Disgraced S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford says he’s tempted to “hide under a rock, go down to the farm and never see another television camera again.”
Unfortunately, the temptation to wax self-important while wasting taxpayer time and resources on a Quixotic quest to rationalize his growing hypocrisy seems to be a bit stronger.
“Governor TMI,” a man who needs TV cameras like the rest of us need oxygen, squeezed off another Narcissistic round of self-healing today in an interview with the Charleston Mercury, which was picked up by The Daily Beast.
Brace yourselves …
“A lot of [South Carolina politicians] are saying, ‘Hey, it’s payback time, we got you now.’ And you know, I gave them the bullets, the guns, the noose, and the rope and all that stuff … You could have all the rational arguments in the world but you ain’t gonna change David Thomas’ mind. So I’m going to speak to anybody in the General Assembly that I can, and of even greater note, I’m gonna be speaking to regular working South Carolinians when I get the chance.”
“I’m a wounded soldier; I took myself off the battlefield,” he says. “It’s not until you lose something in life that you appreciate some of your blessings. If I ever had the chance to get back on the playing field, it would be a great honor and a privilege and a blessing.”
“You know, everybody is assigned their own secret-agent mission in life. And at times the tricky part, the hard part, is finding out what that secret-agent mission is. Some of us do it early, some of us do it later in life.”
“During the last six and a half years—some of the biggest detractors now were the same detractors then—they would say ‘Well this guy’s running for president, we can’t give him this restructuring victory because that would be a feather in his cap.’ Boy, if there is ever a chance to have a debate about the issue on the issue itself, now is that time, because clearly, obviously, I’m not running for another office, that is now a forgone conclusion. Everybody gets that. For the first time, it can be not about ‘What is Mark’s next political move?’ or ‘Is he talking about stimulus because he is really running for president?’”
“In my case, when I saw my number was up, I laid it out on the table in agonizing and excruciating detail. I think I told more in terms of laying it out than anybody in South Carolina wanted to know.”
“It has been an incredible experience for me in the larger notion of grace and compassion and even judgment. I don’t spend a lot of time looking backward … I can’t redo my life or history. I will simply say that from this point going forward the focus of my life is certainly not going to be worrying about judging others.”
“I’m going to keep doing the business that the people of South Carolina really care about. I can’t tell you how many people come up to me and say ‘this has got to be a three-ring circus; this has got to be a witch hunt.’ This is about David Thomas trying to run for Congress, and thinking he can build his name by having these ‘investigations’ that are little about investigation and a whole lot about making papers … What we are going to continue to try to do is, one, get back to business. At the end of the day, the subtleties of my relationship with Jenny are not going to impact one way or another somebody who lives in Sumter who is struggling to make it.”
Good Lord.
We reprint this verbal diarrhea because it confirms our worst fears.
As we said back on June 25 – the day after news of Sanford’s affair with Maria Belen Chapur broke – using a taxpayer-funded bully pulpit for personal redemption is NOT what we are paying Mark Sanford to do. And yet that’s what he’s doing.
“No man is bigger than a movement, and as much as it pains me to say it the best thing Mark Sanford can do for the reform movement in South Carolina right now is to step down,” our founding editor wrote at the time.
We also wrote that Sanford should “cop a plea before the deafening drumbeat for a public, political execution begins.”
“Ba-doomp … ba-doomp … ba-doomp.”
As usual, you should have taken our advice, Marky Mark.
By shiya September 8, 2009 at 2:21 pm
You left the most fun part..thepart where he refers to his “secret agent mission” in life.
From David to Zen to God to Secret Agent, this man is SC’s BEST gift of comedy to the rest ofthe country.
By CNSYD September 8, 2009 at 2:32 pm
As we used to say in the old days before it closed, he needs to be on Bull St.
By SC Integrity September 8, 2009 at 2:34 pm
“Secret-agent” mission
Giggle, goose bumps, gearin’ up the plane for more ecstasy?
