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You are here: Home / Cote manure

Cote manure

by DougJ|  June 24, 20091:15 pm| 128 Comments

This post is in: Going Galt

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TPM casts doubt on Sanford’s driving up the coast story. They’re also suggesting that Sanford might have brought along a hiking buddy.

There’s a side of me that thinks a governor heading down to Buenos Aires for a little “exoticism” isn’t all that important. On the other hand, every meal Obama has is viewed as a sign of possible weakness and when it came to scrutiny of Clinton’s every move…maybe reductio ad absurdium is the only way forward here.

Update. Commenter TGP explains what about this does matter:

The real story is not if he has a “little something on the side.” It is the fact that the state of SC had no effective executive in charge of the state for several days and NO ONE knew. The Lt Gov didn’t know, and evidently his staff had no idea the guy was out of pocket. Had he transferred executive powers to the Lt Gov it would be mere sensationalism. However silly the story may be on the surface this does require some investigation and possible legal proceedings by the state legislature.

Update update. Here’s a link for the presser, as requested by some commenters.

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Previous Post: « I’d Speak Out About This, But I Don’t Want To Be Accused of Cheap Populism and Class Warfare
Next Post: An Affair »

Reader Interactions

128Comments

  1. 1.

    IndieTarheel

    June 24, 2009 at 1:22 pm

    Sanford might have brought along a hiking buddy.

    Is that what the kids are calling it now? I think Fled flucked up.

  2. 2.

    PeopleAreNoDamnGood

    June 24, 2009 at 1:24 pm

    Now we are on the same page. Where would the mediablogoramarosannadannasphere be without reductio ad absurdam?

    Up the proverbial trail without a backpack.

    (yeah, it’s absurdam, not absurdium. You’re welcome).

    (absurdium was a really ridiculous element that was never really discovered).

  3. 3.

    Lyle4

    June 24, 2009 at 1:24 pm

    There’s a side of me that thinks a governor heading down to Buenos Aires for a little “exoticism” isn’t all that important.

    It really wouldn’t have been a big deal at all, IF he had just told someone and his staff hadn’t come up with the stupid ass hiking story. They screwed themselves good on this one.

  4. 4.

    donovong

    June 24, 2009 at 1:25 pm

    “There’s a side of me that thinks a governor heading down to Buenos Aires for a little “exoticism” isn’t all that important.”

    I don’t care if he was bopping whores on the square in Buenos Aires or taking in some of the sights at the local trannie fair. It’s the fact that he fucking disappeared and didn’t ensure that we had somebody leading this state.

    Wait a minute – that’s not really what he’s doing, is it? We were actually better off for six days without him, weren’t we? Well, shit.

    Can we send his ass back?

  5. 5.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    June 24, 2009 at 1:25 pm

    The real story is not if he has a “little something on the side.” It is the fact that the state of SC had no effective executive in charge of the state for several days and NO ONE knew. The Lt Gov didn’t know, and evidently his staff had no idea the guy was out of pocket. Had he transferred executive powers to the Lt Gov it would be mere sensationalism. However silly the story may be on the surface this does require some investigation and possible legal proceedings by the state legislature.

  6. 6.

    The Moar You Know

    June 24, 2009 at 1:25 pm

    Is that what the kids are calling it now?

    @IndieTarheel: Wait. I thought they were calling it “driving up the coast”.

    I’m so confused!

  7. 7.

    Bootlegger

    June 24, 2009 at 1:26 pm

    This guy Sanford is not very good at disappearing without a trace, I don’t think I want him as our President as that takes some real skill to disappear people.

  8. 8.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    June 24, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    I saw a post somewhere that called it Sanford and Sun. Or maybe it was … nevermind.

  9. 9.

    joes527

    June 24, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    There’s a side of me that thinks a governor heading down to Buenos Aires for a little “exoticism” isn’t all that important. On the other hand, every meal Obama has is viewed as a sign of possible weakness and when it came to scrutiny of Clinton’s every move…maybe reductio ad absurdium is the only way forward here.

    Meh.

    It is wrong when the press/blogosphere cover Obama/Clinton as if they were Disney child stars gone bad.

    It is equally wrong to hit the fainting couch over the private details of Sanford’s life.

    He seems to have ditched his job w/o notice and w/o making arrangements with his lt. Governor. That is a significant public issue.

    I’m all in favour of jokes about hookers and blow, but trying to seriously analyse his private life beyond the job performance issue noted above seems … icky.

  10. 10.

    Lyle4

    June 24, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    @Bootlegger: Well when you’re president other people do the disappearing for you.

  11. 11.

    Johnny B. Guud

    June 24, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    There’s a side of me that thinks a governor heading down to Buenos Aires for a little “exoticism” isn’t all that important.

    It isn’t.

