“To Impeach … Or Not To Impeach”

By fitsnews • on October 20, 2009

“To impeach … or not to impeach.”

That’s the Shakespearean dichotomy currently confronting the all-powerful S.C. General Assembly, which will meet in special session beginning on October 27 – ostensibly for the purposes of correcting an error in state employment law.

Except the ongoing drama surrounding disgraced S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford is not really so much a “Shakespearean dichotomy” as it is a really bad redneck reality TV show, one that is costing South Carolina dearly in terms of its already debilitated national image.

For those of you awaking from a three-and-a-half month coma, Gov. Sanford admitted in June to sneaking off to Argentina to visit his Latin lover, Maria Belen Chapur, and lying to his staff and the rest of the state as to his whereabouts.

Since then, every aspect of Sanford’s administration has come under scrutiny – especially the governor’s use of taxpayer-funded travel resources.

Currently, the State Ethics Commission – whose members Sanford appoints – is investigating a host of alleged abuses committed by the governor, including the fact that a June 2008 trip to Argentina appears to have been set up for the sole purpose of facilitating a romantic rendezvous between Sanford and his lover.

Sanford has refunded a portion of the expenses related to that trip to the taxpayers (a year later, and only after he was caught) but he has yet to reimburse the state for the time and taxpayer resources that went into setting it up.

The battle over Sanford’s indiscretions has also turned exceedingly litigious, with the governor suing to block the release of a preliminary ethics report and threatening to use every legal means at his disposal to remain in office for the remaining fourteen months of his term.

Sanford’s recalcitrance has slowed, but not stopped, the drumbeat for impeachment.

S.C. Rep. Greg Delleney, for example, has said that he will attempt to bring articles of impeachment against the governor the first chance he gets during the upcoming special session.

One way or the other, it appears, a vote related to Sanford’s fate will be held next week.

So … what should lawmakers do?

Tell us what you think …

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Comments

By HE-MAN on October 20th, 2009 at 12:07 pm

Whos is all those crooks in that lineup??? HAHAHHAHAHH
Impeach the bastard!!!

By Ynot on October 20th, 2009 at 12:07 pm

It’s pretty clear the people of South Carolina want Sanford impeached.
Momentem has only slowed where people have been bribed and bought.

Every member of the General Assembly should be replaced should a vote fail after every member asking for his resignation.

The people sitting in tax payer jobs don’t give one hoot about the public that put them there. The public will speak, when given the opportunity.

Meanwhile, no unemployment benefits, no victim assistance fund, people in jail are rotting which is inhumane , citizens of the state are being denied healthcare ,amongst other REAL issues.

Yep Sanford wants to ” restructure the government more.
That means tear it down more.

By Todd on October 20th, 2009 at 12:32 pm

I vote No. We just don’t need to waste the money on this dork in 2010 when another dork will be elected in November. What the heck can Bauer do in one year?

By Commonman on October 20th, 2009 at 12:34 pm

Please get them in and get them out before they do more harm. Women, children, and old ladies are never safe when they are in session. Fine caption for the picture of the Gang of Four, SC doofuses.

By birdman on October 20th, 2009 at 12:52 pm

I know we have a gang problem in south carolina but why put their picture up like that and Sanfraud throwing up signs to the C-Steet homie’s yall!!
Please someone photoshop the photo to appear more thugizied…..

By Wyleecoyote on October 20th, 2009 at 12:55 pm

Look its a gang of Pubes!!!

By Brandon on October 20th, 2009 at 1:53 pm

The honorable thing would be Seppuku…for all.

By Not Sayin', Just Sayin' on October 20th, 2009 at 2:06 pm

When was this picture taken? 2002?

By shaggy on October 20th, 2009 at 2:09 pm

if they out mcconnell as a faggot at the same time, i am all for it and courson as a drunk womanizer too…let’s go for it. Grooms as a gas pumper, thats a given. let Sanford finish his job.

By Tee on October 20th, 2009 at 3:49 pm

Bigger issues in SC than impeaching a governor that has a year left in office.

By You Can Call Me Ma'am on October 20th, 2009 at 7:08 pm

He should be impeached based on that outfit alone. Dreadful.

