Don't Cry For Me Argentina: Sanford Stimulates the Other Stimulus Package!

Breaking News From The WaPo-Sanford Admits To Affair...

UPDATE, 2:30 p.m., ET: Well, it doesn't get much crazier than this. Governor Sanford made a stunning admission at his news conference this afternoon that he has been having an extramarital affair with a "dear dear friend" in Argentina. The affair, he said, began "very innocently" but blossomed into "something much more than that."
(Photo credits: Sanford -- AP /Brett Flashnick)

"I've been unfaithful to my wife," Sanford said. "As a consequence, I hurt her, you all, my wife, my boys, my friends like Tom Davis. I hurt a lot of different folks. All I can say is that I apologize."

Sanford said he will resign as chairman of the Republican Governors' Association.

Original Posting

How quickly they fall. Last week it was Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.); this week it's South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.

With the bizarre revelation that Sanford was AWOL for five days in Buenos Aires -- and not hiking the Appalachian Trail, as his staff had said -- we think it's fair to say today may mark the death knell for two 2012 Republican presidential hopefuls.

Compared to Sanford, Ensign's crime was so pedestrian: he had an extramarital affair with a campaign staffer who was a longtime friend of his wife and married to another Ensign aide. And the senator came forward to admit the affair only after his ex-mistress's husband approached a TV network to expose the scandal.

Sanford, on the other hand, is guilty of disappearing for days on end without disclosing his whereabouts, leaving his entire state leaderless and his family wondering where Daddy was on Father's Day.

While his wife said she had no clue where her husband was, Sanford's spokesman Joel Sawyer said the governor was hiking the Appalachian Trail. And he stuck to that story even after Sanford's chief of staff reportedly got a call from the governor -- who was really in Argentina -- on Tuesday. So it would appear Sawyer either lied about Sanford's true whereabouts, or was misled and passed that lie along to the public. (Asked this morning at the Atlanta airport why his staff thought he was hiking the Appalachian Trail, Sanford said, "I don't know.")

The Sanford drama is a screenplay that writes itself. Please give us your thoughts on who should play the governor, his wife, his chief of staff and his lieutenant governor, who -- bless his heart, as we say in the Carolinas -- was left completely in the dark.

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Don't Cry For Me Argentina: The State's Coverage of Governor Sanford's Affair

Sanford admits affair, apologizes to family
Governor apologizes to wife, sons and friends
By GINA SMITHgnsmith@thestate.com

BREAKING: Sanford admits he has been unfaithful to his wife.
Gov. Mark Sanford admitted today that his secret trip to Argentina over Father's Day weekend was to visit a woman he is having an affair with.

(Photo credits: Gina Smith /The State Gina Smith /The State First look: Gov. Mark Sanford arrives at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. - Gina Smith /The State )


"I have developed a relationship with what started as a dear dear friend from Argentina. It began very innocently as I expect many of these things do, just casual email back and forth," Sanford said. "But here recently this last year developed into something much more."

Asked if Sanford was separated from his wife, he said "I don't know how you want to define that. I"m here and she's there. I guess in a formal sense we are not."

Sanford said his wife has known about the affair and they have been working through it for the past five months. "What I did was wrong, period. End of story," Sanford said.

Sanford arrived in the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport this morning, having wrapped up a seven-day visit to Buenos Aires, Argentina, he said then. Sanford said he had not been hiking along the Appalachian Trail, as his staff said in a Tuesday statement to the media.

Sanford's whereabouts had been unknown since Thursday, and the mystery surrounding his absence fueled speculation about where he had been and who's in charge in his absence. His emergence Wednesday ended the mystery.

Sanford, in an interview with The State, said he decided at the last minute to go to the South American country to recharge after a difficult legislative session in which he battled with lawmakers over how to spend federal stimulus money.

Sanford said he had considered hiking on the Appalachian Trail, an activity he said he has enjoyed since he was a high school student.

"But I said 'no' I wanted to do something exotic," Sanford said "... It's a great city."
Sanford, in a brief interview in the nation's busiest airport, said he has been to the city twice before, most recently about a year and half ago during a Commerce Department trip.

