James Jones

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | October 4, 2009, 1:04PM

James Jones Hits Back At McCain: I Don't Play Politics With National Security
Appearing on State of the Union, National Security Adviser James Jones fired back at Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who said on the Senate floor that Jones doesn't "want to alienate the left base of the Democrat [sic] Party." Jones responded: "I've known him for many, many years. And he knows that I don't play politics with national - I don't play politics. And I certainly don't play it with national security. And neither does anyone else I know. The lives of our young men and women are on the line. The strategy does not belong to any political party and I can assure you that the President of the United States is not playing to any political base. And I take exception to that remark."

Greenspan: Economic Growth To Be 3%, Unemployment To Go Over 10%
Appearing on This Week, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan predicted that the third-quarter economic growth figure will hit 3% -- but that this won't be enough to prevent an increase in the unemployment rate. "But remember, the end of the job loss is not the same thing as if the unemployment rate is going to start down," said Greenspan. "My own suspicion is that we're going to penetrate the 10 percent barrier and stay there for a while before we start down."

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Harry Reid

Reid's Office Strongly Denies Making Any Deals With GOP Congressman Over Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | August 13, 2009, 2:04PM

Harry Reid's office is quickly moving to quash a rumor that got floated in the Nevada press.

The Las Vegas Sun's report on GOP Rep. Dean Heller's (R) decision to not run for Senate -- which mainly focused on wanting to avoid being associated with Sen. John Ensign -- also contained this line: "A Republican operative, granted anonymity to speak freely, speculated that Reid assured Heller that he would not stand in the way of a 2012 run and would even tacitly help him by directing his fundraising network toward Heller."

Reid's campaign manager Brandon Hall shot that down to the Sun that any deal had been made regarding Ensign's Senate seat: "It's a ridiculous claim. Dean Heller made the decision on his own. You'd have to ask him what led to that decision."

In an e-mail to TPM, Reid spokesman Jim Manley was even clearer "The key word is 'speculated,'" Manley wrote. "As we made clear in the story, that theory is absolutely ridiculous. It didn't happen. Period."

John Ensign

Ensign And Reid Have Agreement Not To Criticize Each Other

Rachel Slajda | July 15, 2009, 9:13AM

As the two senators from Nevada, John Ensign and Majority Leader Harry Reid have an agreement not to criticize each other publicly, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

Reid has publicly stayed mum on Ensign's affair and his decision to run for re-election in 2012. But Ensign claims he enjoys support from "both sides" of Senate leadership.

"These are the kinds of personal decisions that Senator Ensign will have to make," a spokesman for Reid told us yesterday, adding, "Reid is staying out of it."

McConnell also dodged, telling the Sun, "I think Sen. Ensign will have to speak to those issues himself."

How long can they go on in silence? From the Sun:

"There's a nervousness that maybe the full story has not been told," said a Republican strategist from Nevada. "Most people think there's another shoe to drop."

John Ensign

Did Reid Urge Ensign To Keep His Senate Seat?

Rachel Slajda | July 14, 2009, 12:39PM

A little more on yesterday's Las Vegas Sun report on Ensign's intent to run for re-election in 2012. This part of the story caught our eye:

When asked Monday whether he had any thoughts about stepping down, Ensign said his supporters are sending one message: "They say, 'Don't.' "

... [Ensign said] his support is coming from his fellow senators as well as those "on both sides" of Senate leadership.

Ensign said his supporters are telling him, "Keep your head up. This thing will pass."

We were curious about this alleged support from Senate leadership, so we asked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) whether he's urged Ensign to keep his Senate seat.

"These are the kinds of personal decisions that Senator Ensign will have to make," said Reid's spokesman, Jim Manley.

John Ensign

Ensign Says He'll Seek Re-Election

Rachel Slajda | July 14, 2009, 10:01AM

Despite admitting to having an affair and having his parents pay off his mistress, Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) yesterday said he plans to stay in office -- and run for re-election in 2012.

Ensign told the Las Vegas Sun he's been getting emails and phone calls from supporters urging him to stay put. Those supporters, he said, include senators on both sides of Senate leadership.

"I fully plan on running for reelection," Ensign said. "I'm going to work to earn their respect back."

He quoted his supporters as saying, "Keep your head up. This thing will pass."

