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Stevens Found Guilty on All Counts
CNN reporting that Sen. Ted Stevens has been found guilty on all seven counts of making false statements on his financial disclosure forms.
We'll have more coming, so check back for updates.
Something to think about from the AP:
Stevens faces up to five years in prison on each count but, under federal sentencing guidelines, will likely receive much less prison time, if any.
More detail on the seven-term senator's reaction to the news from Bloomberg:
Stevens's lawyer, Brendan Sullivan, had his arm around the senator's shoulders and shook his head as the verdict was being read. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan delayed setting a sentencing date at the defense's request.
Late update . . . 4:21pm: Stevens' sentencing will be January 26, 2009, AP is reporting.
Stevens was indicted July 29 for accepting $250,000 in gifts and home renovations from VECO and failing to report them on his Senate disclosure forms. Stevens pleaded not-guilty to all seven counts of false statements and requested a speedy trial in order to accommodate his re-election campaign. Stevens' attorneys attempted to move the trial from D.C. to Alaska and submit evidence to smear one of the prosecutions key witnesses, Bill Allen, former VECO CEO and friend of Stevens.
The trial began on September 25, and included testimony from Allen, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Ted Stevens himself.
Jury deliberations which began last Wednesday, October 22, were immediately plagued by setbacks. The jury attempted to remove one of the jurors who was prone to "violent outbursts" and another juror was excused to return home after her father died and was replaced this morning by an alternate.
Late update . . . 4:35pm: A full description from the AP of each count again Sen. Stevens and the jury's related guilty verdict can be found here.
Late update . . . 4:49pm: Ted Stevens: obstinate and feisty even after conviction. . . also, repeats himself.
From the ADN:
As Stevens exited the courtroom, his wife, Catherine, kissed him on the cheek.Moments earlier, he told her, "It's not over yet." She responded, "You got that right."
And then he added, "Not over yet."
Stevens and his lawyers, who rarely speak to the media, exited the courthouse without making a statement.
Late update . . . 4:50pm: Ted Stevens' prosecutors hold a press conference cum "victory lap" outside the courthouse.
Late update. . .5:01pm: Bloomberg has more follow-up on what will happen to Ted Stevens, noting that the seven-term senator doesn't need to relinquish his seat unless removed by a full Senate vote.
Stevens will remain free on personal recognizance until sentencing.
Late update. . . Putting It In Context Edition: It's really worth taking a moment to reflect on how historic this decision is.
Sen. Stevens is a sitting senator, one of only five in all of history to be convicted of a crime, and the first since 1981, the Wall Street Journal notes.
Stevens is 84 years old -- soon to be 85 on Nov. 15 -- and is the longest-serving Republican with almost 40 years in the Senate representing Alaska.
Late update. . . 5:42pm: The AP expounds on Stevens' reaction as the verdict was read:
Visibly shaken after the verdicts were read -- the jury foreman declaring "guilty" seven times -- Stevens tried to intertwine his fingers but quickly put his hands down to his side after noticing they were trembling.
Late update. . . Palin Comments edition: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has commented on Stevens' conviction:
This is a sad day for Alaska and a sad day for Senator Stevens and his family. The verdict shines a light on the corrupting influence of the big oil service company up there in Alaska that was allowed to control too much of our state. And that control was part of the culture of corruption that I was elected to fight, and that fight must always move forward regardless of party affiliation or seniority or even past service. As Governor of the State of Alaska, I will carefully now monitor the situation and I'll take any appropriate action as needed. In the meantime, I ask the people of Alaska to join me in respecting the workings of our judicial system and I'm confident that Senator Stevens from this point on will do the right thing for the people of Alaska
CNN also notes that Palin wouldn't respond when asked if she would vote for Stevens in one week.
Late update . . .Stevens' Statement Edition: Stevens was quick to release a statement following his conviction today, blaming prosecutorial misconduct and foreshadowing his appeals.
From the ADN:
I am obviously disappointed in the verdict but not surprised given the repeated instances of prosecutorial misconduct in this case. The prosecutors had to report themselves to the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility during the trial for ethical violations. Exculpatory evidence was hidden from my lawyers. A witness was kept from us and then sent back to Alaska. The Government lawyers allowed evidence to be introduced that they knew was false. I will fight this unjust verdict with every ounce of energy I have.I am innocent. This verdict is the result of the unconscionable manner in which the Justice Department lawyers conducted this trial. I ask that Alaskans and my Senate colleagues stand with me as I pursue my rights. I remain a candidate for the United States Senate.
Late update . . . FAQ Edition: Kathleen Hunter at CQ Politics has a handy little guide to the questions swirling around Stevens' conviction.