“I can’t tell you how many people come up to me…”
Try anyway, just ballpark it or pull a number from God.
“Not going to worrying about judging others…”
Solely will focus on leaking blasphemies and trying to destroy foes and friends’ careers.
“I’m going to keep doing the business that people of SC really care about…”
Making a**e* out of Rotarians and explosing their lack of ethics?
Well, if you must…
By Genomic Repairman September 8, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Please let this embarrassment to the state resign before we have an impeachment trial that will bring out more sordid details and incompetent blabbering by Sanford.
By Jonny D September 8, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Homeboyiee, you are The Luv Guv, not Secret Agent Man! And not that I’m really buying into the Ice Princess’s addiction theory, but…
anyway, just come clean tonight, Luv Guv, and go out and get her!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXGAif4dKhs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0U5JfGYx4c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k3MxZmAE-4
By SC Integrity September 8, 2009 at 3:07 pm
“If I ever had the chance to get back on the playing field,”
If this doesn’t scream for a Linda Blair spew, what would? Thinks he a teflon Don Juan, does he? Hear the battle cry Mark, impeachment drums are pounding… they’re coming to take you away, HAHA, HEHE!
By shiya September 8, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Also from the article:
“She (the waitress) gave him a hug, Sanford recalls, and told him to ‘keep pushing.’”
err…choose your words more carefully gov.
By Nyet September 8, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Guv used the word “I” eighteen (18!) times in that thing.
By MKinVA September 8, 2009 at 3:21 pm
SECRET AGENT MAN
(P.F. Sloan / S. Barri)
There’s a man who leads a life of danger
To everyone he meets he stays a stranger
With every move he makes another chance he takes
Odds are he won’t live to see tomorrow
Secret agent man, secret agent man
They’ve given you a number and taken away your name
Beware of pretty faces that you find
A pretty face can hide an evil mind
Ah, be careful what you say
Or you’ll give yourself away
Odds are you won’t live to see tomorrow
Secret agent man, secret agent man
They’ve given you a number and taken away your name
—— lead guitar ——
Secret agent man, secret agent man
They’ve given you a number and taken away your name
Swingin’ on the Riviera one day
And then layin’ in the Bombay alley next day
Oh no, you let the wrong word slip
While kissing persuasive lips
The odds are you won’t live to see tomorrow
Secret agent man, secret agent man
They’ve given you a number and taken away your name
Secret agent man
Sorry, I couldn’t resist this!
By Candi September 8, 2009 at 3:26 pm
More rumors from down under…
It appears that the people in Argentina also have their own theories. It seems that MBC’s family is very against her relationship with the Governor and had threatened them to stop back in December. It has also been rumored that the person who leaked the emails is someone in her own family circle. When he went to Argentina this last time, he was hoping that he would get a warm welcome from her family but not only did not receive it, was told to leave her alone.
Hmmm…that is why he can’t follow his heart like everyone said he should. I am sure if he had gotten the answer he wished for, he wouldn’t be here right now. I feel sorry for his sons – not so much Jenny because she is very capable. Boy, the more I hear from down under, the more pain I feel for him.
By shiya September 8, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Sorry Candi. Not buying your story…are you a Sanford plant trying to spread sympathy around? and do you really think being forced to “reconcile with Jenny” because his lover’s family dumped him is going to buy him sympathy? and these are two people above 40 (granted they have been behaving like teens)? who controls their lives? your not feeling sorry for Jenny becuase she is very “capable” is very revealing. who are you? Chapur’s friend? or Chapur herself?
By shiya September 8, 2009 at 3:34 pm
BTW, Harrell has asked Sanford to resign
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/sep/08/harrell-calls-sanfords-resignation/
By SC Moderate September 8, 2009 at 4:05 pm
It absolutely amazes me each and every time he offers a new defense or additional “reflecting thoughts.” His mind and thought processes are becoming increasingly warped and chaotic. He urgently needs to step down not only for the good of the state… but for his own sanity (to try saving what mental stability he has left, if any).
