Booman Tribune ~ A Progressive Community

Reflections on Sanford

by BooMan
Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 03:09:15 PM EST

Mark Sanford is a hypocrite and an adulterer, but those are not reasons for him to resign or be impeached. However, flaking out and leaving the country without providing for a succession of government is an impeachable offense. The people of South Carolina will have to decide whether they trust Sanford not to flake out again. Actually, the members of the legislature will have to decide that. It isn't that he lied about an affair that is the real problem. People need to remember that.

It's always interesting when right-wingers fall short of their own moralizing rhetoric, but the price for that is paid at the ballot box. The price for leaving your state without leadership should be higher.

Reflections on Sanford | 35 comments (35 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Reflections on Sanford (4.00 / 2)

Does Mark Sanford understand the meaning of the word "responsibility"? Seems like a governor and prospective presidential candidate ought to be able to handle that term.

Suppose you scrub your ethical skin until it shines, but inside there is no music, then what? Kabir

by Dongi 2 on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 03:17:34 PM EST

I agree (4.00 / 7)

I do not care about Sanford's private life. I am more concerned about his fitness as Gov. Everything was shady from the get-go and Bauer's responses underscored that. As I mentioned in my liveblog, the media (once again) fell down on the job of asking the most important questions before Sanford walked off.

~~~THIS SPACE FOR RENT~~~

by fabooj (fabooj [at} mail [dot} com) on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 03:17:59 PM EST

I care for those kids in S.C. (4.00 / 5)

with broken-down schools that shake when a train goes by.

I care when stimulus checks aren't being spent in their direction.

F*ck him and the rich, racist, hypocrite Repubs he rode in with.

I knew it was zipper problems when even his wife didn't know where he was.

An untypical Negro

http://thisblksistaspage.wordpress.com

by blksista (gab1954@gmail.com) on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 04:39:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I agree (4.00 / 2)

I completely agree. That no one could reach him for an extended period of time is enough to disqualify him for any public office, period.

I sympathize with his personal issues and all concerned. But to me, his abdication of his role as Governor is the serious offense.

"If you look for the social economic motive, you will not have to wait for history to tell you what was propaganda and what was truth." - George Seldes

by Real History Lisa (lpeaseRemoveThis@gte.net) on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 04:47:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Sympathy for the Wife and Kids, not Sanford (4.00 / 5)

HE GOT CAUGHT!
He was not confessing because it was heavy on his heart. He confessed because his lies caught up to him. I don't care how much you cry. He cheated.

Now someone on MSNBC is trying to say he was brave. What woulda been brave was to RESIST the temptation to cheat...

Sorry this guy ain't no different than John Edwards in my book

I'm with Jeff Goldberg:
http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/06/well_gov_sanford_isnt_sufferin.php

"He's suffering from something else entirely: Argentine Nookie Syndrome. We're watching this ridiculous man on TV now. James Bennet: "So he didn't want the stimulus money but he did want a certain kind of stimulus."

by lamh31 on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 03:18:51 PM EST

Re: Sympathy for the Wife and Kids, not Sanford (none / 1)

I have some sympathy for some cheaters. Some really feel they are dying inside, especially when the wife turns off the sex permanently.

Is that right or wrong? Having never been married, I certainly don't feel qualified to judge!

But some cheaters are just assholes who will chase any piece of ass, and those people I have no respect for.

I hope he falls in the former case. That doesn't make it right, but it makes it more sympathetic, to me.

"If you look for the social economic motive, you will not have to wait for history to tell you what was propaganda and what was truth." - George Seldes

by Real History Lisa (lpeaseRemoveThis@gte.net) on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 06:59:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sympathy for the Wife and Kids, not Sanford (none / 0)

I have sympathy for him because he's so clearly smitten with her and just acted so incredibly stupid.

That said, wives "turn off the sex permanently" for a reason. I guess it's sort of a chicken/egg thing.

by Second Nature (denn1214 at gmail) on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 07:02:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Wife ran his campaign in S.C. (none / 0)

She seems a political powerhouse in her own right. Connections and all that. Sometimes the love goes because power changes the dynamics of the marriage.

On examination, I think he was truly in love with this woman; I don't think it was a case of simply knocking boots.

Then again, he's stuck between a political career being this Christian, moral, stick-in-the-ass and just being himself. I know he must be wondering if there is any career left to be had after The State got through with him. Or anything left of himself.

Of course, the wife is saying today that her marriage has a chance. I wonder.

An untypical Negro

http://thisblksistaspage.wordpress.com

by blksista (gab1954@gmail.com) on Thu Jun 25th, 2009 at 08:44:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reflections on Sanford (4.00 / 2)

And Fox has once again labeled a cheating Republican as a Democrat: http://mediamatters.org/blog/200906240026

