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Sanford: Appalachians, Argentina, What's The Difference?
We didn't know the Appalachian Trail went all the way down to Buenos Aires!
AWOL South Carolina guv Mark Sanford resurfaced at the Atlanta airport this morning, and told The State newspaper he hadn't been hiking the trail, as his staff said. Instead, he'd taken a jaunt down to Argentina...
Sanford, in an exclusive interview with The State Media Company, said he decided at the last minute to go to the South American country to recharge after a difficult legislative session in which he battled with lawmakers over how to spend federal stimulus money.Sanford said he had considered hiking on the Appalachian Trail, an activity he said he has enjoyed since he was a high school student.
"But I said 'no' I wanted to do something exotic," Sanford said "... It's a great city."
...
Sanford said he was alone on the trip. He declined to give any additional details about what he did other than to say he drove along the coastline.
As for that story about the Appalachian:
When asked why his staff said he was on the Appalachian Trail, Sanford replied, "I don't know."Sanford later said "in fairness to his staff," he had told them he might go hiking on the Appalachian Trial.
The paper reports that after the brief conversation, the guv was "escorted away by an aide."
Josh
Zachary
Mistress had an abortion ... know doubt.
June 24, 2009 8:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thread won.
June 24, 2009 8:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Stop wasting time on lying Sanford and his lying staff.
Talk to the wife. The one excluded from a trip to Buenos Aires. The one who didn't hear a word from the father of her children for a week surrounding Father's Day.
The one who, if she's smart, is hiring the best and most expensive divorce lawyer in the country.
June 24, 2009 8:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
That might apply if the GOP actually practiced their "family value" preachings. Most GOP wives are like Wendy Vitter; they freely condemn Hillary for tolerating Bill, then STFU when their own spouses bring prostitutes (and the risk of disease) into the marriage.
June 24, 2009 9:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
What proof is there that the wife knew nothing about her husband's whereabouts.
June 24, 2009 9:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Also, check to see what he's done on other Father's days. Does he typically take a trip, sans family?
June 24, 2009 9:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
While your suggestion certainly sounds like the appropriate action for an intelligent woman to take, it would not be the South Carolina way, nor would it be the typical political wife's response (see dogger's comments).
June 24, 2009 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Just when you think the Republicans cannot possibly get any funnier.
June 24, 2009 9:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
I smell a Golden Duke nomination.
June 24, 2009 9:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm waiting to hear how this is Obama's fault cause he encouraged American's to speak another language.
Looking forward to the comparison of Obama drawing flak for "leaving the country" to go to exotic Hawaii, vs. this little jaunt. So much for the reputation for frugality.
June 24, 2009 9:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
So he leaves the state for a week without telling the lt. governor, his staff, or his family that he is out of the country? This guy does need some time off, he needs to be permanently retired as governor for neglect of duties.
June 24, 2009 9:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
But... but.... this is the medias' fault! Political enemies!
June 24, 2009 9:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
I just sent a note to TPM about their picture of Buenos Aires. Remember it is winter there. Today's HIGH temp is 51. Who is going to vacation where it is cold and blustery?
June 24, 2009 9:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
I've had some fabulous romantic times in subzero temperatures. It can be quite romantic to keep someone else warm.
June 24, 2009 9:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Google 'sex tourism "Buenos Aires" ' and you will learn such fun facts as, "In fact, Buenos Aires is gradually becoming one of the most notoriously popular destinations for sex tourism."
June 24, 2009 9:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thought Cuba was the #1 sex tourism destination in the western hemisphere. And Obama wants to loosen up travel restrictions there, I wonder why.....
As for Argentine, he just wanted to watch some real football, you know what older Southern men are like.
June 24, 2009 9:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're thinking Santo Domingo, another island in the Caribbean which seems to be a favorite visiting place of another right wing nut case
June 24, 2009 10:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Google "Gay sex tourism", "Buenos Aires" and what returns? it's quite interesting..seem Buenos Aires is becoming well known throughout the world as a "gay" destination.
June 24, 2009 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
What kind of person goes to Argentina on Father's Day weekend without his wife or his children?
June 24, 2009 9:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey.
The little woman had to stay home and watch the four boys. SHE couldn't go jaunting off.
Ask the religious conservatives. That's what women do.
**********************
A friend of mine from high school got frustrated during his senior year, so one day he just hit the highway and hitchhiked to Arkansas (from East Texas.) For a month. At a loss of 3 points in every class for every day of unexcused absence. No one had any idea where he was. He always felt aggrieved when they didn't let him graduate that year.
Real bright kid, too. Academically more than able to make up the lost time in another month had they let him. He was just very socially unaware. I see some similarities with Mark Sanford.
June 24, 2009 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Show me the passport stamps or STFU -- who would ever trust the word of this lyin' sack of manure? I hope his wife takes him for every stinkin' penny he's got or will ever have.
June 24, 2009 9:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wasn't this guy one of the alternatives to MC Steele for RNC chair?
June 24, 2009 9:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm, sex or drugs? Or sex AND drugs? He obviously told his staff he was going hiking, then took off for "exotic" Argentina to "unwind." Something very weird here.
June 24, 2009 9:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
So this is how the governor is burnishing his foreign policy bonafides for when he runs for president...
June 24, 2009 9:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Buenos Aires: world's highest per capita number of psychoanalysts. Just sayin'.
