign the abortion bill Beebe later vetoed is because the sponsor asked him not to.
In the past, power grabs while governors were out of state have created controversy, including the time the third in power granting clemency to murderers when then Lieutenant Gov. Jim Guy Tucker went to then Gov. Clinton's Presidential Inauguration.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19930126&id=6iEyAAAAIBAJ&...
Beebe is notorious for doing exactly as you say: praise in public; chastise behind closed doors. So, when he does this, you can bet Darr created a serious breech of trust.
Well..............
Good riddence B. We want R's, not D's. We're Arkansans!
Not an emergency?
The bill had an emergency clause to enable it to take effect immediately upon signature. Beebe chose to let it sit 5 days, during which FOI requests could be filled. Mr. Darr closed the window with his signature. That is a power granted to the Lt. Governor by the constitution, and he exercised it. I like Gov Beebe, but I think he is the one acting childishly.
ArkansasObserver, that was my opinion also but
then again I've been known to be wrong in the past..
I'm a CCW holder and don't want my name and address floated around all over the place so getting this bill signed and made into law is a good thing in my humble (or not so humble) opinion.
Even if Mr. Beebe thought it wrong for his "second in command" to sign it into law I still think he was way out of line for his comments to the news media. That's partisan politics any way you cut it and I really thought Mr. Beebe was above that. Goes to show I was wrong again I guess.
I can tell you this though. Once someone has lost my respect it will take a long time to get it back. I don't think he has that much time left on this term in office for that to happen. I'm very disappointed in him, but maybe that's the way he feels about Mr. Darr as well. I'm not in his shoes so I don't know but if perception is reality then I think our governor was wrong this time.