Congratulations to the Republican party on their latest high-profile felony conviction:
Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Senate Republican in history and patriarch of Alaska politics, was found guilty of felony charges for making false statements.
The verdict could spell the end of a 40-year Senate career for a man who rose to be one of the most dominant figures in the upper chamber and who helped transform Alaska in its 50 years of statehood. The verdict was reached after the jury deliberated since Wednesday and found the 84-year-old senator guilty of failing to report more than $250,000 in gifts from Bill Allen, the former head of Veco Corp., and other friends.
The jury did not seem to buy the explanation from Stevens that Allen showered him with gifts he didn’t want and was unaware of, and that he believed the $160,000 he gave to another contractor covered all costs for the home renovations.
Wonder what the Pitbull has to say?
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Down the Toobz! *g*
Down the Toobz!!!
I feel just awful for senator Toobz.
BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAA !!
YES!!!!!
I let everyone know you are up here :)
A great big flushing sound!!!
OK, so they already know..lol
research needed quickly – can convicted felons serve in the Senate?
nyuk nyuk nyuk
Wonder what the Pitbull has to say?
Maybe now she’ll be able to answer whether she supports him for re-election or not. She’s never hesitated to stick a knife in a former benefactor when she knew she could benefit from it.
“I have never met Senator Stevens.”
- Sarah Palin
SURE they can, laws are only for the little people.
Oxdown diary on the verdict
Ted needs some lipstick.
AFAIK, there’s no constitutional prohibition, though there may be state-level restrictions on who is qualified to run. If he won, the Senate would almost certainly expel him, though.
I’m betting he doesn’t drop out, though — he’ll probably declare his intention to appeal.
Toobz must have *really* sucked on the stand. From the bits and pieces I’ve heard from this trial, it sounded like a perfect “he says ‘x’, I say ‘y’” kinda trial.
Those tend to lend themselves to acquittal on reasonable doubt grounds.
not always, though…. heh.
OT, sorry, MSNBC reports ATF foiled skinhead plot to assassinate Obama in Tenn, Arkansas.
Breaking on MSNBC -
”ATF says it has disrupted skinhead plot to assassinate obama”
MUHAHAAHA!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YptTFDsktVQ
MSNBC ATF bust skinheads plotting to assassinate Obama
Criminy, well, if they’re reporting it, it must really be serious.
Deep breath.
Isn’t it odd that he might serve in the Senate but can’t vote?
I know that there are state-level restrictions *here* – don’t know about Alaska, obviously.
I think you’re dead on about him staying in the race pending appeal.
thank gawd.
“… I have not even listened to Cat Stevens …”
Interesting timing.
Perhaps to provide cover for the Sen. Toobz FELONY CONVICTION?
Great news…I was surfing around to my favorite sites, and I think Swamp had the basics up first. I knew FDL wouldn’t be far behind!
I hope this ends the career of the most corrupt, arrogant ahole the Senate has ever seen!
Good riddance to bad trash! and VOTE BEGICH FOR ALASKAN SENATE!!!
damn, that’s the third Schaden-O-Mometer to spontaneously combust in a month !!! – glad I filled out that lifetime warranty card :D
If he wins his seat after this, the Dems in Alaska will have some serious splainin’ to do …
Just what I thought. Alaska voters need to ask them selves: Are you feeling lucky?
MSNBC – Forkin’ spokesman for mcpalin saying no fair to blame the campaign for stirring up such activities.
Words fail………….
A constituent of Senator Larry Craig, in the great state of Idaho salutes the senator from the great state of Alaska
Digg it Pups!! Another one bites the Dust!
They did have tapes of Stevens talking to one of his “benefactors,” saying that if they got caught, at worst they’d have to pay a fine, or maybe a little jail time. The evidence that he got the unreported gifts seemed pretty solid and undisputed, not just he-said-she-said; his defense seemed to be that he tried to pay for some of them, some he told the giver he couldn’t accept as gifts so they were “loans” (for years), and some were his wife’s fault.
Some procedural screwups in the government’s case seemed to be the only real possibilities for an acquittal.
What’s that shaking feeling under my feet?
Ohhhh….
