Steve Benen at the Washington Monthly is very excited to report the “Ensign scandal [has been] referred to Justice Dept for prosecution“:
The biggest scandal involving a sitting U.S. senator in 16 years has resulted in a bombshell: the Senate ethics committee believes Republican John Ensign committed crimes, and has referred the matter to the Justice Department for prosecution…
__
Specifically, in its letter (pdf) to Attorney General Eric Holder, the ethics committee’s members presented evidentiary materials showing Ensign “aided and abetted violations of the one-year post-employment contract restriction,” “conspired to violate that restriction,” “made false statements to the Federal Election Commission,” “violated campaign finance laws,” and “obstructed the Committee’s preliminary inquiry.”
__
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) told reporters that Ensign, had he stayed in the Senate, would now be facing an expulsion vote…
__
To briefly recap for those who’ve forgotten — it’s always irked me that major media outlets almost completely ignored this story — Ensign’s humiliation came to public attention in June 2009, when we learned the conservative, “family-values” senator carried on a lengthy extra-marital relationship with one of his aides, who happened to be married to another one of his aides. Ensign’s parents tried to pay off the mistress’ family.
__
The scandal grew far worse when we learned that the GOP senator pushed his political and corporate allies to give lobbying contracts to his mistress’s husband. When Douglas and Cynthia Hampton left Ensign’s employ — because, you know, the senator was sleeping with Cynthia — Ensign allegedly took steps to help them make up the lost income, leaning on corporate associates to hire Douglas as a lobbyist, and ignoring ethics laws that restrict how quickly former aides can begin lobbying careers.
__
Maybe now the major media outlets who’ve ignored this story for years — I’m looking in your direction, Washington Post — will realize this is a big deal? I mean, really. How often does a senator get busted this severely in a scandal with such a broad scope?
The NYTimes primly headlines its story “Report Urges U.S. to Consider Charging Ensign”
Perhaps seeking to cover up the wrongdoing, staff members deleted incriminating e-mails, and the senator himself may have lied under oath to thwart a separate investigation by the Federal Election Commission, according to the bipartisan report…
__
The Senate Ethics Committee took the unusual step of releasing the results of its investigation into Mr. Ensign, even though it no longer has the power to punish him…
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Mr. Ensign may also have violated federal law by asking his parents to make what the Ethics Committee believes was an illegal $96,000 severance payment to the Hamptons, the report said.
The Washington Post adds that “Criminal cases against senators are rare and difficult to prosecute… Legal experts said that the allegations against Ensign are not likely to lead to prison time and that many defendants are put on supervised probation or a few months in jail. Others pointed to a possible stiffer sentence if it is proved that Ensign intentionally gave false statements to the FEC during its review.”
So, I am not a lawyer, but some of you are: What are the chances of Ensign being prosecuted, given his resignation and the magical power of IOKIYAR? (The only person indicted so far seems to be Ensign’s ex-BFF, the guy he cuckolded, who’s accused of violating the one-year ban on lobbying by former legislative workers.)
And is there any hope, however slim, that Ensign’s cronies among the C Street conspirators … like Tom Coburn and Rick Santorum… might be required to use their Bible-study skills to expand upon the concept of ‘whited sepulchers‘ in a public forum?
johnny walker
Hey, thanks for allowing comments. I gather that this is an increasingly-rare trait among BJ frontpagers.
As for the substance? Look, I’m not a lawyer but I am a realist. We all know that the real answer to this is, “It doesn’t matter, because the good ol’ boys’ club will close ranks and protect him.” Not only would expulsion have to succeed, but there would need to be sufficient will to extend to a private prosecution and, from there, a nailing-to-the-wall experiment in which we work out our frustrations publicly. (Holy Hell, I have a shiver up my leg just thinking about it.) But sadly I just don’t see it.
But we can hope right?
Jamie
“Not only would expulsion have to succeed, but there would need to be sufficient will to extend to a private prosecution”
Wait, what?
1) He already resigned.
2) It is being referred to the AG.
3) WTF is a ‘private prosecution’? Last I checked, we don’t do that in this country, not being midieval Island or the Mafia.
Nethead Jay
@johnny walker: Uhh, johnny
That sort of passive-aggressive bullcrap… Not cool (IMNSHO).
cinesimon
Yeah, aah, Johnny W: every single post I’ve seen here at BJ over the past few months has had a comments section.
I gather that you must not pay too much attention when you visit here, or you simply don’t visit often. I gather.
johnny walker
@cinesimon: It’s cool. Yeah, most of them have had so — that’s why it’s so weird to me that ABL has suddenly disallowed comments on her posts.
Maybe that’s because IM RAYCESS, or maybe it’s cuz… yknow.. she’s actually, full-on, disallowed any comments on her posts, full-stop.
