Too Large for an Insane Asylum?
And, speaking of New York Magazine………..
I live in South Carolina. Home of the first shot fired in the American Civil War. Where our state house hoisted the Confederate flag on its dome until a few short years ago. Where one of our state legislators called our current governor a ‘rag head.’ Where another state legislator called our President a liar to his face. Where a recent Democrat nominee for the United States Senate was unemployed and charged with showing pornographic pictures to college students.
With his mistress.
South Carolina has been a political laughingstock for a long, long, long, long time.
And, we will not lose our inglorious distinction any time soon. That same former governor, the one who misappropriated taxpayer dollars to visit Argentina on ‘business development’ trips, he’s in a runoff for the Republican slot in the campaign for the United States House of Representatives.
And, New York Magazine has been following his campaign.
?
?
?
Without making fun of him or calling all South Carolina residents crazy.
?
?
?
I wonder how much I would have to pay his public relations firm when I have a book to promote?…………..
South Carolina……..too small for a republic…….too large for an insane asylum. – James L. Petigru
Is he The Pope as well now Andra?
He must have quite a few connections to the new pope, Jim………….
Don’t Cry For Me Carolina!
You asked for it……..it’s a bit plodding, but I googled it just to see if such a thing existed…….and lo…….
Did you happen to note where SC came in 6th out of 50 for level of corruption in government?
John, I try to avoid political news on purpose. The only reason I knew anything about Sanford’s run was because it was in my NY Mag. But, that number does not surprise me.
Love this post.
Now that’s depressing. Then again, there are a lot of sheep around, or is it lemmings? Oh no, it’s sheep, the lemmings are just the ones that follow each other off the cliff…oh…wait…
Well, his opponent is Stephen Colbert’s sister. Maybe he will get her stories in NY Magazine, too………..
Oy vey. I hate it when the newspapers let politicians past bad behavior be forgotten because it’s convenient.
The behavior that offends me most was the misuse of taxpayer dollars and of his office. How can anyone who – it was proved – used taxpayer dollars for personal enrichment be qualified to hold office again?
Ahh, Andra, it is sad but true that SC is far from alone. I sometimes suspect the entire country might be on a headlong march to the booby hatch. Politicians and their indiscretions are generally just the titillation du jour, and then it’s onward to the next “breaking news.” All the news that IS the news hasn’t really been front and center for years. SC’s former governor is not the only politician in recent memory who acts as though all of “that” was simply a figment of our imaginations; a former president now revered (by some) as an elder statesmen and spokesperson; a former congressman possibly contemplating a mayoral race: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57574754/is-anthony-weiner-preparing-for-a-comeback/ The lunacy is universal and ongoing.
I joked to someone the other day that merely wanting to run for public office condemned a person’s character in my mind. Now, that is probably narrow-minded of me, but………our system is definitely broken.
Down in Bluffton, there are hand-lettered signs on plywood propped up on the road sides that say “Sanford Saves Tax $$”. The county has been removing them because they don’t meet the sign code. I don’t want to follow politics, but SC forces you to do so. Sigh.
I’ve seen those up here, too, Ruth. I wondered if they were everywhere……….
I thought I was the only person who thought those thoughts about Sanford running for office again. Most of the folks have the attitude that his personal failures in the past would have no bearing on his ability to represent us in Congress in the future. Oh really……. Hmmmmm
Again, my big issue is the willful misuse of taxpayer dollars. And, only a complete narcissist would ask his ex-wife (who even he admitted got him elected to every office he’s held) to run his current campaign.
Narcissists??? Don’t even get started down that road!
Why Sandford is so totally ludicrous in comparison to all other politicians…
“According to Jenny, (the ex-wife) she had already told Mark she would be taking a pass on the race the day before, at the funeral of a mutual friend. So when Mark came to visit her, he arrived with a proposal. ‘Since you’re not running, I want to know if you’ll run my campaign,’ he said. ‘We could put the team back together.’
“Jenny told him, in so many words, that wasn’t going to happen. Mark made one last appeal.
“‘I could pay you this time,’ he said.”
Why his peccadilloes (love that word ) matter more than other politicians affairs…
“From June 18 until June 24, 2009, the whereabouts of Sanford were unknown to the public, as well as to his wife and the State Law Enforcement Division, which provides security for him, garnering nationwide news coverage.”
in other words he was off the job…and costing the taxpayers oodles of bucks searching for him.
I did love that line in the NY Mag article…….”I could pay you this time.”
What a jerk.
I’ve nothing to say. I live in Illinois where one former governor was recently released from jail and is living in half-way house, another is serving time in jail for corruption; they represent both major parties.
It is everywhere, Penny.
We have a rich history of insanity. And unlike other places, we don’t hide our crazies away from sight. We put them out on the front porch with a glass of sweet tea and have them greet the neighbors!
Those big plywood signs of his are meant to represent saving money. But the ones I have seen look like new wood. Try comparing the price of a sheet of 4 x 8 plywood (at least) to a cheap little printed sign. That is all showmanship and no truthmansship.
I’m just going to go back into my hole with my book………..it isn’t depressing there.
Back into your hole with your book … I ain’t even touching that one.
Hey, you forgot to mention the whole Ravenel clan in this post? Can’t we add them to the crazies?
Absolutely.
As a native South Carolinian I admit we are a crazy bunch, but we are small time in the corruption game and craziness compared to my current home state of Louisiana. A state that has re-elected a governor who was indicted for corruption, of course it was in a race where his opponent was a former grand marshall of the Klu Klux Clan. A state where kick-backs and corruption, and fleecing your neighbor are just business as usual.
I’m counting on it……
You forgot our Congressman John Jenrette and ABSCAM back in the ’70′s. Remember his wife? Who posed on the Capitol steps for Playboy? Jon Stewart is probably having a field day with this election.
Oh my. I DID forget all about him. I remember the fire-and-brimstone sermons I heard about his shenanigans growing up.
I’ve lived in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Philadelphia, Pa. Each place is notorious for corrupt, insane people running for and being elected to office.
The town I currently live in is considering a 4 million dollars offer to change it’s name from Sugar Hill to sugardaddies.com. The website that advertises well off middle-aged men and goldidigging women who want to love their wallets. The city council is considering the offer….seriously.
I ain’t saying my town is a golddigger but it ain’t messing my broke blog.
OMG. Are they going to make this into a reality tv show?
We spent 3 years in SC in the early 80′s. I never did cotton to its politics (or to the confederate flag flying over the state house).
I must say that the morning radio shows have been having a field day with Eiliot Spitzer jokes.I have wondered the same kind of thing…how? You have given us some colorful scoundrels, Andra. California’s fall more into the dirty rotten crook category. Not nearly as interesting! I liked Penny’s response…Chicago does have some winners!