Alaska Sen. Stevens’ defeat marks end of an era
Originally published Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 12:22 p.m.
Updated Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 9:29 a.m.
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Sen. Ted Stevens’ election defeat marks the end of an era in which he held a commanding place in Alaska politics while wielding power on some of the most influential committees in Congress.
It also moves Senate Democrats within two seats of a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority and gives President-elect Barack Obama a stronger hand when he assumes office on Jan. 20.
On the day the longest-serving Republican in Senate history turned 85, he was ousted by Alaska voters troubled by his conviction on federal felony charges and eager for a new direction in Washington, where Stevens served since Lyndon B. Johnson was president.
Alaska voters “wanted to see change,” said Democrat Mark Begich, who claimed a narrow victory Tuesday after a tally of remaining ballots showed him holding a 3,724-vote edge.
“Alaska has been in the midst of a generational shift — you could see it,” said Begich, the 46-year-old Anchorage mayor.
Democrats now hold 58 Senate seats, when two independents who align with Democrats are included, with undecided races in Minnesota and Georgia.
“With seven seats and counting now added to the Democratic ranks in the Senate, we have an even stronger majority that will bring real change to America,” Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said in a statement.
Stevens’ pursuit of a seventh term was damaged by his conviction in federal court — just days before the election — for lying on Senate disclosure forms to conceal more than $250,000 in gifts and home renovations from an oil field services company.
He was trying to become the first convicted felon to win election to the Senate. A survey of people leaving polling places conducted for The Associated Press and television networks found that two of three voters considered Stevens’ trial a factor in their decision. Begich voters cited it as an issue more often.
Stevens’ lawyer had demanded a speedy trial, hoping for exoneration in time to fight the first serious threat to his seat in decades. But the trial in Washington not only left Stevens a felon, it deprived him of time to campaign in his home state.
“I wouldn’t wish what I’m going through on anyone, my worst enemy,” Stevens told reporters in Washington on Tuesday before the vote count. “I haven’t had a night’s sleep for almost four months.”
Still, he said he will not ask President George W. Bush to give him a pardon for his seven felony convictions.
Tuesday’s tally of just over 24,000 absentee and other ballots gave Begich 150,728, or 47.76 percent, to 147,004, or 46.58 percent, for Stevens. There are about 2,500 overseas ballots yet to be counted.
A recount is possible. Stevens did not issue a statement, and campaign aides did not respond to calls for comment.
In Alaska, the losing candidate or a collection of 10 voters has three days to petition for a recount unless the vote was a tie, in which case it would be automatic. If the difference between the candidates is within 0.5 percent of the total votes cast, the state pays for the recount, to be started within three days of the recount petition. The state Elections Division has 10 days to complete the recount.
The crotchety octogenarian occupies an outsized place in Alaska history. His involvement in politics dates to the days before Alaska statehood, and he is esteemed for his ability to secure billions of dollars in federal aid for transportation and military projects. The Anchorage airport bears his name; to Alaskans, it’s simply “Uncle Ted.”
“He symbolizes Alaska’s legitimacy, that Alaska is a player on the national stage as much as anybody else,” University of Alaska Anchorage history professor Steve Haycox said.
His defeat could also allow Republican senators to sidestep the task of determining whether to kick out the longest serving member of their party in the Senate.
When counting resumed Tuesday, 1,022 votes divided the candidates out of about 315,000 ballots cast. Most of the those votes came from areas that had favored Begich — the Anchorage vicinity and the southeastern panhandle around Juneau.
It is a testament to Stevens’ popularity — he was once named “Alaskan of the Century” — that he won nearly half the votes, even after his conviction. He routinely brought home the highest number of government dollars per capita in the nation — more than $9 billion in 2006 alone, according to one estimate.
In a state where oil and politics have always mixed, the conviction came as part of a long-running investigation into government corruption centered around VECO.
Following the trial Stevens said he wanted another term “because I love this land and its people” and vowed to press on with an appeal. Professing his innocence, he blamed his legal problems on his former friend Bill Allen, the former VECO Corp. chairman, the government’s star witness.
Begich will be the first Democrat to represent Alaska in the Senate in nearly 30 years. He is the son of Nick Begich, Alaska’s third congressman, who died in a 1972 plane crash.
Stevens refused pleas from his own party leaders to step down after the verdict, including Sen. John McCain, the GOP presidential nominee who said the Alaska senator had “broken his trust with the people.”
Stevens’ fall came shortly after another Alaskan, Gov. Sarah Palin, emerged as a national figure on the Republican presidential ticket. She called for Stevens to step aside at one point, but appeared to back away from that the day after the election, when returns showed Stevens with an edge.
“The people of Alaska just spoke,” she said.
Community Discussion
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Alaska needs Senator Stevens returned to Washington now more than ever..I am Hopeful and Prayer ful the vote count will result in a win, for the Senator, at the end of the day...
Not in this or your next lifetime, charliebussell
I ran the statistics myself: If current trends in absentee and questioned ballots in the remaining districts continue, Begich will win by approximately 2,700 votes. Stevens will need a real miracle to overcome that.
UPDATE: Begich now leading by 2,374 votes!
Congrats Begich!
And if Begich wins the democrats will have a brand new, first term Senator, and a pawn to increase their power. Either way, Alaska looses.
