Dear Steve Beshear: The election's over (part 83)

Continuing to show a lack of class, Gov. Beshear again rubbed salt in the wounds of Ernie Fletcher and state Republicans today by giving Billy Harper a seat on the state Board of Education.

Harper, you'll remember, was one of the two opponents Fletcher faced in last year's GOP gubernatorial candidate. Harper and ex-Congresswoman Anne Northup combined to cause Fletcher to spend a good portion of his campaign war chest that would have otherwise gone toward an incumbent combatting the attacks from the Democrats in the fall, and they certainly helped soften him up for Beshear in the fall.

Yes, Harper's been involved in education initiatives in the past, and yes, he's probably qualified to sit on that board, but his appointment can't be viewed as anything other than adding insult to injury to Ernie Fletcher, if not an outright payback for Harper's help in Beshear's victory over Fletcher last fall.

Through his words and deeds, Beshear continues to make himself look small and undignified in his constant digs at the previous governor. Ernie Fletcher doesn't care; he's probably enjoying life more as a private citizen than he did the last 10 years as a prominent political figure in Kentucky. But Republicans should care, and Fletcher supporters like us have long memories and we won't forget.

You won, Beshear. You're not running against Ernie Fletcher anymore. Be a gracious winner and act like one while you're at it.