BREAKING, via McClatchy:
Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the U.S. Senate and one of the chamber’s most powerful members, was indicted Tuesday in Washington for failing to disclose more than $250,000 worth of gifts that he received from businessmen who were seeking his help on federal issues and projects.
That he is charged with false statements, as opposed to more substantive corruption charges, is a bit disappointing. Indeed, had he made the false statements about sex, who would even care?
Check in with Memeorandum for comprehensive reax from the Series of Tubes.
Comment by Christopher Taylor on 7/29 @ 12:58 pm #
Maybe he and Jefferson can resign at the same time.
Comment by Brother Ratso, felonious monk on 7/29 @ 12:58 pm #
Sad to say I’m not sure this even affects his odds of winning re-election.
Comment by Barrett Brown on 7/29 @ 12:58 pm #
It’s a series of charges!
I’m sorry, this is the best I can do today.
Comment by Karl on 7/29 @ 1:03 pm #
Ratso,
Stevens was running behind already. Ironically, he will likely be pressured to resign, and he may get replaced by a better candidate.
Comment by Dread Cthulhu on 7/29 @ 1:06 pm #
Karl: “That he is charged with false statements, as opposed to more substantive corruption charges, is a bit disappointing. ”
Isn’t that almost always the given in DC — it isn’t the act that damns you, it is the subsequent cover-up? Likewise, I’m not all that sure I want the best legislation money can buy.
BB: “It’s a series of charges! I’m sorry, this is the best I can do today.”
Actually, it is probably one of your best posts –brief, factually accurate and without undue ornamentation. Keep up the good work.
Comment by Patrick Carroll on 7/29 @ 1:10 pm #
It goes without saying that if he was a Democrat, we’d still be wondering about party affiliation.
I think the Republican party is going to have to rid itself of a load of this sort of baggage before it’ll be fit to run the legislative branch once again.
I mean, speaking of William “Cold Cash” Jefferson (D, La), Hastert protected him and then ducked out to make a couple of million of an earmark deal. Scum.
Comment by Brother Ratso, felonious monk on 7/29 @ 1:13 pm #
“Stevens was running behind already.”
From what I remember about the people up there I’m going to have to check on that because I was under the impression he’d be re-elected posthumously if it came to that. If you’re right it’s pretty pathetic the GOP up there didn’t put up someone against him.
I have no faith at all Stevens would resign unless he was convicted and I’m not sure even then. He just doesn’t give a shit.
Comment by pan on 7/29 @ 1:14 pm #
“Indeed, had he made the false statements about sex, who would even care?”
1. I love that when a Repub senator gets called out on corruption charges, it gets spun about Clinton.
2. I love even more the child-like notion that what’s being lied about doesn’t matter - a lie’s a lie (unless context benefits a Republican, of course).
Ahhhh. to be a child again
Comment by happyfeet on 7/29 @ 1:15 pm #
Yay!
Comment by JD on 7/29 @ 1:17 pm #
pan - Wasn’t pan a homosexual goat? NTTAWWT
Comment by Brother Ratso, felonious monk on 7/29 @ 1:17 pm #
“Ahhhh. to be a child again”
Lucky you. The rest of us had to grow up.
Comment by Sdferr on 7/29 @ 1:18 pm #
Ratso’s right I think, he won’t leave on his own, especially now that he’s seen what Craig (a man with far less pull in the club) could get away with and remain. Here’s hoping the DoJ brings down the hammer and smashes this old coot to bits.
Comment by Dread Cthulhu on 7/29 @ 1:19 pm #
Patrick Carroll: “I mean, speaking of William “Cold Cash†Jefferson (D, La), Hastert protected him and then ducked out to make a couple of million of an earmark deal. Scum.”
Comme ci, comme ca… Hastert was, among other things, defending the perogatives of the House and the balance of power between the executive and the legislative branches. Throw in his unwillingness to play hack politics with the Jefferson matter and I think “scum” might be over the top… On the other hand, he *is* (or at least was) an Illinois politician…
Comment by maggie katzen on 7/29 @ 1:22 pm #
then perhaps you can go find it elsewhere, as I haven’t seen it here. so far.
Comment by Karl on 7/29 @ 1:26 pm #
I like that pan managed to contradict 1 with 2 and didn’t even notice.
