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StumbleEnsign’s refusal to resign harms many in his circle
Friday, March 19, 2010 | 2 a.m.
It’s no longer a question of “if” but of “when” between now and January 2013 that John Ensign’s short, previously happy, suddenly unhappy life as a senator will end.
One week after I told you about Ensign’s breathtakingly obtuse statement through a spokesman — “Sen. Ensign has consistently acted in an ethical manner to avoid even the appearance of impropriety” — those words return as an emblem of his narcissism and denial.
KLAS Channel 8’s report this week by George Knapp and Jonathan Humbert indicated that a grand jury is convening in D.C. to consider information (perhaps by month’s end) gathered when FBI agents arrived in Southern Nevada this month brandishing subpoenas and tightening that ever-constricting investigative noose around the senator’s neck.
The parlor games are all great fun: Would Gov. Jim Gibbons appoint his opponent, Brian Sandoval, to Ensign’s seat if it came to a resignation and would Sandoval take it? Or: Can Rep. Shelley Berkley really compete for that seat she now covets as lustily as Ensign coveted his neighbor’s wife?
But the nagging, all-too-serious question is this: Is Ensign so self-absorbed and delusional that he is willing to bring down folks of varying innocence with him — either people loyal to him now having to hire attorneys to defend themselves because of the senator’s scandal or those whose tangential roles in his life have them under federal scrutiny.
Politicians are notoriously solipsistic, but Ensign’s behavior since his confess-and-run news conference June 16 has set a new nadir. It’s one thing to be exposed as a spectacular hypocrite, a moral crusader with feet of clay, and yet try to hang onto your Club of 100 membership as if it were more important than anything. But it’s quite different to become the focus of criminal and ethics probes and continue to clutch onto the senatorial ring despite the carnage — real, quantifiable human carnage — you are leaving in your wake.
What about reputable businessmen and businesses who have had shadows cast over their reputations by Ensign’s behavior — trying to get the cuckolded Doug Hampton a job — essentially ensnaring them in his massive cover-up? Ensign couldn’t care less about the effect on them when feds show up at their doors with subpoenas, the existence of which is inevitably leaked to the media.
What about John Lopez, who had an impeccable reputation on the Hill, but who now must hire a lawyer and be placed in the ineffably awful position of having to implicate his former boss? And my guess is he can. Lopez, given a soft landing at R&R Partners, may be the key to the entire case against Ensign in the probe of whether he conspired to help Hampton violate a cooling-off law.
What about Mike Slanker, the veteran political consultant who Ensign tasked with finding Hampton clients without, it appears, fully disclosing why, and forcing Slanker and his wife, another ex-Ensign aide, to defend themselves? I know many Democrats who despise Slanker for his brutal campaigns are feeling a sense of schadenfreude, but no one — no one — deserves that kind of treatment from someone who received loyalty for so many years.
And most of all, what about Ensign’s family having to continually endure the Chinese water torture that the senator could easily end with a simple announcement? If he were in private life, his wife and children would not have to constantly read more about his all-too-public transgressions.
We also learned Thursday that the subpoena-spreading around Nevada and Washington included the National Republican Senatorial Committee. The multitasking Ensign headed the committee while he was pursuing Cynthia Hampton. Again, good, faceless people are at risk because of Ensign’s unyielding impulse for self-preservation.
And what of the contributors at the time? As one wag put it, “Give to the NRSC and win a free trip to Washington to appear before a federal grand jury!”
That’s funny. But this story has little humor left, despite the rich lampooning vein for late-night comics and Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.
It’s clear from interviews conducted here and by national newspapers that Ensign abused his power as a senator to cover up his affair and to try to buy Hampton’s silence. But the senator may never admit to wrongdoing or be found technically guilty of anything. He is hardly innocent, though — guilty at least of unethical conduct by normal barometers, and of selfishly using those close to him to help cover his tracks and then jeopardizing their livelihoods.
Hmm. Sounds almost exactly what President Bill Clinton did to cover up his indiscretion. And John Ensign called on him to resign.
Senator, heal thyself.
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Dear Senator Ensign:
It is time for you to move on and allow the state and country to do so as well.
The challenges facing Nevada and our country are enormous at this time. You were re-elected in 2006 to address these challenges on a full time basis.
What has transpired is not what I voted for in 2006 or the thousands of others who voted for you. These little distractions regarding your private indiscretions have spilled over into your public life. It is a distraction at a time this state and this nation have more important matters to deal with. In your position as Senator you are correctly expected to lead. Your capacity to do so has been undermined by your personal conduct.
The people of this state would be better served by a person no so distracted. It is about the type of representation we have a right to in Washington and not about you. It is about the state and the country.
In terms of your name and reputation, you will have your day in court (if it comes to that). We Nevadans should not be expected to subsidize your efforts in this respect by your sense of entitlement to rescue your reputation on our time.
Put the state and country before yourself for a change by
Resigning and doing so now.
I wonder if Sen Ensign's parents will give $96,00 'gifts' to the senator's loyalists who now have hire lawyers.
Hang in there, Senator Ensign. This little brouhaha will blow over and you can continue to write laws that favor no taxation, no governmental interference in our daily lives. Thanks!
Another good article, Jon.
It is hard to understand why Ensign refuses to resign. His political career is finished so what is gained by prolonging the agony? Makes no sense at all.
Nice post, Turrialba.
Jon Ralston's garbage opinion. Not only will I support and vote for him, I will provide financial aid. Ralston is an idiot, period!
So PBRegard and DessertSun continue to support this hypocrite despite the overwhelming evidence that he not only disgraced his office and himself but did so all the while preaching to all who would listen about how much his religion and his Christian faith sustain him through his troubles. He may still be slipping the high hard one to his senior aide's wife for all we know, even after the $96,000 payoff. Way to go, PB and Sun for your blind partisan loyalty to this despicable reprobate. Your ignorance and ability to ignore the obvious is breathtaking in it's scope.
I wouldn't resign either. In fact I can't wait to vote for him again.
DessertSun you stated:
"Jon Ralston's garbage opinion. Not only will I support and vote for him, I will provide financial aid. Ralston is an idiot, period!"
Now, as you make yourself another "TEQUILA SUNRISE", I want you to sing along with me.
"When Johnny come marching home again...HOORAY, HOORAY"
"When Johnny come marching home again...HOORAY, HOORAY"
"For he must pay for his shenanigans"
"So that we can be represented again...HOORAY, HOORAY"
I would like to state unequivocaly, that under no circumstances would I cheer the deimise of any person; but I feel that we are being grossly under represented in the senate right now. However, you must read and excerpt from an article printed in Politico earlier this week.
This is a quote spoken by an aide of a Senior Senator.
"Like Vitter, Ensign doesn't get invited to a lot of press conferences because no one wants their boss in a photo op with them," said one top GOP aide, referring to Louisiana Republican Sen. David Vitter, who was identified in 2007 as a client of an alleged prostitution ring.
"He's been so isolated for so long that I almost forget he's still here," said another senior Senate Republican aide."
Need I say more?
is johnny boy i slept with my best friend's wife, then ran to mommy and daddy to fix my boo boo, then watched all my friends get dragged thru hell ensign...
still sucking his thumb on mommy and daddy's basement floor...
hmmm...
i wonder...
never see the guy anymore...
hmmm...
BCDave writes:
I wouldn't resign either. In fact I can't wait to vote for him again.
+++++++
I don't think you are going to get the chance. And to another poster -- this is not a "little brouhaha," it is a big deal and deadly serious. Ensign knows it, the RNC knows it, the Republican leadership knows it, and the mucky muck Nevada Republicans know it. They don't need Ensign anymore and it would be better if he were gone. Another Republican can win his seat and they all know it. Buh bye, Johnny.
I like Ensign around as long as possible, a great monument for Republican hypocrisy.
Maybe he'll have to go play softball on talk-radio, get the decoy car ready.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Looking Down on Sen. Ensignee From Up Here
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
When I dashed up here to Heaven I knew I was leaving a lot of sin and crime behind. I miss Nancy and Ron a lot, but up here its peacful and everyone seems to be an Angel.
I have a brief message for the unethical Sen. Ensignee who is a cheater, voter for war, torture and hushmoney - resign. Yes, do so now and show some modicum of respect for the ones who made the original mistake of voting you in to begin with. You are a horribe guy also for voting against jobless benefits.
When I was Pres. I met with all the guys up on the hill and we got some things done quite nicely. No, I was not perfect, but I certainly did not leave the country in the horrific shape AWOLBushIdiot did. Wow, that man was the worst President in U.S. history.
Anyway, regards to all and especially Nancy, if you see her about.
