Hahahah oh gosh I have heard it all now.

Excuse me, while I go wash my eyes out with battery acid.

Here in Chicago, later in the summer, there is a naked biking night. I do not participate, but perhaps I will watch for Gov. Sanford this year.

Gov. Mark Sanford understands the right s of freedom. Even if for only one day. No, he did not tell anyone, if he had the popazzi woul dhave ruined everyone hike that day truing to get a picture. The Gov, di dthe right thing, if he did it nude, if not, sometimes natures and your thoughts are best appreciated alone.

Amazing coincidence.  The governor that refused the stimulus money has a totally unsubstantiated story come out to embarass him.  Keep doing what you're told lapdogs.

Hahaha!  This just gets better and better!

Dear Patrick, KY:

You sir, are absolutely, positively out of your mind.

Period.

You are  clearly beyond reason, and I can tell by your post, you feel that God is on your side and endorses all of your craziness.

Notice how you didn't present any "facts" to support your beliefs?

I guess when "God" is calling the shots, you don't have to prove anything, huh? You and the mullahs in Iran.

Guess you'll be our next non-Bible-reading Christian in prison for murder.

Seek help before it is too late.

Sounds like something vary serious is going on with this man, hopefully he will figgure it out and not cause any pain for his family.
P.S. way to go Obama attack dogs nothing like running off half cocked about a nothing story about someone on the "Enemy List" Edward R Murrow must be proud

I think i smell a putzer for MSNBC on this one

He wasn't missing half as long as Obama's poverty stricken brother has been.

By all means - This man should be a serious candidate
for leader of the Free World in 2012?? my goodness!!!
We can all sit home and watch the primaries and general election in the "Buff".  My money is in President Obama. We cannot have a President disappearing for days at a time and no one knows where he is!! This is crazy talk.  

By all means - This man should be a serious candidate
for leader of the Free World in 2012?? my goodness!!!
We can all sit home and watch the primaries and general election in the "Buff".  My money is in President Obama. We cannot have a President disappearing for days at a time and no one knows where he is!! This is crazy talk.  

The Gov, di dthe right thing, if he did it nude, if not, sometimes natures and your thoughts are best appreciated alone.
Robert Therrien Brandon, Michigan (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:33 PM)

Huh?  He has state constitutional duties and he blew them off!  In a state of emergency the Governor is the one who orders things into action, without the Gov then nothing happens.  The Lt Gov could not have done anything without assembling the states legislative body to declare the Gov incapacitated and the Lt. Gov. sworn as Gov. and then action can be taken.  And you still think Sanford did the right thing?  A states assets do not move unless the Governor orders them into action, hope you never need a Governor to help you out or that you never need the federal government to help because that request needs the Governors approval as well! HE WENT AWOL ON THE CITIZENS OF S.C. Period!!!!!!!!

What amazes me is everybody actually believes he is hiking!!!  Did anyone think maybe his staff is making it up???  Maybe he is still missing?  Or somewhere they don't want to tell?  I mean no one has actually seen him right???  When it was starting to become a story is when his STAFF said he was actually hiking and couldn't be gotten in touch with???  I can't believe the media is automatically falling for  that????

By the way, the Appalachian Trail received $613,000 in stimulus money, as confirmed by NBC's Mike Viqueira and first reported by the Huffington Post.

He had to pay-To-Play the naked way...damn...that was a costly thrill. lol, lol, lol explains what he does the vanishing acts so often. Now this doesn't sound right, this is not so normal, there ius something very wrong here...

GOOD NEWS !!!!!!

There have been some jobs created that can be directly related to Obama's actions...


Smith & Wesson Profit Doubles
U.S. firearms maker Smith & Wesson Holding Corp's (SWHC.O) quarterly profit more than doubled and topped estimates, as demand for its handguns and tactical rifles remained strong. For the fourth quarter ended April 30, the Springfield, Massachusetts-based company posted a net profit of $7.4 million, or 14 cents a share, compared with $3.3 million, or 8 cents a share, last year.

NRA's membership is also at an all time high. Unlike BoBo's poll numbers!

BoBo - The Clown in the Big House!!!

Kindof sounds like a show on nickolodian (sp)

ABOUT FIRST READ
First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.


Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director


Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director


Domenico Montanaro, NBC Political Researcher


  Southern exposure? Posted: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:51 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Republicans
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Check out this set of facts. Fact 1: Gov. Mark Sanford went missing Thursday and hasn't been seen since. Fact 2: His staff has since told us that the governor has been hiking the Appalachian Trail. Fact 3: Sunday was "Naked Hiking Day" on the Appalachian Trail. We kid you not.

The Christian Science Monitor: "We’re not suggesting that the formerly missing Governor of South Carolina specifically ditched his family and security detail to go hiking on Naked Hiking Day. But that’s what he ended up doing. ... But many wondered aloud how this traditional, family-loving, Republican governor of a southern state could miss Fathers Day. After all he’s got four children! Was something sinister in the air? Then it took a Farrelly brothers screenplay type of twist. Sanford had not disappeared.  According to his spokesman, he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Coincidentally, on Naked Hiking Day. It’s a big tradition. Many hikers celebrate the summer solstice by hiking au naturel. It just so happened the solstice occurred on Fathers Day -- one of the days Sanford was hiking."

As the South Carolina blog The Palmetto Scoop points out: "The governor who dropped off the face of the Earth for five days was reportedly found Monday night by his staff hiking along the Appalachain Trail. That explanation of Mark Sanford’s disappearance has puzzled many folks in South Carolina and across the country. Why would a sitting governor just up and disappear to the mountains without telling a single soul -- including his family? Well, The Palmetto Scoop have discovered the answer to all the secrecy: the governor may have gone for a naked hike. No, really. An Associated Press article from last week heralded Sunday -- Father’s Day -- as 'Naked Hiking Day' on the Appalachian Trail. Yes, Naked Hiking Day."



The Associated Press: "Every year on the first day of summer, a few outdoor enthusiasts nationwide expose virtually all of themselves to insects, scrapes and thorns for the pleasure of bonding with nature au naturel. They call it Naked Hiking Day. 'There's no way to explain it until you experience it,' said Andrew Williams, 28, a machinist from Warren, Pa., who first hiked naked six or seven years ago. 'It's not about being lewd and crude and all that. It's just enjoyment.' This year, the summer solstice falls on a weekend -- this Sunday. Father's Day. Hikers who prefer clothes are not happy. ... 'It's just rude,' said Brian King, spokesman for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Harpers Ferry, W.Va. 'People are out there hiking with their kids and families, and there are Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.' Law enforcement authorities say they see so few nude hikers, even on Naked Hiking Day, that they don't consider it a big problem. 'It's rare, probably because we have a lot of remote territory out there where one would not be detected,' said Capt. Woody Lipps of Virginia's George Washington and Jefferson national forests, which contain parts of the Appalachian Trail."

By the way, the Appalachian Trail received $613,000 in stimulus money, as confirmed by NBC's Mike Viqueira and first reported by the Huffington Post.




EMAIL THIS

Comments
HaHa, surely not even a stupid old repugnant would think they look good enough to hike naked.  If that's the best you got SC you are in need of a new governor pronto!
Union Baby, Tennessee (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:56 AM)

"We’re not suggesting that the formerly missing Governor of South Carolina specifically ditched his family and security detail to go hiking on Naked Hiking Day. But that’s what he ended up doing."

--------------------------------------------

Truth is stranger than fiction!
Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:59 AM)

Alright now, this is taking the innuendo a little far, no?

Me personally?

I wouldn't have printed this unless I had ASKED the Gov. if he participated first.

But that's just me.

We need alot of things in this world, but sensationlism for sensationalism's sake is not one of them.

P.S. I know there is a natural humorous element to this story . . . and that isn't lost on me . . . but seriously . . . let's just "keep or pants on" until we talk to the Governor, okay? :)

(Pun intended!)
Nashville_fan (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:59 AM)

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Check out this set of facts. Fact 1: Gov. Mark Sanford went missing Thursday and hasn't been seen since. Fact 2: His staff has since told us that the governor has been hiking the Appalachian Trail. Fact 3: Sunday was "Naked Hiking Day" on the Appalachian Trail. We kid you not.
-----------------------
WTH?!?!? Tell me it anit so. Naked Hiking Day! So is he a freak or what? WTF?? lol, lol, lol!!

Feisty, I went back on first thoughts and found this...you might need to answer this one. He has serious issues...serious..

You don't have to like me.  I don't particularly care either way - the Bible says Christians who speak the truth will be persecuted - so be it - but the truth is the truth and it can't be covered up by liberal bullshit forever.

Obama has no right to hold the office of President of the United States - he doesn't deserve it, he didn't earn it, and he isn't fit for it, and time will prove it!

Regards,

Patrick

Patrick, KY (



Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:00 PM)

And on National Gay and Lesbian Prideday, Obama is getting it on with Robert Gibbs?

Connect the Dots (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:01 PM)

OMG!  The visual I get of the wrinkled pale guy hiking naked... made me throw up a little in my mouth!

Ewwwww!!!  Some things are best left covered & he's one of them!


Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:02 PM)

FR: By the way, the Appalachian Trail received $613,000 in stimulus money,


Really? And who paid for it?
Pay Now and Pay Later (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:02 PM)

Hmm, pick your poison, GOP...

Either:

1) Gov. Sanford was indeed naked hiking, or

2) He had needed to "get away from the kids" on Father's Day, as his wife so sweetly noted (real First Lady material, that one is!), or

3) The true reason, which may have been something even more damaging for the Governor than either of the aforementioned choices.

It's all rather compelling, in a reality-TV sort of way.  
Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:03 PM)

OMG...  That is a HOOT!
The repugs are just a bunch of closet fre*ks that want to tell the rest of us how to live but all have double lives!

Stop the comedy act and get to the business of the people you hypocrites!

.
Do As We Say... (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:05 PM)

>> Appalachian Trail received $613,000 in stimulus money, <<

For what? The trail was there before the money, and it's there after the money. It's like Huffington and First Read are implying without that money that the trail just wouldn't exist anymore. Yet another cheap political stunt from each.

And that amount of money wouldn't even repave a parking lot. Should have left it in the taxpayers pocket.
Lars Sanderson, MN (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:05 PM)

That picture? Is that Rahm Emanuel?
Ken Doll (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:06 PM)

Egads that is WAY too much information. Bad enough I have to look at his sour puss on the TV all the time and put up with his maladministration, I NOW have the unfortunate image of him Au Naturale hiking the A.T.??? Oh the humanity! Eye Bleach Eye Bleach!
Dave F. Florence, SC (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:07 PM)

"They're All BOZOs on the Republican Bus !! "
MSierra, SF

Hey MSierra - I love the reference to the old Firesign Theater album title!  However you really shouldn't compare these dopes of nope to clowns, I mean that's a disgusting slur against clowns who actually serve a useful purpose in life, so unlike the repugnant ones whose only purpose is to screw everything up.  Love your comments so keep up the great work!

That is so funny that Father's Day was Naked Hiking Day on the trials that Lost Mark Sanford was hiking on.  Better believe he was skinny dipping with some naked woman.  Has anyone checked out to see which of his female aides may be missing in action as well?  What a total jerk who wouldn't tell his wife he was disappearing, the only reason he has someone to hide.

Did this idiot think through the ramifications of his disappearance?  Ofcourse not.  He could care less about family values as he has shown what kind of disdain he has for his wife and family.  His wife had better check the medicine cabinet to see if he packed his Viagra.  I mean even Liberal comics couldn't have come up with this kind of story as a joke and yet here we have it in real life.  I can't wait for his lie of an excuse.  I'm so going to enjoy Jon Stwewart's and Stephen Colbert's jokes about this sordid affair tonight.

They're all Bozo's on the Repugnant One's Bus!
Stay Lost Sanford!
Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:08 PM)

BWAHAHAHAHAHA...Naked hiking? Hilarious! I guess somethings are more important than family, yes?
Joyce (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:08 PM)

FR: The governor who dropped off the face of the Earth for five days was reportedly found Monday night by his staff hiking along the Appalachain Trail.

The Appalachain Trail isn't on the face of the earth? Learn something new every day.

Here's another rumor for you. Sanford was probably scoping out potential nuclear waste storage sites.
The Face (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:09 PM)

Ewwww....Hope he didn't take Limpballs with him.  That might scare the animals in the forest!  And don't tell Caribou Barbie.  She might want to get in the Cessna and hunt some wolves.
Lisa B in FL (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:09 PM)

One of the aides saw a naked butt of one of the hikers and inquired "Barack?".


