A friend sent me a recent survey by Public Policy Polling that indicates South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has a higher approval rating that eight other governors. The eight are:
- John Baldacci (D) of Maine
- Jan Brewer (R) of Arizona
- Jim Doyle (D) of Wisconsin
- Jim Gibbons (R) of Nevada
- David Paterson (D) of New York
- Bev Perdue (D) of North Carolina
- Ed Rendell (D) of Pennsylvania
- Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) of California
There are several curious things about this poll. There are three Republicans on the list, but Republicans hardly of the national trend towards a more conservative government.
According to this poll, Sanford’s approval rating is 36%, but only 51% disapprove. That is almost astonishing.
The governor of South Carolina – the buckle of the Bible Belt – commits adultery, engages in additional misbehavior to accommodate that adultery, and is given the heave-ho by his wife, yet only 51% of those polled disapprove of him as governor?
How can this be?
For Sanford, there isn’t much difference between approve-disapprove (15 points) and undecideds (13 points). A fifty-one percent negative is still fatal, politically, but wouldn’t you expect this to be more like 70%?
Now, numbers can be read any way one cares to accept them, but given all that Mark Sanford has been through – just about all of his own making – it’s remarkable that only one half of respondents disapprove of him. And how many of those are Democrats?
In the current Red State environment, there is more fear of government than there is disdain for personal behavior. Mark Sanford stood up to the toxic Barack Obama and the dangers of big(ger) government. He challenged the state’s General Assembly and the status quo that has paralyzed progress in the Palmetto State for generations.
As my friend said: “I think it’s because people still believe in his ideas – and that could be his legacy. Also I think regular taxpayers are more concerned about jobs and good government than dead-end political witchhunts.”
Could this simple poll with it’s odd numbers portend a change in direction for the state in next year’s elections?
Why not?
LTX the All Sanford channel wouldn’t dare publish the poll results. I am surprised he polled this high after betting “Sarah Palin’ed” by the media.
Typo.
Should read: getting “Sarah Palin’ed”…….
What has happened to Gov. Sanford is unfortunate but it did happen. Could it be that all of us could learn a lesson from his troubles. What happens anywhere doesn’t stay there, someone is always watching. That is how entirely too many people earn their daily bread. Little people love to bring the popular and influential down, if for no other reason than to give themselves a perverse feeling of fleeting superiority. If you have values stick to them because if you fail in your personal life. All the good things you want to accomplish in public life gets flushed. Gov. Sanford had very sound, forward thinking ideas to try and get our state moving. He was for reorganizing State Government, fiscal responsibility, making some positions cabinet level, instead of elected and something we have already hearing about the SC Employment Security Commission. Surprise, surprise. Making sure that other positions at least have someone to hold people accountable, not just our self interested Legislature. In the remainder of Gov. Sanfords term, I surely hope that his ideas and concept of government will be passed on to some that will know what do with it.
I regret that his marriage seems to be doomed and I am sure that the media can take some responsibility, what with their constant coverage. You can’t recover from a tragedy, let’s admit at least that a marriage failure is a tragedy, if it is constantly thrown in your face. Good luck to the Gov. and his First Lady. They have both done an admirable job under the circumstances.
Hard as it may be for some people to accept. We have all sinned and fallen short, but with a renewed energy and faith, all things can come together.
Merry Christmas
Sanfraud Scumbag still has not told the truth
The cry babies in the state house need to STFU about Sanford and get to work passing roll call voting and state sovereignty bills. They are all politicians and, by default, are soul-less zombies who have probably ALL done exactly what they accuse Sanford of (mis-use of finances).
I don’t like adultery, but what Sanford does in his private life is not the legislature’s business and this hypocritical obsession with legislating morality is disgusting. The very people who try to legislate morality are some of the most immoral god-less heathens in existence. Furthermore, the problem with this country and state is busy-body politicians stealing our liberty. If the governor disappears for awhile… GREAT! We don’t need these self-important pricks in Columbia all of the time. Go the hell home and quit screwing with the people. More politicians should not show up for work and this state would be a better place. This shock and disgust with Sanford’s disappearance is stupid and self serving.
STFU, legislature, and get to work protecting this once great state from the tyrannical federal government or else us informed citizens will be happy to relieve you of your posts and install people who WILL stand up for this state and make it great again. You’re worthless and stupid and the people are sick of your two-faced good ole boy back scratching while this state continues to fall off into the pooper.
Tar, Feathers, Rails, Politicians… Some assembly required!
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