(Photo: pinoyspy.com)

There’s something dreadfully wrong with that. That C Street House, C Street Band, The Family, or whatever you want to call them knew that South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford was having an affair with Argentine reporter Maria Belen Chapur. The super-secret religious organization knew before Jenny Sanford did. But perhaps what’s even more heinous from a media point of view is that most of what we’ve heard about this “hiking the Appalachian Trail” affair has come from the perspective of Mark Sanford. Jenny Sanford has remained mostly silent, until now. She recently sat down with Vogue for an interview, and it’s telling of her inner strength during this storm.

Overheated vs. clear thinking

Vogue describes Jenny Sanford as “petite, clear-eyed, strong-willed, pious without being smug, smart without being caustic.” She wasn’t caught up in the emotional frothing at the mouth that her husband succumbed to when he spoke of soul mates and poetry. Perhaps that’s because their marriage, by her admission, was always one of friendship and comfort rather than passion. But Jenny Sanford has focused on the most important thing throughout – her legacy, the Sanford children. No secured loans or unsecured loans can buy something so valuable and irreplaceable.

Mark Sanford is the prototypical person who chomps at the bit to cast the first stone. That’s exactly what he did when he condemned President Bill Clinton’s philandering as “reprehensible.” He cut the image of wholesome, which for his wife and children was accurate. However, Mark Sanford clearly never grew up; he made the commitment to marry for friendship, believing he could find the fire elsewhere

Enter Maria Belen Chapur.

Hardly the home wrecker, Chapur lit Sanford’s fire. It also appears that she didn’t know quite what to do with such a powerful man pursuing her like a lovesick teenager. Mark Sanford decided to hike the Appalachian Trail in his pursuit of her. Perhaps it was the excitement, or the flame of passion that Mark Sanford wanted. Perhaps if Maria Belen Chapur hadn’t been there, it would have been someone else. Yet as Jenny Sanford sees it, Mark is suffering from an addiction.

“Over the course of both pastoral and marriage counseling, it became clear to me that he was just obsessed with going to see this woman. I have learned that these affairs are almost like an addiction to alcohol or pornography. They just can’t break away from them,” she told Vogue.

I see that as a weak defense of his irresponsibility

Mark Sanford has children with Jenny Sanford. You do not introduce poison into a relationship based on the upbringing of children. You act responsibly because you owe it to your children. You do not disappear “on the Appalachian Trail” (or in the case of my ex, to California). You take responsibility as a parent, because that is the most important job a human being can have.

And where’s Jenny Sanford’s comments on the C Street Band’s involvement in Mark Sanford’s passionate affair? She conveniently neglects to mention them during the Vogue interview, which indicates to me that she’s being influenced not to talk about certain things. Thus, I take Jenny Sanford’s entire interview with a grain of salt. It’s image-making, it’s theater of a sort. There’s some truth, but perhaps the heart of the matter remains obscured. And in this case, it should not be obscured. The Family (C Street Band, C Street House, etc) is involved in this crime against the Sanford children and Jenny Sanford. And while these crimes may not in themselves be punishable by law, they should be. Such harmful secrecy masquerading as religious freedom should be squashed in the interests of children. It is their right not be deceived by an important caregiver.

Midlife crisis and all that

My response to C Street House and those who "leave it in the Lord's hands." (Photo: flickr.com)

“My husband has got some issues that he needs to work on, about happiness and what happiness means. You wish it wouldn’t come to a crisis like this, but I think when a lot of men get to this midpoint in life, they start asking questions that they probably should have asked a long time ago,” says Mrs. Sanford. Maria Belen Chapur has been drawn into Mark Sanford’s crisis of maturity, and unfortunately for her, life may never be the same again. Now, is Jenny Sanford perfect? Hardly. By her own admission, “I don’t have a wild past, but I don’t have a perfect past. I worked hard, and I played hard. There are things I probably shouldn’t have done, but I was human. The question is what you learn from them.” That was her experience as a former Wall Street type, a real numbers runner.

In a nutshell, Jenny Sanford says of her marriage to Mark Sanford that “We weren’t madly in love, but we were compatible and good friends. I like to think we balance each other out. I am a conservative at heart, but I’m not passionate about ideas like he is. I am better at making the trains run on time.” Mark Sanford, as a powerful white male, mistook his station in life with the right to stomp on loved ones in pursuit of passion. Incidentally, he’s stomped on Maria Belen Chapur, too, which is something he likely didn’t intend. But his hot and heavy behavior has burned her. Not as much as it has Jenny Sanford and her children, but it has charred the earth.

She is willing to forgive

But I wish she would have taken a harder line against him. Mark Sanford is getting off much too easily, even if it is hard for politicians to remain grounded and not stoke the fires of ego. Political enemies, commentators and comedians are taking their share of pot shots, however. Politicians need to take the lead here, because Mark Sanford’s use of taxpayer dollars to chase after Maria Belen Chapur (some of it not even itemized) is in violation of the public trust. He must be impeached, and elected officials are the only ones who can truly get that ball rolling. If money is needed to start a grassroots movement to get him out, unsecured loans and secured loans are available. Apply here by clicking the button.

