What is your reaction to the Sanford fiasco?

[Sanity Claws]

For those of you who have a life and didn't follow the saga, Gov. Sanford of SC was missing since last Thursday. Today it was revealed that he had been in Argentina and that he had an affair. (with a woman -- he used the word "she" at least once.) He was tearful and "rambly" in the press conference. He offered apologies to his family, the people of SC, and many others.

Like many here at DU, I was laughing at his hypocrisy catching up to him. In a matter of minutes, my feelings changed. Karma caught up to him but it's not up to me to laugh or pump my fist in the air about it. It doesn't concern me. It's his soul journey. I hope he learns something from it. Whether he remains as governor is up to him and the people of SC. It is not of importance to me.

What is your take on the saga and your reaction to it?

[Kookaburra]

1. At first I thought "Well that figures"

then I figured in the words of the late, great John Lennon, "instant karma, gonna get you."

I don't like to see people in pain, even if it's totally self-inflicted, but the GOP as a party is reaping its karma now.

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. "I don't like to see people in pain..."

And there it is, the missing link: Compassion :)

[Psychic Consortium]

20. You are correct. nt

[get the red out]

2. I am very happy!

The Republicans and their hypocrisy have done terrible things to people and continue to do so, they speak with a forked tongue of Religious extremism yet disobey the very principles they would destroy another person for with no questions asked. What did they try to do to President Clinton and his family for the same 'sin'? Democrats say "I'm a flawed human", while Republicans too often claim to know the will of God.

My happiness is in the fact that the more the reality of what Republicans represent is put into the public eye, the safer we might become as a society. The fewer of them we have in office the more chance our country has of moving forward without constant war, without onerous laws brought about by theocratic courts, the more chance of taking care of those that suffer. To me their party represents oppression of the poor, intolerance, misogyny, and plain greed. The worse they look, the more likely it is that fewer people will vote for them. Many people in our country are not well informed and they need the "John and Kate" style stories to let them know the real hypocrisy and lack of concern for even their own families that hides behind the republican party mask.

I'm very happy when these guys get exposed. If exposure leads to fewer of them in elected office, it could quite literally save many lives when you consider the Republican desire for war and their disdain for health care access and any assistance to the poor.

[MorningGlow]

5. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone"

And all that stuff about specks and first removing beams from their own eyes.

I see it as another example of evil coming to light. Pull the pins out from under these guys so we can move them aside.

I feel very sorry for his wife and children, though.

[get the red out]

7. I feel for his family too

Especially the kids, they are completely innocent; and to make it even worse this was done over Father's Day weekend. The wife doesn't deserve this either, no one does, but she is grown and has had the opportunity to realize what kind of cruelty "conservatism" in this country represents by now, and yet has been supportive of it.

Big Karma problem, and the Gov is to blame.

[OneGrassRoot]

3. The "family values" hypocrisy and judgmental stance....

has sickened me for 30 years. I feel for the individual and the family, but relish how The Powers That Be of the GOP lose power with each fall from grace (as they see it, that is).

The Bible Thumper/family values crap literally gets me infuriated and nauseated at the same time. I would physically push these people from the pedestal myself if given the chance.

It's not pretty, but that's how I feel.

[mother earth]

6. Boomerang Karma....

what you put out there, returns...

[Psychic Consortium]

21. Yes. And there is more to come..... karma time not over. nt

[Shallah Kali]

8. Truth being revealed about a person with great power over others' wellbeing

I admit I still get a few moments of gotcha delight when this sort of thing happens but I am working on not wallowing in it. My strongest feeling is satisfaction that wrong doing was revealed about someone with power so those who invested themselves in this person - whether with just a vote or closer relationship - will hopefully be able to choose more wisely from here on.

btw did you see that Fox is labeling him a democrat like they do all other bad acting gop?

[Why Syzygy]

9. This is actually one issue on which I am bipartisan.

In the Chambers, I want our guys to fight until we've won the right battles, no matter the blood shed.
(In this case, the state house.)

On a human level, I'm just glad he wasn't hurt or worse. If he feels shame, that's just because he belongs to the human race; our behavior is often less than ideal. If we're FULLY human, we feel badly about it.

If he's play acting on the remorse, he surely is to be pitied. Perhaps losing an opportunity to advance his political career will aquaint him with the concept of consequence.