Josh
Zachary
Doing my Senate Majority Happy Feet Dance!
I do have to wonder, however, whether making false statements is considered a bad thing in Alaska. (see Palin, Sarah and Palin, Todd)
PEACE
October 27, 2008 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
You can guarentee a pardon by Bush on this
October 27, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
While everyone seems to have their favorite example of a "good" pardon, I think the entire practice should be abolished. As it stands, each President is expected to put a finger on the scale and hope it collectively balances out.
If nothing else, perhaps pardons should be limited to the first month of a President's first term. Let them live with the consequences, rather than slipping them as they leave the WH.
October 27, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd be satisfied with preventing the President from pardoning anyone after October 1 at the end of his term. At least then, the voters would have a chance to express their dissatisfaction.
Any change to the President's pardoning power would take a Constitutional amendment, so I don't see it happening, unless Bush pardons everyone in his administration.
October 27, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Bush pardon list is going to be longer than the White House Christmas party list!
October 27, 2008 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
wow. We have to thank TPM for this one. They kept the fuel to the fire on Stevens.
(Not sure what other trite expression to use, but at least I didn't say that "Josh took it to the next level!")
October 27, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
WOW.
Maybe I'm going to have to rethink my whole position on Santa Claus.
October 27, 2008 4:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Santa is a left centrist. He'd rather give than get!
October 27, 2008 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Santa's just an anagram for Satan, And Satan is MY motor.
Thanks, Santa!!! This is gonna take down Sarah the lipsticked one like Dorothy took down the wicked witches of the east AND west.
October 27, 2008 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anonymous: You've got my all-time favorite avatar.
October 27, 2008 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Santa is a COMMUNIST-SOCIALIST! He SPREADS AROUND the gifts, instead of giving gifts to the richest kids and waiting for them to trickle down! He wears RED! He pals around with William Ayers!
OK, I'm not sure about that last one. But the rest of it is accurate.
October 27, 2008 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, you can be sure that Santa has been to William Ayers' house, just like Obama, and to Obama's house too. So he pals around with terrorists and terrorists' pals.
October 27, 2008 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's been especially good this year.
Not only is Ted Stevens sunk, Sarah Palin has taken one more hit to her reputation, since she's closely tied.
Something tells me, it's going to be a v. merry Christmas.
October 27, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
On the downside, it makes Colin Powell's opinions of people even MORE suspect.
October 27, 2008 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Crazy Alaskans.
October 27, 2008 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I honestly don't believe he will spend any time in jail. I think they will look at his age and give him community service or something of that nature.
October 27, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe Governor Palin can take him on as a public relations specialist.
"TUBES!!!!!!!"
October 27, 2008 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Possibly, but he sure can't be a arrogant dick anymore. That alone is probably a personal hell for him.
A question: Does he get to keep the gifts now?
October 27, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Possibly, but he sure can't be a arrogant dick anymore."
He's still a Republican, right?
Being an arrogant dick is in their charter.
October 27, 2008 4:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
is this going to at all endanger his re-election effort? i mean, it is alaska.
October 27, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think we can probably move this one to "Safe Republican" after this verdict.
October 27, 2008 4:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I dunno. Alaskans are cussed enough to elect a convicted Republican just to force a special election to replace him with another Republican.
It comes down to how Begich handles the rest of tha campaign, I guess. It's all on him.
October 27, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe I'm wrong but I thought Palin get to appoint his replacement if he gets elected? At least until a special election can be held?
October 27, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
After the despised Murkowski appointed his despised daughter, AK changed the law to require a special election.
October 27, 2008 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, thanks. Sorry for the double post.
October 27, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe I'm wrong but I thought Palin get to appoint his replacement if he gets elected? At least until a special election can be held?
October 27, 2008 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
But is Stevens automatically disqualified from running in this election?
In theory, won't November 4th serve as a "special election"?
October 27, 2008 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, hot dog! (and as I said to someone the other day, thank God SP did not ruin that term, which I use all the time!)
October 27, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know what you mean.
I'm embarrassed to use my faves, "kinda sorta" and "gonna" now.
October 27, 2008 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is excellent news..
October 27, 2008 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
FOR JOHN MCCAIN!!!1
October 27, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hulk smashed!!!!!
Yay!
October 27, 2008 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe he should just consider prison a "gift." Then it won't seem so bad?
October 27, 2008 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Man, the tubes are going to get all clogged up today talking about this one!
October 27, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Karma. :)
October 27, 2008 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
The sad fact is, due to the poor job the prosecution did, he will have a very strong appeals case. They witheld evidence from the defense and barely avoided a mistrial.
