Yeah, where do they find guys like this? South Carolina, too small to be a country, too big to be an insane asylum.

"Hey, I know you are my wife, but I need you to be my friend...a "sounding board" so to speak. Should I publicly screw you my wife over and go to my mistress who has my heart?"

I'm sorry, although I understand that people have affairs, I cannot for one moment imagine going to the person I am cheating on, and asking her/him if I should stop cheating and "follow my heart"! Unbe-freakin'-leavable!

Let's all say a quiet prayer that unlike John Edwards, this man never ran for President.

Sad just really sad.

The only difference between the corrupt embarrassing politicians of my home state and our southern neighbor is ours are Democrats and theirs are Republicans. Old "Nature Boy" can hang up his political career for now. Of course by the time Lindsey Grahamnesty is up for reelection he might well be able to mount a challenge since the public's memory is fairly short for non felonious offenses!!

The ironic thing his that those high up, party faithful had to have known what kind of arrogance, self-righteous, schmuck Mark Sanford wasthen and is now. I guess as long as he hadn't been caught they could continue to support the man who as far as the public was concerned, was the good, righteous, conservative that her purported himself to be.

He must really love that chick or something. "Blinded by the love", perhaps. Either that, or he's just plain whacked. In any case, pretty poor judgment, no matter how you slice it.

Sanford, Demint, & Wilson all still in office in South Carolina. What a farce! Why doesn't the Republican Party clean up this mess.

I viewed a picture of his mistress....no great shakes, he must and better be in prime-time love with her.

As for consulting his wife for such advice with no regard for her feelings, well, she needs to clear out or throw him out. This guy's brain is addled.

This woman knew the rat that she was married to... there were other women. She acted like an insecure and desperate woman by trying to stay with him and "not" reveal the affair. Now she writes a book about it... it's just disgusting. These women (anyone say Edwards) stay with these scumbags while it benefits them and then drop them like a hot potato when the right time comes. They all disgust me (with NO regard for their children, which should be a mother's top priority), I feel horrible for the poor children c born into this life of misery and slavery to power and its effect. What's more disgusting is the reaction of SC state assembly to this piece of SHlT after he disappeared for 5 days. Imagine if you walked out of your job for five days, you would not be able to stay on for months after the fact. Just inane and ALL based on individual stakes and profit.

She said that he was a good father figure... yeah right. Richard Simmons is a better father figure than this lying and cheating dip@!$%#. They are ALL going to hell if there is such a place... they are all in fact non believers or they would not behave in this manner.

My understanding is that no one can stand the Lieutenant Governor and they are all desperately afraid that if they impeach Sanford, the Lt. Gov. might do a good enough job to get elected to the full job, when they were planning for him to lose in the primary.

It will serve them right if instead they get a Democratic Governor. Petty fools more concerned with their own prospects than the good of the people they are supposed to represent.

You read the article and took time to post about. Pot, meet kettle.

It was a free article and an assessment after reading it. You must be bored, but your jab doesn't exactly apply.

I am glad Jenny wrote this book. Many women find themselves in the same painful rollercoaster. Women ( and men for that matter) who come forward and share their own experiences of infidelity can often help others who are stuck and unable to move past their own nightmare. My heart sank for her when she shared just how selfish her husband was to ask about his own happiness to pursue this woman in Argentina. How cruel could he be? These affairs cause excruciating pain and life altering changed. Good for Jenny to come forward and tell her story.

No, most women (and men) do NOT find themselves in the position Jenny Sanford is in. She has bankrolled her husbands political aspirations, as well as run his campaigns. She has been the background to his foreground in ways that most people would never dream of, and he re-payed her for her hard work by not only having an affair, which I believe she would have forgiven, but he made a public spectacle of not only her but himself with those asinine press conferences he held as if they were some sort of public therapy sessions!

In this case, I also do not blame Jenny Sanford for her book. She and her children have been humilated in a way that most people are not even capable of, and she deserves to have her side of the story heard.

