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The Return of Mark Sanford

By W. James Antle, III on 6.23.09 @ 11:05AM

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford will return to the state tomorrow after a hike along the Appalachian Trail turned into headlines suggesting he had disappeared. Sanford communications director Joel Sawyer told reporters, "It would be fair to say the governor was somewhat taken aback by all of the interest this trip has gotten."

The political repercussions for Sanford, a potential candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, will outlast the trip. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer feels he was misled by Sanford's staff. Sanford's political opponents are presenting this bizarre incident as an example of the governor going AWOL. I think Sanford should try to turn this around by challenging other politicians to go away and leave us alone for a while.

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Old Texican VI| 6.23.09 @ 1:01PM

I love your conclusion, Antle III

I think it turned out to be a great PR stunt, on purpose or not.
Maybe he will return home and shame the titty babies to grow up and quit suckling at politicos.

Sadie| 6.23.09 @ 1:48PM

"I think Sanford should try to turn this around by challenging other politicians to go away and leave us alone for a while."

Agreed. When a grown man cannot inform the proper people (family & staff) and take a well-deserved time off alone, we can certainly see that there are some very sick/deranged thinking people running loose.

Mrs. Jackson| 6.23.09 @ 2:24PM

His wife ought to have given a (much) better answer. And I'm not ruling out any strangeness because this involves a politician and that would be dumb. All that said, it does seem as if the story is being made into another runaway bride....