My wife and mother enjoy watching “chick flicks” and I tell them with amusement that there is always one element in these movies no matter their plots. In each of these films, there is one “trifling man” (a southern expression), but I must say that Gov Sanford wins the prize hands down for the most “trifling”.
I have been fortunate in my life to visit interesting, exotic places, I have sailed the Yangtze River, and set foot on the Antarctic Continent, crossed the Sinai Desert, and yes, I survived three days in Buenos Aires, but the only “line” I recall crossing was an illicit affair with Cuban cigars. No matter where I found myself, however, I was only a satallite phone call or email away from knowing that my family back in the USA was okay.
Not only did Sanford abandon his state and its citizens, he showed his family that he did not give a rip about them. I know his wife told him not to contact the family, but still…for five days, he didn’t know if his kids were sick, injured, or in some kind of trouble. It was all about him…his family values. How does a real man abandon his family in spirit, at least?
I am also so tired of everyone from Peggy Noonan to Chris Matthews characterize this as some great love affair. It is lack of values and character, pure and simple! I doubt if this will happen, but in the “chick flicks”, the wronged women will come to her senses and kick the low life man out! Mrs. Sanford should take the kids and her money, and start a new life.
Then, Sanford can show up on the doorstep of his “Argentinean Firecracker” broke and powerless and ask “Just how do you like me now?" Let’s see how long that will last.