First I was imagining Marshall "Mark" Sanford locked

out of the Sullivan's Island homestead but holed up somewhere,

in the room over someone's garage, perhaps, making a treacly

music mix CD for paramour Maria.

First track? Kenny Chesney's classic,"it's not you, it's me" tune -

BETTER AS A MEMORY THAN AS YOUR MAN.

Then I realized that the crotchety dude (McConnell) next in line

to the young foolish dude (Bauer) in line for the statehouse made

it clear that the Guv's indiscretions are immaterial to governing

and there's no way that he (McConnell) will relinquish his powerful

post (Senate President pro tem) for a part-time go-fer job as

lieutenant governor which involves herding cats and handling

some aging agency duties.

Prediction? State Republicans will hustle Sanford off to rehab

and keep him in place, chastened and somewhat repentant, to kick

around until 2010.

Keep Sanford around as a placeholder for state attorney general Henry

McMaster?