Well, that’s the end of the guy I was leaning toward. I’ll have to rethink the available candidates now. Palin, Pawlenty and Romney look the most likely to get the coveted Hovic endorsement, but I’ll make them wait a bit.
A couple updates from the comments:
Haley Barbour has taken over the Republican Governors Association now that Sanford has resigned — presumably aiding his (slim, in my opinion) chances at the nomination. (h/t Kristofer)
National Review says that impeachment is likely. (h/t Tommy Boy)
June 24th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Palin vs Obama 2012…..card is basically set folks……
I like Romney but just dont see him winning the endorsement and who else carries any namesake in the general public???
June 24th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
I had been on that horse since last summer… I’m crushed. I guess its back to Romney for me.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
There is someone in this race who didn’t support the bailout. Begins with an “H”
June 24th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Scratch one second tier 2012 candidate
June 24th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Like I said in the other thread, now the South Carolina primary matters again, unless Sen. DeMint decides to run.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Question should rnc steele call him and take him to the wood shed and crew him out to resign or is it better that the rnc dc office say out of it even though it’s a big blow to the party ?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
I found it laughable that some Race42008 people ignore Huckabee like he will be going away.
He is the best positioned and with his Weekly TV and radio shows he is getting the exposure he needs to win in 2012.
He speaks better and is more likable as a candidate than all but Palin. I am not sure Palin is even gonna run. If she does it will be in interesting race.
I know you hate it, but it is coming. No Abe, not the huck-a-bust…
Huckabee ’12
June 24th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
God dammit!
“I have been unfaithful to my wife, I have developed a relationship with what started as a dear, dear friend from Argentina… it began very innocently as I suspect these things do… just a casual email back and forth…” the governor says. He says this year it developed “into something more.”
June 24th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
You Rombots will be happy to know that Romney moved up one place in my 2012 pecking order.
Dang, what an a-hole. FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND he tells his wife he’s going to see his girlfriend (whom she has supposedly known about for FIVE MONTHS). The guy has no respect for his wife, his family, or his state.
It is an important reminder for ALL of us that we don’t know these politicians as well as we’d like to think.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
I personally thought he was an underdog with a good shot at the nomination. No more.
This helps Romney, I think.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Jon,
Yup, circle that SC date, it’s always good for finishing off a few wounded, and maybe crushing one or two on the bubble.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Or Lindsey Graham… heaven forbid
June 24th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
The media is having a field day with Republicans. C’mon guys.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Kevin,
“This helps Romney, I think.”
It probably helps anyone who hasn’t cheated on their wife (or husband).
This probably hurts Gingrich on that count, but Sanford’s affair will be old news in 2 years since he won’t be running.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Wow. What a weak pathetic field the current Republican Party is.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Yet another reason the GOP is suffering so much. The party of so-called “family values”. This is sweet. Maybe we can try to get Mitt Romney to personally perform an abortion.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Even though I disagree with Sanford on foreign policy issues, I do not think that this admission ends his prospects for 2012 but merely creates a brief stumbling block. Sanford was building much appeal through the Tea Party movement and his “walk about” helped cultivate an almost Galtian mythos that still resonates with the libertarian wing of the Republican Party. His refusal of the stimulus money was heroic and patriotic and his admission today was done honorably, honestly and up front like a man.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
I don’t know of anyone who rated him higher than that. I considered him the strongest of the second-tier (or tied with Pawlenty for that role).
June 24th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
“I’ll have to rethink the available candidates now. Palin, Pawlenty and Romney look the most likely to get the coveted Hovic endorsement, but I’ll make them wait a bit.” I do not blame you, I’d make them wait too, if I were in your shoes.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
I think Sanford’s little Evita experience helps Huckabee more then Romney. With Sanford out, the only other Southerner thinking of running is Gov. Barbour. Remember, without Fred Thompson in the race taking something like 15% of the vote, Huckabee probably would have won the South Carolina primary over McCain.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
I only voting for candidates who do not have a penis.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Pruce,
As usual, you are 180 degrees out of phase. The guy disappeared for Fathers’ Day weekend for a roll in the hay. There’s no way this guy gets nominated in a party so heavily so-con.
He’s finished.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Who’s ignoring him? Obviously he’s one of the leaders. I simply would never consider supporting him.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Bob,
Additional news keeps trickling in, keep updating your post!!!!
“Haley Barbour takes over RGA chairmanship….”
June 24th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Gov. Sanford is toast! The Republicans are doing the same thing like the Democratics did in the past just like former Pres. Bill Clinton. Both parties need to clean up their act. I have figured that Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska might be run for President in 2012. Huckabee and Romney won’t get the nominee in 2012. Palin will get the nominee and will beat Obama in 2012. Sarah can clean up the mess in Washington.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Sanford may be forced to resign from the governor spot or face impeachment.
Sanford’s Days Are Numbered
http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZjQ3OWI2NGI1YTc4YTVjNDJmMWYxYWYwNDQ3MzFmOWU=
June 24th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Adam,
How do you know it was not his wife’s weekend with the children?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
You’re voting for Obama?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Wow. What a disappointment.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Pruce,
“His refusal of the stimulus money was heroic and patriotic and his admission today was done honorably, honestly and up front like a man.”
If he is so honest and honorable, where was he on Father’s Day weekend?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Personally, I’m crushed. I’m enamored with Gary Johnson, but of the more plausible contenders, Sanford was far and away my favorite. I’ll be keeping a much closer eye on Pawlenty and Romney, now. I’d have a very, very hard time voting for Huckabee or Palin in a general.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Ha. On Fathers’ Day? Even if people WANT to make excuses for this guy it’s damned near impossible.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
JA Pruce,
Surely you are not serious. A ” brief stumbling block” for a guy with an 8 year affair, who not only lies himself, but gets others to lie for him? How does he campaign for the nomination? By reaching across the aisle to John Edwards and campaigning with Ensign?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Adam,
His wife may have been angry at him. Just don’t presume.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
If he was separated from his wife, as was the case with Ensign, I see no story here.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
These press conferences after the affair has been discovered are getting old. Try this tactic instead (yes, it is the Onion I know):
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/congressman_offers_preemptive
June 24th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Craigs,
I didnt’ think Sanford would win the nomination before today and I definitely don’t see him winning now. I always saw him as a Republican Tom Harkin vis a vis South Carolina’s coveted primary slot. So his chances are not much effected by this…he wouldn’t have had a chance to begin with, outside of gathering a little petering momentum out of the S.C. primary.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
That’s sad. He was interchangeable for me with Romney for my pick. Too too too bad.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
He is in serious doo-doo.
He left his state without properly taking care of delegation or notification.
He does it to go hop into bed with his mistress.
He does it ON FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND!!!
Even if we forgive him the infidelity, can we forgive him the serious lapse in judgement?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
jeb looking better every day
June 24th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
So three of the 2nd tier candidates, Crist, Huntsman and Sanford, have been eliminated in the past few months. (I presume Crist won’t run as a first term senator, Huntsman is ambassador and Sanford is a filthy cheater)
I think the 2012 primaries will have few contenders. Probably only 6-7 candidates, with only 4-5 of those actually being serious. Is that a good or a bad thing for the party?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
If he was separated from his wife he should have been upfront about that from the start. Instead he had her lie for him.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/06/24/first-on-the-cnn-ticker-barbour-to-head-gop%E2%80%99s-gubernatorial-election-campaign/
June 24th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
I meant ‘I presume Crist won’t run as a first year senator’.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
With respect JA Pruce, do you really see no story?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Tim,
Jeb maybe looking better, but his last name surely isn’t. It’s going to be years before another Bush can run for President.
