The Governor's Self- (and State-) Defeating Mantra

by: michaelrodgers

Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 10:46:12 AM EDT

Gov. Mark Sanford's main line of political posturing since he's been in office is to whine, "I have no authority." This posture is supposed to make people want to give him more authority by reforming our state constitution, and this posture also offers a political cover for why he never accomplishes anything.

The worst of it is that Gov. Sanford has been repeating this mantra so often that even he believes it. How else could he think that it would be appropriate to schedule a 10 day secret trip to Argentina?

From his offensive letter to DOE Sec. Arne Duncan, to his refusal to sign on to an education reform effort, and to his refusal to lower the flags in honor of Rosa Parks, Gov. Sanford continues his whiny posture, "I have no authority," and his complete ineffectiveness.

Sen. Tom Davis says that he won't question Gov. Sanford's belief that he can "discharge his duties" as Governor while working to reconcile with his wife and their sons. But Gov. Sanford doesn't think he has any duties to discharge as Governor! As he told Glenn Beck, the only thing Gov. Sanford thinks he is needed for is to make some decisions if there's a hurricane.

Well, what's he gonna do if there is a hurricane?

He'll probably repeat his mantra, "I have no authority," and who knows what will happen to the people of South Carolina while he waits for the legislature to give him the authority he desires. And that's of course, assuming he's actually reachable and in the country.

Such an assumption could be very wrong. For example, I remember recently being quite surprised to learn that Gov. Sanford was in Poland during wildfires near Myrtle Beach.

We need a governor who will act on the authority that he has, who will earn his paycheck instead of milking his position to achieve personal restitution, and who will put South Carolinans ahead of lame duck international travel.

Hurricane season is upon us, and the time to act is now.

In Gov. Sanford's letter to Sec. Duncan: Gov. Sanford wrote, "while I'm signing these documents under duress, I have no ability to promise that many of the mentioned conditions and guarantees will indeed be met."

In Gov. Sanford's refusal to join the education reform effort: "The governor does not have a role in implementing education policy," spokesman Joel Sawyer said.

In refusing to lower the flags to honor Rosa Parks: Citing the S.C. Code of Laws, Section 10-1-161, the governor, through his spokesperson, said he had no authority to lower the flag.