Lesson Learned From Sanford: He's Nuts

First of all, know that the palmetto is a tree, not a bug: Gail Collins

(NEWSER) - Gail Collins—who had quite a bit of fun with the Iowa caucuses—today turns her attention to the upcoming primary in South Carolina, the Palmetto State. In her New York Times "primary primer," she answers such important questions as, "What is a palmetto?" (Answer: It is a tree, although there is also a "palmetto bug," which is a big, winged cockroach. That becomes important later.) Highlights:

• What are the big issues in this primary? "When five of your six candidates could not be elected president if they were running against Millard Fillmore," the discussion of serious issues will likely be kept to a minimum. Expect talk more along the lines of: Is Mitt Romney "a vulture" or "an ObamaCare-passing European socialist?"

Gail Collins can't figure out why Herman Cain's mistress came forward

(NEWSER) - Gail Collins can't figure something out: Why the heck did Ginger White come forward to reveal her extramarital affair with Herman Cain? At this point, Collins fully believes White's story, simply "because nobody would want to make up something so bleak," she writes in the New York Times . From White's admission that she thought about groceries during sex , to her intimations that she frequently trades sex for financial support, it's "a completely unflattering saga to tell." More»

Former Illinois governor sentenced for corruption

(AP) - Rod Blagojevich, the ousted Illinois governor whose three-year battle against criminal charges became a national spectacle, was sentenced to 14 years in prison today, one of the stiffest penalties imposed for corruption in a state with a history of crooked politics. "When it is the governor who goes bad the fabric of Illinois is torn and disfigured and not easily repaired," said Judge James Zagel. Blagojevich's 18 convictions included trying to leverage his power to appoint someone to President Obama's vacated Senate seat in exchange for campaign cash or a high-paying job. More»

Ginger White admits relationship was 'inappropriate'

(NEWSER) - Visiting CNN 's "Situation Room" today, Herman Cain swiftly denied having an extramarital affair with an Atlanta businesswoman. "This individual is going to accuse me of an affair for an extended period of time," Cain said. (See the video.) "It is someone that I know who is an acquaintance that I thought was a friend." Cain said he's alerted his wife, who groaned, "Here we go again." He also said he'll stay in the Republican presidential primary race. The woman, Ginger White, is telling her story on Fox 5 in Atlanta tonight, MyFox Atlanta reports. More»

She dishes details, but faces scrutiny of her past

(NEWSER) - She admired Herman Cain the first time she saw him. Atlanta businesswoman Ginger White says they met in Louisville, Kentucky, then reconnected in Palm Springs and embarked on a 13-year affair that still hasn't entirely ended, MyFox Atlanta reports. On Fox 5 News tonight, White says she's divulging the relationship—and stepping into the political cross-hairs—because of Cain's aggressive reaction to accusations of sexual harassment . White says she didn't like seeing accusers "demonized, sort of, they were treated as if they were automatically lying, and the burden of proof was on them. I felt bad for them.” More»