~~~THIS SPACE FOR RENT~~~

by fabooj (fabooj [at} mail [dot} com) on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 03:23:31 PM EST

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 1)

I'm sure it was just an error...:/

by Second Nature (denn1214 at gmail) on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 04:34:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

more IOKIYAR..... (4.00 / 4)

the RepubliCons went on Jihad for far less with Slick Willie....

I'm betting this will quickly disappear from mainstream news..... Already, apparently FauxNews has tagged Sanford with a (D)...showing the leading Republican Propaganda outlet has its priorities in order: disown any embarassment and project it on the opposition ASAP...

"The invisible hand of Adam Smith seems to offer an extended middle finger to an awful lot of people"---George Carlin

by justadood on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 03:39:09 PM EST

Re: Reflections on Sanford (4.00 / 3)

l don't know much about s.c. politics, but l find it hard to believe the lege will impeach a term limited lame duck...he's gone after 2010...although l think he's seriously diminished in terms of setting and controlling the agenda. it's going to be a tough year and a half for little markie, especially if he thinks the stimulus battle was bad.

the list of potential 2012 RATpublicant presidential hopefuls is getting pretty thin.

~~j. bush~~
crist
~~ensign~~
~~jindahl~~
huckabee
palin
pawlenty
petraeus
romney
~~sanford~~

palin by default if the loonies still control the GOP after the midterms.

the revolution will not be televised...

by dada on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 04:00:18 PM EST

Re: Reflections on Sanford (4.00 / 3)

The GOPers are paving the way for Jeb Bush to run in 2012. A little Republican Road-Kill never bothered the Bush Family.

by americanforliberty on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 04:13:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reflections on Sanford (4.00 / 5)

What is it with the hypocritical right wing?

Larry Craig and his "wide stance",

Mark Foley and his page scandal,

David Vitter and the "diaper escapades" with prostitutes,

John Ensign and his cheating ways (with a friends wife no doubt)

Now the "magical mystery tour" of Mark Sanford which just ends up being another cheating lying right winger doing what they do best;

Cheating on his wife while claiming to represent "family values" .... in reality being hypocrites while preaching to the rest of us about our supposed sinful ways.

..... put a fork in his political career it is done.

by clif on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 04:18:12 PM EST

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 1)

Don't forget about Newt .. and his infidelities .. or McCain .. and how he met Cindy

by Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 05:27:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 1)

You forgot Ted "Meth and Male Prostitutes" Haggard. He didn't hold office but he was still a Rightwing politician.

by mu on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 06:01:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reflections on Sanford (4.00 / 2)

The State Newspapaper in South Carolina has emails between Sanford and his honey:

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

by rikyrah on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 06:42:16 PM EST

Re: Reflections on Sanford (4.00 / 2)

Ick. I don't need to know that stuff. At least there was no loofah involved.

by BooMan on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 09:11:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 0)

I'm sorry - I don't think being a public official gives ANYONE the right to air private emails. That's just so wrong, on every level. His kids will read that.

Unforgiveable.

"If you look for the social economic motive, you will not have to wait for history to tell you what was propaganda and what was truth." - George Seldes

by Real History Lisa (lpeaseRemoveThis@gte.net) on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 07:05:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 1)

Agreed. That's the sort of crap Republican character assassins pull. We should be aiming for a higher standard than that. (Of course, this being SC, the paper is probably run by Republican character assassins. They do eat their own, you know.)

by corvus on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 08:26:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 1)

I was struck by how incoherent and emotionally fragile he was with all of that stammering and crying. That in itself seems to make him unsuited for such a high profile job.

by Second Nature (denn1214 at gmail) on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 03:12:58 PM EST

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 1)

yeah, he definitely needs more vacation time.

by BooMan on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 03:14:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 1)

Oh, as an emotional person myself, I do take offense at that remark. Just because someone gets emotional does not mean they stop functioning mentally.

I know that's a standard society adheres to, but I truly beg to differ in a big way.

Having emotions is also a sign of having a heart, and I'd rather have someone in office who has a heart than someone made of stone.

(That said, see my above comment re why he can't stay Governor, period. And it has nothing to do with his emotional display.)