Sorry. Nobody ever said life was fair.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Boy, I really liked Mark. He leans libertarian and is not part of the kooky right. Oh well.
I believe in the whole three of a kind rule so there is one more adulterer lurking in the 2012 pool. I am guessing it will be a twofer – gay adultery. Thune strikes me as a bit too thin to be straight.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Now we know what kind of crabs he was going to send to Gov. Palin.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Well maybe not. Let’s see what Thune does in his elevated senate position. Maybe McDonnell can turn around Democrat gains in VA in the 2000′s. If he can then he will be a hot commodity. And if Daniels can be persuaded to run that would be great. There’s Kasich in Ohio as a possibility too.
After all, in 2005, who the hell knew anything about Barack Hussein Obama?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Oh wow. Pablo Zed is back!
Weren’t you banned for doing nothing but coming on here, mouthing Democrat talking points and stoking trouble on a GOP-leaning site?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
And if memory serves, it was your obsession with homosexuality that caused Kavon to say, “Enough is enough”.
Good to see that old habits die hard.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
#17: In the future, he can still be a voice on these issues to the party, but I cannot fathom a path for 2012 or even beyond. He’s already resigned his spot as leader of the RGA… and may lose his spot as governor. Giving up, or being fired from a leadership position is never a good background to running for a national office.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I actually liked Sanford….not his foreign policy views, but his straight-forward demeanor..sigh.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
More details to come. Remember when I said Sanford will never be president…?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
I don’t know who Pablo Zed is, but he seems like a troll.
I do however think there will be one more big thing that removes a first or second tier candidate from the 2012 race. Be it losing reelection, cheating, an Obama cabinet appointment, or something else.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
At this point four years ago, Bill Frist of Tennessee and George Allen of Virginia were consensus top tier players for 2008. They never made it to the Primaries.
On the other hand, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee weren’t even in the second tier. They were each polling at 2% or worse.
The field for 2012 will sort itself out just fine without us worrying too much about it.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
#55:
I agree. I also think that a someone no one is talking about will be the center of intense speculation sometime in 2011 ala Fred Thompson in 2007.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Crist and Huntsman were third tier (“All Others”), in my opinion.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
57,
I still say to watch out for Kasich and McDonnell. They have the cultural appeal and come across as intelligent enough to capitalize on Obama fatigue that will manifest itself over the next couple of years.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
“I also think that a someone no one is talking about will be the center of intense speculation sometime in 2011 ala Fred Thompson in 2007.”
That would be me………..
June 24th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
I am with you 100% Brett. It is truly ridiculous… This news has a HUGE impact on the 2012 race.
Huck wins Iowa and SC and he is the Republican nominee.
Remember, he won Iowa last time and lost to McCain by 3% in SC (with 30% of the vote) the last time.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Sanford and his wife were not separated. They’ve been in counseling for months. The affair has also only been going on for a year. He’s known the woman for eight years, but the relationship has been romantic for only about a year, according to Sanford.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
#60:
Oh what the hell, I don’t know, Dick Cheney! He has his memoirs coming out in 2011 and there is no real defense conservative in the race. There, my wild card for the 2011-2012 horse race is former Vice President Dick Cheney.
A guy can dream…
June 24th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Well I am officially in the market again for a 2012 candidate. If his wife cannot trust him then I and most voters cannot trust him.
Can’t we draft Jeb?
Or perhaps clone Fred Thompson?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Kavon,
I still don’t see how Huckabee will ever win a single blue state in a GOP primary. He isn’t going to win the NH primary and so long as there is at least one other candidate in the running, Huck is never going to win the delegates of NY, NJ, IL, CT, MA, ME, VT, CA, IL or PA.
I just can’t see a situation where Huck ever gets enough delegates to win the GOP nominatio.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
59. Bob McDonnell will have been a governor for only a year and a half (if he announces in Mid 2011). That’s not enough, and he probably won’t even win. Kasich will have been a governor for less than a year!
June 24th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
This is too bad, Sanford was my second choice after Romney.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I’m not sure anyone’s ignoring Huckabee. I’ve had him as the most likely nominee for weeks now. Mitt Romney couldn’t win the South Carolina primary against Susan Collins, and he only has a chance in Iowa if Palin runs, and Pawlenty decides to go the “hey, I hang out with James Dobson’s wife and she’s a cool chick” evangelical route.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
“I believe in the whole three of a kind rule so there is one more adulterer lurking in the 2012 pool. I am guessing it will be a twofer – gay adultery. Thune strikes me as a bit too thin to be straight.”
Was Lindsey Graham on the 2012 list?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
#63,
Dick Cheney in 2012 would be fantastic and I don’t think that it is completely out of the question. GRAVITAS!!!!!!
June 24th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
MIKE STEELE SHOULD call and ask Staford to resign as Gov!!! No later then Friday tell staford!
June 24th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
#70,
I am uncertain that he can convince the electorate about his health. How many heart attacks has he gone thru? Four? Five?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Kevin,
Well. Maybe 2016. They’d still be viable VP picks.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
My candidates are Palin, then Barbour. Everyone else — no thanks. Romney and Huckster are tried and failed.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
I’d vote for Dick Cheney, but I feel certain the only thing that can come out of a Cheney nomination is four more years of Obama.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Mike Huckabee was an anomaly of the 2008 primary. Evangelical voters ported at his shore because there was no where else for them to go (aside from Fred and Mitt – but this is through their eyes). This time those voters have options and Mike is just a tad too bitter about 2008. I think that too often we (myself included) view 2012 through the prism of 2008. The two cycles have very different dynamics and variables at play.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Adam,
Huck could win PA easy; anti-free trade, industrial (formerly industrial), unionized, with a strong socially conservative GOP. PA is right in Huck’s wheelhouse to break into the North; if he gets that, all bets off are off in terms of where he could make inroads.
CA and NY are other Northern states with GOP’s that are unusually conservative (even socially conservative) given the blue-leanings of their states.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
I am surprised that no one here has suggested, to this point, that Sanford rejected Obama’s stimulous package because he had one of his own. And like Obama’s, we’ll all be paying for this one for years as well.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
#63, Dick Cheney….haha wow. You’d be looking at a 1984-ish blow out there. (in favor of Obama). In the general election, Cheney could probably win his home state of Wyoming, and the bordering states of Idaho and Utah. Beyond that, I don’t think there’s any other states he could win, except for maybe some random southern states.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
#65:
Here is a plausable scenario for Huckabee getting the nomination.
He wins Iowa like last time, places respectable in New Hampshire, wins South Carolina, gets at least 2nd place in Florida, and runs the table in the South, the Border States, and in the Great Plains on Super Tuesday. The main place for Huckabee to make a breakthrough is in Illinois. Down state Illinois is relatively conservative, and more Republicans live there then do in Chicago. If Huckabee can win Illinois, he will be in a position to play well in places like Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Heck, in 2008 he performed respectable in Wisconsin.
