The weekend edition of The Wall Street Journal printed a lengthy profile-interview of the governor of Indiana, Republican Mitch Daniels.

Because political prognosticators mention Daniels in their 2012 Presidential speculations, I knew I should get my hands on some info. about the governor of the state just across the Ohio River from me. The Journal made the task easy.

There is a lot of meat in the article, highlighting Daniel’s fiscal frugality and budget-balancing bravery:

“The 60-year-old won in 2004 by promising to achieve one goal. “Every successful enterprise has a very clear strategic purpose…So, we said, all right, the strategic purpose of our administration is to raise the net disposable income of Hoosiers. Everything else is just a means to that end.”

Also, the author wanted to pry the lid off Daniel’s intentions regarding 2012:

“I ask him again why he wouldn’t want to be the guy to do it [GOP Presidential candidate in 2012]. His answer is sincere enough: “I’ve said all along that I’d like to leave a less cynical state. I really would. I really would like for people to say, whether they agreed or not, ‘there was a group of people who told us what was good for the state, who went and did it, or tried to do it, and who weren’t just on the make for another office.”

I like to hear that from a baby boomer: “I’d like to leave a less cynical _____” (fill in the blank with whatever plow on which they have their hands).

On further reflection, I’d like to leave a less cynical ______ too.

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places” (Habakkuk 3:17-19, ESV).