Conservative Bloggers Split While Sanford Admits More Affairs

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Today it came out the Sanford actually had encounters with more females then he admitted during his “shocking” press conference last week.  During an AP interview he said that he “crossed lines” with other women.  He also stated that it never went too far and that he actually loved Maria Belen Chapur.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford said Tuesday that he “crossed lines” with a handful of women other than his mistress — but never had sex with them.

The governor said he “never crossed the ultimate line” with anyone but Maria Belen Chapur, the Argentine at the center of a scandal that has derailed his once-promising political career.

“This was a whole lot more than a simple affair, this was a love story,” Sanford said. “A forbidden one, a tragic one, but a love story at the end of the day.”

During an emotional interview at his Statehouse office with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Sanford said Chapur is his soul mate but he’s trying to fall back in love with his wife.

Before Sanford admitted this he was being compared with other politicians like Spitzer.  The argument was whether or not Sanford’s actions could be forgivable because he actually loved the woman he was cheating with.  Spitzer was overheard saying, in an effort to slam Sanford, “I didn’t fall in love with any of them”.  Whether he did love Maria or not is really irrelevant when discussing politics and I’m sure his wife could care less.

Conservatives have come out condemning Sanford, in not only an effort to do whats right.  It may be politically smart to condemn Sandford.  Even though Sanford is a republican, if conservatives continue to hit at Sanford then he could look like a lone wolf and some might not even see the hypocrisy trend amongst many high profile conservatives that cheat.  We can all say that this is a bipartisan issue, but democrats for the most part don’t go around impeaching or using politician’s affairs as a means to score political points.   This interesting tidbit on The Hill seems to make me question conservative outrage when some state that they would rather vote for an atheist then Sanford stay in office.

The conservative website surveyed 260 right wing bloggers and found some interesting results. Fifty-three percent said Sanford should resign since admitting he had an extramarital affair, while nearly 47 percent said he shouldn’t.

And religion, or at least a belief in God, isn’t a major criteria in a presidential candidate for conservative bloggers. Two thirds said they would support an atheist.

There were some questions where there was near unanimity. More than nine in 10 said they don’t believe man made global warming is occurring right now.

And a strong majority – 80 percent – support groups like the Club for Growth that encourage conservatives challengers to take on Republican incumbents who are not conservative enough.

Conservative are obviously split on whether he should resign.  But, I find it hard to believe that if they had a choice between Sanford and a decent atheist candidate, that they would vote for an atheist.  I think we all know the reason why as conservatives in general have been ignorant towards the atheist demographic.  Maybe conservative bloggers are a different breed of conservative but I find that part of the survey to be a little untrue from these bloggers, as well as a little overboard.

In my opinion, it doesn’t matter whether or not Sanford resigns.  He doesn’t have that much time in office and the damage has already been done.  Sanford might have gotten some slack for showing his human side during the last press conference, but he gets no love for going on a cheating spree with several women.  Sanford continues to dig himself a hole and most likely just admitted that he has not only cheated on his wife Jenny, but possibly on his mistress, Maria.  Either way, there’s little talk of South Carolina conservatives impeaching Sanford and there’s little chance that Sanford will resign.  The loudest of conservatives may appear to be highly upset about this and want him to resign but talk is cheap when there’s no effort to actually get him out of office.

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U.S. Troops To Leave Baghdad

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As a sign of success the troops are finally able to leave Baghdad.  Iraqis security forces were trained and are now able to fend for themselves.  The withdrawal will be complete by Tuesday.  This is great as it not only shows the great progress that nation has made, but also the troop’s work being key to the success.  An important part of this is that we kept our agreement with Pres. Maliki and now we won’t be spending as much resources in Iraq when we need to focus on Afghanistan.  Read about it at Reuters

Bachmann’s Census Conspiracy Appears To Annoy Beck

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One of the few times that I might agree with him.  First, he seems annoyed at the fact that she’s on his show talking about banning the census.  Which is completely understandable seeing as how much a waste of time it is to be talking about it.  Bachmann could definitely find something better to do with her time…like…preparing for resignation.  Here’s the clip via Media Matters,

Beck actually makes a good point about loopholes.  If you are a skeptic of potential government actions then I would think filling out the Census would be a good idea.  In fact, I think that’s pretty much the main reason people do things that’s required by the government.  I mean, no one wants to be targeted by the government because we didn’t fill out our tax forms or fill out the census.  And, first of all, no one is going into internment camps and that fear card is ridiculous to bring up in this context.  So, happy Beck shut that mess of a statement down before she got any further.  It was like she’s grasping for straws here on a bill that isn’t going to pass and she knows it.  It’s one thing to say, that certain questions should and shouldn’t be asked but telling people to not take the census is ridiculous.  Census information is used to determine how economic and other resources are allocated.  If conservatives don’t fill out the census then the 60 year old white male demographic will really have something to attend a 2012 Palin mob rally about.  Ahem, sorry in advance for the various slams in that previous sentence.

