THE LATEST CHAPTER IN A SOUTH CAROLINA SOAP OPERA THAT JUST WON’T END
In years past former S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford and his wife Jenny would send cute Christmas cards to thousands of South Carolinians on their campaign mailing list. These annual greeting always featured an updated family photo, a Bible verse (selected by Mrs. Sanford) and a brief recap of what the couple’s four boys had been up to over the prior twelve months (written by Mrs. Sanford).
The exploits of the family’s black Labrador retrievers even got an occasional mention …
This endearing holiday tradition came to a screeching halt three years ago when Mark Sanford took his infamous “hike along the Appalachian Trail” – torpedoing his promising national political career and nearly getting thrown out of the South Carolina governor’s office in the process.
Obviously this was due to the fact the governor wasn’t hiking the trail – he was in Argentina with his Latin lover, Maria Belen Chapur, which he tearfully copped to at a rambling press conference at the S.C. State House in June 2009.
Not content with the initial damage done to himself and his family, Sanford compounded his problems by perpetually oversharing about his feelings for Chapur – and nearly lost his job as a result of an ensuing ethics investigation into his travel practices as governor. Among other abuses, Sanford’s Commerce Department spent tax dollars on a 2008 South American “economic development” trip during which the governor had a romantic rendezvous with Chapur.
Sanford ended up reimbursing taxpayers for this trip and paying $74,000 in fines associated with his various violations. He was also censured by state lawmakers – but avoided impeachment.
What didn’t he avoid? Getting divorced – and having his wife turn the whole “woman scorned” thing into a cottage industry.
And that’s where our soap opera left off two years ago …
Well guess what South Carolina, whether you like it or not “As The Sanfords Turn” is back – with a vengeance.
Within the last month, Jenny Sanford made a five-person short list for a soon-to-be vacant U.S. Senate seat. Meanwhile her ex-husband has signaled his intention to run for the U.S. Congressional seat he held from 1995-2001 – an office Jenny was also rumored to be eyeing.
The Sanfords have been over then the news, in other words …
But behind the barrage of public headlines generated by reemergence of these two political animals, a private drama has also been playing out between the former couple – a soap opera which our sources say took a turn for the bizarre over the Christmas holidays.
The latest scene? A less-than-cordial face-to-face meeting between former governor and his ex-wife just prior to Christmas Day.
“Mark asked to see Jenny to talk about Christmas arrangements involving the boys,” a source close to the former S.C. First Lady tells FITS. “Jenny told Mark they could talk by phone but he was adamant that they speak in person. She declined. He persisted. She eventually gave in.”
When Sanford came by his ex-wife’s house for their conversation about holiday visitation, we’re told it quickly turned into a discussion about his desire to run for his old seat. Needless to say, Jenny was not keen on the notion.
“She asked him not to (run), not to put her and the kids through that,” our source says.
Sanford’s response?
Not only did he insist on jumping into the race, he actually asked her to reprise her role as his campaign manager (Jenny Sanford ran each one of her husband’s successful congressional and gubernatorial campaigns from 1994-2006).
Yeah …
“She was floored by the request,” our source says. “Her jaw hit the floor. It was salt in the wound after she begged him not to jump in. A total slap in the face to her.”
Obviously Jenny declined her ex-husband’s offer.
So who is running Sanford’s race? According to our sources he’s working with former campaign staffer Jason Miller. He’s also said to have retained Donehue Direct, the political consulting firm that employs his ex-spokesman Joel Sawyer.
“Team Mark” faces an uphill climb. According to a new Public Policy Polling (PPP) survey released last week, fifty-three percent of South Carolina voters have a negative opinion of Sanford compared to just 30 percent who view him in a favorable light. Among Republicans, 44 percent view him unfavorably compared to 39 percent who have a favorable impression.
Clearly his ex-wife remains in the former demographic despite the ex-governor’s show of faith in her abilities …
***
77 comments
Remember when Sanford made his rambling press conference about spending the “last 5 days crying in Argentina?” Well, after that press conference he called Jenny and asked “how did I do?” She went ballistic.
Now he asks her to be his campaign manager?
THE GUY DOES NOT HAVE A FUCKING CLUE!
In fact, he has never had a fucking clue. He was able to fool some of the people some of the time. That’s all.
Were some of the people fooled named Tom Davis and Sic Willie?
