Obligatory Sanford Post
I watched his news conference, and I thought he looked at or near the end of his rope. I admire him for taking responsibility for what he did, though I don’t at all admire what he did, either the ‘betraying your wife and four kids’ part or the ‘leaving your state in the lurch and putting your staff in a completely untenable position’ part.
I wonder who leaked the emails? And why? And why did the paper hold them for months?
I think about his sons. The youngest is ten. This has to be excruciating for them. I hope they don’t have the kinds of horrible classmates who might make the next weeks and months a misery.
Strangest Sanford- related fact I’ve seen: he digs holes “to unwind”.
Quote I wish he wishes he’d either borne in mind or not said in the first place:
“But I think the Bible says, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father that’s in heaven.” Hopefully, by the way in which you act. The way in which you make decisions. They’re going to see that something’s there. (…) If you have a religious view, it’s incumbent upon you and it’s real to have that. The Bible talks about the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control. There ought to be certain things that are clearly observable by your actions.”
The two silliest defensive responses from before he fessed up:
“It is refreshing that Mark Sanford is secure enough in himself and the people of South Carolina that he does not view himself as an indispensable man.” (Erick Erickson)
And:
“Are [Cassie] and I married to the only real men left in the entire freakin’ country? Do we only want Momma’s boys or Daddy’s girls in the White House from here on out? Teddy Roosevelt is doing backflips in his grave right now: apparently no one is allowed to go on a writing retreat, take a road trip, or hike, hunt, or fish if they have any political ambitions at all. Unbelievable.” (Little Miss Attila)
Mark Sanford: secure enough in himself to to leave his state without a governor, his wife without a husband, and his sons without a father; enough of a real man to willfully torpedo his closest relationships. Family values in action.
