Gov. Meltdown swings like Mark McGwire -- and whiffs

At Gov. Mike Easley's news conference last week, the state's chief executive continued to distance himself from the bungled "reform" of the state's mental-health system.

In doing so, he sounded much like Mark McGwire when he appeared before Congress.

McGwire is the retired slugger who once held the record for home runs in a season.

He also was suspected of using steroids. In 2005, he was beckoned to appear before a Congressional committee.

Under oath, McGwire declined to answer questions about whether he used steroids. He wanted to be positive, McGwire said. No use looking back, you know. He ducked and dodged and demurred and deferred.

McGwire's performance that day tainted him and cost him his place in baseball history.

Like McGwire, Easley is not taking responsibility.

The N&O reported recently that during Easley's watch, the state wasted more than $400 million as it put in place a new mental-health system. While spending on mental health has doubled since 2001, there are fewer critical services available.

Easley continues to say his administration "vigorously opposed" the 2001 reforms passed by the legislature. No evidence has surfaced to support that. The most damning evidence opposing Easley is his own signature. He signed the bill on Oct. 15, 2001.

A key legislator says Easley is wrong. Documents support her. But Easley continues to point the finger at her -- a fellow Democrat.

And Tuesday, the Easley administration fired Debbie Crane, the spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services. Crane doesn't buy Easley's story either.

At his news conference, Easley had a tenuous grasp of the facts and was churlish enough to limit three N&O reporters to one question each. He scolded one for asking a follow-up question.

After 16 minutes of answering questions, he was gone.

When reporters waited by Easley's SUV to ask more questions, he sent a member of his security detail to open doors to the SUV, as if he were about to get in. Then he ducked into a vehicle on the other side of the building.

It's been a long time since a governor of North Carolina gave such a minor-league performance.

What the people wanted from Easley was an explanation. They wanted to see if he is a stand-up guy. What they got was a petulant meltdown.

Easley has 10 months left in his second term. He can finish strong. But he's going to have to work harder and communicate better.

No one has ever accused this governor of being a workaholic. Easley, in effect, has been a part-time governor. Most residents probably think that's fine when things are going well.

But things aren't going well. His administration just wasted more than $400 million. More than 80 people have died in state mental facilities since 2001 under questionable circumstances.

Easley also has big problems at his Department of Transportation. And his Highway Patrol has been embarrassed by reports of troopers having sex on the job.

These problems aren't going to get fixed without an engaged chief executive.

When it comes to dealing with reporters, Easley's diva act is wearing thin. Tuesday's stunt to avoid reporters was his second in recent weeks. Easley wants to control the message, as if he's in a political campaign.

He's not. This is about governing. Competence matters. At Tuesday's news conference, Easley needed to man up. He needed to answer every last question to show the public that he is in command -- of the facts, of his administration, of himself.

Instead he scampered away like a wounded puppy. And to think that same guy once was a local prosecutor with guts.

In the next 10 months, we're going to find out how good Easley is. He can fix some of the state's problems. Or he can take the lazy way out and leave them for the next governor.

If he has another week like the last one, neither he nor McGwire is going into the Hall of Fame.