Mark Sanford Implodes
One of the few seemingly legit small-government, non-hawk conservatives wrecks his career with a disappearing act and a flight to Argentina to canoodle with his mistress.
(Here, for what it’s worth, is Michael Brendan Dougherty’s profile of this very odd man.)
Is there any politician out there who isn’t a philanderer?
The field in 2012 will be left with Mitt Romney and Ron Paul, at this rate. Sanford must be a sociopath to carry on an affair like this for a year, and then decide to take on the President of the United States. But at least we have a real Southerner of integrity to support–Newt Gingrich.
I reckon that the Ron Paul mantle falls to Gov. Johnson now?
And I guess now we know why he didn’t need any stimulus from Washington.
LBJ, Nixon, Clinton, G.W. Bush and now Sanford. All tinged with weirdness. There are so many dysfunctional people in politics. Latent narcissism appears to be part of the job description.
I think that’s why people like Obama. You may not agree with his politics, but at least he isn’t a weird dude.
Auberon Waugh said something to the effect that the desire to run for office and boss one’s fellows about, was a symptom of mental illness like the wearing of rubber underwear or the desire to have sexual congress with children. After a long career in politics I’m more than inclined to agree with him.
Let’s consider Mrs. Sanford. She and her parents knew about this five months ago (why her parents?). Apparently, he simply said he had another love and did not say anything about giving her up and re-establishing his role as monogamous husband. He then continued his filandering for five months while she stood by and … I suppose she was the dutiful wife who stood by her man for five months, but now did not stand by him when he confessed his infidelity to the public. She took off for a rest trip, So, she isn’t the wimpy or loyal wife. She’s just playing the cards dealt her and is waiting …
for what?
And, guv, it’s “Don’t cry for me, Argentina”
Cry baby.
The Ron Paul mantle is Gary Johnson’s if he wants it.
Go back to that Sunday’s morning news show when Gov. Sanford turned to Newt Gingrich and said “I defer to Newt” when it came to questions about foreign policy. That was an alarm bell for me that there was something not quite right about the man.
Ron Paul will be in his late seventies by 2012. Is there any reasonable chance he will run again?
At least he didn’t drag his wife in front of the cameras with him.
Oyyyyyy.
I love the guy, I really do. But he just blew up any chance he had to become president. It’s a shame people can’t keep it in their pants. But hell, what do I know, I’m just a kid.
And Dennis, I’m not too sure he chose his mistress over his wife, or that he has been cheating on her while she knew.
This sorry excuse for a human being has asked that “we give his family privacy”.
Show me a part of your family that hasn’t lived off a nickle of public funds in the last 10 years, and that is the part of your family that deserves privacy, and is none of my business.
We were trying to keep Obama out of our jobsites, out of our banks, out of our automobile dealer floors, and out of our doctors’ offices, and you have dealt that effort a crippling blow. Now you dare to pretend that you have not cut the throat of millions of people.
I can name people doing life in prison who have done less damage to their country. You are every bit the disgrace that the people who perpetrated the Abu Graibe crimes were.
There are more important questions to ask. How were these e-mails obtained? Were they from a private e-mail account, or from his office account? Did he use public funds to travel to his mistress?
Barney, let’s be real. There isn’t any worthwile opposition to Obama’s policies. The singular moment that decided the fate of this country was the Presidential election. Instead of choosing Ron Paul we chose McSame. And now all we can do is watch.
Well, that’s depressing.
Sanford is (not “was”, “is”) probably one of my five favorite living politicians, but I’m glad he was caught, and I don’t mind that his career has ended.
He has done an awful thing to his family, and also betrayed the trust of the people whose state he led. They voted for him expecting that he could avoid making himself look like a perverted old fool in public, and their expectations were not met.
I still think he’s done a lot of good for this country, though.
More Important Questions
Right, the e-mails. Probably from the wife, family or staff who were upset about this and had access. But the recent revelations about the e-mails of Clinton (and wives, girlfriends etc) being obtained by intell.” inappropriately” invites suspicion. The local reporter whose paper had the e-mails said they were given anonymously.
It is good this came out now rather than later.
Is anybody else reminded of John Edwards?
He should have stood up there he’s in love with his mistress but he loves his wife and his job as well and doesn’t quite know what to do.
Wouldn’t that have been more refreshing?
WC,
Not really. Men who don’t know who they love are pathetic, not refreshing. Moreso, in my opinion, than men who know who they love but do so in a flawed manner.
If he said what you suggest, I’d join you in applauding his honesty, but it would be like applauding a glass filled with mud for not having any exterior streaks. Outer clarity about one’s lack of inner clarity is better than nothing, but barely.
I think we oughta thank the guy. I’ve heard of a lot of euphemisms for it but none as euphonious as “hiking the Appalachian Trail.”
Or did he say “tail”?
Cheers,
Come to think about it maybe we really should check that quote and the guy was just being delicately honest and he didn’t say he was hiking the Appalachian Trail at all. After all can’t really blame him for lack honesty at least if he was just misheard and what he really said was he was off to ride some “antipodean” tail….
