Alaska’s Senate race has Stevens leading with 48 percent of the vote compared with 47 percent for Democrat Mark Begich, with 96 percent of precincts reporting. There more than 40,000 absentee ballots to be counted within 10 days of the election — many of which probably preceded his corruption conviction.
The closeness of the election is unbelievably disheartening. This was a true Faustian moment for Alaskans and they appear to have chosen, once again, politics over ethics. Even if Begich were to pull it off, half of Alaska still voted for a convicted felon. Next time someone tells me about “small town values,” “religious faith in politics,” or “law and order” Republicans in Alaska, I will have a meltdown. The election answered the question from my last column of whether Alaskans would stand up to Stevens — apparently the earmark windfalls were too tempting. Alaskans also returned Rep. Don Young to office despite years of criticism as one of the more ethically challenged members in Congress.
What will be interesting is to now watch Stevens voting on appropriation bills for the Justice Department while that department struggles to put him in jail.
For the full story, here.
Stevens is in the same mold as Palin. She is as dirty as he is and Alaskans will get the message when the Senate expels him if he succeeds in winning. My only worry is how Palin will wiggle her way into his position if he loses or is expelled.
You usually get the government you deserve not the one you want.
Mespo,
If that many people voted for Stevens, then yes, they deserve what they voted for.
And Bill Jefferson will be nearby in the House. What a night.
Yeah, this explains the whole Palin thing.
“My only worry is how Palin will wiggle her way into his position if he loses or is expelled.”
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This is priceless. A state represented by a crook, and a kook! And now the possibility of substituting the kook for the crook in the Congress. Got’ta love the alliteration!
Charity,
This does show Alaskans have integrity (I mean, continuity) of voting!
Alaska is a series of ‘tubes’…
Good one, Patty c….
Brava, Patty!
Meep! Meep!
I thought the Senate leadership already told Stevens that he would be expelled if he did not resign voluntarily. That referred to the 2002-2008 term, but I can’t imagine there’s a Bush-ish “moment of accountability” with the voters and all will be forgiven.
The difference with Jefferson is that Stevens has actually been convicted.
Patty C,
If you came up with that association all by your lonesome, well then, touché!
The “tubes”, reflecting on Stevens’ Internet comments.
They (the feds) finally caught him (Stevens), but now what do “we” do with him.
Splendid…
Oh, and I cannot stop laughing about JT’s comment and I am a Republican:
“Next time someone tells me about “small town values,” “religious faith in politics,” or “law and order” Republicans in Alaska, I will have a meltdown.”
Alaska is a state with a history of election fraud.
Four years ago, 313,592 out of 474,740 registered voters in Alaska participated in the election — a 66% turnout. Taking into account 49,000 outstanding ballots, on Tuesday 272,633 out of 495,731 registered Alaskans showed up at the polls; a turnout of 54.9%. That’s a decrease of more than 11% in voter turnout even though passions ran high for and against Obama, as well as for and against Sarah Palin.
Consider that the most popular governor in Alaskan history-and now the most polarizing-was on the Republican ticket. Consider the historic nature of this race. Despite that, we’re supposed to believe that overall participation DECREASED by 11%. Not only that, but this historic election both nationally and for Alaska HAD THE LOWEST ALASKA TURNOUT FOR A PRESIDENTIAL RACE EVER?
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=6644#more-6644
Ted Stevens has been defeated.
http://www.adn.com/senateelection/story/593747.html
The Anchorage Daily News