This really is getting to the point of being ridiculous- what more could the general assembly need to make them realize: that Sanford is mentally incapable of leading our state in such a turbulent time for our states economy, education, etc.
If it were a real trial, Sanford would have no problem proving an insanity defense (or at least narcissistic to the point of complete delusion). We desperately need to limit the number of remaining days (over 400 currently) we allow him to use the microphone of the Governor’s office to babble on embarrassing himself and our state.
By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' September 8, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Damn. Just damn.
By Candi September 8, 2009 at 4:28 pm
True I am a Sanford fan, but really more a Jenny Sullivan sanford fan that Mark Sanford. I really believe she is better off without him and can even progress further than Mark Sanford in politics if she chooses.
I just wanted to share what I have heard from acquaintances who have ties to Argentina. I think the rumors ring well with what I have always wondered – why did he do that interview where he went overboard with his professing love for that woman. I think at that point he was still trying to convince her family. If he really knew it was over he would not have done that and expected his family to forgive him. There’s a lot more to this story than we know.
By shiya September 8, 2009 at 4:45 pm
I still dont buy it, Candi, esp if you are a Jenny Sanford fan. If–when he gave that AP interview–all he was trying to ingratiate with her family–then you, as a Jenny fan–would feel even more repulsed. Because he threw his own family under the bus for his own needs. To publicly call his mistress his soulmate–knowing that his wife and kids will be listening–is the most cruel thing a husband and father can do to his family. The fact that you know why he gave that interview and actually feel more pain for him that he cant be with Chapur completely contradicts your statement that you are a Jenny Sanford fan.
By ethel krabitz September 8, 2009 at 4:50 pm
he is knick-knack paddywhack nut hatch insane.
By Candi September 8, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Shiya, that’s why I support Jenny. I think she is playing her cards very well – she no longer loves him but she is not going to be the one to ask for the divorce because it would not stand well with her kids. She has put the decision on her husband. Everyone knows their marriage is over and it is only a matter of time before it’s final.
By tamu88 September 8, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Candi, Shiya! go catfight somewhere else!
I’ll say it again, if the Gov is such a threat to himself and others, you have Involunary Committal in South Carolina. Go find two people who will swear out an affidavit, and have the sheriff pick him up.
By SC Integrity September 8, 2009 at 7:13 pm
I’m such a twisted gal. Like hell I’d let my offspring see me be at the command of a whacko. What kind of a woman/mother wouldn’t have started divorce proceedings even prior to June or IC actions now as tamu mentioned? How can this perversed passiveness make Jenny Sanford appear smart or admirable? What are the boys possibly learning from this?
By MKinVA September 8, 2009 at 8:17 pm
SC Integrity, I agree and must be a twisted gal myself. I think you will find this article by Steven Farlow very interesting. He agrees with us to a great extent about the weirdness that is Jenny Sanford. http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/08/18/maria-belen-chapur/
By alaindelon September 8, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Maybe more and more people are becoming aware of this man’s descent in
insanity and are asking him to resign.
MKinVA: Jenny could have sole custody of the kids and no visitation rights
because Secret Agent man is locked up in a mental institution.
By Willow September 9, 2009 at 5:24 am
You go Candi your rumours from “down under” are just as “plausible” as any other I’ve read IMO. If any one of the various rumours about MBC being in the US at certain times is true then they must have some real heavy duty protection happening becose not even the papz with their myriad sources have been able to snap that million $$ pic!!
By Aprice September 9, 2009 at 1:07 pm
MKinVA, great article by Steven Farlow. Based on Jenny’s behavior, I think she has some profound issues of her own. Sadly, those kiddos are getting lost in their parents’ selfishness and craveness for power.
By george gilbert September 12, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Don’t you people ever get tired cackling about that poor schmuck who probably never had good sex in his life until he met that babe down Argentine-way?
Pingback: Khloe Kardashian: I Slept with Mark Wahlberg | Gadget Look