So long King David, hello Clark Griswold.
Fresh off of one vacation, S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford is set to embark on another one – this time to Europe.
Sanford left on a trip to an undisclosed location with his wife Jenny last Wednesday. He returned to South Carolina Monday night, but he isn’t sticking around for long.
Sources tell FITS that Sanford is heading to Europe this Thursday for a two-week vacation with his wife and four boys.
No word yet on the itinerary, or whether or not that information will be released to the public. Also no word yet on whether Sanford will be handing over power (such as S.C. governors have, anyway) to Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.
Sanford hasn’t been behind his desk much this summer. After getting busted last month on what was supposed to be a secret, week-long getaway with his Argentine lover Maria Belen Chapur last month, he’s left the state twice on personal trips.
The first time he went to Florida with his family for the Fourth of July weekend, and last week he left on an undisclosed five-day trip with his wife.
Now Europe? For two weeks?
Must be nice …
So, is all this out-of-state travel advisable for a guy who’s trying to “rebuild the trust” of South Carolinians?
We think not … but as usual we await the verdict of our loyal FITS readers!
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By 1+1=3 July 21, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Just today he said “I’m going to be full bore, on a daily basis ” – can we believe anything this guy says?
By King Cotton July 21, 2009 at 10:02 pm
As long as we don’t have to read any more of his missives on forgiveness, I don’t care where he goes. I hear Ulan Bator is especially nice this time of year.
By Abby Carolina July 21, 2009 at 10:13 pm
I’d like to dedicate this song to Mark Sanford…
Vacation
Go Gos
(Kathy Valentine/Charlotte Caffey/Jane Wiedlin)
Can’t seem to get my mind off of you
Back here at home there’s nothin’ to do
Now that I’m away
I wish I’d stayed
Tomorrow’s a day of mine that you won’t be in
When you looked at me I should’ve run
But I thought it was just for fun
I see I was wrong
And I’m not so strong
I should’ve known all along that time would tell
A week without you
Thought I’d forget
Two weeks without you and I
Still haven’t gotten over you yet
CHORUS
Vacation
All I ever wanted
Vacation
Had to get away
Vacation
Meant to be spent alone
A week without you
Thought I’d forget
Two weeks without you and I
Still haven’t gotten over you yet
CHORUS
By Why? July 21, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Are you serious? This guy leaves his State for a luxurious trip to Europe when our state has a 12.whatever percent unemployment rate??? Wow, what is he thinking and how can he ever expect to re-earn the trust of South Carolinians when he does stuff like this?
By William Hamilton July 21, 2009 at 10:32 pm
What does it matter at this point? Tell the Lt. Governor he can deal with emergencies if Sanford can’t be reached, take off and, really, nobody much cares when he comes back. Take the Plane to CDG, the train to Gar du Norte and the Metro line to the Tracadero. Walk down the steps to the Sein, chuck the phone in the river and forget about us, Mark. We’ll try to do the same about you. Paris is wonderful. You’ll note they have great transit, everyone can see a doctor and life’s pretty good. It’s not like here at all.
Just don’t go to Italy Mark. It is France in love with more Sunshine. It will blow your mind and it will take your full Sled detail to keep you away from the women.
You should note that both of these countries take excellent care of their children: healthcare, education, family assistance, parks, recreation programs and everything else. Don’t tell the socialists who you are. They be OK with your affair, but they may tear your head off if they realize what you do to the children of South Carolina. I have no idea what the Italians might do. Nobody is more delightful until you piss them off.
By peewee July 21, 2009 at 10:33 pm
I’d love to go to Europe but I can’t afford even Irmo in this down Economy!
By albert glenn July 21, 2009 at 10:47 pm
I wish he would just go to hell.
By jaded in S.C. July 21, 2009 at 11:58 pm
IMPEACH! IMPEACH! IMPEACH! APPARENTLY YOU DON’T WANT TO STAY IN SC, SO LEAVE!!!!! SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME LINDSEY GRAHAM IS NOT RUNNING THINGS.
By sic shillie July 22, 2009 at 12:27 am
maybe they’ll cheer on the skil/shimano team in the tour de france as the peloton cycles around the circuit on the champs elysees on sunday.
