Blinded by the light

[Thomas Veil]

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Gov. Mark Sanford burned his eyes under the bright stage lights at a groundbreaking ceremony and was sidelined on the very last day of the campaign, his wife said Monday.

Sanford, a Republican seeking re-election, was taking eye drops and hoped to rejoin his campaign later in the day, Jenny Sanford said. He suffered the injury Sunday night and went to the doctor in the morning, missing a campaign event.

“I can attest that he was in great pain last night,” his wife said. “He's feeling better now.”

Extremely bright light can dry out the surface of the eye and cause the equivalent of a sunburn on the cornea, said Steve Masone, president-elect of the South Carolina Optometric Association. The cornea usually recovers, though a severe burn can be permanent, he said.

The groundbreaking was for a new headquarters for Inspiration Networks, a Christian TV network. Evangelists Pat Robertson and Rex Humbard spoke during the roughly two-hour program, and Humbard wore sunglasses.

Regular studio lighting was used for the live broadcast, said John Roos, a network spokesman.

Sanford faces Democratic state Sen. Tommy Moore in Tuesday's election. SignonSanDiego.com (http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20061106-1426-governorinjured.html)

Does anybody miss the irony in this story? :D

All that was missing was Al Franken's voice coming out of the clouds: "Mark Sanford, why do you persecute us?"

I don't wish to laugh at his injuries, only the irony of the situation -- because that's not the only problem Sanford ran into:

COLUMBIA, S.C. Nov 7, 2006 (AP)— Even Gov. Mark Sanford needs the right ID to vote in South Carolina. One day after eye injuries interrupted his last day of campaigning, Sanford forgot his voter registration card and was turned away from the polls, returning 90 minutes later to cast his ballot.ABC News (http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2635123)

Poor guy. It just isn't his week. :o

[xsedrinam]

...cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night. :p

[zimv20]

yikes. that's an eye injury i hope to avoid. i hope he'll be okay. and that he loses. but not because of his injury.

[calculus]

Madman drummers bummers and Indians in the summer with a teenage diplomat...;)

[solvs]

Well, he won. But not by that much. Especially considering the opponent he had and the state he's in. But he's calling it a mandate.

I think Republicans don't understand the difference between a mandate and a close race.

[devilot]

...cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night. :pThanks. I always wondered what the exact words were. :D Always thought he was saying, "douche." :o

[solvs]

Thanks. I always wondered what the exact words were. :D Always thought he was saying, "douche." :o

You wouldn't be the first. Some Comedy Central show did a whole sketch about it. But it's actually Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night. ;)

It's ok, you can say douche here. I think. I call politicians douchebags all the time. Best term for most of them IMO.

[xsedrinam]

You wouldn't be the first. Some Comedy Central show did a whole sketch about it. But it's actually Revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night. ;)

It's ok, you can say douche here. I think. I call politicians douchebags all the time. Best term for most of them IMO.
Springsteen wrote and released Blinded By The Light (http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=964) first, only, in the U.S. in '73 where it flopped. Manfred Mann's version and #1 hit in '76, which was a far better arrangement and production, replaced the original lyric "cut loose like a deuce" with "wrapped up like a deuce".

It's been the theme on comedy shows and sites Am I Right? (http://www.amiright.com/misheard/artist/manfredmannsearthband.shtml) for a while.

Springsteen's lyric made more sense. A "deuce" was a 1932 Ford hotrod.

[clayj]

Poor guy. It just isn't his week. :oPerhaps, but he did get reelected.

[devilot]

I officially hate this thread title... I see it in my User CP, and I immediately hear his voice wailing out. :p

[xsedrinam]

I officially hate this thread title... I see it in my User CP, and I immediately hear his voice wailing out. :p
I feel ya. I've been humming it all night, just 'cause I was curious and checked out the lyric history on it. Now, it's stuck in there. :o

[solvs]

Springsteen's lyric made more sense. A "deuce" was a 1932 Ford hotrod.

Yes, but so do the correct lyrics. Check again. It is revved. ;)

[xsedrinam]

Yes, but so do the correct lyrics. Check again. It is revved. ;)
Link please. :p
(It was "wrapped" (http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=964).)

[solvs]

Link please. :p
It's been the theme on comedy shows and sites Am I Right? (http://www.amiright.com/misheard/artist/manfredmannsearthband.shtml) for a while.
;)

I didn't know about Springsteen's, gotta see if I can get a copy of that somewhere, but Manfred's was apparently "revved". :)