Quote of the day
posted at 10:30 pm on July 2, 2009 by Allahpundit
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“So what’s left to say about the Sanford saga? Call me crazy, but amid all this finger-wagging, am I detecting just a little bit of — gasp — empathy? Is there something about Sanford’s puppyish comportment, not to mention the fact that, unlike many adulterous politicos, he seems to be truly in love with his mistress (or at least truly convinced that he is) that’s making him less a pariah and more a symbol of the male midlife crisis? For all his duplicity and entitlement, are some Americans — particularly men — feeling as much pity as outrage? Consider this small sample:
‘This is a story of loneliness,’ New York Times columnist David Brooks said on ‘Meet The Press’ Sunday. ‘[These guys] get to middle age, and they realize there’s some emotional vacuum in their lives.’
It ‘was about something much deeper than politics,’ wrote Gary Kamiya in Salon. ‘It was awful, but it was real. And painful as it is, in the repressed American sexual landscape, reality is better than artifice.’
And then there was my dad, who told me the day of the Sanford news conference something to the effect that ‘you have no idea how easy it is for men to completely lose their minds because of infatuation with women.’”
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When did David Brooks get a sex change? He used to be a man, right?
myrenovations on July 2, 2009 at 10:32 PM
Isn’t this what Rush refers to as the Chickification of the Media?
Upstater85 on July 2, 2009 at 10:34 PM
Governor Sanford:
You’ve lost the trust of anybody with even a shred of decency in them.
That’s what this whole mess is about….. trust.
Please resign your Governorship.
All the best.
Kenny Solomon
Locked and loaded in South Flori-duh.
E T Cartman on July 2, 2009 at 10:34 PM
‘you have no idea how easy it is for men to completely lose their minds because of infatuation with women.’”
Amen!
txag92 on July 2, 2009 at 10:35 PM
case in point \/ \/
blatantblue on July 2, 2009 at 10:36 PM
We’re All Maureen Dowd Now.
exception on July 2, 2009 at 10:36 PM
I can totally understand what makes men do these kinds of things. What I don’t understand is why they feel the need to bring it public and humiliate their spouse and subject their children to ridicule. That’s being a cad. On top of being having already been a cad.
scalleywag on July 2, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Some people step out, others step in it.
Americannodash on July 2, 2009 at 10:37 PM
.
We must live in parallel universes. America is pretty much saturated with sex. ???
ronsfi on July 2, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Gosh… I hope not.
mankai on July 2, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Extra words, sorry.
scalleywag on July 2, 2009 at 10:38 PM
He just lost his book deal, per The Hill.
http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2009/07/02/sanford-loses-book-deal/
yogi41 on July 2, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Finger waggers are almost always guilty of something themselves. Everyone could probably give the guy a break had he not been so vocal about it multiple times. It almost makes him seem like he’s proud of his actions and has no consideration of his wife. Calling the lover his “soulmate” was cruel and unusual.
scalleywag on July 2, 2009 at 10:40 PM
Is it only in dreams that we find our ideal love?
Are there lovers with real love?
If you know how to feel love, show me how
Ah, but my princess, if you can’t be as sweet as you seem
I’d rather dream
PercyB on July 2, 2009 at 10:41 PM
As a man and a human being I despise what Gov. Sanford did. I have no sympathy/empathy for him whatsoever.
Rightwingguy on July 2, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Word.
Jaibones on July 2, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Where can I find this place?
Rightwingguy on July 2, 2009 at 10:42 PM
I would have. If he had stopped talking and hadn’t abused his office in the process, it would have been a personal matter.
The endless wallowing on his part did him in.
myrenovations on July 2, 2009 at 10:42 PM
f*ck Mark Sanford.
oh wait, she already did.
WWS on July 2, 2009 at 10:43 PM
This guy Sanford is someone I have been LOLing at for days
http://startswithabang.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/simpsons_nelson_haha3.jpg
blatantblue on July 2, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Now that is indeed true. I would hope that a married man and father would have the fortitude to resist women’s wiles, though.
Rightwingguy on July 2, 2009 at 10:43 PM
From a female point of view, I would prefer that you stick with the red sports car or the Harley.
sherry on July 2, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Wango Tango!
canopfor on July 2, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Lesson: The Left thrives off emotion…
mjbrooks3 on July 2, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Politicians just enjoy screwing people. Period.
fogw on July 2, 2009 at 10:45 PM
“The endless wallowing on his part did him in.”
I thought it was the endlesswallowing on HER part that did that.
