Sanford preparing "neener, neener, neener" defense.

[dgibby]

In addition to his never ending self-flagelating apology tour, Gov. Sanford has now authorized his staff to research his predecessors' expenditures in order to combat criticism of his alleged misuse of public funds and violation of state travel laws.

Snip...

Sanford then used the research to fire back at his critics. With the records for legislators and former Govs. Jim Hodges, David Beasley and the late Carroll Campbell in hand, Sanford characterizes allegations that he spent excessively on travel as selective outrage and media sensationalism meant to build political careers and sell newspapers.

The governor argues that when he has the opportunity to tell "the rest of the story," the facts will restore his reputation as a champion for conservatives and a watchdog for the taxpayers.

It's an image he polished when he was a media darling: the frugal Congressman who slept on a cot in his Washington office, who balked at politician's expensive overseas jaunts, and later, the cost-conscience governor so grounded in dollars and common sense that he made his staff use both sides of Post-it notes.

Now, however, Hodges, a Democrat who Sanford defeated in 2002, said Sanford offering opinions on how his record compares to his predecessors is a little like Hugh Hefner giving a lecture on morality.
Snip...

"I wish Governor Sanford would spend as much time working to create jobs for South Carolina as he is investigating other people," Hodges said. "This is Nixonian. It reminds me of the last days of Richard Nixon."

More @ link:

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/sep/20/sanford-prepares-rest-of-the-story/

Here's the copy of the LTTE I sent today:

In addition to his non-stop apology tour, the P&C is also reporting that Sanford has authorized his staff to research his predecessors' expenditures in an effort to justify his own alleged misuse of taxpayers' dollars.

As a self-describes "fiscal conservative", the Governor apparently has no problem using tax dollars to defend himself, but balks at funding anything that would help his constituents. This is evidenced by the appalling state of our schools, high teen pregnancy and infant mortality rates, lower life expectancies, and high unemployment and poverty levels.

I, for one, would like to know how much it's costing the taxpayers to support the Governor's "I love me" tour, his "they did it, so I can, too" defense, and his stubborn resistance to the Federal Stimulus Program that ended up in the state supreme court.

I urge the Post and Courier to obtain and publish this information as soon as possible. Thank you.

[FSogol]

1. Is he giving up the "I did it fer Luv" defense? n/t

[dgibby]

2. No, just adding another layer of "it's not my fault" excuses!. n/t

[Are_grits_groceries]

3. He's also demanded that the Presidents of Clemson,

USC and the Medical University of SC send every scrap of info about their use of the state plane.

He's going for the 2nd grade defense of "Well, they did it."

He needs to take Reggie LLoyd and go dig some holes.

Edit to add: here is the info he wants:
In a Sept. 1 letter to Clemson University, the Medical University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina — the state’s three research universities — Sanford’s office requests information on the colleges’ use of state planes or planes they — or their foundations — own or lease.

In a letter to the schools, Patel asks for “flight manifests, passenger information, purpose of trips and cost of travel,” among other data, in order to “get a better understanding of how different state organizations use airplanes in South Carolina.”

http://www.thesunnews.com/1014/story/1049350.html?storylink=mirelated

[dgibby]

4. What a tool! n/t