Nevada Senator Irritating Other Senators

Image from source, Talking Points Memo

Senator Dean Heller (R-Nevada) really got set into a cushy spot. When his predecessor John Ensign got caught with his pants down (way down), Heller was appointed by Nevada's Republican Governor to fill his spot, a step-up from Heller's elected House seat. As luck would have it, Heller got to ride out Ensign's term long enough for the Ensign stink to get off of him. And he lucked out by being the one success story from Karl Rove's Crossroads organizations, which thoroughly trashed opponent (and well-loved Nevada politician), Shelley Berkley. Funny thing is, Heller got Ensign's plush office, and he doesn't want to give it up to his more senior Senators. In-fighting is so much fun!

[Excerpt]

Report: Heller’s Refusal To Give Up Office Sparks Tension With Other Senators

Aides for Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) have been unruly and uncooperative with staffers for other senators in an attempt to protect the coveted Capitol Hill office space currently claimed by the Nevada Republican, according to a report published online Sunday in Roll Call. . .

Read more at: Talking Points Memo.

What Happens in Vegas: Jon Ralston Talks About John Ensign Scandal

Here's a little local look at a national story. You know about former Senator John Ensign's little sex scandal and BIG coverup. But outside of The Rachel Maddow Show which has followed the story since the beginning, I don't think the story is getting a lot of national attention. Larry Semenza and Sam Hunterton, two former United States Attorneys, were interviewed by our local Las Vegas politico, Jon Ralston on Face to Face on Friday night. Ralston's style is kind of interesting, and the conversation is one you're unlikely to hear on FOX "News."

John Ensign Has Been a Baaaaaaad Boy

So. A Senator from my state of Nevada may face criminal charges. Seems like old times. But if you think that former Sen. John Ensign's story is just a simple case of a fling with a staffer, and a payoff. . .well, watch this clip from Thursday's The Rachel Maddow Show. Rachel's been following this story from the beginning, and was one of the few to report on Ensign's C-Street connection (and connection to a host of other C-Street scandals). Rachel's clip below is engrossing, and would make a hell of a movie. But the ending isn't written yet. Will Ensign go to jail?  Will Sen. Coburn? Will C-Street ever be exposed for all the creepy religion/politics stew being cooked up there? The Uganda "kill the gays" ties? Will the Republicans' legendary hypocrisy around morality and "the sanctity of marriage" ever go away, or be laughed about by the general public? Time will tell.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Senator John Ensign Skates

Image from source, TPM

Grrr. You'd think I'd be used to seeing politicians who are caught dead to rights get off anyway, but I don't. Senator Hairdo did wrong, and wrong again, and no big whoop. Must be nice being rich and powerful.

[Excerpt]

Ensign Says DOJ Has Dropped Investigation



. . ."Senator Ensign is certainly pleased that the Department of Justice no longer views him as a target in their investigation, and has long-stated that he acted in accordance with the law," his spokeswoman said in a statement. . .
 
Read more at: Talking Points Memo

Claim Against Senator John Ensign Dismissed

Harumph.

[Excerpt]

Cash Complaint Dismissed Against Sen. Ensign


The Federal Election Commission has dismissed a complaint against Sen. John Ensign over a $96,000 payment his parents made to his former mistress and her family.. . .

Read more at: 8NewsNow

Thanks to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link.

Sharron Angle's Angle Not Working?

Image from source, Weekly Seven

Sharron Angle--and the establishment GOP, who is trying to spit-polish her up into something presentable--have a daunting task ahead of them. How do you take a candidate with extremist views seem mainstream, when her previous comments are out there for the world to Google?  So far, the tack has been for her to speak mostly to "friendly" media, like FOX "News" and right-wing talk radio.  On those rare occasions when she's slipped out of her comfort zone, she hasn't come off well.

But then, she hasn't come off well in friendly venues either. She seems willing to let some of those nuttier opinions bubble forth when she's in friendly territory. Even on FOX, Neil Cavuto had trouble steering her into less choppy waters.  Could she still win? Well, Michele Bachmann, Sarah Palin and George W. Bush have won elections in the past, so who knows?  Personally, as a long-time Nevadan, I think we have embarrassment enough with Sen. John Ensign.  It seems difficult to imagine having a Senator that makes Captain Hairdo look like the "good" one. 

[Excerpt]

Why Talking to the 'Friendly' Media Is Hurting Sharron Angle

"Politicians have to watch out for those nasty "gotcha" journalists in the mainstream media. They will badger candidates and berate them until they say something they don't mean, and then the press will take it out of context and beat them over the head with it.



Count Sharron Angle, the Republican aiming to defeat Democratic Sen. Harry Reid in November, among the partisans on both sides who hold this view. So Angle has decided not to play that game. Besieged with interview requests since her upset primary victory, she has granted them mostly to ideologically sympathetic outlets such as conservative talk radio and Fox News. . ."

Read more at: WeeklySeven

Sen. John Ensign's Doo-Doo Gets Deeper

Image from source, Las Vegas Now

Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) had yet another terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. The ethics complaints keep rolling in, and this one isn't even about the affair, and the stuff swirling around it. This is about the C Street investigation that is going on separately.

