tagged w/ Mark Sanford
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Watch as Conor Knighton reminds you of everything that happened in the world of media this year, and you'll be saying, 'Oh yeah, I remember that.'
infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Sarah Haskins, Ben Hoffman, Bryan Safi and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Times and can be found online at http://current.com/infomania/ or on Current TV. And make sure to check out our facebook profile for special features at http://infomaniafacebook.com.Watch as Conor Knighton reminds you of everything that happened in the world of media... more
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"Saturday Night Live" opened yesterday with a skit mocking both the sexual indiscretions of politicians and how little attention is given them by the media. John Edwards, John Ensign, and Mark Sanford gathered together to protest that their affairs barely registered despite the fact that one of them engaged in bribery, one of them abandoned his state in a time of need, and one of them had a love child with a campaign worker.
These stories, while reported by major news outlets, disappeared quickly and without much follow-up. All of these men still have their jobs. Tiger Woods on the other hand, a man with no public responsibilities, has been the subject of intense media scrutiny over several weeks and has indefinitely resigned from golf.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/13/snl-tiger-woods_n_390173.html"Saturday Night Live" opened yesterday with a skit mocking both the sexual... more
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A South Carolina House panel voted Wednesday not to impeach Gov. Mark Sanford for abandoning his duties and abuse of power, all but closing the door on lawmakers removing Sanford from office.
The seven-member panel, instead, voted unanimously to censure Sanford, which means the General Assembly would admonish Sanford for his behavior. But, Sanford would get to serve the rest of his term, which has roughly one year remaining.
Lawmakers said that while Sanford may have used a 2008 Argentina trade trip as a cover to initiate an extramarital affair and that his use of state aircraft deserved an S.C. Ethics Commission review, the charges did not meet the high standard they felt was necessary to remove Sanford from office.
More @ linkA South Carolina House panel voted Wednesday not to impeach Gov. Mark Sanford for... more
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The South Carolina Ethics Commission has charged Gov. Mark Sanford with 37 counts of violating state ethics laws, according to a complaint released by the commission on Monday.
The complaint follows a three-month investigation into Sanford's use of taxpayer money.
Sanford is accused of using tax money to buy business-class airfare on domestic and international flights, flying on a state-owned aircraft to political gatherings or events "which involved no official business," and spending campaign funds for personal use such as buying a ticket to attend President Obama's inauguration in January.
South Carolina law requires state officials to buy the lowest fares available for flights, and bars the use of state aircraft for personal use.
Sanford's office did not respond to requests for comment about the charges.
The governor, once a rising star in the Republican Party before he revealed an extramarital affair in June, faces a hearing along with his legal team before a three-member ethics panel. Cathy Hazelwood, general counsel to the state Ethics Commission, said no date has been set for the hearing.
After arguments are presented, the panel will determine if Sanford broke any state laws. The ethics case involves civil charges that are punishable by fines, and Sanford can appeal decisions up to the state Supreme Court.
State legislators already have filed an impeachment resolution against the governor for leaving the state this summer to visit his Argentine mistress without installing a proper chain of command or informing his staff. A special House subcommittee will meet in Columbia on Tuesday to formally consider the resolution for the first time.
If the special subcommittee decides to move forward with impeachment, the resolution will be passed onto the Judiciary Committee, which will then vote on whether to bring it to the floor of the legislature when lawmakers return to the state capital of Columbia in January.
For Sanford to be forcibly removed from office, two-thirds of the South Carolina House and and two-thirds of the state Senate must vote to impeach him.The South Carolina Ethics Commission has charged Gov. Mark Sanford with 37 counts of... more
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Gov. Mark Sanford has a second layer of legal protection — at taxpayers' expense.
The governor's office has hired Connecticut-based attorney Ross Garber to represent its interests as lawmakers begin deliberations on whether to impeach the embattled, two-term Republican governor.
Garber, who will be paid $150 an hour by the governor's office and report to the governor, has represented public officials under investigation and white collar criminal defendants.
He may be most well-known as the ethics expert who represented the Connecticut governor's office when John Rowland faced a 2004 impeachment effort. Rowland subsequently resigned and pled guilty to a corruption charge.
Sanford already has private attorneys.
Garber said he was hired to protect the institution of the governor's office and to help lawmakers realize the gravity of their deliberations.
"The eyes of the world are on South Carolina," Garber said Tuesday, adding lawmakers' decision on whether to impeach Sanford will have ramifications for future S.C. governors and the state.Gov. Mark Sanford has a second layer of legal protection — at taxpayers'... more
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The South Carolina Ethics Commission has charged Gov. Mark Sanford with 37 counts of violating state ethics laws, according to a complaint released by the commission on Monday.The South Carolina Ethics Commission has charged Gov. Mark Sanford with 37 counts of... more
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South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, whose tryst with an Argentine lover blossomed into a wide-ranging scandal, is accused of breaking ethics laws by using taxpayer money for pricey airline seats, taking state planes for personal and political trips and occasionally tapping his campaign chest to reimburse himself for travel.
The details of civil charges against the second-term Republican governor were released Monday. He has been under scrutiny since he vanished for five days over the summer, reappearing to tearfully admit to an extramarital affair with a woman he later called his "soul mate."
The civil charges, which carry a maximum $74,000 in fines, stem from a three-month investigation by the state ethics commission and could be pivotal in a push by some lawmakers to remove him from office. The state attorney general is deciding whether the governor would face any criminal charges.
The ethics charges include 18 instances in which Sanford is accused of improperly buying first- and business-class airline tickets, violating state law requiring lowest-cost travel; nine times of improperly using state-owned aircraft for travel to political and personal events, including a stop at a discount hair salon; and 10 times he improperly reimbursed himself with campaign cash.
The travel allegations were first uncovered in a series of Associated Press investigations, while the allegations about his use of campaign funds were revealed by The State newspaper in Columbia.
Sanford's attorneys and spokesman did not immediately respond to messages left seeking comment. His lawyers have said previously that they consider the travel allegations to be minor, technical issues of state law.
Each of the counts claims Sanford used his office for personal financial gain and carries a maximum $2,000 fine if he is found guilty.
Sanford's attorneys have said they look forward to defending against the charges when the ethics panel holds a hearing into them early next year. They also confirmed that Sanford - as the state investigation was being conducted - added disclosures of his private plane flights to his ethics forms.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SC_GOVERNOR?SITE=NVLAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULTSouth Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, whose tryst with an Argentine lover blossomed into a... more
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COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford will face charges he violated state laws, according to an ethics panel ruling Wednesday that came after its three-month investigation into his use of state, commercial and private airplanes and his campaign finance practices.
The State Ethics Commission did not provide details of its decision or the specific charges the governor would face during a hearing of the panel early next year. Sanford's lawyer, however, predicted the governor would be cleared and said none of charges are criminal but "limited to minor, technical matters."
The commission said details — which should include whether the accusations involve civil or criminal allegations — will be released next week. Questions about Sanford's use of state, private and commercial planes arose after he disappeared from the state in June and admitted he had been in Argentina visiting his mistress.
The commission "found probable cause exists on several allegations. They wanted me to point out that a finding of probable cause is not a finding of guilt. It is only one phase in the process," said Herb Hayden, the commission's executive director, after a daylong, closed-door meeting that is comparable to a grand jury hearing.
The outcome of the commission's work is pivotal for the once-popular conservative governor. Many lawmakers were waiting for it to decide if they will join an effort to impeach Sanford when the Legislature reconvenes in January. The governor repeatedly has rebuffed calls from fellow Republicans to resign before his second term ends in January 2011. State law prevents him from seeking a third.
The Associated Press found the governor violated bans on using state airplanes for personal and political purposes; opted for expensive first-class or business-class seats — actions that apparently violated rules requiring lowest-cost travel; and failed to disclose on ethics forms flights he took on private planes owned by donors and friends.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34027086/ns/politics-more_politics/?ocid=twitterCOLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford will face charges he violated state... more
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Stand-up comedian Chris Martin riffs on the hazards of sharing the same name with a famous rock star, Edgar Allen Poe, Ellen DeGeneres, Harrison Ford, Teddy Kennedy, Jesus and Twitter at the Chortle Barn in Mechanicsville, VA October 2, 2009.Stand-up comedian Chris Martin riffs on the hazards of sharing the same name with a... more
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Gov. Mark Sanford has asked the South Carolina Supreme Court to block a state ethics panel investigating the governor from releasing its initial findings to lawmakers who could decide to remove him from office.
Sanford, who vowed to fight "tooth and nail" any effort to remove him from office, argues that releasing the report to lawmakers could be used for political purposes and could compromise his defense.
Sanford argues that only prosecutorial bodies can gain access to the State Ethics Commission's preliminary report, which is akin to an indictment and does not contain the governor's full defense.
The Ethics Commission maintains that the S.C. House would become a prosecutor, and therefore entitled to the report, if it opens impeachment proceedings against Sanford.
Sanford has been under scrutiny since returning from a secret five-day trip to Argentina in June and admitting to an extramarital affair with a woman who lives there.
Attorney General Henry McMaster asked the Ethics Commission to review Sanford's use of state and private planes, his purchase of business-class airfare and his use of campaign funds.