Thanks Everyone,
Ronnie 'Dutch' Reagan
Ensign you are a Chump, you and are governor should both hook-up and start dating, you'll make a cute couple.
The Ensign family is disgusting trash.
Leave Nevada you criminals.
Who would quit a job paying $15k per month + the world's best perks? He'll ride the taxpayers to the very end and then get a pension. That's the American way, folks! IF you're a congresscritter....
@ bigdon--is that short for big donkey?
Hey Sandy, sounds like you haven't gotten any in a while.
Oh, by the way, Sandy, I can't wait to vote for the Governor again. I'm sure that comment dried you right up.
The guy is a bum! but then again, all politicians are..
Its a train wreck, you cannot do anything to stop it. Just grab a seat and watch the carnage.
BCDave writes:
[[Hey Sandy, sounds like you haven't gotten any in a while.]]
and
[[Oh, by the way, Sandy, I can't wait to vote for the Governor again. I'm sure that comment dried you right up.]]
++++
I did not personally attack you, Dave. It is people like you that wreck message boards for everybody. Vote away for Gibbons in the primary, but the Republican candidate will be Sandoval.
I believe the local morning blowhard is going to have another secret meeting with the Bible-thumper to screen some new softball questions. I saw the decoy car getting shinned up at the car wash.
Ensign makes Reid look good.
@Rough: No, it doesn't stand for donkey, but it might stand for big dong, something I suspect you might have been dreaming about for years. Actually, it stands for me, a six foot six, two hundred sixty-five pound thirty-year veteran of Navy carrier flight decks who has been known to kick ass now and take names later. I was (and am) an Aviation Ordnanceman, which means I loaded bombs, guns and missiles for a living.
I served from 1955 to 1985, retiring as a Master Chief Petty Officer. I spent a considerable amount of that thirty years helping load and later supervising the loading of weapons on Navy attack and fighter aircraft flying strikes into North and South Vietnam.
My weapons system maintenance and bomb loading crews tested and repaired aircraft weapons systems and loaded, by hand, hundreds of 250, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 lb bombs as well as air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles every day. My crews worked 14-16 hour days , seven days a week for months at a time, with only a very occassional in-port visit to Subic Bay , PI to take on food, stores, fuel and ammunition.
Outside the Naval Station Main Gate, in the bars of Olangapo City (where every night was Saturday night, for those of you who have not been there and done that) many of us also took aboard copious amounts of Sam Miguel, a local (and very potent) adult beverage. Then it was back to Yankee Station (the carrier operating area) and humping bombs. My crews and I were not being fired upon or ambushed in the Vietnamese jungle as were so many of our Army and Marine compatriots were, but we knew we were pulling our share of the load.
So that's who I am, Rough, not a donkey but a man who speaks his mind and calls out hypocrites like Ensign, and does not back off from anyone.
Ensign gives msnbc some good Nevada material, keeps us in the news.
An independent investigative panel consisting of: Jon Ralston, Sheryl Crow, Brian Greenspun and Carmen Electra, should be brought in to investigate the Ensign ethics mess.
Ralston's article on John Ensign is full of if, ands, buts, maybe's, and rhetoric that is old news, not happened yet, or may never happen. I agree that Ensign screwed up, literally. I and others that have known him personally, have been concerned that he always seemed to be aloof. I knew he played favorites - both in politics, and friendships - but his holier-than-thou attitude was obvious. I guess this comes from growing up with a silver (or perhaps, gold) spoon in his mouth (ala the casino business).
However, his personality does not excuse his (admitted) sexual Behavior - which, at least, violates the trust of many, and the ethical and moral requirements of his Senate office. But since we seem to have a lot of deviates in the Congress, one would have to spend some time trying to figure out what the specifics of their seemingly parallel sins are, and how to arrive at equitable punishments.
And, as everyone knows, punishment for real, perceived, or even invented moral, ethical, and contrived sins (even Harry Reid's "racist" remark) are never treated equally by Congress members; after all, "their day of sin" may come and they too may the need support of their fellow members.
But we must remember that all citizens are innocent until PROVEN guilty (which includes members of Congress). In fact, a member of Congress is protected by the U.S. Constitution as long as he is in office on Capitol Hill. Ensign, is not in a court of law - at the moment, and all this Ralston article does is generate more support, or more venom, towards Ensign.