WWS on July 2, 2009 at 10:45 PM
“She’s Out of My Life”…
d1carter on July 2, 2009 at 10:45 PM
What he did may be a sign of a midlife crisis… but running from the temptation in the first place would have been a sign of a strong character.
mankai on July 2, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Not that this is Sanford’s problem, but it’s called a “mid-life crisis”, genius. Is this Brooks character for real?
progressoverpeace on July 2, 2009 at 10:46 PM
I would be warm
If I were there
Back in Argentina
Playing with Maria’s hair
I close my eyes
And now and then
My longing heart
Moves there again
PercyB on July 2, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Dang! You beat me to it.
progressoverpeace on July 2, 2009 at 10:47 PM
He needs to resign now while he still has no dignity left.
Dire Straits on July 2, 2009 at 10:48 PM
case in point \/ \/
blatantblue on July 2, 2009 at 10:36 PM
LOL
txag92 on July 2, 2009 at 10:48 PM
After divorce, Jenny for Gov…
mjbrooks3 on July 2, 2009 at 10:49 PM
Somebody had to say it!
I am convinced that no man “accidentally” has an affair. We know when there is any kind of spark with a woman. A man of character (a) avoids any relationship that could possibly ever result in any kind of a spark and (b) should he find himself in such a relationship, he ends it long before the spark can ignite.
mankai on July 2, 2009 at 10:51 PM
“completely losing their minds”.
Yup,if men wouldn’t allow little brain,to control
the bigger brain,our lifes would be a lot better!
canopfor on July 2, 2009 at 10:51 PM
I think that means the author is butt-ugly.
Patrick S on July 2, 2009 at 10:51 PM
After divorce, Jenny for Gov…
mjbrooks3 on July 2, 2009 at 10:49 PM
She really should divorce him. Stanford has embarrassed himself, Jenny, and their family. Time to move on.
txag92 on July 2, 2009 at 10:53 PM
Amen, she is certainly better qualified than this shallow narcissist jerk.
His kids deserve better and so does she.
Sarah Palin in 2012
History Chaser on July 2, 2009 at 10:54 PM
:-*
blatantblue on July 2, 2009 at 10:56 PM
Ya know,with all the hanky-panky,I would perfer,
that Republicans,are held to a higher standard,
then the Debaucherous Democratic Party,where having
a fling,while married,is a resume enhancement,for
said Liberal!
canopfor on July 2, 2009 at 10:56 PM
We fell like stars, we’re falling still
We shared our souls, we always will
Who else but you could so fulfill me
What was written on the wind must always be
PercyB on July 2, 2009 at 10:59 PM
I find it funny that there are people here still saying ‘he should resign’. As though that would make some important difference to them.
I also find it funny that so many here with ’strong family values’ recommend divorce. . . because that would be oh so much better for their family.
Celebrate the fact that he lost the book deal because, as with resigning, it’s best for the family. Of course he’ll get someone else to do his book now because of his infamy. He’ll probably get a much better contract.
Condemning. . . America’s favorite past time.
ThackerAgency on July 2, 2009 at 11:02 PM
I recommend divorce
Why stay with a man running around with multiple women?
F that
blatantblue on July 2, 2009 at 11:04 PM
Is Allahpundit actually Allahpundette? I can’t pic a dad talking to a son, a grown son, saying something like this and it is interesting some of the responses from posters who I believe are women are natural woman to woman responses when talking about men.
journeyintothewhirlwind on July 2, 2009 at 11:04 PM
As this continues to pay out I wonder if there is an aspect of Mark Sanford’s psychological make up that made him feel he needed punishment. Some character trait he despised and that he felt went unpunished his whole life and this enormous public scandal and humiliation finally satisfied that need. It set him free.
Taking Jenny through this awful ordeal was to unconsciously punish her for ever loving him in the first place knowing he wasn’t worthy of a woman like her.
katy on July 2, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Before a hope. Now a pathetic figure. Go away. Just go away.
petefrt on July 2, 2009 at 11:08 PM
I thought a man had a midlife crisis because he feared losing IT and he wanted to prove he still had IT. He also realized that he would not achieve some of his boyhood dreams, like becoming president.
Maybe it’s just all a figment of his imagination because how could anyone kiss him? He doesn’t have any lips.
HellCat on July 2, 2009 at 11:08 PM
It is painful watching this slow motion train wreck. Gov. Sanford, just shut the Hell up and stay away from any microphone!
Star20 on July 2, 2009 at 11:08 PM
Sanford as QOTD again? Only two days apart and acting as bread for the Jackson QOTD from yesterday; awesome.
