Hatrack River Forum: Where in the world is carmen sandiego, uh, I mean, Governor Mark Sanford

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Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

Seriously read this in progression, don't just skip to the punchline.

The news two days ago:

quote:
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has been hiking along the Appalachian Trail, a spokesman said Monday night, explaining a dayslong absence that perplexed fellow state leaders.

Sanford hadn't been at work for several days and his office hadn't been in touch with him. The lieutenant governor, other fellow lawmakers and even his wife said they didn't know where he was, leading critics to question who was in charge of South Carolina.

"I cannot take lightly that his staff has not had communication with him for more than four days, and that no one, including his own family, knows his whereabouts," said Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer. Bauer said he'd been rebuffed by the governor's staff when he tried to find out where Sanford was.

The Republican governor left town on Thursday, his spokesman Joel Sawyer said, with plans to hike the trail, which passes through 14 states but doesn't cross South Carolina. Sawyer said he didn't know where exactly Sanford was along the 2,200-mile trail and declined to discuss Sanford's travel arrangements or who, if anyone, was hiking with him. The governor is expected back later this week.

"He's an avid outdoorsman," Sawyer said. "Nobody's ever accused our governor of being conventional."

Sanford, who's also chairman of the Republican Governors Association, earned a reputation as the nation's most vocal anti-bailout governor by refusing $700 million in federal stimulus money for schools until he lost a court battle earlier this month.

"He's just up there to kind of clear his head after the legislative session," Sawyer told The Associated Press in an interview. Sawyer wasn't aware that anyone on Sanford's staff had spoken to the governor since Thursday.

The news yesterday:

quote:
Sanford's wife Jenny said she last talked to him on Thursday, and though she didn't know where he is, she said she wasn't concerned. She said he had left to have time to write.

Joel Sawyer, communications director for the governor's office, then said the governor had been on the Appalachian Trail. Sawyer said staffers heard from Sanford on Tuesday morning and the governor plans to return Wednesday.

Sawyer said the governor is surprised by all the attention.On Tuesday, sources told News 4's Nigel Robertson that a state vehicle is missing and was tracked down, not to the Appalachian Trail, but to the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta.

Sources told Robertson that a federal agent spotted Sanford in the airport boarding a plane. Robertson was told that the governor was not accompanied by security detail.

Sanford has been out of reach for more than four days, including Father's Day.

Sawyer has emphasized that the governor was hiking on the Appalachian Trail and that it wasn't something the staff or Jenny Sanford were concerned about.

But sources told WYFF News 4 that the federal agent who spotted Sanford saw him at the Atlanta airport, which is about 80 miles from the start of the trail.WYFF News 4 has not yet confirmed where the plane was going or how the governor got to the airport, but it is clear there are two very different stories.

News 4 called the governor's office, and was told again by staffers that they stand by their original statement that the governor is hiking the Appalachian Trail. They did not want to comment on this story.

Then late yesterday

quote:
A mystery has turned into a fiasco for South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, who now says he was in South America — not on the Appalachian Trail, as his staff had said on the record in official statements when his whereabouts became the subject of global news coverage.

“I don’t know how this thing got blown out of proportion,” the governor told The State newspaper of Columbia, S.C., after he landed at the Atlanta airport Wednesday morning.

Sanford, a conservative Republican who had a promising future in national politics, is now not only the butt of jokes but has serious questions to answer about his stewardship of his state’s safety.

Other state officials say he made no arrangements for executive decisions in his absence, such as mobilizing the National Guard in case of catastrophe or advocating for the state with Washington if an emergency struck the coast.

Journalists covering the story had nearly universal doubts about the narrative put out by his office. The trail on the governor went cold at the Atlanta airport, which is not a logical place to go to start hiking the Appalachian Trail.

The news today:

quote:
Gov. Mark Sanford arrived in the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Wednesday morning, having wrapped up a seven-day visit to Buenos Aires, Argentina, he said.

Sanford said he had not been hiking along the Appalachian Trail, as his staff said in a Tuesday statement to the media.

Sanford admitted later Wednesday that his secret trip to Argentina over Father's Day weekend was to visit a woman he is having an affair with.

Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :

This is HILARIOUS.

At least, until you get to today's press conference, where he goes from a beleagured leader who just wanted some privacy after craziness to another selfish cad who was off with his mistress.

Posted by Tresopax (Member # 1063) on :

DO IT ROCKAPELLA!

Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :

If you're going to have an affair... perhaps having to fly to Argentina might pose a bit of a logistical problem.

Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :

Glass half empty, glass half full.

At least its a straight affair rather than a gay affair in the Atlanta airport restroom.

Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :

That press conference was all over the place, though, wasn't it?

You see the trains approaching, you know it's going to be bloody, but you can't look away...

--j_k

Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :

Oh for goodness sake!

Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :

Oh, and of course, FoxNews:

Mark Sanford (D) South Carolina

--j_k

Posted by paigereader (Member # 2274) on :

wow... Danielle Steel couldn't write this stuff.

Posted by MrSquicky (Member # 1802) on :

quote:
At least its a straight affair rather than a gay affair in the Atlanta airport restroom.

I'm about 20% expecting that that will be tomorrow's news. That the woman in Argentina is actually a man.

Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :

Oh for goodness sake, AGAIN!

Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

quote:
Originally posted by James Tiberius Kirk:
Oh, and of course, FoxNews:

Mark Sanford (D) South Carolina

--j_k

ahahahahahahaahahahahsektgehty56yt;3128f6n4atugc34

Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :

quote:
Originally posted by MrSquicky:

quote:
At least its a straight affair rather than a gay affair in the Atlanta airport restroom.
I'm about 20% expecting that that will be tomorrow's news. That the woman in Argentina is actually a man.

Damn it.
I've been out cynic-ed. You may right too. I tip my hat to you, eh.

Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :

What is it about power and money that seems to not coincide with keeping marriage vows?

Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :

Wow, this is amazingly hilarious and awful. Is it just me or is about 90% of bizarre behavior explained by secret affairs?

The Fox News D is shameful.

Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Samprimary:

quote:
Originally posted by James Tiberius Kirk:
Oh, and of course, FoxNews:

Mark Sanford (D) South Carolina

--j_k
ahahahahahahaahahahahsektgehty56yt;3128f6n4atugc34

*sigh*

Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :

Sanford just about teared during the press conference rhapsodizing about the woman and how it started by him advising her to work on her marriage.

Double X has some great coverage of this.

Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :

Well, yet another example of how foxnews is a propoganda machine that a certain segment of the population will ignore.

Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Belle:
What is it about power and money that seems to not coincide with keeping marriage vows?

You know I am not really sure that the percentage of politicians having affairs and the percentage of regular people having affairs is all that different, yo!

If the politicians have a higher percentage of actual affairs then it is likely a result of politicians' careers hinging on the maintenance of the marriage even if they don't love their spouses anymore, where the average dude can just divorce without imperiling their livelihood.

If politicians have only a higher percentage of exposed affairs, it's the result of the intense public exposure they receive.

Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :

I dunno if money is going to be a particularly good predictor of affairs either. I don't know how you could measure power but in the case of income:

quote:
Although extramarital sex may be the marital activity
most often cloaked in secrecy, empirical estimates of affairs over the
course of a marriage range from 30 to 60% for men and from 20 to 50% for
women
...
A conservative interpretation
of these figures suggests that although perhaps half of all married
couples remain monogamous, the other half will experience an infidelity over
the course of a marriage.
...
Most demographic and background characteristics are not good predictors
of infidelity. Extramarital sex is not consistently more prevalent among any
particular socioeconomic status group (Buunk & van Driel, 1989), nor is
income strongly linked with the likelihood of affairs (Janus & Janus, 1993).

link

Posted by Darth_Mauve (Member # 4709) on :

Samp, there was talk of a psychosis (neurosis more likely) that involves fame and perception of reality. Once you are famous you begin to believe that you deserve the fame. Once you believe you deserve the fame you begin to believe that you are special. Once you believe you are special you begin to believe that normal laws and codes of conduct don't pertain to you.

Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :

quote:
Originally posted by katharina:
Sanford just about teared during the press conference rhapsodizing about the woman and how it started by him advising her to work on her marriage.

Double X has some great coverage of this.

that's funny stuff

Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :

I was coming in to post what Samp said. I don't think people with power or money have any more affairs than those who are broke.

Poor people just don't have to have press conferences every time they have an affair. Unless they go on Jerry Springer.

I imagine The Daily Show is gonna have a field day with that Fox coverage.

Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

quote:
Extramarital sex is not consistently more prevalent among any
particular socioeconomic status group (Buunk & van Driel, 1989), nor is
income strongly linked with the likelihood of affairs (Janus & Janus, 1993).

Interesting! I would have wondered if socioeconomic status had an effect on fidelity, because one would postulate that money 'creates both appeal and capacity' in a married person.

Posted by paigereader (Member # 2274) on :

One of JFK's female secrectary's asked him once why he ran around on his wife so much. He said (not exact quote) that's just the kind of man I am. You have to have a certain kind of(big?) ego to run for any kind of office. Maybe bigger the office the bigger the ego... agrees with Darth

Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :

One thing that money makes a lot easier is (relatively) discreet dalliances with hookers. I would bet that rich married men hire prostitutes far more often than poor married men.

Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

Also stuff like this meta-discussion is pretty much the heart of why I love sociology.

Posted by paigereader (Member # 2274) on :

scifi- On that statement, funny to think a man with so much money and power would need to hire a hooker... he should have no problem finding someone that wants to be with him because of it.

Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :

I dunno if income is all that important a barrier for prostitutes. As the Spitzer case showed, the cost for prostitutes can scale right along with income while at the low end I think there was a Vanguard documentary that noted prices can be exceedingly low, especially during this recession.