    Neither is marital infidelity on the part of a sitting Democratic president in 1998. Neither is John Ensign cheating on his wife.

    The problem is when you make it a part of your political platform—-when you justify your political existence as a legislator or governor or whatever, partly because you believe you are morally superior to others because of what you do (or don’t do) in the bedroom.

    Or when an entire political party is based on the notion of “traditional family values” and seemingly all of your “shining stars” fail in said values.

    THEN there’s definitely a problem.

  12. 12.

    Walker

    June 24, 2009 at 1:33 pm

    Is it just me, or does TPM’s constant coverage of this issue seem a little Malkinest? I mean, we have no idea what he did, or why he did it, and it is not even clear that there is a real story here (yet). But TPM keeps on it regardless.

    Call me when they find evidence of wrong-doing.

  13. 13.

    sgwhiteinfla

    June 24, 2009 at 1:33 pm

    What’s good for the goose…

  14. 14.

    jibeaux

    June 24, 2009 at 1:35 pm

    The “driving the coastline” thing is starting to look like the “tackle box” thing in Brokeback Mtn.

  15. 15.

    gex

    June 24, 2009 at 1:36 pm

    @Walker:

    it is not even clear that there is a real story here

    *headdesk*

    The executive of the state of South Carolina left the state for about 1 week. No one had a way to get a hold of him even though he had not arranged a transfer of power. This during hurricane season, not to mention a plethora of other emergencies that could arise.

    Yes. Until there’s a real story, such as alien sex workers with dildos for hands as his travel companions, SHUT UP THAT’S WHY.

  16. 16.

    Carl Nyberg

    June 24, 2009 at 1:36 pm

    Didn’t Sanford and his team validate the importance of whatever happened by lying about it and attempting to deceive?

    What’s the big deal with telling his family and staff something like…?

    “Session is over. I’m going on vacation to Argentina. Call the chief of staff for routine stuff. If there is an emergent disaster, you can call my hotel (or friend’s place).”

    There’s obviously a reason for the deception and lies. What was Sanford hiding?

  17. 17.

    Andrew

    June 24, 2009 at 1:38 pm

    Call me when they find evidence of wrong-doing.

    Hint: Disappearing for a week while you’re a governor IS wrongdoing.

  18. 18.

    Napoleon

    June 24, 2009 at 1:38 pm

    @Johnny B. Guud:

    Or when an entire political party is based on the notion of “traditional family values” and seemingly all of your “shining stars” fail in said values.

    If that wasn’t starkly clear from the presidential candidates. Wasn’t only two of the Dems married more then once, and one of them lost his first wife in an auto accident and the other was a guy that couldn’t win the Dem nomination if he was the only guy on the ballot, then on the Republican side just between McCain and Rudy G. you had more hanky panky then all the Democratic candidates since JFK all added together.

  19. 19.

    jake 4 that 1

    June 24, 2009 at 1:39 pm

    There’s a side of me that thinks a governor heading down to Buenos Aires for a little “exoticism” isn’t all that important.

    Has Cokie Roberts been informed?!

    As other’s have said, he don’t have the luxury of pissing off for a few days without leaving a note. Oh well, if he runs for office again his oppo will be able to create some de-lightful attack ads.

  20. 20.

    Libby

    June 24, 2009 at 1:39 pm

    Jumping in with an off topic remark. I’ve been moving and am in the midst of a family medical crisis so I’ve just been lurking and waiting to catch the top of a thread to say:

    Happy belated birthday John Cole. Loving the posts about Lily. She looks like a real sweetie. And Balloon Juicers rock my world. I’m reading even if I’m not talking back.

  21. 21.

    jrg

    June 24, 2009 at 1:39 pm

    There’s a side of me that thinks a governor heading down to Buenos Aires for a little “exoticism” isn’t all that important.

    The moment you claim your private life makes you morally superior is the moment your private life becomes part of the public interest.

    Not that it matters. He’ll make a teary-eyed apology to Jeebus, and the mooks will lap it up like RC cola. We’ve all seen this movie before.

  22. 22.

    scav

    June 24, 2009 at 1:41 pm

    the only thing that attracts me to the whole kurtuffle is that it’s been an absolute gold mine of absurdity and puns. I may never recover from “Gov. Sanford puts the Tango in Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.” That and the kitten on a Roomba… o fink! and if awol.gov really had a sapiens sapiens subclass F. with him, I could add a kitten on a rumba to his tango foxtrot and I think I need to go collapse in a heap giggling somewhere.

  23. 23.

    Libby

    June 24, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    An on topic comment, if you’ll please forgive the blogwhore but this is an uncanny coincidence. I don’t think it’s anybody’s business what any politician does in his private life that doesn’t screw us over, but on June 18th, CBC.ca posted a story from Prostitute Plaza in Buenos Aires talking about the influx of young prostitutes from the Domincan Republic and noted they were popular because in a city of fair skinned people, they were considered exotic.