John Ensign

Ensign Apologizes To Fellow GOP Senators

Eric Kleefeld | June 23, 2009, 3:15PM

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) apologized to his Republican colleagues at a caucus lunch today, the Politico reports, in the wake of his admission of an extramarital affair that took place in late 2007 and early 2008.

Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN) said Ensign "apologized to everyone who had been hurt, indicated that he had certain deficiencies in his own character and outlook and was going to make substantial improvements."

Sen. John Thune (R-SD), who is likely to take over Ensign's former leadership position as chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee -- a post that Ensign has resigned -- said that "He basically told us that he was sorry, and he's going to continue to do his job as a senator from Nevada."

John Ensign

John Ensign Back On The Job In D.C. -- And Not Taking Questions

Eric Kleefeld | June 23, 2009, 10:00AM

The latest news regarding Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) has been that of a Senator trying to get back to doing the people's business -- and not wanting to answer any further questions about his recent admission of an extramarital affair:

• "I said what I was going to say last week," he told the Politico.

• "I have no more other comments to make," he told The Hill. "I have nothing further to add."

• Ensign will address the Senate GOP at their weekly lunch today. As Roll Call points out, it's become something of a regular ritual for the caucus to hear a scandal-plagued member having to explain himself -- previous examples include, David Vitter, Larry Craig and Ted Stevens.

• Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington has announced that it will file an ethics complaint regarding Ensign's hiring practices, seeing as how his ex-mistress had been a campaign staffer, and her husband was a top Senate staffer -- and their employment ended after the affair was over.

Harry Reid

Ensign Still More Popular Than Reid?

Eric Kleefeld | June 22, 2009, 1:25PM

Here's an interesting number from the new Mason-Dixon poll of Nevada, which showed that Sen. John Ensign's (R-NV) favorable rating has fallen to a paltry 39% in the wake of the news about this affair: He's still more popular than Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

As it turns out, Reid's own favorable rating is only 34%. And of course, nothing has happened recently to call Reid's personal life into question. And the polls are much more important for Reid, because he's up for re-election in 2010.

The interesting thing is that while Reid has consistently lousy ratings back home, he currently has the advantage of not having any real opponent. The Nevada GOP has been battered in recent elections, and no Republican has stepped up to the plate to challenge him -- for example, former Rep. Jon Porter, who was defeated in 2008, recently took himself out of the running. And Reid has millions of dollars in the bank, as well, which can both ward off opponents and of course overpower anyone who does emerge.

John Ensign

Poll: Ensign's Ratings Fall In Nevada -- But It Could Be Worse

Eric Kleefeld | June 22, 2009, 9:38AM

A new Mason-Dixon poll finds that Sen. John Engisn's (R-NV) favorable ratings have fallen sharply back home in Nevada, in the wake of his admission of an extramarital affair in 2007 and 2008 -- but there is hope for him.

Ensign's favorable rating has fallen to 39%, with 37% unfavorable. A month ago, before he'd admitted to the affair, his favorable rating had been a much heftier 53%-18%.

However, pollster Brad Coker told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that while Ensign's numbers have certainly fallen, it could be a lot worse: "The really significant question is that only 29 percent think he should resign right away. He does have the ability to stay on and turn this around."

Ensign is also fortunate to not be up for re-election until 2012, giving him plenty of time to turn this around, provided that no other shoes drop in this story.

Barack Obama

TPMDC Saturday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | June 20, 2009, 1:12PM

Obama Calls For Consumer Financial Protection
In this weekend's Presidential YouTube Address, President Obama advocated for a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency, to crack down on complicated and deceptive lending practices:

"This new agency will have the responsibility to change that," said Obama. "It will have the power to set tough new rules so that companies compete by offering innovative products that consumers actually want - and actually understand. Those ridiculous contracts - pages of fine print that no one can figure out - will be a thing of the past. You'll be able to compare products - with descriptions in plain language - to see what is best for you. The most unfair practices will be banned. The rules will be enforced."

McConnell: Democrats Are "Rush And Spend" On Health Care -- Like With Stimulus
In this weekend's Republican YouTube, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) warned that Democratic proposals on health care will spend too much money -- and compared it unfavorably with the stimulus:

"If the stimulus bill taught us anything, it's that we should be wary anytime someone in Washington says the sky's going to fall unless Congress approves trillions of dollars immediately," said McConnell. "Yet once again in the health care debate, it's rush and spend, rush and spend. Americans want health care reform, but they want the right health care reform. And that means taking the time and the care necessary to get it right."