@Nethead Jay: True, it’s pretty P/A. On the other hand, how is one supposed to react to seeing the entire fucking comment section disappear based on the presence of one opinion that ABL deems inappropriate?
https://balloon-juice.com/2011/05/13/anti-white-bias-on-the-rise-really-oy-vey/#comment-2582569
johnny walker
@Jamie: He’s been expelled. I’m confident that you agree with me on this. To take the issue further than that, the Senate would have to agree that it would be appropriate to refer him to a private (lawyer group) for prosecution. In other words, in order for the Senate to punish him further, they would have to to rely on some private group to enact that punishment. It’s almost as though that’s the exact fucking process I just described.
I get that trying to excoriate anyone who differs from the norm is how you motherfuckers roll, but please start by having some idea of what you’re talking about.
johnny walker
I suppose it’s just a coincidence that the thread “Dem Candidate is all about Asian and Dry Cleaners” is currently hanging out at zero comments.
Not at all an indication of a blatantly-manipulated comment policyt. No, it’s all good — just keep telling us how you feel, and we’ll keep posting that which we feel is appropriate. Keep fucking telling yourselves that.
cinesimon
Johnny, get over yourself.
ABL closed that one thread. As most bloggers do from time to time when the nonsense is getting ridiculous.
She has not stopped comments on all her posts.
It’s really pretty pathetic you allow yourself to get so easily disjointed over such a silly, small thing – and your childish and dishonest response suggests that ABL probably did the right thing by closing comments, if it was in response to similar such silliness.
Gin & Tonic
@johnny walker: @johnny walker: Uh, Ensign resigned from the Senate, he wasn’t expelled. Unless I can’t read, which I guess is possible.
“Rely on some private group to enact that punishment”? What does that mean? In what sense is the US Dept. of Justice a “private group”?
cinesimon
Oh and Johnny if you think Ensign was expelled, you really are showing just how little you bother to look into these things before pretending you know it all.
Ensign resigned a while ago when it became apparent that the committee had hire a special investigator.
But you keep on pretending that the world you make up as you go along is the one in which the rest of us live in – I’m sure it does wonders in advancing your need to feel a victim, childish little troll.
johnny walker
@cinesimon:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/05/senate-ethics-panel-ensign-sex-scandal-may-have-broken-us-ethics-laws-we-have-forwarded-ensign-findi.php?ref=fpa
*yawn*
Ensign resigned ahead of expulsion. Jesus, I’m sorry I didn’t spell every fucking thing out for you morons — but why would I bother? You’d just divert into “who cares if that’s happening? I don’t care if what you’re saying is true, because what you’re saying is true anyway” territory.
Morons.
Gin & Tonic
@johnny walker: Somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.
Shalimar
@johnny walker: Why would anyone agree with you when you’re wrong? Expelled has a specific meaning. Ensign wasn’t expelled. He resigned so the investigation would stop. He wasn’t even facing possible expulsion when he resigned, though we hope the process would have reached that point eventually.
bkny
keep in mind this is eric holder’s justice dept — who has shown damned little interest in prosecuting him. as odonnell and melanie sloan noted last nite, if not for crew’s investigation, john ensign would still be one of the senators from nevada.
johnny walker
@Gin & Tonic: You mean the side where we continue to insist that objective reality has a place in modern politics? Yeah, I have a bit of a problem with those who can’t accept this proposition. Deal with it.
johnny walker
@Shalimar: “He wasn’t even facing possible expulsion when he resigned, though we hope the process would have reached that point eventually.”
It’s not that he was facing expulsion — it’s just that he would’ve eventually been expelled.
Listen to yourself.
Ensign was facing possible expulsion. Ensign resigned well before anyone thought was reasonable. The likely conclusion to be drawn from this is ________________.
Help me out.
Gin & Tonic
@johnny walker: Time for breakfast. Pie sounds good.
kay
I don’t know about “co-conspirators”, Anne Laurie, but I think it’s a perfectly fair question to ask Coburn: did he advise his friend to break the law or Senate rules?
In fact, he’s already been asked.
That’s a Tulsa newspaper. So is he going to answer, or is he going to keep claiming a privilege?
johnny walker
@Bobby Thomson: Ok, then why don’t you tell me how it’s possible for the Senate to enact a civil or criminal punishment on a Senator for violating their rules.
My God you’re a bunch of morons.
@Gin & Tonic: Ahh, yes. You being unable to respond with facts or citations is, indeed, quite delicious. Thank you for admitting fault.
johnny walker
Yeah I didn’t think so. Hey, jackasses: if you want to play the smart guy and give Johnny Walker shit about “private groups” punishing expelled Senators, you have to come up with a way in which the Senate is able to apply a civil or criminal penalty to an expelled Senator. You can’t, because no such power exists — but you’re going to keep rambling on, pretending that you know shit, because you’re a bunch of stupid fucks who absolutely refuse to submit to the authority of someone who actually knows what they’re talking about. Fucking idiots.
I look forward to watching you dim-bulb motherfuckers dig the hole deeper.
Bobby Thomson
No one suggested a bill of attainder. You should change your handle to jack straw.
There is no further punishment for violation of Senate rules, once he’s left the Senate. That doesn’t mean he’s immune from prosecution for violating state and federal laws.
