Posted on 11/14/2004 6:53:33 PM PST by gab1279
Article is from June, but quite relevant with the specualtion now turning to possibilities for 2008. Thoroughly enjoyed this one.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — For someone who battles big government all day long, Mark Sanford is incredibly relaxed. After locking horns with lawmakers, the Palmetto State's Republican governor spent a recent evening sipping a Bud Light and chatting in a Polo shirt and khakis. As befits this 44-year-old who runs and swims daily, the Dave Matthews Band plays quietly on his sound system.
"We've saved 50 percent on headcount at the Governor's Mansion and 45 percent on operating expenses," Sanford says. Despite insisting that public frugality begin at home for him and South Carolina's First Family, Sanford and his staff know how to make their guests comfortable.
"We're like ducks in a pond," says Andy Marchant, the ante bellum mansion's executive chef, after serving southwestern Caesar salad and swordfish. "Above the water, it's calm and serene. Down below, we're paddling furiously."
Unlike so many Republican governors today, Sanford and his team take limited government seriously. While New York's George Pataki outspends Mario Cuomo, his liberal Democrat predecessor, and Nevada's Kenny Guinn initiates a 5 to 10 percent live-entertainment tax, Sanford promotes the Reaganite, market-friendly principles that distinguished him as a self-limited, three-term U.S. congressman. Sanford aggressively advocated Social Security choice and earned Straight As and the "Taxpayers' Best Friend" honor from the National Taxpayers Union.
Sanford complains that "South Carolina's cost of government is 130 percent of the national average" but crows about successfully restructuring state services and saving taxpayer dollars:
"We made the Department of Motor Vehicles part of the Cabinet," Sanford says. It's now "directly accountable to the governor rather than its own island of government. If it's not working, people tell me." With closer oversight and by offering Internet transactions instead of office visits, average DMV waiting times have fallen from 90 minutes to 15. Letting auto dealers issue new license plates also has helped cut DMV's budget 17 percent.
"One state agency rents vehicles to other agencies," Sanford marvels. "If you just went to Hertz, you could rent for less." The legislature agreed to save $33.78 million by selling 6,000 of the state's 20,000 cars.
Sanford's latest budget increased spending by just 1 percent, compared to the Republican legislature's 6.6 percent proposed hike.
Atop $53 million in assorted tax relief he secured this year, Sanford's $1 billion income-tax cut would slash rates from 7 to 4.75 percent (a 32-percent reduction). The Republican house passed it before Democrats filibustered it in the GOP Senate.
Facing a $155 million deficit this year, Sanford negotiated with legislators and won $139 million in debt repayment. Some allies urged Sanford to declare victory with 90 percent of a loaf. He refused, seeing any deficit as both unconstitutional and a precedent for future deficits. Like being three days pregnant, a splash of red ink is no big deal today. Over time, though, both likely grow into far more urgent situations.
Sanford issued 106 vetoes to close this $16 million gap. The house quickly overrode 105 vetoes. Sanford responded May 27 by walking into the statehouse rotunda with a squealing piglet under each arm. "Wait a minute," he asked in the Charleston Post and Courier. "There is plenty of money for 'pork' projects for individual members' districts, but no way to carve out any savings to pay off the deficit?"
While many legislators and pundits frowned, talk radio hosts loved it. Letters to local newspapers mainly approved. Despite — or perhaps because of — this, Sanford's approval numbers exceed 70 percent.
"Mark Sanford truly gets it," says Ed McMullen, President of Columbia's free-market South Carolina Policy Council. "He understands that limited government is an objective. He has succeeded in changing the debate."
"His plan to reduce marginal income tax rates by close to one third is one of the most aggressive income tax cut plans in the nation," says Stephen Slivinski, budget-studies director at Washington's libertarian Cato Institute. "Based on that alone, he deserves recognition as one of the best governors in the nation."
With the legislature adjourned, Sanford will spend 2004 building grassroots support for his program and asking voters to elect sympathetic lawmakers. Free-marketeers seeking someone to carry Ronald Reagan's banner in 2008 should keep their eyes on Columbia.
Sanford is praised highly in Joe Scarborough's book (Rome Wasn't Burnt in a Day) and he tells the pig story in full detail...
