South Carolina, Where [Once Again] It's Not The Heat, It's The Stupidity

So, the people of South Carolina, actually the people of South Carolina’s 1^st Congressional District, decided that Mark Sanford was the best candidate to represent them.

Really?

Was it Mark Sanford, or was it the fact that there was an ‘R’ by his name and that supersedes the ‘D’ next to Elizabeth Colbert Busch’s name? And, if so, I guess the ‘R’ stands for Really? Or Ridiculous, or even Reprehensible.

See, we all know who Mark Sanford is, and what Mark Sanford does. He lies. He lied while Governor, to the people, for whom, he worked, and to his staff, and to his wife and children. But apparently that makes no difference to the people in the 1^st Congressional District because there’s an ‘R’ beside his name, and that’s all that really matters.

As Governor, Sanford opposed the faith-based license plates the state lawmakers wanted, and he allowed the law to pass without his signature, saying, "It is my personal view that the largest proclamation of one's faith ought to be in how one lives his life." Then he cheated on his wife, and stole money from the people of South Carolina.

And the people in the 1^st Congressional District elected him to office knowing this.

As Governor, Sanford paid more than $74,000 in fines to resolve dozens of charges that he violated state ethics laws with his campaign spending and travel, including a taxpayer-funded rendezvous with his Argentine mistress.

And the people in the 1^st Congressional District elected him to office knowing this.

As Governor, Sanford faced 37 civil charges—which could have become criminal charges, though that case was dropped.

And the people in the 1^st Congressional District elected him to office knowing this.

As Governor, Sanford left office without anyone—his staff or the Lt. Governor’s knowledge—including the infamous five days when he said he was hiking the Appalachian Trail while he was actually in Argentina having an extra-marital affair.

And the people in the 1^st Congressional District elected him to office knowing this.

As Governor, Sanford bought first- and business-class airline tickets for his travels, which violated a state law requiring lowest-cost travel.

And the people in the 1^st Congressional District elected him to office knowing this.

As Governor, Sanford improperly using state-owned aircraft for travel to political and personal events, including a stop at a discount hair salon; and improperly reimbursing himself with campaign cash, including $3,000 in campaign contributions which he used to attend a Republican Governors Association meeting in Miami and to also pay for a hunting trip in Ireland several days later.

And the people in the 1^st Congressional District elected him to office knowing this.

As Governor, Sanford approved the personal use of state-owned aircraft for trips such as the birthday party of a campaign contributor in Aiken.

And the people in the 1^st Congressional District elected him to office knowing this.

So, the people of that district have decided that a man, who misappropriates state funds for his own personal use, while calling himself a fiscal conservative, is the best person for the job. Those same people think the best man to represent them is a man who disappears from his job without a word; they believe that a man, who says he’s in one place, while he’s in another cheating on his wife, has the kind of moral character they think South Carolina deserves. They think a man who trespassed on private property because he wanted to do so, if their best bet.

Well, people of South Carolina’s 1^st Congressional District, you got him--even after his own party disowned him--and I don’t want to hear a word more from you when he lies and cheats and steals from you, because you knew that going in but couldn’t stop yourself from choosing the ‘R’.

Really Ridiculous.