Shalimar
@johnny walker: Why help you out if you want help being ignorant? These terms you are using have specific legal meanings. You are using them incorrectly. Be wrong if you want to be, but stop calling everyone else names because they don’t agree with your personal, incorrect definitions.
johnny walker
@Bobby Thomson: And who will prosecute him for this? Jesus Christ, dude. You can play this “nobody ever claimed ridiculous things” game if you want. I was arguing against ridiculous claims — if reasonable claims were made, there would have been no issue.
Is this really that hard to understand?
A: Senate can’t prosecute him for that. Outside groups will do so.
B: No, Senate will do so!
A: Uhh… no. Like I said, outside groups will do so.
B: Like I’ve said all along, outside groups will do so!
A: …
B: I win!
The ithacan
Pie. Mmmmmmmh it’s good.
So tasty.
Apple is my favorite.
johnny walker
@Bobby Thomson: I will say, by the way, that watching you attempt to interpret bills of attainder is fucking hilarious.
kay
@johnny walker:
But the whole point of the story is the referral to the DOJ. That’s why it’s big news. That’s what they were talking about.
lol
Little known *fact*: Richard Nixon did *not* resign as US President.
piratedan
johnny… since I was here last night. ABL stated that she herself wasn’t going to be commenting further because someone used a phrase that was in incredibly poor taste in responding on one of her threads. Someone who claimed there was no racism involved yet the phrasing used could have easily been interpreted as insensitive, like telling a double leg amputee to “walk it off” in regards to a physical injury. So she indicated she was taking a breather from comments….
as to the other thread without comments, you do realize when it was posted that hardly any of us left coasties were up to comment on it, right? Perhaps that had something to do with the lack of comments since it was a regional thing and not everyone opens up BJ like a christmas present each day?
As for the former Senator, TRMS has a great segment last night that tied it all up rather nicely and asked that since the cuckold is under indictment yet has proven to be accurate under every one of his public claims thus far, why isn’t Ensign or even Coburn? This may be a popcorn moment or one that is quietly ignored by the DOJ and FEC, time will tell.
as for digging ourselves deeper, you look like the only one holding a shovel to me….
The ithacan
It is impossible to make a man understand something when his paycheck depends on him not understanding that thing.
Plus, pie is yummy.
lol
@kay:
There’s some weird level of obtuseness here that thinks the DoJ is an “outside group” even though the Senate and DoJ are both part of the government.
Moonbatman
I hope the DOJ charges Ensign with perjury for lying about sex.
No progressive/Democrat would be low enough to use “It is just Sex” excuse to defend perjury.
Peace Out. The Power is yours.
Chyron HR
@johnny walker:
Were you by any chance flooding the other thread with these delicious bon mots when the comments were INEXPLICABLY disabled?
johnny walker
@kay: If you seriously believe the DoJ’s gonna prosecute then I’d like to sell you some swampland with a bridge attached.
Also, I’m sure that if you parse out “referral to the DoJ” hard enough, you’ll figure out a way in which I was wrong in stating that the Senate itself ain’t gonna prosecute shit.
johnny walker
@piratedan: I get that ABL found an excuse to stop responding to questions about her posting that stereotypical-ass white person photo. I get that ABL thinks it’s ok to post shit like that as long as you’re doing it to “start a conversation.” What I don’t get is why you’d buy any of that shit, or why anyone would believe for a second that she wouldn’t go full 20,000-word freakout on anyone who made a post with an equivalent picture of a black dude.
Right, and maybe that post still has 0 comments. Maybe clicking on the comment section takes you nowhere. Maybe that’s an indication that comments on that post have been disabled. Nah, that couldn’t be it. It’s all some crazy conspiracy I made up.
https://balloon-juice.com/2011/05/13/california-democratic-candidate-dan-adler-is-all-about-the-asians-and-dry-cleaners/#respond
You see a comment section? I don’t. But no, you’re right. This is all about me being nuts. Sure fucking thing.
debit
Why is some lunatic having hysterics because one front pager decided to disable comments? Is this going to be a thing now, where every post that has nothing to do with ABL will be filled with screeds about how SHE DISABLES COMMENTS! Because I can only (barely) deal with one MC type level of unhealthy obsession.
johnny walker
I see that some of you geniuses have worked out a way in which the DoJ and Senate are the same thing. Yeah, ok. Not like they’re part of 2 different branches of gov’t or anything.
And at any rate, I’m sure we’ll work up an explanation for there being no comment section on this ABL post anytime now.
https://balloon-juice.com/2011/05/13/california-democratic-candidate-dan-adler-is-all-about-the-asians-and-dry-cleaners/#respond
Time’s-a-wastin’. ABL needs you! Hurry up and figure out how disallowing comments is not the same thing as disallowing comments, and win a free plush Tunchy Bear.
@debit: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on now. A couple minutes ago I was nuts for saying she disabled comments. Now I’m nuts for reacting to what everyone recognizes is her disabling comments.
I’m going to need you guys to make up your minds.
