I want to be friends with this girl...all of her shitty life choices make me feel amazing about winning the life-lottery.
Too Many Lies To Keep Up With
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Thursday, May 20, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
What are all the Jersey Shore Boys Gonna Do?!?
KANSAS CITY, KAN - One group of small business owners say that they are not happy about a special tax that's included in the landmark health care reform legislation - tanning salon owners.
The legislation includes a 10 percent tax on indoor tanning.
Northland insurance agent Sandy Gambel's office is just a few feet from her favorite tanning salon. She says that the tax won't necessarily stop her from tanning.
"Honestly, I feel healthier when I've got a little bit of a tan," said Gambel. "I feel better about me, when I've got that tan."
The executive director of the Indoor Tanning Association says that the tax will end up hurting salons, and that the government's estimate of how much revenue it will generate are pure fantasy.
The salon's owner says that he would hate to pass along the tax to his customers because of what it could do to business. But while tanning salon owners are not happy, dermatologists say that it means that their patients come in for exams a lot paler than before. One metro dermatologist says that he tells his patients that "pale is the new tan."
"Putting a tax on that may serve two purposes, from a health perspective," said Dr. Daniel Aires, a dermatologist at the University of Kansas Hospital. "Number one, it may discourage (tanning), hopefully, especially by young people. And number two, it can help pay for some of the health damages it causes."
Dr. Aires says that the date shows a link between tanning and melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
The Indoor Tanning Association says that the legislation originally included a so-called "Bo-Tax," which would have taxed cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures, but they say that their strong lobbyists change the bill.
The legislation includes a 10 percent tax on indoor tanning.
Northland insurance agent Sandy Gambel's office is just a few feet from her favorite tanning salon. She says that the tax won't necessarily stop her from tanning.
"Honestly, I feel healthier when I've got a little bit of a tan," said Gambel. "I feel better about me, when I've got that tan."
The executive director of the Indoor Tanning Association says that the tax will end up hurting salons, and that the government's estimate of how much revenue it will generate are pure fantasy.
The salon's owner says that he would hate to pass along the tax to his customers because of what it could do to business. But while tanning salon owners are not happy, dermatologists say that it means that their patients come in for exams a lot paler than before. One metro dermatologist says that he tells his patients that "pale is the new tan."
"Putting a tax on that may serve two purposes, from a health perspective," said Dr. Daniel Aires, a dermatologist at the University of Kansas Hospital. "Number one, it may discourage (tanning), hopefully, especially by young people. And number two, it can help pay for some of the health damages it causes."
Dr. Aires says that the date shows a link between tanning and melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
The Indoor Tanning Association says that the legislation originally included a so-called "Bo-Tax," which would have taxed cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures, but they say that their strong lobbyists change the bill.
Stupak Relents
A health vote falls in place after phone call from Obama
BY TODD SPANGLER
-- Here's how John Dingell described Bart Stupak, his congressional colleague and occasional duck blind buddy, on Monday: "He's got to be one of the best poker players I know."
Villified for weeks as the public face of the Democrats opposed to abortion rights who threatened to bring down President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, Stupak gave no hint that he was ready to play his cards.
The Democrat from Michigan's Upper Peninsula said that behind the scenes, decadeslong health care reform advocate Dingell was "chewing on me" as Stupak worked the White House for a clear statement that federal money couldn't be used for abortions.
The call from Obama came via cell phone about 3 p.m. Stupak walked to the House floor. They had a deal, the president said. On Monday, the White House acknowledged it helped put them over the top.
"Without Bart," Dingell said, "we wouldn't have the bill."
Obama calls, closes deal
Stupak knew when President Barack Obama called with a deal clincher -- an executive order reiterating that no federal funds would be spent on abortions -- that it was as good as he was going to get.
It broke the logjam on health care reform, allowing it to pass 219-212 late Sunday, but it seemed to please no one outside of Congress. Abortion opponents felt Stupak caved in to pressure, pro-choice groups felt he held the entire vote hostage.
The Senate had stripped from the bill an earlier provision that he wrote ensuring that no federal subsidies went to insurance plans that covered abortions, and, even if he had convinced House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to allow another vote changing the legislation, that would have sent it back to the Senate, where it most likely would have been stripped again.
"Every time I tried to do something legislatively, I was stymied," he said.
But he had another option. For days, Stupak, a Democrat from Michigan's western Upper Peninsula, had been working with the White House, on his own and through a good friend in Congress -- Rep. Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania -- to fashion a presidential order to allow Stupak and about nine other Democratic abortion rights opponents to vote for Obama's health care reform plan in good conscience. The problem was getting the White House to draw up a provision amid fears it would leak and spark a public fight. Finally, by the weekend, they left Stupak to draw it up and circulate it. Time was running short with a Sunday vote scheduled.
There was another motivation: Stupak's good friend Dingell, a Dearborn Democrat who has served longer in the House than anyone and has been pressing for health care reform for more than 50 years, was prodding him.
"It was tugging at me that I could stand in the way of Mr. Dingell's 50-something-year goal," Stupak said.
He had counted votes in the Senate -- he had no more than 45 for the statutory restrictions on abortion funding he still wants to see. Sixty votes are needed to get it passed in the Senate, though.
After Sunday's vote, Stupak caught more static. When Republicans moved to put Stupak's original provision into the bill Sunday, he rose to oppose it, calling it a tactic to destroy the overall bill's chances. Someone yelled "baby killer."
On Monday, U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer admitted he yelled it, but said he shouted, "It's a baby killer" about the deal struck between Obama and Stupak -- not Stupak himself. Neugebauer apologized. Stupak said the Texas Republican might want to apologize to the whole House.
"I was really surprised that they would do this," Stupak said. "Why would they personally attack me?"
He was surprised that Republicans denounced the executive order as meaningless, saying they never took that position when President George W. Bush used an executive order to restrict the use of human embryos for stem cell research.
Stupak could still face blowback at home. Two Democrats plan to challenge him in the August primary.
Beverly Prieskorn, a 68-year-old independent voter in Laurium on the Keweenaw Peninsula, said she admired Stupak's courage but is unhappy that he capitulated to Democratic bullying. "I know it was tough for him," she said.
BY TODD SPANGLER
-- Here's how John Dingell described Bart Stupak, his congressional colleague and occasional duck blind buddy, on Monday: "He's got to be one of the best poker players I know."
Villified for weeks as the public face of the Democrats opposed to abortion rights who threatened to bring down President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, Stupak gave no hint that he was ready to play his cards.
The Democrat from Michigan's Upper Peninsula said that behind the scenes, decadeslong health care reform advocate Dingell was "chewing on me" as Stupak worked the White House for a clear statement that federal money couldn't be used for abortions.
The call from Obama came via cell phone about 3 p.m. Stupak walked to the House floor. They had a deal, the president said. On Monday, the White House acknowledged it helped put them over the top.
"Without Bart," Dingell said, "we wouldn't have the bill."
Obama calls, closes deal
Stupak knew when President Barack Obama called with a deal clincher -- an executive order reiterating that no federal funds would be spent on abortions -- that it was as good as he was going to get.
It broke the logjam on health care reform, allowing it to pass 219-212 late Sunday, but it seemed to please no one outside of Congress. Abortion opponents felt Stupak caved in to pressure, pro-choice groups felt he held the entire vote hostage.
The Senate had stripped from the bill an earlier provision that he wrote ensuring that no federal subsidies went to insurance plans that covered abortions, and, even if he had convinced House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to allow another vote changing the legislation, that would have sent it back to the Senate, where it most likely would have been stripped again.
"Every time I tried to do something legislatively, I was stymied," he said.
But he had another option. For days, Stupak, a Democrat from Michigan's western Upper Peninsula, had been working with the White House, on his own and through a good friend in Congress -- Rep. Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania -- to fashion a presidential order to allow Stupak and about nine other Democratic abortion rights opponents to vote for Obama's health care reform plan in good conscience. The problem was getting the White House to draw up a provision amid fears it would leak and spark a public fight. Finally, by the weekend, they left Stupak to draw it up and circulate it. Time was running short with a Sunday vote scheduled.