CPW
Alaska needs Ted Stevens in the upcoming Congress about as much as we need billboards all along the Beltway into D.C. proclaiming how we pay no state taxes, get a PFD each year, and have one of the highest rates of earmarks of the 50 states.
Stevens has become so accustomed to bullying his way around that he still seems to be of the frame of mind that he can do so now and win against the convictions and the evidence not to mention the apparent fact the Alaskan voters have rejected him. I think the guy has gone delusional.
"Stevens keeps one eye on Alaska, a second on the Senate "
Now, if that doesn't make a persons eyes cross, what would?
This was a tough choice for me. I wanted to vote Begich for all he has accomplished in Anchorage, but I wanted to vote for Stevens for all he has accomplished for Alaska. I totally comprehend how Stevens ended up where he did, (I worked oil & gas 17 years) but I do NOT condone his choices or combatative attitude. I want Stevens to Win ONLY so he can be totally humiliated by having his power completely stripped away and kicked out. But I want Begich to win so we can get something accomplished faster. There are pros and cons to both sides of this story, and I'm sure there are many more in the same state of quandry as myself. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out.
See ya, big boy. Show's over. Down the road. Don't let the jail door hit ya on the way out. Nice (not) knowing ya.
The smart choice was if all that counts was getting bucks back to the state is Begich. How anyone can think Ted could bring back federal funds in any manner like he used to, is an incredible ostrich act. Ted would have been poison and even a newcomer like Begich will be able to accomplish more since he is with the majority.
What I would like to suggest though is I suspect there will be a movement to change the name of the airport, etc. Even though I voted for Begich and seldom do for any republican, I don't like vindictive or what some consider to be necessary PC or PR acts like this. Let's all of us fight trying to humiliate him anymore than he already has done to himself and the probable dog pile by his opponents.
dog
Begich will do just fine as long as he keeps ethics in mind. So long Ted, enjoy your retirement in prison.
Ever think that fresh blood in the Senate might help overcome the bad taste left from the election. New hope that maybe one of our elected officials won't be embroiled in corruption charges...for a while anyway?
Agreed. I have hope that Begich, as a Democrat serving a Republican state, will do a better job keeping in mind that his seat is not an entitlement.
Either party having an absolute majority with no checks in sight is a bad thing. Stevens was bound to go over this, but I'm not looking forward to things to follow.
I would like to thank Stevens for his distinguished service, and to second diogenesFBKS's calls not to "pile on". I remember that Stevens was given an "Alaskan of the Century" award some years ago, and while that might be stating his case a little too strongly, Alaskans have much to be thankful for with regard to the strong voice Stevens gave Alaska in the Senate.
I would also like to congratulate Mark Begich on what appears to be a guaranteed victory at this point, and I hope that this will be the change Alaska needs to start moving forward into a new era. It's time to come together and get down to business- we need everybody working if we're going to pull ourselves out of our current situation.
With all due respect, what we need most in Alaska is for our honest politicians to prevail. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, I wish them both the best of luck!!
Yeah, Begich made a mistake on his financial disclosure form, which he admitted and paid a fine for. I can see it being pretty easy to make such a mistake. That's a little different than deliberately concealing 6 years worth of gifts from a known crook.
Update: Begich leading by 3,724 votes.
How about we just say 'Thanks for doing your job well Ted.' I don't owe him anything.... he's been re-elected several times... he's collected a generous salary and benefits including a generous lifetime pension. That's thanks enough. He's done a lot for the people of Alaska and the people have rewarded him well for representing their interests. Now he's a convicted felon, and distinguished service aside, he's still a convicted felon. His service to the people does not excuse that fact.
"That's a little different than deliberately concealing 6 years worth of gifts from a known crook."
Not to these "tough on crime" Republican bloggers here!
Happy birthday Ted. Get some sleep.
Everyone focus on one thing: That ALL elected to office, whether State level or Federal, act with the utmost ethics and sense of cooperation required to pull us back from another depression. This party war and the backbiting that comes with it has got to stop. We are all in trouble and unless we can attain that attitude, we will all go down in flames together, which might be the only and last thing we can make that claim for.
Whew. No Palin.
And it's all over but the whining... Enter the Traveling MinceTrolls.
What a sad way to end a great career.
BOO YAH!
ohh great, a supermajority Demonocratic anti gun, anti energy, anti Freedom Unions ,Out of control lawyers, anti constitution judges, and radical abortionist In the Senate; with the help of all you imbeciles that voted for Begbich......And a Nigerian born marxist in the whitehouse ...
Thanks, lefties, we better pray the demonocrats don't steal Colemans seat and Saxby C. wins the run-off in Ga.
^ WOW, GOOD BLOG Bulls ^
Can we rename the Anchorage airport now?
You'll get over it, BullsEye.
Hey, you wanna join a band?
BULLSEYE, We are coming for you first and we are pissed!!!!!!!!
finally the damn elections are over.
Ahh, the snowy wintery scene of villagers with torches and pitch-forks. How heart-warming..... Run Bullseye. Run. If not from others, then at least run from the paranoid delusions that are chasing you unrelentlessly.
Quick!! They're getting closer!! Closer!! Even closer yet!!!
We're screwed! Next he'll have his buddy Gore and the fab 4 up here.
bye bye ted
Come on, DNM, update this article...the tally is 150728-147004.
