Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
StumbleWill Ensign do what’s best for his party?
Sunday, July 12, 2009 | 2 a.m.
If John Ensign were still the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, trying to preserve GOP seats, what might he say about scandal-ridden John Ensign?
Might he look down from his high horse and declare this is “something that I thought was not only embarrassing to himself and his family, but also to the whole United States Senate ... That’s one of the things that I’m proudest about our leadership is the swift action, not only calling for an immediate Senate investigation, ethics investigation, removing him from his committees but also sending the signal to him that it was probably best that he resign ... It was best for himself, best for his family and best for the institution of the Senate.”
Those were the exact words that then-NRSC chief Ensign told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos as the campaign season began two years ago, eagerly tossing Idaho Sen. Larry Craig out of the morally unassailable GOP Men’s Club. Granted, Craig was accused of breaking the law — soliciting sex from a man in an airport bathroom. But Ensign solicited sex from a staffer who was his best friend’s wife and then, according to the former pal, forced both out of the office, had his parents pay them off and continued to pursue the wife. Who committed the greater crime?
As many wonder whether Ensign will survive in the drip-drip-drip of revelations, catalyzed by Doug Hampton’s dramatic interview last week, it seems only a matter of time until GOP figures, worried about damage in 2010 and 2012 when Ensign and the presidency are up, begin to treat him with the same political expediency he offered Craig.
Embarrassingly mute Nevada and national Republicans, who by their silence condone this increasingly tawdry and sleazy scandal, surely are privately chattering about how they want Ensign to resign. Ensign’s successor at the NRSC, John Cornyn, was remarkably tepid when the Sun asked him about his colleague’s chances to recover. “I just don’t know the answer to that,” Cornyn said, being slightly more gracious to Ensign than Ensign was to Craig two years ago.
The flip side is true, too, as The Hill reported Friday under the headline, “Senate GOP’s silence ominous for Ensign.”
As the capital newspaper reported, “On Thursday, however, not a single Republican approached in the Senate would openly defend him.”
And why? Disgust? There but for the grace of God go I? Fear of other disclosures?
GOP Sen. Bob Bennett of Utah told The Hill the caucus is concerned about a “trickle” effect. “We have learned from all of these that you don’t get all the facts,” Bennett told the paper. “Maybe we do, but maybe there’s still more to it. I would think the reticence of people to comment has more to do with not wanting to make a statement and then discover there’s more facts to come out.”
Beyond the principled silence of his colleagues, the former chairman of the NRSC, whose performance already had been questioned, surely is the subject of much second-guessing because of the time line that has now emerged. I would bet his multi-tasking skills are being questioned.
When he was charged with running the NRSC and supposed to be trying to salvage GOP seats, Ensign was spending quite a bit of time pursuing an affair with Cynthia Hampton. Hey, ex-Sen. Norm Coleman, what do you think of these revelations?
The political pressure cooker surely will continue to build, whether or not there are more proverbial dropping shoes. As Ensign knew in that 2007 ABC interview, Republicans realize in 2009 that they don’t need more lampooning as they head into a midterm election cycle and Barack Obama’s reelection bid in 2012.
As one Nevada political expert put it via e-mail, “If I’m a Republican, and I don’t have a top-tier candidate against (Senate Majority Leader Harry) Reid (which it is starting to look like they won’t), I’d want to do this race now, when turnout trends tend to favor the GOP (particularly if the economy doesn’t recover and voters punish Dems), and when they won’t be running alongside a presidential candidate in a battleground state where turnout efforts change the electoral map, making it even harder for them, etc. ... They would have a better shot at retaining the Ensign seat in 2010 as opposed to 2012 ... The quicker they remove Ensign from office, the sooner they can start to turn the corner and put someone else out front. Otherwise, Ensign becomes the gift that keeps on giving for Democrats.”
John Ensign in 2007, the head of the NRSC, instantly would grasp that logic. I wonder if John Ensign in 2009, the albatross of his party, gets it.
