Wolf Howling: Mark Sanford

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Gov. Sanford & Iran's Supreme Guide Khameini

According to South Carolina's Governor for the moment, Mark Sanford, God wants him to finish out his term as governor. Somehow, I doubt that he got that message from a burning bush.

I find Gov. Sanford's invocation of God as supporting his decision to be substantially the same as Iran's mid-level cleric-cum-Supreme Guide Khameini invoking God as having supported the landslide reelection of Ahmedinejad. Both are making despicable use of religion to support the unsupportable. They claim divine intervention to color their obvious moral wrongs. Both are equally detestable and do harm to their respective religions by their actions.

The only difference between the two is that Khameini should be hung for the murder and repression he has ordered in the wake of his illegal acts. Sanford should be prosecuted for misuse of state funds. Beyond that, both will ultimately answer to a higher power whom I doubt will take a permissive view of their actions.

Gov. Sanford - Time To Resign Or Be Prosecuted

Carrying on an affair while in office - very poor judgment, but let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

Leaving for a roll in the hay with mistress over Father's Day - judgment now at slimeball level. Give me the stone, I'll throw it.

The governor goes off the radar and is uncontactable, leaving the state without its Executive and without turning power over to the Lt. Governor - its time to resign with whatever grace he can muster.

The governor gets caught and makes a tearful mea culpa - cry me a river. Actions have consequences, and while I may feel some remorse for the governor, saying "sorry" does not begin to fix the problem of a governor whose lack of judgment in his personal life held out the potential for serious damage to his state.

Making the trip on the public's dime - you're out of there, Bozo. And if the state wants to file criminal charges over misuse of funds, they are completely warranted.