Klassic Kolbert: Gov. Mark Sanford likes solitude

Greetings, ladies and gents! I’ve been pretty quiet lately (busy with work and all), but I’ve been following the totally weird story of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford whenever possible to satisfy my itch for items that make me go “Whaaaat?” For those of you who haven’t heard, the governor left work last Thursday saying he needed to “clear [his] head” and, until yesterday, had had no contact with his staff, his security detail, or even his family on Father’s Day (updates on the story here).

I couldn’t stop thinking about how completely bizarre this situation was … until I remembered that I should have seen it coming. Heck, we all should have. And why? Because in this January 2008 installment of “Better Know a Governor”, our dear friend Stephen interviewed Gov. Sanford, who explained even then that he liked solitude.

The Colbert ReportMon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Better Know a Governor – Mark Sanford
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Stephen’s quite logical follow-up, “If you like solitude, isn’t politics kind of an odd career to go into; sort of a masochistic thing to choose, if you like being alone?” hits it on the head, IMO. (Stephen later had more fun at Gov. Sanford’s expense here.) Anyhow, I’m glad for the governor’s sake that his disappearance was benign, but … yeah it’s still weird.

How funny that Stephen’s interview with the governor now looks so oddly prescient!

Comments

  1. ColGeek says:

    Wow. That is so amazing. It was all spelled out right there in the segment…

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  2. Eris says:

    Oh, I don’t think he’s alone. Latest news, his car is at the Atlanta airport.

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  3. lulubelle says:

    This guy seems to have an aversion to responsibility. Not a good quality for a husband, father, or governor!

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  4. nerdygirl says:

    Did anyone else hear that Sunday was “Naked Hiking Day” on the Appalachian Trail? No wonder he didn’t tell his wife.

    Not sure Governor Sanford’s going to get much support for his supposed 2012 bid for President after his little walkabout.

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  5. juice says:

    I got a kick out of the 2nd clip you posted, Ms I. After the character break, Stephen does a little wave & says, “Hi, Mark.”

    I’m glad Sanford wasn’t in any harm, & I get the need for solitude, but keeping his family and the lieutenant gov. in the dark about his location was insensitive and irresponsible.

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  6. Tiger says:

    ha, you’re not the only one who noticed this! :)

    people running away without telling anyone generally makes me nervous, so I’m really glad he’s coming home safely and I hope the solitude did whatever he wanted it too.

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  7. bipolypesca says:

    And now it comes out that he was actually off having an affair in Brazil… so I guess it’s not so much liking being alone as liking being alone with his girlfriend

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