Last winter, author Joe McGinnis, who is writing a critical book about Sarah Palin, was looking for a place in Wasilla to rent this summer, as he continues his research. He was offered the house next door to the Palins’ Lake Lucille cult compound-in-progress. He wasn’t looking for the place. It came looking for him. What would you do?

firedoglake had hoped to wrap up the TedFest! poetry contest here today because it is the first anniversary of the FBI raid on his Girdwood chalet. The raid was the first in the history of the United States upon the home state dwelling of a sitting member of the U.S. Senate.

But serendipity mucked up our plans. I don’t think “anybody could have predicted” that between the beginning of TedFest! and its wrap-up, Ted would be busted. To answer once and for all the question I’ve dealt with dozens of times since yesterday morning – no – I didn’t know in advance. And I’m not sure Ted did.

99 Poems about Ted Stevens! 63 on Tuesday, 36 on Wednesday. And although Ted hasn’t been surfacing in the news today like he was earlier in the week, the sun doesn’t set in the North this time of the year, until very late.

Ted did call me though. It was a robo-call. I was really hoping that he’d call, or that somebody from his staff would call back, accepting my offer inviting somebody in his Alaska office to help judge this contest over the weekend. But, no, just another damn GOP robo-call. Here’s my favorite part of Ted’s call:

Hi! This is Senator Ted Stevens. Sorry to miss you today. I’ve called to invite you to a town hall meeting – BY TELEPHONE! I’m reaching out to you with this new technology….