Baron Jrod of Keeblershire
Attention, idiots: the post directly below this one has, in fact, had comments disabled. No, really, you can look for yourself.
There aren’t zero comments because people are sleepy. There are zero comments because commenting is impossible.
That makes one thread that ABL locked, and another where comments were never allowed. This might actually be the very first time any BJ thread has been locked or disallowed comments. I certainly don’t recall that ever happening. Apparently since ABL has decided she won’t ever be reading comments to her posts, nobody else should get to comment either.
This is fucking Balloon Juice. You know, the blog that often, and rightly, shits on Andy Sullivan for not having comments. If ABL can’t stand the idea of us horrible peasants ruining her beautiful posts with our comments, she should run back to her own blog where she’s safe from the words of others. That horse shit has no place at Balloon Juice.
@debit: So you don’t think it’s a problem that one of the front pagers has decided that her posts don’t have comments any more? You don’t think that runs 100% contrary to what this blog is about?
lol
I think DoJ *will* prosecute for a few reasons.
1. The Ethics committee is notoriously toothless and willing to turn a blind eye. Yet they bothered in this case.
2. They still issued this *after* he resigned instead of dropping the matter.
3. His resignation means prosecution is no longer politically sensitive.
lol
@johnny walker:
Need some cheese with that whine?
johnny walker
@Baron Jrod of Keeblershire: Thank you. Jeebus Christ, I’m glad I don’t have to go on pretending that having a pair of fucking eyeballs is some crazy rare gift.
I’m not special, mofos. I just have my eyes open. If you can’t deal with that, that’s not my problem, but your shit will catch up to you eventually.
debit
@johnny walker: I don’t know if she has or not. I actually don’t care if she has or not. But you seem to have totally lost your shit over it. Weird.
johnny walker
@lol: Congrats on your ability to repeat 20-year-old snaps. The early-90s version of your mother is retroactively upset.
Jamie
@Johnny Walker:
Flames for breakfast! You already walked back the fact that you did’t know he wasn’t expelled. You clearly don’t know the first thing about how the law works in cases like this. You don’t understand what a referral to the AG means. I still have no clue what you’re talking about when you use the phrase “private prosecution” and frankly, I don’t think you do, either. And you’ve got a bug up your ass about ABL closing a comment thread for some stupid entitled reason.
In other words, you’re a fucking idiot looking for a fight.
Have some more pie!
johnny walker
@debit: It’s funny that the followers of someone who specializes in posting about “derailing” would look for endless reasons why anything other than her disabling the fucking comment section is the issue.
Hewer of Wood, Drawer of Water
@johnny walker: You’re right – there’s no comments there (for whatever reason). That doesn’t mean that you’re not nuts
debit
@Baron Jrod of Keeblershire: See above. No, I don’t care. It’s Cole’s blog. If he has an issue, he’ll take it up with ABL, not with you lot of pissy pants whiners.
Jesus, “contrary to what this blog is about.” Ah, that was a good laugh. The helicopters and I enjoyed it.
johnny walker
@Jamie: Haha, yeah. ABL being unable to face criticism of her own bullshit is evidence of my own white entitlement.
More self-parody please. More pretending to pie me while simultaneously responding. I feed on it.
(Re: “private prosecution.” Poor choice of words that led to a whole can of worms. If a Senator is expelled, he faces the DoJ. If he makes it outt’ve there, he still faces civil/criminal proceedings. Clear enough yet?)
honus
@johnny walker: “but please start by having some idea of what you’re talking about.”
That would be a good idea, johnny. Please explain to me (an attorney for 16 years) what a “private prosecution group” is.
debit
By the way, Mssrs Pissy Pants, what you’re doing is called thread jacking, wherein you obsessively derail the thread with off topic shit. It is usually tolerated, but Cole tends to get cranky when the thread jack is dedicated solely to attacking someone. Just FYI.
johnny walker
@Hewer of Wood, Drawer of Water: Umm, what? Move the goalposts more. I’ve openly admitted I’m “nuts,” aka a person with mental issues. (Do I get to now go on a righteous 20k-word freakout, or is it ok to shit on crazy people? If so, why?) The issue is not whether I have mental health issues; if we’re really going to go there, I’ll show you the fuckin’ records. Thing is, even if I’m a fucking nutcake (I am! but not of the schizoprhenic/detached from reality/etc type… I’m merely depressed. Deal with it.) 1+1 still equals 2. Even if I’m a fucking crazy bastard, there still isn’t a comment section on that ABL post.
And given that you’re trying to make this about whether or not a person with mental disabilities is crazy (surprise: the answer is yes!) rather than whether or not ABL is ducking criticism, I’m gonna have to go ahead and write you off for derailing. It’s only fair.
johnny walker
@debit: Tell you what: she can open the fucking comments on her own thread any time. I guess if she decides not to, then those of us who have issues with her statements should just shut the fuck up and hope she deigns to eventually hear our criticisms, eh?
Baron Jrod of Keeblershire
@debit: Good ol’ Balloon Juice. The blog where the front pagers tell us what’s what, and too fuckin’ bad for you if you have a response.