    What day did Sanford suddenly change his mind about where to vacation? Just saying…

  24. 24.

    malraux

    June 24, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    Call me when they find evidence of wrong-doing.

    The evidence of wrongdoing has already been presented. He left the state of South Carolina without executive leadership for an entire week. He didn’t sign over power to the Lt Governor, didn’t give a method to contact him so he could make decisions over the phone, didn’t even let his staff know what hemisphere of the globe he would be in. Hell, he didn’t even contact the local embassy to let them know a VIP was in the area, which is relevant as various levels of crime including kidnapping for ransom are not unheard of in the area, and is standard procedure for politicians traveling abroad.

  25. 25.

    Johnny B. Guud

    June 24, 2009 at 1:43 pm

    @Napoleon: Yep…

  26. 26.

    Zandar

    June 24, 2009 at 1:44 pm

    Meh.

    It’s South Carolina. “Nobody in charge for a week” is an improvement.

  27. 27.

    Ash Can

    June 24, 2009 at 1:44 pm

    Cote manure

    FTFW

  28. 28.

    eric

    June 24, 2009 at 1:46 pm

    First of all, how did Sanford think NO ONE would notice his absence? When I leave work early, i am more thoughtful about not getting caught than this party leader.

    Second, why would you go out of the country when you could go to someplace in the US unless you wanted to be absolutely sure that NO ONE reccognized you?

    Third, why would his staff lie and/or why did he ask his staff to lie?

    Fourth, his divorce lawyer just slit his or her wrists. If the misses has dough, and she does, mack daddy’s conduct will ruin any chance at a decent settlement from her and to her and could cost him custody given his erratic and irrespondible conduct.

    I have to stop, my head hurts — teh stupid burns.

    eric

  29. 29.

    Bud

    June 24, 2009 at 1:46 pm

    “There’s a side of me that thinks a governor heading down to Buenos Aires for a little “exoticism” isn’t all that important.”

    I would be inclined to agree with this, except that this isn’t about some normal guy going a bit nuts and harming nobody but his own immediate family. Aside from the responsibilities you assume when you become a governor that forbid you from indulging in a little healthy insanity, the issue is hypocrisy. People like Sanford call me every name in the book and accuse me of wanting to destroy families and churches and society itself because I’m gay. They posture as morally superior while blaming me for all of society’s ills.

    I’m a grown-up and steeled myself against this kind of thing years ago. But don’t deny me that delicious feeling of revenge when someone like that gets busted for weakness of the flesh.

  30. 30.

    Lyle4

    June 24, 2009 at 1:47 pm

    I also can’t believe no one has made a reference to Miss Teen South Carolina in all the threads about this.

    There’s some comedy gold just waiting to be mined in this. But alas, I’m not witty enough to find it.

  31. 31.

    The Other Steve

    June 24, 2009 at 1:47 pm

    I think the real story is his staff lied and claimed he was somewhere he wasn’t.

    It’s always the coverup that kills.

  32. 32.

    Gabo

    June 24, 2009 at 1:48 pm

    I don’t understand what the big deal is… so he wanted to pitch a tent in Buenos Aires, instead of Appalachia. And he needed a buddy to help him… do something exotic. Hey, he just had to blow off some steam, er, let it all hang loose, er, get flat on his back and relax for a while… He’s tired of driving up and down the strip in SC, and wanted to see a new strip.

  33. 33.

    Cat Lady

    June 24, 2009 at 1:48 pm

    Nothing pleases me more than indulging in schadenfreude generated by republican peccadilloes. They’re still not getting enough shame and humiliation heaped on them, due to the IOKIYAR media rules, so we have to make sure we make as much hay from their hypocritical and ridiculous choices as we can while the getting is good. They deserve it and we’ve earned it.

  34. 34.

    georgia pig

    June 24, 2009 at 1:48 pm

    What we have here is a bunch of killjoys. This is a story because of the hysterical imcompetence of the spinners — Appalachain Trail getaway morphs into “Nude hiking Sunday”, “traveling up the Argentina coast” morphs to “it takes two to tango” (badabing!). You can’t beat that for entertainment. Personally, I don’t give a shit if he was out of pocket, as I doubt this putz is all that indispensible to SC’s survival. Who among us cannot appreciate a little sex scandal so clumsily executed?

  35. 35.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    June 24, 2009 at 1:49 pm

    Is “Cote manure” a play on “Côte d’Azur”?

    Pardon me if I’m missing some other perfectly obvious reference, I wouldn’t be surprised.

    If it is, I’ll forgive you, only because “A Whiter Shade of Fail” was perhaps the best title I’ve seen here, well, ever.

