Mark Sanford disappears again! South Carolina Gov. goes AWOL

Hey, it must be Father’s Day because Mark Sanford has disappeared!

Just like clockwork, the South Carolina governor has vanished again.

Is he “hiking the Appalachian Trail” like last year?

We don’t know.  We just know that the governor, who left South Carolina without a trace at this time a year go to meet up with his Argentinian "soul mate," sneaked out of his office again without telling Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.

The lieutenant governor, of course, is the one who would take over the affairs of the state when the governor isn’t there. 

Just like last year, the governor's staff has some 'splaining to do. 

Sanford’s new flak (the old one bailed shortly after the PR fiasco) told the Associated Press he spent Father’s Day with his sons this year (a unique twist).  And Monday, he had a case of the Mondays and took the day off.

By the way, "sneaking out" without telling the lieutenant governor is allowable in the Palmetto State.  Although Sanford created a major media maelstrom last year because he went to Argentina instead of going to the Appalachian Trail like his office reported, he wasn’t (and isn’t) required to let anyone know.

That’ll change if some in the state Legislature get their way. 

South Carolina’s 'The State' newspaper reports that a "bill requiring the governor to notify the lieutenant governor every time he leaves the state is currently stuck in a legislative conference committee."

And for those of you more interested in the seamier side of politics rather than boring legislative proceedings (not us), Sanford is still carrying on with his Argentinian friend, Maria Belen Chapur.  The State reports that the two had a romantic getaway in Florida last month.

-- Jimmy Orr

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Photo: Woman fishing on the beach (presumably without Mark Sanford). Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Atlantaphotog]

Living in Georgia and traveling through neighboring South Carolina frequently, I can confirm that it seems they have reached through some odd alternate reality gateway from a sci fi movie when they elect politicians in that state.

You have a Governor who leaves without notice (several times) to have an affair in South America. A delegate who shouts "liar" at the President during a national address. A Mayor in a town in SC who told her police officers to stop chasing criminals as it was a waste of time... the list is longer but there's not enough space.

I think maybe the Feds might need to step in and check the water supply in South Carolina. Clearly someone is attacking our country by putting something in the water that causes people to go "duh" there. It needs to be stopped! roll eyes.

[terri]

And we care because????? Why don't you do a REAL story, like ummm, maybe how clean and blue the water looks where this lady is fishing, unlike the Gulf of Mexico and how the Obama admin. is doing NOTHING significant about fixing it?? Oh, and how about a freaking story about how Obama went golfing AGAIN for like the 289th time this year alone??!! When will you get it?? We the people want REAL news!!!

[RoBoWayne]

Sanford is an idiot. But, he's in wuv, the fool.
Thankfully, the GOP is as against this buffoon as the rest of us.
I wonder if the State gives out the GOOD Condoms for these sex addicts?
Yeah, they probably do.

[Lin McKay]

Now really, is anyone sure he left the state. Doubtful and he does not have to inform Bauer of his movements. He likely has security and he deserves some down time. We do not own every minute of every day of Mark Sanford's life just because he is the governor. There is more interesting news than what Mark is doing. Move on . . .