Sanford said he was alone on the trip. He declined to give any additional details about what he did other than to say he drove along the coastline.

Sanford, who was wearing a blue and white button down shirt and brown denim pants, said he left for Buenos Aires on Thursday night from Columbia Metropolitan Airport and had originally planned to come back tomorrow.

Media reports said a SLED SUV the governor drove that night was spotted in the airport's parking lot.
Sanford's spokesman Joel Sawyer declined to immediately comment to The Associated Press, and the governor did not return cell phone messages.

Sanford planned a news conference at 2 p.m. Wednesday at his office in Columbia.
Critics slammed his administration for lying to the public.

"Lies. Lies. Lies. That's all we get from his staff. That's all we get from his people. That's all we get from him," said state Sen. Jake Knotts, R-West Columbia. "Why all the big cover-up?"

Trying to drive along the coast could frustrate a weekend visitor to Argentina. In Buenos Aires, the Avenida Costanera is the only coastal road, and it's less than two miles long. Reaching coastal resorts to the south requires a drive of nearly four hours on an inland highway with views of endless cattle ranches. To the north is a river delta of islands reached only by boat.

A spokesman for Argentina's immigration agency wouldn't comment Wednesday on whether Sanford entered the country, citing privacy laws.

The governor said he cut his trip short after his chief of staff, Scott English, told him his trip was gaining a lot of media attention and he needed to come back.

When asked why his staff said he was on the Appalachian Trail, Sanford replied, "I don't know."
Sanford later said "in fairness to his staff," he had told them he might go hiking on the Appalachian Trial.

Sanford said he decided not to return via the Columbia airport to avoid the media. The State Media Company was the only media who greeted Sanford this morning.

"I don't know how this thing got blown out of proportion," Sanford said.

Sanford said he has taken adventure trips for years to unwind. He has visited such places as the coast of Turkey, the Greek Isles and South America. He was with friends sometimes and sometimes by himself.
"I would get out of the bubble I am in," Sanford said.

Sanford said the legislative session was a difficult one for him, particularly losing the fight over whether he should accept stimulus $700 million in stimulus money he wanted lawmakers to spend on debt instead of urgent budget needs.
"It was a long session and I needed a break," Sanford said.

After a brief conversation with a reporter, Sanford was escorted away by an aide.

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Happy Father's Day To All The Father's Out There...

Friday Funnies: South Carolina Thru The Eyes of a Charlestonian!

Feed Your iPod: Jamie Foxx "Blame It"

Jamie Foxx - New Music - More Music Videos

Just found out tonight that the Beav has never heard the song "Blame It" by Jamie Foxx. All I got to say is man you need some more MTV or VH1 "Jump Start" in your life brother. You've got no excuse not to have heard this one but I guess you can blame it on the ah-ah-ah-alcohol.

Kicking It @ Bamboo With The Birthday Girl!

I had heard mixed reviews about the (relatively) new Japanese restaurant Bamboo (Garden) in Mt. Pleasant but the Bushido will give the Bamboo-Crew my blessing. We had a blast celebrating another milestone for the JABROS and friends.

As the faites would have it, we lucked out and got a great server (Alex) a sweet spot-the U-shaped couch with a giant marble table/fountain and excellent sushi for quite reasonable prices with drinks I doubt our tab will be more than 50 bucks for Sweets and I. That being said, if you are thirsty for one of those Ju-Ju Beers, you are going to be out of luck because our server said someone is killing them-let's not point fingers.

Well, I have to go-Sweets is calling me out for being a "crack-head with my crack-berry". Happy birthday MABROS.

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Friday Funnies: U-Haul Feet As Well???

I don't know why I found this to be so funny but as I was cruising to Columbia today I was passed by this U-Haul van with a young lady catching a kitty nap with her legs hanging out the window. I guess, it's just one of those only in South Carolina things...And all this time I thought that smell was just a factory outside of Columbia.