In the court filing, Sanford attorney Butch Bowers argued that a secret investigation protects its results.Gov. Mark Sanford has asked the South Carolina Supreme Court to block a state ethics... more
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Craig Ferguson Devotes Entire Monologue To Schooling Joe Wilson
Craig Ferguson, a man who chose to become a U.S. citizen, was ashamed last night at the lack of decorum Representative Joe Wilson showed when shouting, "You lie" at the president during a joint session of Congress.
"I am not getting on Congressman Wilson's case for disagreeing with the president...every congressman has a vote, he should use it, but not in the middle of a speech to the joint sessions of Congress, that's not when you do it. It's not the Jerry Springer Show. You don't stand up in the middle of Congress and go 'oh no you did not.' What the hell is wrong with you? He said his emotions got the better of him--sometimes I want to have sex with a hooker but I don't."
Craig also suggested the president's response to Wilson was boring and that he should take his act on the road to learn how to deal with hecklers.Craig Ferguson Devotes Entire Monologue To Schooling Joe Wilson
Craig Ferguson, a... more
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Sixty South Carolina House Republicans are asking Gov. Mark Sanford to resign.
A letter asking the GOP governor to leave office was delivered to Sanford shortly after noon Wednesday.
It follows one sent a day earlier by House Speaker Bobby Harrell asking for Sanford's resignation.
Any move to impeach the governor would begin in the House, which has 72 Republicans, 51 Democrats and one empty seat.Sixty South Carolina House Republicans are asking Gov. Mark Sanford to resign.
A... more
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A clever parody of the (500) Days of Summer trailer that's a part of the effort to remove Mark Sanford, the disgraced governor of South Carolina.
Do you think this sort of ad is effective? Clever enough? Too clever? Will it resonate with the constituency it needs to?A clever parody of the (500) Days of Summer trailer that's a part of the effort... more
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In a press conference today, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer called on Gov. Mark Sanford to step down as governor for the good of the state of South Carolina.
"It is in my opinion that the needs of the people of South Carolina cannot be served by the governor of South Carolina," he said, and "distractions" have made it "virtually impossible" to keep things going as they should.
Bauer also restated that if Sanford complies promptly with the request to step down, he will not seek the governors office in the 2010 election.
"What it would do is it would get the politics out of it," Bauer told CNN about his proposal at the time. "The people that are so concerned for their own political future about running for governor, would no longer be worried if I came in and became governor, because I would just say.'You know what? This is bigger than politics. I will go and lead in for the next 18 months and not run for re-election.'"
Fellow republicans warned Sanford that if he doesn't step down, he will be impeached. They will be discussing the possible impeachment at their annual caucus retreat in Myrtle Beach this weekend.In a press conference today, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer called on Gov. Mark Sanford to step... more
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South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford rebuffed his lieutenant governor's call to resign Wednesday, two months after he admitted an affair, saying he will not be "railroaded" out of office.
Sanford returned from a nearly weeklong disappearance in June to reveal he had been in Argentina to visit his mistress, a disclosure that led to questions about the legality of his travel on state, private and commercial planes.
At a news conference hours after fellow Republican Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer called for him to step down, Sanford said the people of South Carolina want to move past the scandals and that he will finish the last 16 months of his term.
"I'm not going to be railroaded out of this office by political opponents or folks who were never fans of mine in the first place," Sanford said. "A lot of what is going on now is pure politics, plain and simple."
Bauer and Sanford have served two terms together but were elected separately and have never been friends.
Some Republicans have been reluctant to seek Sanford's resignation or impeachment because they do not want to give Bauer what would amount to a long-term tryout for the job.
If Sanford steps down before his term ends in January 2011, Bauer said he will promise not to run in 2010 so that is not an issue. Bauer considered making the same offer in June but never officially did.
"The serious misconduct that has been revealed along with lingering questions and continuing distractions make it virtually impossible for our state to solve the critical problems we're facing without a change in leadership," he said Wednesday.
House Republicans are expected to discuss impeachment this weekend. The House will likely launch those proceedings when lawmakers return for their regular session in January, though they could also hold a special session before then. Any House member can file a bill to impeach.
Sanford said heeding Bauer's call to resign would be like "heaven on earth" because it would get him out of the public eye, but it would not be right.
"Me hanging up the spurs 16 months out, as comfortable as that would be, as much as I might like to do that on a personal basis, it is wrong," he said.
Bauer said he tried to give Sanford the benefit of the doubt after he admitted his affair, but the state has been paralyzed by questions raised afterward about the legality of his official travel. Bauer said he is concerned that calls for Sanford's impeachment will dominate next year's legislative session instead of issues like the economy and job creation.
Bauer said he will go ahead with his candidacy if Sanford does not resign or lawmakers do not return to Columbia to force him out within 30 days. Term limits prevent Sanford from running for a third term.
Sacrificing the run for governor next year could boost Bauer's status in the state GOP but still allow the 40-year-old plenty of time for another election.
