If he were a Democrat, his career would be safe, but as a Republican, his own people will insist he resigns. Watch and see.
Mark Sanford lost his heart and lost his head.
As it turns out, that was just the beginning. His losses will only mount from here.
He's lost the chairmanship of the Republican Governors Association. He risks losing his beautiful wife and four sons. He has most assuredly lost any hope of being president of the United States.
And he will most likely lose his job as governor -- and should. Though we have been ultra-supportive of the governor, he admits, "I misled (staff) about my whereabouts, and as a result the people of South Carolina believed something that wasn't true." We don't see how he could or should survive that.
Mr. Sanford's worst loss, however, will be the trust his wife and sons and staff and people of South Carolina -- and conservatives everywhere -- placed in him.
Again, we don't know how he can earn back the voters' trust. And with so many enemies in the legislature, even among his own party -- largely because he tried to bring fiscal discipline to South Carolina's mob-rule system -- Sanford will surely be thrown to the wolves he himself attracted.
But as much as the national news media are framing this as a political story -- Gee, another Republican politician is brought down! Can he keep his job? Are his presidential aspirations finished? -- this is more personal than political. An imperfect man who happens to live in the public eye, again of his own choosing, has made some cataclysmically stupid and selfish decisions.
If the governor still seeks political redemption -- there was talk of a sort of statewide apology tour -- that may be both futile and misguided. If Mark Sanford is half the man we thought he was, he will eschew all political ambition and work on the personal. Get his heart straight, as he put it in his emotional press conference Wednesday. Get straight with his family.
The political dimensions pale in comparison to the governor's personal crisis. We wish him well in that endeavor and will keep him and his family in our prayers.
As for the politics, we're not as concerned about what his fall means for the partisan warfare or the presidential sweepstakes as we are that Sanford's level-headed conservative voice will be muted if not silenced. What a real shame for those of us who believe in the kind of limited government that the Constitution set out and that Sanford espoused.
That, as it turns, out, will be our loss.
Comments
If he were a Democrat, his career would be safe, but as a Republican, his own people will insist he resigns. Watch and see.
Republicans ought to insist he resigns. It it the principle of the matter and the right thing to do. Seems like someone needs to help him to do the right thing. Makes you wonder who he was counseling with when the stimulus $ mess was going on.
Sanford did the right thing fighting the stimulus take over of the state, but didn't seem able to do right by his family or his supporters. Dems and many Repubs find no fault with his actions, but conservatives, his largest base of support, feel a mans word is his bond. I'd be surprised if he finished his term or ever held elected office again. Another Newt Gingrich.
Dear citizens of South Carolina, This has all been a big misunderstanding. First, I never said I was going to the Appalachian Trail, I said I was going to get some Argentenian tail. It's been real tough after the fight over the stimulus money. My personal belief is that people should have to stimulate themselves. If you work hard and make enough money, then you can afford to have someone else stimulate you. Personally, I prefer getting stimulated in South America, but this country can't afford to pay for everyone else to fly around the world for their stimulation. We would be passing this debt to our children and grandchildren and I just couldn't see doing that to little Javier and my other kids. Thank you and God Bless America, Sincerely, Mark Sanford
Sanford has made huge mistakes with broad ramifications. This does not negate the good he has done nor the conservative principles he has stood for. It does seriously damage his personal integrity. This would not be an issue if he were a liberal democrat (especially one with the last name of Clinton).
You're a real class act, techie.
Does anyone know when the investigation of whether public funds were used to fund Gov. Sanford's (R-SC) Third Rate Romance will began? The AJC was reporting many trips for Sanford. This should be looked into.
Nice teckie, proud of yourself?
Yes, we Liberals are sad he will be leaving. He was such a great example of the right-wing. Married a rich woman who put him in the Governorship preaching family values, then cheated on her, and had the inevitable right-wing crybaby news conference. Haven't the Republicans learned about living in glass houses? Cetainly not. Their leader is a disc jockey drug addict, who moralizes upon others constantly. Are we seeing the demise of the Republican party?
Speaking of glass houses, has anyone seen John Edwards new baby? Is ole Elliot Spreitzer still visiting his old friends in D.C.? Has gay marriage been passed in N.J. so McGreevy can marry HIS affair? Is Blog out of jail yet?
