“Sunlight Is The Ultimate Whaaaa???”
S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford is once again confounding Republicans in the General Assembly by his refusal to follow the script – although this time the governor’s goal is not the advocacy of ideas, it’s his own political survival.
Backed into a corner by the Maria Belen Chapur sex scandal – and the subsequent unearthing of multiple alleged improprieties – the governor finds himself with absolutely nothing to lose, a position that has afforded him optimum flexibility as he seeks to position himself for the protracted legal battles to come.
On the one hand, Sanford clearly has no sense of public shame – as his bizarre, narcissistic response to the Chapur scandal and related investigations has eroded what was once a broad base of public support.
On the other hand, the fact that Sanford has lost all credibility with the voters (and is, correspondingly, tanking in the polls) has apparently given him a “devil may care” attitude when it comes to making political decisions.
“His singular goal is to avoid impeachment,” said a source familiar with the governor’s strategy. “The standard political calculus no longer applies to his decisions.”
That’s becoming increasingly obvious.
For example, sources familiar with the House “impeachment plan” (yes, there is a plan) were thrown for a loop when the governor sued to block the release of a preliminary ethics report – just weeks after telling the press he was committing to an open investigation.
Sanford’s hypocrisy cost him dearly in the court of public opinion, but he did manage to pick up some short-term legal ground. Specifically, lawmakers have now been forced to join a pending lawsuit before the S.C. Supreme Court to ensure their access to the report.
Sanford’s recalcitrance “complicates” the process of preparing for impeachment, said one House leader who spoke with FITS, but doesn’t necessarily impede it.
“Tactics only take you so far,” the lawmaker told FITS. “If you broke the law, tactics don’t permit you to un-break the law.”
Not so, say Sanford backers, who contend their man did nothing wrong (or at least illegal) and is instead the victim of a political witch hunt.
“The House wanted the State Ethics Commission to do its dirty work,” said a source familiar with the governor’s strategy. “Now they will have to do it themselves if they want it done.”
Much ado has also been made about the Commission itself – whose members Sanford appoints. In fact, several Commissioners investigating the governor have contributed to his political campaigns.
Sources tell FITS that doesn’t necessarily mean Sanford will get a free ride, though.
“As far as the Commission is concerned, he appoints the judges, but not the prosecutors,” said a GOP strategist familiar with the inner workings of the agency. “In fact, the Ethics Commission staff has made no secret of its disdain for Mark Sanford.”
Also, it’s important to remember that impeachment and removal from office in South Carolina are political – not legal – processes. The State Constitution gives lawmakers (assuming two-thirds of both chambers agree) the right to get rid of Sanford for any reason they see fit, including hypocrisy on transparency issues.
Stay tuned …
UPDATE: Oh, here’s your “Sanford Eclipse” artwork, courtesy of our friend YSC (click image for printable version) …
Comments
By Lars on October 14th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Most of middle and upper state government is deomcratic. This goes for the Ethics Commission too.
Republicans talk a good game, but in the end, they don’t give a rats ass about government.
By Frequent Flyer on October 14th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Dereliction of duty is the impeachable offense, plain and simple. Harrell et al have fallen prey to the ethics commission findings…so the longer the block on those the longer sanford lives off the public dime. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is kicking in…no house, no car, no money.
By Jonny D on October 14th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Hey House, enjoy your game of Chicken Shit Bingo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xghebqshq1o&feature=related
By Libb on October 14th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Did anybody read Catherine Celps’ editorial column in the State today?
Cause she’s exposing this “impeachment plan” being paraded by the Legislature (and apparently FITS too) as one big charade.
According to former Repub representative Celps our legislators DO NOT need to wait on an Ethics Comm report to start impeachment proceedings. She goes on to say state law allows ONLY one or two people to control the impeachment process. House Speaker Harrell and Senate pro tempore McConnell can call the “donkeys under the dome” back in session and get this thing started.