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Seriously? Dead stopped on I-26

I am @ a dead stop and I-26 has only one lane open near mile-marker 190. Come on SCDOT. And there are those who say that "I-26" shouldn't be widened to three lanes.
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Either Spoleto Is In Full Gear...

Or there is about to be a jousting tournament in Marion Square.

In all seriousness go to Marion Square and check out the amazing art displayed by participating artists.
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Wednesday's WTF? WTF Won't Anyone Obey The Traffic Laws?

Come on Cletus!
I honestly hate to single out this "county-mountie" but he just had the misfortune of being in front of me this morning and not pulling up to the big white stripe on the blacktop-see photo-after I beeped my horn twice, waiting a few moments and then beeped again (twice). Had he done so, then I would have been able to use the turn lane but instead he just parked his cruiser right there in the middle of the lane-oblivious to what was going on in the world; and to think, I could have not been eight minutes late to work if he would have just pulled up just short of two feet. Then again, these hopeful thoughts are all for naught as once the light turned green the deputy decided to turn right anyway and I was caught by the West Ashley bridge (malfunctioning?) for 45-minutes as we had to let a sailboat get out into the harbor.

A Growing Trend
Charlestonians have often lamented about tourists needing to "go back to Ohio"-heck they even started a web-site-because the growing sentiment is that tourists cause traffic problems. I don't buy it; a majority of the "yahoos" I see causing T-total cluster-f's have South Carolina tags on the back of their cars and either a Clemson sticker or (sadly) a Citadel sticker somewhere on the window or bumper. Which while I am on topic, wtf wouldn't you know to merge into the right lane on the down ramp (heading towards town) by the round Holiday Inn (especially if you went to school here for 4 years)? I hate to generalize Citadel grads and their driving ability but after years of making this trek at least once a day, five days a week, for quite a few years now, I can say about eighty percent of the time, there's a Citadel sticker on the back of the car who ends up stuck in the 10 feet of caution area awaiting to merge.

Make the Connection
There's also a lot of hub-bub and hand-wringing (read: opposition) about the proposed (more than a decade ago-see big mound at the end of the James Island Connector across the street from Harris Teeter) extension of 526, which would finally connect the City with the surrounding greater-Charleston Metro area. I say make the connection. Anyone who travels Savannah Highway will tell you that it is a nightmare: stop and go traffic due to bad timing on the traffic lights, drivers won't travel 45 mph near the auto mile (the speed limit doesn't lower to 35 until you hit Ashley River Baptist Church) and all of this cow-herding of cars bottle-necks to a bridge that may or may not be standing upright allowing a sailboat to travel beneath. Simple economics say that if there is one sailboat leaving port (not spending any more money) and about a hundred cars waiting to get Downtown to make money or spend money then the cars should take precedent.

Sorry for the rant but this is my first post using the Blackberry and I have a sh_crap ton of time on my hands.

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Sunday Samurai: I Can't Wait...The New Harris Teeter, Pigs In A Blanket & Big Box (Home Depot & Lowes) Staying Open An Hour Later

For the new Harris Teeter store to open in the West Ashley section of Charleston, South Carolina. For those of you who live West of the Ashley River in Charleston and have suffered for years without a 24-hour grocery store to quash that desire for a midnight snack I present you the new Harris Teeter store. Be patient my friends, the end is near and she should be open here soon.

I was in the Pig the other night about 10 minutes before closing time (like 9 pm) and I asked the manager if the Pig was going to start staying open later to compete with the new Teeter. He replied, "Oh gosh no, in fact, I wish we could go back to closing at 7 pm." Seriously?

Leave it to Beaver or just leave Beaver
I can understand the gentleman's desire to hearken back to the old days when we all ate dinner together at 6:30 pm and the grocery closed early because most folks only made a trip to the "sto" once a week. But let's get with the times people, we work late, jam our schedules full of errands and appointments ad nauseum. And let's face it, convenience stores these days just are not that convenient.

