Think for a moment….you have to be going thru customs to get to a foreign country. The DNC knew this was an affair, and was lying in wait to expose him.

More of the Saul Alinsky Rules for Radicals….it will continue.

Tie him to a pole. And then let his wife kick him in the groin as hard as humanly possible. With luck he’ll only need surgery.

Slimebag.

What is the deal? On the day Warren Buffet says the economy is in shambles, when O maintains the 4th of July invite to the Iranian murderers, and he loses support for his healthcare scheme, we are talking about a STOOPID governor who has damaged his party and destroyed his career because he couldn’t keep his pants zipped. I know I’m asking a lot, but I really wish all these people who want to run for Prez think of others besides themselves for once. And think about the consequences their actions would have on the party and their supporters.

And where’s Gamecock?

I really do. He expressed my feelings on the Governor we do not mention succinctly. You know I really do not want to hear his excuse for why he did it, because it is something that I know in my heart I could never do to my wife and family. I can not believe that the thought of shame he would bring his family for a the lust he had for this woman, sorry I know that was conjecture.

Is 5 minutes of lust worth the lifetime of guilt? Anytime you consider infidelity think about that, is five minutes of lust (sex) worth the guilt you will feel when you go home and look at your beautiful wife and family? I know the guilt my soul would feel for that betrayal, and I know that I am weak and possibly unable to forgive my wife is she should so betray me.

What makes this 20x worse, IMO, is that it was not just the betrayal of your family, it was that you let the millions of constituents, defenders and admirers down. We thought you had a chance at being a leader, but you chose to be selfish.

You chose to be selfish when you decided that what you wanted what YOUR lust was telling you to pursue over what you knew to be right. Listen, Mr. Sanford, you talked the talk so I must assume you knew that what you were doing was wrong. Unfortunately, by acting on this desire, you have shown yourself to be untrustworthy.

How so, you may ask, simple you sacrificed the trust of your wife and familiy. A man who would abandon the feelings and trust of his family for his own selfish reasons can not be trusted as a leader. How much is your constituency worth, Mr. Sanford because it appears your loved ones were worth the feeling you got when you were with this other woman. Can I trust you now, I can not; therefore, I am glad I do not have to ask you to step down as Governor of SC because I am not part of your electorate.

Can I forgive you? Yes, I can forgive you, but do not ever expect me to trust you. I suspect I am not alone in my opinion and I expect many of your constituents do desire for you to leave the office of the Governor of SC because now you are trully unable or fit to fulfill your duties. Of course this is my opinion and you have your electorate to contend with.

I am thoroughly disappointed in you.

Unless he used taxpayer money to fund his tryst or something, I get the sense he will just fulfill his term and hang around to see if the polls steadily climb as this is forgotten.

test

let’s not forget to point out the big red target on his back placed there by his recent prodding of the bull during the porkulous debate…

Sanford had to know he was under the microscope of the big brother government loving, power hungry sycophants he offended when he made his principled stand on government excess…He made em made…and you know their operatives have been laying in wait for any hint of scandal invilving him…and then he up and hands them the very thing they’ve been waiting for…

Brilliant!!!

The “Big Tent” analogy isn’t the correct one…the correct one is a MAGNET…we need to be a MAGNET that draws these independents in who are sick and tired of what’s going on in Washington—Fred Thompson

Senate Conservatives Fund House Conservatives Fund Michael Williams for Senate

Marco 2010 Toomey US Senate SarahPAC

Oh were I so sure to be this angry and judgmental.

I can understand some anger and frustration, but the invective here goes a little beyond the pale, wouldn’t you say?

Yeah, the man screwed up, and has a lot to answer for. But he wasn’t molesting children, either.

“Holier Than Thou” hasn’t particularly served this party well, in case you hadn’t noticed. You want a party filled with perfect people, sound like you’re the only human I know who’s gonna make the list, so far. Maybe you should run?

way up on that high horse of yours.
Don’t you think you’re being just a little harsh tonight…?

Turns out that Mark Sanford is guilty of the most reckless dereliction of duty and betrayal of trust it has been my displeasure to witness in decades.

Oh come now. I’m sure if I try just a little I could come up with at least one example that could top that.

What real damage was done?

read the emails. If you can stand it.

Leon is right.

Would you admire someone who remains in the public spotlight after this? Someone who has no more sense of shame than that? Someone like Barney Frank, William Jefferson, William Clinton, Teddy Kennedy, Rob Blogojevich, Elliot Spitzer, that former governor in New Jersey? If so, you place a greater premium on chutzpah than I do on humility.

Let He Who Should Not Be Named retire to the sidelines for a few (or a lot of) years, clean up his dirty laundry in private, and then we can see how he looks to us.

I kinda think there is no irreplaceable man, especially in the world of politics. Hopefully, he’ll soon be remembered only as “that former governor of one of the Carolinas.”

Self-righteousness does not become you. I am getting to the point where I am not so sure whether I am more disgusted and dispirited by Sanford or by the merciless hanging judges I am seeing in the diaries and comments I am seeing on this sight.