Discussion: comments so far…
Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy. Additionally, we now display comments from trusted commenters by default. Those wishing to become a trusted commenter need to verify their identity or sign in with Facebook Connect to tie their Facebook account to their Las Vegas Sun account. For more on this change, read our story about how it works and why we did it.
Only trusted comments are displayed on this page. Untrusted comments have expired from this story.
No trusted comments have been posted.
Post a comment
Most Popular
- Viewed
- Discussed
- E-mailed
- UNLV can move forward without the burden of losing streak to San Diego State
- A wife’s wisdom shows birth control issue needn’t be divisive
- Surprise links, negotiated deals addressed by commissioners
- Motorcycle accident claims life of man in northeast valley
- Hope and change and … what’s missing?
- New York mayor has the right idea
- We don’t need a CEO in charge
- Paying our own way
- Country has ‘given’ citizens a lot
- Jerry Tarkanian: Mike Moser impresses yet again on a day to remember former Rebel greats
Blogs
The Kats Report
Color from scene at Thomas & Mack: We have a wire job! Rebels win, and Louie Armstrong sings!
South Point owner Michael Gaughan's take on 'Vegas Stripped': 'I'll give it an 8' (4 Comments)
Author relishes writing the life story of ‘larger-than-life’ Oscar Goodman (3 Comments)
Elsewhere
Landowner: All roads could lead to Uxbridge casino
Revel reveals smoke-free casino opening
Cirque du Soleil show in Sands China casino to close this month
Meet the woman behind Sheldon Adelson
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
If what the political expert states is true, we should all keep our mouths shut and let Ensign lose the election. Why force him to resign if he will be voted out? The longer the Republicans do nothing, voter anger will continue to build. The fallout on election day by faith based voters will keep Republicans in the nether lands for many years.
What few seem to grasp is this: a cynical, corrupt ideology attracts those who lack moral character.
The conservative movement was nothing more than the theft of the generational wealth of the middle class to benefit the rich, while blaming the poor. The middle class held open the doors while the Gingriches, Norquists, Abramoffs and Delays filled dumptrucks full of money for the top 1% of Americans. That is the cynical truth of the past 30 years.
Who can be surprised that it attracted and elected idiots like Ensign?
The conservative movement rose to power over the illegal redistribution of wealth under the tax and spend democrats. It's disgusting to watch as they return to do more of the same. Newt and Tom tried to stop it, but the American people gets hoodwinked every other generation by the Democrats.
Where are Pastors Ron and Paula Flores in all this?
Where is the 4-Square International that revelled in all the glory of having a "U.S. Senator" and "future U.S. president" sit in our pews?!
Let 4-Square and the Flores reflect on all the times they "compromised their moral obligations" in the hopes of future payoffs from a powerful member.
Suggestion: Read James 2:9
Then get down in sack cloth and ash.
To the 4-Square and the Flores: You are partly reponsible for this dispicable behavior. Both the Ensigns thought they were above God's law because you failed to bring them into accountability.
Yes, they probably would have stopped saying that they attended your church (and that endorsement gave you great credibility) - but reflect back on all the harm your "flock" suffered because of your "greater good" philosophy!!!
Once again Democrats like Jon want to decide how Republican should act and who should be our leaders.
I have not heard Jon say that Too Big to Fail Harry Reid and Weep should quit be cause Harry is inept and passes failed laws like the Stimulus package.
The republicans now will support sexual predators. They have no one of value left.
Republicans have no morals just hand outs to the rich and big corporations.
afveteran Which one of these versions of Tom and Newt are we supposed to admire for their "service"?
Newt I'm shutting the government down cause I got a crummy seat on Air Force One Gingrich
Newt I've been elected but I refuse to serve I'm pulling a Palin Gingrich
Newt I'm divorcing you while you're in the hospital Gingrich
Tom I love CFC's DeLay
Tom first congressional leader ever to be indicted Delay
Tom I took one million $$$ from the Russians DeLay
The list on both of these fine upstanding "Gentlemen" goes on infinitum. The conservative movement rose to power on the gullibility of the voters who think that you can have services that you don't have to pay for and tax cuts for the people that don't need them and still grow revenue. I got tired of being "trickled" on a long time ago so zip it up.
"The republicans now will support sexual predators."
True many voted for Ted Kennedy and others
Lets get Control of Our Finances and Take our Country Back! We have been invader by foreign Off-Shore aliens, as opposed to "The Constitution of The United states of America"!
It is simple, really -- the larger the debt, the richer and more powerful the international bankers become. The Federal Reserve is their front organization and it runs roughshod over Congress.
The passage of HR 1207 is not certain and it faces an even more strenuous uphill battle in the Senate. It is, at this point, our only practical hope of auditing the Fed, revealing its numerous crimes, exposing its mega-grand theft scams, and delivering Donald Kohn, his boss Bernanke, and the minions of the international banksters to justice.
Folks we need your help to be able to retain America, we are at a crucial point!
SEND A LETTER TO YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND SENATORS INSTANTLY:
http://www.campaignforliberty......07hom...
Read the infowars website for the full story!
Political Pragmatist would rather fall in line with what the Kennedys, the Gores and the Kerrys tell people to believe. Meanwhile, they are all FEASTING off of our money. How come that's not a problem for anyone? Funny how that works.
"lower your carbon footprint, I need all the power for my mansion".
Too much fallacious stuff has been heaped on Tom and Newt by the mainstream liberal media so that fools who know little about the political machinery in the country swallow the old hook line and sinker routine espoused by such media. Conservatives take power when 51% or better of the voting populace get tired of tax and spend democrats who enable those that don't work by giving them resources taken from those that do work.
Gingrich had been reelected to an 11th term, but declined to take his seat. Commenting on his resignation, Gingrich said, "I'm willing to lead but I'm not willing to preside over people who are cannibals.
Tom DeLay recounts in his book, No Retreat, No Surrender "Gingrich told a room full of reporters that he forced the shutdown because Clinton had rudely made him and Bob Dole sit at the back of Air Force One"
"Too much fallacious stuff has been heaped on Tom and Newt by the mainstream liberal media"
Turn off Fox and do a little reading, reality bites.
wtf? any explanation from anybody to support this guy is useless; his days are numbered and there is nothing that can be done about it. wait until the women involved air their side of the story to the media; this story has legs!
The Republicans on the National level have not made a sane and sound decision in a number of years that would advance their party. I have every confidence that in the case of John Ensign they will not make a politically sound decision.
I am sitting back with my feet up on this one, just awaiting the cluster F that is the Republican Party.
Thanks for the entertainment!
To answer the question, most likly not. Senator Ensign continues to represent special interests at the expense of Nevada voters that elected him.
Ensign was elected (twice) by voters who believe in limited government and limited taxes. I firmly believe he'll be elected in 2012 by the same type of voter. By then, the tax and spend democrats will have burned out (again) the working and independent business people with their giveaway policies.
"The Republicans on the National level have not made a sane and sound decision in a number of years that would advance their party."
Democrats keep forgetting that this is about American not the Democratic party and the ACORN agenda.
At least Republicans did not put Obama, Reid, and Pelosi in charge foisting insipid inept policies on all Americans.
Ensign was elected twice by voters who liked his tan and his hair, and were duped into believing his faux family values. He is a corporate shill who convinces people that they should vote against their own interests by claiming that tax cuts for the rich will lift all boats and Democrats are evil for wanting the top 1% to pay 3% more on their income tax. See you in 2012.
Ensign is incapable of doing whats right for his party. His actions/behaiour proves this.
Yeah right.
Ensign will do whats right for Ensign ..these guys have no morals.
crackedbeak,
It's tax cuts for businesses and the people that truly stimulate the economy. Once money lands in the Government hands, it is no longer stimulating the economy. The people with the money and the businesses that produce revenue need to be encouraged, not penalized. When they are penalized, that's when people lose jobs, manufacturing gets outsourced overseas, and Americans suffer.
Business and wealth make this economy thrive.
Why was the economy so good during WWII? Government anybody?