Just recently, Home Depot decided to open an hour earlier and stay open an hour later. How friggin awesome is that? Countless times, I have broken something (whilst trying to repair something else) or been mid-way into a project when I realized I needed something-that I could only find-from HD or Lowes (not the 24-hour Super Wal-Mart) and then looked at the clock only to realize I had fifteen minutes before they closed. Not anymore baby! (FYI: Lowes decided to match their cross-street competition and match Home Depot's hours). I even filled out my first receipt-questionairre exclaiming how I loved the later hours @ Home Depot and wished they would advertise this new change so more people would take advantage of their new closing time.

For those great deciders who changed the hours @ Lowes & Home Depot-Bravo! To the Big Whigs @ the Teeter who decided to provide the folks here this side of the Ashley a new store-Bravo indeed Sirs.

Rachel Alexandra Wins The Blackberry Preakness Stakes!

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

Rachel Alexandra just became the first filly to win the Preakness Stakes in 80 years (since Nellie Morse won in 1924) with Derby winner Calvin Borel finishing the mile and three-sixteenth track in 1:55.08. A 9-5 favorite, Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks two-weeks ago the Friday race (for locals) before the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

I took the Derby winner Mine that Bird to win because with 6-1 odds (which aren't great by any means) but are better than the 9-5 odds Rachel Alexandra had. Also, I thought that perhaps Bird's jockey-Mike Smith would get it done today. And like they say, if you have a "hunch, bet a bunch" and since today is the 7th Annual Birdfest Bluegrass Festival, I thought why not stick with the Derby winner. Well, it looks like another year without a Triple-Crown winner unless jockey Calvin Borel wins in three weeks at the Belmont Stakes-but then again, that doesn't count since he's not a horse.

For the full story go to NBC Sports.com

The Bushido's Blackberry 134th Preakness Stakes Picks!

I am sticking with the winner of the Derby, Mine that Bird to win, the super filly Rachel Alexandra and Musketman to place 3rd. Post time is less than 5 minutes away. (Photo courtesy of Gainesway Farm)

I know Calvin Borel is riding The Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra but Mike Smith is riding the Derby winner Mine that Bird, Smith is a great jockey and his girlfriend (a fine jockey herself) won with Mine that Bird in Canada as a two-year old. (Mine that Bird was a Champion-Juvenile in Canada.)

Last minute bets (unless you live in South Carolina) can be placed here @ tvg.com

Kate Winslet Channels Catherine Deneuve For Vanity Fair As The Belle de Jour!

For some reason Sweets doesn't understand why I continue my subscription (in this economy) to that certain publication produced by our distinguished friend Hugh Hefner (seriously there are great articles and interviews in between the three layouts of form and pulchritude) after our decision to agree-to-disagree I just happened to flip through the December 2008 issue of her Vanity Fair magazine and my jaw about dropped when I saw the (photo by Steven Meisel) article "Isn't She Deneuvely" (by Krista Smith) about Kate Winslet. Talk about not wanting to read the article.

Oh the Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie 

Smith's article really connects the reader to what the balance of life is like for Ms. Winslet. Who am I kidding? I am sure it is great but I couldn't help but think that Winslet's husband, Sam Mendes is one lucky ninja and then I just day-dreamed about the premise of the photo shoot by the talented Steven Meisel, which is inspired by Catherine Deneuve's character Severine Serizy in the 1967 film, Belle de Jour by Spanish director Luis Bunuel (aka: the father of cinematic surrealism ) where a housewife (is moonlighting the best description?) spends her days as a daytime prostitute (working two to five); hence, the meaning behind the Francais "Belle de Jour" (Beauty of the Day) and is a great lesson that money isn't everything there doctor. Deneuve's performance is also the reason that we must channel both, I said both, Shatner's Captain Kirk and the Daily Show's Jon Stewart, by looking to the sky and screaming "KHAN!!!"