The Sanford horse has been beaten to dust, buried, dug up, beaten again down to the atomic level and yet even those sad remains merit another end of the day thread.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Bishop on July 2, 2009 at 11:09 PM
ThackerAgency on July 2, 2009 at 11:02 PM
Once a cheater, always a cheater. Staying for the sake of the children is not the way to go, because in the end, everyone will suffer.
txag92 on July 2, 2009 at 11:10 PM
That’s the way it looks to me too. But any way you cut it, the guy’s got “issues”
[Got it, Katy? Not real or serious problems, but in PC-speak, "issues".]
I just want Sanford to shut up and go away.
petefrt on July 2, 2009 at 11:15 PM
Hogwash!
The bum should go away and never come back. He’s a typical politician but a sorry excuse for a man.
rplat on July 2, 2009 at 11:23 PM
Yah, it’s time to close the book on this.
There are other motivations that are keeping it alive but it’s breathed its last breath with most people.
katy on July 2, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Love ain’t a feelin’ cheeter. It’s a commitment. Emotions come and go like waves on the shore but a lifelong commitment stands. Sanford’s wife is top notch. He’s a dork.
Mojave Mark on July 2, 2009 at 11:25 PM
I can’t imagine how his wife can look him in his weasely face. What a jerk!!!! Go live in Argentina, you nutcase.
mobydutch on July 2, 2009 at 11:39 PM
Yea!
GOP: the party of horny men
faraway on July 2, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Sure, I’ve got some sympathy and pity for Sanford. But listen, you can’t lie to your wife and family for however long and then go tell people not related to you to trust you. If you can lie and sneak around those closest to you, how easy is it to lie and sneak around strangers?
Does the man deserve pity? Yes.
Does the politician? No.
Aquateen Hungerforce on July 2, 2009 at 11:57 PM
Gee, what kind of shape would the GOP be in now if Sanford was chosen as VP in 2012!
The GOP got very lucky.
technopeasant on July 3, 2009 at 12:05 AM
Love ain’t a feelin’ cheeter. It’s a commitment. Emotions come and go like waves on the shore but a lifelong commitment stands. Sanford’s wife is top notch. He’s a dork.
Mojave Mark on July 2, 2009 at 11:25 PM
Have no idea if Sanford’s wife is top notch. Only know that she didn’t cheat. He did. Looks like S. Carolinians got to pay for his cheating. Just because he is a super dirtbag doesn’t necessarily mean that she is a prize. Context and all. Granted she has handled this all fairly well when really it is none of our business other than the financial inappropriations.
Socmodfiscon on July 3, 2009 at 12:05 AM
If he had not come up with that soul mate line, these women would be chewing him a new one. He’s their substitute for a trashy romance novel that they think would be beneath them to read.
Cindy Munford on July 3, 2009 at 12:08 AM
Dang Allah, you didn’t used to be THIS beta. I really miss this Allah:
Allahpundits Paul Anka Record Collection
broker1 on July 3, 2009 at 12:19 AM
Seems to me the article is all wrong. It’s not men who want to empathize with this adulterer, it is the woman who wrote the article. As a man, I say, Gov. Sanford, be a man and resign. And as a man, I say we are NOT all like Sanford — many of us are faithful to our wives.
Christian Conservative on July 3, 2009 at 12:23 AM
Another lame QOTD from Allah about a tired subject that has already been beaten to death by everyone and their brother. You are really just phoning it in these days AP, you are useless.
echosyst on July 3, 2009 at 12:23 AM
Will be comment of the day on Allahs twitter.
broker1 on July 3, 2009 at 12:30 AM
He was all over this today – read the whole piece by the “chickifier”.
(Also played full-length “Banking Queen” tribute to Barney Spank)
peski on July 3, 2009 at 12:34 AM
As a woman, I have absolutely no pity for this guy, and I’m increasingly starting to wonder about his wife as well. On another thread it was hinted this is not this guy’s first rodeo with his disappearce act. He’s disappeared before for his own personal reasons and seems to need a retreat on a regular basis. Ahem…if it was for the same type/kind of reasons that has now surfaced – for all the world to see, and his wife allowed him to come back into the home, there is no hope for either of them. I want them both to go quietly into the sunset and abuse each other out of the limelight.
24K lady on July 3, 2009 at 12:35 AM
Yeah………ok………the cute abandoned puppy cheater…
How about this instead: Man bites self in unreachable place.
I’ve about as much sympathy for Sanford as I do for my ex son-in-law.
Limerick on July 3, 2009 at 12:39 AM
Slow news day?
I couldn’t care less about this POS.