Thank you Ted for all of those fights that you won that served to make Alaska the great State that it is for all of us here today. Thank you for your lifetime of service to the State that you came to love.
Fight on in your appeal and I will clap for you if you are successful.
Now you can kick back and enjoy retirement with you wife. May you live happily for many more years.
Happy Birthday Ted!
"ohh great, a supermajority Demonocratic anti gun, anti energy, anti Freedom Unions ,Out of control lawyers, anti constitution judges, and radical abortionist In the Senate; with the help of all you imbeciles that voted for Begbich......And a Nigerian born marxist in the whitehouse"
You summed up the ultra extreme right wing fairly well! Are you one of those Papa Pilgrim guys? There is one thing you didn't mention in your rant that you should be concerned about. Obama's wife has not been purged of WITCHCRAFT!!!!
as long as he protects our gun rights like he has said he would, then Im ok with this, despite him being a D.
BullsEye - Judging by your comments, your name should be "Ditto-head", instead of BullsEye. You're WAY off the mark with that line of fear-mongering doo-doo. The Dems couldn't possibly do the damage the Reps have done in the last eight years. You're in deep denial if you believe otherwise.
As for Ted, he'll never see a day in prison. He's a old, privileged white male. He should be there with all of the convicted drug offenders we've read about the last couple of weeks in the News Miner, but I'm sure he won't step foot in any prison, anywhere. Just like Bush and Cheney, who lied about a LOT more than just money. If we just let bygones be bygones, why not open the doors to all the prisons and let all the other thieves and murderers go too?
I rather suspect that W will pardon Mr. Ted, don't you? Such a shame to end a long, distinguished career with such a black mark. I do have to say, however, that I greatly enjoyed the sound of God slamming another door in Unowho's face.
Stevens is out. Maybe there is a God....
I sure hope Stevens doesn't embarass himself more by asking for a recount. Ted, let it go.
Thank You Dirk
I needed a good belly laugh!
Hope your not wearing a target Bull s eye
Hope the Bob Bird fans are happy!
Bob pulled 13,113
Those how voted for Bob voted for the Democrat!
ARE YOU HAPPY NOW!!!!
Ha Ha
I'm not happy or satisfied but I'd do it again to end up here instead of more of the same. At least with Sen B. we get a different "same".
It's about time Alaska had any brains!
Go Begich!
Remove Uncle Ted's name from the Anchorage airport,
He has shamed Alaskans for the final time!
"ARE YOU HAPPY NOW!!!!"
Us Dem's are dancing in the streets! A big thanks to Bird.. Now come on home Ted, your time has run its course. You can keep the airport if you want, and hey, even if W doesn't pardon you, we will forgive and forget pretty fast.
Now we need to get organized and vote out Palin. Then we can get started on making Alaska a real civilized state, more like the lower 48.
Yes, -1AKPUP, I am HAPPY!!!
P.S. He's 85 friggin years old, time to sit down and write some memoirs, maybe some about his cronies in the fish processing sector, at least those stories past the statute of limitations.
One more thing, no one ever asked me about renaming Anchorage International Airport, a small group of Ted empowered Anchorage boosters foisted that one on us as well as the Bill Sheffield train station. Takes me back to the Tony Knowles Coastal trail. Same damned bunch of pikers.
Jay at least had the courtesy to die as well as having earned it for his unselfish actions in a lifetime of service to Alaska and the U.S.A.
As a registered Republican, the only person running for national office in this election that I voted for who actually won was Begich. I did not vote for Young, Stevens or Obama. I did not select an independent candidate. I selected the person who I think best represents my values despite their party affiliation. If that helps or hurts the liberal platform remains to be seen. It is very possible that Democrats who cling to their religion and guns can save their party from the Pelosi's of this world. I will support the winners and hope they understand their responsibility to the people of this nation and fulfill their duty according to the law and the Constitution.
Yippee! At least my vote seemed to count in this race.
Since everyone is HAPPY..
Looks like BO is going to have Billary in the Cabinet! Who can leak national security info to his buddies overseas!
Where is Monica??? Your Uncle Sam needs YOU
NOW!
Go SARAH 2012...no, 2010!!!
"Now we need to get organized and vote out Palin"
If we are lucky Sarah will run against Lisa Murkowski in the 2010 senate race and get beat in the primary. Then she will have lost her governor job too because that office will be up for election in 2010 too and Sarah will have to choose which job she will run for.
I don't see why Palin would run against Murkowski instead of seeking another term as governor. She'd almost certainly be re-elected governor.
Ted, Bill Allen, and the good ole GOP corrupt bastard boys can sit around club Fed and play cards and reminisce about the good old days when they controlled this state and with their bloated power, gave the big oil giants huge breaks at the states expense. I for one am glad their little run is finally OVER!
"I don't see why Palin would run against Murkowski instead of seeking another term as governor. She'd almost certainly be re-elected governor."
Yes that would be normal thinking, but Sarah is a career climber and the senate would be one step closer to the presidency. If she is stuck up here in Wasilla as governor it will be harder to be constantly in the news channels. Put her in DC and she can rub shoulders and pal around with some really powerful people. I would bet she runs against Lisa.. She went against her when she threw Ted under the bus when the verdict was read while Lisa stood firm in support of Stevens.