Another rising political star is Mark Sanford, who left Congress in 2000 to run for governor of South Carolina. Sanford and I were together on most fights against our leadership when they backed down on spending cuts or reform measures. Unlike most politicians I know, Mark Sanford has only become more courageous with his political promotion over the years.
This year the Republican legislature in South Carolina went on a spending spree of record proportions. So Governor Sanford vetoed more than one hundred spending bills in one day. The Republican House and Senate overturned most of those vetoes the next day, prompting a response from their Republican governor. Sanford, who shares my lack of interest at impresssing the political establishment, decided to carry two pigs to the South Carolina House chambers and confront his big-spending Republican legislators.
Sanford named the pigs "Pork" and "Barrel," and paraded them around the GOP House for all the members to see. They were, of course, greatly offended-perhaps it was the droppings left on the House floor courtesy of Pork and Barrel-but Sanford couldn't have cared less. He was more interested in being faithful to South Carolina taxpayers than to a political party.
Look on the brightside either of those two young governors wouldn't have to talk about Vietnam.
This would be the candidate for 2008, with Tancredo as a running mate!
It's a real shame about Gov. Campbell. He is one of the top five most impressive politicians I have ever seen.
I'm a big fan of our Governor. He's smart, and has a backbone, but he is drier than our VP. I don't know how that will play on the national scene. He's so calm and in control he almost seems dispassionate at times. I'd love to see him throw his hat in the ring for the Oval office, but he's got to get a little more pep in his step to wow the crowds.
Sanford, and also Tim Pawlenty, are my top two picks for the 2008 nomination.
I think a Sanford/Pawlenty or a Pawlenty/Sanford ticket would kick Hillary's ever-widening a$$.
Add Pawlenty to the list. He'd bring Minnesota to the GOP column and probably Wisconsin also.
Pawlenty would work better on the top of the ticket. Sanford as VP to get the country and establishment "used" to him.
C'mon, go easy on the guy. He's a heck of a fiscal conservative.
Non-southern? If South Carolina can elect this guy, I am sure the rest of the South can handle him.
I still just LOVE the pig story. To have seen their faces when he came parading those in the chambers!! LOL
He knows how to get his point across. He certainly would be a wake-up call for Washington, as Pres. or VP candidate. ;-)
That story is hilarious!
I hope you have visited the Draft Sanford 2008 site: http://draftsanford.cjb.net/
I also would like to share a personal story about Sanford:
I sent Gov. Sanford a letter about six months ago thanking him for the way he runs things and for never compromising who he is or what he believes.
I am not a SC resident and have never given a dime to Gov. Sanford at any point in my life. I left my email address at the end of the letter.
About a week later, I received an email from the Gov.'s office asking for my phone number. I obliged, and few hours later, Gov. Sanford's secretary asked if I had time to speak with the Gov. He spoke with me for about ten minutes and was a true pleasure to talk with.
I have worked in DC for the past three years for both a U.S. Senator and a U.S. Congressman. I am anything but naive when it comes to politicians. In fact, I am on the skeptical side 99% of the time because I have learned that 99.9% of the stereotypes about politicians are true. But, I can say without hesitation that Mark Sanford is the real deal and would be a great choice for President.
Many people are asking who the heck this guy is, but we must not forget that that is exactly what they were saying when he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives and that is exactly what they said when he ran for Govenor.
So did Ross Perot. And-had Perot run as a Republican and Bush 41 not been on the ticket, he would have beat Clinton. Not saying I'm a Perot fan, but it's true.
If Sanford can build an image, and come out strong on immigration (not as strong as Tancredo, but stronger than W) he could be a shoo-in. The 2008 Presidential election will be the first in years where there is NO incumbent. That opens the field wide open and the more interesting and
"fresh" the candidate is, the more people will turn out.
Yup. That's it. Mark Sanford would win as a GOP "Dark horse" candiate for President. Washington isn't ready for Sanford, but Sanford's ready for Washington. People said the same about Reagan in 1976.
Local news talk radio station WORD here in Greenville conducted an online poll yesterday(12/14)regarding Sanford running for president. I think the result was like 73% in favor. Sanford would be a great US President but I don't think DC is ready for him. The beltway elite will "eat him up"
Not that Sanford wouldn't be up for the challenge, but we the people supporting him would really have to step up and defend him.
OK-where do I sign?
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