Much as it may endear him to hardcore conservatives, I can't imagine Mark Sanford's stonewalling on unemployment funds is going to endear him to the national electorate in 2012. Can anyone imagine him being anything other than a Goldwateresque sacrificial lamb?

PS The Times report also includes this detail on a very classy 2004 Sanford publicity stunt -- can you say dignity problem?

Mr. Sanford once carried two piglets onto the floor of the House chamber to symbolize his opposition to what he considered wasteful spending. One of the piglets promptly defecated; lawmakers were not amused.

Here's video of the stunt:

And here are some disturbing details on how things went wrong: