Is This The End-Around For Ousting Sanford?

When In Doubt, Go Check the How-To Manual ......

Rarely do we hear scuttlebutt before it's already in other blogs, but I had a friend with ties in Columbia tell me that officials in Columbia are trying to devise a plan to legally ouster Governor Mark Sanford as soon as possible.

The initial plan seemed to be to just start enough grief for Sanford, so that he would resign. Despite his disaster of a press conference earlier this week, Mark has stated that he will NOT give up his post. Faster than the collective "DAMMIT" finished echoing from the Statehouse, someone somewhere decided that the answer surely must lie in the pages of The Good Book. No, we're referring to the South Carolina Constitution....

There is one seriously huge roadblock to Sanford's ouster. Mainly, Columbia is done with business for the year, and will not reconvene until January. By then, Sanford could be divorced, have acquired a Green Card for his chica, and installed her as First Lady by then, where she could be lauded and turned all those unhappy people into wonderfully tolerant acceptors of her. Granted , it's unlikely....

Yes, there needs to be a reconvening of the Senate and House. To arms boys!! To arms !! Now the Governor can call them all back - YEAH, RIGHT !!! But, to quote Dean Vernon Wormer, there is a little known codicile in the state Consittution that may get around that. According to those more in the know than me, if three of the following four constitutional officers agree, the Senate and House can be called back: Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller and Treasurer. Done, right? Not exactly.....

Let's take a quick look at the four, and handicap the chances. First, Comptroller Richard Eckstrom. No Friggin' Way. Everywhere I ever saw Mark Sanford, there was Eck. They agree on most everything from anything I ever saw. Eckstrom is a solid No. Then we have Treasurer Converse Chellis. Chellis was voted in by the House, over Sanford's suggestion of another candidate who i won't involve in this mess, because I always liked him. No, sanford does not get along well with the House - we really tell you the unknown stuff here, don't we? I'd say Chellis would be a yes, but who knows.....

The last two would be more interesting. Attorney General Henry McMaster is in the same position as Andre Bauer - he cannot make it look like he's tryign to oust the man he would like to replace. However, he isn't the one deciding on this, all he would be doing is reconvening Columbia, and letting them do the dirty work. This might give him just enough wiggle room to OK it. I say he would go yes.....

This leaves us with the Wild Card - Secretary of State Mark Hammond. Mark has never been one to try and grab the headlines, but in this case, I don't see him avoiding it. I've met Mark a few times, but I know there is one guy who i'd love to get his opinion on this from...... But, from what I've heard from my Secret Insider, there isn't much bad blood there, but I could be WAY off on that assessment. That is the trouble with blogging sometimes - you're rarel close enough to know everything. But to me, either way, Hammond is going to become more well-known in the next week or two than he ever imagined.....My guess is they get two out of four.....

Hey Mark, I have Jon Stewart's home number if you want to get on The Daily Show ......

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