Shiv, we are seeing a demise of moral values and good ol common sense.
Seems this kind of thing wasn't a problem when the president of the USA was having an affair. Sure he could have been smoking a cigar and telling all kind of secrets jeopardizing the safety of our country but the Dems didn't care. The real issue is that he never really admitted it either. At least Sanford is man enough to admit he did wrong and accept responsibility for his actions. Try and get a Dumbocrat to do that. Responsibility isn't even a word in their vocabulary. Just bring on the pork.
There sure are a lot of stones being cast here today. Sistersledge,...Did the Democrats insist that President Clinton resign when he was having an affair? Does it really matter at this point? Okay, so he made a mistake. A big one that will certainly have consequences, but is it really neccessary to keep on kicking him when he is down? Forgive the man, and move on. It is diappointing for many South Carolinians, but this too shall pass.
Good one techie.
Sanford didn't lose anything. He threw it away.
Didn't Bob Dylan write a song about that?
Gee, where were all the right wing forgiveess for Clinton? Sanford and Ensign both voted for Clinton's impeachment and had some snide comments about him. "Well it's high time
That you find The same dudes that you must use on your way up
you might meet up on your way down." Little Feat
spot on grouse.
Deros and Southern Guy, Governors Spitzer and Sheinkopf resigned. Both democrats. Sanford voted to impeach president Clinton for the same thing that he did (having an affair and lying about it). Get off it. The guy should resign.
hope?????change?????
Hurt his career? Doubt it. Draft dodger Newt Gringrich screwed around and split with his first wife while she was undergoing cancer treatment in the hospital, and then got caught doing a girl half his age, while married to #2 and impeaching Clinton, and he doesn't have a problem getting paid to speak groups, sell lots of books, and is now one of the de facto leaders of the Republican Party! Just goes to show you Republicans will put lipstick on a pig and forget that its a pig!
I think we got a win-win situatiion here. Surely Obama could put him to good use and make him Ambassador to Argentina.....
Well, well, well we finally find the Augusta Chronicle Repub thugs speechless. Hippy-horrah! It is my wish you use this time wisely to reexamine the con-servative hypocrisy you spread. Nobody can live the life you present, we are all human and have flaws, most of them behind closed doors. Put down your beers and hockey sticks, get rid of your rhetoric and be for real. Either practice what you Preach (which is impossible) or accept the harsh realities of life. We are all a work in progress and absolute power does nothing but corrupt. Keep your moral dictate among yourselves and discuss them at the turkey shoots, the confederate womens meetings and the sons of dixieland events, but don't bring them to my dinner table, national networks, they don't belong there. They are your personal opinions and not a standard for us to live by, stay in your lane....I know how to drive!!
Good suggestion Ben. A win-win for everyone except Mrs. Sanford and the boys. And as far as Mr. Newto goes, let him run for President. The hypocritical oath these GOP folks take will eat him alive during the 2012 campaign. You just have to love the politicians that go into the GOP! Real leaders all of them.
If we knew the truth about all 50 governors having affairs,we would be saying so what about Sanford's affair. What is toally strange is the way he acted trying to sneak away for the week and not contacting his staff. He could have simply announced that he and his wife had separated and that would have been it. He could have gotten on with his personal life. What is sad is the realizationi he was so "sparked" that he acted irrationally and turned his reputation into something that could get him fined $500 for littering in SC.
knick -knack paddy whack give a dim. a bone........LOL....all politicians are dirty... remember how slick willy showed monica how to smoke cigars? Because of his party Mark Sanford will be forced to do the right thing..........unlike the low class...no morals Dim. party who would of course find ways to shield him.
Ladyjanegrey, Let's see, two democratic governors have resigned due to affairs. A republican Senator and Governor, having had affairs, are still holding office. Let's get a grasp on reality.
This is rediculous, this fellow doesn't deserve the dragging through the mud he is receiving. This is his private life and should be left private. Even his wife had said they were sepaerated. If this fellow wants to take a vacation to wherever to get his rocks off, why is it your business. This is no reflection on his ability to be govener, as long as he used his own money to get there. Get off it you all, everyone loves to see others fail, and in my opinion the only failure this man has is his marriage. Just looking at his wife and hearing her speak, it's no wonder. Her demands for him to repent are pethetic.
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