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John Ensign

Former Ensign Staffers' Expensive House Is For Sale

Eric Kleefeld | June 17, 2009, 2:51PM

As a fun follow-up to the potential link between the housing crisis and the John Ensign scandal, it turns out that the giant house bought by former Ensign Senate staffer Douglas Hampton and his wife (and former Ensign campaign staffer and reported former mistress) Cynthia Hampton is on the market.

The asking price is $1,660,000 -- though for what it's worth, the folks at Zillow.com think it might only really be worth $861,500. Real estate values have been all over the place lately, and Nevada itself has had the sharpest percentage declines in the nation.

Check out the photos and video. This place is really luxurious.

Late Update: Here's our TPM slideshow.

John Ensign

Ensign Resigns From Leadership Post

Eric Kleefeld | June 17, 2009, 1:06PM

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) has resigned his leadership position as chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, the fourth-highest position in the Senate GOP conference, in the wake of yesterday's admission that he had an extramarital affair in 2007 and 2008.

Ensign had also previously served in another leadership post, as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 2008 elections -- a cycle in which the GOP lost eight seats (counting Minnesota).

John Ensign

Did Housing Crisis Lead To Ensign's Confession?

Eric Kleefeld | June 17, 2009, 1:00PM

The folks at Gawker have raised an interesting idea in the John Ensign scandal: Did the housing crisis indirectly trigger Ensign's eventual admission of his affair with a former campaign staffer?

The key facts here are that Ensign's reported former mistress was Cynthia Hampton, whose husband Douglas Hampton is a former top Ensign staffer. The Hamptons in turn had taken out a $1.2 million mortgage in 2006, on what is clearly a very swank house in Las Vegas: Five bedrooms, five full bathrooms and one half-bathroom, three fireplaces, a pool and a spa. The net taxes on the House last year were $8,466.41.

But financial disclosures also show that the Hamptons are not wealthy people. And Douglas Hampton had reportedly been asking Ensign for money, which led to Ensign's public admission.

Another key piece of info: Nevada has had the single-worst percentage drop in home prices in the midst of the housing crisis. It's a rough market out there.

We were unable to contact the Hamptons for comment.

John Ensign

Ensign's D.C. Office In Lockdown?

Eric Kleefeld | June 17, 2009, 12:26PM

Sen. John Ensign's (R-NV) Washington office appears to be in lockdown mode, following his admission yesterday of an extra-marital affair.

A phone call to his Washington office will get the caller forwarded straight to a voicemail box -- which is in fact full, thus disconnecting the caller.

This only goes for his Washington office, though, not the state offices. A call placed to his Las Vegas office was in fact answered by a human being.

John Ensign

Ensign Scandal Could Further Damage Nevada GOP

Eric Kleefeld | June 17, 2009, 11:05AM

The Las Vegas Sun points out that Sen. John Ensign's (R-NV) sex scandal could be yet another problem for the state GOP in Nevada -- who currently lack any real leaders due to other scandals and lousy recent elections.

For example, Gov. Jim Gibbons is currently going through a messy divorce, and is one of the most unpopular governors in the country according to polls.

In addition, Ensign's record as a strong social conservative could damage him. "The problem is, he's another one of these Bible-thumping Republicans," said an anonymous Republican operative, who added: "When you take the social conservative banner, there's a higher level of scrutiny on these kinds of things."

John Ensign

GOP Sen. Ensign Admits To Affair

Eric Kleefeld | June 16, 2009, 5:59PM

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), who had been considering a 2012 presidential campaign, has now admitted to an extra-marital affair, and will hold a press conference later today in Nevada to explain it further.

Chris Cillizza reports that the affair took place between December 2007 and August 2008, with a woman who worked for Ensign's re-election campaign and his Battle Born leadership PAC. The Associated Press reports that the woman was married to one of Ensign's Senate staffers.

Ensign had recently travelled to Iowa, to address an audience of conservative activists.

Late Update: Ensign's wife Darlene has also released a statement: "Since we found out last year we have worked through the situation and we have come to a reconciliation. This has been difficult on both families. With the help of our family and close friends our marriage has become stronger."