"If you look for the social economic motive, you will not have to wait for history to tell you what was propaganda and what was truth." - George Seldes

by Real History Lisa (lpeaseRemoveThis@gte.net) on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 04:48:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 1)

I have to agree. The patriarchal myth that one always has to hide one's emotions in order to be "strong" is baloney.

Dear God, did I really just use the expression "patriarchal myth"? Oh well, it is what it is.

I do wish to publicly withdraw my spirited, but now hilarious defense of Sanford. He's plainly not an introvert, just an asshole. And while having time alone shouldn't have drawn the attention that it did, using that time to commit adultery, especially as a member of the holier than thou GOP, can't possibly get enough attention.

by corvus on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 05:38:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 0)

I didn't say that his emotions were bad, just that he seemed emotionally fragile. Like unstable. It seemed like he had no plan for what he was going to say and his stream-of-consciousness news conference magnified that impression, for me anyway.

by Second Nature (denn1214 at gmail) on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 05:39:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 1)

Well come on, who WOULD have something to say, in such a situation. He wasn't planning on getting caught.

"If you look for the social economic motive, you will not have to wait for history to tell you what was propaganda and what was truth." - George Seldes

by Real History Lisa (lpeaseRemoveThis@gte.net) on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 07:06:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 0)

(Cheaters never do. Even though it happens pretty regularly!)

"If you look for the social economic motive, you will not have to wait for history to tell you what was propaganda and what was truth." - George Seldes

by Real History Lisa (lpeaseRemoveThis@gte.net) on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 07:06:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 0)

Unfortunately I am somewhat of an expert in this area...

by Second Nature (denn1214 at gmail) on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 07:11:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 0)

He is far beyond emotional, he is deranged. He said 'I just spent five days crying in Argentina', while CRYING.

That is not 'just' emotion. He is having a mental break down. Or had one already.

nalbar

by nalbar (nalbarsatgmaildotcom) on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 08:41:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 1)

Perhaps, it is time for the GOP to just "stand down."

Any political party that cannot get itself under control, shouldn't be affecting policy-either nationally-or internationally.

They-are wearing-thin-as a political party.

Enough is enough with these people.

They're just gonna start running off now, to see girlfriends whenever they feel like it?

WTF?

On political conservatives: "I was so shocked I nearly dropped the Bible I was using to help me masturbate into my gun." Bill Maher

by lyvwyr101 (greatbear215@aol.com) on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 03:26:28 PM EST

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 1)

I think this may help:

http://www.wikihow.com/Stop-a-Zipper-from-Unzipping-Itself

On political conservatives: "I was so shocked I nearly dropped the Bible I was using to help me masturbate into my gun." Bill Maher

by lyvwyr101 (greatbear215@aol.com) on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 03:32:40 PM EST

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 1)

I think we need to cut the guy a break. After all, he's a governor. And governors are important people.

by shaej on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 05:27:49 PM EST

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 1)

The price for leaving your state without leadership should be higher.

I just don't buy this, Booman, though in your case I assume you actually do believe it and aren't just piling on in the service of partisan opportunism.

Seriously, he's the governor of South Carolina which, since 1865, has like every other state been just an administrative district in the federal republic. With the legislature out of session and no hurricanes bearing down on the state, what could there possibly be going on in SC that can't wait a week for the governor's attention? As far as I can see, the only parts of the executive branch in most states that deal with hour-to-hour, day-to-day emergencies are at the county and municipal level. If the fire or police chiefs in Charleston ran off for a week, that could actually affect people. The governor? Whatever. Aside from their role as organizers for their parties, they haven't mattered much since the Civil War. Most states would probably be much better off if they just abolished the position and switched to a parliamentary system.

by corvus on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 08:34:44 PM EST

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 0)

many things can happen. A prison riot or escape. A chemical explosion. An oil spill. There are many things that only the governor is authorized to order, and he must deputize the Lt. Gov. if he is going to be absent.

by BooMan on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 09:06:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Reflections on Sanford (none / 0)

That seems to me like a problem with the organization of the state government. The governor is supposed to delegate authority all the time, not just when he's indisposed. The heads of the state corrections agency and safety agencies -- for example -- should be empowered to act immediately in emergency situations without having to run everything by the governor before acting. If not, what is the point of appointing people to those posts in the first place?