It’s nice that you’re friends with helicopters. I guess? Is this a new meme? I’m really not sure what helicopters have to do with a blog that’s well known for its open and freewheeling comments suddenly enacting a policy of shutting down threads whenever a front pager gets pissy.
johnny walker
@honus: @honus: Yeah, I fucked up by using that phrase. It was a bad choice of words. I already addressed that.
Now tell me, given that I’ve at least been able to stand up to my fuckup: do you have a problem with the idea that *someone* outside the Senate does the prosecution? Are we going to hang the whole thing on me fucking up and using the word “private” or can we get past that?
debit
@johnny walker: Guess what? She has this blog of her own that allows comments and everything! There’s also this thing called email, where you can address your issues and concerns directly to the person you wish to communicate with! It’s crazy and radical, I know, but it just might work!
Baron Jrod of Keeblershire
@debit: Sorry, I’ll just go post about this in the relevant thread.
Oops! I can’t! Because the fucking thread is closed.
johnny walker
@honus: Also, very appealing authority ya got there. Oh man, I’m so intimidated by how long you’ve been an attorney. Etc.
johnny walker
@debit: Haha, so you’re suggesting that the appropriate response to something she posted here is to go way outt’ve my way to seek alternate forms of contacting her?
Yeah, I could do that. Or I could publicly shame her for being unwilling to face up to her bald-faced bullshit. I choose the latter. Fucking deal with it.
debit
@Baron Jrod of Keeblershire: You haven’t been here long enough to get a longstanding Balloon-Juice inside joke and you presume to lecture me on what this blog stands for? Irony, how does it fucking work?
johnny walker
https://balloon-juice.com/2011/05/13/california-democratic-candidate-dan-adler-is-all-about-the-asians-and-dry-cleaners/#respond
Comment on this post. Then link me to a comment you made on this post. If you can’t, then shut the fuck up about how comments are allegedly allowed on this post.
I’ll be receiving zero links, because it’s impossible to comment on that post and you mofos know it.
tkogrumpy
You guys are doing this all wrong. Your supposed to submit to Johnny Walker’s authority. Giggle.
John PM
Maybe he is thinking of the Star Chamber? Or he is confused about civil statutes that allow citizens to act as private attorneys general and collect attorney’s fees? Or perhaps he has had too much to drink of his namesake?
honus
@johnny walker: There is at least one dim-bulb stupid fuck here who repeatedly demonstrates that he has no idea what he is talking about.
debit
@johnny walker: I get that you want to control ABL and how she interacts with the world, and that it gets you off to think you’re shaming her somehow. I don’t think you understand how that makes you look.
honus
@johnny walker: No by all means, let’s not get hung up on the fact that you’ve been dead wrong about everything you’ve said here.
Baron Jrod of Keeblershire
@debit: I don’t think you understand what the words “lecture” and “irony” mean.
But no, you’re right. I don’t obsessively read every word and catalog the in-jokes. This is a grave personal failing, I’m sure.
The lexicon says nothing about helicopters, so it can’t be all that old.
cleek
eliminationist rhetoric!
yadayada
genghisjon
Soooooooooo if I get caught robbing a bank.All I have to do is quit my job too not go to jail?Works for me.
honus
@johnny walker: Just checked. There are over 100 comments. Wrong again.
Steve
You guys sure get trolled easily.
johnny walker
@honus: Ok, then break down for me how the Senate itself is going to prosecute Ensign, and while you’re at it why don’t you go ahead and comment on that ABL thread?
I’ve had two points here:
1) Ensign will be prosecuted by someone outside the Senate
(admittedly fucking ruined by my own stupidity in slipping in the “private prosecution” bullshit. But now that I’ve admitted the fuckup, do you have issue with the idea that the Senate itself won’t prosecute him? Yes or no?)
2) ABL has decided she’s immune from comments, and has closed down comment thread on her most recent post. Do you disagree?
Yeah, make more lame-ass snaps. You dumbasses know you don’t have a leg to stand on. The one angle you had (my “private” fuckup) has been thoroughly dealt with. Anything else? No?
honus
@johnny walker: You said the senate would have to refer the matter to a private prosecutor. In fact, what the senate has done is refer it to the DOJ, who is the appropriate prosecutor for this type of matter.
geg6
@debit:
Heh. Indeedy.
And the helicopters are NOT laughing. Please send your credenzas to ABL.
Damn, I’m cracking myself up.
johnny walker
@honus: Uhh, that is a blatant and bald-faced lie.
https://balloon-juice.com/2011/05/13/california-democratic-candidate-dan-adler-is-all-about-the-asians-and-dry-cleaners/#respond
Zero comments. Jeebus Christ, I have no idea why you’d even bother lying about something that easily checked-out.
PeakVT
Who invited the whiny-ass titty baby?