Sounds like he wants to help Jeb Bush in 2016. The Bush family is scared Texas will turn blue by then so Jeb Bush’s son has filed to run for office in Texas, not in Florida where daddy was governor. Mark Sanford says the one thing he wants to be remembered as is “conservative”. He is a sexual liberal, you know? He used his wife’s money to run for office. He devastated her and their kids when he told the world the woman in Argentina was his soulmate. He reappeared kissing his wife at Nikki Haley’s primary win and celebration after disappearing the second time with his girlfriend. Mark Sanford is the uglier John Edwards. Remember the Pork & Barrel pig poop? Remember the SC constitution was written to prevent a black man from becoming governor of SC? This Florida native doesn’t fit in in SC. Go away Mark!
He should have brought an excellentnbottlemof single malt scotch for this event
The way that piece of shit treats his family is a direct correlation of how he will vote, should he be elected. The man needs to move to Florida an just play golf for the rest of his life with that rancid snatch Maria.
Rancid? Sounds like you’ve been there already.
Hey, hey. Don’t call a snatch rancid unless u know!
So this is news? When did Msrk Sanford ever care about anything or anybody but himself? The pity is the people of SC elected this narcissist loser twice.
And, in that district he wants to run in now, they elected him 3 more times to Congress. That’s what makes this scary.
If he runs, I hope some enterprising journalist asks him over and over about how The Family/The Fellowship/C Street told him how to vote the last time he was up there.
Not only is he veering from the narcissistic into the sociopathic on the personality disorder continuum, he’s just plain stupid.
Maybe they can salvage some of the “Moral and Family Values” billboards for this run. That should be enough to get this brain-dead electorate to the polls.
Yawn . . . .
I can’t wait to read some of Donahue’s douchey-little self righteous rants about how unfair things are for poor Sanford. His pathetic moaning over Larry Martin’s competition was as unmanly as his bow-ties and self-flattering posturing!
Politics in this state would be more fun if the current generation of political “professionals” weren’t such pussies.
They are BACK only in the minds of the political opertive class known as FITS and Haley’s campaign stooges…..
They (and FITS allegiance to them) are WHAT is WRONG w/ SC politics…
They are not Royalty and we are not a monarchy…
Forget it. The people do not worship The Sanfords as FITS does. Nor do they pay us, as they pay him and Jon Lerner…
How in hell do you read this piece and conclude that Fits “worships” the Sandfords. I think most sane people would conclude that if he did, he’d have deleted the piece instead of posting it. It sure doesn’t paint a very flattering picture of the ex gov.
But I bet you voted for Sanford not once, but twice, didn’t you?
To publish this reference is an attempt to promote them…
That said: Your HATE for me defies all logic and reason…
If you radical leftwing nutjobs are not Disgusted w/ the Sanfords, you are even lower than the depths you admit…
Big T…. you fucking cock sucker!
Two buckets of cold spit!
I told you this before. At Furman he was a subpar student, who got by on family connections.
We all thought he was dumber than fuck. I mean it. Dumb.
Well, we see it now.
Interesting comment
Although I dont know him personally,even in public ,I was never very much impressed by him.Seemed to be the proverbial inch thick.Oh ,he had the vebiage down pat,but never came across as really understanding ,or particularly caring,what he said.Never saw much to the guy,yet many in SC seemed enamored of him.
Well I do wonder how he got two very wealthy and well-educated women to be interested in him and fall in love with him.
Forgot to add very pretty women as well to my previous post
Jenny Sanford pretty? I know beauty is subjective, but come on.
Dumb? He’s just motivated. He knows what a stamp of approval it would be to have Jenny as part of his team. God knows his engagement paid no dividends. Being so single-minded, he doesn’t care how it might offend and hurt his ex or their kids. He thinks that’s what reluctant conservatives might need to see to vote for him. He needs another government job for ego, prestige, cash flow, alimony, child care, health benefits?
His BIMBO is a reporter, don’t think she qualifies as wealthy. Her past history is one who preys on what she sees as rich and powerful johns.
Further proof that Sanford is a narcissistic jerk-off, like further evidence was needed.
I thought him taking to the pages of the newspaper to talk about frivolous gov’t spending – you know, cause this is a guy that got us to pick up his tab to get some puntang – was the Luv Guv at his most obtuse.
