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You are here: Home / Happy trails

Happy trails

by DougJ|  August 25, 201211:11 am| 58 Comments

This post is in: Green Balloons

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Some things were meant to be (via):

Former S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford has proposed marriage to his girlfriend, Maria Belen Chapur, according to a Argentinian newspaper, Clarin.

According to a story in the newspaper’s society section, the two “became engaged last Wednesday, at noon, in the Palermo restaurant Bella Italia Grill.”

The paper said Sanford arrived early at the restaurant and gave “a bag with the (engagement) ring to one of the waiters,” asking him to “to invent a good story for his girlfriend.”

My favorite part of the story was Sanford’s use of the phrase “world wind” in his emails.

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58Comments

  1. 1.

    Fezzik

    August 25, 2012 at 11:17 am

    There’s the GOPfail schadenfreude, but at the end of the day, I’m happy for the guy (if sad for his kids and ex-wife). His humiliating affair was not just some mid-life crisis fling, it would seem. He indicated in his exit comments this was love, and so it is.

  2. 2.

    raven

    August 25, 2012 at 11:18 am

    @Fezzik: Fuck his sorry hypocritical ass.

  3. 3.

    BGinCHI

    August 25, 2012 at 11:20 am

    Slooooooow news day.

    At this point Sanford is looking like the sanest SC politician I can name (with an R after his name).

  4. 4.

    Romney supporter

    August 25, 2012 at 11:22 am

    @Fezzik:
    That was my first reaction too. But I am going to give it a little time to make sure he doesn’t play a “Newt” and forgive himself and climb back on the righteous for everyone else path.

  5. 5.

    danah gaz (fka gaz)

    August 25, 2012 at 11:23 am

    @Romney supporter: your nick has to be snark, am I right? Nobody would admit that in polite company.

  6. 6.

    Seonachan

    August 25, 2012 at 11:24 am

    I hope she was suitably pleased with the waiter’s ruse. Nothing more romantic than outsourcing your engagement surprise to the staff.

  7. 7.

    Ann B. Nonymous

    August 25, 2012 at 11:25 am

    When will Lindsay Graham propose to his squeeze? He could get it done in Iowa while campaigning for Mitt.

  8. 8.

    BGinCHI

    August 25, 2012 at 11:25 am

    @Seonachan: Job creator.

  9. 9.

    Valdivia

    August 25, 2012 at 11:25 am

    I love how the report has the waiter at the restaurant having to invent a story because Sanford couldn’t come up with one so the local guy made his proposal a winner by doing what he did

    ETA @Seonachan: got there first and more eloquently.

  10. 10.

    beltane

    August 25, 2012 at 11:26 am

    He’s quite the romantic for a Republican. I take it he won’t be appearing in Tampa this week.

  11. 11.

    Doggie D

    August 25, 2012 at 11:27 am

    This is a very dashing couple, and we should wish them happiness. If you look closely, you can observe that the jaw-line of the female is very similar to a Doberman retriever. This long jaw should provide the couple many joyous evenings. From their example, let us again understand that love conquers all. Except for perhaps radical violent Muslim extremists, who are not representative of the vast majority of Muslims, who are peaceful, and can be conquered by love.

  12. 12.

    Linda Featheringill

    August 25, 2012 at 11:28 am

    Hey, everyone likes a “world wind” romance. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. :-)

  13. 13.

    BGinCHI

    August 25, 2012 at 11:30 am

    @Ann B. Nonymous: You mean John McCain, right?

    I think he’s already married to a blonde.

  14. 14.

    gelfling545

    August 25, 2012 at 11:34 am

    @Fezzik:

    He indicated in his exit comments this was love, and so it is.

    He probably said the same thing about his first marriage. “Love” does not excuse everything.

  15. 15.

    gbear

    August 25, 2012 at 11:35 am

    @Seonachan: Hopefully she accepted the waiter’s proposal and left Sanford sitting at the table with his glass of wine.

  16. 16.

    beltane

    August 25, 2012 at 11:36 am

    @Linda Featheringill: A world wind would mess up my hair so I’ll pass on it.

  17. 17.

    PurpleGirl

    August 25, 2012 at 11:37 am

    I wish the happy couple luck; of course Maria should realize that if he broke his vows once he’s very likely to break them again. Maybe she should plant a GPS device on him.

  18. 18.

    Shawn in ShowMe

    August 25, 2012 at 11:37 am

    Boy meets girl, boy marries girl, they have children, boy meets hotter girl, boy dumps wife and children and moves to Latin America. It’s a Wonderful Life meets Pretty Woman.