There was another motivation: Stupak's good friend Dingell, a Dearborn Democrat who has served longer in the House than anyone and has been pressing for health care reform for more than 50 years, was prodding him.
"It was tugging at me that I could stand in the way of Mr. Dingell's 50-something-year goal," Stupak said.
He had counted votes in the Senate -- he had no more than 45 for the statutory restrictions on abortion funding he still wants to see. Sixty votes are needed to get it passed in the Senate, though.
After Sunday's vote, Stupak caught more static. When Republicans moved to put Stupak's original provision into the bill Sunday, he rose to oppose it, calling it a tactic to destroy the overall bill's chances. Someone yelled "baby killer."
On Monday, U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer admitted he yelled it, but said he shouted, "It's a baby killer" about the deal struck between Obama and Stupak -- not Stupak himself. Neugebauer apologized. Stupak said the Texas Republican might want to apologize to the whole House.
"I was really surprised that they would do this," Stupak said. "Why would they personally attack me?"
He was surprised that Republicans denounced the executive order as meaningless, saying they never took that position when President George W. Bush used an executive order to restrict the use of human embryos for stem cell research.
Stupak could still face blowback at home. Two Democrats plan to challenge him in the August primary.
Beverly Prieskorn, a 68-year-old independent voter in Laurium on the Keweenaw Peninsula, said she admired Stupak's courage but is unhappy that he capitulated to Democratic bullying. "I know it was tough for him," she said.
State Employees get the shaft (not in a good way)
Here is a Guest Opinion from SEIU Local 517M Executive Vice President Phil Thompson that was published in the March 17, 2010 edition of the Oakland Press.
GUEST OPINION: CEOs should share in sacrifices, end hypocrisy of targeting state workers
BY PHIL THOMPSON
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Doug Rothwell sure is singing a different tune these days.
In 1999, while working in state government, Rothwell got a handsome pay raise that bumped his $108,000 salary to $190,000. Adjusted for inflation, that's nearly $240,000 in today's money. With the raise, Rothwell became the highest paid person in state government -- better-paid than even his then-boss, Gov. John Engler.
When Rothwell got the raise, he complained it wasn't enough, saying the bonus was the government's way of recognizing that his job required "a little more skill and talent than somebody managing a burger-flipping joint down the street," according to Gongwer news service reported Aug. 6, 1999.
Fast forward to 2010. While Rothwell no longer works in government, he's still complaining about public employee salaries -- except now, he thinks ordinary state workers earning one-sixth his old salary are paid too much. Talk about amnesia.
Rothwell and the group he leads, Business Leaders for Michigan, claim the only way to get Michigan out of a budget hole is by targeting state workers who have already made deep sacrifices year after year. Incidentally, the board chairman of Rothwell's group is David Joos, Consumers Energy CEO, who received a 148-percent pay raise this year, according to government filings. Last year, Joos pocketed $5.8 million in pay and perks, Mlive.com reported March 10. Joos, by the way, is the same man who pushed legislation that raises electricity rates to pay his salary and build an expensive plant Michigan doesn't need.
It's the height of hypocrisy when wealthy, powerful multimillionaires -- and some politicians in Lansing -- demand more sacrifices from ordinary state workers who have taken cuts after cuts, when they themselves refuse to share in the pain and accept real reforms.
Here are some reforms that will save taxpayer dollars without hurting working families or public services:
• Every year, corporate CEOs get more than $32 billion in tax giveaways. Michigan should review these loopholes to see if they create jobs, and end those that don't.
• Every year, Michigan spends $15 billion in private contracts. Michigan should renegotiate those contracts to find savings, as everyone else in today's tough economy is doing.
• Every year, some Lansing politicians refuse to end their own tax-payer funded lifetime health benefits. Ending these free perks now for current politicians would save taxpayers millions -- and show Lansing can lead by example.
Instead of adopting real reforms, CEOs and some politicians blame state employees. That's wrong because, every year come budget crunch time, state workers are the first to step up to help save taxpayer dollars.
According to a 2009 study by Michigan State University economist Dr. Charles Ballard, state workers have given up more than $3.7 billion in pay cuts, health care sacrifices and other concessions since 2001. Many workers also lost their jobs.
