What’s In The Sanford “Ethics Report?”
We haven’t figured out “who” yet, but somebody is one helluva poker player …
How do we know this? Well, both S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford and the state lawmakers currently leading the charge to impeach him have both decided to “bet the farm” on a report from the S.C. State Ethics Commission, which is investigating a host of alleged abuses committed by the Sanford administration.
On the surface, you would think “Advantage Sanford,” right?
After all, the governor appoints every member of the S.C. State Ethics Commission. On top of that, several of its members are actually financial contributors to his political campaign organization. “Game, set, match,” right?
Wrong, apparently.
How else does one explain Sanford suing the Ethics Commission in an effort to block the release of its preliminary findings to the General Assembly?
Seriously … this is a guy who has preached ad nauseam about “sunlight” and “transparency” in government – a guy who only weeks earlier pledged to allow the Commission to conduct its business in the open.
So what gives?
Why would Sanford now be working to publicly bury the report? Does he have prior knowledge of what’s in it?
In addition to their contention that the governor has broken no laws, Sanford’s attorneys claim that they are merely safeguarding the integrity of the process, ensuring that Sanford’s right to a fair trial before the legislative body is protected – if indeed that’s what it comes to.
Wait … a “fair trial” for Sanford? In the state legislature?
Come on …
Nevertheless, sources tell FITS that Sanford’s legal team is methodically laying the groundwork for an appeal in the event Sanford is impeached and/ or removed based on charges that were taken by lawmakers from a preliminary ethics report.
“Watch closely what they are doing – it is maneuvering for a showdown in the future,” says a Columbia attorney who used to practice with the governor’s two lead attorneys, Butch Bowers and Kevin Hall.
“Short-term, it’s suicide what they are advising (Sanford) to do,” the attorney said, referring to the rash of negative press clippings the governor received for his decision to try and bury the preliminary report. “Long-term? They are picking apart the integrity of the process itself as a framework for waging a protracted court battle.”
Sanford has already said publicly that he will use every legal means at his disposal to remain in office.
What, exactly, does that mean?
Well, a source close to the governor told FITS recently that Sanford would not relinquish his office “under any circumstances,” up to and including lawmakers voting to remove him from office following an impeachment trial.
“He says ‘dragged out kicking and screaming’ and I believe him,” the source said.
“They’re playing a four corners defense,” said another source familiar with Sanford’s thinking.
Hat-tip: YSC
Comments
By Wildman on October 13th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Sanfraud is guilty as sin!!
By newzjunkie on October 13th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Does this surprises anyone?
By Pat Hendrix on October 13th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
I always looked at Sanford as a spoiled and out of touch blueblood, but not a bad guy. Who could have predicted this disgraceful and tawdry fall from grace? The spectacle of him doing and saying anything to stay in power is perhaps the saddest political event I’ve witnessed in three decades.
Sad to say, I’m enjoying it. The C Street bible beaters are going down, all the victims of their own wandering dicks and love of public money. WWJD, indeed.
By liz on October 13th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?s=11300813&clienttype=printable
Moon instructed Sinfraud to keep the office and continue tearing apart the gubbment he established in South Carolina.
I am not kidding you one iota.
Ya’ll wanna be Moonies?
Watch his church tear the steeple down next.
C Street= Family
Moon = True Parent.
And game changed to Hearts.
Bingo.
By Make it up as you go. on October 13th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Sanford is a Moonie? Oh hell yeah. I’m back on board with Sanford now.
By lou on October 13th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Look at what (Lindsey Graham) wrote in he appropriations bill. Senator Graham is adding an amendment to the appropriations bill that reads in part:
“None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of Justice by this Act may be obligated or expended to commence or continue the prosecution in (a civilian) court of the United States of an individual suspected of planning, authorizing, organizing, committing or aiding the attacks on the United States and its citizens that occurred on September 11, 2001.”
Who is this designed to protect? Why would he do this?
copied from comments at http://www.thestate.com
By Doris Gribbon on October 13th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I can’t, for the life of me, understand your hatred, anger and meanness toward this man. He has confessed his failures and asked for forgiveness. Must he be crucified? Are you all so perfect?