I was wrong.
Wesley, Joel, and Sanford all working together? The SC circus is back in town.
Sanford’s future wife(mistress Chapur)is a political groupie(one of her other affairs was with an Argentine politician) and he’s trying to make her happy…..Throwing his kids under the train will be a small price to pay,to make tango baby happy.Having sex with her at C Street is like the mile high club for politicians.Get ready C Street dwellers,Sanford wants you to meet”two magnificent parts”….after prayers of course.AMEN.
She may have given him an ultimate to do something with his life especially politics so she can brag to her family and friends that she is marrying an American congressman. The real mystery is why isn’t she around to help Mark? Can’t believe that she would approve Mark asking Jenny for help.
Slow news day, even for New Years Eve. As in the news is doing the back-stroke through molasses.
Can’t we just get rid of this guy? I mean what is it with him? Nobody wants to see him in office again. Two years after the affair and he’s already asking his ex-wife to run his campaign?
He needs therapy, and not the public kind as we’ve seen previously.
Poor Jenny – from this photo, it is easy to see why Mark thought MBC’s tits were “magnificent” – hope they make it onto the next Sanford Holiday card.
In contrast to his former wife who was under the thumb of Sanford and his penny pinching ways, Belen spends money on herself and her look, and its easy to, living in one of the cosmetic surgery capitals of the world. Who knows how many surgeries, including breast, that she has had as she nears fifty? She’ll probably encourage Sanford to get some hair grafting for his bald spots if he remains in her orbit.
Guessing that Sanford is using FITS to soften the Gag reflex…so the next time he surfaces, you will have gotten over the initiial disgust…
Hope it does not work…but who knows…look who is in the White House again…after what he did the first time…
Speaking of “gag” reflex
YOU BETCHA!
YOU BETCHA!
Wierdness going on here. Most of his kids are old enough to drive over to see him if they wanted to anyway… sounds like they don’t. Why doesn’t he enlist the aid of his fiancee, former political science major, multi-linqual, international commodities broker playgirl? She’s OK with JS as political adviser? Right about now, I’m thinking Chapur is seeing the light, and the stunt of their engagement is wearing off. Poor JS has to dance on the head of a pin to be cordial to this desperado for the sake of their sons.
Ah the hubris of an unempathetic, manipulative, self-absorbed, narcissist/sociopath.
“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.” — H. L. Mencken
Obviously this applies to SC’s governor as well.
Could it happen again to fill a senate seat? Why not? SC went for Newt in the GOP primary for crying out loud.
lol….Democracy=a form of entertainment until those subject to it realize the idiots elected by the mostly stupid mob are going to rule over them as well and there’s nothing that can be done to stop it(legally).
If Marky Mark is a narcissist, he’s obviously one of the more dumb members of that pathology club-as I bet most of them would never dare to ask such a question of their ex-wife…by definition wouldn’t they simply “go away” and not bother?
Good points, ?! Can’t say for sure when the moron in the WH entered the room. Dubya? Let’s say both parties are supporting nitwits…Fair enough?
I could make a case that could go all the way back to every president including George Washington himself.(and Jefferson)
Let’s not forget that Washington was such a cheery fellow that after leading the rabble to break away from King George in the name of taxation(without “representation”…lol) he promptly levied taxes on alcohol producers and stamped out dissent during Shays’ Rebellion.
If there ever was a founding hypocrite, it was him.
I’m not sure if that’s as bad as pulling teeth out of the heads of your slaves to replace the one’s that rotted out of your own head…but bad none the less in despite the fact he never proclaimed the wickedness of forced tooth extraction and then led a rebellion against it.
:)
edit: “in spite of the fact” (not “despite” obvously)
Yeah, Jenny seems to emphasize the differences between her and Miss Argentina. She may not be all bad – “the nearer the bone, the sweeter the meat.”
Male Narcissists can be a combination of charming, vulnerable,and unique in ways that might initially appeal to some women at certain times in their lives. I think that happened in the case of both his former wife and his former mistress. Once they see these guys for who they are, they spend the rest of the relationship with their jaws dropped and their mouths agape in disbelief. Or maybe its just a case of Aspergers?
How did this fucker ever get elected? Oh, right, South Carolina. Goobers voting for goobers, sheesh…
Amazing, I know! After Newt winnng this state, I will no longer be surprised by anything from SC voters.
