Sanford is the former Governor of South Carolina, who resigned after disappearing and then reappearing as an adulterer with an Argentine girlfriend. That woman — Maria Belen Chapur — is now said to be his "fiancée," and she was at his side for his victory speech last night. I put "fiancée" in quotes because he's trying to get back in the public's good graces, so he should have actually married her by now.
Sanford will now face Elizabeth Colbert Busch and Green Party candidate Eugene Platt in a May special election. She is the sister of political satirist Stephen Colbert.
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51 comments:
No shame. He should have converted to the Democrats. He'd be hailed as a conquering hero.
No democrat is going to win that seat ever.
Can't they all lose?
For democrats resting all hope for mankind on regaining the House majority in 2014, this will be an election that must be won. I tend to agree with Titus though.
They seriously re-drew the congressional districts in South Carolina. I've been spending the last hour or so trying to figure out the demographics of the new district. I'm serious, they seem to have shifted the original north-of-Charleston coastal counties for the sea islands to the south of Charleston. I *think* the democratic sections have been cut out to give Clyburn his eternal minority-majority district.
But it includes Hilton Head and environs, which is awash with Northern retirees. Perhaps the self-described "Creationist" who was running against Sanford in the runoff was not the best fit for the "new" 1st.
South Carolina is a peculiar place. They will elect Sanford to approve of his drama worthy of a Romance novel from the 1800s.
Sex with a lover for true love by an Episcopalian politician is a minor matter once it has been confessed.
If she's good enough to marry, she'll still be around when he's ready to make that leap.
South Carolina has always been very oddly conservative. It was at Fort Sumter that the Civil War began. What's with South Carolina? I think most men in the south believe it is their right to have any affair that they want to have. It's an open secret down there. I don't think they will care about this. The upper crust of the white south seems to all be like this: Bill Clinton is just part of that southern elite and their weird promiscuous behavior. I haven't been there so I don't know what's going on with that crew. Suffice it to say they live in an alternative reality. I like some of the conservatism but not the reckless disregard for the marriage contract.
If there's a way to lose a winnable seat with a bad candidate, the Repubs will do it.
Traditionalguy is right: this has something to do with the Episcopalian elite that ran the old south and whose plantations the Civil War was designed to protect.
I always thought it was horrible in those novels and histories about Rome when the soldiers would show up at the door and the whole household knew what that meant. They had a choice to do the Roman thing and fall on their sword -- who could do that? -- or the soldier would sink his gladius into the senator's stomach. Or maybe his pugio. Heh he heh heh heh, he said pugio.
But now! It seems like a good idea. Do you ever watch the teevee and get so tired of a character you go, most uncharacteristically unChristian, "Die! Die, die, die, already, please die!" I thought that about Dr Who, I'm tired of this last actor, what a drag, and he was set up to die and I was filled with happiness and satisfaction to have the actor gone, and then the plot was he escaped the transformation so now we're all stuck with Matt Smith. What a disappointment.
Then again, if Sanford was a successful governor that should be what counts.
Remember: Democrats who screw up in their personal lives are forgiven immediately and given TV shows on CNN.
Republicans: not.
I've an idea for an ad for Colbert's sister.
She should read the letter that Sen. Tim Scott signed asking for Sanford's ouster.
Colbert Busch is seated at a desk. There's an American and South Carolina flag behind her. She looks in the Camera and says: My fellow South Carolinians, here is what Senator Tim Scott has said about my opponent, disgraced former Governor Mark Sanford. And then she should read excerpts from the letter that Scott signed urging Sanford to step down. And the conclude by saying she'll strive never to let her constituents down.
She can close the ad by walking on a trail in the woods saying I love this state!
She's a good looking lady. No reason to get back in good graces. Men don't cheat if they have a spouse that takes care of them.
Wait. You mean heterosexuals can still legally get married?
Stupid is as stupid does.
The RINOs know they're going down, so the intend to take not only the party, but the country with them.
There's a joke about bush in here some where. Vote for Busch because Sanford got caught getting bush.
How dare anyone named other than Beauregard run for office in the Palmetto State?! We will also accept Atticus, Forest, Foxworth and Walker, but only under extreme duress, Suh, extreme duress!
Oops, that should be Forrest.
Sanford made his reputation by being cheap. When he was in congress before, he slept in his office rather than rent an apartment at government expense. He really is a small government guy. The fact that he fell in love with another woman seems like small potatoes in the big scheme of things. He didn't go around raping women and telling them to put ice on it.
What in the world? I'd never vote for that guy.
SC is so conservative, they'll put a gay Republican in the Senate rather than take a chance with any Democrat you might put up against him. What makes anyone think a silly little hetero affair by Sanford is going to make them elect a Colbert?
Sanford needs to run radio ads asking if people are REALLY ready to elect another Bush.
