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Wednesday, July 15, 2009 | 4:14 p.m.
Sun Archives
- In D.C., some worry Ensign saga is not over (7-15-2009)
- Ensign to stay in Senate, seek reelection (7-14-2009)
- Silence, not calls for Ensign to quit (7-12-2009)
- If shockers done, Ensign could stay in office, many say (7-11-2009)
- GOP support for Ensign dwindles as new details of affair emerge (7-10-2009)
- Ensign's parents gave Hampton family $96,000 (7-9-2009)
WASHINGTON -- Republican Sen. John Ensign returned to the Senate floor today, delivering his first speech since having admitted an affair last month with the wife of his former top aide.
Ensign took to the floor to discuss his bill that would open up U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs homes to all Gold Star parents, not just those without surviving children.
Ensign has been increasingly resuming legislative activity in a more public way since disclosing the affair with his former campaign treasurer and the $96,000 payout his parents gave her family.
Experts have said the senator's best route for rehabilitating his image and boosting declining poll numbers is by meeting with Nevada voters and staying out of the public eye unless it is to discuss policy.
Ensign praised the veterans’ home in Boulder City, which he said was recently ranked tops nationwide. The home in Southern Nevada and others nationwide are open to vets, their spouses or parents who lost a child in war and have no surviving children, he said.
“Losing a child in war is a stunning and life-altering event for anyone,” Ensign said. “I think it is only fair that the parents of those who have lost a son or daughter have access to first class facilities like this.”
Wonderful public policy statement by Ensign.
The man has no shame. He thinks praising veterans will make him seem "more forgiveable." Obscene. Simply obscene.
What a sleazebag! So now Johnny "Casanova" Casino wants to hide behind veterans? Lame, just lame.
Embarrassing. Go away John
John Ensign is a sexual Predator.
Darlene Ensign is trash.
Can't wait to work to unseat the slaeazy piece of scum in 2012.
It's going too far to call a $96,000 hush payment a gift free and clear without tax consequences. Can't he see the difference?
Apparently not. He is incapable of even understanding the oath of office, or acting with virtue. All that mattered was a successful coverup.
He should, of course, resign.
Au contraire, now is the time to continue the good work in the senate by executing the duties of a U.S. senator by speaking out for a neglected group of citizens mentioned in the article, and pushing for legislation to help these wonderful people.
Hey Senator Ensign, when are you and your buddie Gov. Gibbons starting the investigation for a unlawful cover-up with MSHA (Boulder NV Tim Fisher) and NV Mine Safety and Training Section (Ed Tomany and Jeff Bixler) for safey violations and cover-up? You both pledged to help. . . WHERE IS IT? Where is all that hard work and earning the Nevadans voters trust you keep talkin about? Going to have to work real hard now? Whats the hold-up, corruption and liars should be right up your alley. Perhaps you both can explain how workers safety is not important and why you guys continue the cover-up? Paul Rupp Box 125 Silver Peak NV 89047
Glad to see him back! It's time to get back to the REAL issues.
For Ensign to praise the Department of Veterans Affairs, a version of government-sponsored single payer health care, is as hypocritical as his breakup letter to Cindy Hampton. He opposes the public option, which would offer "first-class" care to people currently uninsured or undersured and will vote against the final health care reform bill. Of couse, he enjoys government health care himself.
Give me a break maybe I should have had affair with him and were is the wife when all this is happening, what a mess?
Senator Ensign, you still have not worked hard enough to re-earn my vote. All talk and no work.
I await the help you pledged. Where is it?
Where is the help?
The man is a total piece of garbage.
Why would a polititian who professes to believe in lower taxes and smaller government argue to increase the size of a government program?
Is he pandering to veterans at the expense of his expoused philosophy?
One wonders if his wife Darlene will have anything to do with him in the bedroom?
One wonders if she is contemplating a divorce to emerge with some semblence of honor out of this sordid affair?
One wonders if Cindy has, in fact, broken off her dalliance with him?
One wonders why no interviews have been done with either of these women?
One wonders how the senator is currently sating his sexual appeitite, especially if neither of the women in his life will meet with him in bed?
Politicians who push lower taxes and smaller government have always given national defense related items a blank check. Why? There is no monetary ceiling on liberty and the national defense of this great country of ours.
Guess what, war funding is one of the few things that the Constitution is clear about.
It doesn't speak of health care.
that came out very wrong. LOL
The Constitution is very clear. I meant the "funding" aspect. It does not say we should fund healthcare, where it clearly states war is to be funded.
I'm sure that all the parents who lost a son or daughter in combat will appreciate the free VA housing but one wonders why it took Senator Ensign 8 years to think this one up.
I didn't see any Senate Bill number in the article nor did I see any CBO estimates as to how much the additional VA housing will cost or how Senator Ensign proposes we pay for it. Maybe his parents will bail him out again and cut a check?
Damned if you do, damned if you don't. He gives a floor speech to try to support some legislation (which you all don't know if it was already being worked on or not) and some of you resort to name calling and grade-school comments, and offer nothing with substance. If he doesn't do any work, you all would complain that your tax dollars are paying him and he's not working. I'd rather have him working and trying to make a difference than doing nothing. Name calling is for idiots and "Nick" why would you insult his wife? She is a victim in this. Why not go after the "mistress?" I guess that's the kind of low-life that you are.
So is this a real Senate bill? Is it online anywhere?
Veterans and the military make good props for seedy politicians. Did he have his flag pin on?