Sanfraud only needs to persuade/blackmail one person, Bobby Harrell, in order to delay impeachment. And it looks like that’s what Harrell is doing by claiming the need to wait on a toothless Ethics Commission report.
Ms Celps confirms that the Ethics Comm has absolutely no jurisdiction to investigate dereliction of duty or misconduct in office, only ethics & campaign finance law violations. Our state constitution gives sole authority to the House to determine if the Gov should be impeached.
So what gives FITS? Are you part of the charade? I, for one, haven’t forgotten that you were right there by the Gov’s side at the June press conference.
By Libb on October 14th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Oops, sorry for misspelling Ms Ceips’ name. Will have my glasses on next time.
By fitsnews on October 14th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Libb,
You are quite simply retarded. And obviously in need of a lot more than glasses to correct your “vision” problem.
No website has been more critical of Gov. Sanford’s conduct this summer than ours – which has prompted a FLOOD of criticism from the pro-Sanfordites (the few remaining ones, anyway) who maintain that we have somehow been disloyal to a man who betrayed the fiscal conservative movement that we have spent YEARS supporting.
To wit:
http://www.fitsnews.com/2009/10/02/way-too-hard-on-sanford/
Frankly, Mark Sanford has been disloyal to us.
Also, for the record we did NOT attend Sanford’s June press conference, let alone stand “right there by the Gov’s side.” We were actually in a studio across town preparing to go on FOX News, if we recall correctly.
Finally, as for anything former Sen. Catherine Ceips says or does, last time we checked it was a free country and she is entitled to her opinions.
-FITS
By scooter on October 14th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Watching Fox News is like worms eating your brain. Being a guest on there is the same, unless you gave them the devil. ( so, Will, I hope you gave them the devil)
By Mike Honcho on October 14th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Ah, more that astute political analysis that somehow pays the Bill.
The best line is this:
“His singular goal is to avoid impeachment,” said a source familiar with the governor’s strategy. “The standard political calculus no longer applies to his decisions.”
“That’s becoming increasingly obvious.”
Increasingly obvious? Wait, is there a governor in the history of this country whose goal it was to be impeached?
As an aside, the impeachment process is not simply a political one. If it were, the General Assembly would have at least tried to have its way with a few governors in our past.
P.S. I don’t recall you always being so gracious to Catherine Ceips.
http://www.fitsnews.com/2008/06/10/tom-davis-baby/
By alaindelon on October 14th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
I agree with FREQUENT FLYER… dereliction of duty is enough to remove
Sanfraud.
By George Jefferson on October 14th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Sanfraud, will have to be dragged out of the Governors mansion in a straight jacket then he will recieve all that wonderfull help he deserves from the state agency he has destroyed. State budget amrmageddon is coming to state agencies the stimulus money is gone and these agencies are are going to have to take the biggest budget cuts in history. The legislators will have only a few choices to fix this on coming storm. Raise taxes, bring back video poker, or some other source of revenue.
By Libb on October 15th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Struck a nerve did I, FITS?
You were close to the LuvGuv’s camp and participating in the “spin” right up til the last minute w/ the lame dove hunting excuse:
http://www.fitsnews.com/2009/06/22/we-found-mark-sanford/
As for former Rep/Sen Ceips I believe her article was more than “her opinions”, the lady knows the political process . Perhaps your dismissal of her is connected to the “hit list” you and your “disloyal” Gov were alleged to be working on for the 08 primaries. At the very least the Free Times articles shows you two were still pretty cozy.
http://www.free-times.com/index.php?cat=1992912064227409&ShowArticle_ID=11462201080760466
Yes, your “smear” campaign has been relentless since 06/26/09 and that’s what you do best but I can’t help but wonder “what’s it’s all about, Alfie?” Perhaps just one big ole smokescreen for the real story.
By George Jefferson on October 15th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
FITS needs to take a picture of someones ass and put Sanfraud on it that would be more fitting.
By Fox Mulder on October 16th, 2009 at 7:43 am
Sanfraud: Doing something over and over again expecting a different result.