The comments at The State are delicious.

The Republicans are so confused. Governors who should be keeping their commitments to the people by doing the job they were elected to do are resigning; and Governors who should be keeping their commitments by resigning are sticking to their jobs.

Micah 6:8 asks us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly, and as I begin these steps into the last 18 months of this administration, it will indeed be with a more contrite and humble spirit.

I think there is a case to be made that the vast right wing Christianist movement is at its core a socialized mental illness. I suppose if I were a Chinese communist in the early 20th century, I coulda been convinced by that socialized mental illness that these folks needed re-education or extermination. Such is the de-humanizing influence of these debilitating socialized mental/spiritual illnesses -- these mass hysterias.

To quote the minor prophet of the Jewish religion, Micah, on justice, as I have heard many times by these very sick people, and to assume that within the context of a heartless modern American deprivation-centered view of justice, as these ceaselessly horrifying clowns continue to advocate, like blind, staggering zombies with pockets full of corporate cash, is, contextualized in their own bleeding merciless reality, the ultimate sin agst a holy spirit of love and compassion, and to be afflicted forever in a hell. and it always feels like they are...

sanford continues to write these apologies because, like all the othert chritianists, he wants us to hurt like he does. (randy newman)

gbear@10.59a is certainly right about those letters. Only one so far has been even slightly forgiving of the governor and its amazing how many of the writers refer to C Street and The Family.

Maybe the SC Republicans are waking up a bit about their "Christian leaders". Sure hope so.

I don't get it. If a member of the Democratic party, which has no sense of family values, cheats on his wife, he's pilloried. Gary Hart had to drop out of the race, Clinton was impeached, Spitzer resigned, John Edwards' political carrier is over. Meanwhile, Sanford keeps his job, Vitter has no intention of resigning, Ensign doesn't need to talk about it, Larry Craig finished out his term (and was succeeded by a Republican), Gingrich (who had an affair while his wife WASN'T in remission, and left her so destitute she and their children had to rely on charity to survive), McCain (who began an affair after his wife lost her beauty to an accident), to name a few, remain members in good standing -- and at times standard-bearers -- of the "party of family values." Can someone explain this to me?

anything in there about the governor bowing out gracefully

Happy Chappaquiddick Day! It's the 40th anniversary of Senator Kennedy's leaving a young woman to die, refusing to notify the police for ten hours while he tried to convince an aide to take the rap. Not to mention his numerous adulterous affairs before and after that crime.

What? The Washington Monthly is not calling for Kennedy's resignation? ROFLMAO!!!!!!!

i guess someone who loves torture would roll on the floor and laugh his ass off about chappaquiddick...

There's nothing sinister about the C Street Fellowship. The group just believes that "love thy neighbor" trumps the Ten Commandments if you're rich, white, male and Republican.

See:

http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/07/18/c-street-sex-scandal

I love that he doesn't know how to spell "principle."

and left her so destitute she and their children had to rely on charity to survive

democrat - do you have a link for this bit? Thx.

Torture Fan and many like him have not figured out what year it is, and I doubt they ever will. To anyone born after 1975, the majority of Americans who voted in President Obama, only know the word "chappaquiddick" as an vague indication that the speaker is an irrelevant, over-the-hill nutcase.

However, these same young Americans are very familiar with phrases like "wide stance", "hiking the Appalachian Trail", and "we do 'not torture'".

And what part of "Thou shall not commit adultery" do you not understand?

"It's in the spirit of making good from bad that I am committing to you and the larger family of South Carolinians to use this experience both to trust God in his larger work of changing me and, from my end, to work to becoming a better and more effective leader"

What a wantard! At least former NJ Gov McGreevey had the sense to resign and then go to divinity school when he wanted to get all preachy and sanctimonious!

" ...and left her so destitute she and their children had to rely on charity to survive"

I was unfortunate to be represented in Congress by Gingrich (at least to the extent that he has ever represented anyone but his own fascinating and oh-so-important self.)

Newtie's sordid personal life is quite well documented. I went to ask.com and searched on
"gingrich first wife." Here's an except from one of the sites that came back:

"He famously visited Jackie in the hospital where she was recovering from surgery for uterine cancer to discuss details of the divorce. He later resisted paying alimony and child support for his two daughters, causing a church to take up a collection. For all of his talk of religious faith and the importance of God, Gingrich left his congregation over the pastor's criticism of his divorce."

The same site goes on to describe how he dumped his second wife shortly after she was diagnosed with MS to marry the woman with whom he was already having an affair.

The guy is so far over the top he can hardly be called a hypocrite. It's as though he lives in some alternate universe.

The most recent news about his personal life is that he has been received into the Catholic Church, which must be scraping the bottom of the barrel for converts these days.

I am committing to you and the larger family of South Carolinians to use this experience both to trust God in his larger work of changing me and, from my end, to work to becoming a better and more effective leader.

Don't effective leaders need to be able to convince people to *follow* them? I can't believe the South Carolinians are anxious to traipse after a pathetic clown.

Torture Fan, shooting someone down with a gun in cold blood is not "just like" someone dying in a car wreck.

While Obama may not do everything I wish he would do, the idea that he "love's torture more than Bush" is as asinine as your above comparison.

Quit rolling on the floor and get a grip.

Several commenters have noted Sanford's reference to God using/changing him. Be wary of this subtle hint, since it could come to mean that whatever Sanford does is because God wants him to do it, at least in his own eyes. So he gets instant forgiveness and political cover for continuing to do whatever he wants.

