Ensign "The Chosen One"?

Read this and cringe. This is why our favorite scandalicious Senator refuses to resign.

Stick a Fork in It.

That is, stick a fork in Ensign's political career. He's a goner!

Republican Sen. John Ensign said today his parents paid the family of his mistress $96,000 in April 2008, as she and her husband were ending their employment with him.

In a statement issued this afternoon, Ensign said his parents made the gifts "out of concern of the well-being of the longtime family friends during a difficult time."

Earlier today an ethics group that has sought probes of Ensigns reported severance payment to Cynthia Hampton asked for a Department of Justice criminal investigation into the matter.

Ensign said his father, a Las Vegas casino mogul, and mother gave payments of $12,000 each to Cynthia Hampton, her husband, Doug, and two of the couple's children.

As Mr. Gleaner has said, this is just an all around EPIC FAIL! Ensign's not just a disgusting hypocrite, but also a sleazy spoiled rich boy who needs to have his parents pay off "the other woman" and her family to buy their silence. That's just sick in so many ways.

If John Ensign had any sense of decency left, he'd resign now. But hey, that's assuming he actually has some.

A Poem in Ensign's Honor

Mr. Tea Room challenged me, so I couldn't help myself. I tried my hand at some free verse (with a little rhyme thrown in).

Sure, I apologized
But I'm still mesmerized
By that other lady
Yeah, I know I'm so shady
I'm such a dirty sinner
Yet my lust will still simmer
Me and my slick silver mane
Can just never be tame

OK, I know it's lame. But you know what's also lame? John Ensign's excuses.

And to think, that jerk doesn't think I or any other queer American should have the right to civil marriage. Now that's really lame! At least all the gay married couples I know never toss out the "sanctity" of their marriages like he did.

Good Question: Where's OFA When We Need Them?

Piggybacking off Harold Meyerson's piece yesterday on The Obama Administration's reluctance to tap into Organizing for America (formerly the Obama Campaign) to lobby for universal health care, The Sun talks about it some more.

Some liberals thought Obama’s machine would do more than deliver victory. They hoped it would change governing — mobilizing grass-roots activism to force big change on Washington, meaning universal health care and a move toward a carbon-free future.

Nevada Democrats were especially hopeful. In a state with little history of political or civic activism, Democrats registered voters and got them to the polls in record numbers. These new activists pledged to continue the momentum and shift power from special interests such as the gaming industry to average people.

The reality is much more complicated.

Take the current battle over health care reform, which is in a crucial stage on Capitol Hill.

Advocates of reform are wondering if and when Obama is going to mobilize his citizen army.

Health care is supposed to be one of President Obama's top priorities. Why shouldn't he ask supporters to ask Congress to take real action? Even Harry Reid is stepping up and taking some leadership in the Senate. So why shouldn't Obama take advantage of something very powerful that he spent two years building up?

John Ensign & His Lyin', Cheatin' Heart

Uh oh. I guess that little "not really in love letter" that our favorite do-nothing Senator Ensign wrote last year really meant nothing. It turns out that Ensign may have not just violated his own marriage vows, but also possibly campaign finance law.

Doug Hampton spoke publicly for the first time today about the affair his wife had with Sen. John Ensign, saying the Nevada Republican continued his pursuit even after intermediaries tried to get him to stop. [...]

Hampton’s comments came during an exclusive two-part interview with Sun columnist Jon Ralston, to air tonight at 5:30 p.m. and tomorrow on “Face to Face with Jon Ralston.”

Cynthia Hampton was the treasurer of Ensign’s political action committee and re-election campaign, while Doug Hampton served as a senior aide on Ensign’s Senate staff.

Hampton said Ensign paid the woman more than $25,000 in severance when she stopped working for the senator.

If true, Ensign faces a possible felony violation of campaign finance law if he paid the severance but failed to report it as an in-kind contribution to the campaign committees where she worked, according to ethics complaints filed against him.

Knowingly and willfully failing to report a contribution of more than $25,000 is a criminal violation subject to five years in prison, according to complaints filed last month by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.

Seriously, color me unsurprised. These GOP "family values" hypocrites never seem to value their own families seriously, especially if they get in the way of their libidos or their cash cows. Still, I'll agree with Mr. Gleaner that this whole sordid Ensign Affair is getting creepier by the day with each new revelation.

Just what is it that attracts Republicans to wild and crazy sex?

Btw, I should say hello.

Hi, everyone. I've been following Nevada politics for a while, but I now get to be involved in a whole new way. I actually live here now!

If you've read my other blogs, I hope you enjoy my new jump into all things Nevada. And if you're one of my new neighbors, thanks for stopping by. I promise to keep it interesting here.

And no, I don't intend to cut any politician slack here (or at least any pol who doesn't deserve it). I may be a yellow dog Democrat, but I don't hesitate to critique them when I think their policy proposals aren't effective enough, or when they're not living up to their campaign promises.

Otherwise, please enjoy my musings. I'll keep an eye on our favorite Republican hypocrites. I'll discuss progressive policy. I'll even share my favorite music, my neighborhood photos, and my random gambling tips. Hey, I have a real life, too! ;-)