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Does Sanford Survive as Governor Through the Weekend?

By Doug Bandow on 6.24.09 @ 5:59PM

What a horrid affair, in more than one sense of the word. As Philip Klein points out, it is awful on so many levels. The question is not, will Mark Sanford resign? It is, when will he resign?

The affair and family betrayal are terrible. Add to that betraying his staff and having them lie for him, looking foolish in the process. And then abandoning his state duties, leaving his security detail in the dark, and being out of touch even for state emergencies, in order to fly to another continent for sex. (Yes, he said he wanted to break off the affair, but the story sounds no more plausible than his hike along the Appalachian Trail.)

A politician can survive betraying his family. But betray enough people, including the entire state's population, and you become a figure of ridicule, unable to perform your duties. How can he regain the credibility necessary to do his job?

He's outta' there. The only question is when.

And if he has any decency left, he will resign now. His family, whom he is putting through a public horror show, needs all of him if there is any chance of him making amends. His family should be his priority, and it needs healing, which isn't likely to commence in the glare of national publicity. His only decent option is to quit now.

View all comments (5) | Leave a comment

Angel| 6.24.09 @ 7:50PM

Gotta say one thing for the Governor--when he rolled the dice he went for broke. An inter-continental affair, no less.

At least his wife had some self-respect and didn't stand by his side like those robotic democrat wives.

John| 6.24.09 @ 8:03PM

I figure it goes: The Lt Gov and the State House leadership of SC.. come knocking, in their hands is a signed petition.

"Mr. Sanford:

You have a choice. resign or be thrown out.
The movers will be here in the morning. Leave the key on the lowboy and please exit the back door. The spectacle has already been bad enough.

Thanky...
The Boys (who ain't none to pleased that yoah zippah seems ta be stuck in the down pezzishn...)

My old man warned me that a man's greatest weakness is that he will follow his nether regions into hell.

Well Sanford is going to stand before God with this one hung around his neck... There is a reason why the prohibition of adultery appears in the Decalogue. Old wisdom is ignored at great peril.

Sanford is toast. Daniels and Jindal look better each day.

r/John - TMF

GRC| 6.24.09 @ 11:20PM

Of course he needs to resign. He betrayed the publuc trust yet he did not kill a woman in the endeavor. Less we forget while so many want National Health care in the name of and old dishonest philanderer who in fact did kill someone.

Eric Damon| 6.25.09 @ 9:00AM

Maybe he will resign...but I'm not holding my breat on that one! When was the last time a politician resigned from his post for something like this, absent from pending criminal charges? And since Governor Sanford has no pending criminal charges lodged over this issue, don't look for him to go anywhere. Politicians are simply not built to leave the scene, especially when they have power in their grasp.