Well, our governor did it again. He embarrassed us by making another “worst governors” list, which of course means we look to the world like the “worst electorate” for electing him twice.
Here’s the list put out by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington:
• Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS);
• Gov. Donald Carcieri (R-RI);
• Gov. Jim Gibbons (R-NV);
• Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA);
• Gov. David Paterson (D-NY);
• Gov. Sonny Perdue (R-GA);
• Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX);
• Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM);
• Gov. Mike Rounds (R-SD);
• Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC); and
• Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA).
They said the list was “unranked,” but note that the one governor they chose to picture (see the screenshot above), to illustrate the concept of “worst governors,” was our own Mark Sanford.
The next thing you’ll note, is that there are only two Democrats on the list, and one of them only made it because, well… have you seen anyone who wanted it worse than David Paterson? He worked for this distinction.
So this list will do what such lists always do: Cause Democrats to nod in agreement, and Republicans to dismiss it. Or, some Republicans — those who still defend our governor. The overwhelming majority of Republican officeholders, who’ve actually had to deal with the guy, will nod privately in agreement.
Of course, one should never be fooled by righteous-sounding organization names, such as Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. They can be, and often are, way Orwellian.
But for what it’s worth, here’s the group’s criteria for this dubious honor:
CREW’s Worst Governors report provides in-depth analyses of 11 elected officials who have pushed their states’ best interests aside in favor of their supporters, families, political parties and bank accounts.CREW today also launched the report’s website, www.WorstGovernors.org, which offers concise summaries of each governor’s offenses and links to their full profiles.
In compiling Worst Governors, CREW reviewed the job performances of all 50 U.S. governors before identifying the worst 11. Though ethics laws, campaign finance rules and financial disclosure regulations vary from state to state, CREW found these governors’ proclivities for corruption, cronyism and self-enrichment outweighed their competency, integrity and commitment to transparency…
Here’s CREW’s brief description of why they picked our guy:
Mark Sanford (R-SC) was elected governor of South Carolina in 2002 and was reelected in 2006. Under the state’s term limits law, he cannot run for reelection in 2010.Charges:
- Abused his office for his personal benefit and the benefit of his friends
- Violated campaign finance laws by failing to report in-kind contributions and improperly converting campaign funds for personal use
- Subordinated his responsibilities to his pursuit of an extramarital affair
- Endangered his state’s economy by threatening to refuse stimulus funds
And here’s the link to their full report on him.
Former Illinois governor, Rod Blagojevich, didn’t make the list, so take the list for what it is… a list.
Make that, “Former Democratic Illinois Governor”…
I guess Blagojevich is an ex-governor?
Uh, there’s two Democrats on the list:
Gov. David Paterson (D-NY);
Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM);
No, Bill Richardson is also a Democrat.
Oops! I skimmed that a little too fast. It’s fixed now — thanks.
Don’t know how I read over Richardson, a guy I’ve actually met (when he was running for president).
And yeah — I don’t see how you could make the “worst governors” list if you’re not a current governor. Although I’m thinking Blago would make an “all-time worst” list, or “worst of the decade” or whatever…
Don’t worry Brad, Sanford will be gone in a few months. You will still have the Tea Partiers or Partyers (ask Burl) to compensate for your loss. 🙂
Lately I’ve been hearing reports that Haley Barbour is planning a run for the GOP presidential nomination. Even without the handicap of being from Mississippi, he’s got some major vulnerabilities from his days as Republican National Committee chairman.
Sanfraud’s sins aren’t even public yet
Brad W, if you think CREW’s list is news, some of us are profoundly disappointed in your claimed grasp for what should be reported and what constitutes gossip.
Apparently you consider the following details, which you did not tell us, as unnecessary gossip:
1- Donors to CREW include such liberal groups as George Soros’ Open Society Institute, Democracy Alliance, Service Employees International Union, the Arca Foundation, and the Gill Foundation.[3][4][5]
2- Melanie Sloan, Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, received her B.A. and J.D. from the University of Chicago[2]
3- Naomi Seligman, the group’s communications director, suggested that her group is the progressive counterweight to Judicial Watch.[6]
4- Is Melanie Sloan an expert on state governorship? What are her credentials, then? (She has worked for Congressional Democrats John Conyers, Charles Schumer, and Joseph Biden.[7]) — Not a governor among them.
Just some thoughts from one reader with high expectations for news reporting.
Well, a list of *current* governors, for one….