State employees do vital work that keeps families in our communities safe, such as preventing contaminated or diseased foods from getting to consumers, inspecting roads and bridges for safety, and performing many other safety checks. Thousands of them also put their lives on the line every day, fighting fires and crime in our neighborhoods and keeping dangerous predators locked up.
State workers continue to serve proudly, doing more with less, tightening their belts and getting the job done.
Real reform requires everyone to sacrifice, not just state workers and their families.
They know what it means to sacrifice. They work hard without complaint. They have shown leadership by example. Rothwell and his CEO friends should end the hypocrisy and share in the sacrifice like everyone else.
Phil Thompson is executive vice president of the state Service Employees International Union, SEIU 517M.
URL: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/03/17/opinion/doc4ba0ac4c59767679770100.prt
© 2010 theoaklandpress.com, a Journal Register Property
VEsD/
GUEST OPINION: CEOs should share in sacrifices, end hypocrisy of targeting state workers
BY PHIL THOMPSON
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Doug Rothwell sure is singing a different tune these days.
In 1999, while working in state government, Rothwell got a handsome pay raise that bumped his $108,000 salary to $190,000. Adjusted for inflation, that's nearly $240,000 in today's money. With the raise, Rothwell became the highest paid person in state government -- better-paid than even his then-boss, Gov. John Engler.
When Rothwell got the raise, he complained it wasn't enough, saying the bonus was the government's way of recognizing that his job required "a little more skill and talent than somebody managing a burger-flipping joint down the street," according to Gongwer news service reported Aug. 6, 1999.
Fast forward to 2010. While Rothwell no longer works in government, he's still complaining about public employee salaries -- except now, he thinks ordinary state workers earning one-sixth his old salary are paid too much. Talk about amnesia.
Rothwell and the group he leads, Business Leaders for Michigan, claim the only way to get Michigan out of a budget hole is by targeting state workers who have already made deep sacrifices year after year. Incidentally, the board chairman of Rothwell's group is David Joos, Consumers Energy CEO, who received a 148-percent pay raise this year, according to government filings. Last year, Joos pocketed $5.8 million in pay and perks, Mlive.com reported March 10. Joos, by the way, is the same man who pushed legislation that raises electricity rates to pay his salary and build an expensive plant Michigan doesn't need.
It's the height of hypocrisy when wealthy, powerful multimillionaires -- and some politicians in Lansing -- demand more sacrifices from ordinary state workers who have taken cuts after cuts, when they themselves refuse to share in the pain and accept real reforms.
Here are some reforms that will save taxpayer dollars without hurting working families or public services:
• Every year, corporate CEOs get more than $32 billion in tax giveaways. Michigan should review these loopholes to see if they create jobs, and end those that don't.
• Every year, Michigan spends $15 billion in private contracts. Michigan should renegotiate those contracts to find savings, as everyone else in today's tough economy is doing.
• Every year, some Lansing politicians refuse to end their own tax-payer funded lifetime health benefits. Ending these free perks now for current politicians would save taxpayers millions -- and show Lansing can lead by example.
Instead of adopting real reforms, CEOs and some politicians blame state employees. That's wrong because, every year come budget crunch time, state workers are the first to step up to help save taxpayer dollars.
According to a 2009 study by Michigan State University economist Dr. Charles Ballard, state workers have given up more than $3.7 billion in pay cuts, health care sacrifices and other concessions since 2001. Many workers also lost their jobs.
State employees do vital work that keeps families in our communities safe, such as preventing contaminated or diseased foods from getting to consumers, inspecting roads and bridges for safety, and performing many other safety checks. Thousands of them also put their lives on the line every day, fighting fires and crime in our neighborhoods and keeping dangerous predators locked up.
State workers continue to serve proudly, doing more with less, tightening their belts and getting the job done.
Real reform requires everyone to sacrifice, not just state workers and their families.
They know what it means to sacrifice. They work hard without complaint. They have shown leadership by example. Rothwell and his CEO friends should end the hypocrisy and share in the sacrifice like everyone else.
Phil Thompson is executive vice president of the state Service Employees International Union, SEIU 517M.