Republican Sen. David Thomas, a 2002 Bauer opponent whose Senate subcommittee is investigating Sanford's travels, said Bauer's decision would likely spur the House to action. Several Republicans have said they support impeachment.
"If he can have a successful time in the year as governor, then he sets himself up for a future race," Thomas said. "He's young. He can re-create himself to some degree as a successful governor."
Sanford, who led his staff to believe he was hiking the Appalachian Trail, told The Associated Press his mistress was his soul mate. He said he visited her in Argentina during a 2008 trade mission planned by the state's Commerce Department and, after the publicity in June, reimbursed the state $3,300 for part of the trip.
AP investigations since have found Sanford used state planes for personal and political trips, which state law prohibits. He failed to disclose trips on private planes that ethics officials say should have been made public in campaign and ethics filings....
[from YAHOO]South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford rebuffed his lieutenant governor's call to... more
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“I’m not going to be railroaded out of this office by political opponents or people who were not fans of mine in the first place.”“I’m not going to be railroaded out of this office by political opponents... more
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South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford opened up about the state of his family on Wednesday — the first time he has done so since his wife, Jenny, moved out of the governor's mansion last week.
Asked during a radio interview how he's coping with being alone in the mansion, Sanford responded: "That part's hard."
"But there are consequences for any mess-up that we have in life, and that's one of them," the governor told Columbia-based WVOC radio. "That's probably the most bitter part of it."
Sanford said he and Jenny decided to move his four boys to Charleston for the school year because "they deserve to be out of the fishbowl they've been in."
"They've been subjected to a lot this summer," he said. "That was a result of my actions, but nonetheless it put them in a spot they really didn't want to be."
"The aftermath of any of these things is not going to be ideal," Sanford added, referring to his admission of an extramarital affair and the ensuing political fallout. "We take it a day at a time."
The governor did a round of local radio interviews Wednesday and spent much of his time responding to reports that he violated state law by booking expensive international flights and using state planes for personal and political business.
Sanford repeated his assertion that he has spent less on travel than previous administrations and claimed he is being held to a different standard because of his personal mistakes. The governor said that while most South Carolinians are ready to move past the saga, the only ones who continue to harp on the story are "the media and the political class."
"I fell in love with one woman I should not have fallen in love with," he said. "We all get that. Everybody's been trying to move on."
Sanford also acknowledged that his political career is effectively finished.
"I am dead politically," he said at the end of the interview. "I am not running for another office. I just want to make the most of the 16 months that are remaining in trying to honor where I started in this thing, which is, how do you do some things that hopefully make people's lives just a little bit better in South Carolina."South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford opened up about the state of his family on Wednesday... more
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Mark Sanford, the South Carolina governor who admitted in June to having an affair with an Argentinian woman, may have broken the law by using state aircraft for personal trips, the Associated Press reported Sunday.
Since 2003, the governor used state aircraft to get to "his children's sporting events, hair and dentist appointments, political party gatherings and a birthday party for a campaign donor," AP states.
Under South Carolina law, use of state aircraft for personal or political purposes is forbidden. But, as the article notes, the state's Aeronautics Division has "no clear enforcement mechanism for such violations."
However, Sanford could be brought up in front of the South Carolina Ethics Commission, which could level civil or criminal charges against him.Mark Sanford, the South Carolina governor who admitted in June to having an affair... more
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COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, still clinging to office after admitting to an extramarital affair, wrote in an opinion piece released Sunday that God will change him so he can emerge from the scandal a more humble and effective leader.
"(W)hile none of us has the chance to attend our own funeral, in many ways I feel like I was at my own in the past weeks, and surprisingly I am thankful for the perspective it has afforded," Sanford wrote in the opinion piece widely published online Sunday by South Carolina newspapers.
Sanford, a two-term Republican, returned from a mysterious, nearly weeklong disappearance last month to reveal a romance with a longtime friend in Argentina. In a series of Associated Press interviews, he described the woman as his "soul mate" but said he would work to repair his relationship with his wife, Jenny, the mother of their four sons.
Some lawmakers have called for Sanford to resign, and one state senator plans hearings on whether state money was used to facilitate the trysts. A criminal probe found nothing illegal.
Sanford and his wife left the state earlier this week for an undisclosed location and are expected to return Sunday evening, spokesman Joel Sawyer said.
In the opinion, Sanford vows to work with lawmakers he's long fought and cites scripture and his faith in God — just as he's done in his few public appearances since admitting the affair.
"It's in the spirit of making good from bad that I am committing to you and the larger family of South Carolinians to use this experience to both trust God in his larger work of changing me, and from my end, to work to becoming a better and more effective leader," he wrote.COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, still clinging to office... more
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