Mark Sanford

[MikeWaters]

He quoted 1 Corinthians 13 to his Argentinian lover.

http://www.thestate.com/sanford/story/839350.html

Is there anything more entertaining than a saved Bible thumper in the throes of passionate hypocrisy?

[Levin]

These were my thoughts exactly when I read your smug, cynical, schadenfreude-filled, and uncharitable post:

http://www.slate.com/id/2221255/

[MikeWaters]

Please. The guy lied, lied, and lied some more. His mea culpa was only because he knew a paper was about to publish those emails. He betrayed the trust of his constituents.

He is another selb absorbed meglomaniac who thought he could do anything he wanted.

His press conference was an attempt to HOLD onto power.

As to his salvation, I'm sure none of this matters, because he is saved.

[Levin]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Please. The guy lied, lied, and lied some more. His mea culpa was only because he knew a paper was about to publish those emails. He betrayed the trust of his constituents.

He is another selb absorbed meglomaniac who thought he could do anything he wanted.

His press conference was an attempt to HOLD onto power.

As to his salvation, I'm sure none of this matters, because he is saved.

All of your statements here -- except for the last -- are undoubtedly true. But I still find the general glee and finding it entertaining distasteful.

[MikeWaters]

That's because you are dumb enough to view these people as selfless public servants.

[Archaea]

Why does any of this matter any more? We should not look to our political leaders for moral guidance, probably should view all of them with disdain. That anybody should feel a need to apologize publicly is ridiculous. If he used taxpayer money, then it should be reimbursed.

[Levin]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

That's because you are dumb enough to view these people as selfless public servants.

No, it's because you're too dumb to get the argument. A life based on criticism, cynicism, and a lack of charity will make you dumb like that.

I'm not viewing Sanford as a public servant at all at the moment, but as a human being who is undergoing some serious suffering. So he brought it on himself -- so do we all, especially you who apparently enjoys even faux and dramatic suffering.

And yes, I'm sad the ideal of the virtuous public servant has taken another hit. A democracy requires that ideal to be healthy. They all can't be Washington or Lincoln, but heaven help us if we don't believe some of them can be.

[MikeWaters]

This man was touted by some as a possible leader of the free world.

That he has been exposed NOW as a snake is a good thing. A happy thing.

I'm sorry you can't see that. The Republic is safer when people like Sanford are caught in their lies.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by Levin

And yes, I'm sad the ideal of the virtuous public servant has taken another hit. A democracy requires that ideal to be healthy. They all can't be Washington or Lincoln, but heaven help us if we don't believe some of them can be.

Why do you make this conclusion/assumption?

Today's politics are different and require a different breed. Moral constancy is not one of the traits or virtues necessary to "lead" politically. Good television face and voice, the ability to speak publicly in a clear and succinct manner, cozying up to party regulars and financiers, invoking the emotions of the time are de rigeur, not moral leadership, or selfless service. Those virtues died long ago, if they ever truly existed.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

This man was touted by some as a possible leader of the free world.

That he has been exposed NOW as a snake is a good thing. A happy thing.

I'm sorry you can't see that. The Republic is safer when people like Sanford are caught in their lies.

We don't need another white Southerner, but please, "protecting the Republic"?

The Republic is dying; it's just a matter of time before its death. I wager you and I will be long gone before its actual complete demise is realized, but the arc length of societies is shortening. In the Roman eras we experience approximately four to five hundred years per era. Technology and the speed of information and change will accelerate the decline and demise of societies, economically and then socially.

IOW, I see our role is to delay the inevitable as long as we can. But we can no longer expect good, moral people to function in politics. That's not what our system demands or utilizes, and those who could make a difference are not involved.