By mark g July 22, 2009 at 12:55 am
Mark Sanford has never really cared about the people of SC, so why should he start now? He’s an egocentric, spoiled rich guy, who looks down on the lower class.
People of SC– please be more careful who you vote for in the future. Take time to go beyond the campaign commercials and get to know the candidates.
By Cooter Brown July 22, 2009 at 7:42 am
Mista Gob-ner is neutered, harmless (t’ the scalawag Genral ‘sembly) an’ apparently unawares of his duties to th’ peoples of SC, so why not skip down da Champs de Elysee wit da missus and young’uns?
He caint do nuthin’ else, I rekon. ‘parently steppin’ down so he can go on all dese vacations without dereliction of duty wood bee jest too easie!
I caint hardly make myself says it, But I gots to get it out. I caint hold it in no more. Th-th-th… the gob-ner…is a…(come on Cooter, come on Cooter, you can do it)…
A SCALAWAG!
I knows I sho dont want no Andre, but I caint watch this train wreck no more!
By liz July 22, 2009 at 7:56 am
I believe Mark Sanford owed the stimulus money he wanted control of to someone in the state’s behalf and since he didn’t get to pay it, he is publicly on the run.
This normally private man has been very visible, dissembling in public, unspooling, speaking of soul mates, reuniting with his wife, now vacationing with his happy family???
Give me a break
By Toyota Kawaski July 22, 2009 at 8:36 am
Gov.Moonbeam can you take Ryberg and SCRG with you over younder and live for ever.
By Rick July 22, 2009 at 8:40 am
Last 18 months, can’t get a bill passed,or keep from having his veto overturned….might as well go on vacation. Nothing happening in the Palmetto states worth seeing….now the dogs a howling for him, what happened to backing him when he was fighting for reform or fiscally conservative policies? What a bunch of hypocritical dogs….
By BC July 22, 2009 at 9:31 am
While his family should be a priority at this point in time, it should not be at the expense of SC current state of affairs. South Carolina has already been projected by most economist to recover slower than the rest of the United States. If Gov. Sanford spent half his energy on economic development/job creation, education, and public safety that he has spent trying to undo the mess with his family; our state would be quickly climbing to top notch. Gov. Sanford should’ve resigned to focus on his family and allow someone else to head this state during one of the most difficult times.
Yet, remember who you voted for 3 years and 7 years ago? While your collecting either an unemployment check or a payroll check that hasn’t seen a raise in 2 years…your elected official is traveling to Europe for 2 weeks with $4,419 in semimonthly salary at his disposal. Many of us can’t afford to take our families to Frankie’s Fun Park but the Sanford’s going to Europe for two weeks. Thanks for caring about South Carolina, Gov. Sanford!
By Toyota Kawaski July 22, 2009 at 9:39 am
Rick he needs you in Europa now
By ethel krabitz July 22, 2009 at 10:29 am
Sandford has taken his extraordinary douchedom to a new level.
3 vacations in one summer that total a month’s worth of time?
Yeah, the average South Carolinian can really relate to that………not.
He can just shove it.
By lee July 22, 2009 at 10:44 am
Impeach the imposter!
By Tim July 22, 2009 at 10:45 am
Dude’s barely worked in July for years:
http://www.indigojournal.com/diary/1038/sanfords-chronic-absenteeism
By OhBoy July 22, 2009 at 11:01 am
CLASS ENVY ALL OF YOU!, Why can he not take a vactaion w/ family and try the healing process. Who cares, he has no power in this state anyway. And why does everyone seem to think it is up to Sanford’s responsibility to find jobs? What the hell is the General Assembly doing, the state economic development board, etc etc. Why don’t they get off their asses?
By Bill July 22, 2009 at 11:58 am
This is great politics. When there is a problem, get the heck outa Dodge, or at least Columbia. This guy has some serious issues and should go to Europe with his lovely family and all their money and STAY THERE PLEASE!
This state needs leadership! Something that has been absent since he showed up. Mr. Sanford, take all your stupid seeds you have been trying to plant and go be a F ing farmer somewhere else!
By James the Foot Soldier July 22, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Look kids – there’s Big Ben.
By 1+1=3 July 22, 2009 at 3:34 pm
the video is priceless – this guy just hates
his job
By shaggy July 22, 2009 at 4:31 pm
leave the guy and his family alone. this is probably the LAST family vacation they will ever have together!
