According to Webster, an ensign is a badge of office, rank, or power. The ensign representing the Republican Party, because he so perfectly represents Republican ethical standards and C-Street family values is Senator John Ensign. Yesterday the Republican Ensign fell.
Nevada Sen. John Ensign, facing an ethics investigation stemming from his affair with a campaign aide, will resign Friday, his office announced.
The senator’s decision was met with a collective sigh of relief — and little surprise — in his home state, where Ensign’s scandals have dominated headlines for nearly two years.
Ensign, a Republican, had announced in March that he would not seek a third term in 2012, saying he wanted to spare his family from an "exceptionally ugly" campaign.
His resignation with more than 20 months left in his term will spare him the possibility of prosecution by the Senate Ethics Committee, which in February named a special counsel to investigate his potential violations of ethics rules and federal law.
"I will not continue to subject my family, my constituents or the Senate to any further rounds of investigation, depositions, drawn-out proceedings or especially public hearings," Ensign said in a statement. "For my family and me, this continued personal cost is simply too great."
He also denied violating Senate rules or laws…
…Ensign will formally submit his resignation letter to Vice President Joe Biden, who also is president of the Senate, on Friday. It will take effect May 3, when the Senate is scheduled to return from recess.
Two members of Congress from Nevada, Democrat Shelley Berkley and Republican Dean Heller, have already entered the race to succeed Ensign. Nevada’s new Republican governor, Brian Sandoval, could appoint Heller to Ensign’s seat, giving him the advantage of incumbency in what both parties expect to be one of the premier 2012 races.
That would trigger a special election for Heller’s 2nd Congressional District seat, which "tea party" supporter Sharron Angle has announced her intention to seek. She narrowly lost a Senate race to Majority Leader Harry Reid in 2010… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <LA Times>
In March, Ensign said that he would not resign, stressing that to do do would be an admission of guilt. Why now? It appears that he has been informed that the ethics committee findings are that he should be expelled from the Senate. The case against him is so air tight, the only way he can shut down that action and avoid exposing himself to criminal charges is to quit first. Lawrence O’Donnell and writer Jonathan Capehart covered the details.
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I remember Senator Pokewood! In fact, he is the last Republican for whom I voted. OOPS!
The down side of this is that the Ensign’s Republican replacement will get to run as an incumbent in 2012. The up side is the election to replace Heller for the rest of this term will include Sharon “Obtuse” Angle and will bring numerous and priceless examples of Teabuggery to ridicule.
12 Responses to “The Republican Ensign Has Fallen”
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Uh…is buy bye motherfucker too strong? Sad part is that his mistress’ old mad gets indicted and this dick walks free and clear to run a casino for mommy and daddy.
Mark, you’re so right!
Saw this on Maddow last night. Hope the gov doesn’t decide to shove Angle into that position.
That won’t happen Blue. He’ll pick Heller and Angle will compete for Heller’s seat in the House.
Come on now, don’t be so hard on the man….he had NEEDS! He was such a patriot & worked so hard for his Country that he strayed….oooops, wrong patriot! ;-)))…you gotta wonder where he’s ‘gettin’ any’ NOW! LOL!
LOL Zada. His family owns casinos. When he gets home, he’ll get plenty. 🙄
Good riddance to one of the biggest hypocrites in government. Now if we could only get rid of the rest of the arrogant C-Street “Family” clan!
I sincerely hope that Nevada Republicans will come to their senses and knock that ignorant, self-centered bitch Angle out of the race early on! We’ve already got one fanatical blabbermouth in the House named Bachmann – she does NOT need an equally moronic counterpart named Angle in the House OR Senate!
Jack, if Angle gets the Republican nomination, wouldn’t that be a great opportunity for Democrats to pick up a seat?
I happen to have fond memories of Sen. Robert Packwood (R-OR) as a legislator (but not so much as a man). Even before Roe v Wade, he was the first senator ever to introduce legislation legalizing abortion. And not only did he vote against Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas, but also against Nixon’s SCOTUS nominees, Clement Haynsworth and G. Harrold Carswell. Plus he was a major mover in getting Hells Canyon preserved as a National Recreation Area.
He appropriately resigned for his egregiously inappropriate sexual misconduct – but I’d be happy to see a lot more Packwoods in today’s Teapublican Party.
So do I Nameless. I voted for him for all the reasons you listed. If he were to run again, I would not vote for him over Wyden or Merkley, but. if he were to move and run against Nelson (NE) or Landrieu, Pokewood (R) would have my support.
It’s about time. Too bad he won’t hold the door open for a few more to follow him out.
Amen Jerry, and not all Republicans.