  19. 19.

    Baud

    August 25, 2012 at 11:42 am

    At this point, the GOP is just happy that Sanford didn’t turn out to be gay…

    Like the rest of them.

  20. 20.

    YellowJournalism

    August 25, 2012 at 11:42 am

    I wish them all the happiness they deserve. Take that as you will.

  21. 21.

    The Moar You Know

    August 25, 2012 at 11:44 am

    Shit happens. I hope they can make it work in spite of the odds being that it won’t. But still, world’s too full of miserable people as it is. I wish them well.

  22. 22.

    Robin G.

    August 25, 2012 at 12:02 pm

    Is it bizarre that I find this to be kind of sweet? I’ll take it back in a heartbeat if he starts up on Family Values bullshit, but as it stands… I dunno. Maybe I’m just feeling fluffy today.

    Edited to add: Admittedly, I’m trying to figure out what that “invent a good story” thing means. Did he say he found the ring on the Appalachian Trail? (Just because I’m feeling fluffy doesn’t mean it’s not still hysterical.)

  23. 23.

    J

    August 25, 2012 at 12:08 pm

    I do hope that they’ll be honeymooning on the Appalachian trail!

  24. 24.

    HRA

    August 25, 2012 at 12:09 pm

    You can never know what life will deal you. You can never know what happens in a marriage. You can never know what will be lasting and what will not be lasting.

    As someone alluded to, he seems to not be of the ilk we are seeing in the Rs presently and I have to applaud it.

    I wish them the best.

  25. 25.

    Gretchen

    August 25, 2012 at 12:11 pm

    I’m always amazed at women who marry a guy who know for a fact that he cheats on his wife. Now you’re his wife, and you know for a FACT that he cheats on his wife. And they’re surprised every, every, time. This time was going to be different. This time it was true love.

  26. 26.

    lamh35

    August 25, 2012 at 12:14 pm

    Obama Campaign: ‘America Doesn’t Need a Birther-in-Chief’

    Obama: Romney Locked Into ‘Extreme Positions’ Even If He Doesn’t Believe Them

    From President Obama’s interview with the AP:”I can’t speak to Governor Romney’s motivations,” Obama said. “What I can say is that he has signed up for positions, extreme positions, that are very consistent with positions that a number of House Republicans have taken. And whether he actually believes in those or not, I have no doubt that he would carry forward some of the things that he’s talked about.”

  27. 27.

    ChrisNYC

    August 25, 2012 at 12:16 pm

    My favorite part was thinking of him, AWOL, sitting on the plane as it took off, no one knowing where he was. Must have been a really fun and free moment. “Fuck this. I’m in loooove.” Could be a movie.

  28. 28.

    Villago Delenda Est

    August 25, 2012 at 12:16 pm

    I’m just happy that such an irresponsible person will never be in a position of responsibility again.

    And I’m referring not to his affair, but to his running off abandoning his post as governor without making the slightest plan to inform his deputy or his staff of his whereabouts, which was the true crime here.

  29. 29.

    Yutsano

    August 25, 2012 at 12:17 pm

    @lamh35: So much for that vaunted tack to the center eh? Willard’s polling must be horrible if he’s feeling the need to do this.

  30. 30.

    Linda Featheringill

    August 25, 2012 at 12:18 pm

    At least Sanford is trying to find his own quality of life and isn’t spending all his time trying to destroy my quality of life. When I consider how many Republicans choose to spend their allotted days, I appreciate him for that.

  31. 31.

    Hal

    August 25, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    asking him to “to invent a good story for his girlfriend.”

    Hmmm, a good story. Ok, how about this? You say you’re going hiking and then fly off to Argentina to be with your mistress. Oh wait, that was real life.

  32. 32.

    Villago Delenda Est

    August 25, 2012 at 12:22 pm

    @Yutsano:

    The etch-a-sketch will remain in its original shipping container for the duration of the campaign.

    He dare not take it out and shake it. The crew will mutiny if he tries.

  33. 33.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    August 25, 2012 at 12:23 pm

    @gbear: FTW.

  34. 34.

    lamh35

    August 25, 2012 at 12:26 pm

    @Yutsano: Sorry, I misread ur comment somehow…deleted

  35. 35.

