Everyone would be much better off if they would get a life of their own instead of worrying about everybody else's.
We don't blame Mark Sanford for wanting to get away.
We just don't agree with how he did it.
Those in the public eye should be able to blend into the scenery and enjoy some down time now and again. We wish more of them could do so without being harassed by paparazzi and the like. Americans, by and large, need to get a life: their own.
But for Sanford to have simply disappeared last Thursday, and to remain missing until being "discovered" by his staff on the Appalachian Trail on Monday, exceeds what the public should be expected to abide. News reporters actually felt it necessary to say that no foul play was suspected.
The governor can be faulted for causing that concern.
Moreover, if he was going to be as out of touch as he was -- from his office, from his family -- who was actually in charge?
"His staff generally, his chief of staff in particular," says communications director Joel Sawyer. "But 'decision making' is kind of nebulous ... If it was running an agency, that's up to an agency head. If it was an emergency, other elected officials would be consulted or deferred to."
The question is, is that constitutional? Sanford is a stickler for that sort of thing; can an out-of-pocket governor knowingly leave his unelected chief of staff in charge of state government?
The South Carolina governor has always been quirky and independent. While in Congress, he slept in his office to set a fiscally prudent example. He brought a live pig into the state Capitol to make a point about legislative pork. And he was nearly alone among state leaders around the country in saying no to federal stimulus money unless it was used to pay down debt.
We applaud him for all that. And we defy anyone to produce an editorial page that has been more supportive of the man.
But this was beyond quirky. It was irresponsible and more than a little bizarre.
We've always felt Sanford's conservatism was under-appreciated in the Palmetto State, which affords its accountability-diffuse legislature far too much power. And we had hoped to see Sanford back on the national stage. We don't know if he harbors those aspirations, but we wonder if the news from his disappearance has tainted any such future.
The governor's getting away for a few days doesn't matter that much.
But how it was done? That matters.
Comments
Everyone would be much better off if they would get a life of their own instead of worrying about everybody else's.
Sometimes, you have to take a couple of "mental health" days off. lol.
For once (gasp) I agree with ACES. The man has endangered his Republican primary prospects for nothing (not that I would ever vote for him, but it does seem like an ill-conceived move for someone so politically ambitious).
Sanford has two goals: (1) Get the 2012 Republican nomination for president and (2) Sell his $3.5 million oceanfront mansion.
Oh yeah, his staff "didn't know where he was" because they wouldn't tell the AP? But when pressed, they "discovered" his location? These two facts add up to a "MIA" report? This is just a little too much like the NYTimes reporting for a thinking person to believe. Our editorial page have become VERY suspect with the infusion of the new editor.
I'm still waiting for someone to find a link to the SC Assistant Attorney General... she was found dead in North Carolina on Saturday.... when I heard that Sanford was missing... I think I heard it on Monday, that was the first thing I thought...
Time for people to MYOB. Give the man a break. Name just one person that has never wanted to just " get away" for a short time. Do you REALLY believe that no one knew where he was? Some folks just love to gripe. Get a life.
This is just a political slam job by opponents of the Governor. Everybody needs to take some vacation time off. It's not really vacation if you are still on call 24x7.
The Lt. Governor was just on the news claiming this is all about politics.
TJFH, she wasn't just "found dead". She had some major health issues.
Patricia thomas, the good governer has given you a hint. Do us all a favor and sleep in a few mornings.
This Governor only has regional support from the lunatic tight-wing.
Is this really news? Why are you all bothering with this. Did anything so important happen in four days that it could not wait for his return? Give us all a break and mind your own business.
Since I live in SC it is my business. No nothing happened in his absence by the grace of God. Not because there were precautions taken in case of an emergency. No one is trying to make him look bad he did a fine job of that on his own. Then to top all off he wasn't even where his staff indicated he was vacationing. He was in a different country. It was irresponsible.
Absolutely NO FACTS and the story goes on and on. It's interesting how some want to make a crisis when there is none.
kinda weird he didn't let his family know where he was.
What do you mean he was in a different country?
Apparently, it's not true he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. News reports are saying he was at the Atlanta airport returning from South America. The story is getting stranger and stranger.
Miles, do you really believe that a man that has been married that long would just up and leave and not let his wife know where he was, especially since he has 4 sons. Give me a break, she knew where he was or the general location since when you're hiking you don't exactly know where someone is. Either her words were taken out of context or either she is degrading him in public for who knows what reason. Maybe she's the one who doesn't want him to run for president in the 2012 elections.
He was not on the Appalachian Trail He was in South America. Buenos Aires to be exact. Since he wasn't hiking and in Buenos Aires which is pretty industrialized and has phones their was no reason for him not to be in contact with his family or staff. As far as Jenny working to discredit him because of the 2012 elections he doesn't need her help. And what woman would want to admit they didn't have clue where there husband was? If she did know (which I doubt) there was better ways to answer the question without revealing his location (which i also feel isn't necessarily the public's business). At this point they both look stupid.
TJFH you just may have a point. Before she died there was never any word of health issues plus she tried major cases. They need to cover this with a fine tooth comb. Although her death do not classify as a emergency for the state of SC something worse could have happen. All it would have taken was for the Gov to let the LT GOV know his location or pass pwr to him for a few days. It seems that everyone knows that the GOV is not playing with a full deck.
Let's see, if I close my eyes and stop thinking almost completely, I'd believe the governor would be impossible to find. However, when his staff is pressured, he magically reappears. (So much for thinking like a Dem fool.)
He was in Argentina!
^^^Then why lie about it. Just say he went on vacation and will be back on this date. They made themselves look bad. It was the convoluted stories by his family and staff that doesn't make sense. There was no reason to play dumb.
Ahhhh, there definitely is something big behind all this. They keep digging a deeper hole with their lies.
AAQueen, the assistant attorney generall did have health issues, so I don't know if that fits. She had prosecuted a former Lt Gov in the past though. I wonder how well Sanford knew her?
Look at this quote: "But State Sen. Jake Knotts, a fellow Republican and adversary of Sanford, told CNN that South Carolina law enforcement officials informed him Saturday that the governor had taken a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division vehicle on Thursday and had not yet returned.
"I found out that he was taking frequent trips at odd times of the night in a SLED car with no security," Knotts said. "He would be driving. I got wind that he had taken another one of these types of capers last Thursday, and that nobody knew who he was with."
Shivas, what's the "lunatic tight-wing"?
The wife is not concerned because she knows he was taking his usual trip with a man. After four kids and his lifestyle, I don't think she cares where he is. Buns anyone?
FACTS still seem to be a confusing issue for libs.
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