Gov. Mark Sanford resurfaces, admits to an extramarital affair

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Normally I refrain from commenting on the personal failings of politicians. You noticed that I did not go on about Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) recently admitting to an extramarital affair with a campaign staffer Nevada Senator Ensign Admits Affair With Former Staffer, even though this story has juicy allegations about extortion of a U.S. Senator, payment of hush money to her family members, and even a Fox News reporter allegedly covering up the story to keep it from going public. Apparently what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas. Who knew?

Sen. Ensign had recently taken preliminary steps to explore a run for the White House in 2012, making a trip three weeks ago to Iowa, the first testing ground on the presidential primary calendar. Well, you can forget about 2012 senator. If the investigation into the money trail of hush money and your allegations of extortion pan out, you will soon be submitting your resignation from the U.S. Senate.

It is another GOP presidential hopeful, however – one who may have had a realistic chance of winning the Republican Party nomination in 2012 – who has captured the imagination of the media villagers and the public in recent days.

Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina apparently shook his security detail last Thursday and wandered off on his own without telling anyone – including his wife and family – where he was going. No one had any idea where he was for several days.

Sanford's wife told the media that he wanted some time to work on some things he was writing. So the governor wanders off without telling his wife where he is going and where she can reach him? On Father's Day weekend no less? The governor missed out on being home for Father's Day in the bossom of his family to receive the handmade paperweights his sons no doubt made for him in the Cub Scouts and the handmade macaroni father's day cards that said "I love you Daddy." Apparently, the governor could not be bothered to call home on Father's Day to speak to his children or their mother. That had "family values" written all over it.

By Monday the constitutional officers of South Carolina were all in a tizzy thinking they may have a constitutional crisis on their hands. They all wanted to know who is in charge to conduct state business when the governor is out of touch with anyone including his own staff.

This is where the story takes a strange turn. The governor's staff tells the media that the governor has checked in with them and they tell the media that the governor has been out "hiking the Appalachian Trail" to clear his head after his recent stimulus funds revolt (which he lost) and the recently concluded legislative session (in which he was reversed or defeated on several bills). Well. it turns out that Father's Day was also "national hike naked day" (who knew there was such a thing?) so the speculation and jokes began immediately.

By Tuesday night, the governor's staff was telling the media that the governor would return to work on Wednesday. Tuesday evening the governor's car was discovered parked at the Atlanta airport. Ooohh, somebody wasn't telling the truth about hiking after all. This sparked a whole new round of media speculation, with later reports that the governor had taken a flight to Argentina. Argentina?

As in:  Blue Meanie: "It's no longer a blue world, Max. Where can we go?"

           Max: "Argentina?"

Which brings us to today. Governor Mark Sanford has returned from his magical mystery tour to Argentina and confirmed what I had suspected was the real reason for his disappearance all along.

Gov. Sanford admits to extra-marital affair:

Gov. Mark Sanford admitted Wednesday he's been having an affair with a woman he visited on a secret trip to Argentina and said he'll resign as head of the Republican Governors Association.

Sanford, a rumored 2012 presidential candidate, refused to say whether he'll leave office.

"I've let down a lot of people, that's the bottom line," Sanford said at a news conference. He said he's known the woman about eight years, but their relationship turned into something more a year ago while he was on an economic development trip to Argentina.

Sanford, a 49-year-old father of four, choked up during remarks to reporters. He said his wife has known about the affair for the last five months.

Sanford revealed Wednesday morning that he'd gone to Argentina for a seven-day trip. For two days after reporters starting asking questions, his office had said he had gone hiking on the Appalachian Trial.

Meanwhile, first lady Jenny Sanford had told The Associated Press she did not know where her husband went for the Father's Day weekend.

First elected governor in 2002, the former real estate developer has more than year remaining in his second term and is barred by state law from running again.

You know, I dont think being barred from reelection is going to be a problem, governor. The smart betting is on how long it will be until you resign the governship after your magical mystery tour to Argentina via the Appalachian Trail.

I'm guessing that "hiking the Appalachian Trail" will now become a metaphor for "a weekend away with my lover."

Even better, during his press conference Governor Sanford actually said that he had spent the "last five days crying" in Argentina. C'mon, you know you want to, sing it along with me: "Don't cry for me Argentina."

At the rate these Republican presidential hopefuls are imploding their careers, there won't be anyone left to run in 2012. Maybe Republicans will finally be forced to cast aside their whole "family values" Republican hypocricy thing and admit that they too are human and subject to the same human failings as everyone else. No better, no worse.

Oh, and governor — the staff members who lied to the media to cover for your philandering? Fire them or take them with you when you resign.