Combine those Midwest states with the South and the Great Plains, and you get yourself a Huckabee nomination.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Miller,
I agree with Adam…I have a hard time seeing Huck winning a one-on-one matchup with Romney. There are just too many blue states where Romney wouldn’t have to break a sweat to win against him in my opinion.
However, I have a tough time seeing Romney winning a one-on-one matchup with either Palin or Pawlenty.
It seems that our two candidates are the two most balanced for the purposes of a primary (the general election is a different story) in the sense that they can compete in nearly every state given the state of the party now.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Only if the party has a death wish.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Not to brag… but I called it when it was made known that he was in ARgentina. Sorry folks, but we GOP need to do better than this. Some here thought I was blowing smoke. Looks like I was spot on.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
I believe Sanford will survive this in S.C. However if he used one dime of tax payer money to fund any trips to Argentina then not so much.
June 24th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
I can’t, for the life of me, figure out why Barbour appeals to people. He’s not much of a fiscal conservative (if we take the word of fiscal watchdog groups like CATO), he doesn’t seem like a “man the battlements for Christian Civilization” type…what am I missing? As best as I can tell, Pawlenty is more conservative than Barbour on basically every score (except, again, for that silly ethanol). Or does the indescipherable Southern drawl give him defacto credibility with the base?
June 24th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Air, then Obama will haveanother 4. Pali her self… is less than perfect in the morality department. Some here think it’s not true. But research tells me it is.
Obama will cream Palin.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Pruce,
Cut it out. There are going to be impeachment proceedings brought against him according to the sources.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
#79:
A Dick Cheney run for the Republicans is like a run by Ted Kennedy for the Democrats. Party faithful would love it, but no one else would.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Tommy, did you even read what I wrote? …”not so much.” If he used tax money to travel, he is done.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
MWS. don’t be so quick on the ‘husband’ comment.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Folks, you have to remember that the calendar will be radically different in 2012. Michigan and FL will be held much later. California will be in May. New York, NJ, PA will be in March or even later. IL, CT, etc…, are all going to go back to their original later dates because there is no Dem Primary in 2012.
What we will have in 2012 is IA, NH, NV, and SC followed by (most likely) “Pod I” consisting of ND, SD, NE, ID, WY, MT, NM, WV, VT, and ME.
So Huck wins IA, Romney wins NH & NV, and Huck wins SC. Huck has “Big Mo” coming out of the early states and wins 6-7 states of Pod I and becomes the defacto GOP nominee.
It really isn’t that hard to imagine.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Matthew,
I just don’t see it. Huckabee’s Catholic problem has been talked about at length. I also think there is something else to it. Once a state goes solid blue, I think the GOP electorate starts to think more pragmatically about how it can win. There’s a reason Huckabee didn’t catch fire anywhere else but in crimson red territory last time around. That reputation is not going to be easily changed. Huckabee only got 11 percent in CA and NH. And both of those states held elections when Huck had a plausable path to victory.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Cheney? Have you guys lost your minds? If there’s anyone who’s done more damage to the GOP than Bush, it’s his VP, Lord Vader, er, Cheney.
How can you guys even trust him anymore? Anyone read 1984? Seriously…
June 24th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Anon. Sarugh needs to clean up her own mess in her own household before she can clean up anywhere else.
Just saying she’s not as pure as the alaksan snow, ya know.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Sanford… What a dissapointment!!!
June 24th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
June 24th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
#92:
Iowa is not crimson red. Bush lost there in 00, barely won it in 04, and McCain got beat pretty handily in 08. If anything, Iowa is purplish-blue. Huckabee won there.
Remember, Huckabee ran a shoe-string campaign during the primaries. He didn’t have the money to create organizations in a ton of states at once. He had to concentrate his resources in one or two areas at a time. That won’t be the case in 2012. Huck will have much deeper pockets next time, and he’ll be able to afford to compete in places where he was a non-factor this time.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Some of my sources tell me that Mitt was being unfaithful with this girl in kansas, I hope it isn’t true knickers.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
“I believe Sanford will survive this in S.C. However if he used one dime of tax payer money to fund any trips to Argentina then not so much.”
He left the state without a protocol in place for decision making in his absence, lied to everyone about where he was going, and never checked back in. Had an emergency happened in South Carolina on Friday, there would have been NO decision making tree, all because Mark Sanford was galavanting about the coast of Argentina with his mistress.
While I wasn’t in favor of the Clinton impeachment and don’t think Senator Ensign should have to resign, there needs to at least be an investigation into what happened last week. The governor did put SC in a dangerous place.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
74 Your princess failed too, or were you not paying attention to the last election?
June 24th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
i dont think the public cares as much as the pundits
June 24th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
97,
True, but Iowa is one of the few exceptions. Also it’s a special case because McCain was so anti-ethanol and that was a big deal in the campaign there.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
#96:
That assumes that it will be a one-on-one race. If anything it will probably be at least a three or maybe four way race. Since some Republican primaries are winner-take-all and others are proportional or some combination of both, the delegate math could get interesting. Huck may not need more then 30-35% to win an entire state’s delegates, which could give him the nomination.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
You can tell yourself whatever you’d like to believe Adam. People who hated John McCain said similar things to make themselves feel better the last time.
If Huck wins IA and SC, he’s the nominee. It really is that simple.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Adam,
If you have the time, I’d point you to some of the Michigan primary polls right after Huck’s surge in December of 2007; he was leading them. And it’s not like Michiganders suddenly found out, a month later, that Huck was a Southern pastor. But, there’s a certain region of “blue states”, particularly in the rust-belt, that has a particular affinity for pro-union, blue-collar, socially conservative Republicans. Remember that NEA endorsement Huck nabbed, which was the first endorsement of a Republican in a primary, in the org’s history? Well it came in secular, bluish New Hampshire.
I’m not saying Huck doesn’t have his work cut out for him, shedding some of the regional stereotypes that attached to him as the campaign progressed. But, Huckabee is the best politician in the GOP. Palin is the most natural talent, but she’s unrefined. Romney is refined, with awful instincts. Huck’s polished and charismatic, and will have many more millions in his coffers next go around. You’d be surprised at what he could accomplish; the guy’s had me, Huck-detractor though I am, in tears at times.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
What gets into these guys?
Raging hormones, I guess.
What a stinkin shame. Beautiful wife and family,great potential as presidential nominee, good reputation , and blows it all for a roll in the sheets.
Well, better we find these things out now than after a person is nominated!
June 24th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Sam, well you know it’s not true! I have a name. do you? Romney has too much to lose that he holds dear should he have an affair. It’s not in his nature.