Hewer of Wood, Drawer of Water
@johnny walker: As debit said, the point is that if you have an issue with the commenting policy, take it up with John – I’m sure he’d take your comments seriously as long as they’re given respectfully and not as part of a tirade. Ultimately though, this is his blog, and if he’s ok with ABL having comments or not, then that is his decision
Baron Jrod of Keeblershire
@honus: Um, no, there isn’t.
No Comments. Also no field to enter comments.
When berating people for being “dead wrong,” it’s best to put some tiny amount of effort into not being dead wrong yourself.
johnny walker
@honus: So we agree that, now that we have my “private” fuck up out of the way, someone outside the Senate will handle the prosecution. Great. Thank you.
debit
I can’t wait for Cole to wake up, check his email, read the comments and then make a post calling everyone assholes. We’re about due for one of those.
Anne Laurie, I’m sorry I only commented to the Mssrs Pissy Pants and contributed to the thread jacking.
danimal
I had some fresh strawberries yesterday. MMMMMmmmmmmm…Strawberry pie sounds real good ’bout now.
johnny walker
@Hewer of Wood, Drawer of Water: Oh Jesus. Ok, so I’m allowed to have issue with ABL’s behavior — as long as I address it to the right person, and as long as I phrase it with the proper respect.
Or maybe I’ll just act like a flaming asshole like the rest of you? No you’re right, there’s probably a reasonable explanation for why ABL shutting out criticism should mean I need to go above and beyond.
And at any rate, I’ve emailed John. Do I now clear the bar you’ve set for minimum level of effort for expressing concerns, sir?
johnny walker
@debit: Well, like I said. I would’ve happily put all my ABL-related bitching in a thread started by her, but I was technologically disallowed.
Your bitching about my ABL-related bitching, of course, is to to be regarded as relevant and on-topic. Sure thing.
tkogrumpy
I’ll have a piece of that strawberry pie.
Baron Jrod of Keeblershire
@johnny walker: You forgot to laugh at that hilarious helicopter joke.
OUTSIDER!!! OUTSIIIIDDEEEEERRRR!!!!!
johnny walker
@danimal: @tkogrumpy: Holy shit, just shut the fuck up and pie me already then. You all are like the jackasses on Facebook and Twitter who feel compelled to send a “Unfollowing!” “Congrats on the unfriend!” etc. email.
Shut up and do it already.
General Stuck
@johnny walker:
I hope you signed it WATB, so as Cole will know who sent it. You might want to address it WATB/jwalker, to tell the diff from all the WATB’s he gets mail from. There now, I hope all your concerns are satisfied.
Steve
80+ comments on this thread. Probably about 70 are either a troll or people responding to a troll. At least we answered the question, “Why would anyone ever want to close comments?”
johnny walker
@Baron Jrod of Keeblershire: Yeah, the helicopter thing… honestly, I don’t know what it means. But I’m sure I’ll see another witty post about how wingnuts (only wingnuts!) speak in an inscrutable in-language any day now.
johnny walker
@General Stuck: Blah blah blah “email cole if you have a problem!” blah blah blah “why did you email Cole, you fucking whiner?” blah blah blah wank wank.
debit
@johnny walker: First, I already apologized to Anne Laurie. Second, you also could have e-mailed ABL, or gone to her blog, but you want to shame her (your words) here and third, you emailed John, who will now come to this thread and read your stated intent of shaming one of his front pagers. Man, I’m going to break speed records getting to work so I can have the popcorn ready in time.
honus
@johnny walker: “With stupidity the gods themselves struggle in vain”
Friedrich Schiller
johnny walker
@debit: Dealt with this already. See #89, and make up your fucking mind whether I should email Cole or not. Christ.
Also, I already fucking contacted ABL directly via twitter. She didn’t respond. But I suppose that’s my fault too, right?
dmbeaster
@johnny walker: Where did this clown johnny walker come from?
No, dude, he resigned while the investigation was underway. The Senate took zero action to expel him, though the talk apparently was that the evidence gathered might have resulted in an expulsion.
Wrong again, though not sure what you mean by private lawyer group (someone else asked and got no answer). After he resigned, the Senate did not just drop the matter, which was an option since they had no further power to take action against him. They completed their investigation and have referred the result to the DoJ. The referral has already happened, contrary to your suggestion that some sort of agreement has to be reached on a referral. And that was the point of the story – the referral to the DoJ, and the question presented in the post was whether or not the DoJ will act on the referral.
Excuse us for trying to make sense of your rant and taking you to task for not making any sense.
General Stuck
I just love it that ABL so easily rattles the cages of some of the punks on this blog. Leads em around by the scruff of their thick headed red necks. Fanfuckingtabulous work if you ask me, and even if you don’t.
Omnes Omnibus
@geg6: The canonical response would be to send your credenza to Cole. This thread would make the helicopters weep.
Edited slightly.
honus
@johnny walker: BTW< I note that you have posted at least three comments on a post that claim has no comments. #87, 90 & 91
Baron Jrod of Keeblershire
@Steve: Trolls exist! Therefore, comments are bad.
Here’s an idea. Maybe instead of allowing comments, a couple emails can be printed with a response on the front page once in awhile. That’s basically as good as a comment section!
