Love is in the air

With Valentine's day fast approaching and the fact that These Bastards is the #6 site on the web for dating, marriage, and general romance advice (as voted in a 1996 poll by the citizens of Bolivia), it's time that we handed out some tips to prospective brides out there.

We know the lure to wed a state politician is high, what with the intoxicating thrill of state governance and the lure that someday you could be married to a state comptroller. But sometimes those starry dreams of state level political fame are tarnished by bizarre episodes involving Argentina and the Appalachian Trail, so it's best you might want to heed TB Romance Tip For Lovers #2 (#1: be wary of a man with a trunk full of Quicklime and shovels). Be aware of small signs on your wedding day that might presage future problems.

South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford recalls how she made the "leap of faith" to marry husband Gov. Mark Sanford even though the groom refused to promise to be faithful, insisting that the clause be removed from their wedding vows.

"It bothered me to some extent, but ... we were very young, we were in love," she said in an exclusive interview with Barbara Walters to air on "20/20" Friday. "I questioned it, but I got past it ... along with other doubts that I had."

Well, at least he was being honest and didn't want to violate any oaths he took. You can say many things about the man, but you can't say he didn't have foresight and a vision for the future.

Another tip for all you lovers out there: be wary of someone who seems to be trying to set a sort of cheapness world record. Not only isn't it a Guinness recognized world record, any organization that recognizes that achievement is going to be too cheap to spring for a plaque memorializing it.

"He drew me a picture of a half a bike, and then for the next birthday or Christmas I got the picture of the other half a bike, and then he delivered the $25 used bike," she recalled.

For another birthday, Mark Sanford gave her a diamond necklace, which she adored, but then he took it back.

A long term planner, doesn't make vows he doesn't plan to honor, handy with a visual aide, fiscally responsible, hiking enthusiast, and travels abroad; it's easy to see why the voters of South Carolina responded to Mark Sanford so well.

S0 ladies, if you follow our three tips (especially the one about avoiding being murdered with a shovel and buried in the woods), you'll be well on your way to finding that perfect man.