Who will run against Reid?? The Republicans are too chicken, so it will be another loser.
Maybe Sgt. Rock will have the rocks to run?
Ensign is a joke, let him do nothing for the rest of his term, he is used to doing that.
Roosevelt also tried to impose a 100% tax on incomes over $25,000! Are you really suggesting that money is better spent in the hands of government than our own?
the economy was so good during WWII because of market supply and demand. production was ramped up to supply and build not only our war effort and machine, but to supply our allies.
the fact that our infrastructure was not bombed into the stone age like all of europe and asia MIGHT have had something to do with it too.....
but somehow you believe that barack obama's unprecedented spending and enlargement of federal government is the same thing???
Amazing how the liberals here keep chanting that the Repubs have no morals! What were they saying when Clinton was caught getting his pipes cleaned in the White House? Something like, "That's between him and his family" or "Let's move on and put this behind us for the good of the country."
Many of you are too young to remember the incident when Ted Kennedy was cheating on his wife and, while drunk, drove his car into the river and saved himself, leaving his girlfriend to drown. His family paid off the woman's family and that was that. He's still idolized by every Democrat.
Why do you excuse it when it's one party but condemn the same behavior when the other is involved?
henderson said.....
"Roosevelt also tried to impose a 100% tax on incomes over $25,000!"
I have to ask......do you have a link or two that backs up what you're saying or is that just brain-dead FOX NEWS type propaganda? I have read a mountain of material on FDR and I have never read that...link please?
El Lobo. I thought FDR's outrageous tax plan was common knowledge. However, if you google "fdr taxation 25,000" you'll get several links.
El Lazy,
Are your fingers broken? Try using your google genius, I'm not here to gather links for your educational purposes. By the way, thanks for suggesting I take foxnews as gospel - you might be surprised to learn that I actually look things up that I hear, unlike you.
larry5
thanks for the great info, i googled and read several links.
while it's common knowlege FDR's new deal programs lengthened and worsened the great depression, I had no idea to what depths his socialist leanings reached.
again, it all boils down to human nature. socialism will always fail because it is contrary to human nature. nobody will work hard if they are not "allowed" the fruits of their labor, and there will be an ever expanding class of "dependants".
typical big government. for all these people who think obama, reid, pelosi, geithner et al. have only good and beneficent motivations, please think!!!! they only want more power.
human nature. sometimes it ain't pretty. but it is what it is. and it drives us ALL to do what we do.
Geez Joe, give a girl some credit for the fdr thing!
The democrats love poor people, and they make a ton of money keeping people poor. It's how they keep the voters in line. Don't let them become self sufficient because that changes everything. People vote differently when they don't have to work for things in life.
oops! my bad, thanks!
learn something new everyday!
"The democrats love poor people, and they make a ton of money keeping people poor. It's how they keep the voters in line. Don't let them become self sufficient because that changes everything."
Pot. Meet. Kettle. I have to admit, the neocon fringe lunatics sure are taking the Freudian Projection Theory to an entirely new level that has never been seen before. Case studies galore.
this is the face of the republican party, old dirty white guys, who's heads are up their corporate buddies. what a grand old party
" People vote differently when they don't have to work for things in life."
"Las Vegas Sands has promoted and extended the contract of longtime executive Rob Goldstein, the company announced today. He will have a base salary of $1.5 million compared to the $965,000 base salary he was earning before."
" Former General Motors Corp. Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner will retire Aug. 1 with a benefit package the automaker valued at more than $10 million."
William W. McGuire UnitedHealth Group $124.8 million
The list of top earners is endless, but your absolutely right, " People vote differently when they don't have to work for things in life."
Dear John,
Do I donate to you, or should the check go to directly to your mistress? Should it be made out to Great Leader or President Ensign? Please help!!! It's so confusing these days. Maybe I'll send it directly to your parents, and they can disperse it as they see fit. Remind me of the monetary limit on a "gift" before the old IRS can take it's share.
Anyway, Thanks and God bless. You truly are a man of Jesus.
Oops, wrong site - my bad.