Tom Hilton
My fondest hope is that we can lure G. D. Spradlin out of retirement to play Senator
GearyEnsign in the biopic.Omnes Omnibus
@johnny walker: All prosecutions are conducted by the government. You do understand that, right?
johnny walker
@dmbeaster: Yeah, welcome to like 4 hours ago. Fucking scroll down. (inc: some jackass ‘correcting’ me by pointing out how long this thread has actually existed)
@General Stuck: Tell me more things you pretend to know about me.
@honus: You can’t tell the difference between this thread and the Dan Adler/Asians thread eh? Tell you what: why don’t you follow the frontpagers’ lead and pretend I’ve said something about the first amendment like you’re supposed to?
@Omnes Omnibus: I’ve already dealt with this and admitted fault like a half-dozen times, which is about 6 more times than I’ve ever seen from anyone else in these comment section (when they’re allowed to exist.) You do understand that, right?
No you’re right, let’s keep going on about something I’ve already admitted fault on. It’s the only ammo you have, after all.
Bobby Thomson
@johnny walker:
If you are now admitting that you fucked up in suggesting that private parties could “prosecute” Sen. Ensign, then I guess everyone here “agrees” with you on that. If you are also coming to understand the point that the states and the federal government have these people called “prosecutors” who “prosecute” crimes, then you are also coming to accept something called “facts” or “reality.” I’m not sure I would call that an “agreement,” so much as you “learning.”
Yevgraf (fka Michael)
The payola was Ensign trying to “make it right”. To those guys, the victim could simply pick up the pieces of his life and find himself a new woman with the application of adequate funds – those family connections and kid relationships can simply be replaced.
Think about it – to the GOP corruptocracy, anything can be made right with the proper application of money. The betrayal and personal hurt didn’t really matter at all.
Something to think about the next time a GOPer pretends he has your best interests at heart.
Sarah Proud and Tall
@johnny walker:
I have started you a thread all of your own. Please go there and let everyone else get back to discussing the substantive topic of this post.
johnny walker
@Bobby Thomson: Haha, frame it however you want. I know what I learned when I studied this shit (omg appeal to authority!) and the fact that I fucked up (and then admitted it like a billion times) by slipping in the “private” shit is an indictment only in your mind. But like I said (in a comment that’s apparently in moderation) — keep with it. It’s the only ammo you have, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see you all cling to it.
johnny walker
@Sarah Proud and Tall: You mean the thread you opened by pretending I said something about the first amendment? Yeah, no. If you want open discussion, make an open thread. If you expect to frame out that “hey, everyone who’s a fucking moron should come admit so here!” then be a bit more subtle.
Omnes Omnibus
@johnny walker: What exactly is news about the fact that the branch of the government that handles prosecutions will be dealing with a potential prosecution? The Senate doesn’t do prosecutions; it isn’t their bag, so to speak. Why are you trying to make something out of these facts?
Scott
Y’all should stop responding to the racist Republican troll.
Bobby Thomson
@johnny walker:
Holy shit! It’s McMegan!
Josie
Anne Laurie: I think that the shit must have been pretty bad for the committee to have continued its investigation and to have turned the results over to the AG, both unusual moves. I also think that if the AG thinks he has a good chance of making them stick, some charges will be filed, maybe not quickly, but at some point. I’m not a lawyer, btw, just thinking logically here.
johnny walker
@Scott: Right, continuing with the fine tradition of “everyone who criticizes ABL = Racist Republican.”
Just like we’re imagining that people who criticize ABL have “Racist Usernames.” For instance: “The Sherriff’s A N—” == a-ok, but “Joe Beese” == blatantly racist!
Maybe someone can explain that one to me.
Keep dreaming.
johnny walker
@Omnes Omnibus: Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve lost track of that whole thread of conversation, and have admitted that I fucked up roughly six trillion times. Of course, now we’ve moved on to using me admitting I made a mistake to accuse me of “Being McMegan,” because we know how she has a long history of acknowledging categorically that she fucked up indefensibly.
Hewer of Wood, Drawer of Water
@johnny walker: ABL allows comments or she doesn’t. John is cool with that or he isn’t. Move on
johnny walker
@Hewer of Wood, Drawer of Water: Oh ok. So now the comment section policy is “you can only make your point once.”
Nope. Stop appealing to John’s authority while simuiltaneously speaking for him. I’m not making racist, sexist, etc. comments. I’m not giving out peoples’ personal info. I’m not a poofter. In other words, I’m not breaking any of the site’s rules, and if you have a fucking problem with me you should probably take it up with John your damn self.
Omnes Omnibus
@Josie: I think you are, more or less, spot on. Normally, senatorial courtesy would let bygones be bygones; the fact that it did not happen here is a sign of something really bad in the facts.
Fucen Pneumatic Fuck Wrench Tarmal
@debit:
actually i am in favor of cole finally getting up the courage to go galt 4tehrealz, and let this one unscrew itself.
as to ensign, anything that gets the c street family on the record is fine by me.
that goes double for the east coast family, boyzIImen,abc bbd.