Landslide!
Bush will pull the trigger on that pardon soon.
would be nice if somebody could find “something” (heh) on Ron Christie so I’d never have to see him on my teevee again too….
gee, what might Ron Christie have to hide? /s
1,8080 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…
Citizen Blue Texan and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:
The road to 60 goes through Alaska!! Now how ironic is that…Sarah Palin’s gotta be thinkin “Oh shit, I ain’t goin back home when this thing is over…I’ll dance on a poll on “M” Street before I let ‘em lock me up and let the bears chew on me!!”
I’m sure that ol’ Ted Tubes will never see the inside of a jail cell but he ain’t gunna be in the Senate again either…now maybe the Alaskans ken get some a their state back from Exxon since they have seen where takin’ the oil money gets folks in the end!
KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE FUCKIN’ AMMUNITION, THERE’S A LOT MORE FIGHTIN’ LEFT TA DO!!!
Bwahahahahahahahahah
ROFL
best news i’ve heard today!
It’s a truck too!
Anyone gonna ask Paylin about her meeting with Sen. Toobenz immediately followed by one with VECO last year? Seems like reasonable question considering he’s a CONVICTED FELON and she’s trying to be the VP.
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/…..ationship/
Not holding my breath, I know…
I can only hope they wrap his conviction around the corrupt, rotted, neck of the entire GOP.
They did have tapes of Stevens talking to one of his “benefactors,….”
yep – forgot about that.
If we can pick off Saxby and Ms McConnell it will be Xmas all year long. Go Dems!
Congratulations Senator Begich!
a tangled series of trucks!
Don’t hold your breath. They still haven’t asked her about her free house.
And here I thought the latest gaffe by DOJ (error in indictment) would cement at least a mistrial for Toobz (if not an outright not-guilty verdict).
and Lord knows they tried
Alaska is a cesspool. Can’t wit til Caribou Barbie gos home.
I can see the campaign ad now! This is the McCain/Palin October surprise, it’s here! This could officially sink her if they handle it just right connecting her to Stevens.
meant “AG meeting regard VECO…”
all that stuff in house must have just fallen off the back of a truck.
… that and his assertion that if something remains in his home for 100 years without his consent, it is not a gift …
beep you *click*
good news indeed
And then gets her taste of Justice!!
Oh, *that’s* his name! I get an immediate gag relex every time he shows up to lie. :-(((
bmaz and other legal minds are discussing this at Marcy’s place …
Or her Cheneyesque pipeline deal…
I really Digg this story!
Has a candidate ever left a ticket this late? Since the sample materials have gone out, early voting has started, and the Dibold machines programmed, I don’t think she can quit.
Sen. Toe Tapper’s stance is so wide you can drive a series of trucks through it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtOoQFa5ug8
Yeah, that’s the ticket!
Oil truck?
Sen. Ted Stevens Found Guilty… Wall Street Journal
Does Sarah get to keep her endorsement from Ted or does she have to donate it to charity now along with the clothes?
For Edward Teller
…And there sat Ted, looking vexed and red,
In the heart of the courtroom cube;
And he wore a frown like a sullen crown,
And he said: “Please close those toobz.
I’m fine, my dear, but I greatly fear
paying dues on being bought –
Since I left Girdwood, my old neighborhood,
It’s the first time I’ve been caught.”
;>)
“Senator Stevens has served his country honorably and he has suffered enough.”
“psst. hey Ted, wanna move to my ranch in Paraguay?”
tube truck
I’ll just hang out here. The other news is decidedly not good wrt skinheads
[dugg]
Ted was a cast member of “Pigs In Space” ? *g*
he did the tube snake boogie.
So far this year has been quite a schadenfreude fest.
Kinda funny how that comes out right after Stevens’ conviction, huh ?
Say it aint soooo Ted. There ya go again.
-G
Neuro I don’t think he want to live in Paraguay seeing as a former priest is now president and he leans to the left!!
Well?? PC going yet??
yep. Not that this is any surprise but it still is unpleasant (understatement of the decade)
Doesn’t the Senate have to remove him when they come back for lame-duck session? (I presume Stevens just will not show up.)
