Posted on 06/29/2009 5:16:52 AM PDT by Kaslin
When I've been asked whom I thought could be the individual to lead the Republican Party out of the wilderness, my answer has always been Mark Sanford. His vision for his party and his country -- traditional values and limited government -- has always been clear, consistent, and, in my view, correct. And he has always pursued that vision, as a congressman and as a governor, with a boldness and courage rare among politicians.
The Cato Institute publishes a bi-annual report card of the nation's governors, ranking them according to fiscal responsibility. In the most recent report, three governors out of fifty received an "A." Sanford was one of the three.
So, like many others, I watched with disappointment his confession about his clandestine adulterous affair.
Now what?
No surprises that most predict the end of Sanford's political career. And, of course, we've got the usual, and gleeful, accusations of hypocrisy that another conservative Republican has been caught with his pants down.
But if there is a crisis in America today -- and I think there is -- is it that leaders fall short of standards, or is it that our answers to human frailty increasingly tend to deny that any standards exist?
The most strident accusations of hypocrisy come not from those saddened that Sanford fell short of the traditional values to which he subscribes. They're from those who want to de-legitimize and marginalize those traditional values. John F. Kennedy gave a famous speech during his 1960 presidential campaign to address the question of his Catholicism. Rather than argue that Catholic values are consistent with American values, he argued that religion and public policy have nothing to do with each other.
Kennedy turned out to be one of the great sleazes to occupy the White House (not unlike his brother Senator Ted who, in his last hurrah, is now trying to socialize American health care).
During the almost half century since Kennedy gave that speech, the moral, social, and legal fabric of our country has steadily unraveled.
In 1960, around 5 percent of our babies were born to unwed mothers. Today it is 40 percent.
The pillars upon which our free country stands -- sanctity of life, liberty, and property -- have been eroded to the point where they are barely recognizable.
Since the Roe v Wade decision in 1973, 50 million unborn children have been destroyed. The United States now has among the most liberal abortion regimes in the world. In some of our states, a 12-year-old girl can get an abortion without informing her parents, be assisted by her school administrators, and have it paid for with taxpayer funds.
We move step by definitive step to legalizing same sex marriage. By so doing, we will render our most sacred social institution, marriage, meaningless in the official eyes of government and as a nation will formalize the acceptability of behavior our Bible clearly calls sinful and abominable.
We will soon have a generation of Americans the majority of whom will not have grown up in a traditional family.
Government now claims over 40 percent of our national output, leaving Americans with personal control over barely half the product of their own labor.
And politicians, as we have seen over the last year, can at will take over our privately owned companies, dictate how they're run and what executives earn, and commit private taxpayers to trillions in spending and debt.
In a world in which there is sin, in which there is right and wrong, there is also repentance and redemption.
Mark Sanford's world is that world. Let's pray that he can fix what is wrong inside of himself and that maybe we can still have a leader with the courage and vision that America needs.
yes.
Who cares?
Is this the end for Mark Sanford?
If it ain’t, it should be.
The problem is that even if Sanford could “fix” his inner demons, the American people could never trust him but would instead laugh at him.
Sanford is another anchor on the good ship lollipop aka the cruise liner, GOP.
It should be.
(Although he always has the option of becoming a Democrat.)
If he proves sharper than I think he is, he could follow in Newt’s politically neutered footsteps. Instead I think he’s likely to tread eccentric former MA guv Bill Weld’s path to political oblivion.
As a politician, he is now a laughingstock who can be easily destroyed by comedians and media pundits. The Democrats will love this guy because they can kill him off at any point they choose.
He's no longer electable to national office. Everyone seems to know that except a few Republicans.
If his wife and sons can forgive this skunk, that is noble of them. The press will never forgive a Republican adulterer, so he is finished as a politician. All Republican office holders should know this by now, so Ensign and Sanford were really stupid and don’t deserve to be trusted by those who voted for them.
‘zackly.
“I’ve been asked whom I thought could be the individual to lead the Republican Party out of the wilderness, my answer:”
Sanford is done.
Conservative women will lead the GOP out of the wilderness led by the Alaskan Gov. the MSM loathes so much along with others like the GOP Congresswomen in Minnesota. They have more heart then most of the male GOP so-called leaders.
JMO...
Exactly. Those that usually sneer at traditional values are all too happy pointing out Sandford's fall. Those that actually believe in them look at Sanford and say, "See all the pain and turmoil his actions caused? That's why we stay true to our values."
Is this the end for Mark Sanford?
Yes as far as politics goes.
Not aperson I want leading my State or my Country.
The trouble with politicians is thy all feel the need to lie.
I am not going to judge the man if his marriage did not work.
Happened to me twice.
No the problem is these politicans seem to think that they can have a marriage have a girlfriend and still run our State or our Country.. And they have noproblemlying and hiding to try and achieve that.
Who among has not stolen into the breakroom to sample a
love newton-J.Peterman
Sad, but true.
The Republicans have an historic opportunity to take back the Congress in 2010. It could easily be 1994 all over again, if only there were any leaders in the Republican party willing an ABLE to step up and lead.
As poster “annelizly” succinctly put it on another thread:
“If you will do that to your spouse, what will you do to your constituents?”
The GOP should focus on women seeking office. Good, conservative women could save this country and attract a substantial voting block. Fewer scandals too, I think.
I agree. Mark Sanford blew himself up at that press conference. He looked like an ass who’d never had sexual thoughts before meeting his paramour. He’s a laughingstock who’s finished as a Presidential aspirant.
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