WeeBey
Son, you have lost your durn mind.
Sarah Proud and Tall
@johnny walker:
I apologize for the putting the first amendment reference in quotes. I was merely trying to telegraph that it was a joke, not suggest that you or anyone else had actually complained about their first amendment rights.
stormhit
@Sarah Proud and Tall:
You’re really apologizing to that asshole? Come on. Ignore his idiocy like everyone else is slowly learning to do.
Sarah Proud and Tall
@stormhit:
I’m apologizing for any unintentional implication he mentioned the first amendment.
I’m not apologizing for calling him a whiner who has derailed this thread with his idiocy.
Jesse
@johnny walker: I can’t speak for John Cole, but I personally love it when someone comes into my house, craps all over my living room carpet, and then gets indignant about it because I didn’t *specifically* tell him not to.
It doesn’t matter what the posted rules are- we are all at the mercy of the tyrannical whims of the front pagers. So what?
eli
Not to feed the trolls, but I agree with a small sliver of johnny walker’s comments (though not prolly the tone):
“Vermin” is vituperation we can do without.
Caveats:
> I don’t think it’s being deployed as eliminationist rhetoric- just as hyperbole
> I read this blog religiously partially because of its irreverence for decorum
It always feels like being a Lisa Simpson-ish scold to weigh-in on language choices like this… but this is one of those cases that I’ve decided to take a stand on. In the days of the old LGF, I spent a lot of time explaining to my conservative friends why visceral dehumanization (esp animal/insect imagery) opens up Teh Bad Paths for communities of thought. I’d feel like a fraud to not hold similar standards for my peeps (If I may presume…).
Marriage is hard. Power is intoxicating. This guy fucked up real good. He also did so on the backs of oppressed communities on hypocritical grounds. HUUUUUUGE Douche, as far as i can tell (never met him).
Still a person though… which makes it even more poignant and outraging.
Xenocrates
@johnny walker: You, sir, have definitely won the prize for the thickest commenter on this site. At least MTC/Hermione has some sense of humor. Here’s the deal: If you don’t like the way this blog is run, why the heck don’t you just go start your own?? Reality is a slippery slope for some…now run back to Mama’s basement. She’s heating up some Hot Pockets for you now…
ed drone
@johnny walker:
Glad to… which way did you come in?
Ed
Nutella
So, anyway. About Ensign:
Anyone else amazed by the dollar figures mentioned? That the Hampton’s asked for $8mill to drop out of Ensign’s life, were talked down to $2.8mill by Coburn, and eventually got only $96K? Well, $96K plus an illegal job for Mr Hampton.
Sarah Proud and Tall
@Nutella:
Who?
Omnes Omnibus
@Sarah Proud and Tall: Ensign is the US Navy and Coast Guard rank that is equivalent to Second Lieutenant in the Army, Marines, and Air Force. Why do you ask?
Sarah Proud and Tall
@Omnes Omnibus:
There’s a uniform under my bed, and I’m trying to work out who he is before he gets out of the shower.
burnspbesq
@johnny walker:
Apologies if I’m piling on, because I’m late to the party, but it frankly amazes me that there seem to be some idiots out there who have never heard of the department of justice
Joey Maloney
1) Closing comments in a BJ post is unprecedented. Closing them preemptively is unheard of.
2) @johnny walker: Jesus Fuck, man, give it a fucking rest.
3) No matter how big of a scumbag you thought John Ensign was, he’s bigger.
TIA.
gwangung
AH, you know very well that twits never do.
TooManyJens
@burnspbesq: You just don’t want to bow to the authority of someone who knows more than you.
eli
Ooops. My bad… I’m partially agreeing with @cleek not @johnny walker. I blame my low IQ and high BAC.
Lawnguylander
@johnny walker:
That happens to you a lot? I don’t believe it.
Kudos for mentioning that you’ve got the good kind of mental health issues and not the nutcake kind that schizophrenics have. Fuck those people.
ETA: What’s a “private lawyer group?”
Dr. Psycho
I am leery of referring to any targeted group as any kind of vermin. Germany and Rwanda are only two well-known examples of where that can lead.
Cassidy
@johnny walker: You’re a thin skinned little douche, aren’t ya?
cckids
Being a left-coaster, late to this particular party. All I can say is. . dear god, some people apparently need some ACTUAL problems in their lives. If y’all can get your panties in such a twist about one thread on one blog having comments disabled, what on earth do you do if your car won’t start? Hurl yourself to the ground, sobbing & kicking? (kind of what you’ve done here) Grow the fuck up.
Chuck Butcher
Oh, that’s right – this post was about Ensign. It would seem that Democrats could make a little bit of hay out of all this “Family Values” posing by the GOP. It ought to be pretty easy to at least point out that their policies have not shit to do with such a thing, much less a lot of their behaviors. I’m sure it would be rude to point out Ensign’s behavior versus his rhetoric and the appartent GOP starring roles in such little morality plays.