"He wants to tell us how we can lead our personal lives, all the while leading a personal life that contradicts everything for which he claims to stand"
I know, kind of like a smoker telling us all we should quit smoking.
"He may have abused taxpayer funds."
Right again, like taking your wife to a broadway play and sticking the taxpayer with the costs.
Posted by manapp99 at June 28, 2009 12:49 PMI like your framing of the issues. I am not sure anyone would have pushed the dereliction of duty issue hard had it not been for the sexual scandal. I think the public and the press sniffed out that scandal when the disappearance became known.
Regardless of that, the man is a typical right wing hypocrite, touting values he doesn't abide by, acting sanctimoniously and abusing his office when dealing with the private lives of others (e.g. Clinton & gays).
I am totally in agreement that the use of sex scandal as a tool for political battle is a disgrace. There was a time when people knew of politicians' sexual exploits and didn't use scandal mongering as a weapon in the press. I am not such a Pollyanna as to expect to be able to return to those days, but it would be nice if the American people got their heads out of their rear end and realized that what is truly important is what the politicians do for them in their work enacting legislation rather than what they do in bed.
Posted by candideinnc at June 28, 2009 01:34 PMAnd it's also hypocritical to use his scandalous behavior as a foil for vindicating other twisted values.
Posted by onar at June 28, 2009 02:04 PMOnar--not sure what "twisted values" you are referring to. If you are talking about values like equal justice under the law, rights to privacy and the value of committed relationships, there is nothing tweisted about that.
I DO question values based on holy books written by mysterious camel jockeys in ancient times that talk about paternalistic deities that live in the clouds. You know, the ones that consign women to the status of chattel, approve of slavery, and send people to hell for eating lobster? Those kind of values often strike me as twisted.
Posted by candideinnc at June 28, 2009 04:53 PMAnd it's also hypocritical to use his scandalous behavior as a foil for vindicating other twisted values.
As long as moral scolds like you and Sanford exist you are providing the "foil" of which you speak. I'm waiting for the real story to break...Sanford was with a transvestite. That's what they're saying in Argentina, and there appear to be folks following the trail. So don't be surprised if it turns out he was really down their sucking his girlfriend's dick.
Posted by phidipides at June 28, 2009 06:59 PMcandide-
camel jockeys? really?
Posted by Turkana at June 28, 2009 08:51 PMFor his educationaly policies Sanford wants to tack the ten commandments on all schoolhouse walls. That is, he's willing to destroy the Constitutional division between church and state even though he knows this is bunk. After all, as Governor he has access to Bibles and he couldn't seem to avoid violating Commandment #7. He probably has the effing commandments memorized. And he wants abstinence-only sex education. From a 49 year-old guy who can't abstain from women who aren't his wife.
That is, he knows that his position on education, ignoring male and female hormones and injecting the Old Testament into the matter, is bogus crap. So he's not pushing this crap because he believes it works. He knows it doesn't work by looking in the mirror. He's pushing it because there are some holier-than-thou crackers who want to believe that it works and he wants their votes. He's willing to push policies that increase the danger of teenage pregnancy to get votes.
Posted by Bob In Pacifica at June 28, 2009 10:20 PMTurkana--
Admittedly a poor choice of words. However, I maintain my right to express my contempt for the superstitious Desert Fathers who mistook their sunstroke and starvation with divine revelation. The incredible harm done by these fantacists deserves no respect. The designation was not meant as a reflection on race or nationality.
Here I sit, fifty fucking years old. Faithful in a solid, happy relationship for 18 years. But I still can't get married and enjoy the protections I need for my family because of people like Mark Sanford--and because of people who are intimidated by people like Mark Sanford. So please don't tell me to be patient with the president. Because I am being fucked over and I'm sick of the way this fucking hypocrisy effects my life every single day.
Posted by K2 at June 29, 2009 01:35 PM