Post something about the Sanfords when there’s something notable to post about the only Sanford worth writing about–Jenny Sanford. Anything more on Guv Mark represents wasted keystrokes and wasted Internet space.
BuckeyeSam on July 3, 2009 at 12:46 AM
I do not find this man even remotely attractive or sexy…bleg… I like my man to be manly (which mine is) not a sissified limp noodle…but you know I’m a conservative woman so…
CCRWM on July 3, 2009 at 12:58 AM
Red sports car.
OldEnglish on July 3, 2009 at 1:05 AM
I’m sure Sanford cares about his sons, so it was something more powerful than love that lured him a continent away from them on Father’s Day — in great part, it was obviously his libido. The lust-crazed weasels phase of any relationship is heady, but it is a vacation from reality — all the more idealized and wrought with longing when the object of lust is far removed from your stale reality.
Sanford can keep calling it love to justify his apparent readiness to destroy his family and career — and he probably believes that it is a pure, rare kind of love and he is a victim of cruel fate. When a 49-year-old man with significant responsibilities for a family and an entire state decides to chuck it all despite being warned of the consequences, it suggests nothing more romantic than running away from home.
Terrie on July 3, 2009 at 1:09 AM
I haven’t paid a lot of attention to this Sanford story. Without knowing a lot about him, (which is typical for me, it seems), I thought he might have some promise, but it turns out I was wrong. Now I have about as much interest in it as the Michael Jackson story, which is not at all. It’s over for him. I hope he has a happy life, but more importantly, I hope his kids turn out OK. It’s all about the kids. Children of marriages like this are prone to problems that leave little room for sympathy for a character like Sanford. I hope his wife has a happy life and can nurture the children adequately into adulthood.
Sanford? I don’t much care. If his wife is OK, and especially his children, I hope he has a happy life as well. But if his kids suffer, and develop problems as a result; f#@k Sanford. The selfish bastard can go to hell for all I care.
FloatingRock on July 3, 2009 at 1:09 AM
…And I should point out, although I don’t know much about her politics, it seems like his wife would be quite a catch.
FloatingRock on July 3, 2009 at 1:11 AM
repressed american sexual landscape?
has this guy been living under a rock for a decade or so?
Metro on July 3, 2009 at 1:29 AM
I have no respect for men who can’t keep their pecker in their pocket.
darktood on July 3, 2009 at 1:46 AM
Now aren’t you the clever one, working the Insult of the Day into the Quote of the Day thread.
Because calling AP a woman is, like, the worst thing you can think of. Says nothing about AP but plenty about you.
And as for the rest of it… well, it might not hurt to take another look at what the dictionary says about the word “quote.” Y’know, just for future reference and stuff.
Gilda on July 3, 2009 at 2:56 AM
I joke that my railroader husband’s “other woman” has a steam engine and drive wheels. Trains have taken over his brain.
Seriously though-my husband believes that a man willing to cheat on his wife is less of a man. He has no use for cheaters.
I don’t think I can add to that.
annoyinglittletwerp on July 3, 2009 at 3:20 AM
After that Freeper thread yesterday and this comment you’re referring to, I’m beginning to have my doubts about AP’s actual Beta bona fides.
Hmmmm….
jr.ewing.78 on July 3, 2009 at 5:47 AM
You know what’s strange. Bill Clinton did pretty much the same stuff as this guy, in the White House no less (our house), and in fact there’s women that has actually accused him of outright rape, but the media, and society, seems to:
a: forgiven him
b: made it kind of a joke
c: may think as little of him as Sanford but never mention it.
and of course there’s those Kennedy brothers. Wasn’t that cute what they did with women other than their wife. Some have DIED because of their relationship with a Kennedy but to society as a whole, each one was a wonderful icon.
Jeff from WI on July 3, 2009 at 6:20 AM
has=have
Jeff from WI on July 3, 2009 at 6:42 AM
What a difference a D makes…
DrMagnolias on July 3, 2009 at 7:04 AM
No empathy here , he behaves like a kid. Ok if you work flipping burgers at McDonalds.
the_nile on July 3, 2009 at 7:06 AM
Exactly!
Jeff from WI on July 3, 2009 at 7:10 AM
No one is saying empathy, I’m just saying, perspective.
Jeff from WI on July 3, 2009 at 7:11 AM
davidk on July 3, 2009 at 7:27 AM
Yep. The marriage vow is the most sacred vow a man (and, of course, a woman) can make. If you will cheat on your wife’husband, you would cheat on everything else.
davidk on July 3, 2009 at 7:32 AM
Next week, we’ll still be making it look like this guy was worse than Hitler, but half the world will be worshiping the “god” of pop music at his funeral, even though the guy has done rotten things to little kids and probably killed himself with heroin.