(Photo of Catherine Deneuve and Iska Khan from the movie Belle de Jour courtesy of the Belle de Jour on Myspace)

Happy Mother's Day..You Mothers-Justin Timberlake & Andy Sandberg in "Motherlover"

This is hilarious and somewhat of a pithy way to celebrate Mother's Day but what did you expect. Without further adieu may I present the latest SNL digital short from the boys who brought you "Di** In A Box" Justin Timberlake and Andy Sandberg in "Motherlover" the SNL digital short hosted by Hulu.com

Remembering Ricky Henderson-May 1st ,1991

On this date in 1991, Ricky Henderson (aka: The Man of Steal) passed the all-time base stealer Lou Brock stealing third base in the fourth inning against the New York Yankees for his 938 stolen bases. Born Ricky Nelson Henley in Chicago, Illinois, Henderson was named after the singer Rickey Nelson. His surname was changed after the passing of his father and the family moved to Oakland and his mother remarried. (Photo courtesy of TRB.com)

Henderson's talent of stealing bases was smiled upon by the baseball gods when Ricky was drafted (in the fourth round in 1976) by the Oakland A's: under skipper Billy Martin's unique approach to the game known as "Billy Ball" Henderson was given the green light to run and with Dwayne Murphy (a true fast-ball hitter) batting behind Ricky, pitchers had to throw Murphy the curve ball a perfect pitch to run on allowed Ricky to pass Brock's single-season record of 118 stolen bases in a season (Henderson would go on to steal 130 bases that season-a record he still holds).

Headed to Cooperstown
When Sabermetrics (Society for American Baseball Research) inventor Bill James was asked if Henderson was worthy of the Hall of Fame, James replied, "If you could split him in two, you would have two Hall of Fame pitchers." James is right not only did Henderson break Babe Ruth's record of 2,062 walks (ending with a career 2,190 base-on-balls) a record he held until passed by Barry Bonds, Ricky also passed Ty Cobbs record of 2,246 runs scored (with a career 2,295 runs) and holds the all-time stolen base record of 1,406 stolen bases. Trivia: In teammate Tony Gwynn's last game with the A's, Ricky had a lead-off home run, this game became the first and only time two players with over 3,000 hits have played in the same game.

Ricky Henderson will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 26, 2009.

Friday Funnies: Denise Richard's Fun Bags from Funny or Die

Denise Richards' Funbags from Denise Richards

As I post this video I now realize that it is about as funny as everyone throwing around the tea-bagging comments about Republicans and their tea-parties last month; because she probably does not get the joke. I actually found her annoying in this video. I digress; mass props to Sweets for her birthday today. I'll see you all @ Reds tonight-I know it is a surprise but she doesn't read this anyway.

Feed Your iPod: Better Than Ezra's "Porcelain"

Since the band, Better Than Ezra is playing tonight at the Farm, I thought I would add their tune, "Porcelain" from their album Deluxe to the Bushido for all of you "Ezralites". This song is "so good, yeah, you know it's so good" all right so that's a kick back to when the band was still blasting on the radio and we didn't have to ask people if they were still together (obviously they are and have released seven records since Deluxe) although Travis McNabb packed up his drum kit to join a much more "babe" friendly country band called Sugarland, Michael Jerome has taken his place on drums and evidently, the word on the street is Better Than Ezra still rocks.

At Least We Got The Warranty

Since opening with great fan-fare on July 16, 2005 the Thomas Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge (aka: the Cooper River Bridge) has become a beacon for the cities the span of 1,546 feet connects (Charleston and Mt. Pleasant) both from an architectural-engineering standpoint and a get out and run/have fun functional structure. Yet, it appears that the longest-cable-stayed bridge in the Western-Hemisphere and the most expensive allocation of government and local funds since King Charles II gave the Carolinas to his friends (who got him back on the throne) is starting to crack. *The US Government hooked us up with a $325 million loan on the $632 million bridge. (Photo courtesy of Pit-Stop)

Fortunately, there was a moment of smarts up there in Columbia when we (taxpayers) purchased the bridge, somebody asked for a warranty, so the bridge is getting fixed by Skanska free of charge-since it is covered under warranty.

Link to Robert Behre's article in the Post & Courier

R.I.P. Bea Arthur

Beatrice "Bea" Arthur passed away yesterday and will be missed by many of those who watched her- Emmy Award winning performance-as Dorothy Zbornak on the Golden Girls. She was a legend in the biz with a career stretching 7 decades and old Maude was a "New Deal Fanatic" as Archie Bunker would say. 