Well I guess the mob has spoken this time around and the USA no longer is a Republic in its true form.
For all in favor of more taxes as the new presidents promises to increase then having Begich in office will only make it easier since he has really never found a tax he didn't like.
Deep down Begich prefers to collect taxes as a form of social engineering as opposed to just taxing fairly across the board and for the specific purpose of running government services.
He enjoys working with special interest especially if they are good at perverting the meaning of private property such as anti-tobbaco for example....
I could go on but soon enough people will see the results for themselves Since there is no longer any checks on the Dems in DC...sad thing is once the damage is done reversing legislation is usually more difficult then creating it...
On that one, I actually agreed with Palin and not Lisa...but then again, Lisa didn't have much choice but to continue supporting Stevens or risk major drama. In any case I've never heard of any rift between Palin and Murkowski so I don't see why Palin would run against her...but if it does happen, I will be working hard to re-elect Lisa.
Glorioskis...Unca Teddy is finally out of Congress and I think I just saw a pig go flying by!
Ted Stevens is a great man & this was an unfortunate situation for him. Alaska would not be what it is today without his efforts to fight for us over & over & over again.There has never been a Congressman in the history of the US who done so much for one state. It is a shame there are so many resentful/hateful individuals against Uncle Ted. Unless you have lived in Alaska all your life as I have & have truely seen all the good Stevens has done for this state; you really have have no basis/ or grounds to talk. Ted Stevens is Alaska. If you are truely an Alaskan you will agree with me. Thank you Ted Stevens for all that you have done. Your legacy will live on in the hearts of all True Alaskans.
Well, Begich's adds inferred that he built the oil pipeline & will build the gas pipeline. And that he's a maverick that won't blindly obey his DNC masters/mistress. He talked the talk. Let's see if he walks the walk.
LifeTimeAlaskan,
Well, I guess there are a lot of "fake" Alaskans, since they saw fit to vote out Ted Stevens. So people have to think like you or they aren't Alaskan?
I did not vote for Uncle Ted for the first time since I came to Alaska in 81. He has probably done more for our state than any other human being, but he got greedy. Sorry Ted for your downfall. You were voted out fair and square, and now it is time to get your appeal in order. Best Wishes, and I hope you can live out your days as a free man, albeit a convicted felon.
I felt it was time for Ted to go, but I won't be celebrating. This is a sad end to his career. He made some very big mistakes, and his reputation has been spoiled at an age when he won't be able to rebuild it.
Compared to those in the legislature who accepted bribes, his failure to report gifts is, to my mind, less of a crime. A crime nonetheless, and one worth voting him out of office for, but less of a violation of voters' trust than the bribery convictions of state officials.
I'd like to see Bush pardon him. Alaska has had a long nightmare in its politics, and there's still more to go. But for all Ted has done, I think on balance that we can let this one slide. I don't want to see him in jail. I'm just not that angry at him.
This was a necessary ouster, but not something to gloat over.
Seems to be more "fake" Alaskans than "Real" Alaskans...whatcha say 'ol LifeTimeAlaskan?? Or maybe the real Alaskans this time around are the ones with enough common sense to not vote for that fake Ted Stevens.
Um, even if Stevens were to win, he will not have his seniority. The whole "convicted felon" thing doesn't go over too well in the Senate.
Let's all remember that the reason we even have the ability to email, or even speak on a telephone, in AK is due to Senator Stevens. After 40 years of service and billions of dollars in benefits to our state I am ashamed to see so many of you abandon a man who has made the State of Alaska the only self sufficient state in the union. Shame to those who do not study their history. And I hear the Chilkoot Trail is open again for a southern passage.
The solution to getting rid of Sarah is to let her run her mouth as much as possible. Give her more rope to hang herself.
She is an ambitious whacko. If you believe in the Peter's principle, her station in life should be as a radio D-Jay or TV mini-celeb, not the CEO for the state of Alaska.
Beware though if you work for the State in any capacity that bad-mouthing queenie like I'm doing might not be good for your financial health. There is little if any privacy with an anonymous handle here in Fairbanks. The Ramas-Brown thing was probably proof of that. There are other scenarios where he could have been busted but unlikely since he posted from his computer at home. The most likely-Occam's razor- is a local entity gave his IP number to the interested party and they in turn were able to get one of the ISP's to tell them who the IP number was assigned to at the time of the post.
Of course maybe Sarah has had an epiphany after trying to run off the Wasilla librarian for "lack of loyalty" after she refused to ban a book Ms. Palin didn't care for. If that's the case, naturally I'm being a little paranoid about her assigning a staffer to take notes on her vocal opponents and to track down who they might be. Wonder what Ted Stevens thinks of her after she stuck the knife in his back when she thought it would get her political points?
dog
"Seems to be more "fake" Alaskans than "Real" Alaskans...whatcha say 'ol LifeTimeAlaskan?? Or maybe the real Alaskans this time around are the ones with enough common sense to not vote for that fake Ted Stevens."
aklibbylover, just being born here doesn't make you a real anything. The "real Alaskans" are the ones who's ancestors were stomping around these hills for thousands of years. Everyone else, even us who were lucky enough to be born here are still and will always be cheechako's.