    Yutsano

    August 25, 2012 at 12:33 pm

    @lamh35: Heh. Happens to me all the time. I blame Obama. :)

  36. 36.

    lamh35

    August 25, 2012 at 12:34 pm

    Please to Be Shutting the Piehole Now

    Charles Pierce: I was driving most of yesterday and, therefore, only got the news piecemeal of Willard Romney’s descent to previous unplumbed depths in a racist bathysphere of how own devising. I felt a little out of the loop until I was presented with the comforting familiarity of what a dipshit Mark Halperin is:
    “After reading a lot of tweets, listening to some talk radio, and watching some cable TV, I can say that this Romney/birther moment is representative of the whole, horrible campaign cycle we are in. The level of vitriol and personal animus that exists on both sides over the flap is truly discouraging.”

    Jesus these people

  37. 37.

    patrick II

    August 25, 2012 at 12:34 pm

    @danah gaz (fka gaz):

    Yeah, I forgot to change the moniker back after some sarcastic remark on another thread.

  38. 38.

    Ann Rynd

    August 25, 2012 at 12:35 pm

    Ugh. Heterosexual marriage. Talk about extreme positions. Ghastly.

  39. 39.

    different-church-lady

    August 25, 2012 at 12:38 pm

    @Hal: Yeah, you know in that context it kinda makes sense: “Hmmm… last time I made up a story, that didn’t go so well. Maybe this time I should just leave this to the waiter…”

  40. 40.

    shortstop

    August 25, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    I’m stayin’ in a hotel very close to that restaurant in November. With luck, they were just passing through. Nothing ruins a good trip more than a view of Mark Sanford.

  41. 41.

    Villago Delenda Est

    August 25, 2012 at 12:42 pm

    @lamh35:

    OK, so Rmoney embraces the patently false cult of birtherism, and Obama runs “negative” ads that tell the truth about Rmoney.

    “Both sides do it.”

    Halperin needs to be dispatched. With a meat cleaver.

  42. 42.

    RossInDetroit, Rational Subjectivist

    August 25, 2012 at 12:42 pm

    @lamh35:

    Romney, who has declined to release his his tax returns, chides the president about his birth certificate, which Obama DID release. Utter douchebaggery.

  43. 43.

    pseudonymous in nc

    August 25, 2012 at 12:42 pm

    Ah, whatever. All signs pointed to the Sanford marriage having (at very least) a certain amount of political expediency for both partners. He got to draw on her family’s money; she got to be the political wife. Sucks for the kids, though.

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    his running off abandoning his post as governor without making the slightest plan to inform his deputy or his staff of his whereabouts

    South Cackalacky probably works best with nobody in charge.

  44. 44.

    HRA

    August 25, 2012 at 12:44 pm

    @Gretchen:

    “I’m always amazed at women who marry a guy who know for a fact that he cheats on his wife. Now you’re his wife, and you know for a FACT that he cheats on his wife. And they’re surprised every, every, time. This time was going to be different. This time it was true love.”

    Even more amazing to me is the woman who was cheated on marrying a guy that cheated on his wife.

  45. 45.

    Smiling Mortician

    August 25, 2012 at 12:45 pm

    @Yutsano:

    So much for that vaunted tack to the center eh? Willard’s polling must be horrible if he’s feeling the need to do this.

    My paranoid fantasy of the day: Willard’s plan (or more accurately the plan of the GOP powerbrokers with Willard as the figurehead) is to go all-birther, all-Galt, full-tilt fascist boogie all the way into November while putting their most creative energies into suppressing the vote in the rust belt and upper midwest. They know they’ll probably still lose because the candidate is so awful, but if they win? Holy Rove, if they win, then they will have validated their end-times philosophy, which is way better than winning with a watered-down centrist message.

  46. 46.

    Yutsano

    August 25, 2012 at 12:46 pm

    @shortstop: I’m hoping he blows this popsicle stand entirely and moves to Argentina. Which has socialist health care. I’ll look up Argentinian law on citizenship and marriage after I get out of the shower. Or maybe Valdiva has some insight on that.

    @Smiling Mortician: White Horse Prophecy. At this point I’m convinced it’s the ONLY reason Willard is pressing on.

  47. 47.

    Randy P

    August 25, 2012 at 12:57 pm

    Sure love is grand. He’s welcome to it. But are the South Carolina taxpayers happy with the fact that they paid for his romance? He did all those flights to Argentina on a government jet, pretending to be on official business.

  48. 48.

    shortstop

    August 25, 2012 at 1:15 pm

    @Yutsano: You could at least hope on my behalf that he’ll be in the U.S. while I’m in Argentina! Please?

  49. 49.

