Governor Mike Easley's endorsement of Senator Hillary Clinton this week has raised an understandable ruckus. Prominent supporters of Senator Barack Obama are upset that Easley did not join many leading North Carolina Democrats and endorse Obama.
Then there is a heated debate in the blogosphere about Easley's use of the term "pansy," saying of Clinton that "this woman makes Rocky Balboa look like a pansy." Where did that come from?
Easley clearly looked uncomfortable at Tuesday' press conference to announce the endorsement. But he did give us more insight into what he thinks about politics and public life, which you'd think someone who has been running for statewide office since 1992 would be at least accustomed to, if not fond of.
Not Easley. That was clear when he assured reporters that his endorsement of Clinton had nothing to do with a desire for a job in Washington.
"When it comes to politics, I'm like the rat. I've had enough cheese. I just want to get out of the trap."
His day is coming soon. There's only eight more months of captivity left for the conflicted, reluctant Governor who ran for re-election to a job he sometimes doesn't seem to want.
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