In keeping with the ongoing speculation surrounding his political future, former South Carolina governor and two-time U.S. congressman Mark Sanford has re-launched his political website.
To what end, though?
Let’s ask him …
“In as much as a website represents a virtual bulletin board and a centralized place to catch up with me through the airwaves, I want to express my purpose in re-establishing this link,” the incessantly introspective ex-politician wrote. “In short form it’s that I still care, and want to make a difference where I can on two fronts.”
First, Sanford said he wants to address soaring federal deficits and the growing national debt, which he said has “been a bee in my bonnet for a long time.”
“We are nearing a point of no return on government spending, debt and accumulating deficits,” Sanford wrote. “Historically these are the things that have rotted civilizations from within. And what I find frightening is that seemingly no one in Washington is talking about this problem – and how this issue mathematically is now at our doorstep.”
That is absolutely true …
Having said that, Sanford’s lack of consistency on fiscal issues during his second stint in the U.S. congress was profoundly disappointing – and makes it impossible to take him seriously on this front moving forward
Second, Sanford said he wanted to “join with others in making a difference in the look and feel of the Lowcountry.”
“I care about land conservation, and when I was governor, more land was protected than during any other governorship in South Carolina’s history,” he wrote.
Protected? Or sold as part of sweetheart deals with wealthy developers?
Because one person’s “conservation” is another’s taxpayer-funded payday …
[su_dominion_video_scb]Anyway … where is Sanford going with all of this? That is the question …
As we noted earlier this week, Sanford’s moves have been drawing scrutiny ever since we published a column last month on his potential political reemergence.
Is he running for office again? If so … which office? And if so … will he run as a “Republican” again or campaign as an independent?
Sanford represented the Palmetto State’s first congressional district in the U.S. congress from 1995-2001 and again from 2013-2019. In between, he spent two terms as governor of South Carolina from 2003-2011 – a tenure highlighted by his memorable fall from grace in the aftermath of an exposed extramarital affair.
Prior to his affair, Sanford was regarded as a likely Republican presidential candidate.
Sanford pulled off a remarkable comeback after reaching his nadir, but his chronic hypocrisy on fiscal issues – and his feud with U.S. president Donald Trump – cost him broad swaths of GOP support (along with the Republican nomination for his seat last spring).
Many have speculated Sanford may follow in the footsteps of U.S. congressman Justin Amash and declare his independence from the GOP – a party he effectively abandoned during the 2018 general election by refusing to endorse its nominee against Democrat Joe Cunningham.
In fact, some believe Amash and Sanford might join forces and form a national third party ticket in 2020 …
Others believe Sanford has his eye on the first district seat he surrendered to Cunningham in January – possibly running as an independent candidate.
Stay tuned … Sanford has a public appearance later this month in Charleston, S.C. at which time we hope to learn more about his future plans.
-FITSNews
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