Mark Sanford Argentina Escapade is Washington Obsession

Poor President Obama. So many policy announcements in Tuesday's press conference that he would expect at least a 24-hour news cycle to cover the issues. Not so much.

The only topic Washington political-media types are talking about today is Gov. Mark Sanford and his bizarre secret trip to Argentina.

"I moved my lunch so I could be CERTAIN to be back at my desk to watch the 2 p.m. news conference," says one top Democrat. (The Dem could have stayed through lunch as Stanford is 30 minutes late.)

"I can't follow the health care debate today because all I do is Google Mark Sanford and Argentina," says one Republican.

Finally, something we can all agree on here in the nation's capital: Mark Sanford's magical mystery tour to Buenos Aires is the most interesting story in Washington today. I think the reason this story has "legs," as we call it in the news biz, is because we really don't know the answers.

In a town where no speech is given without a transcript released to the media beforehand -- called "embargoed for release" -- a sitting governor going missing and we don't know why is like a child's first taste of chocolate -- nirvana!

DC insiders try to work but wait with bated breath for the Sanford 2:30 p.m. news conference. I hope he takes questions and doesn't just do a statement and walk out like former Gov. Jim McGreevey, D-NJ, and Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., did in their salacious press conferences. (Not to say there is anything salacious with Sanford's trip to Argentina, I'm just referring to the scandal-like excitement level inside the Beltway.)

Here are the questions circling Washington that we hope to get answered by Sanford at the press conference:

1. Why did you go to Argentina, of all places?

2. Did anyone recognize you when you went to the international counter at the airport?

3. Why did you tell your staff you were hiking the Appalachian Trail?

4. Is your wife REALLY fine with your habit of disappearing?

5. What did you tell your state trooper security detail you were doing when you made your escape from them?

6. Seriously, why Argentina?

7. Did you fill out forms for vacation time from your job, as GOVERNOR?

8. Did you bring back any souvenirs from your trip?

9. Argentina?

10. Did it ever occur to you that doing random weird things like taking magical mystery tours to South America might negatively affect the already suffering Republican Party get some traction with voters? And pretty much put the kibosh on your 2012 presidential ambitions?

Seriously Governor, the GOP would really appreciate it if you would be a team player and act normal.