June 24, 2009 9:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
The man isn't joking. I know about a dozen and a half Argentinians and over half of them are either psychiatrists or psychoanalysts. These are people I either met on the train, in the airport, or teach at the same university as my wife so it is a random sample.
June 24, 2009 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hear that the Buenos Aires airport bathrooms have nice stalls.
June 24, 2009 9:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wide stance friendly?
June 24, 2009 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Something here is clearly not right. I thought that all of the she-males were in Brazil, right? Someone needs to check his visa stamps.
2012-Epic Fail
June 24, 2009 9:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was recently in Buenos Aires. It has a huge gay community, it's the most gay friendly city in South America.
I'm not accusing Mark Sanford of being gay. BA is a wonderful, beautiful city, and I would strongly encourage anyone to visit.
But, the secret nature of his trip and the proclivities of certain GOP'ers (Foley, Haggard, Craig, etc) to be closeted, well, one has to wonder...
June 24, 2009 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
jus' sayin'
June 24, 2009 9:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Deep Thought:
John Huntsman is laughing his ass off right now...
June 24, 2009 9:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Man, this story smells all over. Gov. Sanford thinks he's a Tom Cruise or a Madonna and has to travel incognito (did he use his real name?)...to an "exotic" locale (what transpired?)...all by himself..doesn't even tell his wife?...and lies to his staff?...as a state Gov isn't all this a dereliction of duty?
June 24, 2009 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Things that will now be funny to hear Sanford talk about:
1. Importance of Traditional Family Values.
2. Honesty
3. Fiscal Responsibility
4. Accountability
5. Importance of sealing the Southern borders.
June 24, 2009 10:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
While we're waiting around for the obligatory press conference alongside drained-looking, joyless spouse, it might be good to hunt up any quotes there might be out there from Sanford's wife on the subject of Hillary Clinton.
June 24, 2009 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
As a red-blooded Amurican from the Great State of SC, he's not allowed to designate Fureign cities as "great cities", without mentioning all great cities of SC first. It's in his contract.
I'm so happy for Stephen Colbert.
June 24, 2009 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Also, who paid for the trip and how much was the total cost?
June 24, 2009 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Cokie Roberts is not going to be happy about this jaunt. She criticized Barack Obama for taking a vacation in his home state of Hawaii instead of going to Myrtle Beach where real Americans take vacations. Now the Governor of that state has gone off to a truly exotic foreign destination. Roberts must be having an attack of the vapors after this news.
June 24, 2009 10:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Deep thoughts 2:
Jim Clyburn has finished laughing his ass off by now.
Boone's Farm bottles are being "uncorked" at the Govenor's Dacha in Anchorage.
Celebratory exorcisms are being performed by Piyush in Baton Rouge.
Olbermann already has the "wtf" segment in the can for this evening.
June 24, 2009 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
How exotic was it?
June 24, 2009 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Republican S.C Governor Lite was not happy about the situation.
No way this guy should ever run for President. He's a loose cannon. Imagine the subterfuge, deception and unprofessional behavior if he got to be the Big Chief. Oh, wait a minute. We already had that between 2001-2008.
Has anyone heard anything louder than crickets from the right-wing noise machine?
June 24, 2009 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps he was just practicing for a few runs to an "undisclosed location," Dick Cheney style.
June 24, 2009 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is comedy gold for the blogosphere. I think my favorite comment so far is by "Rosali" at John Cole's site:
.June 24, 2009 10:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Countdown to a "McGreevey" in 3...2...
June 24, 2009 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Who was he with...and why did he not even talk to his wife.
Something rotten in the state of South Carolina.
June 24, 2009 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Another reason Americans go to Argentina for a week would be the relatively inexpensive yet expert plastic surgery that is so readily available down there. Maybe he had a little pre-presidential run tummy tuck or something similar.
June 24, 2009 11:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Or some kind of enlargement.
June 24, 2009 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
You are very, very naughty to use that photo of Mr. Sanford using his hands to describe the SIZE of his vacation!
June 24, 2009 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Sanford said he was alone on the trip. He declined to give any additional details about what he did other than to say he drove along the coastline."
One little problem, Governor:
THERE IS NO HIGHWAY ALONG THE COASTLINE NEAR BUENOS AIRES. [Buenos Aires isn't even on the Ocean but on the Plate River!].
In order to "drive along the coastline" in Argentina one has to start about 800 miles South of Buenos Aires and then keep going for thousands South deep into the Patagonia (which requires several days and is not very appealing in the winter!)
As a native of the Argentine pampas, I can assure you NOBODY does that for relaxation...
June 24, 2009 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
... the guv was "escorted away by an aide."
Was the aide wearing a white coat?
June 24, 2009 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
And who paid for this "trip"?
June 24, 2009 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
The question remains - what was he actually doing there, and why all the lies? You can post your favorite theory here -
http://www.ihatewhatyoujustsaid.com/2009/06/23/the-sanford-pool-place-your-bets-readers/
June 24, 2009 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Drudge barely mentions this whole fiasco and right underneath it he has a link to an article titled:
"PAPER: Where Has VA Gov Kaine Been?..."
The article is about Kaine's dual role as governor and head of the DNC and releasing his travel records. Obviously the same as a Gov. missing for a week, deceiving everyone, including his wife, to his whereabouts.
June 24, 2009 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's hurricane season in SC. Not a good time to go AWOL.
June 24, 2009 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink