A host of Nevadans are speculating why Senator John Ensign has not resigned yet.  Some believe his political career became toast when he admitted his affair with a staffer.  Speculation has grown stronger with the recent resignation of his chief of staff and his communications director…followed by the wholesale effort to “sell off” interns and other staff. 

Senator John Ensign

Is he leaving soon?

Odds are that he will not resign or leave before the outcome of the 2010 general election in Nevada. Why wait so long?

Because he can.  No one can make him leave….and he knows that if he leaves before Nevada gets a new governor, there is no telling who Nevada Governor Jim (WhatInTheHellIsHeThinkingToday?!?)Gibbons would appoint to replace the resigning Senator. 

So, look for Ensign to try and hold his ship together for at least the next 16 months, because he can only hurt the party and its efforts to recover seats in the Senate, if he abandons that seat now.  And, after all, Nevadans can be a forgiving public, if they like you enough (just ask Mayor Oscar “Foot In His Mouth” Goodman) and think you can continue to serve their needs. He may, after all, survive the storm and the darts, and surprise everyone with another dash for his seat in 2012….