  36. 36.

    mistermix

    June 24, 2009 at 1:49 pm

    @Ash Can: Yup

    I don’t really care much about the latest exploits of this drama queen, but the title of this post is going to be very, very hard to beat.

  37. 37.

    malraux

    June 24, 2009 at 1:52 pm

    @eric: 5: Why would you go to BA in the coldest part of the year? The hiking the Appalachian Trail bit was eccentric, but not necessarily dumb. But flying across the equator into winter to go drive on a coast is pretty dumb, especially when you live in a coastal state.

  38. 38.

    PeopleAreNoDamnGood

    June 24, 2009 at 1:53 pm

    In more recent months, he was rumored as a potential presidential contender in 2012. His critics brushed that aside Wednesday.”Unless he runs for president of Argentina, I think he has no chance of becoming president. The rest of the country wouldn’t have taken him seriously anyway,” said Dick Harpootlian, a former South Carolina Democratic Party chairman who rapped Sanford for “apparently taking off to run away from home like some hormone-infused adolescent.”

    There isn’t enough popcorn for this.

  39. 39.

    scav

    June 24, 2009 at 1:54 pm

    @Zandar: Hey, maybe this is all a part of the repub’s cunning plan to prove Govt. is the problem. Step One: Govern incompetently for 8 years. Step B. Prove states work better when the gov. is awol. Step (iii). Victory!

  40. 40.

    Death By Mosquito Truck

    June 24, 2009 at 1:54 pm

    There’s a side of me that thinks a governor heading down to Buenos Aires for a little “exoticism” isn’t all that important.

    I’m having a hard time caring but I also don’t care who they put in charge of Iran’s theocracy. I’m hard to please like that.

  41. 41.

    Walker

    June 24, 2009 at 1:55 pm

    @gex:

    The executive of the state of South Carolina left the state for about 1 week. No one had a way to get a hold of him even though he had not arranged a transfer of power. This during hurricane season, not to mention a plethora of other emergencies that could arise.

    But we don’t know this for sure. For all we know, his staff were intentionally lying (though, if they were, you would expect them to do a better job of it). Now, I am not going to go Red State and say they knew all along. I am just saying that it is really unclear what we know right now. And my TPM RSS feed is filled with post after post that is nothing more than idle speculation.

    Look, he is back. Let him say his piece and then we can re-evaluate from there.

  42. 42.

    DougJ

    June 24, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    I don’t really care much about the latest exploits of this drama queen, but the title of this post is going to be very, very hard to beat.

    Thanks.

  43. 43.

    nikkos

    June 24, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    Anybody know what Palin’s been up to during Sanford’s walkabout?

  44. 44.

    Libby

    June 24, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    For those without a teevee, just ran across a link to a live feed of the presser. I’m off to watch.

  45. 45.

    Tony J

    June 24, 2009 at 1:58 pm

    First of all, how did Sanford think NO ONE would notice his absence? When I leave work early, i am more thoughtful about not getting caught than this party leader.

    Well, yeah. Unless this wasn’t the first time he’s done something like this, and he expected everyone on his team to cover for him as per usual. Any questions, just tell them he’s gone hiking.

    But someone on the team wasn’t playing ball this time, and the suggestion was leaked that maybe there might be a story in asking exactly where the Governor is right at this present moment, knowing that things would snowball from there.

    My money’s on the wife.

  46. 46.

    malraux

    June 24, 2009 at 2:01 pm

    @Walker: We know the Lt Governor was not notified, which should be standard procedure if the Governor is out of the country.

  47. 47.

    eric k

    June 24, 2009 at 2:01 pm

    The point is it really doesn’t matter why he was there, could be totally innocent like he claims, could be a mistress but either way the fact is he left without transferring power to the Lt Gov.

    Most of the time nothing will happen that needs a legally in charge executive. But that is just it, unforeseen accidents or natural disasters are just that, unforeseen. If there had been something that required deploying the National Guard for example, no one could have done it.

  48. 48.

    gwangung

    June 24, 2009 at 2:01 pm

    . I am just saying that it is really unclear what we know right now.

    What part of “leaving the state without a chief executive” is unclear to you?

    He should be and will be raked over the coals for that.

  49. 49.

    Poopyman

    June 24, 2009 at 2:04 pm

    Malreaux@ 37:

    Have you ever been to SC in the summer? It’s frickin’ hot! Like a bazillion degrees with the humidity about 2000 percent.

    BA, on the other hand, is cool. Refreshing. That’s what’s “exotic” compared to SC.

    But seriously, I’ll believe he was in Argentina after somebody presents irrefutable proof. Every other story has been bogus, and if the reporter met him outside of security, he could have come off of any aircraft that landed at Hartsfield.