By Reginald on October 13th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Interesting. But really, where is Ginnie Maguire?
By Trey on October 13th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Your photo shop work could use some.
By SCCON on October 13th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Hmm. “Dragged out kicking and screaming.” I wonder if a separate writ of eviction will be necessary to get Mark Sanford out of the governor’s mansion after he is impeached. Now, that would make for some interesting live t.v.!
By ACE of the Basin on October 13th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
This “Blueblood” stuff is way too complimentary for this guy. It also deeply offends us real BB’s. Real BB’s aren’t phony or hypocritical like “Moonbeam” & Henry Dargan. I doubt if they could put all of their true friends in a Volkswagen.
By newzjunkie on October 13th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
@Trey: I agree, but it adds character to the character.
By Claire on October 13th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
It is truly amazing how many of you saints feel so secure in your glass houses.
By Jonny D on October 13th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Fits is just upset that he is no longer in the Circle of Trust.
http://www.bewild.com/cioftrtfrmom.html
By Claire on October 13th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Give the guy a break.
By Cicero on October 13th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I don’t understand why Sanford’s position on releasing the preliminary report is hypocritical. He’s arguing the report should be released only in its final form, once he’s had a chance to respond. That seems very reasonable to me, and I don’t see how that conflicts with his position on transparency in government.
By newzjunkie on October 13th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
People are no more in a glass house than the one SanFRAUD lived in for years! He preached on his HIGH morals. This is what happends when your “Christian Walk gets in the way of his Christian Talk.” Sometimes it’s best to be quiet and allow people to see the God in you for themselves. Nine times out of 10, they will be less critical of one’s sinful acts.
By Jerry Maquire on October 13th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Yeah we will give him a break, once he is impeached and removed.
SHOW ME DAM IMPEACHMENT!!!!!
By ohara on October 13th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Another poster previously wrote that they’d have to send a SWAT team with animal tranquilizers into the mansion in order to get him out after impeachment.
Someone else said they would have paid a hundred bucks to see Sanford tazed after his “just move along, nothing to see here” speeding ticket.
I’d say the LuvGuv has seriously underestimated the public’s disdain & has a lot more to more to worry about than appeals if he refuses to go. I see kettles of boiling tar and chickens being plucked all over the state in anticipation of his refusal to abide by the law.
Definitely going to be entertaining. Who’s takin’ bets these days?
By Bela Lugosi on October 13th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Listen to them, the childern of the night what sweet music they make…
impeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachmentimpeachment
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kHUrjDp0-Uk/SkpgUUY-khI/AAAAAAAAB6U/cMaaU_9c0Oo/s400/sanford2.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYCKh29DLv8/SdFV7UpbAPI/AAAAAAAACA4/1-gVK731X2E/s400/mark+sanford.jpg And it is written King David sayith unto all Roatraions unite as one with me..
http://mariopiperni.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/appalachiantrail.jpg
BWAAAAAHAHHHAHA!!!
http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/haley%20sanford_1.jpg
By scooter on October 13th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
To Doris and those who agree with her comment: I am not perfect. Do not know anyone on earth who is. But, I am not a total, raging idiot either. I am not going to stay where people do not want me. This man has apologized to us way more than is normal. However, he continues to do nothing to help our state. He is a self absorbed, selfish man who needs to go away, and as long as he stays, he is asking for more people to tell it like it is. We do not want him in the state, much less the Gov.’s office. He can not and does not lead. He inspires no one. He is a cheater and a liar. And he is pretty much the worst Gov. we have ever had. He does not care either.
By shiya on October 13th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
I knew it….as this thing drags on, I am very sure there will be no stomach for impeachment at all when the legislature comes back in Dec.
By You Can Call Me Ma'am on October 13th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Maybe I missed this info somewhere…but who is paying for Sanford’s legal work?
By Advocate on October 13th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Maybe the house Hodges rented in Shandon while the Gov. Mansion was being remodeled will be available for the new Gov. once he is impeached and refuses to leave the Gov. Mansion! Bauer has an office in the State House already just across the lobby from the Gov. Office. They can just change the signs and point towards Bauer’s office for the Gov. Office and put an big eviction notice on Sanford’s side of the lobby.