But heck, give me the name of the person he had an affiar with, and I’ll be glad to do the research on it! And I’ll be fair too. I hold romney to the same standards I hold any politican.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Well it’s all guesswork at this point. But it’s clear that there is definitely a ceiling to the support that Huck can possibly get in many states across the country, particularly in the Northeast, Great Lakes, and West Coast.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
He won’t win CA, UT, NV, Huck is not going to win, and I and others will work overtime to ensure a slamming defeat of Huckles the clown.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
91 – but Romney won ND, ME, WY, and MT. I also see him probably doing well in NM and ID, he got more votes in WV than Huckabee until the McCain ploy of having his supporters switch to Huckabee to oust Romney, and who knows how VT will swing. Things of course may change, but the only Pod I state I see going Huckabee’s way is SD and possibly NM.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Get, Romney also came in second in CA, gleaning so many more votes than huckabee. I can’t see huckabee winning anything in the west. WE don’t trust nor like him out here. Even Rick warren would not be able to save huck.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
NM won’t go Huck.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
I have a name too it’s a very close business partner and I am not in the liberty of disclosing the information at this point.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Man, what a loser.
Ensign, Sanford… who’s next? Idiots like that are killing our party’s chances at turning things around in 2010.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Matt,
I don’t disagree with you on the MI polls. But I just wonder if Huckabee was ever in a serious position to win Michigan. He had the buzz because he “slayed the dragon” in Iowa. But once people tuned in and actually voted and figured out what Huck was about, he only got 16 percent of the vote. It seems to me that gravity just takes hold when push comes to shove. To me it’s kind of like general election polling in NJ. The GOP is always competitive until the state’s voters find out that our candidates aren’t liberal. Then they go with the liberal.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Kavon,
Can’t see your logic, even using your numbers. Winning IA and SC, while Romney wins NH and NV, hardly provides ” Big Mo” to anybody. Buy Romney winning ND,SD,NE,ID,WY,MT WV and Me, certainly does provide a degree of momentum, before MI and FL, which Mitt will probably also win ( with Crist’s help this time). Then , on to NY, N.J, and CAL. Who wins there , Kavon, Romney or Huck?
June 24th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Our country is doomed, if folks like Palin, Huck, sandford, newt, ensign are the best and the brightest of what we’ve got to offer. We can and should want to do better. But instead, we get mired in these ‘do as I say, not as I do’ types.
Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll take my chances elsewhere.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Adam,
Come on…try to remember the 2008 race…McCain was never competitive in Iowa; in fact, he was pretty much washed up before being competitive in Iowa became relevant. Huck’s competition in Iowa was Romney and his millions and Fred! and his buzz; and he shellacked both.
Oh, as an aside, about 50% of the Democrats I know (in deep blue NJ) think Huck is the anti-Christ; the other 50% think he’s the only sane and reasonable Republican alive. Regionalism only goes so far when you have a compelling and coherent (if mostly awful) economic message.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
#111:
Huckabee almost won the Washington State caucuses against McCain. He lost by something like 3%, the same day he beat McCain in Louisiana and clobbered him in Kansas.
If there is anything we should have learned from 08 it is don’t underestimate contenders we don’t like. You all may dislike Huckabee, but respect the man’s political talent.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
118,
No doubt. But how evangelical is the GOP in Iowa compared to, say, NJ or CA? All I am saying is that once you take Huck away from the evangelicals (and he did a great job among evangelicals) he crashed and burned over and over again.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
118 – Come on, we know what happened in Iowa was a special circumstance. A lot of “first-time voters” voting on one issue en-masse due to strong Sunday morning endorsements.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Jonathan,
A caucus is totally different than a primary. I don’t think that Romney has any great strength in Minnesota because he won the caucus there. I just think it’s an apples to oranges comparison.
And Matthew,
Of those 50 percent that think Huck is the only sane Republican, how many will STILL think that after a GOP opponent talks about “arrogant bunker mentality” and a free ride for illegals and big time fiscal irresponsibility. Maybe that 50 percent has such a high opinion of Huck because no one bothered to cut him down, because no one took him seriously after SC, and especially FL.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Every successive primary is affected by the outcome of the one before it, and SC has proved to be the definitive primary in every GOP race for three decades.
Listen, I am not saying that Huckabee is the favorite for 2012. But anyone who discounts his chances out of hand is either kidding themselves or shilling on behalf of another candidate.
Huck has just as much chance to win the nomination as Sarah Palin or Mitt Romney. Newt will also be a major factor if he decides to run.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Agreed. And there are only so many states where Evangelical preching can put a candidate over the top. And none of them are in the Northeast, or West in states with many delegates.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Rudy reacts to Sanford Affair:
“Tell the truth. Just tell the truth. You’re human. You make terrible mistakes. You commit sins. Think of it from a religious point of view. He’s a religious man. The whole Christian religion is about salvaation and redemption and it’s for real. And I really believe that. He really believes that….It doesn’t help. Sure, I’m sure it hurts to some extent. I don’t think that was the critical factor…. when it happens, it’s more harmful when it is years later.”
June 24th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
This definately kills his chance at a national political career, but in a way this almost makes Sanford look good, as this was the only explaination for his bizarre behavior that DIDN’T make him look like an unbalanced loon.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Kavon,
I’ll concede that it is possible that Huck wins. But it will only happen after a highly contested and drawn out primary contest, simply because too many areas of the country don’t like the kind of candidate he is.
Maybe Huck can run the table in the South and the Great Plains states and pick off a few extra goodies here or there. But he is never going to win just about everywhere, all across the country like George Bush did in 2000 against McCain.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Knickers, your so-called “research” on Gov Palin is total crap. I don’t believe it happened, not for a moment. Perhaps you’d be willing to actually send me your “proof” this time. If it’s credible, I’ll even post it for you and give you the appropriate credit. If you need the email address again, it’s richard.murray.001@gmail.com. There are honest arguments to be used against Gov Palin, but this isn’t one of them. I’m serious.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Exactly right.
The truth is, in reality, the exact opposite of this.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
#122:
” A caucus is totally different than a primary.”
Exactly, and that is Romney’s big weakness. He did very well in caucuses in places that his supporters now say are slam dunks for him. North Dakota was a caucus, Montana was a caucus, same with CO and all but 3 of Romney’s wins. Ron Paul got in the double-digits in both ND and MT, and got delegates as a result, but no one in their right mind ever thought he could get the nomination.
Huckabee did better in primaries then Romney did, at least by the number of states he won. Huckabee won 5 primaries: Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. Romney won only 3 primaries; Massachusetts, Michigan and Utah. Who is to say that Romney has all this great strength when he was more dependent on caucuses then Huckabee? Just asking.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I too was beginning to warm up to Sanford, the only thing holding me back was his Obama-esque stance on terrorism. Even though we still have 2 years before the race really gets going, Pawlenty is now the clear #1 on my list. I can’t support Romney because I don’t trust him and I can’t support Newt, Palin or Huckabee because of their extreme views on social issues.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
129 – So the pastor networks were in fact attempting to suppress support for Huckabee and instead bring out support for Romney? Sounds ridiculous on its face, but please explain how the “exact opposite” happened.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Just saw the news and I know everyone wants my $.02.
* Talking about cheney running is stupid.
* have a hard time seeing Jeb run but not out of the realm of possibility–but close.
* Sanford is TOAST. This is the GOP primary–not the democratic one. Wonder what the legal grounds for impeachment are but bet he resigns. Any yes, that CLEARLY helps Huckabee. Basically hands him SC if he runs.
NOW FOR HUCKABEE: I utterly DESPISE the *#! That said, of course he stands a good chance of winning the nomination. But I still like Romney’s chances in a head to head contest–for all the reasons discussed a hundred times. This includes that Romney would get his share of conservatives and, I believe, the moderate and independent vote–including many in the GOP who are just too uncomfortable with Huck’s mix of religion and politics as well as his divisiveness.
