AP Analysis: Ensign affair a shock GOP didn't need

[marmar]

via Yahoo!:



Analysis: Ensign affair a shock GOP didn't need
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON – It's just about the last thing the beleaguered Republican Party needed: a Christian conservative with national aspirations admitting to an extramarital affair with an ex-staffer.

Add Nevada Sen. John Ensign's infidelity admission to an ever-growing list of woes for the out-of-power GOP.

One senator's predicament hardly condemns an entire party. But the episode is an unwelcome distraction as the Republicans, their ranks shrinking, seek a turnaround after disastrous losses in consecutive national elections.

Since President Barack Obama took office, Republicans have struggled to counter his popularity and the Democrats' command of Congress.

The GOP's new national chairman, Michael Steele, got off to a rocky start. Moderate Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter defected to the Democrats. And Democrat Al Franken is favored to eventually be declared the winner of the disputed Minnesota Senate race over incumbent GOP Sen. Norm Coleman.

Now this.

"Last year I had an affair. I violated the vows of my marriage. It is the worst thing I have ever done in my life," Ensign said Tuesday at a hastily arranged news conference in Sin City itself, Las Vegas. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090617/ap_on_an/us_gop_ensign_analysis

[stevedeshazer]

1. Awesome. This story took what's-her-name right off the front pages.

Nobody but a few of us political geeks knew who Ensign was just yesterday.

Now, a whole lot more people know who he is.

I love it.

[malaise]

3. It's hilarious

I'm freaking lovin' it.

[kestrel91316]

10. I knew John back in the very early 80's, in vet school. I had him pegged

as a skank since I first heard he was entering politics. None of this crap with him surprises me in the least. He was a too-slick brown-noser.

I'm about ready to predict he is at risk of going to jail over something in this mysterious mess. And I will be laughing.

[stevedeshazer]

15. You must be feeling some vindication.

That's hysterical.

Looks like you had him pegged.

[kestrel91316]

18. I was scared he was gonna run for the White House (and GET IN!!!).

The whole prospect of that gave me a very bad feeling. As in "The Handmaid's Tale" bad.

[stevedeshazer]

23. A legitimate worry.

Well, that's been blown to bits.

:)

[kestrel91316]

24. From your lips to Gawd's ears.....

[malaise]

17. It's funny how you just know people from college

and you can sit back and wait for their racket to be exposed.

[kestrel91316]

20. There have been times when I thought I MUST be misremembering how

I felt about him back then, and that he couldn't possibly be as bad as I was thinking......

All I feel right now is relief that I'm not completely crazy, lol.

[malaise]

22. LOL indeed

We knew a couple on campus and hubby used to say bet those two will end up in prison. They did - no one could have lived the way they did without a racket going on.

[Mz Pip]

2. Why is anyone 'shocked'

by the infidelity of any of these guys? I'm not.

Yeah, they all talk the talk but when it comes to walking the walk, they have nothing to be proud of.

This really is so boring. Unless a personal relationship gets in the way of a person doing his /her job then who the f*ck cares? Except for the Republicans who build a career on who can be more sanctimonious than the next guy. Maybe they need to back off the personal shit and deal with stuff that really matters to more than just 10% of the population.

Infidelity in DC?!?!? I AM SHOCKED!!! :sarcasm:

[malaise]

5. This will not be boring

There's a money trail to follow. It's delish politics when hypocrites are exposed. Dems should be digging up that severance package the way they went after Clinton, Edwards and Spitzer.

[Mz Pip]

8. But they won't

Dems don't play that way. Dems don't run on platforms of moral superiority. I don't really see it being pursued. Maybe it should be. The Republicans would milk this for all they could if it were a Democrat in the same position. I get they hypocricy thing but really wish the Republicans would get on their own as much as they do on the Democrats.

If this costs Ensign his seat that will be payback enough for me.

IMHO the guy should resign. Those are the standards he expects from others so he should be true to those standards even when it affects him.

[malaise]

9. Well clearly the GOP have already made him resign from

his party position.

[Kingofalldems]

13. Agreed. As usual with repubs--it is the tip of the iceberg

[Mz Pip]

14. Yeah, but he still has a job

an office and isn't living out of his car, which is what folks like Ensign wanted for Clinton.

NOT. GOOD. ENOUGH.

IT's just fine to stand on high moral ground but you have to be able to merit that position. Ensign doesn't. Losing his party position is just a slap on the wrist compared to what they would have demanded had he been a Democrat.

[malaise]

16. I'm with you

He should resign from the Senate.

[madeline_con]

6. This is about redemption.

He confesses, gets forgiven by the fundies (they LOVE to forgive a sinner), gets all righteous and makes a political comeback in time for the presidential bids in 2012.

[pscot]

4. I'm giving Ensign the benefit of the doubt on this one

I'd be willing to bet that this is not the worst thing he's ever done in his life.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

7. I am with you

all the way

[kestrel91316]

12. I totally agree. He ran the "cash receipts" department at dad's casino complex

in Jean (IIRC) after he had been in practice a while. One has to ask the question "WHY???" Daddy might have needed a money man who could keep secrets.

[tj2001]

11. Nah. We need more. Keep up the good work!

Republicans: Take note and get busy.

[saltpoint]

19. It's a shock the GOP didn't need but one they richly earned.

I don't really care if this guy was blackmailed into confession or not. He might have been. He might not have been. Big whup on a stale waffle.

The key point is that once more we vividly are given a Promise Keeper-type holy roller on the Far Right braying like a jackass about the sanctity of marriage and then boinking the first pretty thing that walks into the office.

Literally, HIS office.

Pathetic.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

21. Republicans have struggled to counter his popularity and the Democrats' command of Congress.

The Repukes will not have anything to worry about if the Dems don't step up to the plate with real reform. They will be out of power in the next election cycle over things like health care and accountability.

They just don't get it but, If you look at the houses they live in, I suppose it's not surprising that they don't relate to "we the people".

[struggle4progress]

25. On the Issues:

... Voted NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005) ...
Voted YES on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
Voted YES on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001) ...
Voted NO on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore. (Mar 2005) ...
Voted YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy. (Jul 2001) ...
Voted NO on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals. (Mar 1996)
Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder. (Feb 1995) ...
Voted YES on drilling ANWR on national security grounds. (Apr 2002)
Voted YES on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months. (Mar 2002) ...
Voted NO on granting the District of Columbia a seat in Congress. (Sep 2007)
Voted YES on requiring photo ID to vote in federal elections. (Jul 2007) ...
Voted YES on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad. (Aug 2007)
Voted NO on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months. (Jul 2007)
Voted NO on implementing the 9/11 Commission report. (Mar 2007)
Voted NO on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees. (Sep 2006)
Voted NO on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods. (Sep 2006)
Voted YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act. (Mar 2006)
Voted YES on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision. (Dec 2005) ...
Voted YES on declaring English as the official language of the US government. (Jun 2007) ...
Voted YES on building a fence along the Mexican border. (Sep 2006) ...
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/john_ensign.htm