OT, but the (unregulated) hedge fund guys did it again today.
Sold off 200 points on the Dow in the last ten minutes.
Don’t believe the crap you will hear about ‘a slowing economy’, ‘worldwide recession’, ‘lower earnings’ blah, blah, blah.
As proof, did the people who placed all those ’sell’ orders in the last 10 minutes today just become aware of that?
Why the SEC & Congress is allowing this is beyond my comprehension.
As long as they keep looking the other way, this bullshit will continue day after day.
First in line at the
kissingpardon booth?That was a custom piece I did for ET’s blog. Can’t find the one of Stevens as Fee Waybill right now.
;>)
Simply maavullous..
“I am not a crook.” President Richard M. Nixon
“I am not a crook.” Sen. Ted Stevens
“I said Thanks, but No Thanks, to that Bridge to Nowhere.” Gov. Sarah Palin
“I will run an honorable campaign.” Sen. John McCain (previous model)
Hey Repugs–got any more lies for us?
BTW this is what the Constitution has to say about punishment. I found nothing in a quick glance of the Senate rules:
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#A1Sec3
I did not have checks with that man.
~Sarah Palin
Holy GOP-er meltdown.
This is the final spike in the election.
Sen. Marc Begich will be the second man ever to hold that Alaskan senate seat.
-G
“He is only the fifth sitting senator ever to be convicted of a crime, and the first since 1981.”
from your link
This has been going on for some time now … might be the “surprise” Biden alluded to in his interview last week … attack in America by homegrown terrorists.
Hopefully, the good guys will stop them before anyone gets hurt.
Still trying to finish up a campaign project on my old one! Maybe tonight.
I’ve been looking at that. TPM links to a Wash Times article as its source for the ATF story. Story is released within minutes of the Sen. Toobz FELONY CONVICTION. WashTimes is a proven operation for Repub tricks. Very fishy.
http://washingtontimes.com/new…..srupted-1/
Let’s how these play out tonight in the BigMedia and tomorrow’s papers. I suspect the ATF story will far trump the Stevens story in most of the news, and Paylin’s connection to this CONVICTED FELON will not even be mentioned in most BigMedia reports. That’ll be the sign it w as plant.
OMFG … you are a true genius … even if you’re not a Canuck … *g*
I guess Rep. Lewis’ admonition re: race baiting doesn’t seem so out of line now, does it?
grgrgrgrgrgr
I believe that this Stevens story will take Rev Wright off the front page. A Senator being a convicted felon is much bigger.
Red meat is good for your heart – AtkinsNever mind !it’s wonderful!
Better put some lipstick on this pig.
I just play one on the toobz.
;>)
There could be some bargaining going on now – resign or go to jail. Also are there any implications for his retirement pay if he gets ousted vs. resigns
seems right on time
Indeed. There are strange things done ‘neath the midnight sun.
too bad about that, in a just world…
Was rep Lewis talking about race baiting or Hate?
Seriously, you have to get syndicated … market your genius a la Andy Borowitz …
So when do we get to find out who Todd Palin’s “buddies” were that built their house for free? Anyone want to bet that it’s the same contractors that got the contract for the hockey rink?
you funny :D
We’re going around high-fiving each other in the University of Alaska Anchorage Fine Arts Building.
The rumor I heard last week from a friend who used to be on the Alaska GOP Central Committee, is that should what happened this morning happen – the guilty verdict – the top Alaska GOP leadership will seek to remove Stevens from the ticket, and have a replacement – most likely Mead Treadwell – put onto the ballot in Stevens’ place.
Those are the rumors! VECO and crew!
What Lewis said
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITI…..ain.lewis/
ET !
If Ted’s seat gives the Dems a veto proof majority, that would be even better than him serving time …
Let’s pray that he gets jail time. That would be another little step toward reinstating the law of “cause and effect” that’s been so lost over the past eight years of hell.
great thought!
How could they make that happen in a week? Are ballots printed or do you vote by machine?
Ot but related to ugliness of campaign (though by no means necessarily related)
Via msnbc
I don’t remember his exact words, but I seem to remember the crux of where he was going is that all the “Obama is a terrorist” talk is wrong and reminded him of the tactics of the George Wallace era.
As an aside, I don’t know that there is a significant difference between the two.
How about:
The problem isn’t with Ted Stevens. It’s with the reporting rules.
Ted Stevens tried to tell the truth but his toobz wouldn’t let him.
This is a tempest in a teapot and Ted Stevens is a great man.
Well, I hope you’re happy persecuting an 85 year old man.
Why pick on Stevens? They all do it.
I’m sure there are others.
Enjoy your celebration and have a pint for me if you will please. Have you heard when Sexy Sarah’s ethics report is due? She gave a deposition (?) last friday didn’t she.
PS. If Stevens quits can Sarah name the first dude as his replacement for the remainder of this Congress?
ET! High five, low five, disco bump!!
Senator Dude does have a ring to it.
He has served honorably and with distinction for more years than anyone else. Ted Stevens is a good friend and we’ve always been able to count on his support when we most need it. blah blah blah. scandal boilerplate.
Ted’s future could look like this
oodles better than Senator Doodoo.
It’s likely that I’ll be ‘retiring’ after the U.S. elections and the end of Bush’s term. I’ve done all that I could do, given the circumstances…Why beat a dead elephant?
;>)
Wolfie (can you just hear his mother calling him to dinner saying that?) was just asking some Rethug flack why they were spending time in New Hampshire, Penn. and some other place where they are down 10 points or more.
Shorter Rethug flack… “Well Wolf, there are
20, 19, 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8 days left and anything can happen.”Down the toobz jerk.
Not only that but timing of non-credible plot came out what a few minutes after corrupt Alaska jerk off report.
Seems to me Palin charges are similar to toobz plus some extra abuse of power (though I am sure Ted could be convicted 10x over on that).
Lead story is the plot and not 50 year corrpupt asshole going down.
Not to worry, there will be new and better Repugs to parody … and some fine Dems too (Difi & Schummy)
Or like this…Ted’s future.
Well, as long as you don’t jet off to Paraguay.
-G
This ATF plot sounds like a couple of stooges. Shiny shit.
LOL
“The internet is a series of… bars.”
oops that was for Petro… :]
Hmmmm, methinks there are two marketing opps beyond Alaska here. Palin was Stevens protege…more ethical cloud over her.
And Norm Coleman and his questionable wardrobe and apartment rental issues–which the Strib and other Mpls media did their best to dismiss–are now back in the target zone.
I’d especially like to see the Frankenfolk do something about this. The NRCC advertising against Franken has been absolutely wretched. Hmmmm, wonder if the Strib’s resident rightwing scold Katherine KKKerstan has an opinion? She sure never seems to have much in the way of facts.
LOL … et tu newt ?
Got it and thanks ! *g*
I think the plot in Denver was further along
It seems that Sarah can now appoint herself to the Senate if the convicted felon resigns. Can Stevens now be expelled from the Senate creating a vancancy. Let’s have debate on that now?
he did not have Text with me…
~Sarah Palin
It may actually be too late. Back in 1998, the GOP forced John Lindauer out after he had won a primary. But his name was still on the ballot. GOP State Senator Robin Taylor actually got more votes as a write-in – 20% to Lindauer’s 15%. Tony Knowles took advantage of the situation and ended up winning.
At this point, I can’t see the GOP possibly keeping Stevens’ seat. This is bound to help other Democrats in state races, too.
Does that mean that they already bought boots like those Florida boobs?
-G
How many others? McInSane picked an Alaska VP knowing this was under imdictment? The political donations just dried up. The exir polls are going to be interesting as party loyalty and discipline are melting.
Like to be a fly on the wall of the MsCain Campaign.
Yeah, my BS meter is beeping a little. I’ve always been concerned for his safety, but I wonder about publicity about any of this.
ET,
Is the teflon on Palin starting to wear thing in AK these days?
-G
“The internet is a series of… bars.”
an old saw: Ted always was a hack. Now he’ll need a hack saw.
Please don’t get me started on those two.
o/t Heather Wilson is sure carrying beaucoup buckets of water for the GOP these days, isn’t she?
