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In a statement released today, Sen. John McCain has called for recently convicted Sen. Ted "Toobz" Stevens to step down:
Yesterday, Senator Ted Stevens was found guilty of corruption. It is a sign of the health of our democracy that the people continue to hold their representatives to account for improper or illegal conduct, but this verdict is also a sign of the corruption and insider-dealing that has become so pervasive in our nation’s capital.
It is clear that Senator Stevens has broken his trust with the people and that he should now step down. I hope that my colleagues in the Senate will be spurred by these events to redouble their efforts to end this kind of corruption once and for all.
Ted faces up to 5 years in jail for each of seven counts he was found guilty of.
Stevens still claims that he is innocent and vows to keep fighting.
"It’s not over yet!" Stevens said angrily to his wife as he walked from the courtroom Monday afternoon.
"You’ve got that right," Catherine Stevens replied as she reached for him through the crowd of supporters rushing past reporters for the door.
"Not over yet," Stevens said.
Good luck with that Mr. Stevens.
Because Stevens is not required by law to step down, he may choose to remain in the race. Now would be a good time to donate some cash to his Democratic opponent, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich.
UPDATE: Palin: ‘He needs to step aside…‘
Obama calls on Stevens to resign:
Yesterday’s ruling wasn’t just a verdict on Senator Stevens – but on the broken politics that has infected Washington for decades. It’s time to put an end to the corruption and influence-peddling, restore openness and accountability, and finally put government back in the hands of the people it serves. Senator Stevens should step down.
But Stevens’ resignation won’t solve anything on its own. It’s clear that if we’re going to put the economy back on track and provide relief to working Americans, we’re going to have to change the way that Washington works. That’s why I’m running for president,” said Barack Obama.
52 Comments
Wow, you can really tell who wears L.L. Bean.
But all seriousness aside, McCain is in quite the double-bind here, eh?
Will Sarah Palin get the memo? If she gets the memo, will she Maverick it?Will Sarah stand by Mr. Tubes?
Palin should have been the first to denounce Stevens yesterday. She left the door open.
The leper calls out the pariah! (Or is it the pariah calling out the leper?)
digg and upvote on reddit
this all begs the question, anyone know what’s going on with the latest “troopergate” investigation?
I can’t wait to see this, this is the one palin inititiated
what chutzpah that stevens hasn’t already stepped down.
Thanks for the links.
Yahoo news and Time are asking Can Ted Stevens Still Win Alaska?
McCain too late. His rouge lady stated that we need to forgive and move on…No request for a stepdown.
She opened her mouth wide…This McC “moral” stance is just WAY TOO late.
Palin and Ted….their TOOBZ are tied!
Sen Toobz can run. He might even be elected (hey, it’s Alaska, y’know?) But that doesn’t mean the Senate has to seat him.
It takes a 2/3 supermajority to deny his seat. Even if he wins, the stink of that bribery conviction will surely move 10-12 R’s (especially those whose terms expire in 2010) to vote in favor of expelling Sen Toobz.
I’m not sure what happens then — does Alaska get to hold another election? Does the Senate limp along with one less corrupt R?
Rouge or rogue?
Very good comment!
Hmmm. This is a misstep for McCain, I think. Stevens is pretty much obligated to issue a response to McCain’s statement. If this were a tight race, I think party loyalty would ensure that his response was a bit restrained. But this isn’t a close race, and Stevens has a reputation for being an asshole. Stevens is up for re-election in a week, and McCain just put a big dent in his campaign. Stevens may decide that he has nothing to lose, and he may just slap the shit out of McCain for this.
In all seriousness, how can you vote for someone who can’t vote for himself?
McCane had to wait for Miss McConnell to speak. He didn’t want to say the wrong thing.
Really should be:
“rouge rogue”
Thanks for catching that!
Alaska for Obama? The only thing that would be tastier is Arizona for Obama.
First comment on slashdot about this:
Prison, it’s not like a big building, it’s more like a series of cubes.
Can’t imagine that the senate Rs would vote against one of their own just because he’s been convicted of corruption. That’s penny ante for them. Even getting caught with your hand in the cookie jar is not a problem for Rs.
hee hee hee
I wasn’t which you meant, because both are appropriate.
NPR report said Stevens will still run, will appeal. Played a recording of Stevens in his own voice – unequivocal, angry and self-righteous (self-deluded?) that he will run and he will fight.
Let’s hope the old bastid goes down in flames to Begich.
Mudflats has some other quotes that are very interesting including Young and the AK Rethug party
http://mudflats.wordpress.com/…..onviction/
Too funny and oh so correct.