Until he is cuffed and stuffed, I won't be satisfied.
October 27, 2008 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree but having this happen just before a close election is good enough for me at this point.
October 27, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh the irony of it all. The good Senator and Palin mentor broke all those laws to feather his retirement home nest,,,,, we he'll be getting a retirement nest all right, this one complements of the Feds. Love it!
October 27, 2008 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
So anyone want to guess how many Senate seats we have next Feb?
I see pickups in CO, AK, probably NC, probably MN . . . . Are there any other pickups that now look equally solid?
October 27, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
NH...and NMex.
October 27, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I forgot NH and VA. That sounds like a solid six to me. Are there any other relatively easy pickings, before we get to the longshots like KY and GA?
October 27, 2008 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Democrats lead in the following Senate races that are currently held by Republicans:
Virginia
Colorado
New Mexico
New Hampshire
North Carolina
Minnesota
Alaska
Oregon
If they can win all eight of these seats (and some of them are very close), they'd have to win one more seat somewhere to get to 60 (counting Lieberman). The best shots are believed to be Georgia, Kentucky, and Trent Lott's Mississippi seat. The Republican's are only ahead about 2 points in those three races.
All other Republican seats at risk are considered safe, with the possible exception of Texas.
No Democratic seats are considered to be at risk.
October 27, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Shaheen is going to beat Sununu in NH.
October 27, 2008 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, with NM, that sounds like a solid seven.
October 27, 2008 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Electoral-vote.com sees AK, CO, MN, NH, NM, NC, OR, and VA -- 8 seats. The close-but-still-red races (within two points) include TN, GA, and Wicker in MS, according to Nate Silver.
A strong enough wave could win 9 or 10 seats... with a week to go!
October 27, 2008 4:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Virginia is considered a sure Democratic pickup.
October 27, 2008 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Merkley looks really good against Smith in Oregon.
October 27, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
According to 538.com:
Very safe (100%): NM, VA
Likely (>85%): CO, NH
Leaning (>65%): OR, NC
Tilting (>50%): AK, MN
So that's eight, and this "EXCELLENT NEWS" should surely boost AK into a more certain category. Al Franken is the one who is on the bubble.
For a 60-vote majority (incl. Sanders and Lieberman), we need one more of:
MS' (Musgrove over Wicker)
GA (Martin over Chambliss)
KY (Lunsford over McConnell)
538.com claims that Musgrove currently has a 30% chance of beating Wicker, with the other two just a bit less than that.
October 27, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sweet. Thanks for that run-down.
I would be *very* happy picking up eight. That's a nice round number, and since filibuster votes are rarely exactly down the party line, it's close enough to 60 to make filibustering pretty difficult.
October 27, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
And under the heading of silver lining, with 58 or 59 Republicans technically couldn't point to the tyranny of a filibuster-proof majority as a talking point.
October 27, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
OR leaning? Or you sure. I think it's 100+1% Obama. Don't you think?
October 27, 2008 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry. I thought you guys were talking about the presidential race.
October 27, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Merkley looks really good against Smith in Oregon.
October 27, 2008 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Merkley looks really good against Smith in Oregon.
October 27, 2008 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
But your honor, you don't understand, I am just borrowing those renovations to my home. I don't really own them.
October 27, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know, it's very, very wrong to gloat over the misfortunes of others...
BWA-HA-HA-HAHA-HAHA-HAHA-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE-HO-HO-HO-HO-HO...
...sorry about that.
October 27, 2008 4:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's good, but we're looking for a bit more of a Peter Cushing/Lorre affectโfrom the top, but this time with real schadenfreude:
BWA-HA-HA-HAHA-BWA-HA-HA-HAHA-BWA-HA-HA-HAHA-HAHA-HAHA-HEE-HEE-HEE-HEE-HO-HO-HO-HO-HO...
October 27, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cheer up Sen. Stevens: There's a fortune to be made selling smokes out in The Yard.
October 27, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's to hoping MSNBC will air a special Congressional edition of "Lockup".
October 27, 2008 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Man....this is going to completely drown out any of the slime McCain is going to sling this week. Sweet!
October 27, 2008 4:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Kate,
Great reporting!! It's nice to see the system working. Who's next?
October 27, 2008 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Polite golf clap. !!!!!
October 27, 2008 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
How many news cycles left till election day? When was the last time the Republicons won a single news cycle? How long will "Alaska republican guilty of hubris and corruption" linger in the headlines?
Just give me 8 more days of this, Lord, that's all I ask...