Politics being mostly a binary exercise, you have to pick either Column A or Column B. So it's either Sanford, who has a track record and takes fiscally sensible stands; or Ms. Busch, who's only claim to fame is that she is related to someone with a claim to fame (and money).
Not that difficult to choose, really. And for Democrats who were Bill Clinton fans or folks of any political persuasion who thought Palin was beyond the pale, it should be especially easy to choose.
Head for the __________ of Busch!
Choose your own adventure.
South Carolina -- too small to be a country and too large to be a lunatic asylum.
Hey riptic, you forgot Pitch Fork Ben Tilman. He gave his name to Tilman Hall at Clemson.
I was hoping Ted Turner's son would win the Republican primary. I've seen him on several news programs and he's very impressive. Conservative, unlike his dad.
Freeman Hunt said...
What in the world? I'd never vote for that guy.
That seems a shortsighted view. He's not coming over for dinner.
maybe it's not possible in our tmz-culture but how about if we try electing people according to their ability to do the job and we keep our noses out of their sex lives ?
No, walking on a trail to the outhouse. That's what they have down there.
I would imagine she wants to see if he can get a job before she goes through with the wedding.
MadisonMan said, "She can close the ad by walking on a trail in the woods saying 'I love this state'!"
Too bad the Appalachian Trail just misses South Carolina. Ms Colbert delivering her line on the AT would be the witty gag of the decade.
Because there was no other Republican in the entire state of SC qualified to serve. Idiots.
Because there was no other Republican in the entire state of SC qualified to serve. Idiots.
If his ex-wife wanted to run, he's said he would've never run against her. Otherwise, he's about the best choice possible.
Outside of his affair --- and when we learn of Obama's inevitable infidelity, it will be a non-issue for him, natch --- he was a great Representative and one of the best governors this state has ever seen.
What in the world? I'd never vote for that guy.
Given the options, I don't see how one couldn't.
Colbert Busch is seated at a desk. There's an American and South Carolina flag behind her. She looks in the Camera and says: My fellow South Carolinians, here is what Senator Tim Scott has said about my opponent, disgraced former Governor Mark Sanford. And then she should read excerpts from the letter that Scott signed urging Sanford to step down. And the conclude by saying she'll strive never to let her constituents down.
She can close the ad by walking on a trail in the woods saying I love this state!
Then Sanford can just respond of her known love of unions and that little NLRB action involving Boeing.
There is a level of nutty and unstable that makes you unfit for office. Sanford didn't just have an affair, he acted like a loon. Disappears then swans around singing the praises of his mistress and his love for her. Meanwhile he has a family. Nut bar. Would not vote for the guy.
But I don't live in SC, so none of that matters to this election.
If Sanford were a Democrat, and named "Kennedy" or "Clinton," his ignominy would not be a problem in getting elected.
Toy
Nice example of what's wrong with straight marriage.
Marriage is public. You're taking a public vow followed by receiving public benefits. If you want to wrap yourself in a cloak of privacy after you blow up your family's world, then co-habit.
Unless it's ancient history, I don't think I'm going to vote for anyone who dumps a family for an affair partner anymore. Having people like that in prominent positions has normalized divorce where children are involved, and that is a real social evil.
Busch sounds like a terrible political fit for SC. She'd be back out after one term.
Freeman, agreed. Put in a placeholder if the current candidates are all batty. The difficulty is that Sanford who become entrenched, quickly, as a Republican Incumbent -- because what Republican would run against him in 2 years?
Either way, it's a hold your nose and vote thing, I suspect.
MM, exactly. If Sanford gets in, then he's in for good. If Busch gets in, she's out soon enough.
Christian wingnuts are hypocrites to have elected this guy again in the primary. It's like watching the GOP immolation itself all over the country.
Freeman - a case can be made that the American people don't know how to vote and should have that right taken away.
Alex, you're really bad at what you try to do.
Oh, Alex. I almost wish I could make you feel better by telling you that I was nearly swept into your faux fascistic web of trollery. But that would be a lie.
The fiance is hot but if she speaks with a spic accent it could spell danger in the grossie state that SC is.
She needs to keep her trap shut.
Doesn't SC have like one of the worst unemployment rates in the country?
Fred > Mark
Gavin Newsome will be the next governor of California.
Doesn't SC have like one of the worst unemployment rates in the country?
Yes.
Almost as bad as NY.
Or CA.
I think the writers and readers at Politico are more impressed with Stephen Colbert than the voters of S.C. I don't know if she can run on her solid record of being Stephen Colbert's sister.
Alex said...
Christian wingnuts are hypocrites to have elected this guy again in the primary
I wasn't aware that pollsters checked a box off for Christian wingnuts. Do you often listen to the information the voices in your head give to you?
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