(Having difficulty finding that original Buunk & van Driel, 1989 article)

Posted by natural_mystic (Member # 11760) on :

Politicians of a sufficiently high level spend a lot of time traveling i.e. away from their wife and family. I would guess (read: have done no research) that traveling lifestyles correlate well with infidelity. Wealth and power probably speak more to the type of person that the unfaithful spouse cheats with.

Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :

quote:
Originally posted by paigereader:
scifi- On that statement, funny to think a man with so much money and power would need to hire a hooker... he should have no problem finding someone that wants to be with him because of it.

I think men often want to avoid entanglements that tend to go with involved relationships, particularly when they are already married. They could probably share their wealth in exchange for affection without making it officially transaction oriented...but it's essentially the same thing. (A mistress is often nothing but a prostitute on retainer.)

I'm not even sure I can draw a distinct line between prostitution and situations where people want to be with someone because of wealth/power. I suppose my best effort would be to say that if they are in *love*, it's qualitatively different from prostitution.

Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :

This is the second high profile Republican affair admittance in the last couple weeks.

Bad time to have a bunch of affairs when you're trying to rebuild your brand name and get back to basics like family values.

Especially bad for Sanford, whose presidential dreams likely just went *poof*.

Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :

quote:
Originally posted by katharina:
Sanford just about teared during the press conference rhapsodizing about the woman and how it started by him advising her to work on her marriage.

Double X has some great coverage of this.

That was just sad.

Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :

I'm just glad his wife wasn't there with him. I can only imagine the towering rage I would be in in her place right now.

Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :

Sounds like she has known about it for some time.

Posted by Vadon (Member # 4561) on :

quote:
Originally posted by kmbboots:
Sounds like she has known about it for some time.

Yup.

Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :

Link to transcript of press conference. The first few paragraphs are surreal.

Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

See he handled this press conference in the worst possible way. He stumbled through it acting like a person who really was more interested in excusing his actions to himself. Oh, we get it. It felt so wrong, it felt so right, didn't need an invitation.

Golly, the most honorable thing he can do is step over his wife's paralysis and end the marriage for all their benefit.

Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :

Okay I just read the transcript...and it's surreal. I'm not surprised though, he was obviously frazzled, and really, I don't even know if he knew what he was saying for a lot of it.

You know, given the names of his kids...this really would make a fantastic soap opera. Marshall, Landon, Bolton and Blake? They were either named with the expectation that they'd be Supreme Court justices from the 1800s or characters on Days of Our Lives.

Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
Okay I just read the transcript...and it's surreal. I'm not surprised though, he was obviously frazzled, and really, I don't even know if he knew what he was saying for a lot of it.

It is a clear portrayal of a man who is actively engaged in trying to excuse the behavior so strongly that it leaks through him being coached to simply apologize and minimize political damage.

dearest miss sanford: this guy should not be within miles of your children, please leave him if he can not leave you.

Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :

Yeah but so much of what he said was just out of left field. He did the obligatory "this is inexcusable" thing, and really I didn't hear a whole lot of excuses, it was just a random association of totally unnecessary facts and references to people that really had nothing to do with the big event in question.

It shouldn't have been called "Mark Sanford Gives Press Conferences," so much as "Mark Sanford Executes Marvelous Display of Non-Sequitors."

Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

balk from Awl.

quote:
Okay, so, the live press conference is over. We'll swap in video once they get it up, but basically Sanford came out, apologized to every person he's ever met, living or dead, admitted that the Appalachian Trail "ain't where I went," apologized some more, mumbled on about God's law for a while, copped to having an affair with a "dear, dear friend from Argentina," apologized again, answered a couple of questions, but refused to say whether he'd resign as governor. This was one of the weirdest press conferences I've ever seen, including Budd Dwyer's. If you missed it, you'll want to watch the video when it's available… it is astounding. Also, if you had any doubt that God loves Barack Obama, you can set it aside, because he SO CLEARLY DOES.

Bolding mine. hahahaha

Posted by scifibum (Member # 7625) on :

I thought it was weird that he apologized (and praised people... [Dont Know]

) for several minutes before explaining what he was apologizing for. It kind of reminds me of kids who try to make their parents promise not to get mad before they will confess to something. Trying to set up as soft a landing as possible.

Which is funny considering he also claimed to be the kind of guy to just lay it out on the table and let the chips fall.

I strongly suspect he's been campaigning for five months to get his wife's permission to continue the extramarital relationship without it affecting their marriage. Probably in a form such as this: "I'm so sorry and I'm trying very hard to figure out what to do and oh, you're such a wonderful person and I'm so sorry, so very sorry, I just want to take some time to figure out what is the best thing to do for me and for you and for Evita and for our kids, please just help me figure out what to do [blah blah blah]"

I think I'm gossiping and speculating to an untoward degree here but geez. It's fascinating.

Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :

quote:
Originally posted by paigereader:
scifi- On that statement, funny to think a man with so much money and power would need to hire a hooker... he should have no problem finding someone that wants to be with him because of it.

Even the sleaziest of one-night stands requires a certain amount of conversing, flirting, and otherwise interacting with an actual human. With prostitutes, you need only interact with the vagina.

Posted by Vadon (Member # 4561) on :

quote:
Originally posted by scifibum:
It's fascinating.

I agree. Which is strange for me because I usually don't care about these stories. I didn't care about Spitzer or Edwards. I also don't care about Sen. Ensign's affair so I know it's not about political affiliation. Maybe it's the fact that this all came out in the way it did with the mysterious dissappearance, the cover-up from the staffers, and the other twists and turns.

Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :

quote:
Below are excerpts of e-mails, obtained by The State newspaper in December, between Gov. Mark Sanford's personal e-mail account and Maria, a woman in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The State has removed the woman's full name and other personal details, including her address, e-mail address and children's names.

Sanford's office Wednesday did not dispute the authenticity of the emails.

McClatchy special correspondent Angeles Mase visited the 14-story apartment building in Buenos Aires Wednesday where the woman lives, according to the emails, which included her address. The woman at the address answered to the name in the emails and, at first, agreed to speak to a visitor, but she declined after the visitor identified herself as a reporter.

The doorman at the building, shown a photograph of Sanford, said he did not recognize him. According to the doorman, the woman has two sons, one a teenager of driving age and the other younger. The emails refer to the woman's two sons.

http://www.thestate.com/sanford/story/839350.html

Huh.

Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :

From one of the emails,

quote:
How in the world this lightening strike snuck up on us I am still not quite sure.

Among the many mistakes he made, thinking it was a lightning strike is one of the most poignant.

Nobody accidentally falls in love with another person. There's the exposure, the subtle compliments, the overt friendliness, that innocent thoughts of what might have been, what could be, what ought to be, and finally what is.

I can't stand songs with lines like, "I knew I loved you before I met you" or even the phrase "love at first sight," it demeans and renders worthless the real potent force that is true love. The kind of love that takes effort to obtain, and is not freely given.

Gov. Sanford may actually be in love with this woman, but as he himself said, it was a long trip that began eight years ago.

Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :

I think the republicans can kick a few extra seats good bye.

Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :

I'm actually really tired of hearing about these sorts of things. I haven't read (or watched) all of the coverage, but unless it turns out that he was spending our taxes (yep, I'm an SC resident) to fly down there and see her I don't care.

There are probably millions of men and women around the world having extra-marital affairs right this second. Why should I care about this one guy and his one affair? Seriously, aside from the fact that he's the governor what makes him so different from everyone else?

Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Blayne Bradley:
I think the republicans can kick a few extra seats good bye.

Not in this state Blayne. It's a republican state, and I don't see that changing any time soon. Even with the affair.

Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :

Now is the time when everyone pledges a sort of brotherly "hey hang in there Mark" to him while at the same time lambasting him behind closed doors to put as much distance between themselves and him as possible. Sanford is politically radioactive right now, and we're about three months away from midterm election races really heating up.

This won't cost the Republicans anything more than some general brand tarnishing in an area where they're already woefully weak, and one less hat in the ring for presidential contenders. Four guys and one woman all just let out a tiny little breath of relief.

Posted by theamazeeaz (Member # 6970) on :

quote:
Originally posted by andi330:
I'm actually really tired of hearing about these sorts of things. I haven't read (or watched) all of the coverage, but unless it turns out that he was spending our taxes (yep, I'm an SC resident) to fly down there and see her I don't care.

There are probably millions of men and women around the world having extra-marital affairs right this second. Why should I care about this one guy and his one affair? Seriously, aside from the fact that he's the governor what makes him so different from everyone else?

Well, it would have been nice to those other folks whose salaries are paid with your tax dollars were informed the governor was taking a few personal days.

Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :

My favorite part was when politicians in SC were complaining that Sanford was leaving the state rudderless while Iran was acting up.

Sometimes you just can't make this stuff up.

Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :

quote:
Originally posted by theamazeeaz:

quote:
Originally posted by andi330:
I'm actually really tired of hearing about these sorts of things. I haven't read (or watched) all of the coverage, but unless it turns out that he was spending our taxes (yep, I'm an SC resident) to fly down there and see her I don't care.

There are probably millions of men and women around the world having extra-marital affairs right this second. Why should I care about this one guy and his one affair? Seriously, aside from the fact that he's the governor what makes him so different from everyone else?
Well, it would have been nice to those other folks whose salaries are paid with your tax dollars were informed the governor was taking a few personal days.