Don't you people understand that just because Ted Stevens has done good things in the past doesn't mean he deserves to be re-elected now? Of course he's done good things for Alaska, but he turned corrupt and started serving special interests. (He also voted for a lot of things that I personally disagree with, but others have different opinions of course.) Anyway, point is, the time has come to vote him out even if he was a good senator in the past. Mark Begich is an exciting new face who will work hard for Alaska's future.
akbearable, I'd be curious to hear your logic behind the idea that someone's ancestry accords them a higher place in society. Sounds a lot like racism to me.
"Let's all remember that the reason we even have the ability to email, or even speak on a telephone, in AK is due to Senator Stevens."
Ridiculous! There were White Alice stations going up all over before Ted ever seen the senate. As for email, well gee' you got me on that one. Maybe he invented the internet too? He did do a lot, but I am quite certain we would have email if he never moved here in the first place
This is a great day for the democracy that america is!
"akbearable, I'd be curious to hear your logic behind the idea that someone's ancestry accords them a higher place in society. Sounds a lot like racism to me."
Not racism, just respect for a people we overran with superior numbers and firepower and whose way of life we stole. If you have no respect for those that were here for millenia before us that is your business, I don't care. It is my own personal belief that these people deserve a lot more respect then they ever get.
Thank you Ted Stevens for all you've done for Alaska!
Lets remember folks we all fall short.
He has done wonders for Alaska, how dare anyone talk about renaming the Anchorage Airport. Don't we all make mistakes? He should be honored!
I respect all people equally, unless an individual gives me any reason to respect him/her more or less than others. I judge people on an individual basis, not on who their ancestors were.
yay!!!
and um......he who is without sin, etc, etc, etc.
Of course he invented the internet...it's a series of tubes, right??
"He has done wonders for Alaska, how dare anyone talk about renaming the Anchorage Airport. Don't we all make mistakes? He should be honored!"
Perhaps we should further honor him by renaming the federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas the Ted Stevens Federal Correctional Institute. He could be the first honored guest, too!
This is a HISTORIC loss for all alaskans- a sad day indeed.
I am stunned by the people that mourn the loss of Ted Stevens. I don’t care what he has done in the past; he is still a convicted felon, period. I realize the things he did for Alaska in the past, but that does not make what he has done in the last few years alright. Let’s face it; Ted was in on more than just this. This was the tip of the iceberg and many of his dealings over the last ten years have been under suspicion. From his property and business dealings, to the suspected lack of ethics involving his son Ben with fisheries and the Special Olympics, there have been signs of a problem. Ted was good for the state years ago, but absolute power corrupts absolutely. Using the logic people talk about, I guess that means I can embezzle from my employer and it should be acceptable. After all, I made him a lot of money in the last 30 years, so he should understand now while I steal from him and plead my arrogance. A convicted felon is a felon and was judged by his peers to be guilty. It’s time for Alaskans to pull together for once and hope that we have elected an honest man. I sure hope this is the case here. On another point, did those of you that voted for Ted really believe he would last another 6 years? The true test of a man is to know when to say when and move on. Ted failed that test miserably. I sure hope we change the name of the Airport in Anchorage. I don’t want my state connected with a seven time convicted felon.
To me it is pretty clear that Ted was guilty and had to go. For the most part I am OK with this. Still I need to be guided by my father when I once gloated over an adversaries downfall. He simply told me not to kick a man when he is down. I think that we are at this point. Ted is no longer in power and never will be again. For that I am satisfied. To express glee over his demise reflects badly on oneself.
I am curious, however, about LifeTimeAlaskan's comments. He/She seems to imply that the basis to talk on this matter is mainly about how many years one has been in the state. I have spent my nearly 60 years in the State and my family's history in Fairbanks goes back to 1903. I would, however, never make such a claim. Maybe I need to spend a few more years here to become more enlightened...? I hope this is not the case.
Besides, even E.T. Barnette was a crook. Hey, Alaska has been full of crooks since white guys first came here!! That is factual, and is part of our history. I appreciate what Uncle Ted did for us, but he too got greedy. Now he will probably have to go do some jail time...he even said it himself, if one can believe those commercials that aired during the campaign. Its not that big of a deal to me, but it is a sad day for Alaska and for Uncle Ted. Happy Birthday Ted, and good luck, you are sure gonna need it.
It's good to know that Alaska will not have the shame of sending a convicted criminal to represent itself in Washington D.C. But I see no cause for celebration.
Ted's legacy remains. We will continue to be the federally addicted welfare state of Alaska.
After all Ted has done for Alaska, we should thank him. Period. Elections are about the future, not the past. And Mark Begich and Alaska have a bright future together.
I hope Sarah Palin runs for Anchorage Mayor.
You Democrats better make your words sweet...After all once you pull your head out (must be warm up there) and you realize the federal funds that we've all counted on before are soon to be gone. Than you'll be whining about that. Also a Filibuster proof Democrat Senate. Everyone better grab your butts with both hands, it’s going to be a rough ride.
I don't think he did any thing any other senator hasn’t done. The democrats want him out because of all the bunny-hugger doesn’t want to see ANWR open up. Now it won't be opening at all, unless Sara can pull it off..
For you Natives. I apologize for all the bad my race has done to you. But now, with the Democrats in charge, Alaska has no choice but to open Casinos up here. You are probably the only ones who could do it. Most of the Casinos in the lower 48, at least in the west are on Indian Reservations. Money would never be a problem for you again.