    Yutsano

    August 25, 2012 at 1:20 pm

    @shortstop: For you, I do this. And I expect liveblogging. Or at the very least picture updates. :)

    He doesn’t become an Argentine citizen automatically, but it’s easier for him. Which isn’t saying much, because Argentine citizenship is pretty dang easy.

  50. 50.

    AHH onna Droid

    August 25, 2012 at 1:45 pm

    @lamh35:ha na, hpouse tepublicsns. Burn!

    Reminds me of the iI got this pic. GObama!

    ps: fu android

  51. 51.

    AHH onna Droid

    August 25, 2012 at 1:45 pm

    @lamh35:ha na, hpouse tepublicsns. Burn!

    Reminds me of the iI got this pic. GObama!

    ps: fu android

  52. 52.

    shortstop

    August 25, 2012 at 2:14 pm

    @Yutsano: All I’m saying? That little inflation problem they’re having? Much worse since he started hanging out there.

  53. 53.

    patroclus

    August 25, 2012 at 2:37 pm

    Nevermind, I’ll find someone like you
    I wish nothing but the best for you too
    Don’t forget me I beg
    I remember you said
    Sometimes it lasts in love and sometimes it hurts instead
    Sometimes it lasts in love and sometimes it hurts instead.

  54. 54.

    mai naem

    August 25, 2012 at 2:59 pm

    I doubt Sanford will pull a Newt unless he’s in desperate financial straits. Sanford never came across as an asshole. Definitely a doofus. I remember he was on CNN spokesmodeling for McCain and he had a brainfreeze moment. He just didn’t come across as the sharpest knife in the drawer. The wife,OTOH, I had sympathy for initially until she showed her true colors and all she was was a calculating beeyotch who thought she was going to make it to the presidency on Sanford’s charm and good looks.

  55. 55.

    1badbaba3

    August 25, 2012 at 4:31 pm

    How the fuck do you walk off the job, completely in the wind for days, steal from taxpayers, fuck over your family, and not one Republican says “boo”?

    Fuck him and fuck any and all who gave him cover.

  56. 56.

    Bob h

    August 25, 2012 at 6:12 pm

    I’ll give the guy credit for good taste here.

  57. 57.

    Julia Grey

    August 25, 2012 at 9:55 pm

    He did all those flights to Argentina on a government jet, pretending to be on official business.

    No he didn’t, except for the first trip, when he met the woman. That was taxpayer funded because it actually WAS official business, some kind of trade thingy.

    The rest of it he paid for himself, at least in the end. I don’t remember every detail, but it wasn’t on a “government jet,” anyway. It was scheduled flights. That was how he was caught. The reporter met the Argentina flight as it arrived at Atlanta.

    I hated Mark Sanford’s politics, and his “fuck all this” disappearance from his responsibilities was indeed criminal, but Jenny Sanford, for all her initial pathetic wifey-done-wrong appearance, turns out to have been a morally rigid, pursed-lipped, opportunistic shrew who was desperate to be First Lady. He, on the other hand, was becoming increasingly disenchanted with the idea of running for President.

    The way I figure it, he couldn’t take her or her ambitions for him any more, and found a way to get out of the deal, consciously or subconsciously.

    As to women marrying men they know cheated on their first wife, I’m one of those (The Other Woman!) and we will be celebrating 34 years this coming December. A second marriage under those circumstances is not always a disaster, especially if the first wife WAS one.

  58. 58.

    Brachiator

    August 25, 2012 at 10:08 pm

    @Gretchen:

    I’m always amazed at women who marry a guy who know for a fact that he cheats on his wife. Now you’re his wife, and you know for a FACT that he cheats on his wife. And they’re surprised every, every, time. This time was going to be different. This time it was true love.

    Is this Balloon Juice? Some posts in this thread sound like the stuff that comes from goober religious types who believe that divorce should be illegal.

    Plain fact is that second marriages are often long and happy. And does anyone believe that people get divorced only after some period of celibacy?

    Another poster has correctly noted some of the complexity of Sanford’s situation. When he got busted, he said that he had found his soul mate. Along with whatever pain came from exposure of the affair, Sanford’s wife in angry interviews hinted that the marriage had been more companionate and politically expedient, and that she thought that this should have been an acceptable deal, that Sanford should have kept his part of the bargain.

    But love would not let him wait. Nor should it have. Life is hard enough without living a lie.

    Sanford handled the original scandal poorly. He paid the political price. Now, he is moving on with his life, and I wish him well.

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