Pamala F., Queens Island Ohio (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:10 PM)

This is so silly, I just saw Gov Sanford not 15 minutes ago.  He was in an airport bathroom in Minneapolis.  Boy, that guy is rude, I was trying to relieve myself and his foot kept coming into my stall.  He must have run out of toilet paper then, because he kept putting his hand under the stall and trying to signal me.  
bob, austin Texas (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:10 PM)

Wow, talk about creating your own rumor and then reporting on it.  Did anyone see the Govenor hiking naked or are we just making that up?  I thaught Fox was bad about putting up lewd stuff but you guys just blew them away, in one "story" with no facts you managed to say "naked" about 9 times in an article that only had 529 words.

That said, "Union Baby, Tennessee" who is being a "repugnant" one?  Is this really the best you have when you want to smear someone that is Republican?  How about this... his wife said she didn't know where he was because she didn't want to tell anyone since he wanted to be left alone.  We do believe in privacy don't we.  Yes, I get it that he was hiking on Father's day (you made sure to mention that a couple of times as well).  Perhaps, just maybe, his family gave him a day off to relaxe and go hiking on father's day.  How about this, wait until you actually have a story before you put it out there.  Journalism really has gone into the tank these days.
A Father, Clarksburg WV (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:11 PM)

I saw Gov. Sanford

He's in the Men's room of the Minneapolis Airport

He's in a stall, playing 'footsie' with somebody

Have fun Mark !
Happy Father's Day !!
MSierra. SF (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:12 PM)

Sanford,,,As some of his party members have noticed,is a couple cards short of a full deck,a full blown Neo-Con, and there family value's BS,hiking with the buffers.My guess is the guy's a pervert,and was taking pitchers of naked people,for his collection,maybe he shares them with Lounge Lizzard Larry,and Folly.He has shown one thing for sure,he ain't CIC material.
jesse St Paul MN (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:12 PM)

I can see it now, Lost Sanford will have a new nature policy and slogan - Get Naked!  Can we call him Naked Nature Boy now?  You Betcha!

Isn't he worried that one of his supporters may mistake him for a deer and shoot him while hunting if he doesn't have on an orange vest?  Better hope DeadEye Cheney isn't out there hunting because he shoots friends doesn't he?

This proves that life is stranger than fiction!  Especially when it concerns the evil elephants.  Going to love the spin from the repugnant ones who post here to see how they defend this naked nature boy powered by Viagra.

Naked Nature Boy Sanford Stay Lost!
Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:13 PM)

From Mark Murray, who has gone way out of his way to put this kind of a "spin" on this one.

Bad Chihuahua (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:24 AM)

Umm, how exactly is reporting the results of a poll "spin?"  
I believe such things are called "facts"


The interpretation is most definitely spin. And it is "Yeah but" spin, as in "Obama's poll numbers are done, yeah but so are the Republicans numbers."
Yeah But This (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:13 PM)

Just like Eric Cantnor wont try was partying with truckers on Britney Spears concert instead of attending SOTU day address. The more repressesd you are the weirder you get in your bottled up existence.

Ok, just kidding, there are weird pols on both sides. We just need to get rid of them when spot them no matter what party they belong to. And why is Edwards doomed from politics and Ensign still senator, seeing as they both slept with married woman (why is the one with the sick wife worse than the one who just suantered away from his as far as we know, at least we know the first one was unable to get none). They both should be in the dog house. And the one from New Orleans in diappers with hookers is actually still speaking and criticisng Obama policies even while Obama at least represents the country's family structure a positive light.
J. Richter (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:13 PM)

The GOP Hall of Insane.

1. Mark Sanford
2. Sarah Palin
3. Rush Limbo
4. Sean (The Coward) Hannity
5. Eric Cantor
6. John (The Bronze Doofus) Boner
7. Michael (Whatsup) Steele
8. John (The Warmonger) McCain.
9. Joe (Thers is no such thing as global warming) Barton.

and #10 (or should it be #1) the craziest GOP'er ever - Michelle Bachman.
The GOP is Insane (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:15 PM)

So he's AWOL for 4 days then surprised folks took notice?  Does "take leave of your senses" ring a bell? ujw, ny (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:16 AM)
-----------------------------------------------

Yeah, George W. Bush did it for 8 years
GP NW Indiana (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:15 PM)

Where did he put his cellphone so that his staff could find him?
Guy Thompto (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:15 PM)

