Senator Ted Stevens is an unrepentant porkster whose close relations and special deals with an Alaska business recently led to a conviction on seven felony counts. But he’s not giving in, and has appealed his conviction. He also ran for a seventh Senate term, and it looks like he’s won it … or no … late vote counts gave the nod to his competitor.
I have argued many times that Senator Stevens is a living, walking, snarling advertisement for term limits. In a Townhall column years ago, I emphasized that his indecent playing of interest upon interest has led to an obvious, big-as-the-nose-on-his-face “appearance of corruption.”
I also argued that, no matter what his below-the-table shenanigans may have been — may continue to be — his above-board porkmeistering is itself a form of corruption, one that our republic should repudiate.
And his party should repudiate.
And his constituents should repudiate.
During the campaign, John McCain and Sarah Palin, asked that Stevens resign. Lots of people have demanded it. Utterly defiant, Stevens insists on representing Alaska while his lawyers “pursue the appeals to clear” his name.
Yet if as many as five or six — or even all seven — of the counts against him are not upheld, his name will still appear dirty in my book, dirty from all the porkbarelling. Senator Ted Stevens is a horrifying example of much that is wrong in government.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
5 replies on “The Snarl From Alaska”
Actually, I hold a big-picture perspective that makes it preferable for Stevens to prevail in a recount. And then after that, he either faces so much political pressure that he is forced to resign or is convicted of felony count(s) which make him “unable to serve” and thereby delivers the seat open to a special election. At that point, Governor Palin could run for the seat and serve the country well as a member of the Senate.
There are considerations outside the realm of term limits, and the first reality is that we must deal with the situation as it is, not as we want it to become.
***sigh***
Out comes the Term-Limits-Cure-All-Corruption matra. Again. What kind of rampant corruption, porking, and outright lobbyist-cozying do you think would Stevens have undertaken had he had 6 YEARS OF UNFETTERED-BY-THE-THREAT-OF-FACING-THE-VOTERS license?? 6 YEARS of guaranteed lame duckness. Never EVER having to look ANY voter in the eyes again for 6 YEARS! Now multiply that by 100 for EVERY Senator. Want to make it worse? Multipy by 435 to include the House, too.
If you want rampant cronyism and corruption to reign in DC then remove any responsibility to have to face the voters.
Goodness me.…we cannot and should not eliminate or forget the W. VA expert! ! ! He is a Master of the highest degree. Robert Byrd with highways, airports and who knows what else sporting his name. Zounds, do we ever need TERM LIMITS.….EVERYWHERE! ! ! !
Anybody remember the pang of fear that ran through the MSM with the realization that after the election Bush really was a lame duck now? What kind of mischief would he undertake? Well, in CA the rotating lame ducks in the legislature have had a great time realizing how much freedom they have in their last term. Put that thought process in charge of $3TRILLION a year and it won’t be $3trillion for long.
SENATORS SHOULD BE SUED FOR CONSPIRACY BECAUSE THEY CONDONE SENATOR STEVENS ACTIONS BY NOT GOING AFTER HIM FOR BRIBERY.
THEIR ACTIONS ARE PROOF OF A GROUP VIOLATING THE CONSTITUTION BY PROTECTING ONE OF THEIR OWN. THAT IS NOT THE “HONEST” INTENTION OF OUR FOUNDING DOCUMENTS AND FOUNDING FATHERS, THEY COMMITTED A FELONY IN VIOLATING THEIR OATH OF OFFICE. TO PROTECT AMERICANS AND AMERICA, FROM CORRUPT INDIVIDUALS.
TIME TO “WE THE PEOPLE” TO SUE CONGRESS.