[MagickMuffin]

10. When the story broke about Gov. Sanford,

I couldn't decide if it was a David Vitter situation ( prostitutes ) or Larry Craig-Mark Foley ( gay relationship ) or Newt Gingrich-John Ensign ( staffers ) ALL these good ole boys "Family Values" politicians are the same politicians who screamed for Clinton to resign from office. Yet there they are in the same boat. Rock The Boat, Don't Rock The Boat, Baby!

They should hold themselves to the same standard and resign from office.

The gop put themselves in a box of "Family Values" and when they get caught outside of the box it proves they ARE human. But when they use the christian faith as a catapult as a means of advancing their political careers then they should realize they should really believe in the "Values" they say they believe in. "Sanctity of Marriage" ( what a big ball of hooey ) What does that even mean?!?!?

I do think it's funny and pathetic at the same time. I try to never judge anyone for an affair, but when the double standard comes from the "holier than thou" crowd, I'm glad they get exposed as the fakes that they are portraying. Hopefully it will give the "Value Voters" a different perspective about these "Family Values" candidates.

[SeattleGirl]

11. I admit; I laughed a bit. And I don't see anything wrong with that, as I'm

not wallowing n it.

Mostly, I am glad to see more and more of the GOP's hypocrisy exposed (okay, maybe that's not the best word to choose......), primarily because they have been bashing people over the heads with their "family values" talk for years and years now, and I'm tired of it. It gets us nowhere, and pointing out the foibles and faults of anyone "not them" is just not helpful at all. Doesn't move us forward, doesn't really help solve/resolve the real problems we face, and it essentially keeps us stuck in a junior high type of mindset.

Maybe I was blind, but I honestly don't remember this level of hypocrisy from a political party as I was growing up (I'm in my 50's). It seems that it, along with the anger and hatred coming from that side of the political aisle has increased so much over the past few years, and perhaps it is now starting to break the back of the Republican party. They need to change, as most of us do to one extent or another. If this helps get them closer to doing that, then so be it.

[OneGrassRoot]

12. Dear God, the Sanford thing in my face today put me in a mood and....

I just had it out with a relative.

I've avoided talking to my aunt for ages because we have COMPLETELY different worldviews.

And that's just it. It isn't different political views or religious views, it's different WORLDVIEWS.

She kept calling all day and, against my better judgment, I finally picked up. (I just inhaled a glass of wine, so forgive me for typos or other errors...oy.)

She called for an innocent enough reason but, as my sister says, when she talks to me, she should know it's like "poking a snake." LOL

There was a logical sequence of topics within the conversation but suffice it to say it went like this:

At some point she said something about "friggin libruls" (she's from PA...conservative Catholic, Republican)

she equated homosexuals with pedophilia

she said she wishes Palin was President

Obama isn't a citizen

Obama wants to make sure black people never have to work again and we all pay for their laziness.


:wow:


This is exactly why I knew we shouldn't talk.

I called her a "fucking idiot. Anyone who wants Palin as president is a fucking idiot and nothing else you say is relevant."


Yes I feel bad. (Though she acts like I didn't say it and started chatting about something totally different!!!) But this is why I interact with so few people. I AM like a snake. I have no filter about certain things and have no tolerance.

THIS is what I started to understand about Karen Bishop's messages. The lack of tolerance thing. Perhaps I SHOULD be able to do better, but the truth is I can't. Not right now. I have no tolerance and need to stay as isolated as possible so I don't hurt others' feelings.

Oy vey.

[LaurenG]

14. I think most of us go through this

I know exactly what you're talking about though. :hug:

[OneGrassRoot]

19. :)

Thanks... :hug:

[lildreamer316]

15. Hey...

I agree about the no tolerance. Right now I have it when it comes to ppl being stupid in regards to my husband and his potential, and also in regards to myself - I think that's why we don't have a lot of friends.

Anyway, :hug:. Don't stress about it.

[OneGrassRoot]

22. I resemble that remark.

(that's an old expression my dad used to say...lol)

But I relate to what you say. I'm quite isolated; it use to be by circumstance, but now it's by choice.

My fiance is Mr. Social Butterfly...and I just prefer very limited interaction. I live in a very red, right-wing area and the potential for conflict is just wayyyyyy too great. LOL.

BTW, I got those other supplements today, except for the Collagen II; I'll need to order that.

Maybe if I get my circulation flowing better, I can have more tolerance...probably not though! :)

Hugs back atcha. :hug:

[Why Syzygy]

27. Hey.

Being pissed off is better than being depressed! In Abraham's hierarchy, it is a step up!

[OneGrassRoot]

29. True that. :)

This week is so weird!!!

