BREAKING NEWS!!

From Eric Dondero:

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has just escaped impeachment. A House panel voted against a resolution in favor of impeachment for unethical conduct.

From The State:

The seven-member panel, instead, voted unanimously to censure Sanford, which means the General Assembly would admonish Sanford for his behavior. But, Sanford would get to serve the rest of his term, which has roughly one year remaining.

Lawmakers said that while Sanford may have used a 2008 Argentina trade trip as a cover to initiate an extramarital affair and that his use of state aircraft deserved an S.C. Ethics Commission review, the charges did not meet the high standard they felt was necessary to remove Sanford from office.

This clears a big hurdle for Sanford. Though, the fall-out from his personal relationship with an Argentinian woman and his troubled marriage, will likely rule out a Presidential run for 2012.

Sanford had been the clear early favorite for Libertarian Republicans. While most conservatives condemned Sanford and his behavior, libertarians, including Libertarian Republican blog, stood by him, and remained virtually his only supporters in recent months.

In fact, Michigan Republican Liberty Caucus Chairman and RLC National Board member Dan Sheill recently remarked, "I am still supporting Sanford for President 2012, and hoping that he runs."