  50. 50.

    sgwhiteinfla

    June 24, 2009 at 2:04 pm

    Walker

    So you think its plausible that his staff knew where his was but his wife and kids didn’t…..On Father’s day weekend?!

    Man some people just won’t see what’s staring them in the face.

  51. 51.

    Jon H

    June 24, 2009 at 2:05 pm

    @jake 4 that 1: “As other’s have said, he don’t have the luxury of pissing off for a few days without leaving a note. ”

    Well, he *would* have that luxury, if he put the lieutenant Gov in charge first.

    At that point, it doesn’t really matter if he goes off and joins a commune and changes his name to Peyote Starchild Hemplord Manlover and never comes back.

  52. 52.

    gex

    June 24, 2009 at 2:08 pm

    @Walker: Well the LG didn’t know the governor was out of reach. But I suppose you are right, his staff and wife might just be lying to the people of South Carolina that there was a complete power vacuum for a week. As you say, no story. /snark

  53. 53.

    bago

    June 24, 2009 at 2:11 pm

    This Erik Erikson post is pure funny.

  54. 54.

    Jon H

    June 24, 2009 at 2:12 pm

    @Poopyman: “But seriously, I’ll believe he was in Argentina after somebody presents irrefutable proof”

    I’d believe he was in Argentina, but I doubt he left the hotel.

  55. 55.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    June 24, 2009 at 2:12 pm

    If this ends up the way it looks very much like it might, I guarantee you that “Hiking in Buenos Aires” will become an entirely unforseen new euphemism.

  56. 56.

    Ash Can

    June 24, 2009 at 2:12 pm

    I personally don’t care if the guy sleeps with livestock, flies to Curacao weekly to hang upside down in a dominatrix’s lair, or snorts bat guano for breakfast. As long as he isn’t breaking the law or doing something that interferes with his job, the worst thing he’s publicly guilty of is hypocrisy as a supposed proponent of “family values” (which, I am coming to learn, is actually translated as “swinging” by today’s GOP). Point-and-laugh-worthy maybe, but in the grand scheme of things, not the end of the world.

    However, given that he abandoned his duty for a week, he’s made this episode the business of everyone, and of the residents of his state above all. His little fling really did interfere with his job, and TGP and others have it exactly right. He fully deserves censure at the least — not for doing something goofy in his private life, but for allowing his private life to prevent him from carrying out the duties of his public one.

  57. 57.

    IndieTarheel

    June 24, 2009 at 2:13 pm

    @Gabo: HEY-OHHHHHHH!

  58. 58.

    Elie

    June 24, 2009 at 2:13 pm

    My guess is that he is lying about Argentina as well.

    All of this is a set of lies and coverups and as usual, once the sniff test fails, its just a matter of time before all the goodies float to the surface like little turds…

    Even a little som som on the side if well planned should not have been the cause of such complete irresponsible craziness. He is nuts and his career is OVER

  59. 59.

    sgwhiteinfla

    June 24, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    Wait, are we still supposed to be holding back ridicule because this might have been a “nervous breakdown”?

    I never got the memo.

  60. 60.

    Louise

    June 24, 2009 at 2:17 pm

    I’m going to predict that we get one of two things at this presser:

    1. At least one put-upon/loyalist staffer will say he/she knew exactly where to reach Sanford in an emergency. The long distance trip will still be problematic, as will the fact that the LG didn’t know, but that’s the best they’ll be able to do.

    or

    2. We’ll get a “heartfelt apology.” Full stop.

    Somehow, they’ll manage to make this less entertaining than it rightly ought to be.

    Side bet: Will the missus be standing by his side?

    Deleted because it doesn’t matter. The issue is his absence as governor, not as husband/dad.

  61. 61.

    Jen R

    June 24, 2009 at 2:18 pm

    Is anybody else trying to watch the press conference on CNN? Should there be sound? I don’t have sound.

    Damn it, I hope they get this thing started soon (and that I can hear it). I have to take my cat to the vet in 40 minutes.

    ETA: yes! Sound!

  62. 62.

    Seebach

    June 24, 2009 at 2:20 pm

    Obama is still the luckiest son of a bitch in the history of politics.

  63. 63.

    Death By Mosquito Truck

    June 24, 2009 at 2:20 pm

    @sgwhiteinfla:

    So you think its plausible that his staff knew where his was but his wife and kids didn’t…..On Father’s day weekend?! Man some people just won’t see what’s staring them in the face.

    OMFG. Are you suggesting that isn’t his wife and kids on Sullivan’s Island? How deep is this conspiracy?!

  64. 64.

    Carl Nyberg

    June 24, 2009 at 2:21 pm

    Sanford is a military guy (if you consider the U.S. Air Force Reserves military).

    What’s the first thing you learn in military indoctrination?

    The General Orders of a Sentry.

    What’s the 1st General Order?

    “I will take charge of my post and protect all personnel and property for which I am responsible until properly relieved.”

  65. 65.

    JGabriel

    June 24, 2009 at 2:21 pm

    scav:

    Hey, maybe this is all a part of the repub’s cunning plan to prove Govt. is the problem.

    People seem to be finally figuring out that Republicans are the problem, not government.

    .

  66. 66.

    Legalize

    June 24, 2009 at 2:23 pm

    Here comes the gov ….

  67. 67.

    Lyle4

    June 24, 2009 at 2:24 pm

    You’d think the asshat would have prepared remarkes. Not this drivel.

  68. 68.

    Carl Nyberg

    June 24, 2009 at 2:24 pm

    This isn’t about the Appalachian Trail, Governor.

  69. 69.

    Jen R

    June 24, 2009 at 2:24 pm

    ::pops popcorn::

  70. 70.

    JGabriel

    June 24, 2009 at 2:25 pm

    Louise:

    The issue is his absence as governor, not as husband/dad.

    True. But Family Values Man running away on Father’s Day for a little Argentine exoticism is still fucking hilarious.

    .

  71. 71.

    Crashman06

    June 24, 2009 at 2:25 pm

    Good rambling start. Blaming it on the stimulus! Then he’s letting down the family. Here comes the sex scandal.

  72. 72.

    Lyle4

    June 24, 2009 at 2:26 pm

    Oooooh, this is gonna be good. Already apologizing to the kids.

  73. 73.

    Tony J

    June 24, 2009 at 2:26 pm

    Well, he would have that luxury, if he put the lieutenant Gov in charge first.

    That’s the very odd thing. Regardless of what arrangements – secret or otherwise – he’d made for his week away, not informing the L-G that he’d be out-of-state for a while was the thing that really turned interest in his whereabouts right up to 11. The word “disappeared” was introduced to the story, and no reporter is going to back off if they think they might be the only people working the story of a State Governor and likely 2012 candidate being kidnapped/killed/lost in the woods over Father’s Day weekend.

    Which means one of three things –

    1) He’s done it before, never bothered to inform the L-G, and got into the habit of thinking it wouldn’t matter.

    2) It was a spur of the moment decision driven by fuck-knows-what reasons, and he just didn’t think about it at all.

    3) The person he went to Buenos Aires with was Codename: Jack Bauer, and Sanford’s about to become a national hero for his exploits because he has the head of Osama Bin Laden in his carry-on luggage.

  74. 74.

    Cat Lady

    June 24, 2009 at 2:26 pm

    Apologies to the wife at a presser is never going to end well….

  75. 75.

    Carl Nyberg

    June 24, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    Apologizing to young sons through the media is kinda odd and self-serving, no?

  76. 76.

    LD50

    June 24, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    I missed it, has anyone claimed yet that Sanford told his handlers over the phone that he was going to Argentina and they misheard ‘Argentina’ as ‘Appalachian’? You know, both 4 syllables, start with ‘a’, etc.

  77. 77.

    Jen R

    June 24, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    OMG, he forgot how long he’s been married.

    He’s *never* getting off the couch.

  78. 78.

    Jon

    June 24, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    Tell me what the reductio ad absurdum, an argument form whereby the truth of a claim is assumed in order to show that it entails a logical contradiction, has to do with any of this.

  79. 79.

    Poopyman

    June 24, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    He’s apologizing to anything and everything that moves.

    Face red. Tears can’t be far behind….

  80. 80.

    Jay in Oregon

    June 24, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    @bago:

    Pure funny in a “let’s state the exact opposite of what is known to be true” sort of way:

    First, we need to be clear on the facts — not the media speculation:
    * Sanford did tell his staff and family where he was going.
    * Because he was traveling without a security detail, it was in his best interests that no one knew he was gone.
    * His political enemies — Republicans at that — ginned up the media story.
    * When confronted by a pestering media, things went downhill.
    * Again though, at all times there was no doubt that Sanford’s staff and family knew where he was.

    And let us be clear, Sanford’s staff and family knew where he was at all times. Those quotes where they say the exact opposite? SHUT UP, THAT’S WHY!

  81. 81.

    Lyle4

    June 24, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    Ok, what the fuck is he rambling about? Why is he crying? OH GOD. What is going on???

  82. 82.

    Louise

    June 24, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    Oh, gadzooks. He’s just a cheating bastard. Asshole.

  83. 83.

    Jon H

    June 24, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    @Tony J: “1) He’s done it before, never bothered to inform the L-G, and got into the habit of thinking it wouldn’t matter.”

    He didn’t hand the reins to the L-G when he spent two weeks in Air Force Reserve training in Alabama, either.

  84. 84.

    Ash Can

    June 24, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    Side bet: Will the missus be standing by his side storm into the press conference, wrap a pair of pantyhose around his neck, and choke the living shit out of him?

    I’d pay some damn good money to see that.

  85. 85.

    Mr. Poppinfresh

    June 24, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    fap fap fap fap

  86. 86.

    Cat Lady

    June 24, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    Just tell us what the fuck you’re apologizing for already… no one cares who you fucked over. Blah, blah, blah.

  87. 87.

    JR (not the other JR)

    June 24, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    Crying already? Uh oh.

  88. 88.

    JenJen

    June 24, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    Hey, I just wanted to let you all know that I’m hiking the Appalachian Trail, and by Appalachian Trail, I mean the Congo.

    Also, I’m going to Disney World! By Disney World, I mean the Louvre.

    ;-)

  89. 89.

    Joshua Norton

    June 24, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    They should have someone in the background chopping off turkey heads.

  90. 90.

    Legalize

    June 24, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    God’s law? What the fuck? This is bizarre.

  91. 91.

    Michael

    June 24, 2009 at 2:30 pm

    Invoking God’s laws.

    What a pathetic, whining, rambling little bitch.

  92. 92.

    Carl Nyberg

    June 24, 2009 at 2:31 pm

    “The biggest self of self is indeed self.”

  93. 93.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    June 24, 2009 at 2:32 pm

    The word “rambling” is now a slam dunk in every news story about this, to the point where you could make it a drinking game while watching tonight’s news.

  94. 94.

    Elie

    June 24, 2009 at 2:32 pm

    1. Who paid for this little junket?
    2. Where is his passport and was it stamped?
    3. WHY did he not tell his Lt Governor? Why?
    4. Why did his staff lie? Did he instruct them to lie?

    He WAS turned in by someone — if his junket was innocent, I doubt that would have happened…

    As I said, there are no good answers to this and it might be better for him to just come clean rather than continue lies and more cover ups…

  95. 95.

    Poopyman

    June 24, 2009 at 2:33 pm

    Ahhhh yes. Just as most folks thought…..

  96. 96.

    IndieTarheel

    June 24, 2009 at 2:33 pm

    @Bill E Pilgrim:

    Put on my hiking shoes
    And I boarded the plane
    Touched down in the land of the bikini wax
    Ready to drive down a narrow lane
    J.E. Hoover — won’t you look down over me
    Yeah I got a first class ticket
    But I’m as blue as a boy can be

    This stuff writes itself…

  97. 97.

    Death By Mosquito Truck

    June 24, 2009 at 2:33 pm

    Oh lord, I had one of those casual email relationships. I’m damn lucky I didn’t wind up hurting a whole bunch of folks.

  98. 98.

    linda

    June 24, 2009 at 2:33 pm

    @Seebach:

    lolololol…. man, so true. it’s astonishing watching this gop implosion (something i must say at least once a day).

  99. 99.

    ironranger

    June 24, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    Sanford forgot to follow the republican rule: never be alone with a woman not his wife.

  100. 100.

    Louise

    June 24, 2009 at 2:38 pm

    Gad, the media SUCKS. Every question I’ve heard so far (taken or shouted) is about his marriage. NO!

    Who. Was. In. Charge. Of. South. Carolina?

    Sheesh.

  101. 101.

    Joshua Norton

    June 24, 2009 at 2:39 pm

    Maybe he’ll resign so he can spend LESS time with his family.

  102. 102.

    Carl Nyberg

    June 24, 2009 at 2:39 pm

    An online relationship… muy interesante.

    Did the governor have cybersex?

    How good was the help from Cubby Culberson if he was giving advice for five months and Sanford went to Argentina anyways?

  103. 103.

    GregB

    June 24, 2009 at 2:40 pm

    Mark Sanford, inventor of the international digital booty call.

    -G

  104. 104.

    Comrade Stuck

    June 24, 2009 at 2:40 pm

    I’m just glad that God is protecting republicans from themselves. But HE needs to hire more staff.

  105. 105.

    Nick

    June 24, 2009 at 2:41 pm

    I guess the presidency is now off the table.

  106. 106.

    Death By Mosquito Truck

    June 24, 2009 at 2:41 pm

    Wait, I still got eight years to fuck everything up.

  107. 107.

    Legalize

    June 24, 2009 at 2:42 pm

    That was amazing.

  108. 108.

    Carl Nyberg

    June 24, 2009 at 2:42 pm

    ‘Is the governor going to resign?”

    No answer.

  109. 109.

    Jon H

    June 24, 2009 at 2:42 pm

    @Legalize: “God’s law? What the fuck? This is bizarre.”

    That line made me wonder if he had an affair with a man.

  110. 110.

    Jen R

    June 24, 2009 at 2:42 pm

    LOLOL!

    “I didn’t tell them [I was going to the Appalachian Trail], I just said ‘Hey guys, this is where I think I’m going to go.'”

