First Lt. Mark Sanford of the U.S. Air Force Reserve says he'll continue to perform his duties as governor during his upcoming two-week stint in officer training. But it's hard to see how he can do that. He'll be busy between 5:25 a.m. and 7 p.m. during every day of his stay at Alabama's Maxwell Air Force Base and will be barred from travel to Columbia.

True, Sanford will be able to communicate with his chief of staff, Fred Carter, during the evenings. But most of the legislative action in which Sanford has an interest would take place during the day, so Carter could have to make executive decisions without consulting his boss.

Giving an unelected staffer such power troubles us. But so does the alternative: giving executive power to 30-year-old, untested, separately elected Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer - though Sanford said last month he would empower Bauer as acting governor if the Air Force called him to active duty.

Sanford's determination to honor the commitment he made last year to the Air Force is admirable. But no one should pretend that this commitment does not conflict with his commitment to the voters of South Carolina.