Cheers,
Well, Matt, seems like he knows who he loves, two loves utterly in conflict with one another. Yes, he certainly lacks inner clarity, as do most people whom I know do. I think our country’s values are sick when it comes to matters of the heart. It interesting we punish this sin so much harder than we punish the other sins.
The other interesting thing is he mainly got caught due to his own guilty conscience, which left him without the ruthlessness and moral indifference necessary to keep an affair going without getting caught. He basically turned himself in, signed himself up for public humiliation, and is now getting punished for his incompetence in not keeping his affair under wraps.
“I think that’s why people like Obama. You may not agree with his politics, but at least he isn’t a weird dude.”
Are you kidding me? Not weird… besides the whole weird upbringing, the weird political patrons, you should google Larry Sinclair.
Sean: yes true, the defer issue showed clearly his lack of foreign policy insight and that he would be dependent on Newt Gingrich & co for his views. We are well reminded that Newt criticized Reagan about negotiation with the Soviet Union. However, as to me, already in January this year when Sanford was together with Corzine on CNN discussing the Gaza issue, where he seemed – like the most other politicians – on the side of one country in the Middle East only. One should be neutral, e.g. criticize both sides if you like/want to criticize.
Personally I always regarded in absense of Paul, Johnson as by far the better than Sanford as sucessor, not only due to the fact that Johnson’s positions are closer to Paul’s than Sanford (and I am well aware Sanford voted with Paul against the Kosovo war etc. and was a member of the Liberty Caucus)
but also that Johnson was in a deep blue state much more successful in the state than Sanford in a deep red state. Johnson has much more to show in concrete actions taken. Sanford made some mistakes with appointments, e.g. not all fiscal conservative and pro-market as he himself, for instance with regard to the port, that is not privatized. In education etc. SC’s position has not improved either, while Johnson managed to transform an economy in NM in the red to one in the black when he left office, without any former state people losing their jobs! Johnson is also a bit older and wiser, has the interesting experience of climbing Mt. Everest, is a triathlete, humble, pick up garbage himself (e.g. practises what he preaches) and smart as well. Another issue: Sanford worked for Goldman Sachs and his wife Jane is a millionaire and he earned in real estate before becoming congressman, e.g. has the impression of an “elite” as the left can easily paint, though I think he is a down to earth guy. Johnson on the other side built up with his wife (deceased later) his own handyman business, and became a millionaire through hard work and also created how many jobs, e.g. a real service and investment in the people. What I mean is that Sanford could have been painted – like Romney – as one of big business, while Johnson (like Paul) as one with SME business, that is really the lifeblood of not only jobs, but also true capitalism.
OK, a “subjective” issue: personally some women may find Johnson more physically attractive than Sanford. This is of course totally irrelevant, but some voters base their preferences on impressions like this, unfortunately.
Sanford has of course the advantage of also have served in congress, while Johnson does not have this advantage. But Johnson also represents the libertarian West, while Sanford the Southern states. Especially where the GOP is (partly falsely) perceived as currently more only a southern state based party, Johnson brings in the libertarian West and could bring a few states into play (whereas SC is very safely GOP) and with this also some in the Northeast like NH. Johnson also has the advantage of not having been associated with Bush, and the Bush-Cheney connection may haunt the GOP for some time still, so with Johnson they are rid of this to a large extent. Johnson has of course not been in politics very recently, and would have to get some name recognition and name experience. But it is also good that he remains a bit under the radar at the moment, while he can develop with more appearances on Andrew Napolitano’s “Freedomwatch”, with the past Wednesday being his first appearance. Johnson did adddress the Heritage Foundation a few years ago on education etc. as gov, and also the Cato Institute and others, he has been endorsed by the NM Right to Life for his second run as gov. and has appeared on Meet the Press before Sanford (or Paul) has, but probably only once. People will like his calm demeanor, just like Sanford’s or Paul’s (of course not the hawks). I think if Paul does run (hopefully) in 2012, Johnson would be there campaigning with him and be seen as a possible VP candidate. Maybe Johnson could endorse a few candidates currently. For the SC gov. primary Nikki Healy seems very interesting, so if Paul and Johnson could maybe meet her and endorse her, and also help with a recommendation for fundraising, it will help her a lot and if she is elected as gov. in 2011, she could endorse Paul (or Johnson) in the important SC primary. (I think she endorsed Romney in the 2008 primary, but this was before the crucial Bush-Paulson bailout, which she was also strongly against like Paul, and Romney approved of it again. She may already find her in closer agreement with Paul than with Romney, just like Michele Bachmann, who probably also supported Romney, would now be much closer to Paul.
mark standford is a pathetic weak man. if he became president he would have been a risk to our national sercurity, all for true love. i don’t care about his relationships and his tearful (too much info) interview was nauseating. he needs to be fired right away. if i didn’t show up for work without notice i’d be gone.
I kept thinking of an episode of the wonderful British series “Yes, Minister” where they mention a “shady lady from Argentina” in a political fall from grace, and after a search here it is (from 0:00 to about 3:20 is the relevant stuff, but it’s all gold):
Yes Minister – Season 3 Special – Party Games – Part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzbSi94msdU&NR=1