Gov. Sanford’s (R-SC) staff, wife and even Sanford himself apparently ran through a series of evolving and often completely contradictory explanations about where he was and what he was doing. First, he wasn’t missing, then he was taking some time away from the kids to do something writing (yeah, that one was a doozy), then he was hiking the Appalachian Trail, then his staff was in touch with him and then he weren’t, now he was in Argentina. And those are only the big developments. We’ve put together an official TPM Gov. Sanford Bogus Story Timeline giving you the step by step guide to Sanford’s staffs valiant but ultimately vain efforts to come up with a cover story that would hold up for more than a few hours.

I’m as big a fan as anyone of out-of-the-way, off-the-beaten-path places, but the “driving the Buenos Aires coastline” story Mark Sanford gave a reporter upon disembarking in Atlanta is sounding odder by the minute.

Here’s TPM reader BC:

As someone who has been to Buenos Aires many times, just returned from BA and is in the process of moving there later this year, I can tell you unequivocally that someone who goes to Buenos Aires to ‘see the coastline’ is akin to someone going to New York City or Boston to see the Atlantic Ocean. As for getting away to clear his head, the greater Buenos Aires area is home to 30% of Argentina’s 40 million people. While Sanford is trying to paint a picture of a peaceful drive along a beautiful coast, in fact he was crammed into a land-locked city* of 15 million people. Worst excuse ever.

Meanwhile, our Spanish-speaking interns here at TPM tell me this is reportedly the coldest day of the year in Buenos Aires. Again, I love the beach in winter, but …

*Technically, Buenos Aires isn’t “landlocked.” It’s at the mouth of the Río de la Plata, but as AP reports, it has about two miles of coastline.

Surprising number of TPM readers with experience in Buenos Aires. Here’s MT:

I’m an American citizen originally from Argentina and I go back to Buenos Aires all the time. I have two things to say about Sanford’s excuse that make me think it’s total BS.

First, I want to point out an even simpler reason why Sanford probably didn’t “drive up the coastline”: driving in Buenos Aires is a nightmare. It’s about 2 steps better than driving in Cairo. People don’t follow traffic signs, they drive recklessly, they cram up tiny streets with multiple cars. When I visit I’m TERRIFIED to drive down there, and I live in Los Angeles, the driving capital of the US! I can only imagine what a driver from South Carolina (who probably doesn’t do most of his own driving) would experience. Sanford is trying to sell us on the idea of him cruising down an empty freeway, Buenos Aires on one side and the majestic (read: brown and gross) Rio de la Plata on the other. I’m imagining him stuck in a traffic jam on Av. Libertador, cramped in a tiny Peugeot and afraid for his life while taxi drivers yell at him to get out of the way.

Second, like Mexico, kidnapping is a huge problem in BA. People who look like they might be rich and important are targeted and held for ransom. A US governor would be CRAZY to run around BA without notifying the embassy or looking into at least a basic security option. With his American clothes and accent he would stick out like a sore thumb. If he did go down there by himself without notifying the embassy he’s a completely reckless idiot.

We’re getting some word from down in South Carolina that Gov. Sanford may not have been alone down there in Buenos Aires. Something may be ready to bubble to the surface.

Erick Erickson, writing yesterday at RedState:

First, we need to be clear on the facts — not the media speculation:

— Sanford did tell his staff and family where he was going.
— Because he was traveling without a security detail, it was in his best interests that no one knew he was gone.
— His political enemies — Republicans at that — ginned up the media story.
— When confronted by a pestering media, things went downhill.
— Again though, at all times there was no doubt that Sanford’s staff and family knew where he was.

(Thanks to TPM Reader DK for the tip.)

Gina Smith, the reporter from The State newspaper, who staked out and caught Gov. Sanford at the Atlanta airport this morning getting off the plane from Buenos Aires is on MSNBC right now being interviewed — pretty entertainingly — by Andrea Mitchell.

Here’s the video.

Gov. Sanford’s press conference is — allegedly — starting at 2 PM. We’ll be live blogging it and bringing you video clips.

And as a special bonus, while you’re waiting, you know it’s pretty bad for a GOPer when even GOP ‘strategist’ Ron Christie won’t defend you on MSNBC. Take a look.

Late Update: We’ve gotten unconfirmed word that the press conference may be pushed back to 2:30 PM. Can’t say I’m exactly shocked.

2:15 PM … Takes some of the impact out of the press conference when they delay it for a half hour.

2:22 PM … And here we go … Sanford live.

2:23 PM … Starts with discussion of his love of the Appalachian Trail. This ain’t pretty. Does he know it’s become a euphemism now? Now he’s talking about his history of “adventure trips”.

2:24 PM … If you’re not watching, this dude sounds very nervous and sort of shaken.

2:25 PM … Looks like we’re looking at an apology. Apologizes to family.

2:26 PM … Still listing through apologies. Looks like he’s in full let it all hang out mode, put all the cards on the table mode … Lot of apologies. He may just try to keep finding people to apologize to for so long that everybody gets bored and leaves and he never has to say what he’s apologizing for.

2:28 PM … This is genuinely painful, sad … moving on to discussion of “God’s laws”.

2:30 PM … “I’ve been unfaithful to my wife” … “with a dear dear friend from Argentina.”

2:33 PM … Resigning as head of Republican Governors Association.

2:34 PM … Questions begin …

2:34 PM … In response to a question, Sanford says that his family knew of his affair prior to the trip imbroglio and that he and his wife have been working through their issues for some five months. Says the relationship (“whole sparking thing”) began about a year ago.

2:38 PM … In what I can only call a very human discussion, Sanford is explaining that he went to Argentina on this trip was essentially to break off or end the relationship with the woman in Argentina and that he’s committed to trying to reconcile with his wife.