Are we going to be reading about a divorce soon? Bet his kids ego is at an all time high regarding his comments.
COLUMBIA, S.C. - After a political mystery - "Where in the World is South Carolina's Governor?" - Mark Sanford's aides said he was stunned by all the fuss over his five-day absence and would cut short a secretive hike along the Appalachian Trail.
State officials and even his wife said they had no idea where he went over Father's Day weekend, and not everyone is buying his explanation. His disappearance has left some in the Palmetto State wondering: Is this any way for a governor to act?
Sanford's spokesman said the governor was hiking to clear his head after the legislative session, during which he lost a key battle.
But critics of the two-term Republican - and there are many - wondered why it took nine hours after reporters started asking questions for the governor's staff to say what the state's chief executive was doing. Sanford was expected back in his office Wednesday, but his aides stopped answering questions about his trip, including where he was on the 2,175-mile trail, whether he was with security and if anyone else could confirm his whereabouts.
"If you're not skeptical, then you have to think the governor's office is in complete chaos," said Carol Fowler, chairwoman of the state Democratic Party.
The episode could squelch talk of a 2012 presidential bid that only grew after months spent building credibility with conservatives as he battled legislators over taking the state's share of $787 billion in federal stimulus cash.
"If he were thinking of a presidential run, this is all the more puzzling," said Mark Rozell, a George Mason University political scientist. "Any opponent would try to capitalize on this and easily could do so."
Rumblings about Sanford's mysterious departure began Monday, three weeks after he failed to block federal bailout money for South Carolina schools. A court order June 4 forced him to take the $700 million.
Republican state Sen. Jake Knotts started asking questions about a rumor that Sanford had disappeared in a state law enforcement vehicle.
His wife, Jenny, told The Associated Press on Monday that he needed time away from his four sons to write something. For hours, his staff would only say he was vacationing. It wasn't until 10 p.m. Monday that they allowed he was hiking.
Jenny Sanford drove past three reporters outside the family's beach house Tuesday and said only: "Leave us to our privacy."
Fowler said she was surprised to learn Sanford's office said he was hiking "since this whole thing was he wanted to get away from the kids to write things. Strolling down the trail writing?"
Knotts, a frequent critic, said he accepts Sanford's story but doesn't believe it.
"That's his story," Knotts said. "If it's true, it's true."
Sanford, a trim, 49-year-old former real estate investor and Air Force reservist, is typically drained at the end of a legislative session, former aides said. State Sen. Tom Davis, a Beaufort Republican and Sanford's former chief of staff, said he visited with Sanford last Wednesday and could tell the governor was ready for a break.
"It's not unusual to take off and kind of be by himself," Davis said. "It's part of what makes him him."
Another former chief of staff also wasn't surprised to learn about Sanford's disappearing act.
"Mark Sanford is an original," Fred Carter said. "He will never conform to your expectations or mine. And that's the beauty and the tragedy of this administration."
The governor has long been known as a loner - bucking GOP leadership during three U.S. House terms and casting the only dissenting vote on Medicaid coverage for some breast and cervical cancer treatment. He clashes often with the Republicans who control both chambers of his state Legislature, once famously carrying two piglets to the door of the House in opposition to what he said was pork-barrel spending.
But past vacations never left Sanford completely out of touch, said Chris Drummond, Sanford's former spokesman. At worst, Sanford would call in daily or would respond to voice mails.
This time, Sanford had been untethered from staff since Thursday, apparently out of state. The Appalachian Trail passes through 14 states, but not South Carolina.
How his office handled it was a problem, said Rozell, the political scientist.
"The citizens who elected him have the right to know that someone there is in charge of the executive branch," Rozell said.
Who was in charge became the political and practical question.
Essentially, Sanford's staffers said they'd decide who to call if an emergency popped up and the governor couldn't be reached. The state's constitution says as a temporary absence would give the lieutenant governor full authority in the state. But the temporary absence has never been defined.
Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, a Charleston Republican, says the state's law needs to be clarified. He said state residents want important decisions to be made by elected leaders who take oaths.
"In an emergency," he said, "it should be those people who consult with staff to make a decision and not the other way around."
Comments
Are we going to be reading about a divorce soon? Bet his kids ego is at an all time high regarding his comments.
My God, could there be a more biased left leaning "report" than this non-story by the AP? The left has started the anti-Sanford already to make sure he won't throw his hat into the ring in 2012. The "out of touch" was only with the enemy....the far left...and this type of "reporting" explains why. Not only was it none of the left's business where Sanford was, why should they care? His staff and family was aware of his whereabouts, though they chose to say otherwise because of orders. This stupid story is just another indication of what the right can expect from the press from now on.
Much ado about nothing.
You're an idiot patriciathomas, and everyone knows that but chooses not to say. His family had no idea where he was and neither did his staff, they said so. The lt. governor should have been aware of what was going on, he was the next in command. It is not up to his staff to make decisions of who to contact in an emergency, let the lt governor do his job. His wife says he wanted to get away from his kids during fathers day weekend, how sad. And just because he lost his fight for an issue, doesn't mean he needs to be a baby and run off to throw a tantrum.
It's certainly odd that no one knew where he was and could not contact him. How then is he cutting his trip short. Sounds to me as though he was in touch with someone. The media is making too much of this.
What man leaves his FAMILY and not tell them, patriciathomas and all the others would be singing another song had he died on this HIKE, they would be saying, why didn't his chief of staff tell authorities let alone his wife and family he was gone now that he's dead. I want to see his face I hope he is well rested now. I just hope he doesn't have a LOONEY bin wide eyed look, if he does look out he's about to nut up. He wasn't getting my vote anyway for president.
He didn't die and he's doing well. libs are so obvious and consistent in their words and actions. They don't know the TRUTH with FACTS but that doesn't matter. If there isn't any dirt, they will make some up. Their mantra is attack at any cost. libs continue to show their true colors.
I think this whole thing got blown out of proportion. I have not agreed with some of his actions, but I do not think everybody needs to know where somebody is 24/7 regardless who they are. This whole thing was absurd and stupid the way people reacted to him being gone. I wish I had the time to just get away and clear my mind at times, and being in the mountains would be my favorite place to do that.....I am sure his family knew where he was, they just were not going to tell. Lot's of you need to get a life worrying about non issues.
This is all politics. He had to have been in contact with someone if he cut his hiking trip short. What I find hart to understand is why a wife would publicly degrade her husband by telling the media that he wanted to get away from his four sons to write something, or was this taken out of context when reported. Couldn't she just say, he's taken some time to clear his head and leave it at that.
He was in Argentina.
Yeah right, nobody knew where he was until his staff was pressured and then he "magically" reappeared. The fools that fall for an AP story are just that, fools. Look who's supporting this yellow journalism for verification.
No matter what party, this was plain wrong on his part. That is not the kind of leader that I am looking for during these times in the state of SC.
So now the AJC is reporting he was in Argentina. Excuse me, but WTF?
I guess the'kind of leader that I am looking for during these times' would be someone that is a cocaine user; 'friends' with murderers/terrorists, racists; convicted felons; spends thousands to hide his birth certificate and records of his schooling; is part of the IL dem corrupt political machine; etc.; etc. Yeah that's the kind of guy that should be in control. That's sure a toss up when you have the choice of one that takes a vacation and the other.
All I can say is this dude is crazy as hell.
convertedsoutherner that's OLD you and your hannity talking points *SHRUGS* just keep listening to that nut if he tells you the world is ending next year to do this, this and this before it does you probably would. Sanford should have atleast told his wife if no one else.
Argentina LOL oooh the Lies are rolling in now, I wonder did his chief of staff just blotted out the first thing came in his head and he really didn't know where Sanford was? Well I can say, he wasn't getting my vote for Prez had he ran anyway.
The typical blind and gullible dims look for anything and everything to attack conservatives. Maybe you should have spent more time looking into 'your annointed one' and try getting FACTS instead of your usual rhetoric with absolutely NO substance.
FACTS still seem to confuse libs.
And maybe you should stop repeating what others say. Those lines you spew are they yours or have you heard them from somewhere before convertedsoutherner. Be Original.
A big hairy deal over nothing......
Apparently Sanford wanted to learn more about those hot Latino women so that he could help the Senate yo-yo (DeMint) with the Sotomayor hearings for the Supreme Court. The behavior is totally irresponsible, and a good reason why this guy should just go away. Why did he not just go and relax on the beach in Hilton Head?
Hey pantherluvcik, everything you say is correct except: "You're an idiot patriciathomas, and everyone knows that but chooses not to say." It is the 2nd phrase in the sentence that is incorrect. A number of posters have identified she/he/it as a charter member of The Gov's Fan Club. Admission to the Club requires certification as a nut case, beyond redemption. And, Niko Mahs, The Gov doesn't need to go to Hilton Head, since he has a perfectly fine beach mansion (his "primary residence," to be clear) on Sullivans Island. Ole patricathomas and convertedsoutherner do have quite a fixation about "left" and "right" and "liberal" and "conservative." Every issue that is processed through the creaky machinery of their rusty brains comes out as: "the mean ole liberals/lefties are oppressing the conservatives/righties -- i.e., those of the pure motives and sterling characters." What can't you understand about: (1) The Gov disappears for six days; (2) The Gov's staff eventually says The Gov took a hike; (3) The Gov is found in Atlanta saying he took a little trip south of the border. (4) The Gov's wife says she has no idea where he his = aberrant & irresponsible behavior.
Got all the FACTS there I see. I'm not in the habit of jumping to conclusions so will wait for FACTS, most libs are so happy when they THINK they have something (with no FACTS) on a conservative and totally ignore/excuse/defend real facts about dims.
Bull headed bunch, you are posters......who cares where he was, obviously someone knew where he was....maybe even his wife...none of you KNOW anything..How many of you are squeaky clean? My guess is..NONE...so he took time off..we would never have known it until some of his political enemies started the rumors flying....I still wonder if he deliberately didn't tell thew Lt. Gov. because he doesn't trust him...No matter where he was...leave the man alone !!! Politics..politics !!!We all know there are crooks in both parties...
You defenders of Hizhonor, The Gov. Do you have enough "FACTs" now? So, another bible-thumping, in-your-face, holier-than-though, reactionary patrician of the right-wing-nut persuasion bits the dust. The Gov hinted to his staff (NOT to wifey) where he might be going, hoping he could make a little trip unnoticed down Argentine-way, to visit his cuddly concubine. His staff dutifully put out the word that The Gov had taken a hike. Things were going swimmingly until The Gov encountered a reporter at Hartsfield Airport upon deplaning. The Gov quickly determined that he better have a come-to-jesus press conference before his cover was blown. I take no pleasure in his pain, and the pain he has caused his wife and children, other relatives and friends. And, much to the disappointment of The Gov's supporters who post here (e.g., patriciathomas, convertedsouthener, and freedombelle) I am not a Demon-rat (and I am not a Republi-con). Believe it or not, there are alternatives to pledging allegiance to either of those two mendacious and criminal organizations. This episode exposes, once again, the foolishness of those who are happy to play the role of lemmings following politicians.
The Knave has stated it well indeed. I think "hiking the Appalachain Trail" in the Argentinian language must mean something like a "roll in the hay".
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