The story was already all out in the media so this is one time I will forgive her for writing a book to make a little money to support herself and her children.

Mel - Shes rich. She did not need the money. I think its a disgrace that this wealthy woman decided to put out a book about her husbands affair. Its trashy.

More importantly, why hasn't this scumbag been impeached already. Are we going to allow poloticians to lie and steal from us and remain in office?

More importantly, why hasn't this scumbag been impeached already.

If lying to the public and extramarital affairs were grounds for impeachment, half the statehouses in the country would be empty. Unless this guy lied under oath about his whereabouts or misused public money to travel down to Argentina, it really is not a legal issue.

I really have to wonder what sort of an adult man would ask his wife how he should publicly address his marital infidelity. His wife should have told him to paint his ass blue, and attend the press conferences buck naked. If he asks, "Will that help!?", she should reply, "Well, it will give people something else to talk about.".

Merle: It's trashy...unlike him.

I think it's obvious she's trying to distance herself from him, unlike Hillary, who went along with Bill's affairs and pretended all was well for political expediency.

Lying and cheating seem to be the norm in politics.

Michael - Clinton was impeached. Hillary did not write a book about her husbands affair. The Clintons did not disclose their private conversations, now did they? Now, what do the Clintons have to do with this? HMMM? Still trying to measure everything according to the Clintons is a bit slow.

Ibikfor, there is NO similarity - whatsoever - between Ms Sanford and Ms Woods.

Tiger never asked Ms Woods for her thoughts on how to mitigate the damage from revelations that he was unfaithful to her.

Hey, I feel bad for her, but what's up with writing a book about it? She already has more money than she knows what to do with, she gets dumped by her husband and then reveals all the dirty laundry associated with it to make a few bucks. These high and mighty people are all the same: me, me, me, and they get richer all of the time by doing the simplest things just because they are entitled to. Like her kids aren't going to read the book someday? Is nothing sacred anymore? Her memoirs? She was on Wall Street for a few years screwing us all over, then she married some twit who wanted to be governor of one our most backwater states, adding up to the most incredibly boring story of our time, and ends up making a few bucks on it. If she had any class or sense of decency,she would donate the money to a charitable cause and then shut up like all of us who have gone the same grind without writing a book about it. Please, enough of this crap and don't buy the stupid book. Hey, this is no excuse for what the guy did, but it's status quo in those circles- not a big surprise, but then they turn around and make money off of their own misery and we are foolish enough to buy into it. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of these women also have a bit of side action, but we always get the "Madison County" syndrome effect about how they were under appreciated or unloved to justify it, but men are just dirt bags.

I think its a disgrace that this wealthy woman decided to put out a book about her husbands affair. Its trashy.

Geez, you people talk as if this book is ONLY about the affair. Try reading intelligently - Ms. Sanford's book is her MEMOIR and covers her entire life. Would you expect her to write about her life and NOT include the affair? That would be as dishonest as her husband's actions.

If lying to the public and extramarital affairs were grounds for impeachment, half the statehouses in the country would be empty. Unless this guy lied under oath about his whereabouts or misused public money to travel down to Argentina, it really is not a legal issue.

Your statement in your first sentence is incorrect. "Impeachment" does not mean throwing someone out of office. It is only the act of bringing charges against a person. Traditionally, it has been used in reference to bringing such charges against a politician, but it can be used in any situation where charges of misconduct are brought. Bill Clinton was impeached, but not removed from office. Andrew Johnson was also impeached in 1868 and barely escaped losing the Presidency.

As to your second statement - I believe he DID use public funds for the trip to Argentina. Even if he used his "personal" funds, the money was probably his wife's anyhow. And even if it's not a "legal" issue, it IS a matter of ethics - and that in itself is grounds for impeachment.

She wrote the book because she had some juicy stuff to write about. No one would be reading it if she didn't reveal the affair stuff. Oh, like she had planned to wirte a book about her exciting Wall Street life and privilaged blue blood life before hubby stepped out on her? Please, no way..