I've actually been doing better, emotionally, than I have in a while, even though I have a huge really difficult decision to make -- heck, I don't even know all the options, I just know the current path isn't working and have to decide SOMETHING by next week.

Then I have this crazy interaction today which SHOULD have been feeling bad...lol...but it doesn't really. I'm simply frustrated that I answered the phone, as I knew better. ;) If I thought I really hurt her feelings, THEN I would probably feel bad, but I know it just went through one ear and out the other.

But in reading the threads here this week, so many things -- seemingly disjointed -- are clicking into place. About grieving, about PTSD, about fear, about tolerance/intolerance.

Thanks for recommending Ignatia; I now believe I needed it more than I realized. ;)

I really need one of those delightfully clear message dreams to show me the way. So, I call that forth tonight. O8)

[MorningGlow]

30. My aunt still isn't talking to me

I went off on her--also an ultra-conservative who gets all her marching orders from Rush--a few weeks ago (long story but it was about GM bankruptcy). I kept my mouth shut for eight years, and in one 30-second tirade all my fury came gushing out. Talk about a firestorm. Yikes. Unlike your aunt, it DID sink in with mine, but she's angry because I burst her brainwashed bubble, yet she still thinks she's right and I'm wrong and she's still waiting for an apology. Um, no. I will "make up" with her for the sake of family peace, but in NO way will I say I was wrong. Because I wasn't. :evilgrin:

I have a difficult decision coming too. It sure can be stressful, huh? Best wishes for clarity for yours! :hug:

[OneGrassRoot]

33. Best wishes to you as well, MG!

Sounds like you're in a positive groove of late, so that bodes well, eh? :)


:hug:

[MorningGlow]

38. Thanks, OGR!

Honestly, it's a mixed bag these days. Work is turning out well...other stuff...meh...

[Why Syzygy]

32. tingles...

You'll have the dream.

[lildreamer316]

44. I say that all the time!!

LOL.

I'll be honest, I got most of those supps because I wanted to look better, but of course they make me feel better too. But a funny thing..my memory is not getting better, it's getting worse. Not that I really care; husband is well aware of how I function so he can counter it. Of course he's ADD too.

Be sure and let me know how those do for you. You don't have to take as much of the oils (CLA, EVCO) as I do - I do that for maximum cellulite help. At this point I'm really into the EVCO.

[OneGrassRoot]

46. EVCO?

Did I miss that one?

I passed on the CLA. But, you make me wonder this morning, have you had any success with anything that specifically targets belly fat? Maybe all those claims we see everywhere now are completely bogus, though....

:)

[lildreamer316]

52. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

and the ladies on my other board (I'm on two exotic dancing profession boards) all SWEAR by the CLA. I mean, out of 20 or 30 of us who take it or who have taken it at one point, I'd say 85%-90% reported weight loss and cellulite reduction with it. Of course YMMV, and a high dose will make you eliminate quickly until your body is used to it. Do a little research and ask around if you have some knowledgeable people. I also had a man I've known for years at the vitamin store tell me it helped with his asthma by reducing inflammation, but that is of course anecdotal.

A great side effect of the EVCO is that I have not had ONE yeast infection since I started taking it. Yay!

Now, the only spot left on my body with any fat is my belly, but it is not a lot of fat, and it's mostly because I haven't been working out at all.

Oh! and I do dry brushing of my body EVERY DAY, at least twice a day. I am a firm believer that this helps weight loss and the circulation.

[OneGrassRoot]

57. Interesting!

Okay, so I learned what EVCO and YMMV mean. :) Yay!!! :bounce:

I think I'm going to maintain the new supplements I've just started within the last two weeks, allowing the essential oils, biotin and others to nourish, and milk thistle/dandelion to do their thing, as well as the grape seed extract for circulation.

I believe circulation is a serious issue for me, as I have to sit at the darn computer the vast majority of time. I am certainly trying to incorporate more movement into my life, even if it's only in 10-minute increments.

Dancing is the best form of exercise to me and makes me truly happy, and I don't know why I don't do it more often. That's my next commitment to myself: Dance!!! Break out some MJ and "shake my body down to the ground."

I'll probably add the next items -- EVCO, CLA and Collagen II -- in a few weeks, to try to promote weight loss and nourish my body even further. Thanks for that feedback, lildreamer!

