I'm confused by the Sanford scandal.

[LiberalFighter]

His wife knew about the affair and threw him out of the house 2 weeks ago.

Sanford goes to Argentina to be with his preferred love.

His wife doesn't stand at his side when he reveals his infidelity.

His wife now thinks he deserves another chance and is willing to forgive him?


How exactly did he give her a sense that that their marriage was back on track when he went to Argentina?

[leftstreet]

1. I'm confused about who had the 'magnificent' body parts

and how exactly do you get a 'tanline' on a penis?

[Pool Hall Ace]

26. Uh . . . he's uncircumcised?

Peel back the foreskin and everything is lily-white.

[Thrill]

2. Shes just trying to give him cover

She probably agreed to say that instead of standing up there beside him like a fool

[nxylas]

3. I think that's between him and his wife

If Sanford deserves to be punished, it's for his dereliction of duty, not his private life.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

8. His affair may have been private

but the hypocrisy (Sanford was to be a featured speaker at the Values Voters Coalition, and was the loudest voice calling for Clinton's impeachment), lies (conducting an illicit affair for a year while holding office; lying about his whereabouts even when a Federal Marshal saw him at the airport in Atlanta),
squandering of government money (he has already announced he'll pay back the state of SC for flying to NYC or Argentina for illicit banging), and adultery (a crime in SC) are why he needs to be punished.

I'm sorry, but there is really no need to jump to this ass clown's defense.

[nxylas]

11. I'd never jump to Sanford's defense

I just want him to be criticized for the right reasons (which I think you did).

[Milspec]

17. "adultery (a crime in SC)" is that so?

Felony?

[Sanity Claws]

4. I also wondered about that

It's hard to figure out the dynamics of a relationship. I got the impression that she is very much in charge in this relationship and that Sanford really loved his mistress. His mistress was not a fling but a genuine emotional attachment.

[glowing]

5. look for the post about "southern speak" and it will clue you in as to the

statements. The wife knew... she's slaughtering him. AND she's the one with the money, brains, and her "pool boy" left no trails.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. She's paving the way for her own political career

By saying she'd take him back and quoting the Bible and all, she's playing to the fundamentalist Xian base that she hopes will vote her into office. Remember she was her husband's campaign manager and she is independently wealthy.

[dgibby]

9. Actually, she's hanging him out to dry,

Southern women have the ability to cut your throat and you wouldn't even notice until your head rolled off you shoulders and bounced across the floor. She's beating him to death with the Bible and his fundie beliefs. What a woman!

[dgibby]

7. Here's something that might help you.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5921275

It explains Jenny Sanford far better than anything else I've read on the subject.

[LiberalFighter]

10. Good thread to read.

I have to say that Sanford is not too smart. At his press conference he apologized to the other woman before apologizing to his wife and kids.

[vaberella]

12. Women are a contradictory species...I've come to realize that, being a woman.

I don't try to analyze them and I realized this is the reason I would never be good in a long lasting lesbian relationship---besides thinking a vagina is similar to a venus flytrap, which grosses me out considerably when I think on it too long. Women in general are slightly neurotic. :rofl: I've come to terms with my neurosis, if you're wondering. :D

[Stargazer09]

16. :)

I never consciously made the connection between a vagina and a venus flytrap before now, and I doubt I'll ever get it out of my brain. Thanks! :rofl:

I have also come to terms with my own neurosis, but I'm still trying to figure out my female friends and their personality quirks.

[Milspec]

18. OMFG " venus flytrap"

Had I heard that about 35 years ago my life would be a lot different LOL.
:toast: :beer: :yourock: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[vaberella]

23. LOL. It's the story of my life...I seriously can't get over the similarity in my head.

I'll take penis any day of the week. :rofl:

[gauguin57]

13. Details of the affair, his wife's reaction and those icky emails are none of our beeswax.

(... though his wife kind of made her reaction our business, handing out a statement to reporters and all).

BUT: His irresponsibility to his office makes his future something for the people of South Carolina (his employers) to decide.

His hypocrisy is everyone's business.

[Bluenorthwest]

14. She is a political professional

and managed all of his campaigns. That is what you see. A political performance.

[Stargazer09]

15. She may just be saying that

She may be giving him the option of returning, IF he has discovered that his girlfriend is not all he thought she was.

In a lot of cases of infidelity, it's not just one person who is to blame. People move apart, marriages get neglected, etc. It sounds like she's smart enough to acknowledge that their marriage needs work, but only if he wants to make it work. She can't do it alone.

Chances are that she knows deep down that it's over, but she doesn't want her sons to know that she's completely given up. Things get much more complicated when children are involved, even if the adulterer wasn't a public figure. It's a mess, and no matter how you look at it, it's an ugly situation.

Personally, I don't think she really wants him back, but she's concerned about her public image in a very conservative part of the country. As much as I hate to say it, if she completely kicks him to the curb right now, the world will think that she's some sort of bitch and that he's better off with his girlfriend. It's sad, but I've met a lot of women who feel that way; instead of commiserating with their cheated-upon friend, they will blame her for her husband not being able to control himself around other women.

I wouldn't stand by his side, either. Then again, I wouldn't even offer to take him back, no matter how much the children might want me to do so. However, I'm not her.

[Milspec]

19. Wow Stargazer...

That was one of the most insightfull, and intelligent posts on this thread. Thank you.

tee hee (You married, if not , whats your feeling about older men, say, late 50's)

[Stargazer09]

27. Voice of experience

Unfortunately, my first husband cheated on me, so I can certainly understand the stay/don't stay dilemma. It's not easy when kids are involved.

Thanks for the compliment. :D

(Yes, I am married.)

[LatteLibertine]

20. Like someone else said

I don't dislike Sanford for the affair. I dislike his ilk for always judging others and pushing "family values" while being first rate hypocrites.

Don't demand others live their lives in a manner that you are unwilling or unable to do.

[Clio the Leo]

21. I'm more confused over how her husband thought he could get away with....

.... NOT trying to take that stimulus money.

The putz.

THOU SHALL NOT CROSS THE OBAMA!!!!!

[griloco]

22. i foresee more to the story

he went into entirely too much detail
for it to be the truth, the whole truth, and nbtt.
my guess is he's known her longer than he admitted
and/or he's had other affairs.

[JTFrog]

24. She thought he was her ticket to the White House. Since he hasn't resigned or been forced out,

she can still pretend it might happen someday. If he is forced to resign then divorce is imminent.

[yellerpup]

25. Didn't he say that he had "cried for the past five days" when he returned?

I thought his reason for going was to break up with his lover. That may have been a condition of his wife letting him back into the family and why she is willing to give him another chance. As for his wife not standing by his side while he confesssed his adulterous relationship, why should she? Why share a national spotlight of shame when it's not your shame? Why become an object of pity and derision for his sake? He f**ed up, he should fix it (if possible).