Comment by Sdferr on 7/29 @ 1:26 pm #
Indeed, I hope the DoJ can manage to take down Alaska’s Rep. Don Young while they’re at it. The Coconut point off-ramp deal stinks to high heaven. Sic ‘em DoJ, pile the (metaphorical) congressional corpses high.
Comment by Karl on 7/29 @ 1:27 pm #
Ratso,
Rasmussen had Stevens down by nine points.
Comment by Lamontyoubigdummy on 7/29 @ 1:32 pm #
Well now we know why he wanted that humongous bridge. It was going from Alaska all the way to a non-extradition country.
Comment by Brother Ratso, felonious monk on 7/29 @ 1:39 pm #
“Rasmussen had Stevens down by nine points.”
Unbelievable. So why isn’t Parnell doing better against Young I wonder?
Comment by Brother Ratso, felonious monk on 7/29 @ 1:41 pm #
Then again maybe this is the shot in the arm Parnell’s challenge needs.
Comment by BJTex on 7/29 @ 1:43 pm #
So now we know that his series of tubes was clogged with free gifts. Good riddance to bad people.
Barrett Brown: I can appreciate the lack of meat for you in this story. Let me help you out with a provocative comment.
There you go, grist for the mill that should provide hours of moral equivalency statements and earnest condemnations.
I’m a giver that way. No need to thank me.
Comment by Brother Ratso, felonious monk on 7/29 @ 1:46 pm #
Turns out there is someone running against Stevens for the GOP nom: Dave Cuddy. He ran against Stevens years ago and lost big. If I still lived up there I would’ve been voting for Cuddy in the primary anyway.
Comment by JD on 7/29 @ 1:48 pm #
If Alaska’s rules are as flexible as New Jersey’s, they should be able to put a fine candidate in his place.
Comment by Brother Ratso, felonious monk on 7/29 @ 1:49 pm #
They haven’t had the primary yet.
Comment by BJTex on 7/29 @ 1:50 pm #
JD: New Jersey’s elections rules are so flexible they perform at Circe du Soleil on weekends.
Comment by Minister Jack X Klompus Africa-Muhammad Ali Shabazz on 7/29 @ 1:56 pm #
Re-Elect McGreevey!
Comment by N. O'Brain on 7/29 @ 1:57 pm #
JD: New Jersey’s elections rules are so flexible they act as Bill Clinton’s ethics.
Comment by thor on 7/29 @ 2:04 pm #
That he is a corrupt bag of blood warts and is Republican is beside the point.
What’s needed is for corruption charges to be pursued against so many others on both sides of the isle.
Good riddance.
Comment by B Moe on 7/29 @ 2:07 pm #
I would love it when a Democrat gets called out on corruption charges.
At least I think I would, we will have to wait and see.
Comment by Patrick Carroll on 7/29 @ 2:10 pm #
Dear Dread Cthulhu:
Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn! So, eat me first!
As to the rest, well, at what point will prerogative yield to crime?
Patrick
–
Comment by JD on 7/29 @ 2:16 pm #
Glad to see Sen. Bridge to Stalag 7 getting his …
Comment by Topsecretk9 on 7/29 @ 2:24 pm #
I would love it when a Democrat gets called out on corruption charges.
Stay tuned for the indictment of John Conyers wife.
Comment by motionview on 7/29 @ 2:29 pm #
My anti-virus software tells me that PW is infected with the psyme trojan.
Comment by Lamontyoubigdummy on 7/29 @ 2:30 pm #
“I would love it when a Democrat gets called out on corruption charges.”
No such thing as a ‘corrupt Democrat.’ They’re ’saving the planet’ you selfish, insensitive, gaia hating, don’t know your place, holocaust denying fascist.
However, Democrats CAN be misunderstood (but not mistaken), taken out of context, framed, rail roaded, victims of racial bias prosecution, or long suffering ‘disease’ victims who selflessly and humbly volunteer for rehab, thus completely absolving them of any responsibility and restoring sainthood and devine (but not the kind of ‘Devine’ you God-botherers are always on about) liberal moral authority.
Refering to them in any other fashion is a ‘distraction.’
Also, it kills children and poor people.
Comment by baldilocks on 7/29 @ 2:34 pm #
OT: You all heard from Darleen?
Comment by B Moe on 7/29 @ 2:37 pm #
Stay tuned for the indictment of John Conyers wife.
I ain’t holding my breath. John Murtha is about as corrupt a sonuvabitch has ever been in Washington and they can’t seem to get him. Democrats are the tops at protecting their own.