[Why Syzygy]

16. I said something I regretted today too.

I procrastinate on making personal business phone calls. I hate them. I was transferred FIVE times.
The last guy who transferred me wouldn't even let me tell him why I was calling. He just said he couldn't talk to me, he had to transfer. He indicated he was transferring me to the FIRST department I spoke with. By the time I got someone who would listen and try to figure out a way to help me, I let it spew and used a slur word I have never said in my entire life, nor would ever want to. I ended up apologizing and saying I was ashamed of myself. He was nice about it. But, wow. I never want to do that again.

Last night I said something ugly to my son. I had to call a confessional friend and talk for about two hours to sort it all out.

I'm back to normal now.

[OneGrassRoot]

23. Oh goodness....

That's an awful feeling when we lash out at our kids, no matter how annoying they may be. I feel awful when I've done that. I hope you feel better today and it's behind you both. I give you HUGE hugs about that... :hug:

Sadly, I don't regret saying it...lol. I don't even regret my language one bit. My family knows to expect it by now if I really lose it. ;)

But it does exhaust me. Confrontation exhausts me.

*sighs*

[MagickMuffin]

17. Don't feel bad about your Aunt, she was the one poking the snake ;=D

She deserves to be rattled by your remark. Otherwise she wouldn't have made those statements to you.

Next time just trust your judgment and DON'T pick up. :evilgrin:

[OneGrassRoot]

24. ding, ding, ding....

You're right! I KNEW not to pick up the phone. LOL

:hippie:

:hug:

[Kind of Blue]

26. Don't feel bad, OneGrassRoot.

I know how you feel. It amazes me how they can hear our outrage in reaction to their incredible insults and go right on talking as if they heard nothing. I think it's no longer about making sense because they are in pain and want to inflict pain, never knew a person who didn't go that far who was not aching, mentally or physically in some way.

Of course, she would call you today of all days, because most of us are thinking "the party of family values? Ha!" They need to knock that righteous feeling right out of us. But sometimes I think tolerance is accepting people for exactly who they are, not condoning them but accepting that every thing under the sun is allowed. That helps me a lot in dealing with people I'd rather avoid but can't. :hug:

[OneGrassRoot]

28. I'll try that....

but I think avoidance is my best bet until I have a vibrational shift or something.

;)


:hug:

[Why Syzygy]

31. IMO there's nothing wrong with

avoiding anyone who wishes Palin was president! At my age, I feel I've paid my dues to society, 50 years worth.* From here on out it's gravy and I intend to ENJOY it. (As much as possible.) Since I started avoiding people at DU who just want to insult me, I'm feeling a whole lot better.

When Kerry was running, my mother sent me a forward email (one of my sisters had sent) comparing him to Saddam. It was nonsense only a republican would enjoy. I told her I didn't understand. What does that mean? She quickly said, oh, I shouldn't have sent you that. Just ignore it! Another time she wanted me to be email pals with someone affiliated with her church who she claimed had overcome an issue I was dealing with. I agreed with the caveat that we could discuss the issue, but if the woman started sending me religious emails, I wouldn't continue. Sure enough. She started sending them. I terminated the email relationship.

I'm tolerant enough not to try to impose my stuff on people who are on a different path. I'll treat myself to the same regard.
If someone can't be ignored, like at work, I do not contradict them or try to influence. But we won't be socializing.

*After watching a Bruce Lipton video today, I'm going to start working on changing my perception of "age".

[OneGrassRoot]

34. Oh, so here's another HUGE AHA from this week....

arrived at after reading here at ASAH and observing what I'm experiencing in my very small world. I say small world because I truly interact with very few people. ;)

We are often experiencing COMPLETELY DIFFERENT REALITIES.

I have accepted that so many of us are living completely different realities. Like human ink blot tests: we look at a situation and perceive it in COMPLETELY different ways.

Not just with people like my aunt. I can accept that those of that worldview are truly living a different reality (and I'm glad!), but...it's more than that.

Once again it brings me back to the Karen Bishop messages and how we're all at different levels, and thus have different levels of tolerance, different perceptions, etc.

I feel as though I'm in the middle. I have no tolerance for judgmental worldviews embodied by those like my aunt...can't even begin to wrap my brain around how they think and feel and make their way through this world.

And I can detach from that, usually, fairly easily.

But then there are others I am fairly close to. Readers and spiritualists. I'm experiencing similar disconnects in those relationships. Well, one primarily.

Wow, this is very interesting. I'm thinking out loud as I type...this is just clicking as I'm sharing here.

My huge dilemma involves a project -- near and dear to my heart -- in which I have a partner. I love and like this person. In basic terms, we have a similar worldview (in other words, my aunt wouldn't like her either...lol).