By 1+1=3 July 22, 2009 at 5:13 pm
suggestion from The State readers
To all State employees; call in sick on Friday July 24, 2009 to send a message to our politicians that Gov. Sanford needs to be impeached now ! Don`t be left out just do it ! If you are a State employee please pass the word to all your co-workers asking that they call in sick on “get rid of Sanford day” this Friday.
By chimack July 22, 2009 at 5:52 pm
I’m from Illinois where political corruption is a very major industry.
In these economic times, if your governor is going to take a two week vacation the least he could do is spend the money in the USA. Does he think there will be no media there?
Seems way out of touch to go on a European vacation even if the wife with the short leash is an heiress.
By Look out, I'm next July 22, 2009 at 6:30 pm
I get tired of hearing about “no power, neutered governor, General Assembly has all the power” —- Bullshi#t! This Governor has more power and more cabinet positions than any governor in the history of our state. The office is what you make of it, and he has made it a pile horse dung.
Full bore ready to work and improve economic conditions is what he said he was going to do, according to the quote in The State on 7/22. What the hell is in Europe for 2 weeks that is helping the “soil conditions” here.??
12 unemployment, a potential major new manufacturing facility looking at S’Burg and Aiken, tourism down and did i mention 12% unemployment?
Jesus, this guy really doesn’t give a rats behind about the state.
By Dan July 22, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Quick…name me a high ranking member of the GOP that GIVES a damn about anyone other than him or her self? I know them all, and they are self-interested shits!
The GOP of this state is corrupt. Fix it, and therest will follow.
By jaded in S.C. July 23, 2009 at 1:05 am
Somebody come clean house in Colubia! He has obviously had a mental breakdown and before that didn’t really care about his job anyway.
By anonymous July 23, 2009 at 7:00 am
July 23, 2009
Sanfraud is leaving the state today for a two-week European vacation. BTW, this so-called vacation is at an undisclosed location.
The trip is the fourth time Sanford has left the state on personal travel in the last six weeks.
Sanford just returned from a five-day out-of-state trip Monday night, not to mention his bogus trip to Argrntina.
Sanfraud cannot manage running the state. South Carolina economic data shows more than one in five state residents are either jobless, have given up looking for work or settled for part-time work.
Sanfraud has been at work 15 of 25 business days since June 18. Sanford will be on vacation or have no official state business for 52 of 148 weekdays in 2009 through the end of July. That count DOES NOT include state holidays or days Sanford spent with the Republican Governor’s Association or other political groups that might not have some S.C. benefit.
“This is Nero fiddling while Rome burns,” said Dick Harpootlian. “His solution is to take the family and go to Monaco? I’m astounded he’s so tone deaf.”
Another reason for the trip, the Sanfraud said, was to get away from the constant media coverage. Sanfraud declined to say where he is traveling. Once again, Sanfraud is at an undisclosed location, this time for two weeks.
Sen. Tom “Goon” Davis, R-Beaufort, and a former Sanford chief of staff, said the taxpayers get their money’s worth from Sanfraud.
But Senate Minority Leader John Land said about Sanfraud “he’s certainly limited his involvement …and he’s been the least active person I’ve ever seen.”
BTW, that’s code for worthless.
By anonymous July 23, 2009 at 7:11 am
Sanfraud’s Chronic Absenteeism
Sanford spent virtually all of July 2007 on vacation or personal time. There’s a record of just two hours in his office the entire month, and he had a single meeting with Howard Rich early in the month.
When the 2007 holidays rolled around, Sanford was on personal time from December 20-January 7.
As unlikely as it seems, Sanford worked even less in 2008. Less than a month removed from his three-week Christmas break, Sanford took a week beginning February 4 to hunt in various locations around the state and the Southeast.
During a total of 42 work days in February and March, Sanford took 19.5 days of personal time.
Sanford’s July recess continued in 2008.
After his now famous South American trade mission in June of last year, Sanford was on personal time or a “family trip” for all but three work days in July.
For the rest of the year, Sanford was out of state numerous times for GOP conventions, RGA meetings and other partisan political events.
Aside from his Argentine adventure and recent vacations, Sanford’s pattern of personal days here and there – and week or more vacations every couple of months – has continued in 2009.