It’s a very old story.
It’s not the end of the world. Perhaps just a career.
Look at Rudy and Newt.
Does Leon have equal contempt for them?
Even Ronald Reagan eventually left his first wife.

The man risked everything to go this woman.
What would make a man do that?

I really thought he had a shot in 2012. And man was it an idiotic, bone-headed move. So bone-headed in fact that I think it borders on being something mental. Seriously, a high-profile governor thinking he can get away with flying to Argentina for a tryst? Even Clinton usually kept it in his office. And then that bizarre press conference where he let it all hang out. What the? But, even with all that, I really think this will recede into the background fairly quickly. Think about it, does anyone really care anymore about Spitzer or Edwards? Yes, I know they are Democrats, but Larry Craig is now just barely remembered “wide-stance” joke and the coverage of Ensign pretty much stopped after less than a week. I think it’s good that this lunacy came out now. I think it will be non-issue in 2010 and will be entirely forgotten by 2012.

As Pelosi and her democrat goons are ready to pass the most horrendous, crippling, “crap and tax” legislation to reduce one of the primary essential elements for life on earth… and we’re all agog about the indiscretion of Mark Sanford. I am disappointed, as we all should be, but let he who is without sin cast the first stone. At this point, the resolution is between the governor, his wife, his kids, and his God. None of us have any right to judge - the comments above look like something I’d read on Huffington Post, were I the type that read that sort of trash. Get a grip, folks. We have many more serious issues to deal with this week - so I have to agree with the pseudo conspiracy theorists who say that the DNC staged the release of this information precisely to unarm us. When we’ve lost our country’s superior health care, and are burdened with $3000+ additional taxes, costs, fees due to “climate change legislation” (which will absolutely do nothing to affect the climate on earth), the unfortunate circumstances of Mark Sanford’s like will seem totally insignificant. I am sick to death of the double standard, the hypocrisy, the finger pointing of the left - and it’s even more distasteful when it’s guys on our side who are once again cannibalizing their own. Don’t you guys see - Mark Sanford resigning is EXACTLY what they want!! Why would you give them that?

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It’s disappointing and should have consequences (regardless of what you do for a living), but it’s not earth-shattering.

Leaving a lieutenant-gov in charge under false pretenses is irritating, but again, it’s not earth-shattering.

Missing Fathers’ Day to be with someone other than your kids or wife…way beyond the pale.

As I followed the timeline this weekend I thought we were being taken for a ride by the speculation and odd nature of the story, but thought there would be a fissle of an explanation and it would all be over. I was shocked by the admission and the realization of the deceit. Having said that, I thought there was a very human moment happening during the presser.

But of course, had he not been met by the reporter, I wonder if the cover story and lies would be playing out even now, or did Sanford know about the State story.

Barring financial impropriety - will Sanford make it through this? Fortunate fall spin? I would be interested in RS predictions.

things done because of falling in love. Do not think that any of you are immune. Fortunately, the vast majority of this type of stupidity only plays out in the divorce courts to the discomfort of the immediate families and friends.

Thankfully, God, having been Man, understands our weaknesses and forgives those that ask. Are we not obliged by him to do likewise? So, as a man he can be forgiven. As a politician, that is to be between he and his voters.

However, the concept of resigning his office over an affair of the heart is ludicrous. The concept that he was derelict in his duties is laughable when all I see from politicians is dereliction if the base standard is the expectation is that they do what is best for the people. We would all be better served if they all went to Argentina and stayed.

It is also incumbent upon us not to let our passion for good and whats right to deteriorate into self righteousness as Leon has in this diary.

Compassion, like wisdom is a slowly acquired taste. Most times the acquisitions are painful. In time, most of you will come to understand that.

Everyone wonders why fidelity is important in a public position. Well when you are in a position that grants you a huge amount of trust, authority and responsibility you must consider your actions. Illegal activities, infidelity, and unethical behavior can corrupt your position and standing.

Why is my position important? I have been granted a huge amount of trust by the people of the United States through my adherence to my responsibility to maintain quiet on secret and confidential material that I have been granted access to. I can not jeopardize this information due to my infidelity, illegal or unethical behavior. These actions can put me in a position to be manipulated or blackmailed. This goes for your public officials as well. If I must maintain my intergrity to prevent those secrets from being divulged as a result of me being placed in a compromised position then I will have to suffer the consequences. These consequences range from loss of employment due to a breach of confidentiality which will follow me to all positions there after, imprisonment, huge fines and possibly death under treason.

So that said, Mark Sanford is not the Presidentof the United States however, I am not a public official who has more trust, authority and responsibility than I have; therefore, I have to frown upon the actions of the Governor because I see his actions as very poor judgement and an action of untrustworthyness. Remember, I would never get a secret or top secret clearance if I have to admit to being unfaithful to my wife. I hope this clears up everything I have said and gives you an idea of why I find his actions deplorable.

The left is definately smirking at their implementation of the 9th rule here.

With that typed, as Conservatives, we do have our lines drawn.
Forgiveness? Sure.
Resign? Yes.