What has Mrs. Sanford done that makes her life worthy of a "memoir"? She was born rich. She was a stock broker. She ran a gubernatorial campaign (with lots of paid consultants). Oh yeah, that's exactly what everyone wants to read about.

Your statement in your first sentence is incorrect. "Impeachment" does not mean throwing someone out of office. It is only the act of bringing charges against a person.

vjcole - Impeachment is the decision to bring the elected official to trial, which one does not do unless there is a high probability that an impeachable offence has been commited. Clinton was impeached because he lied about his illicit affair while giving a sworn deposition in a legal proceeding, not because he cheated on his wife.

Bless your innocent heart for thinking marital infidelity, even when it invovles international travel, rises to the level of an impeachable offence. But if it did, then half the politicians in this country would be facing impeachment.

Governor Sanford was certainly a thoughtless cad and an idiot to boot. But the South Carolina legislature should not be spending their time worrying about his political fate. He may still be in office, but his political career is as dead as an armadillo attempting to cross an interstate highway during rush hour.

Unbelievable, Then prey tell why are you on here commenting?

bluewildcat, Its called MONEY...

What is it with people these days- can't they keep their dicks in their pants so it can stay private.

Remember, if they weren't so busy @!$%#ing anything that moved, these women wouldn't have stories to tell..

Oh yeah, and the of course, it's more interesting to read because the men were HYPOCRITES who decided to play with the public.

Theresa - If you are a public figure, you'd best realize you have very little of a private life, and when an affair comes to light in such a bizarre manner as did Governor Sanford, it is an invitation to a 3 ring media circus.

The reason they write books is about controlling their story; get it out in your words before the relentless media sleazebags get it out for you.

I agree- men would start being more faithful to women if they women would behvae as them and not give them a second chance for infidelity. In the end, they know that were are going to forgive them and only something extreme usually only causes women to leave. But I support her book.

If Hilary would have dumped Bill and not stayed with him . Maybe this jerk would not have done the same thing. I am glad Jenny is getting rid of him. She has more courage and I have more respect for her. She is just calling it what it is , wrong. I feel sorry he did that to his kids and Jenny. What a jerk for still asking her for help. I guess he knows she is grounded and makes better choices. Thank you Jenny for divorcing him and giving our kids a good example.

If Hilary would have dumped Bill and not stayed with him . Maybe this jerk would not have done the same thing.

Are you kidding? Are you trying to blame Hillary for Mark Sanford's indiscretions? If not, then whats is the purpose of the comment?

You right fighters are amazing. How did Hillary staying with Bill, have anything to do with loser Sanford? She stayed because she wanted to, wasn't made to, and she could have made it without him, but if you had read her book (which did not deal with Bill's affair) in the very end she said why she stayed. It was very simple, she loved him, and that is her decision to make so we all need to shut-up about Bill and Hillary, unless all of us are pure as the driven snow and I do not think that is the case.

Lynn - It is a typical righteous winger response. The right did something wrong so we'll blame it on the left. And the intellectually bankrupt followers buy right in.

Easy - he ran his campaign on being a family man and a Christian. Like the rest of the Reps that lied and cheated.

One could say Edwards would make a good Rep. He too claimed he cared about his family.

Sorry EDD. He (Sanford) is an complete hypocrite. "Christian family man", calling for Clinton to resign after his affair. He absolutely belongs in the Republican party.

One could say Edwards would make a good Rep. He too claimed he cared about his family.

Couldn't agree more. Edwards makes my skin crawl.

EDD, I didn't know dogs had any politicial affiliation...

Considering that most people in politics were married well before they ever became politicians, that's kind of a stupid statement.

I think Worry's comment was tongue-in-cheek. "Bookshelves are getting full." lol

He is term limited. This is his final year as governor. If he had any honor he'd have stepped down, but he doesn't so he didn't.