This is analogous to the concept of "too big to fail". There should be no one in the government without whom the government simply ceases to function. Adultery in Argentina aside, people die, get sick, get stuck in traffic, and end up on the can with a bad case of the runs. If there are things that only one person is authorized to deal with, they had better not be emergency situations. That would be like teaching your kids to stay in the house when it's on fire until they are explicitly told by you to escape.

If South Carolina's government is that rigid and inflexible, they have much bigger problems than Mark Sanford.

by corvus on Wed Jun 24th, 2009 at 10:27:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Reflections on Sanford | 35 comments (35 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Go to: [ Booman Tribune Homepage : Top of page : Top of comments ]

. Home
. About
. Contact
. Advertise
. FAQ
. Search

Username:
Password:

. Make a new account
. Reset password

Gift Cards * New Arrivals

NOTE: Overstock bests Amazon's prices and is "blue."

THE BOOKS WITH "BUZZ":
______________

Senator Edward M. Kennedy tells his extraordinary personal story:

True Compass: A Memoir
by Edward M. Kennedy.

Read Barack Obama's vision for America:

The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
by Barack Obama

Boran2 and maryb2004 recommend:

The Big Over Easy: A Nursery Crime
by Jasper Fforde

Must-have information for all presidents-and citizens-of the twenty-first century?

Physics for Future Presidents: The Science behind the Headlines
Richard A. Muller

rae recommends:

Dark Ages America: The Final Phase of Empire
by Morris Berman.

On BooMan’s shelf:

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
by Doris Kearns Goodwin

This looks interesting:

Adventure Divas
by Holly Morris

Here’s a good one from
Elizabeth Gilbert:

Eat Pray Love
by Elizabeth Gilbert

"Crash" * Best Motion Picture, Academy Awards * Only $11.79 at Overstock * 2006 SAG Winner, Best Ensemble

Check out
Powell's new section:
NEW FAVORITES
Selected new arrivals at 30% off

Recommended by Indianadem and ejmw:
The Conscience of a Liberal
by Paul Wellstone

From northcountry’s bookshelf:

The New Golden Age:
The Coming Revolution Against
Political Corruption and Economic Chaos by Ravi Batra

A novel about contractors in Iraq from the woman that runs The Spy That Billed Me:

Outsourced: A Novel
from RJ Hillhouse.

Great Deals
----- * ^ * -----

Find mystery novels by Nancy Pickard ("Kansas")

Challenging Empire: How People, Governments, and the UN Defy US Power by Phyllis Bennis (interviewed on DN!)

Featured by Keith Olbermann, New (Powell's Sale): Rogue State: A Guide to the World's Only Superpower by William Blum (whose other books merit serious consideration)

"Explosive" State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration
by James Risen

The book the CIA doesn't want you to read: Jawbreaker: The Attack on Bin Laden and Al Qaeda: A Personal Account by the CIA's Key Field Commander
Larry Johnson's review

BT's all-time best seller:

PERMACULTURE:
A Designers' Manual
$79.95 * Sale: $59.95

Unequal Sisters: A Multicultural Reader in U.S. Women's History (Third Edition)

The Undercover Economist: Exposing Why the Rich Are Rich, the Poor Are Poor And Why You Can Never Buy a Decent Used Car!

The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl
by Timothy Egan

Green Press Initiative
----- * ^ * -----

Journalistas: 100 Years of the Best Writing and Reporting by Women Journalists by Eleanor Mills * NYT review

Bury Me Standing: the Gypsies & Their Journey

1491: New Revelations of the Americas before Columbus

Brokeback Mountain
by Annie Proulx
----- * ^ * -----
Check out Powell's
"At The Movies"

Imperial Ambitions: Conversations on the Post-9/11 World by Noam Chomsky (Power & Terror: Post 9-11 Talks)

The Price of Privilege:

How Parental Pressure and
Material Advantage Are Creating a Generation of
Disconnected and Unhappy Kids
by Madeline Levine

Save 35-70% on
name brand clothing,
footwear, and outdoor gear
at SierraTradingPost.com
:

We listened to PEN American Center's "State of Emergency" and found 1940s books by Curzio Malaparte only at Alibris. (Selection (MP3) excerpted from "The Skin.")

Banned Books * Are you a fan of Film Noir, Art House, Documentaries or Hong Kong Action? * Searching for a long-lost children's book or a first printing of Miles Davis' Kind of Blue on vinyl? Find it at Alibris!

:
:

Booman Tribune Homepage
admin@boomantribune.com
powered by Scoop

More blogs about Blogs at Technorati.

Technorati Profile