Careful takeover: McCrory seems to be taking time to do it right

There is always a danger when a new administration takes over.

There is a tendency to believe one's own press and to come in like a bull in a china shop, ignoring the possibility that your election has not, somehow, been ordained by a power on high.

What should impress North Carolinians about their governor-elect Pat McCrory is that he is taking his time.

Although his election was historic in the sense that it upended a rather long Democratic win streak, he is not flexing his muscles and pushing his opponents around.

On the contrary, he is taking his time in first, picking his new staff, and second, in talking about what should be first on his agenda.

There is something to be said for that restraint.

Governors are the new hope for Americans who are not sure they like the direction in which they see their nation heading.

There have been strong performances over the past few years in many states, with leaders who not only told the truth, but did what was right, not what was politically expedient.

And there are many people who hope McCrory can undo some of the damage that has been done in this state over the past decades.

But for now, the right thing -- and the classy thing -- to do is to remember that the first priority is a smooth transition that includes the best ideas and personnel from both parties.

That will set the state on the right path.

And that is what we hired McCrory to do.

Published in Editorials on December 11, 2012 11:06 AM