October 27, 2008 4:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dear Lord: Please do not listen to Malangali. We would also like to ask for an impressive economic recovery in the early months of 2010, followed by steady growth through 2012.
In fact, at this point, I would trade you a news cycle or two for a recovery.
And Dear Lord, if you'll throw in Palin as the GOP nominee in 2012, I know a fatted calf that has your name on it.
October 27, 2008 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Out of respect for Senator Stevens' years and years of service, can we pool our money and buy the old man a soap-on-a-rope?
Never mind, he's pretty much phucked either way.
PEACE
October 27, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd kick in for just a rope...
October 27, 2008 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhK-rzjfUMw
October 27, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
THIS
October 27, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
IS
October 27, 2008 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
EXCELLENT
October 27, 2008 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes it is!!
October 27, 2008 4:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
NEWS!!
October 27, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
FOR...
October 27, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
MCBUSH!!!
October 27, 2008 7:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
KARMA
October 27, 2008 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Next up...Gov. Sarah "those weren't my clothes I was wearing" Palin?
October 27, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
How rogue can she go?
October 27, 2008 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
AS Ted is fond of saying.."NO!"
October 27, 2008 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damn, is he going to be fingerprinted and photographed?
Will we have a mug shot?
Will he smile for his mug shot?
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1020051delay1.html
Sorry, but hahahahahahah!!!
October 27, 2008 4:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm Thinkin' more like:
http://www.popcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/1-nick-nolte-mugshot.jpg
October 27, 2008 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
That would be too good to be true.
October 27, 2008 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Double blow: AK looks corrupt and Palin is linked with AK... and this will take away a precious news cycle from the election. That plays in Obama's favor (since he is leading the polls). Even a story like Rev. Wright pales in comparison: here is proof that the real issue is that Washington needs to change... and it's clear that McCain can't run on that idea.
October 27, 2008 4:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
So he might conceivably retain his seat if he's re-elected? Someone's jerkin' my cynical chain somethin' fierce.
October 27, 2008 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
And if he can't serve his term, would the Alaskan governor appoint his replacement? Any bets she'd appoint herself?
PEACE
October 27, 2008 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, after the Murkowski mess, Alaska changed it's constitution to require a special election to replace a vacant US Senate seat.
October 27, 2008 7:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Some are speculating the ATF announcement is timed to bury the Stevens story in the news.
October 27, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
These are two huge stories that will receive equal time.
October 27, 2008 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. They're both big stories. Last time a sitting senator was convicted was 1981.
That said, I'm really getting tired of these skinheads.
October 27, 2008 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, Stevens may very well get off on appeal, but it's Senator Begich now. That's what counts.
October 27, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Schadenfreude.
October 27, 2008 4:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
One Down, and Eight To Go.
October 27, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
So ... he appeals and continues to run? I mean ... there's not law against a convicted felon running for Senate? Can the Senate itself excommunicate him in some way?
I hate to say it, but I'm not fully confident that the low infolk of AK will vote him out on their own.
October 27, 2008 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Senate has the power to not seat anyone elected. In the scenario where Stevens wins, goes to prison, and does not resign, the Democrats would be better off voting to keep him in his seat. He'd have a tough time making votes from the slammer.
If he wins and resigns, I'd give better than even odds that Palin would appoint herself to revive her national reputation.
October 27, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Senate can expel any member on a two-thirds vote. It also is the "judge of the qualifications" of any member, meaning the Senate can refuse to seat anyone elected to the Senate.
See Art. I, Section 5, U. S. Constitution
October 27, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
freepers react:
October 27, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for that roundup.
A lot of those folks don't seem to care as much about the Senate as they do about the future career of their VP candidate.
It's remarkable how much political energy on the Right is currently being channeled into an enormous crush on Sarah Palin. Maybe there's some way to use this to our advantage . . .
October 27, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
OMG! I voted for the anti-Christ??? OMFG!!!
Those nutjobs give Christians a bad name.
October 27, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's give Ted Stevens the benefit of the doubt. The massage chair was necessary because he strained his back carrying suitcases full of cash from the lobbyists. But the free sled dog? This is outrageous!
October 27, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know what this means.
We need to target one of the three other races that can get us to 60 (MS, KY, GA) and flood the money in there in the next two days.
Even better, flood two of the three races, which might allow us to tell Lieberman to shove it. Who's up for it? As much as I hate Mitch McConnell, Chambliss really deserves a beat-down for that digraceful campaign in 2002. And MS is closer than either GA or KY. So...MS and GA.
Seriously, if we can get a million dollars into one or each of these races in the next 2 days, we might be able to get our filibuster-proof majority.