URL: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/03/17/opinion/doc4ba0ac4c59767679770100.prt
© 2010 theoaklandpress.com, a Journal Register Property
VEsD/
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Dead in '09
Dudes, check out Eunice Shriver -- she looks like the crypt keeper's girlfriend. Yikes.
http://www.bowlofserial.com/2009/09/03/famous-people-whove-died-in-2009-so-far/
http://www.whosdatedwho.com/celebrities/people/list/celebrity-categories.asp?FD=yod&ID=2009
http://www.bowlofserial.com/2009/09/03/famous-people-whove-died-in-2009-so-far/
http://www.whosdatedwho.com/celebrities/people/list/celebrity-categories.asp?FD=yod&ID=2009
LA Ink
So, I spent much of my Xmas vacation watching a TLC marathon on LA Ink -- then totally applied to be on the show (and used this as my 'website' -- so, um I better update it).
Basically, the show is sweet. The artists are pretty good, but the most annoying thing: the long, drawn out sappy story the person tells about their tattoo. I don't care. I have one tattoo that means anything, and its my dad's initials under a purple heart. Why? He died 11 years ago and got a purple heart while he was in Vietnam. The end. Seriously, that's it. Not anything else to it.
My other 7 tattoos -- well, let's talk about the emotional reason behind it...
1 -- my bat tattoo i got on halloween for $13. $20 with tip.
2 -- my sanscrit tattoo i got in NYC with my cousin by a guy who had tattooed wilford brimley. that was the sole reason i went there.
3 -- my owl. owls are cool.
4 -- my zombie geisha. zombies are awesome, and i wanted something that was dripping with flesh on my leg. And I'm soon going to add her boyfriend, a punk rock zombie in a Black Flag t-shirt.
5/6 -- the flowers/butterfly on my back. At 19, I got what nearly every 19 year old girls gets for a tatoo -- a buttefly on my shoulder. then I decided it wasn't that cool, so I had some cherry blossoms added. it looks cool now.
7 -- an awesome representation of a tara mcpherson painting I saw in a movie. the chick is naked (HOT).
that's it. that's about as meaningful as my permanent body scarring gets. I want to like my tattoos, not have them remind me of death or sadness. They should make me happy. And they do. :)
Basically, the show is sweet. The artists are pretty good, but the most annoying thing: the long, drawn out sappy story the person tells about their tattoo. I don't care. I have one tattoo that means anything, and its my dad's initials under a purple heart. Why? He died 11 years ago and got a purple heart while he was in Vietnam. The end. Seriously, that's it. Not anything else to it.
My other 7 tattoos -- well, let's talk about the emotional reason behind it...
1 -- my bat tattoo i got on halloween for $13. $20 with tip.
2 -- my sanscrit tattoo i got in NYC with my cousin by a guy who had tattooed wilford brimley. that was the sole reason i went there.
3 -- my owl. owls are cool.
4 -- my zombie geisha. zombies are awesome, and i wanted something that was dripping with flesh on my leg. And I'm soon going to add her boyfriend, a punk rock zombie in a Black Flag t-shirt.
5/6 -- the flowers/butterfly on my back. At 19, I got what nearly every 19 year old girls gets for a tatoo -- a buttefly on my shoulder. then I decided it wasn't that cool, so I had some cherry blossoms added. it looks cool now.
7 -- an awesome representation of a tara mcpherson painting I saw in a movie. the chick is naked (HOT).
that's it. that's about as meaningful as my permanent body scarring gets. I want to like my tattoos, not have them remind me of death or sadness. They should make me happy. And they do. :)
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Teen Wolf - back in action.
MTV Brings On Star Trek Writers For A Teen Wolf TV Series
MTV is cashing in on the growing werewolf phenomenon by pitching out a Teen Wolf TV series. But the good news is, writers from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Prison Break are already on board.
MTV is looking into adapting the 1980s camp classic Teen Wolf into a television series, instead of (or as well as) the much-mooted film. Normally, this would be met with a loud and resounding "please no," but the writers being name-checked to work on the series have piqued our interest.