* The if huck wins Iowa and SC its over is simply asinine. Without Sanford of course he probably wins those 2 and Romney would know that going in and wouldn’t even bother in those 2 states but with the remaining 48! And he would have the $ to do it as well as the (projected) wins in other states. Iowa and SC would be simply expected and hardly news.
Sanford is a gift to huckabee. The only thing that will be a blow is if Palin runs (and, for some reason, I don’t believe she is but i am probably the only one on the planet who thinks that).
Got to go.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
130,
And on the flip side of that, Romney was only 3 points behind Huck in the Huck stronghold of Georgia. Romney also came pretty close to winning Missouri. And he did better, in many cases, than Huck did in the FL panhandle. LA is a different story because it was held after 2/5.
So Huck only barely edged Romney, in many cases, in his own and only geographic base. That is at least as much of a weakness as Romney winning caucus states.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Iowa has a traditional caucus. They are repeat voters/Republican activists who gather in small groups.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
134 – Not to mention Huck wasn’t exactly strongly competitive outside his region, while Romney was, even though he didn’t win.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
The Iowa caucus can be thought of more as a primary than caucuses of other states.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
#134:
But again, we can’t factor out the McCain voters. They really had no second choice since their man won. Sen. McCain got roughly a 1/3 of the vote in all those states, enough to make or break any candidate. With another candidate (or 2 or 3) in the race, who knows how they will break? Or, for that matter, if Romney and Huckabee can hold onto the voters they won in 08.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Obama’s thugs could be in the blackmailing mood, knocking off Republicans who get in his way. He did it to win his Senate seat. First Ensign now Sanford, I don’t believe in conspiracies but it sound suspicious that they both gave out way too much info about their affairs.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Bags:
Sarah Palin will run in 2012. Her poll numbers are just too damned good. According to the PEW poll released yesterday Palin has a 73% favorability rate among Republicans while Romney stands only at 57%
84% of white evangelical Republicans and 80% of conservative Republicans give her high marks.
And 62% of moderate Republicans now favor Palin
And the day before PPP came out showing that 83% of conservative Republicans find favor with Sarah Palin and 61% of moderate Republicans favor her.
In contrast Romney was favored by 69% of conservatives and 53% of moderate Republicans
June 24th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
140 – Romney has his work cut out for him with those numbers but I believe he’s up to the task. Time will tell, though.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Jonathan,
No disagreement there. There’s no way of knowing.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Crazy!
We are getting like 500 hits a minute off of Google right now because we are one of the top ranked results for pictures of Jenny Sanford.
Nice to know that I am getting my money’s worth from my monthly hosting dues… If you are experiencing some slowness navigating the site right now, this is why.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
“this almost makes Sanford look good, as this was the only explaination for his bizarre behavior that DIDN’T make him look like an unbalanced loon.”
Actually, I’d have more respect for him if he was just an unbalanced loon.
June 24th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
In really shocking news, the USA just beat Spain 2-0 in the Confederations Cup semi-finals.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Why not just go with Pawlenty in 2012? He’s conservative and smart enough, yet in tune with the social conservatives. He’s also “modern,” has a lovely family and is non-threatening. The election in 2012 will be about Obama. If he’s failing, the GOP need only nominate an acceptable alternative who won’t turn a lot of independents off. That seems like Pawlenty to me.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
In really shocking news, the USA just beat Spain 2-0 in the Confederations Cup semi-finals.
Now that was a BEAUTIFUL match!
June 24th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
I told you this guy was weird – he was just not all there.
They are falling like flies!
Anyway this is not all good news for Mittens as he needs to do much better in SC this time. NO LEAVING SC TO WIN NEVADA THIS TIME MITT!
June 24th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
I think his problem is no more or less than Newt’s…who has a lot more experience in cheating on his wife than Gov Sanford….he probably should resign has head of the Republican Gov’s…they are all losers anyway…and follow Newt and Rush….just brush aside the facts…pontificate on how great he is…and perhaps win election to the republican nomination…and be beaten by 85% of the voters nationally when the Presidential election comes around…
(Last paragraph removed as offensive — Bob Hovic)
June 24th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
First Lady Says She Asked Governor to Leave 2 Weeks Ago
http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=75384&catid=2
The following statement was released from First Lady Jenny Sanford late Wednesday afternoon regarding her husband’s affair.
“I would like to start by saying I love my husband and I believe I have put forth every effort possible to be the best wife I can be during our almost twenty years of marriage. As well, for the last fifteen years my husband has been fully engaged in public service to the citizens and taxpayers of this state and I have faithfully supported him in those efforts to the best of my ability. I have been and remain proud of his accomplishments and his service to this state.
I personally believe that the greatest legacy I will leave behind in this world is not the job I held on Wall Street, or the campaigns I managed for Mark, or the work I have done as First Lady or even the philanthropic activities in which I have been routinely engaged. Instead, the greatest legacy I will leave in this world is the character of the children I, or we, leave behind. It is for that reason that I deeply regret the recent actions of my husband Mark, and their potential damage to our children.
I believe wholeheartedly in the sanctity, dignity and importance of the institution of marriage. I believe that has been consistently reflected in my actions. When I found out about my husband’s infidelity I worked immediately to first seek reconciliation through forgiveness, and then to work diligently to repair our marriage. We reached a point where I felt it was important to look my sons in the eyes and maintain my dignity, self-respect, and my basic sense of right and wrong. I therefore asked my husband to leave two weeks ago.
This trial separation was agreed to with the goal of ultimately strengthening our marriage. During this short separation it was agreed that Mark would not contact us. I kept this separation quiet out of respect of his public office and reputation, and in hopes of keeping our children from just this type of public exposure. Because of this separation, I did not know where he was in the past week.
I believe enduring love is primarily a commitment and an act of will, and for a marriage to be successful, that commitment must be reciprocal. I believe Mark has earned a chance to resurrect our marriage.
Psalm 127 states that sons are a gift from the Lord and children a reward from Him. I will continue to pour my energy into raising our sons to be honorable young men. I remain willing to forgive Mark completely for his indiscretions and to welcome him back, in time, if he continues to work toward reconciliation with a true spirit of humility and repentance.
This is a very painful time for us and I would humbly request now that members of the media respect the privacy of my boys and me as we struggle together to continue on with our lives and as I seek the wisdom of Solomon, the strength and patience of Job and the grace of God in helping to heal my family.”
June 24th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Classy statement from Mrs. Stanford.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Jeff,
You’re an idiot.
In thousands of posts on this site, I have never said that directly to anyone.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
What MWS just wrote is word-for-word what my comment was going to be.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Well, with the exception that I would have spelled “Sanford” right.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Even if Sanford had not had the affair with the lady from Argentina, if Sanford had run for POTUS would it have been incumbent on Sanford to disclose that he had separated from his wife at one time? I would be interested in hearing your viewpoints on this subject.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
#145 Yeah!!
June 24th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Bob Hovic,
Right on.
Are you “BobH” by the way?
