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Ted Stevens' "Trial By Ambush"
The back and forth in the case against indicted Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), continues with the defense filing a rancorous motion charging the prosecution with "trial by ambush."
In a hearing today, the two groups battled over documents and photos, specifically of the Stevens' residence in Girdwood, whose renovation lies at the heart of the indictment, and at one point conducted a length debate over the terminology best used to describe the property.
From the AP:
Defense lawyers indicated they will likely challenge some of the thousands of pictures the Justice Department took of Stevens' house in Girdwood, Alaska, a ski resort town outside Anchorage, which the indictment said the senator often referred as "the chalet.""We think some were taken with wide angle lenses that distort the size of the home," said Stevens' lawyer Robert Cary, who noted that real estate agents often do the same thing to sell houses.
"It's a modest cabin in Alaska," Cary added.
"A modest chalet?" U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan said.
Prosecutor Brenda Morris pointed out that the government didn't call it a chalet; Stevens did. "It was a modest cabin," but the work expanded it into a ski chalet, Morris said. "We didn't take any pictures to make it look more than what it is," she said.
Josh
Zachary
Please let Palin get painted with this, too.
September 12, 2008 7:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think we should match Mat-Su contruction projects with the locaton of property owned by Palin.
So far, I've found the $200 million+ Mat-Su prison project and the $300 million+ Mat-Su rail extension line.
Mat-Su is an abbreviation of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, a county-like municipality that includes Port McKenzie.
I'm not sure if Wasilla is actually part of Mat-Su Borough but if it isn't, Wasilla borders Mat-Su.
September 12, 2008 7:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
As always. Mrs. Panstreppon, thank you.
September 12, 2008 7:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wasilla is in the Mat-Su Borough; I checked the Census site the other night. Things must be jumpin' in Matanuska what with Sarah in charge in Juneau. I think I have a new appreciation for the term "pulled pork."
September 13, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, Teddy does his 'own thing'. Sarah isn't part of this.
SHE is one of the people reporting abuse like this.
September 12, 2008 7:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
She did his bidding for three years on the Board of Steven's 527. I think Palin and Steven's may wear BFF bracelets . . .
September 12, 2008 8:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
hahahaha.
so why then has stevens continually endorsed palin...
September 14, 2008 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, Teddy does his 'own thing'. Sarah isn't part of this.
SHE is one of the people reporting abuse like this.
BTW, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough is larger than some states. And the prison location was VOTED on. The 'proposed' rail extension line is an UPGRADE to an existing line that has been here since around 1940. THERE WAS NO ROAD THEN.
September 12, 2008 8:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just love to see lying old farts going to jail!
September 12, 2008 8:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
And Palin's annual list of requested earmarks were addressed to whom? And whose kid was Palin's lobbying lawyer?
Behind the lipstick was not a bulldog but a trollop instead.
Palin went after an old guard REP intentionally to replace him with a totally corrupt, lying sack o' shit Bushian . . . Herself.
Protesting does not change that she may have missed out on these specific acts of corruption BUT Palin is a Republican AND an Alaskan politician AND lives up to these streotypes with zest and zeal.
September 12, 2008 8:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Palin's not part of this, my ass. She hired Steven Sliver's lobbying firm, Hoffman Sliver Gilman & Blasco.
HSGB also represents BP America and dozens of other Alaskan entities.
Maybe we shoul take a closer look at Hoffman Sliver Gilman & Blasco's lobbying efforts.
September 12, 2008 9:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mrs. P,
I can always count on you to brighten my day. I so hope that Ted can crash Palin and himself in the next six weeks.
Where there are Republicans, indictments need to be handed out like party favors and jail sentences like raindrops during a storm.
I want Fitzmas in October. I want my two year old daughter to read the words "Republican Party" in history books and have to ask who they are . . .
September 12, 2008 11:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mrs. P,
I can always count on you to brighten my day. I so hope that Ted can crash Palin and himself in the next six weeks.
Where there are Republicans, indictments need to be handed out like party favors and jail sentences like raindrops during a storm.
I want Fitzmas in October. I want my two year old daughter to read the words "Republican Party" in history books and have to ask who they are . . .
September 12, 2008 11:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
palin was stevens' best fucking friend until palin threw stevens under the bus
still think sarah palin is a reformer ???
if you call "tossing toxic cronies under the bus" reform, then she counts as a reformer
but yo have to be under indictment before she tosses you under the bus, so she ain't so much a reformer as a political opportunistic back stabber
September 13, 2008 1:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sorry guys. I can't help it that every republican in my state is corrupt. The person that you have to thank for uncovering it is Ray Metcalf though. He's as unlikely a hero as you'll meet. He's a teamster and relentless muckraker. I always just thought he was another one of my dad's crazy freinds with conspiracy theories. He went after Ben Stevens (Ted's son) for years and everything started unraveling once the FBI took up his leads. I don't know why Ben isn't in jail yet. The president of VECO said on the stand that he bribed him. Anyway, someone really needs to make a movie about AK politics these last few years. Michael Moore?
September 13, 2008 3:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Possibly because he's a little fish who's still handing over larger fish.
September 13, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Little Johnny McCain has sent his GOP junk yard attack dogs to Alaska to stop the investigation into Troopergate, and his "Talking In Tongues" Racists Trailer Trash VP new gal pal and her redneck husband. Fortunately, it now looks like the rotten mess will be finally aired and the cocky and no talented Palin just might have a little doo doo on her Alaskan Combat Boots! She likes to wear these boots when she kills polar bears from helicopters. She says it makes her feel macho! Yes, America certainly needs her for President and Commander In Chief once little Johnny buys the farm. Ever notice how much little Johnny looks like a large rodent when he laughs at his corny and not too funny jokes?
September 13, 2008 7:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Question for those closer to the Steven's home...
Anyone know how many square feet this dwelling is? Hearing the prosecution and defense squabble over pictures, I have yet to hear anyone give the square footage... I guess neither side actually cares... or maybe desires the info to become public.
Kinda mimics the election cycle, doesn't it? Try to keep everything hidden from the commoners...
September 13, 2008 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Question for those closer to the Steven's home...
Anyone know how many square feet this dwelling is? Hearing the prosecution and defense squabble over pictures, I have yet to hear anyone give the square footage... I guess neither side actually cares... or maybe desires the info to become public.
Kinda mimics the election cycle, doesn't it? Try to keep everything hidden from the commoners...
September 13, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
From http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/481153.html
This year, the 2,471-square-foot house was valued for property tax purposes at $460,400 by the Anchorage assessor.
September 14, 2008 9:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
akryan,
Is not Ray Metcalf working a bus driver? We need more brave folk like him . . .
September 13, 2008 8:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, tpmrobin. That was my question too. Personally, I have no doubt he is crooked. This is a little like getting somebody in the mob, indirectly. Just so it works.
September 14, 2008 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
real estate agents don't use wide angle lenses to distort the size of a home. wide angle lenses are used to better approximate normal field of vision. try taking a picture of any room in your house from the doorway or entryway to that room with a 'normal angle' lens/setting and all you will get is a picture of the far corner of that room.
September 14, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
INQUIRY: Does this business have anything to do with a tanning bed in a certain Governor of a Northern State's Tanning Bed purchased with non-public monies BUT where there is no receipt availble to show the public?
September 16, 2008 9:21 AM | Reply | Permalink