It's not a criticism; It's an observation

One of the more popular websites in the country is called Fark.com. The site is a collection of news stories sent in by viewers and members of the fan base who scan the internet for items that fit into one of the site's many categories: stupid, sappy, hero, sad, interesting, etc.

Only one state hatches so many strange stories that it has its own category, Florida. Odds were that either Texas or California would claim the next state title. Now the Palmetto State seems to be gaining ground and might sneak in with this dubious honor.

Whether it is the Good Ole Boys in the state legislature passing some idiot bill or the actions of some doofus reminding folks which state seceded first, South Carolinians have moved ahead of the rest of the South as examples of why people from Dixie are stereotyped so much in movies and on TV.

Politicians from the Upstate use religious issues that are against the Constitution and have no chance of becoming law just to gain support among true believers. Glen McConnell uses his influence to divert state tax money to his hobby; Civil War history. The inability of the state to reach a compromise on the Confederate flag just begs David Letterman and Jon Stewart to add the state to the nightly comedy routine.

And now we have Sanfordgate. The whole thing started with the disappearance of our governor. No one knew where he was. This made national news and subsequent events were played out in an embarrassing Chinese water torture that is still dripping.

Sanford was hiking the Appalachian Trail; no, wait, he was coming back from a trip to Argentina. Oh my gosh, he had a girlfriend down there. High school sweetheart emails were leaked to a local paper months ago, but the story didn't blow up until a reporter was waiting on Sanford's plane at the Atlanta airport. How she found out is still a mystery. Titillation is always newsworthy. I'm sure as this is being written a website titled Argentineandivorcee.com is already in the works.

Just when the story appeared to go viral, the King of Pop passed away unexpectedly, and TV newsreaders everywhere were suddenly contractually obligated to say the words "Michael Jackson" in every other sentence. It seemed Sanford had dodged a bullet. He could sneak off to Sullivan's Island and keep quiet for a few months and then move on.

But the story keeps gaining strength. Mrs. Sanford refuses to act like a political wife, and the Governor himself stated that he would pay back the money he used for one of his visits to Argentina, even though he said he didn't use any state money for the trip.

Every state politician worth his PAC is seeking out a microphone so he can denounce having a Latin girlfriend. Glen McConnell, who was referred to as Senator McCall in an AP wire story, and state Senator Jake Knotts, are getting more TV time than Michael Jackson's doctor.

Imagine the country if politicians, news people, and voters got this worked up over campaign finance reform, taxation, and health care.