COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford refuses federal stimulus money, then jets off to Argentina to see his mistress for five days without telling anyone.
Republican congressman Joe Wilson shouts "You lie!" at President Barack Obama during a health care speech. Police investigate whether swimmer Michael Phelps smoked marijuana at a Columbia party.
And after firefighters fail to fully extinguish a backyard trash fire, it rekindles into the costliest wildfire in state history.
The monster blaze threatens Myrtle Beach four days later.
Call 2009 in South Carolina the Year of the Bad Decision.
It seemed that with every click on a news Web site this year, someone in the state was making a choice that left the nation shaking its collective head.
(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
