Posted on 06/24/2009 6:55:42 PM PDT by Daffynition
South Carolina's chief executive isn't the first to earn headlines for acting odd. A look at governors' unusual behavior:
-Mark Sanford; South Carolina governor, 2003 to present: Sanford disappeared last week on a secretive vacation, out of pocket from staff, state leaders and even his wife. He had also once put a "spending clock" outside his office to show how quickly a proposed budget would spend state money, and brought pigs to the House chamber to protest pork he said lawmakers left in a budget.
-Earl Long; governor of Louisiana, 1939-1940, 1948-1952, 1956-1960: Long had an affair with a stripper, Blaze Starr. In 1959, Earl got into arguments with legislators at the State House and his wife at the mansion. He was committed to the State Hospital for the Insane but released after using his authority as governor. He removed the hospital director and replaced him with a doctor who was his ally.
-Jimmie Davis; Louisiana governor, 1944-1948 and 1960-1964: Well known as the "Singing Governor", Davis gained international fame with his version of the song "You Are My Sunshine." Even while serving as governor, he kept his hand in show business and set a record for absenteeism during his first term with trips to Hollywood to make Western "horse operas."
-Lester Maddox; Georgia governor, 1967-1971: Maddox was known for quaint sayings, such as calling constituents "little people," and outrageous gestures such as riding a bicycle backward.
- Jesse Ventura; Minnesota governor, 1999-2003: Ventura traded his pinstriped suits for referee stripes when he took part in a WWE "SummerSlam" event in Minneapolis. Later in his term, he moonlighted as a football commentator for the failed XFL. He also tried to make Capitol reporters wear press credentials dubbing them "Jackals."
-Rod Blagojevich; Illinois governor, 2003-2009: After his ouster from office, Blagojevich joined the Second City comedy troupe for a performance of its show "Rod Blagojevich Superstar." He also planned to appear on NBC's "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!" until a judge ruled he couldn't leave the country while awaiting trial on federal corruption charges.
-Eliot Spitzer; New York governor, 2007-2008: Elected on an anti-corruption platform, Spitzer resigned after becoming embroiled in an investigation into a high-end prostitution ring. Referred to in court papers as "Client-9," Spitzer spent tens of thousands of dollars to arrange visits with prostitutes, law enforcement officials said. Prosecutors ultimately declined to file criminal charges.
Gov Brad Henry (D-OK) left the state routinely in his first term not telling the Lt Gov where he was going. He is a skirt chaser and friend of Clinton and ZERO. Sometimes he would wait for then Lt Gov Fallin to leave and left a drunk Senate Pro Tem in charge. Didn’t want anyone to forget to add Gov Doofus to this list. He also didn’t want to have meetings before noon because he sleeps in so much.
Another flap brewing over Gov. Kaine (D) of Virgina, concerning travel expenses and conflict with his use of state resources for DNC work.
Where’s BJ Clinton??? He did a lot of weird things as a guv.
Don’t forget (D-NJ) Gov.James McGreevey who resigned from office after admitting he was gay. He had kept up a charade, including having a child just before his election.
Who’s the current governor of NJ?
Isn’t he a whackjob?
We also had Gov. Chuck Robb, who liked to slip his security detail in order to receive ‘massages’ from women who weren’t his wife.
What about Sam Houston?
Ventura takes the brain dead moron prize. I heard an interview with him a while back and he explains that he can prove global waring is real because it gets hot in his car while sitting in traffic. (while waiting at the border to escape the oppresion of America)
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a portion of I-75 Georgia Gov. Lester Maddox decided to make the event more interesting for the news media who looked bored and distracted. He climbed onto the hood of his state convertible and told his chauffeur to drive toward the ribbon. Maddox planned on breaking the ribbon with his head unaware the ribbon had been reinforced with cardboard because the wind kept tearing it. When Maddox hit the ribbon he was flipped backward through the air and landed, unhurt, in the front seat next to his driver. The scene was on all three national network news shows that night.
“You Can Go To Hell, I’m Goin’ To Texas” - Sam Houston
OMG!
Blanton was from a town very close to where I live. Buford Pusser was police chief of that town, then county sheriff.
Omgosh...that’s hilarious!!
Tennessee has some of the most corrupt county crime oligarchy's going even still today. And I don't mean just the western end of the state either. Several good lawmen have been ruined who crossed them too.
To be honest about it I'm surprised they didn't get Fred T when the Corrections Commissioner blew the lid off Blanton's doings. IIRC they got her boyfriend.
MS had at least two odds ones too, Democrat Cliff Finch and Republican Kirk Fordyce. In the latter case, he divorced his wife, but she refused to leave the governor’s mansion and continued to claim the role of First Lady. She was quite a classy lady, as I understand it and outlive Kirk. Finch was involved in some kind of criminality but I forget the details.
I think it was Crockett who said that instead of Houston.
Of course, there is past and possibly future Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., who always fits into the “odd” category.
Governor Edwin Mechem of AZ was so odd that the establishment Republicans removed him before the term ended and put in a liberal.
Despite all this, Maddox appointed more blacks to state posts than any prior governor.
Of course, another awful IL politician: Governor ___, I can’t remember his name, the one who commuted the death sentences to life imprisonment even where guilt was beyond doubt. He helped destroy the IL GOP, which had been ill for decades anyway.
Former Congressman Ben Blackburn, a Republican, once said Lester Maddox was the best governor GA ever had, and he may have been, as the competition is pretty skimpy.
Governor James G. Martin, R-NC, the last member of his party to be governor, said he would not again run for anything because the Democrats were “too mean” toward him. The governorship has been all-Democrat since 1989.
Governor James G. Martin, R-NC, the last member of his party to be governor, said he would not again run for anything because the Democrats were “too mean” toward him. The governorship has been all-Democrat since 1989.
George Ryan was the name, I believe.
Jake and C.H. Butcher Jr.
Somebody tried to get me to write a book about 10 years ago, just on what had happened in one decade in a 25-mile radius of where I live. I told them if I did I would not live to see the first book come off the press.
My opponent's uncle was a flagrant heterosexual.
His sister, who has always been obsessed by sects, once worked as a proselyte outside a church.
His father was secretly chagrined at least a dozen times by matters of a pecuniary nature.
His youngest brother wrote an essay extolling the virtues of being a homo sapien.
His great-aunt expired from a degenerative disease.
His nephew subscribes to a phonographic magazine.
His wife was a thespian before their marriage and even performed the act in front of paying customers.
And his own mother had to resign from a women's organization in her later years because she was an admitted sexagenarian.
to give Texas another mention, how about W. Lee (Pass the biscuits, pappy) O’Daniel. Gov & Senator.
barbra ann
I’d say you’re likely right.
Currently, Jon Corzine (tax & spend, former Wall Street bigwig) is the Gov. - more dangerous than a whackjob.
Pappy worked for Light Crust Flour as a salesman, they had a band, as was necessary in those days, called The Light Crust Doughboys, Bewley Mills had the Bewley Mills Gang, and American Beauty had a Stamps Quartet.
The Brands are gone, the Bands are gone, but unfortunately the politicians soldier on.I think Pappy defeated LBJ in his first senate run.
To give LA another dishonorable mention, don’y forget “Fast Eddie” Edwards who is still in jail last I heard. Besides ol’ Uncle Earl, we have the rst of the Long family.
barbra ann
Course, there’s always Bill Clinton.
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