Sources Question Governor's Story (Sanford's car left at Atlanta's airport)

[IndianaGreen]

Source: WYFF Channel 4 Greenville

Sources Question Governor's Story

Gov. Mark Sanford Says He Disappeared To Go Hiking

POSTED: 5:01 pm EDT June 23, 2009

On Tuesday, sources told News 4's Nigel Robertson that a state vehicle is missing and was tracked down, not to the Appalachian Trail, but to the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta.

Sources told Robertson that a federal agent spotted Sanford in the airport boarding a plane. Robertson was told that the governor was not accompanied by security detail.

<snip>

But sources told WYFF News 4 that the federal agent who spotted Sanford saw him at the Atlanta airport, which is about 80 miles from the start of the trail.

WYFF News 4 has not yet confirmed where the plane was going or how the governor got to the airport, but it is clear there are two very different stories.

News 4 called the governor's office, and was told again by staffers that they stand by their original statement that the governor is hiking the Appalachian Trail. They did not want to comment on this story.



Read more: http://www.wyff4.com/news/19837234/detail.html

[Pirate Smile]

1. Oh, goodie!

[saigon68]

27. He should just COME OUT

After watching his pal Larry Craig lose credibility and his job, this repuke should just tell it like it is.

But the BACKWOODS RUSTICS AND NUT JOB CHRISTIANS who voted for him will be unmerciful.

[opihimoimoi]

2. He is in Bora Bora sipping them umbrella drinks under a tree looking at them Vahines

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. The longer he stays lost, the better.

Chalk this moran up to "Not a serious rising star contender" status.

[Dennis Donovan]

4. Something is amiss with the official story...

...unless he boarded a jet and then parachuted into the Appalachian trail ala DB Cooper.

[Yupster]

20. Yes

I don't think we've gotten very close to the real story on this one.

[Rhiannon12866]

28. "What could be so bad that this is the cover story?" KO

Something's definitely amiss, since the story makes no sense. Either he's irresponsible or he's in trouble, neither of which bodes well for any future aspirations that he might have...

[pnwmom]

5. So? He could have started hiking anywhere along the trail, which runs

all the way to Maine.

[DallasNE]

6. It Depends On The Meaning Of "Is"

I take "is" to mean in the present tense. So that wasn't the question. Where was the Governor for the 4 missing days. I expect the press to keep on top of this story precisely because it doesn't pass the smell test. This guy takes bizzare to a new level and his wife isn't far behind.

[global1]

7. What - No Airports In South Carolina?........nt

[seafan]

8. There was a BIG fundraiser in DC last night and in Atlanta tonight.

May or may not be related, but will add this info to Sanford's now unraveling story.


From Tampa Bay's The Buzz:

June 23, 2009

.....

But Crist has spent the past two days fundraising, including an event in D.C. yesterday and one this evening in Atlanta. .....

The Washington event drew John McCain (Ariz.), John Cornyn (Texas), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Orrin Hatch (Utah), Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Richard Burr (N.C.), Olympia Snowe (Maine) and Florida's Mel Martinez. Crist's former chief of staff, lawyer George LeMieux, tagged along at the D.C. event Tuesday night and declined to estimate how big a financial haul Crist's campaign received. "They did well," he said.

The Atlanta event (click image to enlarge) shows as invited guests Georgia Aerospace Systems' Thomas Mensah; both Georgia U.S. senators, Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss; Gov. Sonny Perdue; and attorney Willie Gary.

More names here, including Florida Sen. Tony Hill. The Democratic lawmaker told the Buzz that he was not attending. Hill teamed up with Kendrick Meek (the Democratic candidate for Senate) in the famous sit-in at the Florida Capitol in January 2000 to protest Gov. Jeb Bush's changes to minority contracting policy.

Hill said he is friends with Mensah and that Mensah put his name on the fundraiser without his consent. "People do things without consulting you," Hill said. "Man, I'm a member of the DNC."

Crist's schedule shows in back in the capital tomorrow.

And Sanford is *due to return to work tomorrow* as well.



S. C. Governor Mark "I was just hiking the Appalachian Trail" Sanford

This story has been quite the buzz on the East Coast this week. South Carolina's Republican governor is one of the likely presidential candidates in 2012. He seems to have an odd habit of simply dropping out. As of Monday, his wife said she didn't have a clue where he was ... today he promises to return from points unknown tomorrow.

Maybe this is his way of saying "government needs to just get out of the way." But even spun that way, I don't think these headlines will help his chances in 2012.

Your story is bogus, Governor.

[hvn_nbr_2]

9. He thought Naked Hiking Day was on the aisle of a 767. nt

[theothersnippywshrub]

10. Does Sanford have a wide stance? n/t

[Hawkeye-X]

11. Watch YET another governor get impeached

Watch..

