Years from now when the story is written about the 2008 Republican presidential primary and John McCain’s now-likely historic ascent to victory, it is quite likely that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist will be given credit for being “The Kingmaker.” Crist, who is surely at the top of McCain’s short list of potential running mates, put his neck on the line and made a brilliant political move at exactly the right moment when he endorsed the Arizona senator last week. That act will forever be seen, rightly or not, as delivering the state to McCain and with it his party’s endorsement in the general election.
But what will go down as, at best, a mere footnote in the history books is that South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford had the exact same opportunity as Crist — and he balked.
Had Sanford not abstained from endorsing and thrown his support behind McCain — whom he backed in 2000 — in the week leading up to this state’s primary, he would have likely been praised for delivering a Palmetto State win. He could have punched his ticket to the big show and soaked up overwhelming national recognition. In doing so, it would have been he, not Crist, that now finds himself the odds-on favorite to be McCain’s running mate.
Instead, Sanford’s post-gubernatorial ambitions of seeking a larger office have been left out in the cold. If Sanford had any delusions about being vice president, they’re now gone. He has lost a rare opportunity to become a major player on the national scene and keep South Carolina in the limelight.
Sanford had a clear shot at becoming the next vice president and possibly even making a run for president in the future, but he missed his Mark.
Sphere: Related ContentThis entry was posted on Thursday, January 31st, 2008 at 2:24 pm and is filed under Primary Season, Republicans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Sanford is a true narcissist. He would never settle for being the vice president…his arrogance would demand him be President.
Don’t laugh…everything he has done has been to build his image. Nothing he has done has been to better our lives. He will leave his office after 8 years as a governor…with millions and millions of dollars in his nonprofit accounts, and with many of the best contacts and alliance in America.
We have given him the platform to raise money and “connect” with the rich and powerful. He gave us the shaft. He has readied himself for the national stage at our expense. And he continues to do so.
You can certainly make the case that Sanford fumbled a chance to make the veep short list, but I disagree completely that McCain will choose Crist.
Given McCain’s problems with conservatives I don’t see how his running with a gay moderate is going to unify the party. It might bring him Florida, but the race is most likely going to be decided in an arc of socially conservative but economically distressed states that Clinton and Bush both carried twice– LA, AR, MO, TN, KY, and WV, along with VA and a remote possibility of extending to at least one of NC, KS or OK– states that have all voted Republican the past few elections but given current economic conditions could conceivably become competitive.
McCain could still make a play for Florida, but if he does he is much more likely to pick Mel Martinez– especially if he is running against a Clinton/Obama or Obama/Clinton ticket, Martinez gives him a diversity card which would appeal outside of the Sunshine state and as a former Bush administration official would likely be more palatable to the base than Crist.
However, as a Democrat, I’d love to see McCain screw up and choose Crist– and the GOP base just stay at home on election day.
“This was an improper attempt to influence the commission,”
Governor Mark Sanford told to explain workers’ comp
Judge puts temporary halt to change
COLUMBIA –Gov. Mark Sanford must explain to a federal judge this month why he has told Workers’ Compensation commissioners how to do their jobs.
A federal lawsuit, filed Dec. 27, says Sanford’s orders make it hard for four injured workers to get a fair hearing before the commission. That violates their rights under the U.S. Constitution, their lawsuit says.
Sanford will seek to dismiss the federal case, said Joel Sawyer, a governor’s office spokesman. In the meantime, Sanford’s attorneys have sued the Workers’ Compensation Commission in the S.C. Supreme Court.
“We don’t believe there are federal issues in play here,” Sawyer said.
But during a Jan. 14 hearing, U.S. District Judge Ross Anderson said the case against Sanford and the commission raises “very serious federal constitutional issues.”
Anderson the next day extended a restraining order preventing the Workers’ Compensation Commission from obeying the governor’s orders on how to judge cases and whether to release certain case information. The federal restraining order is in place until Feb. 15.