BTW, does anyone know how to reach former Sanford staffer Jim McGuire? He seemed to want to make legitimate changes, then dropped off the face of the earth.
By alaindelon on October 13th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
The noble,decent,right,correct thing for Sanfraud to do is to resign.If
he were a statesman, he would do so.He then can do farewell/ apology tour for his supporters.Most of us are not perfect however we don’t claim high morals and make highly public disclosure of our affairs; we don’t
champion fiscal responsiblity and charge taxpayers for our sexcapades;
we don’t publicly humiliate our spouses and children especially
after they financed our political career; we don’t embarass our political
party and our state; and finally we don’t abandoned our post after taking
a public oath to serve it faithfully.In conclusion,Sanfraud grow or buy a
pair but please RESIGN!
By George Jefferson on October 14th, 2009 at 12:44 am
I the House and Senate dont remove Sanfraud then the voters in this state will vote their asses out of office we they come up for re-election!
ARE YOU LISTENING HOUSE AND SENATE?????????
By Strom's Daughter on October 14th, 2009 at 1:29 am
Hey, everybody!
This is my last post to the blog. I just got a literary agent for my first novel.
But I wanted to leave you with something genuinely funny:
Safe for Work Porn!
http://www.sfw-porn.com/
The video at the top alone is worth it.
Love,
Strom’s Daughter
By shiya on October 14th, 2009 at 6:16 am
I knew it….as this thing drags on, I am very sure there will be no stomach for impeachment at all when the legislature comes back in Dec.
Sorry… forgot to say great post – can’t wait to read your next one!
By Soft Sigh From Hell on October 14th, 2009 at 8:03 am
“This is my last post to the blog”
NOoooooo……
By Jonny D on October 14th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Strom’s Daughter say it ain’t so! But if it is so, then thanks for the memories! And one final request, take BIN with you.
By SC Integrity on October 14th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Well said Scooter. Sanfraud is far more selfish than selfless, greedy than giving, mentally dysfunctional than sane, etc.. etc… Every detail big and small revealed in the past four months reaffirms that Sanfraud at his core is no more capable, worthy or interested in performing public service than a wild animal.
Doris and few others refusing to reject Sanfraud: don’t feel guilty to admit that yes, you are a better human being because you are not as inclined to abandon, cheat, lie, steal, cover-up and repeat. Then you will realize that you and your neighbors deserve better.
And even if you are so low in self esteem just think about it soley from your neighbors’ needs. Do they not deserve better leadership and service than someone 85% or more self-serving? We don’t know or care where Sanfraud goes from here but he has no right to pubic service.
By dirtbogger on October 14th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Lou, he is protecting the war criminals from prosecution for their false flag operation! He recived a peer reviewed scientific report that prooves that nanothermite was used to bring down the twin towers and building 7 on 9-11 in a controlled demolition. They were the first and only steel framed buildings in history to collapse due to fire.
By Libb on October 14th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Folks, read Catherine Ceips’ editorial in the State today. We’re all being fed worm dirt on this inconsequential Ethics Comm report excuse being promoted by Sanfraud AND Harrell, McConnell and company.
By Donna on October 14th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
You nice people who are taking up for Mark Sanford may be very kind and forgiving souls. But who is being kind to the ordinary folks of this state, many of whom are out of work, have poor health care coverage or none at all, need better schools for their kids and affordable colleges for them, and deserve a governor to work for them? Who is being a good leader for the soccer moms who need good public schools for kids and the people working two and three jobs to try to get food on the table and the old folks who have lost a lot of their retirement? Who? Mark Sanford? Heck, no. What is he doing to help anyone? NOTHING! The wonderful, caring people of this state deserve better. Much better.
By El Cid 90 on October 14th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
I know we have a great deal of “Citadel Men” in the state house. You guys remember this? “A cadet does not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do.” Guess that only means anything in Charleston.
Take a hint!!!
By shiya on October 17th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Well, there you go. The impeachment aint happening. If there is no stomach for it now, I doubt there will be any in January. Cowards, all of them.
http://www.thesunnews.com/news/local/story/1120371.html