Yet, WE CANNOT COMMUNICATE WHATSOEVER. This has been extra challenging for me, as I value communication so very much and always work hard to be clear, to be thorough, to always take the other person's perspective into account, and to work through issues so the same challenges don't keep cropping up.

My experience is that my partner, who is a rather accomplished reader, has no desire whatsoever to understand a different perspective. If there are disagreements about things (BIG things, btw), she continually wants to simply agree to disagree and move on, with no desire to understand another point of view.

I'm a Virgo. I have absolutely no idea what to do with that any more. LOL. Especially since the same issues do indeed keep cropping up repeatedly, because they are never truly resolved at the time they arise.

Each time it happens, however, she genuinely seems surprised and acts as though we haven't been through this already. She's a quadruple Pisces; she keeps telling me that...lol.

I'm in some bizarre Twilight Zone.

I am open to the very real possibility that I'm going insane. Maybe that's what my message dream will reveal. ;)

Perhaps more wine will help....something?

;)

Bottom line, this is a very interesting week. Whew......

[Why Syzygy]

39. Very true.

Even when paying attention and trying, I often realize I have misread a person or event. At least I can go back and apply some awareness.

Did you know you can start dreaming before you fall asleep? This is way OT. I've been thinking about posting a thread, but my words haven't been coming together well for the past couple days.

I learned several years ago that when I am just on the edge of falling asleep, I get a visual image. Lots of times, it will just be colors. But one time, in the distance of the dark (this is with eyes closed), it was a brightly colored carousel. It seemed to be made of neon lights. Several nights ago, I was thinking about Japple's thread about seeing pinwheels. I decided to try to see if I could make it happen. I did, sort of. Rolling your eyes back to different degrees helps. Also, 'focusing' out in the distance. I saw a flashing purple spiked wheel spinning. That was a little uncomfortable. But I went on messing with the visuals. Sometimes I have experiences when it seems like I can see even with my eyes closed. Just patterns and shades. I was doing that for awhile, and all a sudden I got a visual of an Egyptian tomb drawing. It was very clear. One of the figures came to life (still same size) and took something off the wall. It was a ladder. That was fun, but what could it be? I googled "Egyptian ladder" the next day. There seems to be only one site that describes an initiation process known as the "Egyptian Ladder". One reason I never posted a thread is because that site, abovetopsecret, is ad heavy and I'm not confident of the site content as a whole. Of course I have no idea if the visual has anything to do with that or if it's just one of those things.

I don't know if the wine will help with the dreams. A moderate amount might. I know setting dream intentions works.

[OneGrassRoot]

41. Whoaaaa.....

I'm glad you shared this. I need to find Japple's thread about pinwheels. As soon as I read "brightly colored carousel," I flashed to a pivotal message dream from about five years ago. I never arrived at its meaning, but it is very similar to a pinwheel and colorful carousel.

I actually described it at the time as a kaleidoscope. It was very much like a kaleidoscope, with the colors shifting and changing. And, above the kaleidoscope of color was a flashing, almost neon sign which read: INFINITE POTENTIALITY.

I had asked for a message that night about my path...much the same as I shall ask tonight. That dream was very clear -- visually and audibly, as I heard a voice say "infinite potentiality."

I will try this, Why Syzygy...trying to dream before actually falling asleep. And I'll look for the pinwheel discussion tomorrow, as there is probably something there for me.

Thanks, and sweet dreams to you! :hug:


P.S. -- That Egyptian Ladder thing looks POWERFUL. Something well worth investigating. Very cool! :)

[BlancheSplanchnik]

65. treating ourselves to the same regard

Good point there!!

It IS a gift of treating ourselves well!

Lucky for me, the rw-ers in my life don't push their stuff on me. If they do, hopefully I'm calm enough by now (after all, I've tried arguing, but I j ust get tongue tied and insane) to simply say "you know, I don't needle you. How about you give me the same respect?" Or words to that effect. I find that if I have a basically set response, I don't have to freak out thinking about what could be the magically correct words that would open their eyes and make them say, "OMG! I'M a TOTAL ASSCARROT and THANK YOU, Great Wise One, for this VALUABLE LESSON!"

If they insist on being asses, I can try that, actually -- thank you for that valuable lesson! And then, walk away.

"Been nice chatting. Oh my, the cake's about to come out of the oven!"
A few times with that very same line, and they should get the idea! :evilgrin:

But, seriously, I'm talking about non-family. Probably easier.