Carrie also made a good point: How the hell does this guy get chicks, man? I’ll have to go with status and shallow women.
All of Mr. Sanford’s majestic mysteries will be revealed in his upcoming book. Currently untitled, he is using several working titles.
1> HOW TO BALL WITHOUT A CHAIN
2> YOU, TOO, CAN BECOME CATNIP TO WOMEN
3> READY, WILLING, AND DISABLED BY LOVE
While this wasn’t needed it does serve to re-affirm that Mark Sanford is a psycho/sociopathic pathetic individual who can’t and doesn’t see past the end of his nose.
He has no ability to understand extremely simple things if those things are not in his own self interest.
No ability to understand. He is a fucking Zombie only with less empathy.
“He is a fucking Zombie only with less empathy.”
I lol’d over that one bad! All hail George Romero.
Has this guy ever worked a day in his life? He marries rich and then spends his time ripping off tax payers in elected office.
If any of the above story is true, it seems that, unlike Mark, Jenny may have learned something about herself and how to live an authentic life. She should stay out of the spotlight, be a good Mom, and disassociate herself with her obviously psychotic ex.
Meanwhile,Paul Thurmond,the recently elected State Senator and runner up to Tim Scott in the Congressional race in 2010 ,announced today that he would not be running in the special election.
IMO, the best parts of Strom dribbled down his leg.
Q: Guys, did you read the FITS news on Mark asking Jenny Sanford to run his campaign?
A: Laughter (all).
A1: Mark the Fox-News commentator?
A2: Isn’t he still driving that tractor in the night, in circles?
A3: I thought his wife cut off his balls and he couldn’t walk.
A4: Do his boys still talk with that prick?
A5: Has anybody seen Chapur? What’s the word on her famous globes?
A6: Who in the world would vote for that motherfucker?
…A6…..SC family values Christians,who read the Bible verse for verse and believe the Bible,except the part about adultery,they have no problem with that part.When a family values Christian man votes for Sanford he’s either having an affair,had an affair,or would love to have an affair. When a family values Christian woman votes for Sanford,she’s doing what her husband told her to do…just before she cuts his MEAT for him………Oh wait ,that’s what I would do.
Will Folks would jump on Sanford’s band wagon in an Argentine minute if asked by Sanford. Sic would give his right testicle to hang out with Mark and Maria.
Just wait till Nikki Haley starts frying bigger fish in a couple of years. Will Folks will slap her story around like it owes him money.
We’ve received a galley proof of Will Folks book, and it is 377 blank pages.
We assume it is complete.
Sanford asked Jenny to be his manager for one simple reason. If she agrees to do it, it basically allows him to separate his personal life and political life and it gives him new life.
Think about it . . . ex wife, who hates him, decides to run his campaign–it is the ultimate separation of personal life and politics.
And Sanford knows that.
By the way, he is pretty thick skulled. The reason he has women around him? His dad was a doctor and Mark had the “appearance” of money. Then he picks an ugly rich girl, Jenny.
Now, having been governor, he finds a groupie in MBC.
In college, Sanford never dated the hot girl. They knew he was a dunce. He became a cheerleader just so he could stand around hot girls on a Saturday.
Wow! You are a mental giant. How did you pour a gallon of knowledge into that half-pint brain of yours?
Jenny Sanford would not run Mark’s campaign even if someone held her children hostage. And MBC a groupie? You gotta be kidding me. He is her groupie. He has no job, nor the prospect of one and his bank account is in no way enormous. And yet Sanford and MBC still hang out like love birds. Sanford must be one hell of a Tango dancer.
Judy: You missed my point. The reason Sanford asked her in the first place was his egocentric rationalization on “why” she should do it in the first place. Sanford is so caught up in his own world that this is his thought process–this is the reason he asked her to do it in the first place. (I have known Sanford for 30 years–trying to give you some insight on his lack of character.)
What Sanford and his clueless ego failed to realize is that no other sane person on the planet would have even bothered to ask her to do this. It is completely psychotic.
Judy: Also remember that Sanford kept telling MBC that he was on the short list of vice presidential nominees–that is when she became his groupie.
The minute Marco Rubio comes along and wants a 50 year old wrinkled rich girl, MBC will drop Sanford.
Mike, since you’ve known Mark for 30 years, can you tell us if Belen has ever been in SC and has she met Mark’s sons and family?
