Schadenfreude has to be my new favorite German word, far outranking Kindergarten and Gesundheit not for the sheer pleasure I get from it falling off of my tongue, but for its meaning. Delight when others fall.

While I personally could care less who is doing who, I do find it interesting that the latest sexual scandal to hit the US involving yet another Republican politician involves not only sex, but possible bribery as well. "The 19-year-old son of a woman who reportedly had an affair with Nevada Sen. John Ensign was being paid by the National Republican Senatorial Committee during the relationship, federal election records show."

How juicy. How convenient. It's always nice how the Republican party has the back of their fellow members. Have an affair? No problem, we'll take care of it for you. Worried about your conservative constituents finding out? We'll sweep it under the rug as best we can.

Senator Ensign has agreed to resign his leadership post, but like many before him, is not giving up his seat. Though his leadership post reflected his former popularity among his Republican colleagues, none of them has thus far been willing to stick their neck out for him publicly. "It's a no-comment day," Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) told reporters. (I guess the Republican support network only lasts before the scandals come out publicly. It's nice to know when you have true friends.)

Senator Ensign is claiming that the affair, which lasted from December 2007 to August 2008, is the worst thing he has done. Given the fact that the man is a Republican Senator who presumably supported the war in Iraq and other ill-fated Bush administration policies, I somehow doubt that.

Hopefully, this will deal a blow to the Republican party for their hypocrisy in claiming themselves as the "family values party".