I would add complete sadist to the list of this sleazy jerk's bad qualities.

"Oh honey, I've found my soulmate and it isn't you. How should I handle this in the media? Do you think it would look bad for me to go to Argentina to be with her?"

Yeah, what woman doesn't want to hear that from her cheatin' weasel ex? Hope there is a hell so he can rot in it.

Well said

Not in my opinion, it isn't. In my book, part of being a good marital partner is providing your spouse with as much support as possible in his/her business endeavors. In Ms. Sanford's case, she felt that managing his campaigns was the best contribution she could make.(She might have also felt that since it was her money paying for the campaigns, it would be a good idea if she knew exactly how it was being spent!) How does that make her any less of a wife OR cause her to lose her "womaness"? (The word you were looking for is "womanliness", by the way.) Let me ask you a question, Ellen. If you owned your own business and your husband happened to be the best candidate for a position in the company, would you refuse to hire him solely because you were married to him? If you were just starting a business and your husband offered to serve as a consultant, would you refuse his assistance? If your answer to either of those questions is "no", then I don't see how you can condemn Ms. Sanford.

really??

You are absolutely right.

Shawn, I'm a woman and I absolutely agree with you. Historically, men have been the ones who cheated, but recent studies have shown that women are starting to catch up in that department. The one difference is that men are more likely to cheat for sexual reasons, while women are more likely to cheat for emotional reasons. Not saying that is true across the board, just what is mostly true. I also believe that when a man cheats, the woman or women he cheats with should be condemned just as much as he is. I would cut some slack to a woman in everyday life who gets involved with someone that she doesn't know is married. But in cases like Mark Sanford, John Edwards, and Tiger Woods, the women KNEW the man was married, and decided to cheat anyhow. And before anyone says it - yes, I know that Sanford and Edwards claimed to be "in love" with the other woman. However, I doubt that they fell in love BEFORE they slept with those women. Even if they did, the honorable thing to do, if they felt they absolutely could not live without the "other woman", would be to ask for a divorce. But these jerks wanted to have their cake and eat it too - they wanted to have the wife at home taking care of the home and family, and still have something on the side. As for the "other woman" in these cases - yes, I can understand that they might have fallen in love with one of these jerks - but that doesn't mean they had to pursue it. You can't control your emotions, but you can control your actions. (I speak from experience - in my younger days, I DID fall in love with a married friend - but I had the sense to realize that getting involved in any way would be wrong - and I made every effort to distance myself from him whenever possible.)

Shawn. Trust me, you only hear about the bad ones. I've been married for almost 50 years and have remained faithful and my husband has as well. A successful marriage takes commitment and honesty. I also know a lot of people who are happily married. So don't be afraid of marriage. It really is good.

I wonder if it addresses whether they had any level of intimacy in their relationship in recent years.

What does that have to do with anything? I'm tired of hearing the excuse of "well, he probably cheated because he wasn't getting it at home". Sorry, but the marriage vows don't say "I take you for better or for worse, or until you stop putting out."

It was all business for both of them. Any wonder why he was looking for romance?

Grace and dignity? In writing a book? Just a function of perspective I guess.

No...not as demonstrated by writing a book. I was referring to her moving out of the governor's mansion immediately to ensure her kids privacy. Letting the media know, when asked, that her husband's career was the least of her current concerns. Continuing to perform "first lady" duties as required.

Does it occur to you at all that maybe the reason Ms. Sanfor had that contract drawn up was that she was trying to save her marriage and protect her children from pain and humiliation? Or are you so misogynistic that you can only see this as trying to screw her worthless husband? "Blackmail", indeed.

He didn't sign on and she wrote a book. I feel sorry for them both and the kids too.

Considering SHE'S the one with the money in the family, I don't think she needs to be too concerned about the divorce settlement. Plus, with all the publicity around Mark Sanford's affair, she didn't need to say anything else about it to show what a sleazebag he is.