And C Street gets to keep one of its chosen boys in a position of influence for a bit longer, although any further political role for him is hopefully vanished with the morning dew on an Argentine meadow.

Also, please remember that the C Street Family isn't limited to Washington, DC. It has established tentacles all over the world and could be far more of the threat than dimbulbs like Dobson and Robertson ever were.

"Micah 6:8 asks us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly, and as I begin these steps into the last 18 months of this administration, it will indeed be with a more contrite and humble spirit."

Humble? I do not think he knows what that word means.

Torture Fan, shooting someone down with a gun in cold blood is not "just like" someone dying in a car wreck.

Capt Kirk, thanks for falling into my little trap. You see, abandoning a woman to die and trying to get your aides to cover it up is not "just like" Gov. Sanford's affair -- it's much worse.

And yes, you may not like Obama's appointment of a torturer to prosecute the war in Afganistan or his incineration of Pakistanis, but let's not pretend he's on higher moral ground than Bush.

do South Carolinians, or anyone else really want a person in power that it has taken 60 years to "learn what matters"?

Does anyone really believe that sanford learned a damn thing other than to not get caught at his egomaniacal foolery?

pulllleeezzz,

Torturefan,

There were many unseemly, illegal and immoral acts which took place in the 1890s. Please dredge those up too while you are at it.

Torture Fan, how did Gov. Sanford get involved with Sirhan Sirhan? When did we start talking about Sanford? Is that first part a reference to Joe Scarborough? Better get back on those meds soon.

Am I the only one who's kind of creeped out by Sanford's Uriah Heep-like repetition of the word "humble"?

"Apology Tour" - good! At least Obama didn't have to apologize for his own misconduct, but mostly what BushCo did for the last eight years (something the asshole rightard dishers about "Obama's apology tour" don't mention.)

It's the hypocratic oath for politicians...God forgives me so you must too. Good ole Bible, a hypocrite's manual in some cases. Now back to denying social programs and the extension of unemployment benefits...send back the stimulus money eh Gov.?

If a dem did this Sanford would be leading the charge demanding impeachment...oh wait. But He's different...it's ok because he's Sanford...he's different. (Quoting the fucking bible at us...showing us his Godly approval...spiritual rationalization...what a distorted hypocrite...why is he even the governor?)

"...sanford continues to write these apologies because, like all the othert chritianists, he wants us to hurt like he does. (randy newman)
Posted by: neill on July 19, 2009 at 11:25 AM | (Good analysis neill)

He mostly wants our approval. Remember...he's not a conservative a-hole anymore...or...wait...I think another 4 or 5 op eds might help settle any confusion. Keep 'em coming Governor...it means so much coming from you.

Must be something to live the drama: God will personally make you better. Because nothing is more important than Mark Sanford, and fixing Mark Sanford is what being an invisible yet omnipotent entity is all about.

TortureFan,

Ha, the name suits you. While we're at it, let's talk about the "torture" the GOP likes to do to little children. Remember, the GOP has a history of being accused, charged, and in most cases, convicted of child porn, child sexual assault/rape, in some cases their own children.

Tell me TortureFan, is this the reason why the GOP is hellbent on reversing Roe v. Wade - so they can have a endless supply of children!

BTW TortureFan,

Wasn't Rumsfield involved in a scandal recently? I think it had something to do with the rape of an Iraqi little girl. I'm not saying Rumsfield raped her, but, wasn't he, more or less, somehow in this picture?

TortureFan, Come out, Come out wherever you are!!!

As long as I'm around, I will never, ever, let you forget your past - since your group likes to remember the past.

Let me know if there's something about you, or if your pix is posted among these sites:

democraticunderground.com/discusses/duboard.php?
**State by State GOP Scandal Scorecard (10/21/05)

-or-

www.theopalinism.com/blog/2009/06/27/
**grand ol party i don't think this is what they meant

Oh well, any-who, Knight Sanford is trying to do what Vitter did, apologize and keep on trucking.

Yes, the GOP like to ask "God" to forgive them.

If if was so easy to apologize, then why do we have so many people in jail/prison, who have apologize? Yes, some crimes is not worth the apology - but, a record for a joint, unpaid parking tickets, or violation of probation for being around another person on probation.....

Mandy Cat - thanks.

In defense of Capt Kirk,

TortureFan, tell that to former U.S. Asst. Atty Johnathan Luna's family!!

Yeah, I thought so. Need a refresher - the DC Madame scandal!!! Nuff said!

Sanford - a true sociopath.

TortureFan, this is the last I will share, because I have put you to shame!!!

It's alleged that former Florida Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough ---YES, MSNBC's host
was forced to resign because "a female employee was found dead in his office." Ms. Lori Klausutis.

At the same time he was divorcing his wife.

This didn't get coverage, because as usual, they were covering Democrat Gary Condits story.

"love mercy" -

But still no mercy for SC's unemployed, I gather.

"...its amazing how many of the writers refer to C Street and The Family."

Jeff Sharlet's book on The Family is now at #8 on Amazon. Amazing for a political book not written by a right-winger.

Here's a great interview with Jeff Sharlet on Fresh Air.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106115324

Oh yes, love, mercy and forgiveness in the name of the Lard.

I'm sure that's exactly what you were thinking, governor, when you supported the dehumanization of the gay/lesbian community whilst you were all out there for the "defense" of "marriage" act for S.C.

Resign, you scum.

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