‘Bizarre’ doesn’t begin to describe Gov. Mike Easley’s exit interview with the N&R’s Mark Binker. For starters, Easley jokes that he’s about to get ‘paroled,’ an especially lame attempt at humor considering the state’s deadly parole and probation failures.
Then there’s this very strange tale:
Q: You said you were in better physical shape when you came into office?
A: “When I came in here I used to jump the back fence, there weren’t any cameras back there – they’ve got them now – and I could run all the way to the convention center – before they tore it down – and back and jump back over the fence. That’s the way I got away by myself.”
Q: I bet that aggravated your security detail.
A: “They had kind of a prayer meeting about that. I was down there one day, I ran … and they figured out I was gone … and I had tagged the (convention center) and started back and cramped up … and went down right in front of what was Belk up there. And it was just me. It was dark and some wino came over there and was trying to help, was offering me wine.
“He took the top off: ‘You need some of this. You’ll be all right,'” Easley related.
In the meantime, a trooper had found him after driving up and down the street.
“He says, ‘Why don’t you just ask your buddy to give you a ride back up to the mansion, he can carry you over his shoulder, and we just won’t bother with you no more.”
Anyone else have trouble believing this story? I would wonder if this story should be followed up on, but what’s the point? Easley can go ahead and leave now, the sooner the better.
