Felon Ted Stevens Concedes Election

I'm not saying Alaskans are stupid, but I am amazed that the Alaskan Senate race was so close.

85-year-old Ted "Bridge To Nowhere" Stevens, who had recently been convicted of SEVEN felony counts of corruption, came dangerously close to defeating his Democratic rival. However it became clear today that he wasn't quite close enough to win, so he finally did something right and stepped down.

But I just have a few questions for the people of Alaska:

1. Why would you vote for a convicted felon?
2. You do realize that Ted Stevens is facing 35 years in jail right?
3. Do you realize that even if he had won, he would have been expelled from the Senate?
4. Why are you voting for an 85-year-old man?
5. Does Sarah Palin represent your views?
6. What do you like about Stevens' pork barrel projects?
7. Do you agree with the bill he introduced in January to restrict access to Wikipedia and social networking sites? And as a follow up do you agree with his assertion that the Internet is a series of tubes?
8. Sarah Palin said that she has a 'great respect' for the man back in July, but in the wake of his felony convictions said he should 'step aside' without directly calling for him to drop out of the race. Is that flip flopping, or is it only considered that when a Democrat changes their position? Or is it considered 'palling around' with felons?
   
9. Would you like a free $250,000 home renovation, like the one Ted Stevens got as part of his corrupt business dealings?
10. Ted Stevens was once named 'Alaskan of the Century.' Isn't that pretty insulting to Alaskans that a man with seven felony convictions to his name is considered the best Alaskan of the century? Or are all Alaskans just bad people?
    

Just curious.

Ted Stevens has gone on record saying that he won't ask George Bush for a pardon. Good. Enjoy your time you old corrupt bastard.

Sorry if that seems harsh. But I can just about imagine a politician making a mistake and being convicted of one felony by accident. I could almost forgive it. But SEVEN? That's surely hard to do.

In the meantime Democrats are now two Senators away from reaching the magic number of 60 Senators they need to give them political domination. There are still two undecided races out there. Let's hope they make it.

Ted Stevens - What's Going On Alaska?

This is the face of Ted Stevens, the longest continuous serving Republican Senator.

This month he will be 85 years old. Last month he was convicted of seven felony counts of corruption, just a week before the election. Polls were projecting his opponent was leading by 8-22% depending on which poll you believe. In fact if you look at the last 17 polls from December 2007 until October 30th 2008, it turns out 14/17 polls showed the opponent (Mark Begich) in the lead.

And yet come election day Alaskans voted for him again, giving a convicted felon the position of United States Senator for Alaska.

So my question is, what the fuck are they smoking in Alaska?

It's hard to know if all Alaskans are as stupid as Sarah Palin, or if some shenanigans went on during the election. Because it is hard to believe that Alaskans would want to vote a felon into office. Especially an old felon who should have retired years ago.

After his conviction, bipartisan calls were made for his resignation, including calls from President-elect Obama, and old man McCain. Even fellow Alaskan Sarah Palin called for the man to step down.

But since he hasn't done so, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has confirmed that there will be a hearing, and it is likely they will call for his expulsion from the Senate. Something that has not happened to a sitting Senator since the Civil War.

The whole story is fishy at best. It just seems weird that the polls were so drastically off in this situation. It also seems weird that Alaskans would knowingly (or stupidly) vote for a convicted felon, who was convicted of crimes that involved moral turpitude.

In any case, this guy needs to be kicked out of office. Like an aging drunk at a party, this man has seriously outstayed his welcome. The arrogance of a man to receive seven convictions for felony corruption charges, and still run for re-election is just astonishing.

I'd like to see a full investigation as to what happened in the election. I'd also like to see this man removed from any kind of political position.

Ted, it's time to retire, and consider yourself lucky that because of your position you are unlikely to actually do jail time, even though you technically could be facing up to thirty five years in jail.