Sanford Says He's Forced to Sign Stimulus Request (Forced? I didn't see no gun to his head)

http://www.newsmax.com/ ^ | June 8, 2009 | www.newsmax.com

[Maelstorm]

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford requested stimulus cash for the state's schools Monday, telling the U.S. education secretary he's doing so under duress and the $700 million in bailout money will create more problems.

The request to Education Secretary Arne Duncan, sent by e-mail, caps months of Sanford's criticism of the $787 billion federal economic recovery law that raised the national political profile of the Republican Governors Association chairman and speculation of a 2012 White House bid. The state Supreme Court ordered him Thursday to follow a state budget law and request the money for the state's schools and colleges.

"First, it's important to state one last time for the record what a monumentally terrible idea I believe the entire so-called stimulus act is, and why in particular utilizing this money as our General Assembly has done is ultimately going to cause more harm than good," Sanford wrote in the letter to Duncan.

He said it leaves future taxpayers picking up the tab for today's problems and created budget problems down the road.

Sanford wanted to use the money to pay down state debt. But legislators said they needed to use the money to fill big budget holes until the economy turns around.

"I'm just glad we resolved it," said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Cooper, R-Piedmont.

The application Sanford signed has him guaranteeing the state will use the money properly and comply with federal monitoring requirements. However, he told Duncan: "while I'm signing these documents under duress, I have no ability to promise that many of the mentioned conditions and guarantees will indeed be met."

...

[Maelstorm]

I like Mark but this is the cowards way out. He should have fought till they over ruled him. If it had been me my signature would never have graced that paper the devil and all the world be damned. Since when does the President have a right force you to accept funds? What was the cost for him to stand on principle? Nothing. If they could have forced it with out him then let them do it. What is it with Republicans not knowing how to hold the line when money is involved?

What if George Washington had looked at the state of his troops, them beaten down, frost bitten, malnourished and said such a thing? We do not know what duress is unless the disapproval of a sycophant media filled with Obama worshipers is too much to withstand. We are just lucky the liberals are antigun or the GOP would've surrendered the nation long ago. This is a great disappointment.

[pissant]

Show your manhood. Just tell em to stuff it.

[Snickering Hound]

Too bad Sanford, you had a future until you changed your mind.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

There’s similarities with what Romney did on homosexual marriage. Romney “pretended” to fight the court’s decision but went along with it anyway. Sanford, you should have just exercised your 10th Amendment rights and refused the money, you big dummy.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Since when does the President have a right force you to accept funds?

IIRC, his own legislature did so, and yes, they had the right to do so. It's called "the rule of law." It stinks sometimes, but that doesn;t change it.

What if George Washington had looked at the state of his troops, them beaten down, frost bitten, malnourished and said such a thing?

Sheesh, a little melodramatic, doncha think?

[Maelstorm]

Yes what is the cost of letting them force the issue? There is no cost. What beats you down will make you stronger. Mark would’ve been a hero by just doing nothing at all but saying no. Instead he gave in and gave in because to “sign a piece of paper” requesting money from Obama? What kind of country do we live in now? This was a William Tell moment. King Obama hung his hat and Mark Sanford bowed down with the rest of em.
What is so hard? Would he have been imprisoned or removed from the Governor’s office?

For those of you not familiar with William Tell:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Tell

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

I see the Duncanistas are gearing up for another primary battle in support of a 1% loser in 2012?

[cranked]

$2 billion in the whole in 24 months ping.
SC Supreme Court made me do it ping.
Pitch Forks and Wooden stakes ping.

[NTHockey]

Gov. Francis Pickins is hiding his face in shame. From the glory of 1861 to the cowardice 0f 2009.

Too bad, Mark. You would have been a hero. But you punked out.

[TexasKate]

I don’t understand why you think he had a choice. The SC of South Carolina is forcing him to do this. Are we now advocating that Republican governors ignore the law? That they defy judges’ rulings they don’t like?

[exist]

Does he still insist that anybody who wants Obama to fail is an idiot?

[fieldmarshaldj]

Yes, forced by the SCSC. Unless you’re prepared to go to prison to fight it ? Are you ?

[fieldmarshaldj]

Look who slithered out from the scum to bash one of America’s best Governors.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Orgiastic Sanford bash thread ping.

[Darren McCarty]

Sanford was complying with a Court Order. That might as well be a gun to the head unless he wants a nice contempt of court ruling.

He fought the good fight and lost. That happens. Now he does the best he can with what he has.

[Darren McCarty]

It’s a little tough to exercise 10th Amendment rights in the South Carolina Supreme Court.

[Political Junkie Too]

How is he "forced?" What was the "duress?"

There is either a separation of powers, or there isn't. He can sign or not sign. If he thinks that if he doesn't sign and the Legislature will override his veto, so I have to sign it, then he should make them do it.

First, you don't know what will happen when you kick the can down that road. The Legislature may end up not overriding the veto.

Second, the Legistlature then goes on the record with their vote. By claiming "duress" and signing it like its a foregone conclusion, he's just playing into the Leglisature's hand and protecting them from going on the record themselves.

Bad move.

-PJ

[Darren McCarty]

I'm sure the critics here would have just done what Joe Pesci did in the early part of My Cousin Vinny.....And we know what happened to Vinny. Jail.

Vinny: I think I get the point.

Judge Haller: No, I don't think you do. You're now in contempt of court. Would you like to go for two counts of contempt?

[nc28205]

>>>First, you don’t know what will happen when you kick the can down that road. The Legislature may end up not overriding the veto.

The legislature already overode his veto, thus making it law.