GREENVILLE - Sometimes you never know what is on the other side of the door unless you turn the key and walk through the portal.
While Christmas is gone for another year, there are still gifts - a few state government gems - left under the political tree that have yet to be unwrapped.
One of those waiting to see what the political future holds is Greenville lawyer Paul Mathis Jr., who is being considered for the state Department of Human Services executive director's post.
And as much of the state and those on Gov.-elect Haley Barbour's short list wait, I note with somewhat of a feeling of anticipation that this Yazoo City native is going to be his own man, while handling the people's business at the same time.
In the meantime, Mathis and other short-listers should learn their political fate sometime this week.
Nevertheless, Barbour is going to fool some and shock others as he goes about the business of righting Mississippi's ship of state. This is one Republican governor who is even going to win over many of the political naysayers and skeptics here in the Delta.
How?
Accomplishment always speaks louder than political rhetoric. And the smart money is betting that Barbour is going to deliver big time.
When you possess political panache, anything is possible, and Barbour certainly has that innate human touch.
"I don't care if Haley Barbour is a Republican or not, if he can do something for the Delta that is good," said one Delta Democratic lawmaker. "If he can do something for my constituents, I am all for it."
The state lawmaker said that Barbour will have an easier time doing business with the House and Senate than Gov. Ronnie Musgrove had because Barbour is a likable guy.
Having chaired the Republican National Committee and with experience in the trenches as a Washington lobbyist, Barbour is no stranger to prime-time politics or hunting with the big dogs.
Just think, several months ago during the heat of the gubernatorial campaign - one of the more contentious political contests in Mississippi history - Barbour was labeled as a Beltway booster and an outsider.
Now that he has spanked Democrat Musgrove, the next Mississippi governor is looking pretty good these days from where I sit.
In a region that possesses such a rich human legacy, the Delta is often used as a political backdrop and a photo opportunity for candidates on the stump.
For far too long, Democrats have paid lip service to the Delta - spreading a few selected crumbs here and there - and little else to reverse this perpetual trend of neglect and resignation.
It is no accident that more and more people are looking to the GOP, which certainly is neither politically perfect nor should be viewed as a panacea.
Yet Republicans have a plan of action that does not include blame and victimization - political alibis Democrats have made a cottage industry out of over the years.
But now there is a new man in Jackson who possesses a clear vision away from the political status quo.
The political climate is about to change for the Mississippi Delta, an area of the state that does so much, yet receives so little.
Like the child in the commercial says: "Change is good." And Lord knows, we need political transformation in Mississippi, and Barbour is about to administer a large dose of real-deal reality.
At the same time, we need to be patient, because while Barbour has a mission and a plan for Mississippi, he is not carrying magic wands and smoke screens. Change takes time; be patient.
