Did Boeing Just Save Mark Sanford's Job?
The saga of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has been the political-theater hit of the year. Were it to qualify for nomination, it'd sweep the Tonys.
America's most-fireable man may have just been saved by a bunch of machinists from Washington.
As you may recall, Sanford skipped town for a week and told everyone he was hiking the Appalachian trail when he was really sleeping with his Argentinian mistress in Buenos Aires. Out of the resulting fall-out, there seemed to be one thing of which everyone was certain: This guy was going to get sacked.
But four months later Sanford still has a job. And now, with Boeing's decision to move Dreamliner production to Charleston, he may actually have enough juice to keep it.
That's the argument being made by some of our new assembly-line acquaintances.
The South Carolina legislature is in the midst of a special session. While there were other, more pressing reasons to schedule some extra lawmaking -- like sweetening the pot for Boeing, for one -- it was generally assumed that part of overtime would be spent trying to get Sanford ejected.
Now, though, comes word that some politicians are losing the will to oust the Republican governor. Including Democrats!
Why would legislative enemies turn down the opportunity to endlessly moralize against their opposition? Reading the tea leaves, it comes down to two reasons.
One, it looks like pols don't want to poison the positive goodwill generated by the Boeing decision. Says State Rep. Kenny Bingham: "I think our focus is going to be moving South Carolina forward." Which roughly translated comes to It's probably not smart to waste our time reminding the country that our highest elected official cheats on his wife.
The other reason: Sanford's term ends next year. Which means that even if Boeing really did just save his job, it was more of a temporary stay of execution, rather than a pardon.
6 comment(s)
E. Ball says:
I am sick of all the pointing fingers at Mark Sanford, our govenor.... All of you who are pointing fingers, remember there are 4 'back at you'! Have you heard, 'ye who cast the first stone'.... he has begged and appologized but some cannot let it go... There is NONE perfect! Let's stop the name calling and see what he can do from now on... is someone else perfect enough to take over??? I do not condone; however...ENOUGH of this garbage... give him a chance.
Posted On: Friday, Oct. 30 2009 @ 9:50PM
Taillefer says:
Just did a cartoon about this for the Charleston Mercury. See link to my blog if you're interested.
http://dancingink.blogspot.com/2009/11/sanford-lands-boeing.html
Posted On: Tuesday, Nov. 17 2009 @ 4:50PM
I. B. Union says:
Seattle weekly, please quit following Boeing propaganda and blaming Machinists. ( See text under photo ).
Also note his personal problems and reasons last 2 Boeing CEo's were fired...mmmm..must belong to same club.
For E. Ball - Funny how this GOP going after people and ruining them aka Valerie Plume, etc, sure has come back to bite some of thier own, also the constantly saying "family values" matter when electing people then when a GOP person has questionable "Family Values" that is why people point it out.
Tailleffer - there is more truth to your cartoon than you know...Dumbo the flying elephant....Boeing Ceo's & Board of directors...Dumbo's all.
Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 18 2009 @ 12:27PM
No_Friend says:
Good all you hillbilles can work for $13 an hour and have dry counties and carry your bibles. Hope a hurricane doesn't wipe you ALL off the map while that scumbag is shagging 100 different toothless broads!
Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 18 2009 @ 12:34PM
JiminyCricket says:
I'm new to this commentary thing but I'm already noticing a trend in the cast of characters...
The "offended one," generally a Republican hypocrite or an indigant Democrat (E. Ball...).
The "Self-Promoter" (Tailefer).
"The Nuance-less Preacher"...who is gracing the rest of us mortals with his presence only to shed light on his own intellectual insecurities (I.B. Union).
"The Jackass," best represented by the rabble-rouser in Happy Gilmore. Just some wandering soul without any viewpoint who gets his kicks out of stirring the pot of people with convictions...always there with a comeback since he stands for nothing and uses self-deprecating humor as a wall to conceal his weak sense of self (No Friend).
At the end of the day, what useful information or commentary have any of you brought to the forum? At least the cartoon offers an original interpretation and showcases talent.
Regarding the article, I personally think it's pointless...biased, hypocritical and not in the least bit informative. Caleb doesn't even answer the question he asks himself in his own title.
The conlusion I reached DESPITE Caleb's bias and weak conclusion is that there is credit due to Sanford (the state's "highest elected official") for the Boeing deal (which could well be the biggest boost to the SC economy in modern history).
Caleb: your bias is so transparent and your writing is so weak that it reminds me of Fox News...very entertaining but not so informative. After all, we're all here for entertainment and not to learn anything. Right, guys?!
Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 18 2009 @ 9:20PM
Kathryn says:
I like the article
Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 18 2009 @ 9:55PM