Is this what happens when you put a CEO in charge of state government?

Those experienced in dealing with the cranky, suspicious class known as hardcore news reporters know the best way to get journalists to do something, is to tell them they can't -- and vice versa.

So it's hard to understand why anybody in Gov. Rick Scott's office thought journalists would actually accede to their request that all photos of the new governor be supplanted by an official photo they distributed Monday (shown above, right).

It's as if they wanted to make sure we never used that photo ever -- except to make fun of it.

The email sent to news outlets said: "Please forward the attached photo of Governor Rick Scott to the appropriate people in your organization who handle graphics, layout and design.  Please use this photo of Governor Scott, rather than any others you may have on file."

Beyond the odd, controlling nature of the request, it's not even a photo of the governor in a suit and tie, which makes using the image for more official stories a tough sell.

Also, as my Miami buddy Bill Cooke points out on his Random Pixels blog, the photo is out of focus.

Scott's office may want to soften their boss' image, but he is still the state's top government official; photos in a suit and tie are pretty necessary.  

Then again, considering some of the other photos out there of the governor, perhaps it makes sense to send one out that provides the exact look you need.

Too bad we're not going to use it that often.