Attached to Executive Produce is Rene Echevarria from Castle who has been a writer and producer for The 4400, a few Star Treks and Dark Angel. We're excited about this one, but not so much the other two. Marty Adelstein, who did credible work on Prison Break, should not be let off the hook for his work on Made of Honor. And the series writer, Jeff Davis, has only worked thus far on Criminal Minds. But Davis did pen the Volton movie, so there's hope for some nerd cred within this new crew.
Next up on MTV's original series to-do list is an animated series produced by Saturday Night Live's Seth Meyers and Mike Shoemaker. The show is titled The Awesomes, and features a gang of moronic superheroes. Lorne Michaels will be produce it. I know Meyers is a huge comic book geek, but it's hard to get excited for bumbling superhero shows when The Tick aced that genre already. Plus didn't the ABC's attempt at this type of series, No Heroics, go down in flames? Still, MTV might actually be the right place for this type of show.
MTV is cashing in on the growing werewolf phenomenon by pitching out a Teen Wolf TV series. But the good news is, writers from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Prison Break are already on board.
MTV is looking into adapting the 1980s camp classic Teen Wolf into a television series, instead of (or as well as) the much-mooted film. Normally, this would be met with a loud and resounding "please no," but the writers being name-checked to work on the series have piqued our interest.
Attached to Executive Produce is Rene Echevarria from Castle who has been a writer and producer for The 4400, a few Star Treks and Dark Angel. We're excited about this one, but not so much the other two. Marty Adelstein, who did credible work on Prison Break, should not be let off the hook for his work on Made of Honor. And the series writer, Jeff Davis, has only worked thus far on Criminal Minds. But Davis did pen the Volton movie, so there's hope for some nerd cred within this new crew.
Next up on MTV's original series to-do list is an animated series produced by Saturday Night Live's Seth Meyers and Mike Shoemaker. The show is titled The Awesomes, and features a gang of moronic superheroes. Lorne Michaels will be produce it. I know Meyers is a huge comic book geek, but it's hard to get excited for bumbling superhero shows when The Tick aced that genre already. Plus didn't the ABC's attempt at this type of series, No Heroics, go down in flames? Still, MTV might actually be the right place for this type of show.
Argentina is the place to be!
SC gov was in Argentina, not hiking trail
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford said he "wanted to do something exotic" to unwind after losing a fight over federal stimulus money and was in Argentina during his unexplained absence, not hiking the Appalachian Trail as his staff told the public when questioned about his whereabouts, a newspaper reported.
The State newspaper reported that Sanford arrived Wednesday morning at Atlanta's international airport on a flight from Buenos Aires, where he drove along the coast of what he called a "beautiful" city.
The Republican governor told the South Carolina newspaper he considering hiking, but at the last minute changed his mind.
"But I said 'no' I wanted to do something exotic," Sanford told the newspaper.
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?"
On Monday, Knotts raised questions about where the governor was after hearing reports from security officials that the governor could not be contacted and his whereabouts were unknown. The governor's wife, Jenny Sanford, told The Associated Press she had not seen him since Thursday but was not concerned because he'd told her he wanted to get away and do some writing.
Later Monday, Sanford's staff said he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. A day later, they said he had called and planned to cut his trip short and return to work Wednesday because of all the attention his absence was getting.
Sanford said he has taken adventure trips for years to unwind. He has visited the coast of Turkey, the Greek Isles and South America, sometimes with friends and sometimes by himself. "I would get out of the bubble I am in," he told the newspaper.
Sanford said the legislative session was a difficult one, particularly because he lost a fight over whether he should accept $700 million in stimulus money. Sanford said he wanted lawmakers to spend the money on debt instead of urgent budget needs, but lost a court lawsuit.
"It was a long session and I needed a break," Sanford said.
Sanford said he tried to return through Atlanta to avoid the media attention his absence.
He declined to give any additional details about what he did other than to say he was alone.
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.
When The State asked Sanford at the airport 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.
Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer said he was concerned that the governor's staff lied about Sanford's whereabouts, adding that if they didn't know where he was they should have said so.
"For his staff to lie to the people of South Carolina and say he was one place when in fact he wasn't, that concerns me," Bauer said.
Sanford has been a fan of Argentina for years. While in Congress and since he's said that nation's Social Security system has a model the U.S. should follow.