[Mz Pip]

12. Has anyone actually seen Sanford

since last week? Actually seen him? 6 days is a long time to be wandering in the wilderness. Did he have a Sherpa with him? How is he carrying all those supplies?

I've been backpacking in the wilderness and a 6 day trip takes a lot of planning and quite a lot of supplies.

[Politicalboi]

18. He took the Governors crash course

Of survival.

[Mz Pip]

21. Sigh

That's my governor.

Say what you will but Sanford ain't no Ahnold. At least Ahnold has enough sense to want the stimulus money. Hell,he'd be happy to take money from any state that would want to reject it.

[Dakota Flint]

13. Do not be alarmed

The Governor was flown to a secret, undisclosed location to receive special reprogramming from the High Overlords.

[Happyhippychick]

14. Upon hearing the news that the nation is "shocked" at his disappearance, Gov. Sanford raced back to

SC immediately and released a public statement.

Oh, wait. That didn't happen.

[DarthDem]

15. I'm Impressed That . . .

. . . this story is drawing MEDIA* attention. Amazing!! I mean, occasionally it is good for residents of a given state to have some idea where their state's governor is.


*actual media, such as it is - - I doubt Faux News will be carrying much on this story

[asteroid2003QQ47]

16. Sanford was spotted hours later at the NORTH end,,,

(yes, the trail has TWO ends!) of the Appalachian Trail disembarking his jet at the Katahdin Jetport atop scenic Mt. Katahdin.
He avoided reporters by foregoing a planned stop at the lodge and instead quickly dropped off the mountaintop thus commencing his long arduous hike back to South Carolina.
Atta boy, Guv! Whatta guy!

[jasmeel]

17. Why were federal agents looking for him in Atlanta? This story

makes no sense..But at least its a repub and not a dem

[tkmorris]

19. It's the airport

Airports always have federal agents in them, and presumably at least a few of them know what the man looks like. I am guessing they weren't looking for him specifically, but they knew him when they saw him.

[Suji to Seoul]

22. Why do I smell a mistress and a cheap hotel in the near future?

eom

[IndianaGreen]

23. Sanford belongs to the 'wide stance' political party

Could be a mistress, a hooker (male or female), or a same sex lover.

Juicy!

[IndianaGreen]

24. VIDEO: Where is Gov. Sanford?

http://www.wyff4.com/video/19840565/index.html

[IndianaGreen]

25. UPDATE: Car believed to be Sanford's found at South Carolina airport

June 23, 2009

Car believed to be Sanford's found at South Carolina airport


The car is believed to be the one
Sanford used to leave town.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) – The black Chevy Suburban believed to have been used by South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford to leave town has been found in the parking lot of Columbia Metropolitan Airport.

CNN was alerted to its location by a law enforcement official.

Sanford is expected to return to Columbia tomorrow after a mysterious six-day absence. His office has said the governor, a possible 2012 presidential candidate, has been hiking the Appalachian Trail to clear his head after a tough legislative session.

The SUV is outfitted with blue police lights and two-way radio. Inside the vehicle: A baseball cap, running shoes, sunscreen, a pair of shorts, a canvas bag and a sleeping bag.

A parking permit for the school attended by Sanford’s children is visible on the windshield.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/06/23/car-bel...

[BrightKnight]

26. Nobody would fly in to section hike the AT in GA this time of year.

The Georgia AT is a very early or very late season hike. The only people on the Georgia AT now are locals and very late starting through hikers. The weather is very hot and that section of the trail is very strenuous. Also, there are more scenic sections of the trail closer to where he lives. If he is going to fly somewhere to backpack why the hell would he choose Georgia.

I would strongly defend anybodies need for a little trail time. I am going to have to call bullshit on his story. He is apparently trying to cover up something indefensible.

[Jawja]

29. A flight to the Atlanta airport

is not necessary to get on the AT in Georgia. A drive from South Carolina into Northeast Georgia is all that is needed.

I grew up in the Northeast Georgia/South Carolina border area and have hiked on the Trail. His story makes no sense whatsoever.

[Blandocyte]

30. Maybe he checked himself into a hospital

for "exhaustion." Time was too short for rehab, except detox phase. Long enough for a voluntary psych admit, get stabilized, check out.

True test of whether he was hiking the App. Trail: Did he come back COVERED IN TICKS?

[a la izquierda]

31. CNN Just in...

Sanford was in ARGENTINA!!!!!

[BrightKnight]

32. .

[IndianaGreen]

34. Don't cry for me Argentina, the truth is I never left you...

Just getting caught up on Wednesday's events. Wow!

Can't wait to read the newer LBN threads on Sanford.

[a la izquierda]

35. Listening to KO narrate the emails last night...

was priceless, simply because he played that song in the background.

[BrightKnight]

33. Perhaps he was there for a "New Triumph Party" fundraiser. - n/t