By George Jefferson on October 20th, 2009 at 10:08 pm

From: Mark Sanford

To: Maria

Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2008 03:09:44 +0000

Dearest,

You are glorious and I hope you really understand that. You do not need a therapist to help you figure your place in the world. You are special and unique and fabulous in a whole host of ways that are worth a much longer conversation. To be continued …

Have been having a few email problems as I am getting email through an aircard at the farm, where access to computer world is more than tough. Please let me know if you have gotten my last two eamils (sic) so I know it is working in getting to your part of the world …

Another glorious day outside. Hope you are doing well, and am anxious to hear about your week. Know that I miss you. Unbeleivably (sic) hard to imagine it has been a week. Please also send your mailing address as I want to send you an insignificant something next week when I am back in civilization that I think you might find interesting given our conversation.

Want to write an indepth note with some thoughts on our visit when I know you are getting these emails. Hugs and much love. M

By George Jefferson on October 20th, 2009 at 10:08 pm

From:

To:

Subject: RE:

Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 01:42:46 -0400

Beloved back to you…

Got back an hour ago to civilization and am now in Columbia after what was for me a glorious break from reality down at the farm. No phones ringing and tangible evidence of a day’s labors. Though I have started every day by 6 this morning woke at 4:30, I guess since my body knew it was the last day, and I went out and ran the excavator with lights until the sun came up. To me, and I suspect no one else on earth, there is something wonderful about listening to country music playing in the cab, air conditioner running, the hum of a huge diesel engine in the background, the tranquility that comes with being in a virtual wilderness of trees and marsh, the day breaking and vibrant pink coming alive in the morning clouds — and getting to build something with each scoop of dirt. It is admittedly weird but one of my more favorite ways of escaping the norms, constant phone calls and formalities that go with the office — and it probably fits with my weakness in doing rather than being — though you opened up a new chapter last week wherein I was happy and content just being. Last point worth further discussion. Afternoon projects had me outside and by days (sic) end I pretty much looked like a homeless person … but in this case a very content one. Enough about my love of heavy equipment and woods at sunrise …

While I was getting exhausted with one project after another at Coosaw work week, you were basking (I’m certain gloriously) on the beach..

Sounds great, hope to hear more about what sounds a great spot.

Will now finally get some sleep and write you a longer note with a few more profound thoughts tomorrow or Wednesday. In the meantime I send my love and hope you know I am thinking of you.. M

P.S. I do not want to raise expectations, when I say I will send something insignificant I promise I will do as I say! It wont (sic) be worthy of bedside placement … was just going to find the movie the Holiday as we had spoken of it last Thursday. Its music was pleasant and made me think of you — its mood and the notion of a holiday (wrapped up in our case over two days) certainly fit as well … (though our visit in some ways for me was as well less of a holiday than it was uncovering and realization of some things and feelings that again are worth longer conversation)

Had also hoped to find the cd of a song that played as I was flying home and also20made (sic) me think of you. Who knows if I can find the music … so all you may be stuck with is a long released movie — and if you put it by

By George Jefferson on October 20th, 2009 at 10:09 pm

From: Mark Sanford

To: Maria

Subject: RE:

Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:24:54 -0400

Sweetest,

It was indeed a long day. I am most jealous of your salad under the palm tree.

Three thoughts in one note now that I have a moment. One the travel schedule is about to get real busy (and this distresses me for the way it may well make it more difficult to get your notes over the next few weeks), two unfortunately all the feelings you describe are mutual, and three where do we go from here?

One, tomorrow leave at 5 am for New York and meetings. Will think about you on its streets and wish I was going to be there later in the month when you are there. Tomorrow night back to Philadelphia for the start of the National Governor’s Conference through the weekend. Back to Columbia for Tuesday and then on Wednesday, as I think I had told you, taking the family to China, Tibet, Nepal, India, Thailand and then back through Hong Kong on world wind tour. Few days home then to Bahamas for 5 days on a friends boat for the last break of the summer. The following weekend have been asked to spend it out in Aspen, Colorado with McCain — which has kicked up the whole VP talk all over again in the press back home.

