WHAT EXACTLY DID SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR MARK SANFORD REALLY HAVE IN MIND in heading down to Argentina while initially claiming he was going to hike the Appalachian Trail--perhaps trying the powder down Bariloche way, what with its being winter (and, hence, ski season) in the Southern Hemisphere?

Tanning himself insane on the sands of Mar del Plata?

Seeking some sort of "safe harbour," post-World War II Nazi leadership stylee, in the boonies of Buenos Aires (especially well away from what the Argentines consider the world's widest street, Avienda de la Reforma), hoping for immunity from prosecution in case he winds up getting impeached or otherwise removed from office due to "mental incapacity or incompetence"?

Looking up what remained of the various shrines and "pilgrimage venues" of the first Juan Peron regime (1946-55), in particular the final resting place of a certain Evita?

In any case, Governor Sanford has a lot of questions to answer the good people of South Carolina, especially so the Secular-Progressive minority afraid and ashamed to make themselves known openly because of The Palmetto State's rather nasty repute against Secular-Progressive thought (as witness where the 1790 version of the state constitution required such seeking seats in the House of Representatives to be white male freeholders having @ least 15 acres of land and ten slaves--twice as much to seek seats in the Senate).

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WOULD-BE PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES IN THE SALAD DAYS OF THE "EVIL EMPIRE" OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE SOVIET UNION AND ITS WARSAW PACT/COMECON SATELLITES had to undergo not only athletic training and fitness coaching, but also "political instruction" by way of the team Political Officer to ensure ideological correctness and purity.

I mention this because of press reports noting where those six members of the Iranian national soccer team as played in World Cup qualifying matches last week wearing green armbands as a show of solidarity with opposition political supporters challenging the legality of the recent farce officially known as "Presidential elections" have been "retired" (think: dismissed) and their passports and work permits confiscated.

Nonetheless, there are probably certain specimens of conservative Zealotry and True Belief here in our "morally superior" United States who would just love to see (howbeit discreetly) ur-RAHOWA extended from Iraq into Iran, the whole to be done with unwashed hands and the Great Unwashed not expected to know the details "until the proper time comes" (as in "subject to certain astrological sightings," North Korean-stylee).

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AND WITH THE SAUDIS BEING RATHER NOTORIOUS FOR BEING AN INCUBATOR OF RADICAL ISLAMIC RELIGIOPOLITICAL THOUGHT excusing and justifying the old ultraviolence, thanks to the Fundamentalist/Primitive brand of Islam in the Wahhabi stylee being the official doctrine, it will be worth knowing that Amnesty International has issued an International Call to Action targeting the Saudis vis-a-vis five Iraqis of "extreme youth" (13-15 years of age, it turns out) facing sadistic methods of execution (in one case, beheading followed by public crucifixion) for dealing in narcotics in service to radical Islamist movements in Iran.

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MEANWHILE, THE KHURDISTANI SPECIAL AUTONOMOUS REGION OF IRAQ IS OPENING CAMPAIGNING AHEAD OF UPCOMING ELECTIONS on July 25th which could well determine how the oil-rich region of northern Iraq manages to handle its oil wealth; in fact, a newly-launched political party calling itself "Change" advocates a platform of reform and transparency in government dealings and policy.

"Change" hopes to take the two already-dominant Khurdish political parties, the Patriotic Union of Khurdistan (PUK) and the Democratic Party of Khurdistan (PDK), both running on what amounts to a fusionist ticket, to task for autocracy, corruption and mismanagement of oil wealth and state revenues--issues no doubt fuelling plenty of resentment among Khurdistan's 2.5 million or so registered voters, who will be choosing candidates from 24 political parties and groups for seats in the regional assembly.

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BEFORE I GO, I'd like to extend best wishes to those readers of this blog in the Canadian province of Québec, as well as those with ties to Québec, as are observing their Fête Nationale today, commemorating the feast of St. John the Baptist--even considering that, in a week's time from today, La Belle Province joins the rest of Canada in observing the Canada Day holiday.

Just remember the advice of the provincial liquor monopoly, the Sociètè des alcools de Québec, in enjoying the day: "Moderation is always in good taste."

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IN ANY EVENT, AS OF THIS MOMENT, THE EXAGGERATOR IS NOW IN SUMMER HIATUS, the better so Your Correspondent can recharge himself (largely through the annual Wisconsin Dells trip) and prepare for the aforementioned trip in just under a fortnight's time without unnecessary distractions of attention.

Your Correspondent will continue the EntreCard drops until Friday this week, and would appreciate your continued and continuing dropping thereon in the interim (i.e., until about mid-late July, when I hope to be back to blogging). Likewise with your recommending this blog to your online friends (especially such in the Greater Blogosphere) ... and maybe a serious purchase or two from the online-shopping section (including the e-boutique known as The Exaggerator Collection); I could use the extra income, considering where disability benefits such as I get can only go so far ... said disability precludes my being able to work in the conventional sense of the word ... and it's highly unlikely that I may be coming into serious money within measurable distance.

Until next time, "thank you for your continued and continuing support."