It sure doesn't seem like it was that big of a deal. I mean, I live here and I didn't even know he was "missing" until today. I just googled looking for articles, and the earliest I can find was the 22 by which point he'd been in touch. Granted, he wasn't hiking the Appalachian Trail as his office claimed, but if the first we here about him being "missing" is after he's "found" then I'm not going to be too fussed about it. Apparently, it's not the first time it's happened (which makes sense considering his revelations of today) and nobody's ever made a big deal over it before. Most of the state probably would never have known he was missing if he hadn't made his big announcement today.

And yeah, I love how it was soooo important that he be here because of the turmoil in Iraq. I mean, we're such a major target down here and all.

Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

Basically you're saying "Well, I'm sure apathetic about this, I'm pretty apathetic about the whole thing in general. So if I can't be arsed to care, why is this news?"

Ok, simple answer: most citizens of that state (and indeed of the union) are not apathetic about a jetsetting public scandal involving their governor going on a taxpayer-cash funded offshore trip to a mistress over father's day while the state is left essentially rudderless and the governor drops out of contact near-entirely, even to the lt. gov.

quote:
I just googled looking for articles, and the earliest I can find was the 22 by which point he'd been in touch. Granted, he wasn't hiking the Appalachian Trail as his office claimed, but if the first we here about him being "missing" is after he's "found" then I'm not going to be too fussed about it.

Now, this is interesting for two reasons. The original post alone is articles about Where The Heck Is This Guy phase in transition to everything else.

The second is that in about ten seconds of news.google.com searching I found plenty of articles predating your Can't Be Fussed dateline.

quote:
And yeah, I love how it was soooo important that he be here because of the turmoil in Iraq. I mean, we're such a major target down here and all.

Sigh. Iran. the turmoil in Iran.

Posted by Tarrsk (Member # 332) on :

quote:
Originally posted by andi330:

quote:
Originally posted by theamazeeaz:

quote:
Originally posted by andi330:
I'm actually really tired of hearing about these sorts of things. I haven't read (or watched) all of the coverage, but unless it turns out that he was spending our taxes (yep, I'm an SC resident) to fly down there and see her I don't care.

There are probably millions of men and women around the world having extra-marital affairs right this second. Why should I care about this one guy and his one affair? Seriously, aside from the fact that he's the governor what makes him so different from everyone else?
Well, it would have been nice to those other folks whose salaries are paid with your tax dollars were informed the governor was taking a few personal days.
It sure doesn't seem like it was that big of a deal. I mean, I live here and I didn't even know he was "missing" until today. I just googled looking for articles, and the earliest I can find was the 22 by which point he'd been in touch. Granted, he wasn't hiking the Appalachian Trail as his office claimed, but if the first we here about him being "missing" is after he's "found" then I'm not going to be too fussed about it. Apparently, it's not the first time it's happened (which makes sense considering his revelations of today) and nobody's ever made a big deal over it before. Most of the state probably would never have known he was missing if he hadn't made his big announcement today.

And yeah, I love how it was soooo important that he be here because of the turmoil in Iraq. I mean, we're such a major target down here and all.

Wait, so dereliction of duty is OK for a public servant as long as you aren't spending taxpayer dollars (let's leave aside for now the fact that Sanford *was* taking advantage of taxpayer-funded trips to Argentina for his little trysts)?

Also, I'm not sure where you're getting this idea that the Iranian turmoil has anything to do with the furor over Sanford. Everything I've read indicates that the outrage in SC is about two things: (1) the "leaving the state leaderless without appointing an interim governor" thing and (2) the sleazebag factor. Nobody is under any illusions that Sanford was some crucial figure in negotiations with Iran, or that Iran was about to drop a bomb on Columbia.

Posted by nik (Member # 2114) on :

James T Kirk, you beat me to it. As soon as I saw this thread I wanted to post that.

Sigh. To think people actually depend on FOX for their news [Smile]

In all honesty, I don't think this detracts from his ability to "govern". I never understood why people got so worked up over the affairs of politicians, anymore so then paparazzi or Entertainment Tonight. It's absolutely none of my business. And I don't particularly even like the guy.

$0.02

Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :

I don't think the affair detracts from his ability, but I do think the five-day dissapearance and the willingness to mislead about it does.

On a completely personal none-of-my-business level, I think Spitzer and Edwards' tactic of buying a hooker for the first and throwing the other woman and your child with her under a bus for the second are both worse than this, although I'd be out of there if I was married to any of them.

Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Tarrsk:

quote:
Originally posted by andi330:

quote:
Originally posted by theamazeeaz:

quote:
Originally posted by andi330:
I'm actually really tired of hearing about these sorts of things. I haven't read (or watched) all of the coverage, but unless it turns out that he was spending our taxes (yep, I'm an SC resident) to fly down there and see her I don't care.

There are probably millions of men and women around the world having extra-marital affairs right this second. Why should I care about this one guy and his one affair? Seriously, aside from the fact that he's the governor what makes him so different from everyone else?
Well, it would have been nice to those other folks whose salaries are paid with your tax dollars were informed the governor was taking a few personal days.
It sure doesn't seem like it was that big of a deal. I mean, I live here and I didn't even know he was "missing" until today. I just googled looking for articles, and the earliest I can find was the 22 by which point he'd been in touch. Granted, he wasn't hiking the Appalachian Trail as his office claimed, but if the first we here about him being "missing" is after he's "found" then I'm not going to be too fussed about it. Apparently, it's not the first time it's happened (which makes sense considering his revelations of today) and nobody's ever made a big deal over it before. Most of the state probably would never have known he was missing if he hadn't made his big announcement today.

And yeah, I love how it was soooo important that he be here because of the turmoil in Iraq. I mean, we're such a major target down here and all.
Wait, so dereliction of duty is OK for a public servant as long as you aren't spending taxpayer dollars (let's leave aside for now the fact that Sanford *was* taking advantage of taxpayer-funded trips to Argentina for his little trysts)?

Also, I'm not sure where you're getting this idea that the Iranian turmoil has anything to do with the furor over Sanford. Everything I've read indicates that the outrage in SC is about two things: (1) the "leaving the state leaderless without appointing an interim governor" thing and (2) the sleazebag factor. Nobody is under any illusions that Sanford was some crucial figure in negotiations with Iran, or that Iran was about to drop a bomb on Columbia.

Nope, what I'm saying is that there's not really anything I can do about it. Sure, I could be all upset and offended. But I can't be bothered about it. Why? Because as of right now, there's nothing that I can do about it, and being offended or not isn't going to change that.

Regarding his disappearance, he'll either be impeached for neglecting his duty or not. That's up to the legislature and how the "gross misconduct" statute applies to him (if it does, at least one member of the legislature, a democrat btw, has stated that this doesn't qualify). My being offended about his affair or even upset about him disappearing for 5 days isn't going to change what the legislature decides to do about his disappearance.

And as to the affair? I really don't care. As I said in my original post, there are millions of people, both male and female, currently involved in some kind of illicit something. I don't have to watch them cry about it on TV, and I'd prefer not to watch politicians cry over it either. Does this mean that I think that it's ok to break marriage vows and cheat on your spouse? No, but my opinion that it's wrong isn't going to change what he's already done, and it's not likely to change his future behavior either.

Will I vote for him if he doesn't get impeached and runs for re-election? No. But then, I didn't vote for him this time either.

Posted by Darth_Mauve (Member # 4709) on :

The Web-comic Something*Positive has a nice idea, but flawed delivery.

They created a Bingo Card for what politicians say when apologizing for adultery.

Unfortunately they went overboard with the language, so I won't post a link (not family friendly), but I am sure it can be rewritten and My Bad Ba-Bing-ho Cards can be created for us all.

I am also curious what part the Lt. Governor had in revealing this tryst. Its a cheaper way to get to be governor than doing that whole election thing.

Posted by MrSquicky (Member # 1802) on :

Initially, I was thinking that there was a contender for the GOP Presidential slot in 2012 who was behind the string of "family values" Republic aspirants cheating on their wives, but, taking a wider look, I think what is going on is quite clear.

Because it's not just people looking to run for President in 2012. The common thread so far is that they all lambasted Bill Clinton over his affair. And, isn't it curious how we haven't heard all that much out of ex-President Clinton for a while?

My theory - speculation of which I expect to be reported as a top story on Fox News any day now - is that he is behind a secret conspiracy of revenge to bring down all of his detractors with the same sort of scandal that they used against him.

Posted by Darth_Mauve (Member # 4709) on :

Aha--Clinton, with his army of delicious fem-bots, is reeking havoc on the Family Value Conservative Coalition.

Only a few stalwart Republican Real men are able to stand up to the wicked sexuality of these Democrat-controlled, recently reworked Obama-bots. They do not flinch in the face of cleavage, South American Beach Bikini's, or their seductive call of "Your pastor will forgive you as long as you vote against Gay Marriage."

Luckily for President Bill Clinton, most of those strong Republican real men then did fall to the allure of the "Page-boy-bot Rock McFeely".

"I was hypnotized." claimed Senator I Dinna Doit of East Virginia. "Clinton used secret CIA Enhanced Interrogation Hypnotism to force me into this compromising position. I mean look at Rock's eyes. How could you not be hypnotized by their deep emerald green. I could go skinny-dipping in those eyes....I mean, I's was hypnotized by rays coming out of those cold robotic eyes."

Governor Tad Flatulent of some southern state we won't admit to knowing said, "Of course it was a Democratic Fem-bot that made seduced me away from my wife. It had to be a plot. How else do you think I'll get a woman?

Yeah, I can see Fox running that story soon.

Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :

But...but...why would President Clinton be sabbotaging Democratic governors. Surely you have noticed that all the politicians have a "(D)" after their name during their horrible press conferences?

Maybe clearing the field for a Hillary run in 2012?

Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

quote:
Originally posted by andi330:
Nope, what I'm saying is that there's not really anything I can do about it. Sure, I could be all upset and offended. But I can't be bothered about it. Why? Because as of right now, there's nothing that I can do about it, and being offended or not isn't going to change that.

Regarding his disappearance, he'll either be impeached for neglecting his duty or not. That's up to the legislature and how the "gross misconduct" statute applies to him (if it does, at least one member of the legislature, a democrat btw, has stated that this doesn't qualify). My being offended about his affair or even upset about him disappearing for 5 days isn't going to change what the legislature decides to do about his disappearance.

And as to the affair? I really don't care. As I said in my original post, there are millions of people, both male and female, currently involved in some kind of illicit something. I don't have to watch them cry about it on TV, and I'd prefer not to watch politicians cry over it either. Does this mean that I think that it's ok to break marriage vows and cheat on your spouse? No, but my opinion that it's wrong isn't going to change what he's already done, and it's not likely to change his future behavior either.

Will I vote for him if he doesn't get impeached and runs for re-election? No. But then, I didn't vote for him this time either.

So, help me get this straight: the only apparent degree to which you care is to make sure to broadcast to others exactly how much you don't care and/or complain about how other people or the news seems to be informing people about it?

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

quote:
Originally posted by kmbboots:
But...but...why would President Clinton be sabbotaging Democratic governors. Surely you have noticed that all the politicians have a "(D)" after their name during their horrible press conferences?

Because they didn't back him up during Monicagate?

Posted by andi330 (Member # 8572) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Samprimary:

quote:
Originally posted by andi330:
Nope, what I'm saying is that there's not really anything I can do about it. Sure, I could be all upset and offended. But I can't be bothered about it. Why? Because as of right now, there's nothing that I can do about it, and being offended or not isn't going to change that.

Regarding his disappearance, he'll either be impeached for neglecting his duty or not. That's up to the legislature and how the "gross misconduct" statute applies to him (if it does, at least one member of the legislature, a democrat btw, has stated that this doesn't qualify). My being offended about his affair or even upset about him disappearing for 5 days isn't going to change what the legislature decides to do about his disappearance.

And as to the affair? I really don't care. As I said in my original post, there are millions of people, both male and female, currently involved in some kind of illicit something. I don't have to watch them cry about it on TV, and I'd prefer not to watch politicians cry over it either. Does this mean that I think that it's ok to break marriage vows and cheat on your spouse? No, but my opinion that it's wrong isn't going to change what he's already done, and it's not likely to change his future behavior either.

Will I vote for him if he doesn't get impeached and runs for re-election? No. But then, I didn't vote for him this time either.
So, help me get this straight: the only apparent degree to which you care is to make sure to broadcast to others exactly how much you don't care and/or complain about how other people or the news seems to be informing people about it?

I actually didn't intend on commenting past the first post. But I did check back in the thread and noticed that someone responded, and therefore (so that I wouldn't accused of immaturity or whatever, something that has happened to me before here) I responded to their post. And now, to prove the I really actually don't care and wish I hadn't posted as much as I did, you won't see me post in here in the future.

Go ahead someone (this is not directed at any particular individual) tell me how immature it is to just leave a conversation to prove a point. I DARE you.

Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

Ha ha ha. I will actually do you one better.

quote:
Originally posted by andi330:
unless it turns out that he was spending our taxes (yep, I'm an SC resident) to fly down there and see her I don't care.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/us/26sanford.html?_r=1&hp

dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :

quote:
Originally posted by katharina:
I'm just glad his wife wasn't there with him. I can only imagine the towering rage I would be in in her place right now.

Yeah. I just read through the transcript.

It's clear he has very deep feelings for the woman his is now involved with. But what a jerk!

(I also read the text of the alleged emails - if they are real, I feel much much sorrier for his wife. Who knows the truth of their marriage, but having this out there - well, it's hideous. And they've got 4 kids. Just horrible.)

Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :

rivka: you might have just been doing deadpan, but the joke was because this was the second time Fox has identified a Republican having a scandal as a Democrat in their graphics.

Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :

I'm one to always be skeptical of conspiracy theories, and I am hesitant to attribute to malice what can instead by attributed to stupidity, but TWICE?

[Roll Eyes]

Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :

Love this chart from FiveThirtyEight: http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/06/sanford-more-resignation-pressure-than.html

Posted by swbarnes2 (Member # 10225) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Xavier:
I'm one to always be skeptical of conspiracy theories, and I am hesitant to attribute to malice what can instead by attributed to stupidity, but TWICE?

Twice?

Fox does it more often then that. Three times with Republicans under ethical scandals. And a few more errors in there too.

Here's a link with pics.

http://intershame.com/on/Fox_News/

Posted by Mucus (Member # 9735) on :

Ah. Its always funny when its not happening to you [Smile]

Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :

Jon Stewart had a field day with this.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

quote:
Originally posted by fugu13:
rivka: you might have just been doing deadpan

Note to self: Always add the [Wink]

quote:
Originally posted by fugu13:
but the joke was because this was the second time Fox has identified a Republican having a scandal as a Democrat in their graphics.

I know.

Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :

quote:
Originally posted by rivka:

quote:
Originally posted by fugu13:
rivka: you might have just been doing deadpan
Note to self: Always add the !

NOOOooooooOOOOOooooooOOOOOOOO!!!!

(If you do, please please please don't throw the "j/k" in there, too.)

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Pop, that was ALSO a joke.

And if I ever start adding "j/k" to my posts, I beg you to come visit. And shoot me.

Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :

Oh, I totally will.

j/k [Wink]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

*narrowed eyes*

Posted by chica (Member # 12115) on :

I really think that his lack of responsibility for his office and his state is far more telling of his lack of character than the affair. I'm solidly disappointed in the man. A week ago I would of pegged him to be side by side with Palin in 2012. He had made quite a star of himself opposing all that damned spending, but I guess he just didn't understand the concept of responsibility. Or perhaps a beautiful Latin lady wisked the concept away. From what I've heard they do really care about each other, although I think that the parade of their private and intensely personal emails across the media is a bit shameful.

Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :

Palin is a horrible choice for President or Vice President or anywhere near the Executive branch. Doncha know?

Posted by Darth_Mauve (Member # 4709) on :

So Governor Sanford is a true man of principle. He truly believes that not one more cent of the deficit should be spent on causes like fixing the vastly underfunded state education system. Its much more important that we don't burden our children with an enormous deficit in the future....now spending it on trips to Argentina for a little slap and tickle, well that's another matter entirely.

Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

quote:
A week ago I would of pegged him to be side by side with Palin in 2012.

Even before this event, that ticket would have essentially been the "let's make obama's win effortlessly easy 2012" ticket.

Never, ever, ever, ever would have worked.

Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :

Family values.

Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :

quote:
Originally posted by aspectre:
Family values.

The excerpt was kinda boring TBQH. How on earth does David Coe propose that one identifies who God has chosen? Seems suspiciously identical to vox populi vox dei, except he simply says it isn't.

Posted by MrSquicky (Member # 1802) on :

quote:
How on earth does David Coe propose that one identifies who God has chosen?

What he was talking about is an extreme form of a very popular Christian belief. I don't know the exact method he decides this*, but there are several established ways.

* I'd guess it's people in power who hold a similar view of Christianity or of needing to submit to God's will.

Posted by Darth_Mauve (Member # 4709) on :

This "Family" is why I find fundamental Christianity scarey.

I am not afraid of people of faith, of the good Christians out there seeking to enlighten the world.

But these folks have an antiquated "God chose us and made us wealthy and powerful to take his message to the people. So we can do what ever we wish, as long as we do it in his name. We can do no wrong as long as we are the chosen."

Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

Thankfully, most Christians are going to look at the family with as much if not more distaste than those not being ostensibly 'represented' and led by them.

It just sounds like a cult dedicated to plutocratic megalomaniacs who wish to use god as a crude foil to excuse their behavior to themselves.

Posted by hobsen (Member # 11808) on :

An interesting article, aspectre.

quote:
Owned by a foundation affiliated with the Family, C Street is officially registered as a church; in practice, it serves as a meeting place and residence for politicians like South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, Nevada Sen. John Ensign and Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn.

So far as I remember, two out of three of those mentioned are not at the top of their game these days.

quote:
The Family was founded in 1935 by a minister named Abraham Vereide after, he claimed, he had a vision in which God came to him in the person of the head of the United States Steel Corporation.

And following God's personal expression of concern, FDR and Truman remained in power for the next 17 years. God was perhaps ineffectual?

Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :

quote:
God came to him in the person of the head of the United States Steel Corporation.

This should be the first line of a humorous story.

Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :

Spend As I Say, Not As I Spend

Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :

quote:
Originally posted by plaid:
Spend As I Say, Not As I Spend

$12,000 for one trip to China? I could do alot with 12,000. I've always felt "public servants" ought to fly economy, unless they want to shell money out of their own salary for business/first class.

Posted by Saephon (Member # 9623) on :

I believe there's a psychology term for someone who speaks out against the very behaviors he indulges in - oh yeah, a sleazeball [Razz]

Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :

Apparently Nevada's SenatorEnsign was engaging in a LOT more hanky panky covering up his sexual peccadilloes. And Oklahoma's SenatorCoburn is thick in the middle of the coverup.

Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :

I don't have a whole lot to add to the discussion, other than general sighing at politician behavior.

Mostly I wanted to increase the number of threads in a row with 94 replies.

Posted by Raymond Arnold (Member # 11712) on :

I'm wondering, does it make sense to include posts with "195" in my master plan, or would that be silly? (Not to be confused with the grim seriousness of my primary master plan)