What’s The Deal With Mark Sanford?
First, no one could find the South Carolina governor. Even his wife didn’t know where he was. She says he told her he needed time away from the kids to “write something.” Oh yeah? On Fathers’ Day? Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer didn’t know where he was. His staff was hazy on the issue.
Finally, late Monday, Sanford’s press office released a statement saying he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail.
The whole thing has South Carolinians and their leaders scratching their heads.
Who is in charge now?
“I guess that’s a question a lot of us are asking,” answered State Representative Roland Smith. He says he hopes everything’s fine, and hopes the governor comes back to his job soon.
What struck me in the press release from Sanford’s communications director, Joel Sawyer, was the statement that it was simply a matter of finding out what part of the Appalachian Trail Sanford was on.
“I apologize for taking so long to send this update, and was waiting to see if a more definitive idea of what part of the Trail he was on before we did so.”
Only, there was no indication in the release as to where on the trail Sanford was. Of course, he’s not the only Republican who should take a hike.
Reminds me of a Carl Hiasson book I read. The governor just goes off the deep end, ends up living in the everglades eating roadkill. Funny book.
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:04 am
It would be really unusual for someone who’s committed the time and energy to actually become governor of a state to simply pick up one day, and, without a word to anyone, go for a walk-about.
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:36 am
This should seriously damage any hope he might have had to get the Republican nomination for president in ‘12. Can you imagine if the president suddenly decided to leave for several days, unreachable even in the event of a crisis? That would be unthinkable.
Not that it matters who the Republicans nominate in 2012, as long as Obama seeks a second term.
Kregg Reply:
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Jas said: Can you imagine if the president suddenly decided to leave for several days, unreachable even in the event of a crisis? That would be unthinkable.
K: What makes you presume that Sanford couldn’t be reached by those who might NEED to get hold of him?
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:01 pm
“Of course, he’s not the only Republican who should take a hike.”
I appreciate lame humor…but… :)
June 23rd, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Alan, you are spinning this into something without knowing the facts. Would you really like the government to be just one party—which is not what the founding fathers invisioned. If so, maybe you should leave and live in Europe.
FuRyUs Reply:
June 23rd, 2009 at 5:56 pm
What the hell point are you trying to make?
Um Cara Reply:
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:22 pm
I think Deb wanted to point out that she knows nothing about Europe.
At least that’s what I took from her post.
Daddio Reply:
June 24th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Speaking of Europe and politics. Not a word by Alan on this site about the big election victories by the conservatives in several elections the past couple weeks. Seem Europe is trending away from the socialist left. Maybe they are tired of policies that just don’t work all that well.
June 23rd, 2009 at 5:22 pm
I think Hufpo has a story up hinting that the Appalachian Trail story has always been a cover. Even his exceedingly dumb staff is sticking to it.
Newer reports indicate he left a state vehicle at the Atlanta airport…
My favorite headlines have been, LOST AGAIN?
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Maybe he just took a few days off. I guess if he flew to New York with all the media and hype for date night on the taxpayers dime this wouldn’t be a story.
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Yea, I realized as soon as I sent it that Europe is not the best example. The middle east would have been a better spot. My point is that Alan seems to want only a one party government.
FuRyUs Reply:
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:56 pm
The Republicans are doing their best to make that happen…
Daddio Reply:
June 24th, 2009 at 8:29 am
“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hand, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”–James Madison; Federalist Papers, No. 47, p.301.
Watch any party that controls both the White House and Congress.
“Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Maybe he’s meeting Larry Craig in a bathroom in the Atlanta airport…
JaredfromTexas Reply:
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Or Barney Frank…yeah…probably Barney Frank
FuRyUs Reply:
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Or Mark Foley. Wait Sanford’s to old for Foley…
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Since they found Sanford’s car at the airport, it should be quite clear where he went off to.
He took a trip to Thailand for a “quickie”. He is a Republican after all and it’s not like he could cross the Mexican border into “Boy’s Town” without chancing being recognized.
anonymouse Reply:
June 24th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
See? I was right except for the Thailand part.
Argentina/Thailand. Potato/potahto, tomato/tomahto.
These Republicans need a new playbook. This one is old and tattered.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:34 am
sometimes public officials have things they need to take care of in private. Who knows why he was gone. It’s not like the government stops because the governor is out of town.
June 24th, 2009 at 1:48 am
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June 24th, 2009 at 2:53 pm