Jenny Sanford says that “Mark is not a bad person,” he’s just struggling. I can see that as well as anyone else. However you may choose to forgive him (likely as C Street has directed) is up to you. However, as a politician, Mark Sanford’s career should be over immediately. Yes, Jenny Sanford may be right when she tells Vogue that “If you don’t forgive, you become angry and bitter.” For the children, however, it’s best that she moves on from this hot mess of a “friend” and do what is best for the youngsters. Invoking the Lord means that you give up responsibility for your own actions. Take action, Mrs. Sanford – don’t join those with blinders on. Make a difference for your children.

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Blagojevich impeached by Illinois Senate

The Illinois House of Representatives voted yesterday to impeach Blagojevich, and the measure passed 114 – 1.  Typically, impeachment proceedings against governors, or presidents for that matter, are typically incredibly close, within a few votes of passing or failing.  Illinois has never before impeached a governor, but this one has been by virtual unanimity.  The Illinois House requires only 60 votes – clear majority – for an impeachment, but this one cleared that hurdle with impunity.  He may not even be able to apply for payday loans if he needs one, because he won’t have a payday in any sense of the word if he gets removed from office – which seems likely at this point.

Gov. Blagojevich has barely responded to the charges at all, only making statements that he is innocent, and has not made a statement about the impeachment.  Instead, he stated to reporters that he will “see you at 2,” indicating that he will be issuing a statement at 2 p.m. (central time) Then he went for a jog.  House Representatives have been increasingly frustrated with the governor on both sides of the aisle, and after an inquiry committee voted unanimously that impeachment was the best course of action, the House put the motion before the floor for a vote.

The Impeachment History of United States

Impeachment is a measure of last resort in any US legislative body to curb the activities of an obviously unhinged official – it has been employed only 18 times in United States history at both state and federal levels.  The last was Bill Clinton, in 1998, and Blagojevich has the dubious honor of being the first governor impeached in the United States.

These are his odds:
Of all impeached officials, 7 have been removed from office.  (7/18 = 39% chance of removal.)
7 have been acquitted, one after resigning.  (39% chance of acquittal.)
3 have resigned, and of all officials impeached, only 1 impeachment was dismissed; source here.
(1/18 = 12.5% chance of dismissal of charges.)

Worse than Nixon

Illinois lawmakers have voiced their disgust and outrage in the news repeatedly, voicing their distaste for both his actions and reaction to what is easily one of the biggest political scandals since Watergate, saying that his arrest and then lack of reaction to it are making the government of Illinois into a joke, laughing stock of the world.  House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie said that “his silence in this great matter is deafening.”  His credibility is virtually nonexistent, and there is no one who wishes for Rod Blagojevich to remain in office except Mr. Blagojevich himself.   If your budget has come under impeachment by a sudden expense, get the counsel of payday loans to censure the offending shortfall.

WHAT NOW?

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

It seems that there is no lack of fodder for the newspapers these days, as the latest turn of events keep the reporters busy. Blagojavich has no intentions of resigning, despite his arrest on Tuesday by the FBI. It was also his birthday – - he turned 52. The Illinois Governor’s spokesman, Lucio Guerrero, has stated that “there is more to this story that he is wanting to tell at an appropriate time.” Calls for impeachment would necessitate a special election, which Illinois republican chairman, Andy McKenna, is for. That could mean that it would cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. At any rate, republicans and democrats are both calling for his resignation. It seems that the governor is not on board with the notion, showing up for work as usual Monday morning. If Blagojavich remains in power, than he has all the rights and responsibilities as Governor to appoint someone to fill the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Obama. State legislators are planning on meeting this afternoon to discuss the matter further.

NOT NEW TO CONTROVERSY

Shortly after meeting his wife, Patti, and with the help of his father-in-law, Richard Mell, Bagojavich was placed on the city of Chicago ’s payroll for what reason remains to this day a mystery. Mell had powerful connections, and as a result was mainly responsible for Bagojavich’s election to the Illinois State House as a democrat. Four years later, he won a seat in the House of Representatives. Blagojavich and Mell had a nasty public feud in 2005, when the Governor cited a relative’s business for environmental concerns. Mell lashed back with accusations of abuse in selling state jobs. Those remarks were later withdrawn, but not before the federal and state authorities curiosity was peaked and they began investigations. While he has been governor for the past six years, he has been under federal investigation for the past four. Interestingly enough, Blagojavich ran as a reformer and replaced republican George Ryan who was found guilty of fraud when he was Illinois Secretary of State. Blagojavich was re-elected to his seat in 2006, despite numerous accusations of unethical dealings too numerous to list. Amazingly, he is the fourth out of the past eight governors to be indicted on charges of corruption. In addition to the latest fiasco, Blagojavich is charged with “shaking down” officials at a children’s hospital, attempting to finagle $50,000.00 in exchange for reimbursing the hospital for pediatric care. As horrifying as that may be, perhaps he should have considered discreet payday loans to bolster his campaign.

PRAY FOR OUR STATE

The Greater St. John Bible Church’s Rev. Ira Acree met with Blagojavich in his home early Friday morning. The Rev. referred to his meeting with the Governor; albeit briefly, in his sermon on Sunday. Nevertheless, he offered no details, except to say that “everyone deserves pastoral counsel” and that “…no matter what your political position is, pray for our state.” No matter what your beliefs are, it definitely could not hurt to enlist some divine intervention in Illinois’ state of affairs as they are facing hard choices ahead. Considering that the circumstances of the Governor and the vacant Senate seat may be a costly venture for taxpayers, it probably couldn’t hurt to take out payday loans to fund what could be a special election.