Jeff from WI on July 3, 2009 at 7:40 AM
It is still repressed for male sexuality. It’s entirely politically incorrect for a successful male to have more than one girlfriend, or to have a mistress on the side. The liberals have been successful at castigating males for expressions of their heterosexuality.
Of course, there’s exceptions:
1. Democrat men, or some minorities (such as Muslims) can have multiple female sexual partners.
2. Liberal Hollywood Actors
But let a Republican have a mistress, or God-forbid, a southern white male, and all hell breaks loose.
ericdondero on July 3, 2009 at 7:55 AM
Yes, interestingly (and apparently, oppressingly), we expect men–successful and otherwise–to exhibit some manly self-control.
DrMagnolias on July 3, 2009 at 8:00 AM
How do we know what went on in the Sanfords’ private life?
I wanna know why nobody is asking the wife why she didn’t seem to take care of her husband in the bedroom?
Seriously, as a heterosexual male, I can tell you that the main reason men stray, is cause their wives either let themselves go on the looks front (get fat, or wrinkly), or cause they cut them off in the bedroom, and become prudish little whiners “not tonight honey, I’m so tired of taking care of the kids…”
This may sound offensive to some, but Ms. Sanford seems like she fits the latter. She seems exactly like the type who was so busy with taking care of her boys, and the household, that she may not have been taking care of her primary responsibility as a wife: taking care of her husband’s needs in the bedroom.
Perhaps this is why Sanford, a good looking successful high testosterone male, saught relief in other places, actually in a whole ‘nother country.
The Jury is still out, we need to know more, but I’d be inclined to put the blame on the wife.
But of course, our PC liberal media would never even dream of asking such questions.
ericdondero on July 3, 2009 at 8:03 AM
Not only have we made this guy out to be worse than Hitler, but now I see his wife is now being touted as the greatest thing since sliced bread.
By the end of next week, she’ll have made the media rounds, got an advance on her book, and be canonized by the Catholic Church.
Jeff from WI on July 3, 2009 at 8:03 AM
LOLOL…Eric, I assume you’re young, prepare to get slaughtered in her by shrieking females..LOLOL
Jeff from WI on July 3, 2009 at 8:05 AM
Dr. Magolias, and what you call “manly control,” others would call repression of male heterosexuality.
Why the double standard?
Why is it that my Gay friend can go out and have sex with numerous sexual partners and nobody thinks a negative word about it.
Yet, me as a heterosexual male, oh my God! if I even think about having two girlfriends at the same time, oh, that’s an utter abomination!
Male Heterosexuals, particulatly non-Minority Male Heterosexuals, are the last truly repressed sexual beings in our society.
ericdondero on July 3, 2009 at 8:07 AM
No shrieking here, just shaking my head at someone who is self-absorbed, low on analytical skills, and apparently completely clueless about women and marriage.
DrMagnolias on July 3, 2009 at 8:09 AM
I won’t be in on the slaughter…although I detest how a lot of people will automatically blame the wife for not taking care of her husband in the bedroom…I’m just not convinced that Jenny is a total victim in this relationship.
Having said that, I’d have more respect for her if she kicked his cheating azz to the curb.
ladyingray on July 3, 2009 at 8:10 AM
Jeff from WI, I’m 46, ex-US Navy Sailor, with Sailor-type views on sexuality.
They can slam me all they want. Of course, they’ll just be displaying their anti-Male, entirely liberal (though they claim to be “conservatives”) views on male sexuality.
Even “conservative” women love the current liberal set-up. It fits their needs. They love the fact that American males, particularly non-Minority American males, are forced to live under their feminized rules: Men can’t have a second girlfriend or a mistress on the side.
When conservative women defend that, they’re just displaying their liberalism.
BTW, I’m a proud LIBERTARIAN!
ericdondero on July 3, 2009 at 8:11 AM
What double standard? By whom? You are making a number of assumptions. And, incidentally, men who have more than one girlfriend are often referred to, approvingly, as “Ladies Men.” But we’re not talking about more than one girlfriend, we’re talking about adultery.
DrMagnolias on July 3, 2009 at 8:11 AM
I don’t give a crap if you have a mistress on the side…as long as I get to have a boy toy on the side…fair enough?
ladyingray on July 3, 2009 at 8:12 AM
(Just sitting her, quietly minding my own business)
Jeff from WI on July 3, 2009 at 8:14 AM
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