Two, mutual feelings. I have been specializing in staying focused on decisions and actions of the head for a long time now — and you have my heart. You have oh so many attributes that pulls it in this direction. Do you really comprehend how beautiful your smile is? Have you been told lately how warm your eyes are and how they softly glow with the special nature of your soul. I remember Jenny, or someone close to me, once commenting that while my mom was pleasant and warm it was sad she had never accomplished anything of significance. I replied that they were wrong because she had the ultimate of all gifts — and that was the ability to love unconditionally. The rarest of all commodities in this world is love. It is that thing that we all yearn for at some level — to be simply loved unconditionally for nothing more than who we are — not what we can get, give or become. There are but 50 governors in my country and outside of the top spot, this is as high as you can go in the area I have invested the last 15 years of my life — my getting here came as no small measure because I had that foundation of love and support so critical to getting up in the morning and feeling you could give and risk because you already had a full tank of love in the emotional bank account. Since our first meeting there in a wind swept somewhat open air dance spot in Punta del Este, I felt that you had that same rare attribute. Above all else I love that inner beauty about you. That gift of yours is going to make a tremendous difference in (The State deleted sons’ names) life — and in anyone’s life who is blest to be touched by yours — you need to rest very comfortably in that fact. As I mentioned in our last visit, while I did not need love fifteen years ago — as the battle scars of life and aging and politics have worn on this has become a real need of mine. You have a particular grace and calm that I adore. You have a level of sophistication that is so fitting with your beauty. I could digress and say that you have the ability to give magnificently gentle kisses, or that I love your tan lines or that I love the curves of your hips, the erotic beauty of you holding yourself (or two magnificent parts of yourself) in the faded glow of night’s light — but hey, that would be going into the sexual details we spoke of at the steakhouse at dinner — and unlike you I would never do that!

Three and finally, while all the things above are all too true — at the same time we are in a hopelessly — or as you put it impossible — or how about combine and simply say hopelessly impossible situation of love. How in the world this lightening [sic] strike snuck up on us I am still not quite sure. As I have said to you before I certainly had a special feeling about you from the first time we met, but these feelings were contained and I genuinely enjoyed our special friendship and the comparing of all too many personal notes (and yes this is true even if you did occasionally tantalize me with sexual details over the years!) — but it was all safe. Where we are is not. I have thought about it and in some ways feel I let you down in letting these complications come into a friendship that I hope will last till death. In all my life I have lived by a code of honor and at a variety of levels know I have crossed lines I would have never imagined. I wish I could wish it away, but this soul-mate feel I alluded too is real and in that regard I sure don’t want to be the person complicating your life. I looked to where I often look for advice and counsel, and in I Corinthians 13 it simply says that, “ Love is patient and kind, love is not jealous or boastful, it is not arrogant or rude, Love does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice in the wrong, but rejoices in the right, Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things”. In this regard it is action that goes well beyond the emotion of today or tomorrow and in this light I want to look for ways to show love in helping you to live a better — not more complicated life. I want to help (one of Maria’s sons) with film guys that might help his career, etc. I also don’t want you walking20away (sic) from some guy (I take it the younger guy you mentioned a t dinner) because of me — and what we both have to see as an impossible situation. I better stop now least this really sound like the Thornbirds — wherein I was always upset with Richard Chamberlain for not dropping his ambitions and running into Maggie’s arms. The bottom line is two fold, my heart wants me to get on a plane tonight and to be in your loving arms — my head is saying how do we put the Genie back in the bottle because I sure don’t want to be encumbering you, or your options or your life. Put differently, given I love you, I don’t want to be part of the reason you are having less than an ideal week in what sounds like a cool spot.

Lastly I also suspect I feel a little vulnerable because this is ground I have never certainly never covered before — so if you have pearls of wisdom on how we figure all this out please let me know … In the meantime please sleep soundly knowing that despite the best efforts of my head my heart cries out for you, your voice, your body, the touch of your lips, the touch of your finger tips and an even deeper connection to your soul. I love you … sleep tight. M

PS. I will make it a point in NY tomorrow to drop by a store and get that movie I promised to send your way … I am encouraged to know you will not keep it beside the bed least we have tangible evidence of two pathetic figures missing each other far too much to live a few thousand miles apart!

By Darth on October 21st, 2009 at 9:42 am

So after cutting 4% across the board, these rascals are gonna waste how much per day in this session fromthe terasury that we don’t have so RINOs gonna raise taxes?

Joe Erwin gonna love this one…

By proudofsc on October 21st, 2009 at 9:43 am

George Jefferson must be a state employee-probably one at the ivory tower on Senate-otherwise known as the SDE.

By Lin McKay on October 21st, 2009 at 1:04 pm

I agree with TEE . . . there are more pressing things than dealing with an impeachment, the costs and time spent trying to make it happen. SC needs everyone onboard to move forward. Sanford will be gone in a year and we can vote in a quality new governor and not have to take on the Lt. Governor and his causes . . . If everyone would ignore the headlines and put their nose to the grindstone we could get a lot done in the next 12-14 months but the daily interruptions delay working moving forward. We can live with things as they are now and wave Sanford good-bye a little more than a year from now. Too much time is wasted on paper-selling headlines and not enough on the needs of SC’s children and elderly, along with those without jobs.