Sanford Story Takes More Serious Turn

[deminks]

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/06/sanford_story_takes_more_serious_turn.php

Late Monday evening, Gov. Mark Sanford's office revealed that he is hiking on the Appalachian Trail.

On the face of it, that solves the mystery. But this article from The State, South Carolina's main newspaper, suggests some more troubling possibilities to the story.

The governor's spokesman would not disclose whether or not Sanford was hiking alone. And it seems that neither the governor's office nor state authorities have been able to make contact with the him since he left the governor's mansion on Thursday. (State Sen. Jake Knotts (R), whose known as a critic of Sanford, told The State that he first asked the governor's security chief what was up on Saturday "after he heard reports the governor could not be reached.")

(snip)

Late Update: A number of news outlets have headlines up with some variation of 'mystery solved' or 'governor located'. But all of these stories, when you dig into them, have the same basic facts. Which is that the governor's spokesman now says he's off hiking. But they admit they don't know just where he is on the Appalachian Trail. And that no one has been in touch with him since last Thursday. That seems like a lot less than solved.

(end snips)

So, his cell phone is hiking on the Appalachian Trail? That is all we know? It is now 5 days. Wife and four boys have not heard from him?

Link to The State article:

http://www.thestate.com/local/v-print/story/836552.html

[Dennis Donovan]

1. His aides had better get a hold of him, pronto...

His political career will also disappear if he doesn't make an appearance soon...

[sufrommich]

2. My guess: nervous breakdown. nt

[malaise]

7. Ding ding

It's either that or a mistress.
I can't wait for M$Greedia to start hiking the trail today. :popcorn:

[Are_grits_groceries]

8. Send Contessa.

That would be worth money to watch.

They should start by looking for his SUV. He had to leave it somewhere near an entry point to the trail. I heard it had ONSTAR???

[malaise]

14. Did you see her in NOLA during Hurricane Gustav last year

when she scratched her leg? :rofl:

[Are_grits_groceries]

18. That was priceless.

A trip on the AT might unhinge her completely. However, who knows with our little Contessa?
:silly:

[NashVegas]

20. "Fugue" Is the Technical Term

Someone flakes and gets on a bus ...

[ccharles000]

3. This is such a weird story

[Ganja Ninja]

4. How much you wanna bet he was visiting his other family?

His mistress and his kids by her.

[Senator]

10. And/or deciding whether or not to "get the story out now."

Like Ensign -- so that it's "old news" by the time the 2012 primaries roll around.

--

[Ganja Ninja]

27. Or his Mistress threatened him to spend father's day with her and

the other kid(s) or she'll expose him. And now he's sitting around trying to come up with a plausible story for his absence.

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. I don't think anybody knows where he really is.

His wife and staff are spinning like hell so his whole career doesn't go up in flames. Maybe he has been on the Appalachian Trail before and they are using that as a cover.

You don't just look at somebody's cell phone pings if it's not a real concern. THAT is some serious business.

Edit: I despise his politics, but I hope he is okay. I wonder how long it will be before there is a real search started. He has disappeared before so it is hard to tell what is going on.

I'll bet if he really is out of touch with his wife and staff, they have gotten somebody out looking.

[hobbit709]

6. Maybe he's the SC version of former Gov. Dolph Briscoe

here in TX 1973-1979. He had mental issues that occasionally resulted in a meltdown.

[Are_grits_groceries]

9. He could be channeling

Judge Crater.

[KharmaTrain]

11. Hey, Let's Sprinkle Some Tinfoil On This One...

Notice he vanished the same day that the Ensign story broke? Now could there be a connection? :tinfoilhat:

We all need our quiet time, but this is absurd. The more he stays in hiding, the more people ask questions...lets see how our beloved corporate media mangles this one. Either they'll downplay it or do a full Natalie Holloway. Place your bets...

[malaise]

15. Maybe there was a meeting of

The Family! :hi:

[KharmaTrain]

17. They Were Hiding In The Minneapolis Airport...

...reciting their Promise Keeper vows. :rofl:

I thought watching the rushpublican primary last year was akin to witnessing a demolition derby...the 2012 race looks to be a full blown freak show.

:rofl:

:hi:

[malaise]

19. Time to stock up on

:popcorn:

I'm thinking nervous breakdown. The reality of being losers is sinking in slowly.

[Ian David]

12. I'm gonna guess he's a victim of autoerotic asphyxiation. n/t

[MiniMe]

13. Rehab

[billyoc]

16. Cherchez la femme.

and the meth.

[Are_grits_groceries]

21. Those of us who live in SC and

have watched Sanford and the legislature keep a steady supply of popcorn on hand.

This is just the latest and most bizarre chapter to unfold.

[WolverineDG]

22. GOP family values guy misses Father's Day?

Hello? Why hasn't anyone picked up on this? Even if he did want some time away from it all, surely he would have called his kids on Father's Day.

dg

[DaveinJapan]

23. actually, lots of people picked up on that

In fact, that seems to be one of the key "points" as far as how very bizarre it is for the guy to just vanish (without even telling his wife, apparently).

In a way, I admire him. I sure do feel like just bailing on life sometimes, but I would feel horrible not letting my closest family know where I was and making them worry. I guess some folks just don't feel the same way, and can do as they please.

Hopefully he's okay though. Looking at this from the worst possible angle, it seems like some disturbingly despondent behavior if you ask me.

[bmbmd]

24. I go backpacking and canoing sometimes.

And I might just disappear for days at a time. My family knows my general whereabouts, but I am incommunicado during that time. Doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility that that's where he is.

[Birthmark]

25. Something doesn't add up.

I'm not going to guess what, but something is strange. You don't just decide to hike the AT on a whim. It's an arduous trail and takes some planning.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

26. Interesting that fellow Republicans are questioning

what is going on. Could Sanford be on his way out of hopes for the Presidential nomination nod in 2012?

[get the red out]

28. I think he has company

I wouldn't be shocked if he brought Jack Daniels along on that trail of troubles. :beer: