Who Else Will The Stevens Indictment Touch?
While entities as disparate as Alaska Democrats and the National Review are calling for Ted Stevens to resign following his indictment yesterday, Marc Ambinder asks who else may be touched by this scandal.
Stevens himself promises to barrel on continue with his re-election campaign
"Senator Stevens' campaign for re-election is continuing to move full steam ahead. Our office has been flooded today with calls and emails from supporters urging the Senator to press on. The message from them is clear: Alaska needs Ted Stevens in the U.S. Senate."
Riiiigggghhhhttt. Meanwhile Rep Gordon Smith (R-OR) reported donated money to Stevens' campaign even after the investigation became known, and got some from Stevens in return. Jeff Merkley challenged Smith to return the funds to Stevens, something Smith initially agreed to do. But not so fast...It appears that Smith has decided to merely donate some ($10K) of the $39,000 he's received from Stevens, unlike his fellow Republicans Elizabeth Dole and John Sununu.
Could we see some further tainting of the Republican brand during this election? Mark Begich is running for Stevens' seat, he could sure use your support.
When even the most senior member is under investigation you know you're in trouble. Meanwhile, continued violence in Iraq, an uninspiring presidential candidate, and a worsening economy. The Republicans are going down in flames.
Who Else Will The Stevens Indictment Touch?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTneO6UgRuM
Who Else Will The Stevens Indictment Touch?
Hopefully every last fascist bastard in the entire administration.
Nicolle, thank you for referring to political parties as "Brands." Perhaps that will help people to see through all the false marketing.
Look, this guy is dirty, period. I've thought so for a long time and now looks like the chickens are coming home to roost on that... It may take two or three years for the whole deal to play out in court. But at the end of it all.. I believe Stevens will be finished, kaput.... convicted and given some kind of actual sentence, end of story....
Frankly, near as I can tell every repub in that state has some kind of dirt on their shoes save one... That newbie chic, whomever she is, can't recall her name. But the little bit of blog focus from last spring painted a rather refreshing portrait of a female in politics who was republican, and not as corrupt as the day is long...
In these times, and being a repub, and bucking the old repub network of ass covering for corruption, that's quite an accomplishment in itself.... Not that I think that means anything in the broader sense regarding the upcoming election.. All it really means is she may be of a new generation of republican that might over the course of a generation or so rehabilitate that party.. or not... She might end up in hot water herself down the road...
A generation is a long time for a repuke to avoid some kind of involvement in a criminal endeavor.
In any case Stevens himself ought to be making licence plates and/or washing convict laundry at the end of this, but we'll have to wait and see if A. He buys his way out with political favors called in, or favors promised, or B. he is in fact convicted after a long drawn out circus... C. some way or other he's ligitmately exonerated... (my money is not on that outcome) or D. he up and croaks while the wheels of justice are slowly roasting his ass in court....... we'll just have to wait and see folks...JD
Don't listen to them, Ted! You keep running for re-election! You show those bastards who's REALLY in charge around here! I suggest "Screw You, Vote For ME!" as a campaign slogan, whaddaya think?
(Oh, and nice turtleneck, dude. A gift from Larry Craig?)
Albatross @ 7:
HA! You bastard! I nearly choked on my pizza! That's funny shit!
The Republicans are going down in flames.
Unless the voters get stupid in November (something they've been known to do). If, god forbid, McCain pulls out a win it will only enbolden them more.
The truth is that every member of congress (including the two presidential candidates) spend most of their time raising money for their next campaigns and enriching themselves personally.''
Every. Single. One.
I got two words for the Senator: Tom DeLay.
Should we be resigning yet? Please don't. I'd love to see a few extra democrats in the senate next year (even if they are all p*ssies).
They are all dirty, it's part of the part of the job description. The funny thing is that most pols both celebrate and abhor these indictments - "Thanks God it's not me!" / "Am I next?"
Let us not forget that the biggest crooks of all remain (Bush / Cheney) entirely uninvestigated while the occasional small fry like Stevens (may) get cooked.
The last thing we want is for Stevens to step aside and let a cleanER, no such thing as clean, Republican to take his place before the election. Stevens will be much easier to beat.
Tubes Stevens you have my support! Stay on as senator! Fight away!!
Note on main post. Gordon Smith R-OR is a senator not a representative.
An easily bought politician has supporters urging him to stay in office. Is there anyone (not paying him for favors) who doesn't see this as a problem.
More emphasis on Congressional Crooks! Wash out as many of these SOBs as possible--even if some are Dems.
Expose, expose, expose....uh sorry Larry Craig.
Jack Damage @ #5
In any case Stevens himself ought to be making licence plates and/or washing convict laundry at the end of this
Or telemarketing for a survey at some private prison that he supported in exchange for contributions to his long senate carreer.
A cantankerous old dude will make a nifty sex toy for some lucky inmate.
please excuse the link in that last one. I'm usuing a new "improved" iPhone. Thanks Apple!
Robo calls from the GOP begging him to go away do not qualify as "support".
im betting he implicates obama and clinton.... something about sex for drug money....
Story in the Oklahoman today reports that Inhofe has donated his Stevens' money to Habitat and Susan G. Komen Cancer fund.
The Stevens indictment raises a question for me.
We know that the Bush administration tolerates corruption, especially by Republicans, and punishes justice department investigation of it. Carol Lam's firing for investigating Duke Cunningham and his buddies is probably the best known example of this.
And indicting a senator merely for not reporting gifts? This never happens. If it did, every US senator would be under indictment.
So what on earth did Senator Stevens do that made the Bush administration so unhappy that they investigated and indicted him?
Winston Smith @ 23:
They are bringing him up on this charge, probably as part of deal not to investigate the real issue...MONEY...as in the kickbacks, favors, etc that he recieved from the companies in Alaska that worked on his home.
Evidence of a quid pro quo opens up a WHOLE can of worms for everyone in Congress.
So, they'll indict on this "inappropriate filing" nonsense, convict him and sentence him to 3 years, and he's out in probably six months. OR, the other scenario...the case goes on for months...he loses, appeals...and the whole thing dies a quiet death after the election. He's 86 years old. He'll retire and that as they say will be that.
Elizabeth Dole has not returned all the money she got from Stevens. She donated the most recent $10,000 she received to a charity; but she still has ~$11,000 she received from him earlier...
Glad to see another Republican Crook, biting the dust.
Norm Coleman (R-MN) is apparently playing the same game as Gordo and returning only a portion of the entire contributions from Stevens and VECO.
http://mnpublius.com/2008/07/oil-stained-pac-money-how-much-is-coleman-really-giving-away/
I think this indictment won't effect any other national politicians except maybe Rep. Don Young.
This is about a specific company turning state's evidence.
I hate to tell you but Dan Inouye and Ted are tight.
It may be true that campaign contributions, donations, gifts, bribes and kickbacks all end up going to the same person. However, it's wrong to think of them as being part of the same whole. They're independent. In other words, they're not like a big truck....they're more like a series of...
Well, you know...
liberaMcSuuuurgeNmoderation @ 8:
WTF! If you're not eating Cheetoes you have no street cred here! Pizza for breakfast? Do you work for MICROSOFT or something?
As for the turtleneck, if Robert Mitchum or Carl Segan were still alive they'd tell you that when you have more chins than a Taiwanese phone book, you wear a TURTLENECK!
LOL! The rightard is going to go ahead and continue the election campaign. That's just great! Aren't Christians just about the dumbest piles of ignorant shit out there?
Pericles @ 31:
I dunno. When I used to wear turtlenecks, it made it look like my neck was blowing bubbles.
Christy Hannity @ 29:
They go out drinking together
Or they have further need of KY Jelly?
Joe Tums @ 26:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMenB9Ywh2Q
ysbaddaden @ 34:
I mean they scratch each others back.
Our office has been flooded today with calls and emails from supporters urging the Senator to press on.
PASS ON! I said he should PASS ON! Don't those people listen?
Ironically, Air Force General Thomas Tinsley, 3rd Wing Commander at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, supposedly comitted suicide just 2 days prior to the Steven's indictment. The website MilitaryCorruption.com reports that many readers have emailed them telling of a potential (and alleged) connection with the "suicide" of this general and links to the Stevens scandal.
It may have no connection at all, but for a commander of an airwing to "off" himself is highly unusual. To do so just days before the ranking senator of the same state (and also former Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Cmte.) is indicted for alleged corruption, well.......it may just be coincidence. But it's a very odd coincidence.
Christy Hannity @ 36:
Well that all depends on what position their in, right?
Christy Hannity @ 29:
I'm hoping against hope that this brings down slimeball Inoye. Article in yesterday's Honolulu Advertiser about how they "scratched each other's backs" -- i.e., supported each other's pork projects. E.g., Inoye supported drilling in ANWR. He's a disgrace. Good riddance.
Now, if we can just move on to getting rid of Barbara Mikulski and Diane Finestein.
mauimom @ 40:
I'm having a hard time finding that article. A link would help. The Advertiser has a hard time saying anything critical about the two Dans.
Gordon Smith has flipped on his decision on this all ready. I think he realizes now that he will be losing the election in Oregon being 8-10 pts behind Jeff Merkely in the latest polling. He may really need the money if they catch him in a swindle involving the VP with the dead fish and wildlife laws they trampled.
One thing about Stevens, Smith, Larry Craig, Conrad Burns, Hatch... these guys are the NW league of gop swindlers. They have a club where they share money and perhaps bribes from the oil and ranching concerns of the west. Stevens knows he is going down, why does he send money to others that he will need for his "legal defense fund"? Because he has to be able to count on these other senators not to tell the truth about what they know and what deals were struck. You see a contribution from one senator to another and it is a bribe. doesn't matter what party.
So look at the other members of the club that remain? Hard right and red Orrin Hatch? All his pals will be gone this time around and that John Ensign and incredible Joe (Idiot-CT) will be his only friend. Liebercash and Ensign are getting paid by Adelson now.
funny stuff it weren't all a crime.
Many questions remain. (1) Who "outed" Stevens and what were their ulterior motives, (2) what's behind the rapid movement of the case to trial, in September?, &c. Do the GOPS want him tried in time for a pardon by the lame duck in the White House? Do the Dems want a show trial for didactic purposes, demonizing Stevens as the living symbol of GOP corruption just before the general elections?
Hopefully, the trial can stay in D.C. There are still Alaskans who think of Ted as King of Alaska and would never convict him. Surely some of these folks would be on the jury. Ted knows this. That is his major reason for wanting the trial in Alaska. He has approved every appointment in Alaska....these judges owe him!!!!
Ted only spent 26 days total in Alaska last year. He comes to get awards and have things named after him, brings about six or seven fellow congressmen for an exclusive fishing trip, comes at Christmas, and vacations here during the August month.
Of course, I am sure he will be around this summer for campaigning. The last time he was in Kodiak he was Booooed! There is video of this that I have seen on the local news but Ted says it didn't happen.
The indictment is only the tip of the iceberg of the things this awful man has done for the past 40 years. It is only the one thing they have proof of...ie Capone.
I've lived in Alaska 40 years and he has done nothing for me or my family. He only helps his family, oil, fishery, and the native corporations. The rest of us have been kicked under the bus.
This man has six kids. None live in Alaska except for one son that is under investigation. That is very telling about a man. His home is and has always been in D.C. Let his trial be there.
Albatross @ 7:
gasp
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