South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford wasn't hiking.

He wasn't "getting away to write" presumed legislation.

He was, The State Newspaper reported, in Argentina.

When news broke that Sanford went AWOL earlier this week, giving me something I believed would be funny to post about, everyone knew his "hiking" trip wasn't going to be the end of it.

Now, it's no longer funny. His staff tried to cover up where he was -- primarily because they didn't know. His wife told news outlets she hadn't heard from him during Father's Day weekend.

Thanks to The State, though, the details are starting to pour out. Message board fodder is turning into whether or not pundits believe this was some attempt to prevent the unpopular governor from being impeached.

I'd now say there's strong evidence to show it actually could happen.

Sanford brought undeserved negative attention to a state with one of the worst unemployment and education rates in the country with his stimulus package grandstanding. Now, he's given legislators on both sides of the aisle further reason to think he's just plain nuts.

The what-ifs of his "vacation" to Argentina bring up several questions -- some of which hopefully will be asked during Sanford's news conference today.

1. Why all the secrecy, including to your family and your staff? How does a "family values" candidate maintain that stance when you're obviously not above lying to your wife?
2. What would have occurred had something happened to you during your trip, especially since you never gave written consent to your Lt. Governor to take over? A state of emergency situation in South Carolina during Hurrican Season isn't that much of a stretch.
3. America's list of enemies is a mile long. How volatile do you think a kidnapping would have turned into, considering, you know, it looks kind of bad for a state's governor to disappear?

For the people who believe this whole thing is a non-story, ask yourself how the above questions affect not only your country, state or political party. Ask yourself what type of precedent this sets when other governors start following suit.