How many Golden  Girls are still alive?

For those of you keeping track of the "Girls" at home there's only two surviving Golden Girl cast-members: Betty White (Rose) and Rue McClanahan (Blanche).

Friday Funnies: Tiger Woods CaddyShack Commercial for American Express

With the Masters Tournament this weekend, we thought we'd share a funny clip from the golf world courtesy of Tiger Woods and the folks at American Express. 

Another Cooper River Bridge Run, err...Bridge Walk Behind Down!

Alas the finish line of this year's Cooper River Bridge Run. I didn't run it this year as I have in years past and I didn't "bridge-jump" (make a fake ticket and run/walk without paying the $35 to join in the fun) because the folks were in town to do the walk and Sweets said it would be dishonest to the charities to fake a ticket-blast! 

Now in years past, I have eschewed training and preparing for the bridge run, I just went out and ran it-just as I did every other 10k or 5k. But after a quick run at the end of the bridge to the Meeting Street Piggly Wiggly for a badly needed pit-stop, I realized that I am way out of shape. So despite my hesitation to walk the race, I am glad that I did. 

Happy Birthday Danica!

 

27 years ago, the belle of Beloit (Wisconsin) came racing out the womb and flashed the world that million-dollar smile that now adorns magazine covers ranging from racing rags to US Weekly to Sports Illustrated as seen here in this photo by Marlena Bielinska in the latest SI Swimsuit Edition. 

Once again, happy birthday Danica, I think we're headed to GoDaddy.com to watch one of those cool commercials. Let us know in the comments section if you think this is the year Danica wins the Indianapolis 500?

(Photo courtesy of SI.com)

Top 5 SuperBowl 43 Commercials: #5 Coke Zero's (Mean) Troy Polamalu's "Hey Kid"

At Number 5 on our Top 5 Super Bowl 43 Commercials List we have the Coke Zero play on the Mean Joe Green classic commercial from the '70's as "Mean" Troy Polamalu (USC alum) tackles a Coke Zero rep to get the tasty beverage back that a young kid had just given him. And just as Mean Joe took a swig and said, "Hey kid" as he through the youngster his jersey, Polamalu gave the kid the shirt he ripped off of a Coke Zero rep. 

Top 5 SuperBowl 43 Commercials: #4 Bud Light Budget Cuts

At Number 4 on our Top 5 Super Bowl 43 commercials list: Bud Light Budget Cuts Commercials

Top 5 SuperBowl 43 Commercials: #3 E*Trade's Baby Golfer Commercial

At Number 3 on our Top 5 Super Bowl 43 Commercials List we have the E*Trade Baby Golfer commercial. 

Top 5 SuperBowl 43 Commercials: #2 Doritos' Snow Globe

Number 2 on our Top 5 list is the Doritos' Snow Globe commercial. Why?-You might ask. Come on any time some one gets hit in the junk you know that is gold in the Bushido's book. 

Top 5 SuperBowl 43 Commercials: #1-PETA's Banned Video

At Number 1 on our Top 5 Super Bowl 43 Commercials List we have the banned ad from the animal rights organization PETA, which I signed the "Great White Hunter" Hutto-boat up for a couple of years ago. We give this commercial the number one spot because we're not so sure that this commercial needed to be banned and of course, we're still big fans of form and pulchritude (as well as asparagus). Was it because it actually said the word, "sex"? I would be one to say that the Danica Patrick Go Daddy commercial was just as suggestive. 

Disclaimer: If this was too suggestive for tv, we suggest not playing it at work or with the kids by the lap-top. 

Friday Funnies: "Show Me Your Gennys"

This one came to the Bushido from D, language is not apropos for the office or kids but there's not any nudity and it is quite humorous. thanks D.

WTF Can't I Get This Song Out of My Head?

Pet Shop Boys, who doesn't love them, but WTF has this song been punishing me for the past week? Blast you Pet Shop Boys!

President Obama's Inaugural Address!