June 24th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Yes — my sig varies depending on whether I’ve recently logged in to post on whichever computer I’m using.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
silver linging…….obama’s abc obamacare infomercial will be all but drowned out tomorrow.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
msnbc’s clownish ‘reporters’ could barely contain their leg thrills. the media are completely pathetic.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
tim,
“silver linging…….obama’s abc obamacare infomercial will be all but drowned out tomorrow.”
Especially if we find out that the other woman was John Edwards!
June 24th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
I know lots of guys, married and unmarried with more integrity than this. This is a huge disappointment, but not unexpected in politics. Times are getting tough, things are intense, the weaklings that could squeak by in positions of leadership in the past are not doing the job anymore. No more weaklings. That’s my gut reaction. I’m looking at a Romney/Rubio, Romney/Cheney-the-next-generation combination. I would consider Palin, but after seeing Liz Cheney, I think Palin looks better where Liz thinks and articulates better, and the latter is more important to me. Romney has the skill set and the proven ability to keep his own house in order. No “distractions” with that guy.
June 24th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
What an asshat.
That is exactly what the democrats need to maintain the meme that Republicans are nothing but moral hypocrites. A big F U to Gov. Sanford, he who voted to impeach Clinton to maintain moral decency.
Another intellectual conservative caught with his pants down. At least it happened now before he pulled an Edwards and tried to hide it through a presidential campaign.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
So, let’s see who of yesterday’s conservative hopefuls have fallen into the deceitful and weak character bin: Newt Gingrich, Ensign, Sanford, Giuliani, lots of those TV evangelicals…the hypocrisy is stunning. My hat’s off to the cowboy and great family man George Bush for holding onto his integrity. His wife always looked happy and I credit him for that. We need more of those guys with the right judgment and solid wiring in their character power boxes.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
We need people who had their sexual curiosity satisfied in their 20′s so they can behave like big kids once they are in the big leagues and surrounded by adoring fans 24/7.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
This is unbelievable – are there any more? The second tier is falling to pieces with Ensign (strong in the West) and Sanford (strong in the South) now out. Will Pawlenty (MidWest) follow?
As far as who this benefits, its one less southern candidate to take away from Huckabee in states like SC, Georgia. And it leaves Romney as the only credible choice for those who only care about fiscal stuff.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
“And it leaves Romney as the only credible choice for those who only care about fiscal stuff.”
No. There’s Pawlenty.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Liz, you have so much faith in the inferior sex…most of us dudes have little integrity when it comes to women.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Eric, how young are you?
June 24th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Too bad it was the governor of South Carolina instead of the governor of North Caorlina who had an affair with a woman from Argentina…
June 24th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
MWS, I suppose Pawlenty can give it a go. But given that ficons who backed Romney have flirted once & been burned, they may be more hesitant about backing an unknown 2nd tier candidate again…
June 24th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
I’m 30 Kristofer, why?
June 24th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Wow, you guys should listen to me and knickers more often.
We both questioned what in the heck Sanford was doing.
Kris, you defended him and said it was all a smear. Ha ha!
June 24th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Did McCain ever have an affair? Cindy is his 2nd wife I recall. If so it shows that affairs are ok as long as they are a long time ago (so eric’s comments unfortunately make political sense)
June 24th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Yeah. Not to crow or anything, but I also said that it seemed awfully strange.
Of course, Gamecock was here, as ready as always, to spew forth the party line.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Way too simplistic. I know the South Carolina winner has always won everything in the past, but we shouldn’t think of it as magical. Afterall, it’s very likely that Huckabee would have won S. Carolina in 2008 if Romney hadn’t withdrawn from the state. And I think he still would have been a longshot to win anything outside of the south.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Even if Huck won SC, he still would have lost FL.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Kris, you strike me as someone with integrity. Females and males are hardly different in this respect, however. If you admire integrity, you still have to exercise it daily, keep it strong, because it is constantly under attack. Especially if you are in a position of power, and flattering words from interested parties are ALWAYS coming your way, there will always be someone on the prowl to take down or use someone in power for their own purposes.
I disagree with Eric who hinted you can behave like something from the animal kingdom while in your youth and expect to grow into integrity and virtue later in life. Nope. Maybe certain extraordinary people can do a 360 like that….
It’s really something that has to be practiced from youth up, because once the natural urges are cut loose, left totally uncurbed, they control the person. Bill Clinton is a sorry example of this. He is not governed by his intellect, moral compass, or principle…the dude has become a pervert and he can no longer, nor does he even desire to stop himself. These types are the norm, more than the exception now. A man with virtue and integrity is really extraordinary nowadays, at least in the public eye. In private life, I still think there are a substantial number. Virtuous women? About the same? A few more? Hard to tell, but they tend to band together I’m thinking. I really think the importance of great character is severely underrated, but it’s coming back into focus now that everyone is feeling the economic, moral, and political pain stemming from the cultural decline.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Actually, if Huck won SC, I suspect Romney would have been the nominee. J-Mac would have been damaged goods in FL.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Jenny’s statement is not only classy, it put things in the right priority.
It has always bothered me how much effort is placed in holding onto what is already lost, while we ignore the most important things and let them slip away as well.
re: Mark Sanford. He should announce that the most important thing to him for now and eternity is his relationship with God and his family. For that reason, and because he and Jenny have committed whatever is needed to find out if they can salvage their marriage, he is announcing his intention to resign as of a date certain, NLT 30 days from now, in order to provide an orderly transition for the state in these trying times. Thereafter, he will commit himself full time to rebuilding the most important relationships in his life, absent the necessary distractions of a public life. He would have no comment on whether he will ever public life.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Martha,
You are a joke.
You are dam right….I defended Sanford…because I am a Republican.
Have you ever been a republican, fought for a republican (other than Romney), or any other potential candidate for 2008 or 2012.
Laugh all you want, at least I am loyal and have integrity.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Sanford still isn’t in his right mind, but I think his wife has it together. Because Sanford seems to be more forthcoming than the average politician, there is hope he rehabs. I don’t know if he’ll choose that, I’ll hope the best for him and hope he doesn’t waste his wife’s extraordinary good will.
Because I don’t want to waste time on this kind of soap opera drama on the national stage, and because excellence and competence particularly in the economic arena are so badly needed right now, I’m watching Romney like a hawk and waiting, waiting for the time to be right for a real remedy and role model for the entire free world. I’m just grateful there is at least one viable candidate out there that has the tools and make-up to make this baaaad situation better. They way the rest of the field is disqualifying themselves, he may end up the last man standing come election time. So be it.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
179:
Yes. A lot of political commentators called Romney’s pulling out of S. Carolina a strategic error because it likely provided McCain with his margin of victory and gave him momentum heading into Florida.
It’s unlikely Huckabee would have won Florida whether he won in S. Carolina or not. It still would have been a race between Romney and McCain in Florida for the title of front-runner coming into the 2/5 races.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Thanks Liz! I disagree with Eric as well.
Pulling a Warren Beatty in your early 20′s does not make a guy any more responsible in his 30′s, 40′s, 50′s or 60′s.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
@Liz,
I’m sorry to burst your bubble but men have always had affairs, especially men in position of power and it has nothing to do with declining culture.. It probably happened more often in whatever “golden age” of morality that exists in your fantasy construct of reality. Politicians are only people and will behave the way people have always behaved nothing more, nothing less.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
#183, Huckabee would have been the nominee if he had won SC.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
As a distraction to all the young GOP’ers falling on their swords here because of this latest embarassment, can we play a different game now. I promise it will be more fun.
