If there's another sequel to the movie - Dumb & Dumber - Mark Sanford should definitely audition for the lead role.
I have very conservative political views and have always applauded Sanford's fight against "big government" and tax increases. I also applauded his stance against the SC Legislature concerning the so-called "stimulus plan". He always came across as a great conservative leader.
The last couple of months Sanford has obviously experienced stress over the loss of his ability to reject part of the federal stimulus money. So when I heard he was missing, I just assumed that he needed a break but didn't understand why his staff and family didn't know (?) or wouldn't reveal (?) his whereabouts. I asked myself - was he having a mental breakdown?
Well, after watching Sanford's news conference on http://www.wistv.com/ yesterday, I still wasn't sure if he hadn't had a mental breakdown. I am referring to the full news conference not the edited clips shown by major news channels. The full news conference is shown on the above link in the video titled - RAW: Sanford's Full Remarks.
He began the conference by rambling on about his college hiking trips, apologizing that he hurt his friend who spent the night in his basement on dinosaur sheets and other irrelevant things. About mid-way through his speech, he finally dropped a phrase that he was unfaithful to his wife.
It has finally been revealed that his wife learned about the affair with Maria from Argentina about five months ago. Jenny Sanford asked her husband to leave their home two weeks ago. My question is that since his wife already knew about the affair, why didn't he just tell his staff and others who needed to know his whereabouts that he was going to Argentina instead of lying? He handled "the reveal" in such a tacky way - humiliating himself, his family, and the Office of the Governor of SC.
He accepted the job of governing this great state and this job also comes with the responsibility of being available to run it. Being in a secret romantic rendezvous with your lover for days is not in the job description of being governor.
"Every decision has consequences - good or bad". The consequences of his decisions have drawn more negative press to SC and his political career is definitely ruined. But the most important consequence of his decisions is the burden he cast upon his family. Sanford caused a private matter and his family's pain to be broadcast over the world. Now, his and Maria's love e-mails have been published which will add more pain for his family. http://www.thestate.com/sanford/story/839350.html
After giving my opinion of Mark Sanford's indiscretion, I want to add that this family needs our prayers. Sanford spoke from his heart and professed his faith. He is forgiven!
"As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man". Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)
