CPE flips the bird; Beshear must respond

If Gov. Steve Beshear ever hopes to shed the wimp image that has plagued his administration since his disastrous attempt to influence the outcome of the special election in the Senate's 30th District, he cannot stand idly by after the Council on Postsecondary Education flipped him the bird in response to his request that the panel follow statutory requirements in picking a new CPE president. In selecting interim President Brad Cowgill for the permanent job, council members ignored at least the intent of the law that requires a national search and a president who is a professional educator with a national reputation in postsecondary education.

Since the council seems to have little regard for abiding by these statutory requirements, Beshear's course of action seems clear. He should request the immediate resignation of all members of the council, and he should fully explore any and all legal options he has for undoing their decision so a new president can be chose in accordance with the law.

Even if some members of the council refuse to honor his request by resigning, they will have been put on public notice that their performance of their duties has not been acceptable. More important for Beshear, a request for the resignation of all council members sends a signal that his patience has limits and that he is not averse to using a little gubernatorial muscle when it's appropriate.

Comments

[Brooke Watson]

I agree with this commentary. I don't think it matters how qualified Cowgill is, policies serve a purpose and the whole thing was blatantly disrespectful.

Most folks don't even know what the CPE is; Cowgill should have signaled a willingness to work with the Governor and not narrow interest in the position.

Beshear is patient and if he chooses not to be that is the CPE's problem...

Unfortunately for Beshear, most folks in KY respect the job Cowgill has done. He's not a nut, or unqualified. He's actually top notch, which significantly hampers Beshear's political positioning on this issue.