Missing Governor of South Carolina whereabouts have been reported -- kinda

UPDATE: Sam Stein over at Huff Post reports that Sanford's hiking trail got stimulus money that he opposed.

Mark Sanford, the Republican Governor of South Carolina, isn't exactly missing anymore, but he hasn't exactly been seen. His office claims the Governor is hiking on the Appalachian Trail (coincidentally he was hiking on "Naked Hiking Day" - hmmm, and he didn't anyone to know he was there). But, it's probably not a good thing when the newspaper in the state capitol includes a section on "Law of Succession."

And, aren't these GOPers all supposed to be family-friendly? Sanford has already been invited to speak at the right wing "Value Voters Summit" sponsored by FRCAction, "the Legislative arm of Family Research Council." Maybe he can tell them what kind of dad dumps his kids for some time by himself over Father's Day weekend?:

First lady Jenny Sanford said Monday her husband has been gone for several days over Father’s Day weekend - including Father's Day itself - and she did not know where.

She said she was not concerned.

“He was writing something and wanted some space to get away from the kids,” Jenny Sanford told The Associated Press while vacationing with the couple’s four sons at their Sullivan’s Island beach house.

Be interesting to see what Sanford was writing on the Appalachian Trail. This whole episode reeks. Or, as the chief of staff to a former S.C. Republican Governor put it:

“It’s very disconcerting.”

Indeed, it is. One of our readers, KarenMrsLloydRichards wrote a haiku about this episode:

A sad Father's Day . . .
The kids made cards, wrapped a tie.
Dad's "clearing his head."