ANNNYWAY, seeing the M$M spreading the incredible "it's not my fault! The devil made me do it" with Sanford now..... ARRGH!! I just have to not look at it here, because it's just too much to take!!!

Can't wait to see PC's thoughts on all this! I sure need a larger picture.....

[get the red out]

35. I did the same thing last fall

When the election last year was heated my husband's life-long Democrat uncle from South Carolina came to visit. I have always loved this guy, he is funny and great to be around, but he started going on about how proud he was going to be to cast the first Republican ballot of his life for the first woman VP. I was also picking up racist overtones concerning Obama that I didn't expect from him so I had had enough at that point . I have a temper and I let loose. I started going off about that White T... beauty contestant idiot who doesn't believe in family planning or sex education but has a pregnant daughter..... You get the ugly picture. And I also said very matter of factly that I thought a lot of people in the deep south were just racists and that's why they hated Obama. I probably need to apologize for laying it all out like a banshee on the war path at some point, but still not sure I am ready to apologize for not letting him woo everyone into acting like they agreed with him in order to be polite because after I let loose my husband's 20-something niece and nephew chimed in supporting Obama.

I was in a lot of fear though, and had been feeling like a cornered animal due to the election. I try and try, but sometimes when someone tries to lord that hate crap over me I am not a nice woman! I was really surprised to pick up on his racism, it blew me away and I reacted. Looking back I wish I had just left. I think it is hard not to let loose sometimes, especially when it seems other people are trying so hard to get us to, he knew I was an Obama supporter because I had told him at a funeral earlier in the year.

[Why Syzygy]

36. Racism.

I was surprised when my mother hinted at a racist attitude. I nipped it right in the bud. I had to tell my own mother that I was NOT raised that way. I reminded her of all the instances in our past when there had been opportunity for them to express racism, and they NEVER HAD! Quite the contrary. She's not going to start now if I have anything to say about it. Thank the gods that she has moved on to his religion. Much more mellow about people's prejudices in that area. Religion is a choice. We can disagree.

[OneGrassRoot]

40. LOL....

You made me chuckle with the "Thank the gods that she has moved on to his religion." :)

I was going to come back to this issue, and see you both addressing it. Racism.

It IS maddening. Shoot, I could go on and on about it -- as I did during the election...lol.

I was raised by a racist and bigot, so much so that he may have been in the KKK; if he wasn't, he wanted people to THINK he was. I love my dad and miss him, and he did mellow as he got older, but that shaped me tremendously.

I think it's because I VERY much understand the racist mindset, and because I am STILL surrounded by them -- not just my family by where I live -- that I have this zero tolerance attitude.

I know how they think, I know WHAT they're thinking. And for them to be denying it now (perhaps out of their own fear, since they are not in a position of "power" with Obama in the White House?), it both ironic and dangerous.

I'd rather they admit it, as they're really chomping at the bit to say all the nasty things I grew up hearing them say. But, they've gone underground with it, and I find that very dangerous.

That is the core issue at play here, in my opinion. It's the feeling of racial entitlement which feeds all of these hate movements. Obviously their fear is at the core, and it comes out as hatred.

I don't care why it's there, really, it's ugly and I have no tolerance for it.

My point is that, I think I have no tolerance because I WAS raised with it and am still surrounded by it (when I had Obama stickers on my car, I was repeated called a racial slur).

I do feel I am at battle still. Very much. But, I don't enjoy conflict, so I stay to myself as much as possible.

More PTSD stuff, I suppose.

Oy.

[Why Syzygy]

43. My first year of college,

I attended a school in the small town where my grandparents (mother's family) lived. Someone in town saw me driving around with some friends and reported it to my granddad. He had to call me over to his house so he could tell me I had been seen with "a black man" in my car! (It was actually my great aunt's car she had loaned me, which is how I was id'd.) Oh horror. He felt he needed to straighten me out on that issue. He was a minister too, like my dad. I was completely unfazed. Like, sure, I'm just going to tell my friend (who was part of our "group"), hey you're black so you're not my friend. :wtf: I didn't say a word. Mental note: hypocrite

[lildreamer316]

45. OMG, you so reminded me..

my parents were from tobacco country (we all are, lol) but they always raised me to be tolerant and colorblind. They told me they were the first people to bring an African-American couple to their church, which happens to be the most prominent UM church in the city. But the minuite I went to a movie with an African-American friend, I had two hours of yelling waiting for me at home from my mother. I don't think my father was that upset, ironically.
Sure did open my eyes. It happens, and sometimes it's ingrained.