Physical Altercation On The House Floor?

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Sometimes arguments on the House floor can get loud over some stop earmark but I don’t remember a physical altercation occurring.  It was between Wisconsin dem, David Obey and fellow dem of California, Maxine Waters.  According to this report by The Hill,

Two Democrats got into a verbal altercation — and according to one a physical one — on the floor of the House on Thursday night over an appropriations earmark one was seeking.

After the House floor had largely cleared following a series of votes, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) split apart from a heated conversation and began yelling at one another.

“You’re out of line,” Waters shot while walking down toward the well.

“You’re out of line,” Obey shot back before turning and walking away.

But then Obey stopped, turned back toward Waters, and shouted: “I’m not going to approve that earmark!”
Obey turned away, but Waters went to go huddle with members of the Congressional Black Caucus. She could be over heard telling them: “He touched me first.”

————-

Waters and Obey have had an ongoing dispute about an earmark for a public school employment training center in Los Angeles that was named after Waters when she was a state representative.

Obey rejected that earmark as violating policies against so-called “monuments to me.” Waters revised her request to go to the school district’s whole adult employment training program, so the district could decide whether the money would go to the school named after Waters.

Thursday was the committee markup of the spending bill that would include the earmark, and Obey let it be known that the earmark would be denied. She approached him and complained.

A Waters aide said that Obey had pushed her.

Ellis Brachman, a spokesman for Obey, confirmed that the dispute was about an earmark Obey denied Waters, but placed the blame on Waters for escalating the situation.

“As I understand it, she was the one who pressed the issue,” Brachman said. “The chairman repeatedly tried to end the confrontation.”

Who pushes an old woman?  The weird part is Obey isn’t denying he pushed her.  Also, seems like he’s either jealous because an earmark was named after her or he has anger management issues.  Hopefully he makes an apology soon cause this could become a developing story if Waters pursues this.

Gov. Sanford Unfaithful With A Lady In Argentina

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UPDATES, Jump to: emails or Maria Belen Chapur

So, we all know where he was when he was missing since Thursday.  Just in case you haven’t heard.  Mark Sanford of South Carolina, disappeared for for days without letting his wife, kids, and state knowing where he is.  Today in a serious press conference, semi-confirmed by my string of tweets on twitter, he let us know he has cheated on his wife with a woman in Argentina.

Honestly, the press conference was very touching and though I rarely forgive a cheater, I kind of feel sorry for him.  The press conference started with him seriously apologizing to his wife, children and staff.  He apologized to people of faith and god.  He announced that he is resigning from the Republican Governors Association.  Yet, he didn’t resign as governor.  He said, when asked that he was not formally separated from his wife.  He was very frank in describing his relationship with this woman.  Apparently he had a conversation with the woman a while ago about being with her children and getting back with her husband, then they swapped e-mails and connected throughout the year.  He knew the woman for 8 years.  This was a surprised, though I have typed my concern that his disappearance might have something to do with his marriage, I was still surprised.  He definitely gets kudos for admitting this the way he did.  Even though I don’t like his policies and thought he was stupid at times, I definitely have respect for a man that owns up to his mistakes like this.  I definitely think others will feel the same way and he’ll continue his career in politics.  The press conference video of his opening statements, the question and answer section starts in the second video at 1:30.

On another note, Fox News labeled Sanford as a democrat.  They are trying too hard to exploit the possible ignorance of their viewers, shame on them.  Picture, via Daily Kos

UPDATES
The State obtained and released some e-mails that were exchanged between him and his mistress,

From Gov. Sanford,
Date: Thursday, July 10, 2008, 12:24 a.m.

“One, tomorrow leave at 5 a.m. for New York and meetings. Will think about you on its streets and wish I was going to be there later in the month when you are there. Tomorrow night back to Philadelphia for the start of the National Governor’s Conference through the weekend. Back to Columbia for Tuesday and then on Wednesday, as I think I had told you, taking the family to China, Tibet, Nepal, India, Thailand and then back through Hong Kong on world wind tour. Few days home then to Bahamas for 5 days on a friend’s boat for the last break of the summer. The following weekend have been asked to spend it out in Aspen, Colorado with McCain – which has kicked up the whole VP talk all over again in the press back home …

Two, mutual feelings …. You have a particular grace and calm that I adore. You have a level of sophistication that so fitting with your beauty. I could digress and say that you have the ability to give magnificent gentle kisses, or that I love your tan lines or that I love the curve of your hips, the erotic beauty of you holding yourself (or two magnificent parts of yourself) in the faded glow of the night’s light – but hey, that would be going into sexual details …

Three and finally, while all the things above are all too true – at the same time we are in a hopelessly – or as you put it impossible – or how about combine and simply say hopelessly impossible situation of love. How in the world this lightening strike snuck up on us I am still not quite sure. As I have said to you before I certainly had a special feeling about you from the first time we met, but these feelings were contained and I genuinely enjoyed our special friendship and the comparing of all too many personal notes …

Lastly I also suspect I feel a little vulnerable because this is ground I have never certainly never covered before – so if you have pearls of wisdom on how we figure all this out please let me know… In the meantime please sleep soundly knowing that despite the best efforts of my head my heart cries out for you, your voice, your body, the touch of your lips, the touch of your finger tips and an even deeper connection to your soul.”

