Sanford Story Gets Weirder

Yesterday morning, I posted about the strange disappearance of Republican South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, who had gone missing and had no contact with his staff, security detail, lieutenant governor, or family since last Thursday. Later in the day, Sanford reportedly called his office, and his communications director, Joel Sawyer, released a statement saying the governor had been hiking on the Appalachian Trail and would return to his office today.

But then this morning, Sanford was met by reporters at the Atlanta airport returning from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he said he's been for seven days.

Sanford, in an exclusive interview with The State, said he decided at the last minute to go to the South American country to recharge after a difficult legislative session in which he battled with lawmakers over how to spend federal stimulus money.

Sanford said he had considered hiking on the Appalachian Trail, an activity he said he has enjoyed since he was a high school student.

"But I said 'no' I wanted to do something exotic," Sanford said "... It's a great city."

Meanwhile, his wife, who "had not talked to her husband since he left last Thursday and did not know where he went," nonchalantly comments from their beach home on Sullivan's Island, SC:

"I am being a mom today. I have not heard from my husband. I am taking care of my children."

WTF?

Well, good luck with that 2012 presidential bid, Sanford.