HOWEVER:

Last christmas, we are at my uncle's (mother's brother, she's deceased). He has six children (not a religious thing, but wanting to have a boy to carry on the name). Five of them are girls, of course; and the last a boy. Ranging in age from 40 to 22.
We're all gathered in the family room to distribute presents. At the base of the Christmas tree is a figurine of Santa in a rocking chair. It happens to be an African-American Santa. The oldest girl gets up, toe-nudges the Santa, and says "Who brought the N______ Santa?".

Uncle (60's age, btw) repiles: "Obama gave it to me for voting for him"

Shawn and I about fell out of our chairs.

[Kookaburra]

49. No, you shouldn't have left

He needed to hear that -- and it needed to come from you. He knows you love him and support him, and now he knows you won't tolerate racist nonsense. Good on you!!!

[LaurenG]

13. I missed most of it, and didn't know who he was until I read the article

about his affair and his email to his mistress and I felt sad. It seems he really cared about the other woman and now his family is in shreds. This is sad all around, for his family... for all involved.

[Why Syzygy]

18. My earlier post

was before I saw the footage.
My thoughts are the same; I just wish he had not tried to drag "God's Law" into it.

[LaurenG]

47. Oh I hear you. Leave God out of it.

That's the part that gets me each and every time. :hi:

[BlueIris]

25. Like others, I laughed, ("How bizarre can you get?") then moved on.

I'm having something of a career epiphany at the moment, so I had other things to focus on.

[Celebration]

37. My reaction to it is semi boredom

I'm interested in the story to the tune of about five minutes. But I have to say that this thread is WAY interesting--all about relatives, different world views, isolation, lashing out at loved ones. This thread is so much more intersting than the antics of the governor of SC.

Oh, I do take note of the D by the name on Fox News. LOL!!!

[NJCher]

42. I was confused

Great idea for a thread. I've found it very interesting to read the reactions of others to this situation.

Also, the discussion about judgmentalism was interesting, too.

I really liked what One Grass Roots said in post 34. We all are at different levels.

I admit I never talk to people who hold views like that. It's a communication technique to keep me from going off the deep end. Remember that book "How to be Your Own Best Friend?" I say, "would you ask your best friend to talk to a narrow-minded republican?"

Anyway, in regard to the OP, my initial reaction was from a career point of view. I couldn't understand how this guy would risk his future career opportunities for something that sounds so off the wall as "going for a hike" or "needed to write something," and most unrealistically of all, "needed time away from the children." As another DU-er commented, isn't that what offices are for?

So I guess you could say my reaction was confusion. I didn't understand how anyone could offer up such lame excuses when they came from the career level of governor.


Cher

[mysticalchick]

48. Agree that you reap what you sow ...

... however, I think the issue is really his abdication of his responsibilities as an elected official. No matter who you are you can't just "disappear" and not think it will have consequences.

What I do find appalling is publicizing the emails. That's not necessary at all. And the glee some are taking in it. Even Olbermann. I had to turn the tv off last night because it was such dense icky vibrations.

bleah. That's all I have to say.

[northernlights]

50. relief -- I feel always relief as the hypocrisy is exposed

I haven't read past the headlines. Superficially, I feel a bit of schadenfreude. Although, as SC says, it's their soul journey, their soul journeys, more than most, affect us all.

At a deeper level, I've dealt directly with (and been injured by) wealthy rightwingers in the past. They were not compassionate people at all. They considered themselves 'movers and shakers.' I saw them as users and takers. And I remember the blatant statements about Katrina being a "solution" to the NO poverty and ghetto problems. They didn't just not care about the people and animals trapped in NO. They specifically and deliberately blocked aid from getting through for days and weeks.

So I feel relief as they're exposed, that their suffering may lead them to begin to learn compassion and move one tiny step up the soul development ladder. And relief that the more they're exposed, the more powerless they become as we try to undo the damage wrought over recent decades.

[Fire Walk With Me]

51. Right now he's probably wishing that he'd waited two days to make his statement

as he'd now be page 3 news, not front page. :shrug:

At least, good on him for being truthful.

[southerncrone]

53. I think this is a cover story just like "hiking the Appl. Trail" was a cover story.

I think he was up to even more clandestine monkey business. That's the vibe I get, anyway. Maybe it's just my Scorpion paranoia. LOL

Here are some of my other theories:

I wonder WHO had access to his "personal" emails & WHO fed them to the media? This is no accident. The emails are from the summer of 2008. WHO was in charge then?

