The State Senate’s rejection of high-profile UH regent Kitty Lagareta has produced  high-octane rhetoric from both sides.

Lagareta: The Legislature is trying to micro-manage the UH and lawmakers don’t like anyone who bucks their will.

Senate: The UH is struggling in many areas and the Regents are ultimate responsible.

All true. All true.

Over the years the Legislature has gone out of its way to tell the University how it should manage its affairs. Reluctantly, lawmakers gave the UH “autonomy” but that hasn’t stopped folks from trying to put their thumb in the academic pie where it isn’t wanted.

By the same token, the Regents are ultimately responsible for the UH and must answer to the folks who have to balance the state budget. And if the Senate’s advice and consent powers are to mean anything, it has to be able to refuse to consent from time-to-time.

So Senators have the right to reject anyone they want. But you can’t help wondering whether Lagareta’s in-your-face style and close association with Republican Gov. Linda Lingle didn’t have more than a little to do with the Senate’s decision to choose her particular appointment as the place to demonstrate their independence and concern about the state’s premier university.