Anderson also added Sanford as a defendant so the commissioners won’t be put in a position of having to defend Sanford’s actions.
The seven-member commission is appointed by the governor to hear disputes between employers and people who claim they were injured on the job. While appointed by the governor, the commission is a judicial board that is supposed to issue orders without outside influence. The governor can fire members for cause.
Companies that must buy insurance to cover the cost of work-related injuries have questioned why their premiums are rising. According to the federal lawsuit, Sanford has conspired with businesses that have a financial interest in workers’ compensation cases. Sanford has said he is working for a more efficient, cost-effective system.
Lawyers representing the injured workers say Sanford wants the commission to issue rulings he agrees with. If not, commissioners face the threat of being fired, they say.
Sawyer said the allegations are “absolutely false.”
But Kathryn Williams, a Greenville attorney for the injured workers, said in court last month that the governor was holding commissioners as “hostages.”
“This was an improper attempt to influence the commission,” Williams, said of Sanford’s 2007 orders to the commission. “I think this case is extremely important. This goes to the foundation of our whole system of justice for workers’ compensation claims.”
Commission chairman David Huffstetler and Richard Gergel, a lawyer representing the commission, declined comment.
At issue is a series of orders Sanford issued last fall.
On Sept. 20, Sanford ordered commissioners to strictly apply certain medical standards that could limit awards - and expenses for businesses. Business leaders said at the time they hoped the order would save companies $72 million a year.
During a news conference attended by representatives of major business groups, Sanford said his order focused on “the importance of making sure that the business conditions in this state are as competitive as the business conditions in the next state, or frankly, the next country,” according to a transcript of the news conference.
Despite his orders, the commission said in October it could not under state law go only by the legal standard Sanford advocated. The governor’s order would have had the commission rely primarily on medical standards in making awards, rather than looking at a broader range of factors, commissioners contend.
But commissioners say they also must consider how injuries affect different employees. An arm injury to a carpenter, for instance, would harm his career more than the same arm injury to a lawyer. So the carpenter might receive a greater award.
In December, Susan Monaco, an employee with a Dollar General retail store in Simpsonville, filed suit in federal court against the commission. The former Navy communications specialist hurt her arm on the job and is seeking compensation.
Her suit, since joined by three other workers, seeks to prevent the governor’s orders from being considered by the commission.
Anderson told the commission Jan. 15 to ignore the governor’s orders. The orders relate either to how the commission should consider cases or whether to release records so Sanford can keep tabs on the amount of money commissioners are giving out.
Sanford’s suit in the state Supreme Court asks the court to force the commission to release the information.
“We’ve asked the commission to follow the law and provide us with information to ensure the law is being complied with,” Sawyer said.
Anderson’s Jan. 15 order bars commissioners from releasing the records and following Sanford’s orders.
Monaco’s attorney told the judge Sanford’s actions constitute a potentially improper contact with commissioners.
Williams also suggested in court that Sanford’s recent contact with another judge supports her client’s position. Sanford telephoned a circuit judge late last year to discuss an annexation lawsuit near Beaufort. Sanford did not attempt to try to influence the final outcome in that case, his office has said.
http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/story/338070.html
Come on. That’s kind of gratuitous. Essentially, you’re saying: “Too bad Sanford didn’t make a virtuous decision, because that would have put him on board the gravy train.” Doesn’t that kind of run absolutely to the contrary of the principles Sanford says he believes in. That is, he won’t do anything if the only reason is the attainment of pork.
Your own philosophy of momentum pragmatism simply doesn’t hold water, much less virtue.
Good for Sanford for not taking the bait. Besides, look at all the losers who are lining up for VP: Huckabee, Thompson, Giuliani, Grahamnesty, Crist, etc, etc. At least Sanford still has the mantle of legitimate conservatism at his beckoning. He’s smart for holding onto that with a clinched fist, while all the others sell out for who knows what.