  111. 111.

    Joshua Norton

    June 24, 2009 at 2:43 pm

    “I’d like to apologize to Estaban for sticking him with the hotel bill.”

  112. 112.

    Poopyman

    June 24, 2009 at 2:43 pm

    The “Last Question” (ie the last 6) are finally about the governing. The last question *after he left the podium* was “are you going to resign as governor?” Pretty obviously not. Duh!

    Well, let’s see if we can break WordPress…..

  113. 113.

    JC

    June 24, 2009 at 2:44 pm

    I actually feel bad for the guy, though I understand it’s easy to slam on him, for this sorta wandering ‘confession’ he’s doing.

  114. 114.

    BenA

    June 24, 2009 at 2:46 pm

    Is there a decent human being left in the Republican party?

  115. 115.

    Tony J

    June 24, 2009 at 2:47 pm

    He didn’t hand the reins to the L-G when he spent two weeks in Air Force Reserve training in Alabama, either.

    Despite boning up on all internet traditions, I’m sadly unfamiliar with that particular euphemism. Please elaborate.

    Wait, is he having a breakdown on live-feed? Must watch.

  116. 116.

    Crashman06

    June 24, 2009 at 2:47 pm

    The abrupt ending, right after the ‘are you going to resign’ question, was the best part.

  117. 117.

    Joshua Norton

    June 24, 2009 at 2:48 pm

    Jesus, God, God’s Law, Jesus, Jesus, biggest hoo-hahs you ever saw, Jesus, Christ, God’s Law, Jesus, Jesus,God, Jesus

  118. 118.

    Perry Como

    June 24, 2009 at 2:48 pm

    Now it all makes sense. The Governor had his own stimulus package, that’s why he didn’t want the Federal government’s.

  119. 119.

    malraux

    June 24, 2009 at 2:50 pm

    I haven’t seen the actual press conference, but is Sanford being as circumspect about the relationship as the online summaries would make it seem?

  120. 120.

    eric

    June 24, 2009 at 2:50 pm

    well, if there is electronic data recovery on his office computer, he is not gonna be happy getting those FOIA requests,

    eric

  121. 121.

    rikyrah

    June 24, 2009 at 2:53 pm

    this is hilarious. hilarious.

  122. 122.

    Poopyman

    June 24, 2009 at 2:57 pm

    The abrupt ending, right after the ‘are you going to resign’ question, was the best part.

    Nah. The best part is what our panty-sniffing media is going to be saying now.

  123. 123.

    Tony J

    June 24, 2009 at 2:57 pm

    That line made me wonder if he had an affair with a man.

    If the last movie he watched before heading off was Dog Day Afternoon, you may be onto something.

    Any banks knocked over in Buenos Aires recently?

  124. 124.

    DFS

    June 24, 2009 at 2:59 pm

    What I wanna know is, why does he have to go all the way to Argentina? Is American tail not good enough for him or something?

    By God, when Bill Clinton went and got himself a blowjob on the side, he got himself a good old all-American blowjob.

  125. 125.

    rikyrah

    June 24, 2009 at 3:02 pm

    until I see pictures, I’m not convinced it’s a woman.

  126. 126.

    Peter J

    June 24, 2009 at 3:13 pm

    By God, when Bill Clinton went and got himself a blowjob on the side, he got himself a good old all-American blowjob.

    American blowjobs for Americans?

    The immigration hating crowd won’t be happy for him going south of the border. (But then there’s a lot of Argentines with German descent.)

  127. 127.

    binzinerator

    June 24, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    Jesus Fucking Christ in a Dildo Wetsuit these hypocrite bible-thumping shitbox licking family values conservatives are so fucking tedious.

    Already on the Wiki page for Sanford:

    Sanford admitted that he had been unfaithful to his wife and requested a “zone of privacy” for his family.

    Sandford you fucking republican asshole, what about a zone of privacy for everyone else’s family?

    What about our privacy in what we choose to do in our bedrooms and with whom? Or our own reproductive choices? What about that zone of privacy for the young woman who goes to a Planned Parenthood clinic to get a damn pap smear and is stalked all the way home by the anti-choice jeesusfreeks of your party? What about our zone of privacy in our homes and families, in our papers and phone calls and email, the breach of which your party’s political leaders secretly decided no longer requires cause or a warrant?

    What about that zone of family privacy for the Schiavos?

    Fuck you and your privacy. You don’t get to have it both ways. Fucker.

  128. 128.

    Calouste

    June 24, 2009 at 3:32 pm

    So Sanford said he first had email contact with the Argentinian woman 8 years ago.

    Do we have a good reason why that woman emailed him (or vice versa) or do Argentinian women just randomly email out of work US Congressman (as Sanford was at the time).

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