CNN

Good lord, is this guy a tool or what. They say at first he's writing something and now he's hiking the Appalachian trail. What's next, he's target practicing with Dick Cheney.

Gov. Stanford was acting erratic before he disappeared into the mountains, when he tried to refuse funding for South Carolina's suffering schools.

The Gov. needs to stay off the moonshine!

So the man decided to go hicking rather than spending father's day with his children during their formative years? What a selfish piece of work this man is.

This has to be the most productive thing this joke of a governor has ever done. I'm sure this is what SC citizens had in mind when they voted for him.

FWIW, I am a Democrat and he is a Republican. It's not about politics, it's about the stupidity of hysteria. For heaven's sake, this is a lot of different people posturing over nothing much.Transfer powers before going for a lengthy walk? Please! Anyway, I bet his cell is location-aware, or that he has a GPS, in real case of emergency.

Reminds me of the histrionic idiot in that Duracell battery commercial who goes off the deep end when her precious *8-year-old* wanders out of super-mommy's eagle-eye field of view for half a second despite his being fitted with a spy-quality transponder, without which, ostensibly, Mama would have permanently lost him in the town park.

Get a grip SC politicos, he went for a walk. Would that everyone were so healthy!

The governor of South Carolina is AWOL!! This is an unacceptable actions from someone with the responsibility of looking after the state of SC. He should be replaced and kicked out of office. A total disgrace coming from a governor at that!!

but I still wish the GOP would take a hike

I would think the people of SC, would question a Governor who just disappeared for days without anyone knowing his whereabouts, especially his wife and security people. Wouldn't it be illegal for him to just "take" the SLED vehicle and disappear? He doesn't seem to be very responsible or reliable. Of course since he took the SLED for personal use, he will be honest and pay for the wear and tear, etc. out of his own pocket, right? He is just as wacko as Blagojevich in Illinois.

Silly explanation. Not credible.

It would seem that the Governor is suffering from depression and inoculating actives from others. The Governor should seek professional help and if the People of the Great State of South Carolina are that much concern about his behavior the People should ask the State Legislators to remove him.

What the heck is going on here? Nothing makes sense!
His wife is not concerned, when she does not know were he is after 4 days?

Whatever...

In other news, I'll bet Obama would be more supportive of the Iranian people if they just had a higher abortion rate.

After all, there's important stuff and then there's really important stuff.

Why are we taking the word of a Sanford staffer on all of this? Sanford has been gone for about a week. Nobody knows where he really is & nobody other than the staffer has spoken to him. This is a security issue. Where is the governor of SC?

Layoff the guy. I am sure he deserves a much needed break, and is also probably in need of recharging his batteries. Beside he is part of a dying regime who was bent on pressing the agenda of the right wing do no wrong religious fanatics. He probably is re-evaluating his option if he ever leaves office too. I am sure his state is in need of a use car salesman or better yet a door to door brush salesman. What else is there to do for a Republican.

And this is the guy who called Obama "Irresponsible"? He want s to be President in 2012? C'mon.....

Can he just keep on hiking till his term is over? I've had about enough of this man! He just needs to go away forever.

Oh God, is this sad. People are dying in the streets and we are worried about someone hiking the Ap trail. And who cares about Obama smoking?? Our country used to stand up for what was right. Now we are only concerned about what is politically correct. So sad. Obama needs to comment on Iran and Neda, and very soon.

How stupid do they think we are? Now I know the Republican sheep will believe it, but seriously, nobody knew he was hiking? riiiiggghhhtttt......

Hiking? Seriously? During Father's Day? Without his kids? Either this is a lie or he is one self-absorbed fellow. How did his children feel about this? How do the residents of South Carolina feel about a Governor who takes off whenever he feels like it for as long as he likes?

There is more to this story than we are being told.

And I care, why?

Hmmmm.... probably meeting his mistress?!?!

The guy went to go spend a few days in nature to decompress after handling some understandably high-stress matters. His staff and family knew he was on the Appalachian Trail, not just each specific leg. Big deal. When you go hiking or camping, do you keep 200 people informed everytime you've moved a foot?

Everyone gets a vacation. Leave him alone and stop turning situations like this into an excuse for a name-calling exchange or political diatribe. And if you seriously think this indicated some sort of mental breakdown (which it clearly wasn't), then at least attempt to be gracious and caring in expressing your concerns for his whereabouts.

It would appear that Gov. Sanford is particularly unsuited for the emotional and intellectual stress of governing if this sort of "disappearance" for days on end is expected and usual at the conclusion of the performance of the duties and responsibilities to which he was elected. Makes Me Wonder if he is fit for this office.

Ms. Sanford didn't notice that Mark was packing a tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, a ton of water bottles, camping supplies, mosquito repellent, sunblock, pre-packed food, maybe even maps of the wilderness?

Why would he not tell anyone in his family that he was going hiking? For 5 days+. That is a whole lot of stuff to carry on one white-collared person's back for over 5 days to live in the wild.

This story reeks.

A governor is on duty 24-7.
What a coincidence he has been bucking head with the Fed. I surely hope he shows up in one piece. Remember John F. bucked heads with the Fed too.

I bet he doesn't meet many fellow Republicans on the AT!

And he helps himself to a state car to go on his trips. Is he paying for the gas and general maintenance on these vehicles? South Carolina tax payers would really like to know.

Not buying it. You don't go to the Appalacian trail from Columbia, SC by way of a scenic trip around Atlanta and the state of Georgia. There are direct routes from Columbia through SC that would save him many hundreds of miles.

He probably has a girlfriend if his wife doesn't know where he is.

Unfortunately our governor just continues to disrespect his constituents....and what does it say to his sons....as he is a father of 4......that he did not want to be with them on Father's Day!

That's their story and they're sticking to it. But his wife did not know where he was. And he needed to get away from the kids to work on some writing. While hiking. Uh- huh. Another 2012 presidential hopeful goes completely around the bend.

Great. And this guy thinks he's actually POTUS material? How much monmey has he cost the SC taxpayers with this stunt? If he can't handle the kitchen in SC, he'd never survive Washington! What an idiot...

This man is God sent for the right wing Repugs. I hope his party keep him out front in SC.

[...] Update: Staff says Sanford is in Appalachia. No, [...]

So which is it - he's hiking or writing - or both???

He and the wife and the staff need to get their stories coordinated!!!

Sounds like the best possible use of his time. Lead, follow, or get out of the way – looks as though he chose the last option.

Maybe he is with Whitey Bulger from South Boston, Ma. or with Jimmy Hoffa!!!

I'm sorry CNN, this is your big story? People, look up Neda. Here in the US, we are worried about the wrong things, and our President doesn't stand up for anything.

i may not agree with him on issues,,,but i hope he is safe,,,,this is just bizzare