The issue is the corruption of absolute power and its effects on men especially. Half a century ago, a rock star, movie idol president continued his illicit behavior by bringing interested young women to the presidential bed. The MSM, even then, gave him a pass. We got the story post-mortem.
What would you think would happen today if a charismatic young president were to engage in the same illicit behavior, having been seduced by his own ego and power?
June 24th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Lorelli,
No way. he would have lost FL. Which means he would have only won in the South on 2/5.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
#113 – You’re a lying sack of crap! Cough up the name you liar!! Show me a link.. Show that its even being talked about anywhere other than out of your mouth! You’re a scum bag!
June 24th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
“It’s unlikely Huckabee would have won Florida whether he won in S. Carolina or not.”
I’m not so sure there. A couple polls had Huck in the lead in Florida in mid Dec, showing that he had potentional. And I think one of the big pollsters had a 4 way tie right after Iowa. A big win in SC MIGHT have pulled Huck ahead.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
187 Could you be more specific? Weak men have always had affairs. Decent men are different. To be more specific, men who value and respect others, and believe that it is unacceptable behavior to prey upon the daughters and wives of other men to whom they are not married, or other socially unavailable females, do not have affairs. Men that HAVE NO SUCH BELIEF SYSTEM or have no strong convictions about the importance of moral standards, DO have affairs – usually in secret just to gratify their own vanity or personal lusts. How’s that for specificity? Are we in agreement? I have brothers, uncles, ancestors, friends, that adhere to a moral code and respect their marriages. It CAN be done, nyc.indy. I roll my eyes when certain cynics insist it is fantasy.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Adam, Name me one candidate who lost SC and did not become the nominee?
June 24th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
If Palin doesn’t run I think Huckabee becomes a prohibitive favorite. If Palin does run it open up more room for my candidate (Tim Pawlenty).
June 24th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
First,
If Huckabee would’ve won south carolina, mccain would’ve been done! That would’ve given Huckabee the tsunami tuesday states that mccain won(more than likely), plus the states he did win. Huckabee would’ve been a HUGE frontrunner, and romney would’ve most likely been sunk.
He wouldn’t have needed florida….but i suspect that he probably would’ve won florida anyways. UNLESS, it gave guliani the opening he needed. Then we could’ve seen a guliani/huckabee fight. Guliani wins florida and california. Takes the states that mitt won on super tuesday. I still think it would’ve been hucks had he won south carolina, but we WILL NEVER know.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Kristofer,
Name one other time where a culturally moderate state preceded essentially what was a national primary day only one week later.
Huck got 13 percent in FL. It wasn’t even close. And any polling in December was skewed because of the Huckaboom after his IA win. Once people found out what Huck was really all about, his numbers tanked everywhere except in Jesus Land.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Kris,
” Name me one candidate who lost SC and did not become the nominee?”
There are TONS of candidates who lost SC and did not become the nominee.
Buchanan, Haig, Alender, du Pont, Forbes, Hunter, Huckabee, Dole, Robertson, etc……
I could go on and on!
June 24th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Not if he lost FL to Romney.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Sanford will resign within a week. Have you read the emails omg.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Oh, someone also asked if mccain had an affair? Yes, his current wife was his then mistress. He came back from war, and his first wife had been hurt in a car accident. They still say that they love and respect each other but that circumstances change things. It’s sad but true. Also…..according to many experts, the only president to have never had an affair is George W. Bush. The rest had an affair at some point in their lives. I don’t know for sure about Obama though. Even George SR. is a cheater. Reagan too
So obviously our country can get past it, but i think sanford is pretty much done.
June 24th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Liz,
you don’t need to look further that the collection of our founding fathers to find examples of great me, champions of freedom that made mistakes…
i’m not cynical but why would I place people on a pedestal knowing that no one man is perfect. Why do you crave a super leader to lead you? Why do you desire one so much? Each person has their own demons to overcome, but hey your world sounds better than the real world maybe we can all live there and heaven would be on earth!
Be careful who you put on a pedestal.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Also, King David(whom i was named after) did a lot of VERY bad things. Adultery, murder….there is even “speculation” about passages in the bible alluding to homosexual encounters with Saul’s son Jonathan. Yet, David was counted as blessed by God and indeed a man after God’s own heart. The capacity of forgiveness is absolutely one of the greatest treasures we have in God, and His love is absolutely more powerful than our imperfections. In some ways, i think making mistakes is what helps us become better people, less arrogant. Though that’s not to say there aren’t people that are just plain bastards who have no morals.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
How narsacistic too talking about the possibility of being VP! Did he not know that he would have had to have sworn to no affairs to have been picked?
Unless Thune runs we may be looking at an epic Mitt v Mike race now. Imagine if Mike wins Iowa, Mitt wins NH, Mike wins SC, then Mitt wins Florida!
June 24th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
watered,
James Buchanan never had an affair. It would have been impossible for him.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
sorry;
Name one candidate that won SC and did not win the nomination.
= 0
June 24th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
#203 Buchanan was eunuch?
June 24th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
181. Kris, don’t get so defensive ~
Why am I a joke? Because I said something was fishy? Well, it was. I called it. It wasn’t rocket science, BTW. But I do seem to be a good judge of things, normally.
Yes, I’ve supported many a republican, but not when they aren’t worthy of it, and certainly not the scumbags.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
I’m sorry that you disagree with me Liz and Kristofer, but I’m not talking about all people. High-ranking politics is a very self-selecting occupation. To quote Tommy in a recent front page post; “They are self-serving, arrogant, narcissistic and motivated by their own inflated self worth”. These are the kind of people who want it all. I’m merely suggesting that sexual pleasures be an itch that they scratch before entering a marriage or a political career.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Sanford’s ememies knew he was having an affair (or the rumors) and they were setting him up. Some of these enemies are Republicans.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
“I’m merely suggesting that sexual pleasures be an itch that they scratch before entering a marriage or a political career.”
Eric, I am not much older than you, but please explain how one can turn that off? lol
June 24th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Doug,
“#203 Buchanan was eunuch?”
Buchanan was single.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
“Martha,
You are a joke.
You are dam right….I defended Sanford…because I am a Republican.
Have you ever been a republican, fought for a republican (other than Romney), or any other potential candidate for 2008 or 2012.
Laugh all you want, at least I am loyal and have integrity.”
You were a little hard on Martha, however, even though Martha and Knickers were correct, it was disgraceful how they turned on Mr. Sanford without giving him the benefit of the doubt. I was never a Sanford backer, but did not accuse him of stuff before I new it was true.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
There were several that couldn’t have had affairs because they weren’t attached to anyone. That’s more what i meant anyways. Also, several presidents that supposedly had affairs…it was either speculatory or their wives knew about it and didn’t care. Actually, i’ve heard that FDR’s entire marriage was a sham and he had another woman on the side for decades. Yes, as far as married presidents go….G.W. is the one with the most integrity.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Was Martha’s “ha ha” for Sanford’s children, his wife, or all the pro-growth Republicans he let down?
June 24th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Doug,
That was priceless. “Buchanan was a eunuch?”
Was he the one that let his niece be first lady or something? I don’t remember exactly.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
obama runs for senate, jack ryan has his divorce papers leaked. sanford stands in obama’s way, and someone leaks his trip and affair.
welcome to chicago politics. the gop better regroup and learn to play.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
#210
“Buchanan was single.”
So what?
An affair is defined as a romantic and sexual relationship, sometimes one of brief duration, between two people who are not married to each other.
A single man can have affaires.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
out go ensign and sanford, up steps thune and barbour
June 24th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Buchanan reportedly had a long-term affair with Senator King of Alabama.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
#185
nyc,indy: Men aren’t a pack of wild dogs, people know right from wrong, and can practice self discipline.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Very strong words. While I agree with you, Illinoisguy, I wonder why you’ve never shown such vehemence in denouncing Knickers’ repeated allegations of a Palin affair. She claims to have proof which Richard Murray has asked her again and again to produce.
Does that offend you equally?
June 24th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Yes BobH, there seems to be a double standard recently.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
OH man. Oh man. This is really starting to get funny…even though it’s actually sad. You know? I feel bad for his wife and kids, but really….here at race it is getting very funny.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Doug,
I always marriage to be a prereq for “having an affair.” Kind of like the difference between fornication (non-married) and adultery (extra-marital). Different nomenclature I suppose.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Huckabee supporters need to dissuade themselves from the argument that, since he is the best positioned to win South Carolina (probably, at least at the moment) he is somehow the frontrunner for the nomination.
There was a time, not to long ago, where each and every winning Presidential candidate won the New Hampshire Primary. A few secured the nomination (Mondale in 1984, Humphrey in 1968, McGovern in 1972), but that was it. It was an inron-clad rule, at least until it wasn’t. In fact, the last President to win the NH Primary on his first election was GHW Bush in 1988.
The trend broke in 1992 when NH Dems opted for Paul Tsongas, who had a strong favorite son advantage as a former Senator from next-door Massachussettes. As the highest profile southern politician currently in the race, Huckabee looks to be the closest to a favorite son in SC, but the very factors that favor him now will allow his opponents to spin away their loss and minimize any momentum for Huck, and it will no more translate to a guaranteed national win than Tsongas’s NH win in 1992 did, or Tom Harkin’s Iowa win that same year.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
I, for one, do not underestimate Huck in the primary. That is why I am so vocal against him. If I thought he was a joke of a third tier candidate I would just ignore him.
I will say that he has NO chance in the general. And to forestall any of the Romnots from accusing me of thinking Romney has stigmata in his palms, I think Romney would have a tough time in the general too. I just think he has a chance to win it.
June 24th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
The only thing left is for Pawlenty to certify Franken and all the second tier candidates are cleared out.
Does Romney have any credibility on tax reform? Huck is at least in the discussion, so my only question about him is whether he is sticking to Fair Tax orthodoxy as a negotiating position (when there are better GOP authored tax plans out there – like Michael Graetz’s VAT plan) or just doesn’t know that Neal Boortz doesn’t know how to multiply.
June 24th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
[...] today in the comments section, Matthew Miller stated the following: I can’t, for the life of me, figure out why Barbour appeals to people. He’s not [...]
June 24th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Kristofer,
You know very well the “ha, ha” was for you.
You always try to misrepresent me. Why? Sometimes my posts are just a little too on target? I think it makes you uncomfortable. You know in your heart that I’m right about Palin, too.
I feel extremely sorry for Sanford’s wife and children. She did the right thing by kicking the loser out. I wish all political wives had the same kind of integrity.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
OJ. I didn’t do anything other than say Sanford’s trip was questionable, and weird. I thought it was strange to leave your family on Father’s Day.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Send me your e-mail, Patrick. I’ve a SLEW of stuff to send you! But, you won’t read it, as it does not support yourposition!
I said that I will be happy to toss Romney overboard, should he have a affair. I hold him to a high standard, as well.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Hey sam, unless you have a name, you’ve got nutting, my friend! You see, some of us have names, and places for some of the other so called front runners. I can almost 100 precent say that Huckabee never had an affair. Same with Romney. Although I still would never support huck for anything, I don’t think he ever cheated on Janet.
Also, romney would lose more than just his family, should he have an affair.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
229. I said it was odd to squirt off to Argentina in the wintertime to driv the ‘coast’. I also said he might not be alone. on another blog late last night, early this AM I also said that he would be introducing his “I found Jesus” team to help him overcome this, by day’s end.
Right on all accounts! I don’t know about you, martha, but I’m a grown up and I know having an affair is not choosing the right!
June 24th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
bob H. I have posted it before, and have been threatened to be banned should I ever post it again. I will send it to anyone who desires it, or, you can do a simple google search and find a wealth of info. But most won’t do that, will you?. It might cloud the rose colored glasses. I feel we need to hold ALL the gop to high standards of moral and ethical conduct. Somehow, when it’s our guy or gal, we slip on the glasses and won’t look behind the curtain. But this will all come out i the elections, and it won’t be pretty.
June 25th, 2009 at 12:10 am
Knickers, I’m darn sick and tired of these scumbag adulterers. Not only are they morally bankrupt, they are stupid.
June 25th, 2009 at 5:03 am
#233 “bob H. I have posted it before, and have been threatened to be banned should I ever post it again. I will send it to anyone who desires it, or, you can do a simple google search and find a wealth of info.”
Knickers, I haven’t seen any links posted by you on the matter, and the research I did came up with stories either based off Enquirer research or directly from the Enquirer. Considering their dubious reputation (wow, they’ve broken 2 true stories in the last 20 years, while posting how many false ones?), that makes the source dubious. Further, as Dems had a slew of lawyers and private investigators in Alaska to dig up any and everything they could to throw at Gov Palin, why did this story not make it to ANY of the major networks during the campaign? The first one to break a story of that magnitude would have reaped tremendous benefits.
I will (once again) make my offer to you. Send links to your proof (via email, so you don’t get in more trouble w/Kavon) to richard.murray.001@gmail.com. I will review, consider, and research what you’ve sent me. I’ll respond to you via email if I think they’re garbage, or I’ll write a post if they have credibility. Put up or shut up. If you don’t send the info, and you continue to reference this issue, I will now call you a liar for saying you’d send it to anyone who desires it (talk about standards of moral and ethical conduct!). My offer is completely serious.
June 25th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
I would love to see it as well. Please send it to hovicb@yahoo.com.
June 25th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
Will doer Richard!
and watch for the IRSberg!
June 25th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
It will take me several hours, but will get er done for ya! and yes, one of my sources is the National E. Same rag (and that is what it is) that broke the Edwards and the clinton affairs. McCain threatned to sue should the story get published. It was published and suit never was filed. It appears to me that attorney’s on both sides looked at it, and one set walked away. Story ran.
I tolorate affairs from NONE of my represrentatives. It’s a basic trust that was voilatted. I see no difference between one’s personal life and conduct in private life. My heart does go out for Mrs. Sanford and her children. and it is refressing to see a wife NOT standing beside her husband with the kiddies at a presser, having to explain this.
You too bob! You’ll get it too! Let me compile it! I have posted it before, and was threated to be tossed off should I ever do it again.