I don't like the man now, but I respect the law. Further, to those that are crying for "blood," remember that Ensign IS STILL a Republican politician, and that this pot is possibly being stirred by those (especially Harry Reid, et al) that would like to unseat him - and SOON - to recreate the majority of DEMOCRATIC SEATS in the Senate that Scott Brown removed by his recent election in Mass.
SO, without directly questioning Mr. Ralston's motives for writing this story one day away from an EARTH-SHAKING VOTE on Health Care in Washington, DC, - I suggest when Mr. Ralston has another "day off" from such more important headline issues of the day, that he not focus on such a seemingly "fluff" or "cub reporter" issue. Certainly this Ensign issue is important to many, but timing for reporting on issues is important too. This story, presented at this time, is just a distraction.
Such banter generally comes from TV-News broadcasters who are famous for it when they have nothing else of substance to say, and are looking for ratings, need to fill a column. or stretch a time-slot.
It amazes me that there are still Republicans out there who will support Ensign. I guess they are just used to being led around by the nose. Ensign is despicable and is an example of how the Republican party is failing to lead by example and have become the party of no without ideas to help our country get back on its feet.
Oh Sandy. Look in the mirror. You have 54 posts and they attack everyone. You hate Ensign, Gibbons, Heller, Tark, and Lowden to name a few. You attack other people who post. You love Clinton, but I guess there was nothing wrong with his ethics. You attack people I like and it's open season on you. I don't start anything, I just finish it. And by the way, I'm a Democrat, but until the party produces one that's neither a puppet or a party rubber stamper, I hate them just like you. Other things I hate, this newspaper, unions, illegal aliens, liberals, enviro-nazis, tree huggers, people who raise my taxes, smokers, and people who go after people who vote the way I would want them to. Notice, I mentioned no person specific. Get the picture. Now go back to the bedroom and serve your husband.
of course they support him. don't u know all republican are perfect. they think all there policy are for every1. there policy are for rich people only. they also hide behind "family value" crap. if there family value means having affair they can have it
keep up the good job JON RALSTON he go after every1 now he is "FAIR AND BALANCE" lol. Rupert Murdoch and all fox station sucks
@ Socratic
No one really cares which inkwell men like Ensign are dipping into these days. However, breaking laws while you are an elected official to just cover your ass and keep the cuckold from blabbing *IS* the issue here. BTW-Mr. Ensign has proven he can do bad all by himself without Mr. Ralston's help so spare us the 'blame the media for leading folks astray 'cause it's an election year' crap. As it stands today, it is soley about how much justice you can afford. So even if it comes down to the fact Ensign did break laws, I'm quite certain he'll be able to soften whatever punishment might come his way with the help of Mom and Dad's money and an excellent attorney-as per usual. Ensign's problem is an over-inflated sense of self-importance/entitlement and now he suffers from a credibility issue. He has single-handedly destroyed his own career and has no one to blame but himself. Randomrider is right.... Take a seat and watch the whole train wreck unfold.
Ensign needs to resign!!! He is disgusting and I am sick of hearing about his little stinking affair, the bribes, the lying and cheating that he has done without regard for the people that he represents. . . disgraceful! Resign Ensign! You are making a bigger fool of yourself then is necessary right now and we are sick of you! Really, you should be prosecuted. . .
Senator Tom Coburn OB-Gyn MD and so called Religious Pastor of who knows of what church.Good old Tom has refused to answer reporters questions re; his counseling of John Ensign. Using Doctor client privilege, yeah right, an OB-Gyn womens doctor. Good old Tom added that as Johns pastor he invoked the Pastor Client privilege. This scam revolves around "C Street" in DC. C Street is a rooming house with a tax exemption as a church for bad boy congressman. They recently lost the tax exemption. Add Stupak, Sanford, Morning Joe and Ensign what a gang. Morning Joe of MSNBC acknowledged membership. Recall his messy divorce, file sealed by the court and the murder of his female assistant in his Florida office. OMG what is next.??
Johnnie Casino should stand firm, at least until a Democratic governor can name his replacement.
Gibbons, the king of sexual perfidy, replacing Ensign, the prince of sexual perfidy, is just giving some republican loser two years to run as an incumbent in 2012.
Johnnie, you hang tough, dude.
Also, Ralston, would you stop saying that he had AN affair with Cynthia Hampton. If you remember, he got caught, apologized to Duggie, wrote a little note about his sinfulness and then he went back and started banging her all over again. Now in my count book, that is TWO affairs. As a golfer, he would have counted is as two holes.
Chandler_L:
No Mulligans, huh?