Where's Waldo, Reloaded

Let me first preface this by saying that political events in South Carolina are ordinarily of little importance to folks on the prairie, but this is different.

The governor of South Carolina, Mark Sanford, disappeared for five days last week and didn't bother telling his staff where he was going-or his wife or anyone else, for that matter. Turns out that when his staffers said he was hiking the Appalachian Trail, they didn't know where the heck he was either.

All anyone knew was that he'd dumped his state provided Suburban at the airport.

Sanford showed up in Atlanta and breezily informed stunned onlookers that he'd been in Buenos Aires-that's right, the one in Argentina, and he was surprised that anyone had noticed, let alone had any concerns.

Sanford is being talked about as a potential GOP candidate for the Big Show in 2012. I don't know about you, but I'd want to know that the chief executive, chief law enforcement officer and commander in chief for my state is, at all times, ready to take action if it is called for without worrying about where he is.

A couple questions, Mark.

What action would you take if your secretary or gardener decided to spend the week in Argentina, leaving their duties and obligations in a heap in the airport departure lounge?

That's right, Mark. You'd fire them, and you'd be justified in doing so. You simply don't down tools and wander off the reservation.

What should we do with you?

Photo courtesy Esquire.