The Likeable Mark Sanford…

This post isn’t necessarily to say that I like Mark Sanford (I thought his battle against the stimulus bill was just cheap partisan chicanery) or that I abide by his actions, but that in a weird kind of way, I empathize with him. The last couple of days have not only been the most public revelation of an affair, but also the most personal. It’s been the closest we’ve been allowed to be to a major political player in terms of witnessing their humanity – and its commonness.

It all started with the poor lies – “on the Appalachian Trail.” Then his hangdog excuse-making that left him looking like a deer in the headlights, or more accurately, the kind of statement a kid makes with his hand stuck in the cookie jar, “I was driving up and down the Buenos Aires coastline.” But then there was the surreally open press conference:

Then there was his wife’s honest disclosure of the problems in their marriage, their separation, sons, and Sanford’s possibly second chance. Further on there was the disclosure of his e-mails between himself and his mistress which revealed a surprising romantic eloquence.

Got back an hour ago to civilization and am now in Columbia after what was for me a glorious break from reality down at the farm. No phones ringing and tangible evidence of a day’s labors. Though I have started every day by 6 this morning woke at 4:30, I guess since my body knew it was the last day, and I went out and ran the excavator with lights until the sun came up. To me, and I suspect no one else on earth, there is something wonderful about listening to country music playing in the cab, air conditioner running, the hum of a huge diesel engine in the background, the tranquility that comes with being in a virtual wilderness of trees and marsh, the day breaking and vibrant pink coming alive in the morning clouds — and getting to build something with each scoop of dirt. It is admittedly weird but one of my more favorite ways of escaping the norms, constant phone calls and formalities that go with the office — and it probably fits with my weakness in doing rather than being…

… I have been specializing in staying focused on decisions and actions of the head for a long time now — and you have my heart. You have oh so many attributes that pulls it in this direction. Do you really comprehend how beautiful your smile is? Have you been told lately how warm your eyes are and how they softly glow with the special nature of your soul. I remember Jenny, or someone close to me, once commenting that while my mom was pleasant and warm it was sad she had never accomplished anything of significance. I replied that they were wrong because she had the ultimate of all gifts — and that was the ability to love unconditionally. The rarest of all commodities in this world is love. It is that thing that we all yearn for at some level — to be simply loved unconditionally for nothing more than who we are — not what we can get, give or become…

… Since our first meeting there in a wind swept somewhat open air dance spot in Punta del Este, I felt that you had that same rare attribute. Above all else I love that inner beauty about you. That gift of yours is going to make a tremendous difference in (The State deleted sons’ names) life — and in anyone’s life who is blest to be touched by yours — you need to rest very comfortably in that fact. As I mentioned in our last visit, while I did not need love fifteen years ago — as the battle scars of life and aging and politics have worn on this has become a real need of mine. You have a particular grace and calm that I adore. You have a level of sophistication that is so fitting with your beauty. I could digress and say that you have the ability to give magnificently gentle kisses, or that I love your tan lines or that I love the curves of your hips, the erotic beauty of you holding yourself (or two magnificent parts of yourself) in the faded glow of night’s light…

Like I said, I don’t condone his actions of particularly like his politics, but there’s now a strange affinity for a man in his situation. Once he was caught he didn’t run for cover like most do, or attack the media for the delving into his personal life – he just hung it all out there. It’s all odd because now I feel like I know Mark Sanford better than I’ve known most other politicians that I’ve followed, really much closer.

-Marc-