Sanford, a trim, 49-year-old former real estate investor and Air Force reservist, is typically drained at the end of a legislative session, former aides said.
"It's not unusual to take off and kind of be by himself," said state Sen. Tom Davis, a Beaufort Republican and Sanford's former chief of staff. "It's part of what makes him him."
The governor has long been known as a loner — bucking GOP leadership during three U.S. House terms and casting the only dissenting vote on Medicaid coverage for some breast and cervical cancer treatment. He clashes often with the Republicans who control both chambers of his state Legislature, once famously carrying two piglets to the door of the House in opposition to what he said was pork-barrel spending.
But past vacations never left Sanford completely out of touch, said Chris Drummond, Sanford's former spokesman. At worst, Sanford would call in daily or would respond to voice mails.
Who was in charge became the political and practical question.
Essentially, Sanford's staffers said they'd decide who to call if an emergency popped up and the governor couldn't be reached. The state's constitution says a temporary absence would give the lieutenant governor full authority in the state. But the temporary absence has never been defined.
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford said he "wanted to do something exotic" to unwind after losing a fight over federal stimulus money and was in Argentina during his unexplained absence, not hiking the Appalachian Trail as his staff told the public when questioned about his whereabouts, a newspaper reported.
The State newspaper reported that Sanford arrived Wednesday morning at Atlanta's international airport on a flight from Buenos Aires, where he drove along the coast of what he called a "beautiful" city.
The Republican governor told the South Carolina newspaper he considering hiking, but at the last minute changed his mind.
"But I said 'no' I wanted to do something exotic," Sanford told the newspaper.
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?"
On Monday, Knotts raised questions about where the governor was after hearing reports from security officials that the governor could not be contacted and his whereabouts were unknown. The governor's wife, Jenny Sanford, told The Associated Press she had not seen him since Thursday but was not concerned because he'd told her he wanted to get away and do some writing.
Later Monday, Sanford's staff said he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. A day later, they said he had called and planned to cut his trip short and return to work Wednesday because of all the attention his absence was getting.
Sanford said he has taken adventure trips for years to unwind. He has visited the coast of Turkey, the Greek Isles and South America, sometimes with friends and sometimes by himself. "I would get out of the bubble I am in," he told the newspaper.
Sanford said the legislative session was a difficult one, particularly because he lost a fight over whether he should accept $700 million in stimulus money. Sanford said he wanted lawmakers to spend the money on debt instead of urgent budget needs, but lost a court lawsuit.
"It was a long session and I needed a break," Sanford said.
Sanford said he tried to return through Atlanta to avoid the media attention his absence.
He declined to give any additional details about what he did other than to say he was alone.
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.
When The State asked Sanford at the airport 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.
Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer said he was concerned that the governor's staff lied about Sanford's whereabouts, adding that if they didn't know where he was they should have said so.
"For his staff to lie to the people of South Carolina and say he was one place when in fact he wasn't, that concerns me," Bauer said.
Sanford has been a fan of Argentina for years. While in Congress and since he's said that nation's Social Security system has a model the U.S. should follow.
Sanford, a trim, 49-year-old former real estate investor and Air Force reservist, is typically drained at the end of a legislative session, former aides said.
"It's not unusual to take off and kind of be by himself," said state Sen. Tom Davis, a Beaufort Republican and Sanford's former chief of staff. "It's part of what makes him him."
The governor has long been known as a loner — bucking GOP leadership during three U.S. House terms and casting the only dissenting vote on Medicaid coverage for some breast and cervical cancer treatment. He clashes often with the Republicans who control both chambers of his state Legislature, once famously carrying two piglets to the door of the House in opposition to what he said was pork-barrel spending.
But past vacations never left Sanford completely out of touch, said Chris Drummond, Sanford's former spokesman. At worst, Sanford would call in daily or would respond to voice mails.
Who was in charge became the political and practical question.
Essentially, Sanford's staffers said they'd decide who to call if an emergency popped up and the governor couldn't be reached. The state's constitution says a temporary absence would give the lieutenant governor full authority in the state. But the temporary absence has never been defined.
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