Arkansas Politics

More on Lu Hardin

Hardin: Down, but not out
Hardin: Down, but not out

A Friendly Correspondent (FC) e-mails with thoughts on yesterday’s Lu Hardin post, suggesting that those who would write Hardin off based on his recent travails are way off-base. It’s been speculated that Hardin aspires to the governorship in 2014, and FC points out: “Six years is a few thousand political lifetimes, as you know, so I wouldn’t totally count Hardin out of anything.” So true! Hardin strikes me as a wily old dog, and while the current scandal is bad, the damage may not be enduring.

FC, who I take to be something of a Hardin fan, notes that “while there’s no doubt this story deserved the coverage it got, sometimes the stories and editorials did have a certain breathless quality to them. I wonder how big this scandal would have gotten if it had happened in late October, with a presidential campaign in its final days and football in full force.”

Again, FC is correct: Timing is everything in these matters. I would add that the Arkansas media has been spoiling for a fight. Media abhors a vacuum: In the Mike Beebe era of good feelings, without Mike Huckabee to kick around, it was getting to be about time to knock someone down. And Hardin, with the secret bonuses, disregard for transparency and general shiftiness, delivered. Boy, did he ever deliver.

More: Commenter “A Little Much” chides my tongue-in-cheek Lu Hardin Deathwatch reference from yesterday, given Hardin’s recent bout with eye cancer. Hm. Good point. We certainly wish Lu Hardin all the best in winning that fight, so on second thought, let’s call it Lu Hardin Steps Down to Spend More Time With His Family Watch.

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4 thoughts on “More on Lu Hardin

  • stingray

    I have heard rumors about Lu being seen at Tunica a lot in the recent past. Anyone else heard this? Plus I was confused about the $300,000 bonus. I understood initially it was to be a deferred compensation arrangement. Lu would not have paid taxes on it up front if it were deferred comp. So why did Lu take the bonus as current income if he could have deferred it. Is he in financial trouble while living rent free, vehicle provided, while receiving about a $100,000 from state retirement and also about $250,000 from UCA. Educate me and respond to the Tunica rumor!

    Reply
  • Lu Hardin is a crook through-and-through. I for one sure as heck hope the AR Republican Party in no way, shape, or form supports him, if he attempted to get on the ticket in 14.

    He has done some great things for UCA, but it has all been for personal gain, and at a great cost to the students, faculty/staff, and AR tax-payers. He has severely mistreated anyone who has disagreed with him, he has abused money, and abused the “power” of his position. This little “scandal” is not one misstep, this is standard Lu, he just happened to get caught this time.

    It is time for him to step aside and deal with his health (and I am praying for him on that level).

    By the way, it would be interesting to see who he financially supported during the last AR gubernatorial race, there are rumors that he “supported” both candidates….not good Republican behavior. But, then he is not really a Republican, is he.

    -David

    Reply
  • David Kinkade

    David: As far as Hardin’s stance in the ’06 race, I believe he was pretty firmly with Beebe — both in terms of financial support and in showing public support. DK

    Reply
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