Give Alaska 2 years at the most, we will be just like Mississppi used to be. Than everyone will be begging you to open up gambling. When I first came up here our teachers were the highest paid teachers in the country. Now we are what #20??
aklibbylover, you are an angry person. Maybe some counceling could help, you are acting like the bratty kid on the playground. He lost, do you have to go around making people feel like dirt, challenging their love of Alaska and insulting everyones intelligence?
I'm with you tpc,
I'm a lifer, 3rd gen, same age (approx) and Lifetime Alaskan doesn't own the title, just his personal take on things.
If some of these posters knew some of the things Ted could have been indicted on rather than this "felony lite" they would not be so quick to forgive.
Or maybe they would as long as Ted's appropriations kept them in the chips.
That's what I'm seeing in many of these postings, something I started to see about a decade ago, Ted the Enabler for so many people rather than a long term strategy of Alaskans being independent on something other than perpetual raw resource extraction. There is no such thing as perpetual resource extraction yet most of our "leaders" have yet to admit it. It's too darned easy to keep doing it the way we've always done it. And just like anything perceived as perpetual,the old ways have got to change. Ted has had such a machine of handlers for years and many of them figure prominently in further federal investigations that will happen in a court near you.
Once they were plugged into Ted's machine they branched out onto the fertile fields of K street in D.C. and exploited their Alaskan connections to the Hulk. And you can bet they used Ted like Bill Allen did.
Many's the former cock of the walk in days past who felt Steven's protective wing and aura of power would keep they too perpetually protected are now shaking in their boots tonight. They know it's over when Ted went down locally as well as in D.C.
Mr akbob,
All your doom and gloom for the future seems a mite displaced to me.
I feel your shock and uncertainty for the future, however worrying about today and tomorrow and next week seems a little more appropriate.
Our most recent people in power for the past 8 years have left us a gutted country with overrun borders and trillions of dollars in debt.
Much of what we owe is to China and Saudi Arabia, two nations I don't really expect to see in our corner anytime soon.
Let Obama make his mistakes, everybody does.
Whether they prove to be of the magnitude of those set to depart the White House, time will tell.
Theirs however, will be a hard record to break. In case you hadn't noticed, we're broke, busted and I'm disgusted.
This reminds me of why my husband and I have a great life...I spend money like nobodies busines and he saves....together we get what we need, and have fun but we have a nest egg...I am worried about having NO republican nag...
"I am stunned by the people that mourn the loss of Ted Stevens. I don’t care what he has done in the past; he is still a convicted felon, period"
practical, most people just don't get it. Ted Stevens was brought down by the fed in the most efficient way possible. It was what they could easily get him for. What people don't get is just how much the oil industry has screwed this state for the past 30 years with the help of Teds good friend Bill Allen. People talk about what he has brought to the state, the money, but what about the money that was never gotten from the oil industry. Norway has a simillar oil industry as our own, but their permanent fund has 400 billion in it and that is because they taxed the oil industry. Here in Alaska through corruption of the mostly GOP legislature and judging by the friends Stevens kept, the US Senate too, the oil industry got away with theft on a scale that boggles the mind. They build a huge pipeline that sucked the oilfields dry as fast as they could, all the while paying for full page ads and TV ads saying that they are on the verge of pulling out and going home because they are taxed just too much to make any money.. ANY MONEY??? Exxon routinely breaks its own record for the most money any company has made in a quarter, ever! What role Stevens played in this royal screwing that Alaska received is not clear and never will be. But he is guilty by association with Bill Allen and his filth. Remember Bill Allen was talking to the corrupt bastards on a cell phone, including Teds son Ben while they were on the floor voting on the tax we should charge the oil industry. He had them in his complete control and had it not been for the FBI, NOT SARAH PALIN then this corruption that has been going on for the past 3 decades would still be going on. Alaskans are many things, but most Alaskans don't like government and the oil industry played on this fact telling everybody that they will pull out and go elsewhere if they don't get their way. The Republicans, funded by oil got in there on some social agenda, right to life, gun control, something and then went straight to work for the oil companies. Ted is guilty. What he brought into this state is nothing compared with what big oil took out. Too bad people don't see it. I hate this feeling of being screwed.
O hey guys! Did you hear that Stevens lost?? What do you think about that???
I've never voted for Ted, but I think this is a sad ending to a long illustrious career. Friends who clung to coat tails as did Palin when running for Governor, and many of his fellow Senators threw him aside like so much trash, couldn't wait to call the man dispicable.
The Rs were waiting to expell him from his seat so that Sarah could run in his place.
After reading parts of his brief I am not fully convinced of total guilt.
This should be a lesson for others who would use their office to benefit self, no matter what you attempt for constituents. You might also discover there are no friends in politics.
akbearable: I get it, and I'm with you. I'm a union pipefitter that worked up north for years. I've seen Bill Allen and the veco squad at work behind the doors. You are absoulutely right. Like I said, the tip of the iceberg....
OH, Oh, How can George W. pardon him...Ted says he hasn't been convicted yet.
Let's send both bums George Without and Ted Shame. to JAIL!
What a wonderful day! You get rid of one, who thought he was
above the law. Then you get one who doesn't know the law! At the
School Principals debate, Begich was asked a Constitutional question,
with a chuckle, he said i will let Bob(Bird) answer that one. So you
have jumped from the frying pan to the fire, hope your horse won
the race. Yes, I voted for Bird and if you understood anything about
the Constitution you would have also, you know, that G#% Dammed
piece of paper as George W. calls it. Enjoy the ride, the next couple
of years should be interesting.
THANKS folks now D F Y S won't have PORKYS moneys to steel your kids with TED always seened they 90 plus million dollars to take our native kids from us and the FEDERAL WELFARE money will be gone maybe so less T.V"S SOLD NOW MARK BEGICH don't forget what your DAD always said alaska is no place for dead beats in alaska FINLLEY BY BY BY TED now jail is not good enough for you but it work
no more military pork, the state will have to find something else to support us with.
Sad, sad day. I don't suppose he'll be running again even if his appeal wins. The Anchorage Daily News ran an excellent article about him...you might want to check it out.
Come on folks. It was inevitable that Ted had to go sometime. NO, the fact he was FRAMED doesn't help matters, and truth will win out in the end. But the dude is getting on in years, which is probably why this thing here with Bill Allen was able to happen (Bill, if you haven't already, perhaps you should look into leaving Alaska pdq). Would we have been served better if he worked till he dropped dead? I don't think so.
He should take some time off to bond with his family and friends before the Lord calls him home. 84 yrs old is getting on you know. Let's just be grateful for all he did do for us okay?
Also, for what it's worth...Mark Begich is probably a pretty good choice, being also a lifetime Alaskan and is pretty conservative as far as the younger Democrats go. It will take him some time to do justice to his job, given the fact Ted Stevens is going to be one exceptionally hard act to follow. Hopefully Stevens won't hold hard feelings and will give Begich the support WE need. That is asking a lot, but Uncle Ted's a really good man who deserves to be pardoned if he doesn't win his appeal, so write the Prez, people.
I demand a re-count! We definitely need Senator Stevens in office more than ever!
Look at what begich has done to Los Anchorage! It's even worse than it was before he took office!!
For what it's worth - this household has voted for Senator Stevens consistently since 1988.
If the oil industry had paid the state its rightful due for the massive extraction of the biggest oilfields in North America we would never had needed Ted or his federal money. We could have had a lot more then he had ever brought in and we could have used it for something other then military bases, which was a large portion of Teds pork tally. We could have had a first class ferry system, education in the villages with teachers paid a living that they could live on. There is so much that we could have used that money for, but most of the oil is gone, and that money is gone too. Gone into the big oil companies profits. I guess I am happy that Palin stepped in and raised (slightly) the tax rate on them, but this is too little and far too late. The tax structure now based on net profits is the latest example of big oil getting a huge break. How in the world could we ever hope to collect a fair tax when it they could fabricate bogus expenditures to write off their profits. It would take an army of accountants and then even more lawyers to try to get them to pay, with cases going to the industry friendly Supreme court. The oil industry played Alaska and its politicians masterfully, extracting the oil at a fantastic rate, showing us a little money which we were too wowed by but taking the big money and running. I am not sure if Ted Stevens realized this or not, I have to think he must have, especially with his association and friendship with Allen. I am sure Frank did, and as governor tried to give us yet another screwing. How could they have not known? Was the fed dollars brought in just guilt money? a
An appeasement? One thing seems clear to me by the majority of responses to Ted's conviction and loss of election, is that the wool is still firmly pulled over the eyes of most Alaskans. Hopefully this screwing isn't going to extend to the gasline, but every indicator looks like it will. Once the gas is gone we can go back to coal and firewood.
More good news for Alaska!
Well Begich...will not be leaning tooo left as he knows he only won because of Ted's current problems. If he leans tooo left he will count himself as a one term senator. He will not be reelected!
At last.
Now let's get the stain off of the Anchorage Airport.
At least Begich's kids will not have to attend school in Alaska. Thank God all the Ted Steven's ear marks will come to an end and this State will have to take care of it's own fiscal needs. People tended to forget, exactly what did Lisa Murkowski do for Alaska as a first term Republican Senator in a. Anyone who thinks Begich will do more doesn't understand the nature of the Senate. Like they say, be careful what you wish for, it might come true. By this time next year, Alaska should have started the road back to the last frontier. For many of you, the AlCan is the road you need to use to return south.
Thank you Senator Stevens for your service to our state, and to our country.
Mr. Begich, please do not turn into a left wing loony like Mike Gravel. Represent Alaska and not the Democrat Party and you will do well.
Ted now has time to hang out at the dumpster with Nick.
Murkowski looks more like the Hulk these days.Only red.
The least we can do is let the gentleman exit with a little dignity! Didn't your mother teach you any better?
Happy Birthday Uncle Ted.
Begich better vote for whats best for the state and country, not just vote to back the Democrats. Thats if he wants to have a second term...
Tough Day to Hear that you've lost your Senate Seat....your 85th Birthday, Ted!
Well....thanks for your Service...I voted for you once, against you once, in my ten years in Alaska...
Enjoy your Ski Lodge while you still can.....
POWER does CORRUPT People....and Senator Stevens, unfortunately, is a Prime Example of that!
Here's Hoping that Senator Mark Begich can work together with Sen. Murkowski and speak as "one voice" for Alaska.....
First Alaska Democrat since whom? Mike Gravel??
WOW.....!
Congratulations, Senator Begich.....
Your Father is looking down from Heaven, and he's PROUD of YOU!
We May never know what happened to your father Congressman Nick Begich, and Sen. Hale Boggs of Louisiana.....
But I'm sure you'll make an Excellent Senator...!
God Bless You, Mark
And God Bless the Great State of Alaska......
"Eight Stars of GOLD on a Field of Blue...."
Alaskans did the right thing.
"I wonder how much money the new Junior Senator
will bring io the State. $$$ 0 $$$ and that means
cuts in DOT, military and civilian jobs that Senator
Stevens could have saved, with his powerful
Chairmanship."
Republicans strike me as a peculiar lot. They always seem to have a self righteous attitude for every stance they take. They don't believe in government spending beyond their means and yet celebrate a GOP senator who has made it his 40 year mission to extract as much money from the fed as possible. They hate taxes and yet support the party whose presidents have far out deficit spent the Dems for the past 1/4 century. They claim to be for "free markets" and yet will bail out wall street while leaving the auto industry to fend for themselves. Could it be that the swing voters finally started to see the GOP platform for what it is? Total hypocrisy! It all starts to sound like that "doublespeak" "ignorance is strength" Big Brother crap that Orwell wrote about.
Burke you really dont believe that he was hung because of 70% black poulation, do you? Maybe he was hung because he broke the law. Period.
Hey, akbearable, don't forget our fellow Alaskans who piss and moan that Obama will 'spread the wealth' and simultaneously complain that Begich won't be able to bring home the federal bacon like Stevens did.
Yay for cognitive dissonance!
Also amazing is how the Republicans talk about Ted like he still could have wielded his former power to extract money from the fed had he been elected. REALITY CHECK! If Ted had won the election, and even if he had been found innocent at trial, he would find himself in a Democratic majority congress with a Democrat in the white house. His power with just that alone is greatly diminished. But now realize he is a felon, and funny how even close colleagues in Teds own party will want to distance themselves from him.,. He would have at the very least been stripped his chairmanships and committees and would still be allowed to vote but that is all. Most likely he would have been expelled. Even if not, the man is old and is not likely to be around that much longer anyway with mind intact. You people talk about him like he is immortal, a god of earmarks to the state! We need new blood aqnd this is an excellent time to get on with someone new. We have sent the message (barely) to the rest of the country that we are not a bunch of corrupt hacks up here and that we will clean out our own house (with a little help from the FBI).
"Hey, akbearable, don't forget our fellow Alaskans who piss and moan that Obama will 'spread the wealth' and simultaneously complain that Begich won't be able to bring home the federal bacon like Stevens did."
The hypocrisy of the Republicans knows no bounds! I hate to bring up McCain/Palin here on this post but one of my favorites is how the Sarah and John dog and pony show was going to "look out for special needs kids". In a campaign based largely on "chop chop chop those taxes away" They would have money to ad to special needs kids. What about special needs adults? What about the elderly that have special needs as well? No mention of them.. I wonder if Palin's kid had come out alright if there would have been any mention of special needs kids? I already know the answer to that! Hypocrisy..
Oh_Please, right now, several newsminer posters are hurriedly looking up what cognitive dissonance means in a frantic attempt to know what you're talking about and also to refute it... Bravo! It's like shooting fish in a barrel.
Anywho, I do love how anything involving Stevens immediatley brings out the greed in Alaskans. Everyone forgets the whole felony indictment thing in a flurry of, "BUT WUT ABOUT OUR MONEEIESSSS!!!
In retrospect I'm amazed how I was able to live most of my life in a state where we didn't get PFD checks, or energy rebate checks, we didn't have massive earmarks set aside in Congress, or really any handouts at all, and yet we somehow always managed to scrape by...
Then again our Senators weren't crooks, and we also paid half what we pay for gas.
So, I guess Allah was looking out for us.
"In retrospect I'm amazed how I was able to live most of my life in a state where we didn't get PFD checks, or energy rebate checks, we didn't have massive earmarks set aside in Congress, or really any handouts at all, and yet we somehow always managed to scrape by.."
I remember those years as well. We had a little state income tax, and we somehow got by before 68 when Ted was appointed to the senate just fine. Even managed to build 3 new ferries without Teds help! Those big old boats are still working tirelessly but are going on 50 years old. We didn't have the money, and thus we were smarter with our money. I often ask if we, and I include everyone who is a long time Alaskan, say here before 69 when discovery well was drilled on the slope, would be better off or worse off had oil never been discovered. It sure put us on the map! Probably wouldn't be quite as many houses with 5 car heated garages but so what? I think we would have done just fine, just maybe not quite the level of wealth for some, but possibly a better state to live in..
burke: Your wife called. She's wondering what you did with the bed sheet.
Yay! Now let's just rename the airport and get on with life.
Burke: Do you really think Ted would have had a real power in the senate? He was stripped of his chairmanship! Even criminals know enough to distance themselves from people under investigation. I'm sure even politicians are smart enough to distance themselves from someone under federal investigation! Please accept that fact that Ted was a seven time convicted felon that lost all of his power and respectability. Common now, are you really serious?
I wonder if Mark supports federal term limits, and would be active in trying to obtain that for the country?
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