In reality, this "laser focus" has been malfunctioning from the start, firing blasts at newspapers, Democrats, advocacy groups, and even his fellow Republicans for politely pointing out that LePage doesn't have a clue what he's doing.
Without LePage to gum up the works, much of the agenda he's been advocating might actually stand a chance of passing. Once he's been shipped off to the Sunshine State, the GOP will find it far easier to reform and reduce the state budget, eliminate unneeded government services, tighten up welfare regulations, and ease the bureaucracy hindering business development. That's because opponents of all these initiatives would have a more difficult time arguing against them if they didn't have LePage to use as a bad example.
There is, however, one group that won't take kindly to any suggestion of the governor prematurely withdrawing. His brief time in office has been a godsend to them, and I doubt they'd let him exit early without exhausting all their options to keep him in power. And those options are considerable. Frightening, even.
I speak, of course, of political columnists.
Without LePage and his minions, what would they write about?
Does anyone really want to read 800 words every week about plans to preserve the social safety net? How about an in-depth analysis of tax-increment financing? Maybe they'd come up with a few jokes to lighten up the presentation on recent developments in sewage treatment.
No, Florida and Kevin Raye will have to wait. For the job security of the state's pundits, LePage must stay in office, no matter how worthless he's become.
Which is very.
Punditize me by e-mailingaldiamon@herniahill.net.