CNN reports that Stevens was overheard telling his wife that this was not over.
McInSane picked an Alaska VP knowing this was under imdictment?
They thought it was just a tempest in a Teapot Dome.
Continuing the OT re: those lovely skinheads…yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is far beyond the pale.
AP/Yahoo!: Feds disrupt skinhead plot to assassinate Obama
First a coupla shots of GM, then we’ll talk … *g*
Love it! *g*
Mrs. Stevens can bake it in a cake for him.
any chance was he taken into custody?
whistling past the graveyard. IT may not be over, but HE is.
Was he waving his pardon papers?
she can donate it along with her spray-on tan.
What does that mean?
Christy is upstairs!
Barbara West’s GOP Agenda-Driven Journamalism: Tell KFTV To Apologize!
Some experts believe the case will get thrown out on appeal …
After the last few weeks of republic troubles, if I didn’t believe in karma before………I BELIEVE! *G*
eCHAN It will be the story that keeps on giving
We need to find out what they’re going to do with all the Ted Stevens this and Ted Stevens that signs all fucking over my state. I see a huge sculptural monument to hubris somewhere. Maybe it could be erected on an unfinished bridge..
“I just said “Thanks, But No Thanks” to that endorsement from Sen. Stevens…”
Not a chance. I think he’s scheduled for a debate with Mark Begich on Thursday. Should be interesting.
I wonder whether Ted has contributed to Team McPalin, and if so whether they will give it back…
HA, take that, mr. stevens! wonder if he’ll appeal?
In the immortal words of Valley Girl:
veni, vedi, veco!
the road to hellthe bridge to nowhere is paved with defunct Stevens signs.‘better’?
Hmmm…Cleverer at mendacious gerrymandering and obfuscatory malfeasance, perhaps – if they are allowed to become so through the lapses of an inattentive public.
It’s been a long 8 years…Or 22 years, if you count Iran-Contra, or 34 if one takes into consideration that Watergate hanky-panky – and the rot at the core is much older than that.
If America cannot right itself after this blatant debacle, C’est fini la comédie…And if it can, I’m no longer a useful diversion.
Either way, I need to rebuild what life I might have left.
You mean she is going to donate her tanning bed she had installed in one of her executive residences?
That’s fine, as long as it’s after 4 Nov. As long as he loses next Tuesday I don’t much care what happens with him. He can spend the money he didn’t spend on his house on his lawyers. For jail time they’d just put him in one of the country club jails the feds have anyhoo.
Do you think he’ll show up for it?
…nor Sufjan Stevens, nor Connie Stevens, …
I just love it that he is the “longest serving Republican”, a very fitting symbol let alone the pinacle of her career.
60 seats in the Senate!!!!!!
“of his career”, sorry.
Palin for Senator!!!
Says she was elected to work on oil company corruption, blah blah blah, she will continue to monitor the situation…..
If somehow Stevens is re-elected the obvious series of events would be that Sarah Palin would arrange that the Republicans in the Senate remove Stevens so she could appoint herself as his replacement.
Thus she would escape a likely difficult re-election campaign in Alaska for six years as Senator. In addition she would evade the Alaskan Executive Branch Ethics laws which forbid an officer from accepting gratuities for appearing on TV or giving speeches. She’d be in Washington, D.C. able and willing to become the right-wings new Breck girl.
This makes it that much more important for Begich to win. Do we want to here “Godz Drilla from Wazilla” for six years (or four) on Faux News?
Maybe he didn’t know. But if he paid $160K, and VECO did over $400k of upgrades to his house in exchange, that is WAY against ethics rules. And he is a sitting senator in position to do big favors for Allen and VECO.
Ignorance is no excuse. If it were, you could never convict anybody.
I see McConnell ads on local t.v. He’s actually accusing his opponent of manslaughter (or possibly murder) to fend off the Dem tide.
It might backfire, but so far he (MM) still has a lead.
So long as he can’t ‘work’ who cares if he’s a ‘Senator’?
Jail or go home? I say take his money. That’s what Repugs value most anyway.
The gifts? Who gets ‘em? Can I have the hot tub and big screen t.v.?