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Uncle Ted's Eateries
Planning to eat at Uncle Ted's tonight? If you are, plan on canceling.
A former aide to Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) filed papers in 2004 to create a restaurant company called Uncle Ted's Alaska LLC. But, unfortunately, it looks like the aide got cold feet last year, right around the time his boss' criminal investigation came to light. A few weeks following The Anchorage Daily News' initial coverage of the scandal, the aide, Trevor McCabe, dissolved the company. "Decision not to pursue original business idea," is the only explanation.
According to documents McCabe filed with the state, he was registered to run eating and drinking places, food stores and miscellaneous retail stores. Perhaps he had a vision for a chain restaurant devoted to foods loved by Stevens, who is known as "Uncle Ted" up in his home state. Alas, we'll never know (we can only offer our suggestion of "Big Boy" inspired icon). I can imagine a mean salmon sandwich, you could even call it a "Murkowski" for fun. Certainly pork (ribs? chop? roast?) would have been in generous supply.
This wouldn't have been the first time that McCabe used his relationship with Stevens for his benefit -- a connection that's become clearer due to the federal investigation of Stevens. He served on a marketing board with Stevens' son, Ben Stevens, that provided federal grants to the seafood industry, while they were paid "consulting fees" by the same companies receiving the money. He also benefited from a string of the elder Stevens' earmarks that have come under FBI scrutiny.
Comments (17)
Anonymous wrote on August 1, 2007 6:46 PM:Ben & Trevie's Ice Cream flavor of the month "Bills From Ted's Excellent Adventure"
Mint ice cream with chocolate covered pretzels
Anonymous wrote on August 1, 2007 6:54 PM:Hey I miss "big boy burgers!" But hey, the original Big Boy is only 8 miles from me...HE-HE ;0 in Burbank.
But that is a good picture! Thats one for the internet blogs
Ed*ard Teller wrote on August 1, 2007 6:55 PM:Mmmmm, that looks good. But not as good as the burger Anchorage Daily News editor Patrick Dougherty will owe me very soon. I've bet him an Alaska Burgerman burger that you and other out-of-state sources will continue to beat his paper to the punch on stories about Ted Stevens, Lisa Murkowski and Don Young. Since the bet - ADN - three, out-of-state - 16. MMmmmmm...
Good work, Laura.
Ed*ard Teller wrote on August 1, 2007 6:58 PM:Mmmmm, that looks good. But not as good as the burger Anchorage Daily News editor Patrick Dougherty will owe me very soon. I've bet him an Alaska Burgerman burger that you and other out-of-state sources will continue to beat his paper to the punch on stories about Ted Stevens, Lisa Murkowski and Don Young. Since the bet - ADN - three, out-of-state - 16. MMmmmmm...
Good work, Laura.
parrot wrote on August 1, 2007 7:04 PM:Is this like being thrown under the salmon boat?
Ed*ard Teller wrote on August 1, 2007 7:06 PM:more like walking off the end of the bridge to nowhere, blindfolded.
Steve5117 wrote on August 1, 2007 7:14 PM:I wonder if they were going to build a store on the other side of the bridge to show how the bridge fostered development?
Anonymous wrote on August 1, 2007 7:26 PM:seriously, you can't make this sh*t up
alambernakis wrote on August 1, 2007 7:41 PM:You can't make up the arrogance of Alaska politicians, that is for sure. I've been puzzling and puzzling over what happened. I think it is just that we are so reliably a Republican state that the people we elected assumed that they could do whatever they wanted as long as they had an R after their name.
I'm not saying that Democrats are necessarily any better, I'm just describing the reality in Alaska. I'm an independent, but I admit that I have voted for the Republicans many, many times. I'm thinking, though, that it will be better for the state overall, if we have more balanced representation. At the rate we are going, that will mean voting for a Democrat in the next election.
It's not just the criminal cases. It's everything. It's the benefitting Seattle-based corporate fishing interests to the detriment of local fisherman. It's the stupid wasteful train station at the airport that can only be used by cruise ship passengers, and that Alaskans are prohibited from using, all paid for with federal dollars. It's the Seward land deal that benefitted a Stevens crony at the expense of the public. It's Don Young giving earmarks to people in Florida and Wisconsin, just so he can get more campaign contributions.
I just don't see how it can get worse. Didn't Albert Einstein say the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over again with the expectation you will get better results? I think that applies here. Until we make dramatic political change, all we can expect is more and more of the same type of corruption. For me, that means swearing off voting for Republicans. It feels wierd to even write that, but I know that we need dramatic change up here, and if getting rid of a few Republicans is the price of eliminating corruption -- and I think it is -- then count me in as passing on the Republican ballot next year.
Larry wrote on August 1, 2007 10:15 PM:Someone has already plead guilty to bribing Ben Stevens by way of those consulting fees.
Dave Bowman wrote on August 1, 2007 11:39 PM:Don't forget Uncle Ted's Tube(s)Steaks--if you're hungry, then you can order a series of Tubes;>
melior wrote on August 2, 2007 6:01 AM:Intertube steak sandwiches, mmmmm.
Tentakles wrote on August 2, 2007 10:22 AM:I was thinking of having the Grand Slammer breakfast...
-- Tentakles
Austin Cooper wrote on August 2, 2007 11:27 AM:What continues to amaze me is the sheer brazeness -- Stevens apparently behaves like a criminal; and when cornered his only response is to snarl, bluster, and whine.
It reminds me of films of some mid-level bureaucratic functionaries in Germany or Italy at the end of WWII, being cornered by GI's as they're taken into custody -- alternately vicious, and self-pitying.
Joe wrote on August 2, 2007 1:23 PM:Can anyone explain to me why receiving consulting fees does not precisely fall within the definition of an unlawful kickback, even if there was nothing else shady about the entire transaction *cough*?
Security code: mine. As in "all of the taxpayers' money is..."
Molly Ivans wrote on August 2, 2007 1:27 PM:Raise Hell !!
aklocal wrote on August 2, 2007 3:23 PM:Laura,
Is anything known about the "friends" of Uncle Ted who originally got together to put a second story under his house? Are they part of this investigation?
Thanks for your diligence.