Very interesting and oh so tasty.
Imagine. There’s going to be enough blame-shifting and scape-goating going on to shift the votes.
McCain Support Continues Downward Spiral
Obama Leads by 19 Among Those Who Have Already Voted
http://people-press.org/report…..t-declines
That is the best possible outcome.
http://tinyurl.com/StevenFelonGIF
=
“http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk143/nfsagan/stevens21-felon-1.gif”
i hope youre right
http://tinyurl.com/StevensFelonBlink
=
“http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk143/nfsagan/stevens21-felon.jpg”
time for an intervention: Toob-all Lie-gate (shun)
So you guys are recommending to give these politicians more money? Check this out: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/54838.html
A lot of Democrats out there are lookin pretty well off, even more so than the Repubs. Funny how no-one is recommending that we start taxing the hell out of them.
I’m not counting on it. We are talking about Alaska.
What’s really weird about it all is that Alaska was made a State in large part because Hawaii was up for Statehood. The Democrats decided that they wanted to add Alaska to the mix because they expected Hawaii to be an R stronghold.
LOL
You got started early today. Don’t know how you do it but thanks for the almost-awake laugh.
BTW guys, you all keep attacking Republicans, and yet the Democrats who get caught up in ethical issue you seem to let pass. We need to get rid of all of the Dem & Repub alike….not a single one should get a pass, it makes us all weaker.
What Dem got away with something?
that one’s a stretch
anything to delay the start of the work day!
more of a pinch, but point taken… :~)
Gracias**
I voted this morning in the Daytona, FL burbs. A poll worker said they’re servicing over 100 voters per hour. Preliminary form (printed name and signature – states penalties for voter fraud) must be filled out. Waited in chair to be called by number. Poll worker checked Driver License ID (only), witholding it from me, while studying her laptop monitor, asked me to state my address and DOB. (Apparently, they matched). She then gave me the folder with the paper ballot inside.
I saw only two black voters during the ten minutes I was there. There were about 60 voters present at 9:30 AM. Many looked like tight-ass Republicans to me.
Who’s “no one”? I call for taxing the hell out of them. I don’t care what their political affiliation is.
Here are a few:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITI…..index.html
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/…..EWS187.dtl
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/…..0158336203
Well you never know about those Mavericky Alaskans…and thos waskilly Wasillans? Maybe they would vote for Teddy Toobz?
But it seems to me that the Republicans have a responsibility to state clearly and decisively whether or not they endorse both Republicans for Congress up in Alaska?
And whether or not they will evict them from their seats IF they are elected? Will they continue to tolerate such corruption within their own party?
Asking one of them to resign is simply not enough.
It is clear that Senator Stevens has broken his trust with the people and that he should now step down
Why didn’t McCain ’step down’ when his peers censured him for the part he played in the Keating 5 scandal? Is this a pot/kettle situation?
Hackworth- Maybe those folks looked “tight ass” because they were thinkin’ about how little their 401K’s are carrying, or the collapse of their home values.
But my understanding is that Daytona is about split evenly b/w registered Democrats and Republicans…so likely most the the Dems are more toward the middle of the city, proportionately more Republicans in the burbs.
All I can suggest is to get younger folks out to vote, and head down to the local Obama HQ and start callin’ or canvassing.
You may want to read this before making that statement:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keating_Five
The only thing I would hit McCain with in this article is that this is a fine example of what happens when you are a ‘Maveric’ and cross the isle. Noticed 4 of the Senators listed were Democrats.
my 2cents, and that about what it’s probably worth, Stevens has, under our system of laws, the right to appeal.
It doesn’t surprise me that the repubs, flouters of US law extraoridinaires, are insisting he step down before his appeals are exhausted. I detest the man personally, but last time i looked, by law he can fight on until all avenues to prove his “innocence” are indeed exhausted. While I rejoice at the guilty verdict, it’s impossible to see the repub toss under the bus as anything but showboating, and a confirmation of their belief that he will not be exonerated on appeal, and that Bush will pardon him (shamelessly) before he leaves office.
Stevens is gonna lose his race anyway.
Somehow “impropriety” and “lack of judgment” do NOT seem to be character attributes that qualify one for our highest office. I would suggest that McCain (working across the aisle to benefit a friend) may have escaped because he had a better PR machine . . . or a better ‘history.’ Today, his ‘lack of connection’ (or sympathy/empathy) for the middle class is as apparent as it was all those many years ago.
Fixed!