john ensign

Al Franken’s first bill in the U.S. Senate passed unanimously — kinda. His plan for a pilot project to provide service dogs to disabled veterans got tacked onto by unanimous consent to the Defense Authorization, which passed the Senate by a 87-7 vote last night. All with no apparent fanfare from the former showman. 

The stunning downfall of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford — and earlier, another Republican pol, Sen. John Ensign, who also fessed up to marital infidelity — “creates more oxygen” (in one wag’s words) for a 2012 presidential run by Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who rarely fails to mention how “hot” his wife is.