BTW, his wife did throw him under the bus by admitting she had no clue where he was and he simply upped and walked away before Father's day. Being a married man, I would know that when you wife doesnt have your back like that usually all's not well. Hope he gets better and puts his house in order. In the meantime, I think there is someone in SC who would take care of the state's business better and understands the need to help people during a downturn and then work hard to close the gaps after recovery.
J. Richter (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:16 PM)

I heard he knocked up Sara Palin's daughter while hiking naked on Father's Day.
Blue in Texas, San Antonio, TX (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:17 PM)

Will Naked Nature Boy Sanford show us his Naked Nature Girl friend when he comes back?  This is so reflective of the repugnant ones as to how they act before they ever think.  Obviously he did not think out his Great Escape from his wife and family very well as to how the public would perceive his going AWOL on his family would go down.  I'm so looking forward to hearing him lie and spin his way out of this scandal.  I wonder where he packed his Viagra when hiking naked?

Stay Lost Naked Nature Boy Sanford!
Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:17 PM)

Why is this national news. Sanford goes hiking for a couple of days and it's huge news. John Edwards takes trips to see his girlfriend and his love child and the press leaves it alone. Crazy.
DG, Houston, TX (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:17 PM)

---------------------------------

Two questions for you, DG.

1) Mark Sanford is governor of what state?
2) John Edwards is governor of what state?

Answers:

1) South Carolina
2) John Edwards currently holds no elected office.

Hope that explains why one is news and the other is not.

What's next for these clowns???

Hmmm... possibly some naked tea bagging! All the swingers step up to the pot!

Huh?  He has state constitutional duties and he blew them off!  In a state of emergency the Governor is the one who orders things into action, without the Gov then nothing happens. - Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA

What, was North Carolina going to invade?

Grow up.

Here in Chicago, later in the summer, there is a naked biking night. I do not participate, but perhaps I will watch for Gov. Sanford this year.
Laurie, Chicago, IL

And we were so looking forward to sniffing your bicycle seat.

I can't believe the media is automatically falling for  that????
New Independent
--------------------

There appears to be several "media's" ah...he just enjoys his ass being in the wind is best I can make out. lol, lol, lol

What amazes me is everybody actually believes he is hiking!!!  Did anyone think maybe his staff is making it up???  Maybe he is still missing?  Or somewhere they don't want to tell?  I mean no one has actually seen him right???  When it was starting to become a story is when his STAFF said he was actually hiking and couldn't be gotten in touch with???  I can't believe the media is automatically falling for  that???? New Independent (Sent Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:04 PM)
----------------------------------------------------

Nah he went, but he didn't naked hike, he sat behind bushes and played "peeping tom".  He just went to watch.

Maybe Mark was just airing things out!  You know how hot it gets in S.C. this time of year.  Or better yet, he may be looking for new private schools for his kids, since he doesn't like public ones much.

Ha, this one is striking a nerve.  Let's take a look, shall we?  So far, we have:

1) Insinuations about our President and various individuals in his Administration, 2) A rehash of the John Edwards scandal, and (my personal favorite): 3) a random comment about the President's half-brother- seriously?

I'm not sure how any of these rather obvious flailings explain the serious problem of Governor Sanford taking off for several days; while none in his inner circle can seem to get the story straight.  Keep trying by all means, though, mud-slingers.

And, a hat-tip to New Independent, who very astutely points out that we thus far have only been informed of electronic communication from Governor Sanford- no verifiable appearance from him, whatsoever.

Hey....He didn't have to be out on the trails with his girlfirend, he could have been out with his boyfriend.

I think the continous reference to nude Hiking in this story is a low blow.  A quick mention of the funny coincidence would be enough, but even as a liberal who despises Sanford policies, this is overboard.  

More time could have been spent on...Do we really believe he was hiking?  And if so, why didn't he inform his wife, his staff and the Lt. Govenor of his whereabouts?  Should he be out of communication like a typical hiker or she he have had a Sat phone with him in case of an Emergency.  

Something doesn't ad up here.  The wife said he got away to write (not hike).  The App trail is plenty big enough for anonimity.  Or they could have said hiking (but not said where.  I really believe these people didn't know and the question is why not.  A week of hiking (albeit strange not to have taken his family) does not require this weird secrecy.  I fear it is more likely he was in rehab or cheating or something.  Either way, not the behavior of someone who wants to run for Prez.

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