So… we gonna get a thread with his side when it comes out??

[S]aid this senior strategist to a 2008 contender[,] “That said, I don’t think it behooves conservatives to do his political adversaries’ bidding in this regard. Let’s give the man a chance to turn on his cell phones, drive home and explain himself.”

You don’t say. That’s basically what I’ve been pounding sand about for 12 hours. Meanwhile, this supposedly conservative site has been toting water for the Democrats for the past day. Now where would they have learned that?

The legislative session is over, he’s been fighting his own party in the state house and senate fatcats and good-ol-boys for virtually his whole term, and all the while been one a few unwavering fighters for true fiscal conservatism. I think he needed a freakin break, you hard-ass debbie-downer.

What?

The comments are even worse: “marriage is over”???

What?

Look, Governors aren’t vital to day to day operations, and they don’t have control over the response to a nuclear attack. If he wants to get away and think for a long weekend- good for him.

We could use more politicians who don’t think the world will stop turning if they aren’t around to keep twirling it.

Calvin Coolidge said it very well that “It is a great advantage to a president, and a major source of safety to the country, for him to know that he is not a great man.” The same goes for the vanity of thinking you are indispensable just because you got elected to office.

As for the marriage- has anyone ever heard of “trust” before. He told his wife “I need to get away and write” and she says, sure- and she’s not worried.

If the wife isn’t worried then I’m not worried.

OK so he was supposedly hiking the Appalachian Trail…but why from Atlanta?

You go to Atlanta because that’s where good transportation is. You can find lots of information about shuttles to Springer Mountain here. Greenville, SC is great but if no one there wants to give you a lift, then it’s worthless.

Plus, it was Father’s Day weekend; he has 4 sons. I’m wondering why he didn’t take at least one of them with him. The whole story is just plain weird IMO.

howIroll on June 22, 2009 at 11:36 PM

Remember when, for Father’s Day, BHO played golf? Not a child to be seen (well, Biden was there). Anyone criticize him for leaving the girls at home? Nope. And you’re assuming the boys had no say in the matter and had to go along if told to.

What do you really know about TR.
Americannodash on June 22, 2009 at 11:08 PM

He was a naturalist that enjoyed the outdoors, apparently just like Mr. Sanford. So I’m pretty sure TR would approve of taking a hike. Perhaps he would enjoy one of these trails?

Try this in the future: Bing.com or, if you have to, Google.

Seriously, if he’s taking time alone (or with one or two friends/security) on the AT, it’s much better that it wasn’t on the evening news. Safer in anonymity than with a published itinerary.

cs89 on June 22, 2009 at 11:03 PM

Exactly. The governor of a state wanted to go for a hike on the AT; he had certainly earned one. Now if you’ve been there, the AT’s not exactly well-lit and heavily guarded. So do you announce your itinerary — hey, I’ll be in the Shenandoahs on the 12th — for the public to find you? Of course not.

Guess we will uncover more details in the days to come.

Nevertheless, at its core I see his actions (at least professionally) as emblematic of a Conservative philosophy of government- lay out the principles, put people in charge of doing the job, and trust them to do it. IMO, it’s a more naturally Democratic tendency to micromanage and make sure “you can call me anytime,” and “I feel your pain.” In broad strokes, Libs say “Look at what I’m doing for you!” and Conservatives say “Let’s get Govt. out of the way. Look what you can do through your own initiative!”

You do know I20 goes directly from Columbia (SC capitol) to Atlanta, right? Greenville may be closer to Springer, but I don’t think it’s an easier route from Columbia to Springer.

I’d hope he was in touch with his family too, but I’m not sure how old his sons are exactly but think they’re kind of young. Probably be pretty hard for, say, a 12-year-old boy to keep up with a healthy adult male on a weeklong hiking trip.

Sanford has opened himself up to criticism on this, but you’re wide of the mark IMO.

Joel Sawyer also says that before leaving last week, Sanford let staff know his whereabouts and that he’d be difficult to reach.

This is from one of the articles popping up now.

Let’s see: Sanford decided to take some quiet time after the legislative session ended. Apparently, his wife either didn’t know his exact location, or was playing her cards close, but did state she was unconcerned. He apparently let a few close members of his staff know his approximate location, informed them ahead of time that he would be difficult to reach, and they know how to contact who they need to for the state business to function appropriately. In an emergency, they could contact the Lt. Gov.

Political opponents (Mr. Fife Knotts in particular) blew this up into a national story, AP and other pundits ran with it and gave it more oxygen, and this will now be a “scandal” that Sanford will have to contend with if he decides to run.

Did I miss anything?

Most states could save real money getting rid of their Gov. & Lt. Gov. Instead get a horse that stamps his foot once for yes, twice for no.

Jeff from WI on June 22, 2009 at 7:40 PM

Jeff from WI is a funny guy. Didn’t someone mention that Rush is off until Wednesday? Hmm. I wonder where Newt is this week? Sanford’s wife says he is off writing “something”. Maybe it is a platform for conservative candidates to coalesce around before next year’s primaries and general elections. I do find it odd that he chose Father’s Day weekend to get away from his kids…

I have my doubts about Special Joe…but at least he means well.

18-1 on June 22, 2009 at 9:26 PM

I’m with you.

People joke about fearing Joe as the Prez, but I’d take him any day over Obama.

I used to think Obama was an empty suit, but he’s worse than that. He’s an empty suit with a mission, and no idea what he’s doing.

I think Joe would just coast for the remainder of the term, maybe puke in a foreign leaders lap, embarrass us a few times, but overall, not do any lasting harm.

Obama, on the other hand…

LastRick on June 22, 2009 at 10:46 PM
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I have had about enough of your take on this subject. Don’t sight TR and what he is doing with his head. You are putting forth more information/updates to this story which is fine. Just don’t bring Teddy Roosevelt into this. What do you really know about TR. It appears to me your only knowledge of the man is based on the movie “The Wind and the Lion”. Back off now. Don’t expouse positions of any rhetoric here that really does not reflect what historians know about Teddy Roosevelt. His thoughts and actions of his policies have no content for the topic at hand. I will measure your comments here to support the topic at hand and only accept them as an minor addition to this conversation. Read my earlier post [ Americannodash on June 22, 2009 at 8:05 PM]

Its stupid stuff like being out of contact for 5 days that creates the stereotype.