Ted Stevens Found Guilty

[TuNnL]

Yet another embarrassment for the Alaska Republican Party. After months under siege, U.S. Senator Ted Stevens, Alaska’s senior statesmen, and one of the most powerful politicians on Capitol Hill, has been found guilty on all charges in federal court. Political fallout predictions?

Jury finds Stevens guilty of lying about gifts

By ERIKA BOLSTAD and RICHARD MAUER
Anchorage Daily News

WASHINGTON - A jury today found U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens guilty of all seven counts of lying on his financial disclosure forms.

It is the highest-profile felony conviction in a sweeping four-year federal investigation into corruption in Alaska politics, and a rare conviction by a jury of a sitting U.S. senator.

[matapule]

Re: Ted Stevens Found Guilty

Stevens refuses to step down from Congress and his name remains on the ballot. Let's see if the citizens of Alaska re-elect this convicted felon. It will say a lot about the character of Alaskans. This is going to be interesting.

[Frankie's Market]

Re: Ted Stevens Found Guilty

Stevens refuses to step down from Congress and his name remains on the ballot.

Oh oh. I hope Stevens isn't planning to become another Budd Dwyer.

Let's see if the citizens of Alaska re-elect this convicted felon. It will say a lot about the character of Alaskans. This is going to be interesting.

Not gonna happen. Steven's opponent, Mark Begich, already had a narrow lead in most of the polls prior to the convictions. Begich's way to the Senate is wide open and clear now.

[TuNnL]

Re: Ted Stevens Found Guilty

Wow! So much for “GOP unity.” Both Republican presidential candidate John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin are calling for U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens to step down.

McCain calls on Stevens to step down

By ERIKA BOLSTAD | ebolstad@adn.com

WASHINGTON — Wasting no time in separating his presidential campaign from what he described as the "corruption and insider dealing that has become so pervasive in our nation's capital," Sen. John McCain called on fellow Republican Sen. Ted Stevens to step down from the U.S. Senate.

[Vanguard]

Re: Ted Stevens Found Guilty

He's making them look bad! Corrupt politicians need to be more subtle than that to stay in business!

[matapule]

Re: Ted Stevens Found Guilty

Stevens refuses to step down from Congress and his name remains on the ballot. Let's see if the citizens of Alaska re-elect this convicted felon. It will say a lot about the character of Alaskans. This is going to be interesting.

Not gonna happen. Steven's opponent, Mark Begich, already had a narrow lead in most of the polls prior to the convictions. Begich's way to the Senate is wide open and clear now.

At this point, Stevens does lead Begich in the voting. Again, for the race to be this close, with a convicted felon on the ballot, shows that a majority of Alakan voters have little integrity. No wonder they produce politicians like Palin. Alaska is an embarrassment to Americans. Maybe it is time they seceded.

[Leo Lakio]

Re: Ted Stevens Found Guilty

If Sen. Stevens retains his seat, don't be surprised if Mayor Begich goes after Gov. Palin in the 2010 Gubernatorial contest.

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: Ted Stevens Found Guilty

Don't be surprised if the McCain's are going after Sarah as we speak.
She best have that fancy pagent walkin' in high gear!

[TuNnL]

Re: Ted Stevens Found Guilty

At this point, Stevens does lead Begich in the voting. Again, for the race to be this close, with a convicted felon on the ballot, shows that a majority of Alakan voters have little integrity. No wonder they produce politicians like Palin. Alaska is an embarrassment to Americans. Maybe it is time they seceded.

That is a very harsh assessment, and one that I hope most will rebuke if Begich wins. There is still a chance that may happen, although the odds are slim. Regardless of the outcome, it looks like Republican senators on Capitol Hill plan to follow through with their threats to oust Stevens. Win, lose or draw, stick a fork in him. The man is done.

Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., has served notice that he'll seek to expel Stevens from the GOP conference at a Nov. 18 meeting to elect party leaders for the session that begins in January.

[matapule]

Re: Ted Stevens Found Guilty

That is a very harsh assessment,.

Not as harsh as what I am thinking now, since Stephens apparently may well have won. How do you justify people who vote for convicted felons to represent them?

[Seeking Penance]

Re: Ted Stevens Found Guilty

Win, lose or draw, stick a fork in him. The man is done.

i say.....castrate him......and feed it to the bears.......or put it on display!!!!!

1 dirty politician down.....120 more to go

[salmoned]

Re: Ted Stevens Found Guilty

Integrity? What does politics have to do with that? A less-than-fully-educated-and-informed voter has just as little integrity as any old politician, convicted of a felony or not. The late 'Lee' Atwater personified the current Republican political 'ideal' with his, 'Stick it to the other guy before he sticks it to you' attitude. Alaskans want us to keep our noses out of their business, but keep sendin' 'n' spreadin' the money aroun' up thar.

[Leo Lakio]

Re: Ted Stevens Found Guilty

How do you justify people who vote for convicted felons to represent them?

By returning Sen. Stevens to the Senate, if he resigns or is ousted, the Governor (and we know who that is) is pretty much obligated to name a Republican as his temporary replacement, thus keeping that seat in GOP hands. That's what the voters may have chosen to do.

[anapuni808]

Re: Ted Stevens Found Guilty

according to the last news I read - Begich is beginning to pull ahead. Just by a few votes right now but there are still about 40,000 votes to be counted. Keep your fingers crossed!

[Frankie's Market]

Re: Ted Stevens Found Guilty

according to the last news I read - Begich is beginning to pull ahead. Just by a few votes right now but there are still about 40,000 votes to be counted. Keep your fingers crossed!

Interesting that only the day before, Stevens was in the lead by some 3,200 votes,.... but with nearly 80,000 ballots not counted! How could that many ballots not be tabulated on election day? And judging by the 40,000 of those uncounted ballots that have finally been processed earlier today, it appears that this batch of votes are favoring the Democratic candidate. Something appears to be terribly amiss.