Red State Update: Appalachian Trail/Argentinian Tail

Jackie & Dunlap take on Governor Mark Sanford (R-South Carolina) and his bizarre, euphemistic adventure in Argentina (by way of the Appalachian Trail). Turn it down quiet or put on your earphones if at work, because some of the language is NSFW.

The Young Turks: Limbaugh Blames Sanford Affair on Obama

Rush Limbaugh is ridiculous. But you knew that.

Mark Sanford Removed from List of "Values" Speakers

I'm double-dipping into ThinkProgress stories here, only because I found this list of speakers at a right-wing nutjob event (Family Research Council’s Values Voters Summit 2009) inadvertently hilarious. The roster of A-list politicians includes such luminaries as failed presidential candidates (Law & Order actor) Fred Thompson, and (fudgepacker) Mitt Romney. Hopeful future candidate Tim Pawlenty--the guy who won't let Al Franken be Senator--is in there. Also, secessionist governor Rick Perry and oops! Somehow South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's picture got removed!

The rest of the list just gives me the willies. I like Gary Senise as an actor, but as a political/religious values speaker? Uber-creepy, uber-creaky religionistas Don Wildman and Phyllis Schlafly will be there to bring the fire and brimstone, along with (Blood! Mother! Blood!) Tony Perkins. I have no idea who Eduardo and Lila are, but they're hot, so maybe they're there to keep it chastefully sexy. Carrie Prejean can bring her fake boobies along with a heavy dash of stupid. And Ben Stein can play the substitute teacher, saying, "Sanford? Sanford? Bueller?"

Source: Think Progress

UPDATE: I was unaware when I originally posted this that the image only includes a partial list of invited speakers (confirmed speakers are designated with an asterisk). Here are the others:

- Rep. Michelle (Batshit Crazy) Bachman
- Stephen Baldwin (I'm Not a Celebrity, So Why Am I Here?)
- Gary Bauer (Anti-gay Crusader)
- Glenn Beck (Crazy FOX "News" Guy)
- Ken Blackwell (Katherine Harris II)
- Rep John Boner Boehner
- "Uncle" Pat Buchanan
- Gov. Sarah (Caribou Barbie) Palin
- Sean (The Manatee) Hannity
- Sen. Mitch (Constipated Turtle) McConnell
- Mark (Hannity's Brain) Levin
- Kirk (Left Behind) Cameron
- Bill (We'll Do It Live!) O'Reilly
- Gov. Bobby (Kenneth the Page) Jindal
- Rush (Drug-addled Gasbag) Limbaugh

There are more, but you get the idea. Stomach-churning. If you want to see the rest, be my guest at: Value Voters Summit

Rachel Breaks Down the Whole Gov. Sanford Thing. . .So Far

There are reasons why I dig The Rachel Maddow Show so much, and for why I post so many clips here on the blog. One of them is the snarky, but brainy attitude throughout. One of them is her ability to entertain with the goofy stuff, and then educate with the serious. Iran is one of the very serious things going on, and Rachel has probably been the best on-air commentator on the subject (excluding actual journalists like Richard Engel).

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

On a day like today, the goofy outweighs the serious because a) there is a near news blackout on Iran, and b) because the mystery about a goofy subject burst open, spewing lies and half-truths and confessions. . .it was fascinating. I'm sure there are news watchers that will lament the saturation coverage of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, and his peccadilloes. But just watch the clips here to see what I'm talking about. Rachel lays out the situation in her entertaining but informative way. She makes the points, and asks the questions I wanted someone to ask. And she actually talks to the reporter who started the ball rolling when she staked out the Atlanta Airport this morning. You would be unlikely to hear all the points covered this well anywhere else. And that includes Countdown with Keith Olbermann.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

FOX "News" Identifies Gov. Mark Sanford with a (D)

Image from source, TVNewser

If there is a Democrat caught in a scandal, you can count on FOX "News" to drag it out for several weeks, making sure you know it's a Democrat. If there is a Republican caught in a scandal, you can count on FOX "News" to make sure you know they are a. . .Democrat? Seems that way.

This is not the first time FOX has done this, either. I have no idea if it is on purpose, of just a bad typist. It is odd though that "FOX Fans" will immediately counter that MSNBC or CNN neglect to name the party when it is a Democrat. I'd counter back that leaving out the party affiliation is a different beast than labeling it incorrectly.

[Excerpt]

Fox News Identifies (R) Gov. as a (D)

During his news conference this afternoon, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford was identified as a (D) on Fox News. Not only is he not a (D) he was, until today, the head of the RGA - Republican Governor's Association. The (D) on the lower third banner appeared for about 7 seconds. The banner was then switched to quotes Sanford was giving before the correct (R) designation was inserted. . .

Read more at: TVNewser

That Missing Governor from South Carolina

UPDATE: And here is the problem with blogging at night, and having to work all day. This story has changed eight ways to Sunday. . .and it got even better. As I'm sure you know by now, Gov. Sanford has admitted to an affair, and the entire backlog of excuses has proven to be a big whopping pile of lies. More later.

ORIGINAL POST: I guess I probably should subtitle Greenlee Gazette "A Rachel Maddow Fan Blog," as often as I post clips from her show. But you know what? I post a lot fewer of them than I want to!

Anyway, last night's show disproves an allegation that Rachel (and MSNBC in general) do not allow Republican guests. The Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, Andre Bauer (R) appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show to answer--as best as he was able--the questions about his state's missing Governor. Good stuff.

(Maybe by the time you see this, Governor Mark Sanford will have reappeared.)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford Missing?

Image from source, TheState

Well, this is interesting. . .

[Excerpt]

Sanford taking a hike, governor's office says

S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford’s staff said late Monday that the governor is hiking on the Appalachian Trail, ending four days during which staff and state officials said they had not heard from him.

Neither Sanford’s office nor the State Law Enforcement Division, which provides security for governors, had been able to reach Sanford since he left the mansion Thursday in a black Suburban SUV assigned to his security detail, said state Sen. Jake Knotts , R-Lexington, and three others familiar with the situation, but who declined to be identified. . .

Read more (with video) at: TheState