Since Gov. Eric Greitens was inaugurated on January 9 he has made four trips to Washington, DC. As reported in the March 28, 2017 issue of the Post-Dispatch, on his most recent trip Greitens met with the Vice-President and a number of members of Trump’s cabinet.
Meeting with cabinet members may make perfect sense. He can lobby on behalf of the interests of Missouri citizens, though you would think that Greitens could manage to be organized enough to take care of this in one trip for face-to-face meetings and do the rest by telephone. It is expensive for Missourians to send him to Washington, even if he uses a plane from a donor who may or may not be disclosed. Given the current state of the state budget under Greitens and the draconian cuts to expenditures, such as education, that are at the heart of the state’s ability to be competitive in the present and the future, you would think that the Governor would be setting an example and saving every dollar he could.
On his most recent trip to Washington, DC. Greitens met with AIPAC (American Israeli Public Affairs Committee). The meeting was a closed door meeting restricted to large donors to AIPAC. Granted, Missouri has a significant Jewish population, but what role does Missouri have in foreign relations? And why meet only with individuals who represent a large cash payout?
Is Greitens Governor of Missouri or is he Governor of Washington, DC? Did he accept the responsibility as Governor as a shortcut to a national role? Many Governors use their state experience to move up the political ladder, (though Greitens claimed not to be that kind of politician) but most put in some time at being a successful governor first. There is plenty of hard work to do in Missouri if Greitens is interested.
One wonders if Greitens is on track to pull a “Palin”. A Palin is a political maneuver whereby an individual wins a governorship for which he or she is unqualified and unprepared, makes some appearance of work, and then decides it is really in the best interest of the state (that governor serves) for him or her to make a hasty exit and take the national stage. To pull a Full Palin, a governor must leave behind a host of problems, have sown division in the legislature, and stand to gain substantially financially. Perhaps from large donors to AIPAC and other political action groups. Greitens is certainly working the territory.
It is not clear if Greitens intends to pull a Palin or a Full Palin, but he gives every appearance of being more interested in Washington, DC than is seemly for a new governor.
Submitted by Michael Pfeifer, WCD Member