Ensign Doesn’t Get It

The Las Vegas Review-Journal has a report about Ensign’s initial tactic in his bid for re-election:  going about it with humility.  This won’t work.  Nothing wrong with being humble – especially when you’ve got a lot to be humble about, as Ensign does (and, truth be told, all of us do).  But it is hard to square humility with a desire to be re-elected to a third term as Senator.  One term; sure, you can be humble and seek that.  Second term; some times there is more to be done and another term is needed.  Third term; well, now you’re really stretching any definition of humility.  Doubly so when you’ve proven yourself to lack judgment and its probably time to retire from the scene for a while.

And, very importantly, putting himself forward as the GOP standard bearer is giving his fellow Republicans a cruel choice – battle him in the primary and leave the eventual GOP nominee that much weaker in the general election, or allow him to coast to re-nomination and have a candidate the Democrat can carve up over ethics.  Humility aside, if Ensign cared more about the party he claims as his own, he’d step aside just for that reason – to give that party a better chance at holding a seat which may prove vital in having a GOP majority come 2013.  Ensign seems to be willing to risk the entire GOP just on the outside chance he can some how convince a majority of Nevada voters that his affair and cover up are not – or, at least, not any longer -  an indicator of his character.

Ensign should step aside – in fact, he should resign his seat, now, and allow Governor Sandoval to appoint Sue Lowden as his interim replacement.  As long-time readers know, she was not my choice for Senate in 2010, but she would completely clear the decks from Ensign’s past and allow the GOP to fight a clean battle for the primary and have a strong candidate in 2012.  By doing this, Ensign would show true humility and genuine strength of character – giving up power, going in to political exile (from whence he can return in 2014 or later) and helping our Republican party in 2012.  But, alas, he won’t do that.

And so, we’ll have to battle him.  Dean Heller is often named as the most likely challenger, but I’ve also heard rumors that Sharron Angle may try again.  Others may throw their hat in the ring.  Personally, I think its time for us to really think and act outside the box.  The current GOP leadership of Nevada has proven disastrous – and Ensign stands atop that leadership.  We failed utterly to capitalize on the anti-Democrat wave of 2010…losing our bid to oust Reid and only picking up a piddling couple seats in the State legislature.  We did hold on to the governorship, but only because Democrats were stupid enough to nominate little Rory.  If we want to have a Republican government in Nevada – and help secure a Republican government nationwide – then we Nevada Republicans cannot go to old-line politicians who haven’t been able to deliver the goods.

As I’ve said before, if no one else challenges Ensign, I certainly will – but now I begin to think that even if others do, I’ll still get in.  I have no money, no fame and no chance…except for the fact that these are revolutionary times we live in, and there might be room at the table for someone who owes no one in politics and business anything, and who’s only concern will be for the State of Nevada and its people.  We’ll see how things play out over the next 9 months or so.

Read more at Noonan for Nevada