Who are some elected public officials (governor, senator, mayor etc.) that have displayed exceptional courage?

Question

This can include any one who is in political office and made certain decisions against public will or defied authority.

any ideas of who?? if you could provide examples and reasons too, that would be great.

thanks!!

Answer 1

Mark Sanford, current governor of South Carolina.  The list is soo long. First he got elected to Congress as the representative from South Carolina.

1. During his tenure he fought against spending even if it meant defying his own party. He was even locked in a closet one time by House leaders to prevent his voting on a bill. He left Congress of his own will adhering to a promise to only serve 3 terms.

2. While in office he slept on a futon mattress in his office and went home every weekend. Re-used paper and routinely gave back a hundred thousand dollars or more of money given to him to run his staff and Congressional office.

3. He ran for and became Governor after leaving office. He applies the same principles to state spending. He once went to the State House carrying 2 baby pigs calling them Pork and Barrel to demonstrate his objections to excessive spending by the Legislature.

4. He signed an executive order mandating state employees drive back home after leaving Columbia to travel on business. When it wasn't practical to do so because of multiple day work in other cities, all state employees had to share rooms with other state employees in economy lodging.

5. He still serves in as an officer in the Reserves for the Air Force. Even though they offered to excuse him when he was in Congress and as Governor.

6. He told the Federal Government this state would not be implementing Real ID because it was both weaker in its ID requirements than South Carolina's and it was an unfunded mandate from the Federal Government.  BTW the Federal Government blinked and decided South Carolina didn't have to comply with REAL ID when the deadline for complying or asking for an extension passed.

7. He once vetoed an entire state budget stating the Legislature could try again. He isn't against Grits Festival as he pointed out in his explanation. He said as long as there wasn't enough money for schools to operate the Grits Festival was luxury spending.

8. Despite being a millionaire in his own right before entering politics he still owns and drives a 1989 Honda Civic. Though Capitol Police refuse to drive him around in it. He tried to fire them and go without the police protection but lost that battle.

Answer 2

President Bush. No examples needed , That dude really has some Balls. Tells you he is going to help you with something then as he is walking away,he is laughing at you for falling for that gag! ( Believing him) Honestly,there is way to many examples to list on this one.