——————–

From Maria,
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 8:14 p.m.

“As I told you I shouldn’t have done this trip but I would have felt worst if I wouldn’t have come because it was too over the date, he is a very nice guy, great heart … but unfortunately I am not in love with him … You are my love … something hard to believe even for myself as it’s also a kind of impossible love, not only because of distance but situation. Sometimes you don’t choose things, they just happen… I can’t redirect my feelings and I am very happy with mine towards you.”

——————–

From Gov. Sanford,
Tuesday, July 8, 1:42 a.m.

“Got back an hour ago to civilization and am now in Columbia after what was for me a glorious break from reality down at the farm. No phones ringing and tangible evidence of a day’s labors. Though I have started every day by 6 this morning woke at 4:30, I guess since my body knew it was the last day, and I went out and ran the excavator with lights until the sun came up. To me, and I suspect no one else on earth, there is something wonderful about listening to country music playing in the cab, air conditioner running, the hum of a huge diesel engine in the back ground, the tranquillity that comes with being in a virtual wilderness of trees and marsh, the day breaking and vibrant pink coming alive in the morning clouds – and getting to build something with each scoop of dirt.”

Maria Belen Chapur, here she is reporting in New York

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Recommended Reads – June 24, 2009

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Here’s some of the latest news stories that recommend you read, because I think they are kind of interesting.  This list is a collaboration between me (sensico) and Yilian.  Enjoy reading.

First, let’s start with celebrity stuff.  I like Hasselbeck and even took her side back when she was arguing with Rosie.  One thing is not right, and might be hypocritical of her as I’m sure she made a big deal about others plagiarizing.  Anyways, Hasselbeck is being sued for plaigerizing. Apparently she plagiarized from a women that writes about celiac disease.  She hasn’t been found guilty but plagiarism is one of those things where you just read the book, see if it’s cited and if the content isn’t then it’s plagiarism.  I don’t watch The View but I expect her to make an apology and correct the book.

Governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford just kissed his presidential aspirations away when he left his wife, kids, and state unattended since Thursday.  Apparently, he has been in South America this whole time and not on the Alpine trail like he indicated before. Either way, he is now a political target and definitely ruined his chances since he decided to leave during the time when there’s naked hiking in the Alpines, fueling speculation that he might be on this retreat.

The Nixon tapes revealed, that in 1973 he only supported abortion in the case of interracial couples.  Granted, it shows some kind of compromise on this issue but that’s just wrong.  Happy this isn’t the republican stance today.  Thank god we’ve all moved beyond this thinking.  America has grown up.

Not a surprise here, but apparently the republican attacks against ACORN are so dead that now some have to explain it with the use of Barbies.  I’m no fan of ACORN either but give it up already.  Anyways, here’s O’Reilly and Beck playing with Barbies.

Looks like Romney and Palin would be the top contenders for the presidential election in 2012. New Pews research poll show Romney has really boosted his profile overall he’s at 40% but he was only at 28% back in August of 2007.  Among republicans his favorable is at 57%.  Though, it seems like many just haven’t made up their minds about him.  During the republican primary, before I supported Obama I was hoping he’d win the primary.  Most likely wouldn’t happen in 2012 if Palin runs.  Oh well, Romney has gotten a little too hawkish over the months and apparently can’t even make sense.  Palin is showing the best chances right now of being the front runner as her favorable among republicans is 73%.  Her overall favorable is at 45% which is down 5% from mid-September 2008.  But at the same time her unfavorable overall is 44%.  Can’t wait til 2012

Ouch, what a waste of money to go toward Norm Coleman’s legal fees.  The sub-heading of the article says it all, “A national GOP committee spent more than $900,000 in May to help Norm Coleman pay his legal bills; a rival Democratic group raised more than $282,000 for Al Franken.”

On recreational activity, Pres. Obama will throw the first pitch at a baseball game next month in St. Louis.  That should be interesting as I have never seen or known of Obama’s ability to throw a baseball.  First lady, Michelle Obama is starting the “United We Serve” thing yesterday in California where they do community service activities.  Yesterday, they started by building a playground for school children.

These are just a few random news headlines we thought some might want to read.  To know more of what I’m reading, you can check out my Google Shared Items which is updated throughout the day.  Or join me on twitter as I sometimes tweet about politics.  Have fun reading and remember to keep yourself up to date on the situation in Iran.  Seems like protests are starting again today after yesterday there were very few protests due to the crackdown.  Also, Mousavi is under 24 police control and unable to communicate with the public.