I see your point, Mike. Well said.
That woman must weigh 95 pounds soaking wet. If she took a special diet to fatten herself up, I’d consider looking at her. As long as she maintains the holocaust survivor look, I’ll have to vote for an ugly man. Nothing personal, Jenny, just the facts.
more Sanfraud promotion by WOMANBEATER WILL. he knows where his bread is buttered: howard rich via controlling agent jon lerner, which is the chain of command from whence he gets his marching orders, same as the sanfrauds. what’s sad is that jenny sanfraud cant be happy being a rich heiress, priviledged and living the good life, and instead of spreading her wealth far and wide to help all the little people and add a little light to their materially dim and insecure lives, she needs book tours, media attention, appearance on the view, the chew, wendy williams, piers morgan, ricki lake etc etc, and even that isnt enough: she needs to read about herself on WOMANBEATER WILL”S disinfo site. LOL! its so sad these lowlife elites cant just enjoy their lives and are obsessed by other people’s ambition for them and control over their lives (usually via blackmail over their sordid lives). but there’s a reason why these feudal overlords are chosen to rule the masses as puppets. and you see, regardless of their shame and public humiliation they keep coming back over and over. need proof? that lowlife k0ksukr newt gingrich won the SC presidential primary LOL!!!!!!!!! his personal record is at least 3 times worse than sanfraud, but the voters of SC chose him so OF COURSE sanfraud should be encouraged and optimistic about his chances here.
Gingrich may be a low-life but gives at least the appearance of scholar, historian, and an “ideas man.” He is also excellent at rebuttal. Sanford doesn’t have any of that going for him. His former wife has no real public ambitions. Her book tour was predicatable and quite tame; her charitable intentions are private and known by those who are close to her. She is actually quite frugal with herself and by no means a spendthrift.
As to her weight, she has always been a skinny thing from what I have seen, and the pressures of juggling this public and private tightrope with four teenage sons and a delusional former husband would make anyone fret.
We really don’t know what kind of conversation Mark and Jenny had. He may have asked Jenny to stay out of the race and help him instead thus the offer of being his campaign manager. That may have taken her by surprise who knows. I do believe that the major topic of their conversation involved their sons and to what effect the race would be for them. He may have offered to stay out if Jenny really wanted to get on the bandwagon. Who really knows what was said. There’s two sides of every story and we’ve heard one side so far.
Don’t think this is true. The original story is much more in line with the real Mark Sanford.
Mike, you may be right, but I saw the video of Chaney’s funeral. Jenny was digging into Mark by making references to how unhappy she was due to obvious reasons and said what she really wanted to do but didn’t do it. Mark laughed it off and did not show any anger towards Jenny. Their son was obviously embarrassed. I thought it was tacky for Jenny to do this. This may have made Mark wanting a private conversation with Jenny.
@ carrie….I saw the video of Jenny at the funeral and thought she was great…of course Sanford laughed,he’s a politician and he wants votes….The congregation laughed because what else are you going to do when you picture MS the idiot, with his pants around his ankles, getting caught by the state he governs???
It shows how far they have come along and healed that they can both laugh in public at Jenny’s deadpan humor as she pays tribute to a man who was know for his wisdom and patience. Maybe the kids were uneasy, couldn’t really tell but, it was a good thing to see.
Jenny will end up running his campaign. It will be like three love birds on summer South Carolina day.
She will help him for the sake of their children. If he wins, she will leave the boys with him and his sweetie, while she takes a one-year trip around the world with her new sweetie (name withheld by request). She will also have a place to stay whenever she visits DC. HAH!
I’m always amazed that pols have to risk their deep dark secrets being exposed. Gov. Nose puts
all of his crazy shit out there oblivious to the reaction by the public.
Maybe it’s terrific living your entire life emerged in ignorant bliss. Strange guy.
He clearly has some issues. I think if he were to keep his powder dry, he could have a shot at a US Senate office in 2014. But this much, this soon, it’s all so obviously egotistical and psychotic to do to his wife and children. Who does this?
I feel sorry for Jenny and the boys. It’s not going to be a good first quarter.
Finding Latin pussy and secluded beaches is all Sanford can work on at one time. He’s not good at multi-tasking.
Then ther is Nikki and the China trip. Must not bother Jenny.