The drama surrounding Missouris Gov. Eric Greitens, who announced his resignation Tuesday, has left Missourians drained and bitter.
Yes, the end is in sight, but getting there has been particularly painful due to Greitens unseemly behavior.
Looking everywhere but in the mirror, Greitens sought to place the blame on others for his misdeeds. Greitens had been charged with sexual assault and blackmail of his former mistress as well as campaign finance infractions.
Greitens has called the investigations a witch hunt, and accused friends and foes alike of being liars.
What we would give for a little humility.
In his maiden voyage into politics, Greitens was dubbed a rising star by Republicans because of his upset win in the 2016 election against Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster.
Armed with brains and brawn, the former Navy SEAL and Rhodes scholar seemed destined for great things. Trouble is, he lacked the most important quality, integrity.
It was Greitens vanity that kept such glories out of reach. Assuming he was above the law, Greitens relied on dark money donations routed through secretive nonprofits to finance his campaign as well as using the mailing list of a nonprofit he established to raise money for his campaign.
Rather than face imminent impeachment charges by the Missouri House, Greitens offered to resign with the understanding the campaign finance charges would be dropped. Those for sexual battery and blackmail from his 2015 affair remain.
IN THEIR THIRST for a political wunderkind, Republican operatives were willing to forego a thorough vetting of Greitens in their endorsement.
Yes, politics, and politicians can get stale. And the urge to rally the party base with a fresh face is tempting.
But, theres also something to be said for paying your dues and earning the trust of your peers and voters by climbing up the ladder of elective office, rung by rung.
Had Greitens first served as a low-level politician, evidence of his ethics would (hopefully) have been revealed and his political career nipped in the bud.
Instead, he was allowed to drag the states reputation through the mud.
A future without Greitens cant start too soon for Missouri.