Posted on 06/23/2009 12:46:03 PM PDT by Chet 99
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford called his chief of staff Tuesday morning to check in after an unexpected five-day absence, and was surprised to learn that his disappearance was garnering significant attention, his spokesman said.
"It would be fair to say the governor was somewhat taken aback by all of the interest this trip has gotten," spokesman Joel Sawyer said in a statement. "The governor communicated to us that he plans on returning to the office tomorrow."
Mystery surrounding Mr. Sanford's whereabouts prompted some elected officials on Monday to consider temporarily transferring power to another state official. The governor, fresh from a battle with Obama administration officials and opponents in his state over $700 million in federal stimulus funds that he tried to refuse, took off on Thursday in a sport-utility vehicle normally driven by a bodyguard, turned off his mobile phone, and stopped communicating with his office, family and close political allies. Several said they didn't know where he was. His wife said he had taken off for some peace and quiet to write.
After declining for hours to reveal his location, Mr. Sanford's governor's office disclosed late Monday night that he was hiking along the Appalachian Trail and was difficult to reach.
Mr. Sawyer said Monday his office knew how to reach the governor, if needed, though allies said their phone calls were going straight to voicemail. Mr. Sawyer said at the time that the governor was taking time to "recharge" and "to work on a couple of projects that have fallen by the wayside."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Sarah Palin should’ve gotten him a GPS instead.
Apparently his wife didn’t even know where he was. That’s very strange.
Hope she’s worth it.
Those brothels on the Appalachian Trail are awesome.
I think this story is very, very odd.
What sort of person would do this?
Does he hate his job?
Does his not love his wife?
Does a bear crap in the woods?
The Shadow knows.
I don’t think I would have voted for him earlier but then I would have given him a chance now I will not even waste my time. This is not the actions of a man prepared to be the POTUS.
First it was “he wants to take a break after the stimulus battle,” then.. “he’s doing some writing and needs to be alone from the kids,” and now.. “he went hiking on the Appalachian Trail.”
Agreed.. very strange.
“Hope she’s worth it.”
Of course, that is the first thing that comes to mind. But let’s give him the benefit of the doubt on that for a moment...even still, I wouldn’t leave my wife and kids and not let them know where I was.
Actually, if the story is as he describes it, I understand it. When I get that tired, it’s what I like to do and it’s the easiest way to recharge my batteries. I’m not a hiker, but I’d like to disappear and go to be by myself for a week. That said, however, I’m not an elected public figure. He doesn’t have that same freedom. This was not a wise action.
“’It would be fair to say the governor was somewhat taken aback by all of the interest this trip has gotten,’ spokesman Joel Sawyer said in a statement.”
Oh, really, Governor? No one knew where you were and those closest to you are left to fend off the media with conflicting stories. What the hell were you up to? And no, you will NOT get my vote in the GOP primary, should you pursue the nomination in 2012.
Do you think Bruce Wayne's wife, Master Grayson, knows where he is all the time?
All the sudden media attention to this story signals to me that the left is worried about Mark Sanford. Perhaps they should be. He is the un-Obama in so many ways.
Exactly, no one has trouble understanding him WANTING to do this, but the concern is the political naivete that it reveals in his inability to see how it could be used against him. Presuming all that has been said is true and there isn’t some funny business involved that is not yet known. I mean we had Ensign’s feet of clay revealed just last week. Hard to trust any of them.
Going poof over Father’s Day is probably strangest of all.
I would agree with about the getting away thing, but he didn’t even tell his wife and kids where he was. That’s very odd and of course raises questions.
When you’re the governor of a state, you’re certainly entitled to a vacation but you have responsibilities where you should not totally be out of communication.
A missing Mark Sanford trumps a murdered Iranian woman any day, right American Politburo?
My first thought as well, talk about world class stupid.
Even if he was out hiking alone! World class stupid.
Sorry, I can’t buy into it. If his wife had said, he’s taking some time off. Yeah, she said “I don’t know where he is” When your wife doesn’t know where you are for 24 consecutive hours, it’s a bad thing, when she doesn’t know where you are for a week ...
yes, i could probably swallow the explanation were it any other weekend. Fathers Day away from the kids is just weird.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.