1) I think that Darth has set him up because he wants another puppet as Prez who can be manipulated (like *).

2) Palin was somehow behind this

3) Repukes of SC are undermining him for their personal gain

4) He really didn't want to run for Prez & knew this would take care it.



Hubby thinks he will commit suicide. Thinks "Maria" dumped him & that is why the trip.


Do any of these resonate with y'all?

We may never know.

[northernlights]

54. sorry, doesn't resonate with me at all...

Just holding those emails over his head would have given Darth all the control he needs. I'm more likely to think that a disgruntled or disgusted underling came across them. Or even an IT person (from the "other" side) who wanted to sabotage him.

What wasn't making sense to me was how they even ended up together in the first place.

And then the article in GD this morning about Maria. And someone noticed that her degree is in political science. And wondered if mebbe she is a spy of some sort.

That one resonated.

[Shallah Kali]

58. ding

And then the article in GD this morning about Maria. And someone noticed that her degree is in political science. And wondered if mebbe she is a spy of some sort.

That one resonated.

Maria also was a reporter for Argentinian TV on 9/11. Wonder if that is connected to how they became dear, dear friends to begin with. I think there is more to this than just cheating on his wife and getting the state to foot the bill for at least one of his trips. I hope reporters keep digging and find out what's what.

As another said sanford isn't stable. He acts like he has had a mental breakdown not too very long ago. The way he talked weak voiced and rambling..... it wasn't just getting caught out and having to choose between career/wife or mistress imo....

[Why Syzygy]

55. ... The email scenario. As reported ..

The newspaper has had them since December when Maria's disgruntled, jilted, ex-husband turned them over. The paper didn't release them then. That was evidently when his wife found out (reportedly five months ago). So, he has had the opportunity since what could have been a fiasco at that time to straighten up. He got a big break, but it wasn't enough to motivate him to end the affair.

I definitely agree that he is not emotionally stable.

edit to add link:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5927812

[Sanity Claws]

59. I agree with your hubby than you

His world has fallen apart. He has lost his family. He has lost his mistress. (If Maria had not dumped him before the trip, she has now.) He has lost his career.
He may think of suicide. Whether he will do it, I don't know.

As for your feelings, I reread your post after PC's posting in your thread. You may be right but I don't feel that at all. In fact, I think Sanford was quite of being manipulated by Cheney and anyone else who would put him in power. He strikes me as not really having principles. He just wants power and adulation.

[get the red out]

60. Two words I would add

Mitt Romney, he may have some very behind the scenes role with all the business connections he has. I would suspect he is much more connected in the world than Palin could ever conceive of being; the man basically put on the Olympic Games a few years ago. I wouldn't put it past ol' Mitt to have his hand in this exposure, and maybe even let Palin think she had something to do with it. Darth wins in any case, Romney has no principles, even Republicans have seen that (was pro-choice when it helped him, anti-choice when it didn't; pro-health care reform in MA, then against it nationally), he does what it takes to get elected, he would be very willing to be controlled by anyone in order just to be President.

It is all in his favor, and he has the money and connections to pull things off.

[Justpat]

56. It is one more nail in the right wing coffin.

Their time of breathtaking hypocrisy is almost over. They have proven themselves to be frightened little people attempting to
pass legislation to battle their own dark impulses and projecting their immaturity and fear the rest of society. I believe it is another
step in the direction of our nation waking up to the disturbed and negative message of our own moral police.

[Brewman_Jax]

61. Like building one's house on sand

The GOP building their platform with the rocks of morality, and its foundation is on the sands of human frailty; said platform can't stand for long. I find it rather amusing that the repubs can't obey their own rules, and then would love to legislate them for everyone else. Michael Jackson's death may distract for a while, but Sanford will have to face the consequences of his actions. Hopefully, he will resign and show some minimal amount of integrity for a political party that has none.

[Psychic Consortium]

62. You are correct. nt

[Gin]

63. it exposes the nature of his relationship to his wife.....he "asked permission" to

see his mistress....sounds like son > to > mommy to me...... (IMO)

[Psychic Consortium]

64. Yes. Parent/child dynamic. Immature personality. nt

[Gin]

66. has anyone point blank asked him if he broke off the relationship

with his mistress? He's doing lots of I'm sorry...but it may still be an issue....my money says...hes in love and is thinking with the wrong head, and shes very much in the picture.