Comment by cybrludite on 7/29 @ 3:49 pm #
As a New Orleanian, I hope both he & “Dollar” Bill Jefferson end up in the general population at Levenworth. Pity we can’t make political corruption a capital crime.
Comment by Mikey NTH on 7/29 @ 3:51 pm #
Sdferr - there is a bit of a difference between a charge from a cop on the vice squad and a charge from the DoJ. An order of magnitude or three of difference.
Sen. Stevens ought to hope that he shows the class of Warren Harding and just dies first.
Comment by Dread Cthulhu on 7/29 @ 3:52 pm #
Patrick, it *is* so good to hear the old slogans –consider yourself to be in possession of a low number.
As for the rest, it will never yield until most of the old crooks are thrown out — too many in that august body are liable, so they will fight it tooth and claw.
Politicians are like diapers and should be changed on a regular basis, for many of the same reasons.
Comment by Sdferr on 7/29 @ 3:54 pm #
What galls me BMoe is that his constituents can easily “get him” but have thus far chosen not to. (I gave money fruitlessly to Diana Irey so yeah, I’m holding a grudge.)
Comment by Sdferr on 7/29 @ 3:55 pm #
I wasn’t pointing to the “charge” Mikey, but the indication Craig gave that he was stepping down that he so easily walked back.
Comment by formless minion on 7/29 @ 3:58 pm #
I see that Sarah Palin(R) is being investigated as well. I have a sudden craving for a moose burger.
Comment by Mikey NTH on 7/29 @ 3:59 pm #
#28 thor
Wow. You were on point with the post and I agree with you.
I guess it was bound to happen - now what we need is an amendment for federal term limits - and for staffers. And an amendment to put a ‘title-object’ provision for all bills and banning omnibus bills.
Comment by Mikey NTH on 7/29 @ 4:01 pm #
#41 - Ah; my bad.
Carry on.
Comment by BuddyPC on 7/29 @ 4:08 pm #
One down, ninety-six to go.
Comment by B Moe on 7/29 @ 4:23 pm #
What galls me BMoe is that his constituents can easily “get him†but have thus far chosen not to.
He doesn’t have a constituency he has hired goons, as long as he delivers the goods they deliver the votes. When Cynthia McKinney first started feeling the heat the second time she came back home to give a big pep talk, and all she could come up with was a big sidewalk project she had scored. I knew right then she was fucked, her “constituents” aren’t real impressed with sidewalks.
Comment by happyfeet on 7/29 @ 4:33 pm #
That’s just great news in a “the system works” kind of way I think.
Comment by LunarTuna on 7/29 @ 4:45 pm #
Lord knows there is enough corruption to go around on both sides. But, try this out: This my be the first shot in a series of selected prosecutors going after the Republican label. Look for more of the same and the return of “Culture of Corruption”
Comment by LunarTuna on 7/29 @ 5:02 pm #
…..The closer we get to the election that is.
Comment by Semanticleo on 7/29 @ 5:11 pm #
“At the White House, press secretary Dana Perino said, “The president has been working with Senator Stevens for many years, and he appreciates his strong leadership on key issues. This is a legal matter that the Department of Justice is handling, and so we will not comment further on it.”"
Consistent with the Presidunce’s policy of support for the legal system, I’m sure his personal gag order will preclude him from commenting on the crooked Octogenarian even after conviction. You see, he has the right to appeal, and we can’t talk about an ongoing case.
Just to level the partisan playing field I will say that all elected
OR appointed government officials guilty of corruption whether it be for war-profiteering, personal gain from earmarks, or any compromise of their public trust should be:(REGARDLESS of Political Stripe)
1)Serve some hard time in a real prison.
2)If given parole or probation, they must….
a)Work for minimum wages flipping burgers for their remaining time.
b)Must use public transportation
c)Must live in Section 8 Housing.
Take what they love most; money and power.
Comment by Topsecretk9 on 7/29 @ 5:14 pm #
now what we need is an amendment for federal term limits - and for staffers.
That, and they should all be forced to wear little Nascar like jumpsuits with patches identifying who they get their money from in chambers. (Soylent Red’s idea)
Seriously though, there are a whole slew of state and local Democrats getting indicted for all myriad of bribery and corruption and stealing money - Pennsylvania, New Jersy, Texas, Ohio, