Jun
24
Scrub Another Republican Hopeful
Filed Under American Politics
Mark Sanford, Governor of South Carolina went walkabout over the weekend, completely incommunicado, even to his family allegedly.
The official line is that he was hiking on the Appalaichan Trail as a way of getting “away from it all” for a few days.
Governor Sanford, while not one of the top favourites for the GOP nomination in 2012, he features below Romney, Palin, Jindal and Gingrich in most straw polls of Republicans, is still considered a potential nominee.
There are two spins to this story at the moment. The first is the official line from his staff that this was a simple weekend away. Even if this is a genuine explanation, the implications for a Presidential run are large. Firstly as the chief executive of a state, Sanford decides to go off without telling anyone. What would have happened if there had been a train crash like in Washington DC, a shooting in a school or a disastrous natural event. No chief executive should be unreachable for any length of time because of the potential for unpredictable events. I can imagine the adverts being used against him in a primary, of a three A.M. call being received and no-one being able to contact Sanford.
Secondly, apparently not even his wife knew where he was. Whilst she say’s that he has done this before, needing the time to unwind, this seems suspicious. More importantly, he chose Father’s Day weekend to go missing. Hardly an advert for family values!
But there is a second version of events that is getting play. This focuses on an official car that was missing, but later found at an Atlanta airport, there was an eye-witness of Sanford at this airport and the last time his mobile phone’s signal was detected, it was in Atlanta. If he was flying out of Atlanta, the speculation will be rife about where he was going. Nate Silver has already started:
Obviously, if Sanford was in Minneapolis, he was nowhere near the Appalachian Trail, as his aides claimed earlier today. But I sure hope the guy is OK. The first association I make with Minneapolis in this context is “Mayo Clinic”. If Sanford went to get some kind of medical condition checked out, and it proved to be more serious than expected, that might explain the tendency of those around him to obfuscate on about his whereabouts.
This type of purely speculative conjecture will only build into a feverish obsession if the truth of his disappearance isn’t made known soon. And the explanation so far doesn’t seem to wash. I cannot imagine a Chief Executive just wanting to escape the rat race for a few days without telling anyone. And if he does act in this way, I’m not entirely sure he is suitable for higher office in any case.
Whatever comes off this, his Presidential odds have definitely lengthened dramatically.
Update Mark Sanford has returned. Met at Atlanta airport, he say’s that he was holidaying in Argentina alone, driving the coast.
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33 Responses to “Scrub Another Republican Hopeful”
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Mr Cabbie,
Good to see/hear you using some Aussie vernacular.
“he go walkabout” probably brought to most of the world by Crocodile Dundee
Australian pidgin from the Koori for getting back to ones true self, leaving behind the trappings of civilisation possibly going off to take part in a tribal ritual as well.
“Read my lips…I had absolutely nothing to do with Monica Lewinsky, I did not have an affair.”
Sound familiar? A Possible cause?
Guy, guys….can’t a fellow get away from the world for just a few days…I don’t have the pressure this fellow has on him and I sure need to get away sometimes.
But seriously…if it was a visit to Mayo Clinic, it would be a real blow for a hopeful future conservative candidate.
And Tony O, no woman is worth that kind of risk to his career unless you are Bill Clinton… And speaking about women, what kind of ‘dumb’ wife does Sanford have anyway?
Apparently, the S. Carolina Lt. Governor who doesn’t get along with Sandford started this rumor…I hope this destroys this creep’s future political ambitions.
The first thought that came to my mind is that Sandford was there to meet with Minn. Governor Pawlenty who also is a rising star…to talk about a running mate for the future Pres. election.
Sanfords back. He went to Argentina…alone, to get away from it all…drive along the coast. I can’t say I blame him. Apparently, he is a free spirit and often travels around the world…many times alone.
Its true, you sometimes need to travel to a completely different locale to get away from all the problems at home…it really does help put things in perspective. Hey, it’s better than pills.
The liberal press will try to bury this guy over an innocent ‘get away’…I just hope they don’t succeed.
Original Tony…I’m eating my crow.
You were right about Sanford…Sanford flew all the way to Argentina to have sex with some hot Argentinian babe.
I guess I’m too naive, decent and frankly have too much common sense to undertstand how Sanford could be so incredibly silly to risk it all for a couple of one night stands.
I think these politicians start to believe they are omnipotent…that they can do anything and get away with it. They start to believe in the adulation they receive. They come to believe that they don’t have to live by the rules that most of us do.
I’m glad we found out that this guy has a screw loose along with extremely bad judgement not to mention poor morals.
I hope all that sex was worth a career thrown away. No more marriage, no more being a governor in the future, no more Senate bid (which he could have for the asking) no more Presidential bid.
Gosh, I hope all that hot sex was worth it…
At least he didn’t insist that his humiliated wife stand beside him when he made his announcement to the media unlike all the Democratic politician’s poor wives.
Been at work and we don’t have the sky box hooked up yet so i’m a bit shocked at this one. Not a repressed member of the “family values” crowd, just a horny one.
Sanford was beyond rising star status on the right with his stimulus fight. I’m sure some here will find a way to blame this on President Obama.
Will be interesting to see what Hannity has to say about this one. Bob Beckel just about got him to critisize Ensign, so l wonder how he’s going to handle the Sanford thing considering all the support he’s been giving him over the last few months.
Urgh!!!! Fox again do the crappy thing:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/6/24/746339/-Sanford-Press-Conference:-The-Aftermath
It’s sad that they are so desperate to lie to their viewers that, yet again, they lie about the party of affiliation for yet another disgraced republican.
An american is right, it’s good that he didn’t force his wife to stand by him when he admitted his affair. It’s great to know there are some politicians who won’t do that:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdawA7SrK3Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHC1gf99sq0
better now than later—like post-primary
“flying to Argentina” Is that what they call it now another GOP “Gaggle of Philanderers” hypocrite bites the dust or was it the pillow?
Does anyone know is he was “flying to Argentina” with a man or woman.
This time it was a lady involved, so just a hypocrite not a repressed one.
THX and Israel,
Have your fun along with the liberal media…Sanford is toast, Conservatives will not support him for dog catcher in the future.
Unlike Democrats who continued to support their guys when they have gay orgies with young men in their basement, have an affair with a young female White House aid, have a homosexual affair with a young Congressional page just to name a few. All of these men retained their seats in Congress and the Presidency…so please don’t mention hypocrisy to me….
At least Sanford didn’t have his poor wife standing there at the news conference like all the Democrats do…isn’t it enough that these women were stupid enough to marry a politican?
An American
“Have your fun”
Don’t worry I will John Promise Keeper” Ensign last week and Mark “flying to Argentina” Sanford this week.
You heard hear first good old boy and Alaskan separatist Todd P has zipper issues too.
An American, l have to say that while l am amused when reading your comments and the fact you seem to think that you hold the high ground because of false stories of gay orgies in basements and the like, l do wonder if the continued tearing of your hubristic strawmen you use to defend republicans doesn’t get you down.
Last week l wrote about the infinite memory viod of the right wing echo chamber and yet again you prove my arguement. I have two words for you as l have ALREADY posted clips from youtube which show just how wrong your comments about the wives were:
David Vitter.
Not only did he do the same as the disgraced (and removed) Eliot Spitzer, but he has been defended to the hilt by republicans because (drumroll) HE IS IN A DISTRICT THEY ARE IN FEAR OF LOSING IN A RUN OFF ELECTION WITH A NEW CANDIDATE.
That is the reason the republicans were okay getting rid of Larry Craig. He was in a safe republican district they were guarenteed to win, Vitter’s seat was a toss up so Diaper Dave stayed and Bathroom Larry finally, with a LOT of persuasion and a lack of support jumped off the cliff.
I won’t even go too deep into the fact that Gingrich has risen like a George A Romero character to be a major right wing voice again.
Honestly, you have got to stop bringing a butter knife to a gun fight.
Israel,
I refuse to wade through this filthy swamp with you…many politicans on both sides lack morals.
Power really does corrupt… Politicans seem to be the most flawed among us and are easily corrupted.
An American:
You are already in the swamp. You got there with your partizan statement on this tread about Sanford and on the one about Ensign where you made a backhanded slap at democrats when you said:
“At least Sanford didn’t have his poor wife standing there at the news conference like all the Democrats do”
completely ignoring that fact that l had posted two youtube clips of republican politicians doing just what you said only democrat do. Maybe you can go to Fox and read Sandford’s comments about impeaching Clinton. Not as ad as ensign but pretty close.
You are right, many politicans have a lack of morals on both sides, they are after all still human beings with human frailties and being forced to hide who you really are to please a group of intolerant jerks must be both exausting and soul destroying. The only difference is ONLY ONE PARTY GOES INTO ELECTIONS CALLING THEMSELVES “THE PARTY OF FAMILY VALUES” and has shown time and again, be it through it’s religious or political leaders or it’s media commentators that the staement as well as the platform is built on VERY shaky foundations.
Do you get the reason for the sniping and the calls of hypocrisy?
Israel,
Give it a rest… and talk about something that really matters…who cares about these immoral politicans? I frankly wish we could get rid of all of them and start over…
Ah ha!!
So now they are all immoral?
I will remember this statement the next time you slam a democrat for doing something you don’t like and start sniffing at.
Israel,
That is exactly it.
An American just refuses to see the out and out hypocrisy of these non Promise Keepers et al.
And so another GOP Family Values man just turns out to be one more whited sepulchre in the GOP Cemetery.
Can we please stop it with this stupid family vales meme. Yes conservatives believe in family values because it’s the right thing to do. So people aren’t perfect, big deal. Of course we can’t really have a go at Democrats for perverting what they believe in, because they don’t believe in anything. Well apart from wasting taxpayers money and screwing prostitutes (both male and female). Oh yes, and being corrupt.
THX
As does the Messiah himself if the pre election rumours are too – something to add on to his drug dealing I suppose.
Cabbie:
Just because one of the main parties in the US is now watching as one of the largest platforms it used for 30 years to win over christians fall flat on it’s face, just like it did for the conservatives over here in the 80’s and 90’s doesn’t mean that you can just brush it off and say we should stop. The staggering level of hypocrisy is shown time and again, and while these self righteous hypocrites and their media enablers ignore the plank of wood in their eyes and continue to promote them as such l for one will continue to point out the lie every time it is uttered.
We have just sat through the most corrupt administration in US history, with one of the largest informants in Jack Abramoff STILL TALKING AND GIVING THE FBI NAMES.
Your snippy little “democrats don’t believe in anything” comment (apart from climate change, reduction in CO2 emmissions, revision in healthcare, equality for all in marriage, equality for all, exiting from Iraq, a two state solution in Palestine, closing Guantanemo, not torturing people, stopping pre-emptive wars, the continuing of Roe vs Wade, immigration reform and giving people in the US a decent living wage) does mean that l have to post it again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaE3EaQte78&feature=fvst
Cabbie:
“As does the Messiah himself if the pre election rumours are too – something to add on to his drug dealing I suppose.”
His DRUG DEALING”?!!?!?!?!?!?
What is this, one of the right’s “when did you stop beating your wife?”, memes?
Come on guys…have any of you ever dated an Argentinian woman? They are so HOT…who can blame the guy
Israel
I’m going to have some fun with this one
Climate change – Obama’s cap and trade proposal reduces global temperatures in 2050 by 0.09 degrees fahrenheit. I could probably do that by leaving my fridge door open. The thing is, I don’t have to tax the middle classes, screw business and worsen the economy to do it. He’s not interested in climate change, just spending other peoples money – a good democrat in other words.
revision in healthcare – Well it probably needs some revising bearing in mind that it was the emocrats medicaid and medicare that are practically bankrupting America.
equality for all in marriage – Dick Cheney believes in equality in marriage, not your messiah. Does this mean you’re going to convert if this is so important to you?
equality for all – You mean equality for all trade unionists and people who vote Democratic. Not equality for people who believe in God, not equality for people who work hard, not equality for rural America, not equality for gun owners, not equality for the unborn….need I go on.
exiting from Iraq – You mean the war that the majority of Democrats voted for. You mean the timetable for exiting Iraq that was almost exactly the same as George Bush’s? I’m not seeing any great difference between the Dems and the GOP there Israel.
a two state solution in Palestine – I’m not sure how you see this as a Democratic thing. You are aware that G.W. was the first American President to support the two state solution. Now you’re co-opting Republican ideas for yourself. Are we turning you?
closing Guantanemo – Without any actual plans to do it. I favour giving a million pounds to everyone in the world. I don’t know how I’m going to do it yet, but I will I promise.
not torturing people – Just listening to Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi is torture enough. I’m not sure if the Dems know what torture is. While Iranian thugs were cracking heads, the Obama administration called it a “debate”. They don’t plan to torture anyone, but they’re perfectly happy to look the other way when others do it.
stopping pre-emptive wars – Like Vietnam, Korea, The American Civil War (if Hayward can use history, so can I), Bosnia.
the continuing of Roe vs Wade – Yes because killing babies is something to hang your hat on.
immigration reform – If that was the case, why despite having a massive majority in the house and a virtual supermajority in the senate does Robert Gibb say that there isn’t the votes for immigration reform.
giving people in the US a decent living wage – By opposing tax cuts. Brilliant!
Just having fun Israel, please take it as it is intended – a fun discussion.
And as for snippy:
Hmmmm!
Cabbie
My sources are pretty good on Mr Palin an MSM journo from a highly respected organ.
THX
There were supposedly good sources on Trig, on Palin being a member of the Alaska Independence Party, of her trying to ban books, of her cutting funding for special needs education, of her being an anti-semitic Pat Buchanan supporter. Every one of those supposed scandals has been proven to be false so forgive me If I don’t trust another member of the MSM about Palin. They lie through their teeth about her.
Cabbie:
Snippy is as snippy does. That is why l have to say that l do love this site.
BTW, Cheney moving away from the dark side?!?!?!
Does this mean that if we remove HIS helmet we would find an effeminate young latino man wearing a peace sign tie-dye shirt and humming “Everythings coming up Roses”?
Cabbie you are right about the Palin lies.
Now if we could only stop with the secret muslim/birther/messiah crap we may be getting some where.
Cabbie
Watch this space
He turned down the stimulus money on behalf of his State, shame he couldn’t so easily dial down his own personal stimulus issues.
Oh I know desperate can anyone else do any better.
THX
Be careful what you wish for. If Todd is playing away, that’s only going to result in more sympathy and support for Sarah. Maybe you should suggest to your journo friend that he keeps it in his trousers (his pen!)
C. Cabbie,
Brilliant list! If I was Israel, I think I would just grow up and convert.
OT and Israel,
You misunderstand where the hypocrisy comes from.
When Republican politicans fall off their pedestals, their conservative constituents no longer will support them. Constituents on the left accept bad moral behavior and say…well, we all do it, why not them…Most Americans on the right really do have higher moral standards than most people on the left…note…I say most, not all.
You can scream about Republican hypocrisy all you want when it comes to politicans…but most of their constituents really do expect their representatives to have good moral standards…and will not continue to vote them in like the Democrats do. Edward Kennedy is a good example.
I think that Sanford was truly in love with this Argentinian woman. He knew her for eight years and only had an affair the last year of that relationship.
Since his career is ruined, his marriage is on the rocks, I wouldn’t be surprised if he decided to return and make a life with her.
Maybe, deep down, he just wanted to walk away from this disaster of a country…stop the struggle. Can you imagine the burden he was shouldering considering running for president after the ruin Obama and his cronies have inflicted on this great country.
Maybe he subconsciously wanted to destroy all he had worked for all these years and start over again.
This was one conflicted fellow.
Ermm…………
An American, have you been listen to Rush?
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200906250024
The thing is, Sanford started his affair under Bush (pun intended), so what does THAT say about his views on the way the country was going when he started “walking the Applachian trail”?