Leon of course I agree with everything you’ve said here. The only bright side is that soon-to-be-Ex-Governor Sanford has given us all a new euphamism for infidelity of the particularly heedless and destructive kind.

“How did his enemies finally undermine Senator Blowhard? They found him hiking the Appalachian Trail.”

It’s already become a part of Google:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS220US220&q=Appalachian+Trail

I watched Rove on Hannity tonight.

After making the obligatory “he done wrong” remarks, Rove did his best to spin this away from the GOP. He observed that unlike Mark Spitzer, Gov. Sanford didn’t parade his wife or pay for the sex. Fair enough, but David Vitter did both those things and is running for reelection in 2010. Vitter was still leading in recent polls, but if Roves talking point is echoed it will hurt his chances.

As to Sanford resigning, Republicans in South Carolina were in revolt before this mess. Democrats are Democrats. What does this mess change for him? He has one more year, and unless he wants to do a stint on “Survivor Argentina” he will just hunker down.

Leaving for 6 days for a “hike” was strange enough, but this?

And for the record, I’m sick to DEATH of all these comments about how “everyone fails” and “everyone breaks”, etc. Sick to DEATH of it.

Yes, everyone “fails”. We lie to others now and then. We hate when we shouldn’t hate. We make mistakes.

This is more than a failure - more than a mistake. This is a betrayal of solumn vows made to another human being. Willingly. Defiantly.

Mrs. Sanford has a few decisions to make. I leave that totally up to her without suggestion, and I hope her family and friends support her no matter what her choices. But to say that this is a simple failure or mistake is to make this seem like a small thing. Breaking your marriage vows is NOT a small thing.

“I would be a poor Commander in Chief”
– Barack Obama, July 3 2008

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Are Americans putting unreasonable expectations on their politicians? Obama is not going to live up to the expectations of his supporters. And conservative politicians probably aren’t going to live up to the expectations of their followers. Conservatives need to look to priests to run for office. (um, on second thought maybe not).

If we put your life under a microscope i think everyone would be found guilty of breaking a few commandments from the bible, and everyone would be found to have broken some laws during this probe. I throw recycling waste in the regular garbage, i am guilty of speeding, i steal by downloading music for free online, little things of course.

In Europe, a sex scandal involving a politician would not make the news! Burlesconi of Italy is now denying he paid for sex, nobody cares. In Europe and most of the rest of the world, politicians are expected to be corrupt, liars, scumbags; and when the politician ends up proving that he has morality people are pleasantly surprised. I think in the US, Americans should take the same approach. Expect them to fail, and make politicians earn your trust (or your trust that they are competent enough not to get caught).

I agree with Leon that the way this guy went about his business is shocking, he acted with such arrogance that he deserves to be punished (pay back taxpayer money, possibly resign, etc. . .)

That sorry made-by-TV couple is generating all sorts of bad relationship karma. I suspect that some of that kooky karma got caught up in the air currents and drifted down to South Carolina, into the window of Sanford’s office…and there you have it.

http://www.redstate.com/dan_perrin/2009/06/24/yes-i-am-defending-mark-sanford/

Liberal politicians can get away with anything because nobody expects them to be honest or trustworthy.

To reverse is true for conservatives. Talking out of both sides of your mouth go over well among those of us believe in truth and fidelity.

He’s toast. Leave quietly and don’t embarrass yourself further.

As an aside: it’s probable that there was a Democratic mole on his staff who’s been assigned to gather dirt on him and who leaked the info about his MIA status and his private emails.

This should be a lesson to other conservatives. If you “fall in love” while married, separate and get a divorce before you take off for a secret romantic rendezvous.

I think its safe to say that most people commenting on Mr. Sanford have taken a “social conservative” point of view on this. Had no idea we had so many social conservatives on this site. But to resign because of adultery? I believe that is a bit over the top.

We blame the demoncrats for being hypocrites on this issue, but what about us? Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t John McCain admit to cheating on a spouse and in general being a philanderer, and yet we nominated him for president in 2008. Didn’t Newt Gingrich admit to the same thing, cheating on one of his spouses? So why was it ok to nominate McCain for president, and to consider Gingrich in 2012, but Sanford now should resign the governorship over adultery and forget a run for the presidency?

If you want to make the argument that he “abandoned” his state for a week, that is something else. But that is not what really seems to have everybody’s anger up. Why the inconsistency?

Lets stop destroying our own. I suspect I am more socially conservative than 90% of red state contributors, but I am frankly sick of our inconsistency and our quick reaction to destroy our own. The destruction of Trent Lott for trying to say something nice to a man who was dying on his last birthday was the last straw for me. This insanity has to end. Lets stop it here.

I saw that in an article last night they had quotes from their emails.

After all, he did what Sanford did and he upted the ante with prostitution.

I’m just sayin’, if you’re going to eat your own as Republicans you might as well be consistent with your meals.

*I’m of the mindset that Sanford’s affair is between his family and himself. If it’s good enough for the DNC (ala Clinton, Frank, et al), it’s good enough for me to scream “it’s all about sex”.

that Farah Fawcett and MJ died today? Now he can spend a couple of days out of the news.