So where’s the other John?

Speaking of Nevada Republican Sen. John Ensign’s recently admitted extramarital affair, another John is back.

Democrat John Edwards of the my-wife’s-cancer-was-in-remission-when-I-did-it televised confession has ended his public silence. He says he’s not interested in the kind of reputation rehab that other philandering pols try over time. (Think Democratic ex-President Bill Whosit and ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer.)

Which no doubt is why Edwards suddenly granted an interview to the Washington Post’s Alec MacGillis. With, however, just a couple of caveats:

No questions about his mistress Rielle Hunter.

No questions about her baby and whether he is the father.

No questions about terminally ill wife Elizabeth Edwards’ recent memoir that prompted so much public attention and sent the ex-senator off to Central America to do good things out of sight.

And no questions about the federal investigation into whether his presidential campaign illegally spent political funds on Hunter.

Other than that, fire away.

Edwards claims that there are only two reasons for him to be on the planet now: “to take care of the people I love and to take care of people who cannot take care of themselves.” Edwards says he spends time in their mansion with his wife and two younger children and will return to El Salvador next month to volunteer.

He says he takes pride in having pushed Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama to talk more about poverty issues during the campaign, and he declined to call his presidential bid a mistake despite its high-wire counting on the volatile sexual affair not coming out. Unlike many observers, Edwards does not rule out a return to politics, if only as a policy advocate a la Al Gore, without the melting glacier slides.

And he dismisses cynicism about his failed campaign. “It was real, 100% real,” Edwards says. “I want them to be proud of what I stood for, and of what the campaign stood for. The stands were honest and sincere and idealistic. They were what America needed then and needs now.”

Arizonans, get your guns ready

Good news for drunk gunmen.

The Arizona state Senate has passed onto the House a bill that would allow people with concealed-weapons permits to carry their firearms into bars and restaurants serving alcohol, unless the establishment posts a sign forbidding it -- but even then the legislation reduces the penalty for ignoring the sign if you’re caught, which is unlikely if the gun is truly concealed.

The same bill was defeated Monday on a 14-14 tie with one member absent. So that member was brought in at gunpoint (just kidding), and the measure passed Tuesday, 18 to 10.

The debate can be summarized in two quotes:

Republican Sen. Pam Gorman: “The people that have these permits are probably the most responsible gun owners we have.”

Democrat Sen. Ken Cheuvront: “Alcohol and guns do not do well together.”

Gunners claim they have a right to protect themselves, and leaving the firearm in a locked car invites theft by people without a stealing permit who would then be armed without a concealed-weapon permit. Which would be two laws broken.

The bad news for drunk gunmen is that they need to be intoxicated before entering the restaurant, which means you need to be a pedestrian or have a designated driver.

That’s because the new legislation won’t let you drink if you’re packing concealed heat.

But then again, if the heat is concealed, who’s gonna know you’re packing?

So everything works out in the best Western tradition.

Bigger plans for ‘happiest mayor’?

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman -- former mob lawyer, Bombay Sapphire pitchman and self-proclaimed “Happiest Mayor on Earth” -- will be termed out in 2011.

His next role: Gov. Goodman?

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported recently that Goodman is mulling over an independent bid -- and has consulted none other than former Minnesota Gov. Jesse “The Body” Ventura (the Happiest Pro Wrestler-Turned-Governor on Earth).

Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons is so unpopular that he’s already drawn two primary challengers. And the Democrats expected to run -- Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley and Rory Reid, Clark County commissioner and son of the U.S. Senate majority leader -- might cannibalize each other before the general election.

But Goodman has never mounted a statewide campaign. And does he truly want to 1) move from Sin City to Carson City and 2) oversee a potentially vicious budget war during the next legislative session?

Maybe he should talk to Arnold (formerly the Happiest Terminator-turned-Governor on Earth) Schwarzenegger.

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andrew.malcolm@latimes.com

ashley.powers@latimes.com

Top of the Ticket, The Times’ blog on national politics (), is a blend of commentary, analysis and news. These are selections from the last week.