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Exclusive: E-mails between Sanford, woman — Woman in affair declines interview — Below are excerpts of e-mails, obtained by The State newspaper in December, between Gov. Mark Sanford's personal e-mail account and Maria, a woman in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Sanford met in Atlanta after returning from South America — Governor says he never hiked Appalachian Trail; says he cruised along the coast of Buenos Aires to unwind after stressful legislative session — ATLANTA — Gov. Mark Sanford arrived in the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport this morning …
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Gov. Sanford Admits Affair and Explains Disappearance — COLUMBIA, S.C. — Mark Sanford, the governor of South Carolina, said he had conducted an extra-marital affair with a woman in Argentina, ending a mystery over his week-long disappearance that had infuriated lawmakers and seemed to put his rising political career in jeopardy.


On Fox, Mark Sanford “(D)” holds press conference — Previously: — Media outlets - including Fox - misidentify as Democrats several Republicans facing scandal, poor poll numbers — EXPAND ALL EXPAND 1ST LEVEL COLLAPSE ALL
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Bastard — It's the only fitting word for a man who abandons his wife and four sons on Father's Day weekend to indulge his “overdrive” on an Argentinian fling. — Mark Sanford: Bastard. — If you missed Sanford's rambling, surreal disaster of a press conference, consider yourself lucky.
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Will Republicans ‘Ask Questions’ Of Sanford, Rather Than ‘Circle The Wagons For One Of Our Tribe’? — After days of speculation and misinformation, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) today admitted that he had spent the past week in Argentina — not on the Appalachian trail …

Two Reasons Why Mark Sanford's Political Career Is Now Dead — The announcement by South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford that the “mystery” about his whereabouts stemmed from him being in Argentina conducting an extramarital affair will likely end his political career — and not just because he had an affair.


First on the CNN Ticker: Barbour to head RGA — WASHINGTON (CNN) — Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has assumed the chairmanship of the Republican Governors Association, CNN has learned. — Barbour immediately takes over as head of the national Republican campaign organization following South Carolina …

Sanford Was in Argentina — Not Appalachian Trail
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FIRST THOUGHTS: SANFORD'S TANGO
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Associated Press, Washington Wire, Wall Street Journal, Erick's blog and Indecision Forever

Transcript: Excerpts of June 4 Sanford Interview Recalling President …
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Pam's House Blend


Unimaginable Horror In Tehran Today — Iran has executed its Tiananmen Square. Baharestan Square has become synonymous with barbarity, cruelty, massacre and inhumanity. — An Iranian blogger (whose URL I will not publish) live blogging from Baharestan Square in central Tehran today captures …
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CRACKDOWN IN BAHARESTAN SQUARE!... 3 People Shot— Police Will Not Allow Protesters to Assist Them ...Update: 1 Woman Dead ...Update: Several Dead — CRACKDOWN IN TEHRAN— A wounded woman is treated at Baharestan Square in Tehran. (Al-Arabiya) — VIDEO— POLICE BEATING PROTESTERS INCLUDING WOMEN:

Officials: President Obama reconsidering July 4th invitations to Iran — WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Obama administration is seriously considering not extending invitations to Iranian diplomats for July 4 celebrations overseas, senior administration officials tell CNN.
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EXCLUSIVE: U.S. contacted Iran's ayatollah before election — Administration overture to Khamenei ridiculed in sermon — Prior to this month's disputed presidential election in Iran, the Obama administration sent a letter to the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei …

WH rescinds July 4 invites to Iranians — The White House has rescinded the invitations to Iranian diplomats to attend July 4 celebrations at U.S. embassies around the world. — White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said nobody from Iran RSVPed to come, and at this point, the invitations are no longer valid.
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Weekly Standard


Stay Tuned for More of ‘The Obama Show’ — In his first daytime news conference yesterday, President Obama preempted “All My Children,” “Days of Our Lives” and “The Young and the Restless.” But the soap viewers shouldn't have been disappointed: The president had arranged some prepackaged entertainment for them.
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The Crucifixion of Nico Pitney
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Romney's Image Improves; Palin Well Regarded by Republican Base — Favorability of Leading Republicans — Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney has seen his favorability ratings improve and now enjoys a positive balance of opinion among the general public: 40% rate him favorably, 28% unfavorably.
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IT'S ALWAYS GOOD NEWS FOR REPUBLICANS.... The lead story on the Politico today ponders the likelihood of a “Republican comeback.” … The Politico's Jim VandeHei and Jonathan Martin concede this “sounds absurd,” but proceed to spend another 2,000+ words exploring why a Republican comeback is …
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Soltan family ‘forced out of home’ — Parents of young woman shot dead near protests are banned from mourning and funeral is cancelled, neighbours say — The Iranian authorities have ordered the family of Neda Agha Soltan out of their Tehran home after shocking images of her death were circulated around the world.
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Grassley: In Order For Health Care To Be 'Bipartisan, ‘We Need To Make Sure There Is No Public Option’ — On MSNBC this morning, Norah O'Donnell asked Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, “what needs to be in” a health care reform bill “for it to be bipartisan.”
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Dem Senators: White House Open To Dropping Public Option
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Bloomberg, AMERICAblog News, The Caucus, Wonk Room, Daily Kos, Open Congress and Roll Call