It’s disappointing, but Mitch Daniels, Bush’s former OMB chief, has won the governor’s race in Indiana. It’s not only a shame because it’s a Republican pick-up, but more importantly, because Daniels is one of those strange characters who’s been wrong about literally everything throughout his entire political career.
The man reads like an instruction manual for public officials who are either helplessly incompetent or recklessly dishonest. Or probably both. The Iran-Contra scandal? Daniels was Reagan’s political director and helped direct the White House damage-control effort. Enron? Ken Lay helped choose Daniels for the OMB post. After 9/11, Daniels said the push by New Yorkers for rebuilding aid was turning into a “money-grubbing game.” Three years ago, it was Daniels who swore that Bush’s tax cuts would not only create millions of jobs, but keep a balanced budget.
And now he’s the chief executive of Indiana. It’s discouraging. Indiana may be a Republican stronghold, but it’s been inclined to back fiscally responsible Dem governors. Until now.