Especially interesting are two meetings in Washington in early March. Sanford twice met with Tom Coe and others at “C Street,” the shadowy religious group now under scrutiny.
http://www.indigojournal.com/diary/1038/sanfords-chronic-absenteeism
By anonymous July 23, 2009 at 8:10 am
Sanfraud
FIFTY-TWO DAYS:
52: The number of business days Sanford has either been on vacation or had no official duties on his calendar THIS YEAR.
ONE out of every THREE:
1 to 3: The ratio of Sanford’s vacation days or days with no scheduled duties to work days.. There have been 148 work days in 2009. On 52 of those days the governor either has been off or had no scheduled duties.
TEN out of TWENTY-FIVE:
10: The number of days Sanford has worked beginning with his secret trip to Argentina. There have been 25 business days during that span, including a day off for Independence Day.
The next TEN business days: VACATION
Two weeks in Europe baby!
Sir, where are you going in Europe? uh uh uh well, that’s an undisclosed location uh uh uh wait, let me finish …
Sir, if you’ve taken off fifty-two days off already this year and you are taking another ten business days vacation? uh uh uh well, I need a vacation …uh uh uh wait, let me finish…
Sir, that would be a total sixty-two days this year? uh uh uh look, I need a break …uh uh uh, all these vacations are just wearing me down …uh uh uh …wait, let me finish …
Sir, are you concerned at all about the State of South Carolina and would you please answer the question? uh uh uh well, I can take care of all of this from Europe, besides, I have a cell phone and you guys just call me if you need anything …uh uh uh …
Sir, are you telling us that you can manage the entire State from a cell phone out-of-the country while on vacation at an undisclosed location in Europe? uh uh uh well, I guess I never thought about that before now …uh uh uh …look, ya’ll need to get back to work cause my cell phone doesn’t work well at an alitude of 45,000 feet uh uh uh ….
Sir, are you on an airplane right now? uh uh uh …I think our cell connection is breaking up …uh uh uh call me next month, we’ll do lunch uh uh uh one last thing, ya’ll get back to work uh uh uh ….wait, let me finish …
Sir? Sir? Sir? are you there? Dang it! we lost our cell connection.
By Zeus July 23, 2009 at 8:43 am
I have to wonder what Sanford would say to this type of behavior if it was Bill Clinton doing it a few weeks after his Monica affair became public.
By anonymous July 23, 2009 at 10:21 am
Sanford speaks in Charlotte before heading to London
http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10776075
VIDEO:
http://www.wistv.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=3979720&h1=RAW%3A%20Gov.%20Mark%20Sanford%20leaves%20Charlotte%20airport%20for%20Europe&vt1=v&at1=Political&d1=428133&LaunchPageAdTag=Political&activePane=info&rnd=89411129
Sir, you said that you were leaving Thursday and now you’re leaving the country on Wednesday, what gives sir? uh uh uh …well, I lied about that …uh uh uh …wait, let me finish…
By Andrew July 23, 2009 at 11:08 am
Should he really be doing any more traveling? Isn’t traveling what got him in trouble in the first place? Why is he choosing to travel now anyway, when he will have plenty of free time to do so after the next governor’s elction?
By anonymous July 23, 2009 at 11:10 am
Jul 23, 2009 Television
To Sir, With Love
Jon Stewart on the Media’s Love Letters to Mark Sanford
On last night’s Daily Show, Jon Stewart reported on the rash of ass-kissing emails sent to South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford by media outlets.
VIDEO:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-july-20-2009/to-sir–with-love
Pingback: 52 days in 2009 not enough – Sanford going on European vacation | Satelec 2003
By My 2 Cents... July 29, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Sanford look tired, disillusioned, scared. Someone else is playing role of governor behind the curtain for now.
Wonder if he’s so scared because he’s on C Street shit list. They at least have to be disappointed.
Really, he needs to step down.
By J Dzik July 30, 2009 at 3:12 pm
WHEN HE RETURNS THE CITIZENS SHOULD TELL HIM TO TAKE A PERMANENT VACATION.
HE IS A LIAR, A CHEAT, AND DOES NOT DESERVE TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF SC.
LET’T GET RID OF SANFORD ONCE AND FOR ALL. HE’S A DISGRACE!!!