[Excerpt]

Senator Ensign Named in Another Ethics ComplaintSenator Ensign Named in Another Ethics Complaint

Nevada Senator John Ensign was one of three lawmakers named in a complaint alleging a cushy room rental deal in Washington, DC. . .

Read more at: Las Vegas Now

Thanks yet again to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link. Time for that blog of yours to bust out, Monkey!

Sen. John Ensign in Deep Doo-Doo

Image from source, Las Vegas Now

It's not looking good for the Senator from Nevada. No, not Harry Reid. Captain Hairdo himself, John Ensign's sordid affair just might be leading to actual consequences. Finally.

Thanks again to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link (do I do anything myself any more?).

[Excerpt]

Email Trail Leads to Senator Ensign's Office

Wednesday is the deadline set by a federal grand jury in Washington for information about Nevada Senator John Ensign and what he may have done to steer work to his former aide, the husband of his lover.

The Department of Justice served subpoenas on at least six Las Vegas businesses, seeking any and all documentation about Ensign, his former friend and aide Doug Hampton, and assorted staffers and political operatives. The Senate Ethics Committee asked for the same evidence to find out if Ensign crossed a line in trying to get work for Hampton while also asking for campaign cash. . .

Read more at: Las Vegas Now

What Happens in Vegas DC: Ensign Moves Out of C Street

Image from source, Las Vegas Sun

Poor Captain Hairdo! He just can't catch a break, can he? Well, I guess when you hook up with a super-secret, cultlike outfit like "The Family" at C Street, you really ought not to break one of the ten commandments. Then again, the rules aren't supposed to apply to them. . .unless they get caught. Anyway, Ensign is out! And I don't know if the wifey has taken him back or not, so is he homeless now? Poor guy.

[Excerpt]

Ensign moves out of home on C Street

Sen. John Ensign has moved out of the C Street house, the Christian home he shared with other elected officials on Capitol Hill that came under scrutiny for its residents’ beliefs and practices and their role in trying to end the Nevada Republican’s affair with a campaign staff member. . .

Read more at: The Las Vegas Sun

More Details in Sen. Ensign's Affair

Photo from source at: TPM Muckraker

You know that Senator John Ensign (R-Nev.) was thrilled when Governor Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) took his little trip to Argentina. It mercifully took Ensign off of the front pages. Then, Michael Jackson died, taking Sanford off too. Along the way, soon-to-be ex-Governor Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) kept rearin' her crazy head, bringing us back to Ensign, since the three Republicans were all considered contenders for a Presidential run in 2012.

If it ended there, Ensign's story probably would have petered out (heh). After all, our Senator Hairdo has flown under the radar for most of his political career, not making very big splashes in the news. But alas, more details have come to light. And this story ain't over.

[Excerpt]

Doug Hampton Breaks Silence On Wife's Affair With Ensign

Doug Hampton has spoken publicly for the first time about his wife Cindy's affair with Sen. John Ensign. And it's good. . .

The highlights from Hampton's interview with Las Vegas Sun political columnist Jon Ralston. . .

Read this (and much more, in several stories) at: TPM Muckraker

Sean Hannity Calls for Sen. John Ensign to Resign?

Since I don't subject myself to Sean Hannity anymore (for which The Other Half is grateful), watching a clip like this--even when the Manatee has to admit something he doesn't want to--is sort of painful. First off, Hannity still can't properly pronounce Nevada. Secondly he can't address the foibles of a Republican without slamming a tangentially related Democrat.

But worst of all, he seems to know less about Sen. John Ensign--the subject of his piece--than I do. Now, granted, Ensign is regrettably my Senator. But he's always been sort of in the shadows, unless an election is looming. Even so, I knew that Ensign was a "Promise Keeper." I knew that he's a heavy proponent of "traditional family values." I know that he's spoken out against Bill Clinton and Larry Craig, saying that both should've resigned because of their affairs. And I knew that he has fought against gay marriages, claiming that they somehow damage heterosexual marriages. Why didn't Mr. Hannity know any of that?

Rachel Maddow on Sen. Ensign (R-NV) Affair

Yes, even more Rachel. I love it when she gets down into the weeds, and expounds at length upon an issue that I don't understand. But I like it just as much when she's succinct. And hey, when it's about one of the Senators of my state--one I'm not a huge fan of--even better.

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) Admits Adultery

Image from source, LVRJ.com

Wow. Senator Hairdo was getting some strange? How odd, straight-arrow as he portrays himself. Staunch "defender" of marriage, condemner of others. . .I mean, how could it be? And if his wife has known for a year, why tell anybody?

Could it be that he still intends a run at the Presidency in 2012? Maybe he's just getting this little "unpleasantness" out of the way to clear the decks? Maybe. But wouldn't that be profoundly unfair? I mean, does anybody in the world think that John Edwards would be given that kind of latitude? Doubt it. Anyway, good luck, Senator. Ya big hypocrite.

[Excerpt]

Ensign admits affair with ex-campaign staffer

Read it (with video) at: Las Vegas Review-Journal

And for proof that I'm not calling him a hypocrite without cause: FLASHBACK: Ensign Called On Clinton To Resign After Admitting Affair — ‘He Has No Credibility Left’ (ThinkProgress)