To heck with what his boss, the governor, says. To heck with protocol. To heck with good manners. L.F. Eason III, fhe ultimate self-referential, narcissistic Baby Boomer who formerly headed the N.C. Standards Lab, determined that he alone should decide whether the lab’s flags should fly at half staff to honor the passing of former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms.

“Regardless of any executive proclamation, I do not want the flags at the North Carolina Standards Laboratory flown at half staff to honor Jesse Helms any time this week,” Eason wrote just after midnight, according to e-mail messages released in response to a public records request.

This question begs to be answered: Just who does this guy think he is? This may help answer that question:

“I designed and built that lab,” he said. “Even though technically the bricks and mortar belong to the state of North Carolina, I feel very strongly that everything that comes out of there is my responsibility.”

Eason, who vainly retired rather than be a part of any flag travesty on behalf of a man he clearly despised, needs a dictionary. He used the word “responsibility” but he acted like everything was his “prerogative.” The Democrat had worked for the state since graduating from college. State bureaucrats are often accused of having a sense of entitlement. Eason has given ammunition to that argument.

UPDATE: My daughter’s take, Mr. Quit the Only Job He Ever Had Rather Than Honor Jesse Helms Guy!, is a spoof based on the Bud Light commercials.