October 27, 2008 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
It appears that a seven or eight vote majority is now a certainty, even without Lieberman. That being the case, there are moderate Republicans -- like Snowe of Maine -- who probably would join Democrats to end most filibusters on vital legislation.
Of course, I would really like to see Saxby Shameless and Mitch "Cabbage Patch" McConnell bite the dust, too!
October 27, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lemme see, Stevens is 75 years old...
5 years in prison for 7 counts...
that's 5x7=35...
carry the 1...
October 27, 2008 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
whoops... 85 years old - dang it.
October 27, 2008 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
So at his age, he needs the massage chair for medical reasons, right?
October 27, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, Stevens is 84 years old.
October 27, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, I know, I completely botched it all around. Hey, even Shecky Green has a bad day, y'know?
October 27, 2008 5:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can he take the massage chair to prison?
October 27, 2008 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
According to RCP, Stevens' opponent, Mark Begich was up by 2 points on October 17th.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/senate/ak/alaska_senate-562.html
This verdict should put him over the top.
October 27, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lord. Lord.
Justice.
Who'da thunk?
October 27, 2008 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
I guess that measn she flailin palin is not endorsing the ol' cuss.
October 27, 2008 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Down goes Father Ted~! Outstanding!
I was getting worried about that seat as it was edging close. Now it's ours. :)
John
October 27, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
" Prison, it's not like a big building, it's more like a series of cubes."
October 27, 2008 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
thank you, that was hilarious
October 27, 2008 6:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
thank you, that was hilarious
October 27, 2008 6:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ted is gone but Alaska will pay the real price. We really need the FBI to focus on Ted's son Ben and pals who have got away with tons of crap. Better clean house so there are fewer scumbags to fill the vacum Ted leaves.
October 27, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Bush doesn't pardon him, the next president if he is a democrat should commute his sentence. Let him pickup trash on the Alcan in an orange jumpsuit for a couple of months. Humiliation is punishment enough.
October 27, 2008 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Palin will position herself to take Stevens' seat. I don't think she'll succeed, but she will agressively vie for it. Stress agressively.
October 27, 2008 6:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Palin should now be praying for (among other things) Stevens' utter defeat and destruction at the polls next week. Anything short of that will only serve to illustrate that the very 'culture of corruption' she claims to oppose is still ensconced in the Alaskan ethos, and will eventually taint her even more than it already does.
October 27, 2008 6:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Note the comment from "Dingbat" of the team "Geezer - Dingbat":
"The verdict shines a light on the corrupting influence of the big oil service company up there in Alaska that was allowed to control too much of our state."
Note her use of "up there in", rather than, "the state where I'm Governor".
Who knows? Maybe the whole state is a web of sloth, hackery, and corruption leading right to the the Dingbat herself.
October 27, 2008 7:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Republicans seem to have had a bad few years, with Bush, losing Congress, Palin, and now this.
Losing the presidency and a Democratic filibuster- proof Senate are the final nails in the coffin. We won't have Republican influence on the national level for 2 years.
October 27, 2008 8:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let the excuses begin. There are only a few problems with this. America has grown tired of Republican corruption. America has wearied of Republican lies. America has been weakened by Republican mismanagement. America has been sickened by Republican philosophy. America is sick to death of it, and is choosing another path. Sorry Republicans, but all your spin and prevarication will not suffice anymore. The great majority is choosing change in their millions. They have been pushed too far to the right by your weird right wing religious obsessions, your trickle down economics, your de-regulation schemes, your false patriotism, your hypocrisy and your fixation on power and money, rather than the people, your filthy gutter politics, and most of all your innate ability to LIE. America is choosing a different road this time. Between 8 years of Reagan and 12 years of the Bush Family, not to mention Newt, and DeLay, McCain and Stevens. We will not have our election stolen this time. We are not lying down to die anymore. And at long last the majority are in our corner. The present incarnation of Republicanism with it's devils deal with right wing nutcassesss and religious freaks are being rejected. Sorry. But you gotta face the truth.
October 27, 2008 11:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why the long face, Ted?
OOoh, it's getting scary! Like some political Poe!
Happy Halloween!
Quoth the Maverick...
http://thetruthburns.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/quoth-the-maverick/
October 28, 2008 4:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
As a convicted felon, he does not have to leave the Senate (weird). But as a convicted felon, can he still legally vote?
October 28, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is my question too. I think it is illegal for convicted felons to vote in Alaska. So can Stevens be arrested for vote fraud if he shows up at the polls on Tuesday?
October 28, 2008 11:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
That would be an amusing sight. Then he could be prosecuted for voter fraud and go to prison for real.
October 28, 2008 11:37 AM | Reply | Permalink