SC Governor reappears...after going to Argentina?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I'll put forward a distinction that makes sense, at least in my mind - I think it's fine for him to go off on a vacation, as long as his aides (at least his top aides) know where he is and how to contact him. So, if something were to go wrong, they could reach him. In my mind, it doesn't matter if the public knows exactly where he's going.

Exactly -- this I'd agree with. The problem is that even his aides didn't know where he was. Neither did the number 2 guy, the Lt. Governor, nor his security personnel.

My issue with this story is that apparently his aides had no idea where he had gone. One question though - did I miss it, or how did his chief of staff get in touch with him?

As best I can tell, he told his staffers he might hike on the Appalachian Trail, which is where the told the press he was. He didn't tell them that he changed his mind and decided to go to Argentina. And it seems that after he made a phone call from Atlanta, he turned his phone off for four days or so, so when his aides tried to call him to tell him that things were blowing up, they couldn't reach him. He left on Thursday and called to check in on Tuesday.

ETA: The family aspect is a bit bothersome on a personal level (who leaves for another country without telling their wife and kids?), but doesn't matter with respect to his job performance.

But it does get to the politically idiotic aspect of it.

FYI: He's giving a press conference at 2:00 today.

ETA: This editorial from The State gives some context (including about the governor's duties, or lack thereof): Mr. Sanford’s great adventure

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

But it does get to the politically idiotic aspect of it.

FYI: He's giving a press conference at 2:00 today.

ETA: This editorial from The State gives some context (including about the governor's duties, or lack thereof): Mr. Sanford’s great adventure

True - it's just a PR nightmare, and I would hate to be his press people right now. This is one of those bizarre stories that tends to follow a person, and won't be forgotten very easily (unless he has some REALLY good explanation).

[joliebelle]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Anyone from South Carolina who can fill us in more?

I live in Columbia, and what you all know is what we know. I didn't even know he was "missing" until I saw it on MSNBC last weekend.

Originally Posted by KSigkid

True - it's just a PR nightmare, and I would hate to be his press people right now. This is one of those bizarre stories that tends to follow a person, and won't be forgotten very easily (unless he has some REALLY good explanation).

I think that this is something that will easily be remembered, especially if Gov. Sanford plans on running for the presidency as it has been suggested.

I'm not a fan of Governor Sanford, especially after the stimulas debacle, but I think that his leaving without telling anyone (especially his family) was irresponsible. I think that he did mean well, but it just didn't go over as well as he expected it to.