re: Can someone legitimately tell me why this is a shite show all the time?

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Why is it every time we go through a coaching change it is the most ridiculous process ever?

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Usually, in general, it is a result of too many fingers in the pie (with their own agendas and/or motivations).

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Why does it seem like every candidate is just using us?

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The idea of "we won't be used" just might be one of the problems.

Firstly, it is a negotiation and, so far, there have been other parties on the other end. We can't control that... so stop trying. If we want to adopt the position of "you're not going to use us" then you have to give an ultimatum, and the negotiation is ended. And it won't end well. If you are going to adopt the position of "you're not going to use us" and refuse to negotiate with candidates that other parties are also vying for, the negotiation never started. This also will not end well for you because you've now limited yourself to candidates no one else wants (Pelini come to mind for anyone at this point?).

It also seems arrogant, and how we view ourselves isn't how others view us. Facts be damned, by both sides. Maybe a former tOSU player with ND knocking on his bedroom window doesn't see us in the same light. Maybe an NFL coach who's getting promises from his team for future rewards does not see us as the pinnacle we see ourselves as. I'm not saying we aren't elite or not a great place to coach- I'm saying in the process you can't assume that others see it the same way and you will have to sell yourself to them. Again, you are competing for their services; not the other way around.

Accept that you are indeed competing for someone's services and negotiate like it. You won't always be the one getting out-countered if you accept that fact.

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Why do I feel less confident in the results than ever before?

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because doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. See above.

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What is the main issue now? We don't even interview Pellini, now we can't get an interview to go right,

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see above.

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don't vet things (Neilson), etc?

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this isn't on LSU and isn't a fair comment. And it is indeed one of the pitfalls of a coaching search. LSU isn't presented their contract and subject it to full review prior to talking or an interview.

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It's such a ridiculously disorganized clown show every couple of years.

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It might be a perfectly ORGANIZED clown show. We just might be following a distinct and well planned process. A process that makes bad assumptions such as who really has the leverage and what is the difference between an interview and a negotiation (see above).

With Nielsen is all came down to the fact that the Saints wanted to keep him and did what they needed to do to make it happen.
With Freeman he took an offer that keep him closer to home.
I dont see that leaks contributed to the loss of our top two candidates.