From AP:
Nevada U.S. Sen. John Ensign told The Associated Press on Wednesday
that his affair with a friend's wife was different from former
President Bill Clinton's affair in the White House because Clinton
committed a felony when he lied about it to a grand jury.
"I haven't done anything legally wrong," the Nevada Republican said.
"I haven't done anything legally wrong," the Nevada Republican said.
Inspiring though that message of hope and change may be, Gov. Jim Gibbons still has the best reelection campaign slogan of all.
Sigh. And he said it in front of 100 people in FERNLEY. Sigh. What a piece of work.
Posted by: Nancy | 08/19/2009 at 03:34 PM
If banging your best buddy's wife, having her husband extort your parents, and paying them to work for you is wrong, who wants to be "legally right?"
Posted by: Goldy | 08/19/2009 at 03:34 PM
Hm. Which is legally worse: lying in front of a grand jury about whether you had sex or spending taxpayer money to hire the husband of your mistress? The legal system may not be done with Senator Droopydrawers.
Posted by: Michael Green | 08/19/2009 at 04:49 PM
I hope not, Prof. Green. I hope the Kansas Gaming Board keeps investigating Poppy Ensign as the feds take a closer look at Junior. I don't know if I could ever have confidence in the wisdom of Nevada voters if they let this creep off the hook.
Posted by: atdleft | 08/19/2009 at 05:15 PM
There is a difference Mr. Ensign between yourself and Clinton. You, dear leader of the new Republican Way, have not had your deposition(s), yet, and so have not had an opportunity to commit perjury. You have lied plenty at every step of the way in this story, so if past behavior is indicative of future performance, your gonna lie like the frat boy you are!
"Time my little pretty, time!"
That was good Goldy!
Posted by: dave404 | 08/19/2009 at 07:13 PM
I won't lie to you, I'm out to nail Sarah, and legally there's nothing wrong with that.
Posted by: John | 08/19/2009 at 09:22 PM
I think there's another possibility for a slogan:
Ensign: Send Him To DC or No Nevada Woman Is Safe
Of course, we'd have to square that with whatever Gibbons is doing.
Posted by: Michael Green | 08/20/2009 at 08:54 AM
"Send him to D.C. and Nevada Women Will Be (Relatively) Safer"?
Nah, doesn't 'sing,' does it?
I hate to disappoint atdleft, but Mike Ensign's casino application in the Sunflower State got shitcanned by the Kansas Lottery Board earlier this week. They said it had nothing to do with his $96K caper and "no wrongdoing" had been alleged.
Uh huh.
Posted by: David McKee | 08/20/2009 at 09:42 AM
When the state that gives you Bob Dole doesn't want an Ensign, boy ....
Posted by: Michael Green | 08/20/2009 at 10:29 AM
Sen. Ensign, I hope you know it is illegal to put your mistress and her son on the tax payer pay roll. So you are a fraud. I want my money back!
Posted by: David Olivieri | 08/20/2009 at 11:14 AM
And You Call Yourself a Conservative Christian!?
If You're Cheating on Your Wife,
You Should Be Schtupping a Man, NOT a Woman!
The John Ensign Story: A Cautionary Tale
Here's to you Senator Ensign!
Your penis, we really must fence in.
You've been bangin' a "friend"?
Oh, where will that end?
Your wife's a sad dope, did I mention?
Posted by: Mrs. Lulu Pickle | 08/20/2009 at 11:48 AM
Incoming news from the big head!
Ensign senior, father of son "who did not break the law", withdraws Kansas Casino Bid.
Headline could have read, "How to turn a $96,000 "gift" into a multi-million dollar loss in $12,000 legally protected increments"!
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/sen_ensigns_dad_withdraws_kansas_casino_bid.php
Posted by: dave404 | 08/20/2009 at 01:22 PM
"I haven't done anything legally wrong," might be technically true. Because if his father violated tax law and federal campaign finance law by paying 96K in severance to the Hamptons but not delcaring it to either the IRS or as an in-kind donation to the FEC, then his father did something legally wrong.
How low do you have to be to throw your own father, who made your useless political career possible, under the bus?
Posted by: Gus | 08/20/2009 at 03:04 PM
In front of 100 people in Fernley, Ensign opened by saying "pardon me while I whip this out". The crowd gasped as he reached in his pocket for the plugged nickel someone had given him.
Posted by: Nevada Cowboy | 08/20/2009 at 03:34 PM
There is "legally wrong" and there is "wrong". I now sleep better with that distinction. Like you, I shall never do anything "legally" wrong. Ever. At least not before consulting my lawyer.
Thank you, Senator Ensign, for the subtle lesson in personal ethics.
Posted by: Maimonides | 08/20/2009 at 08:13 PM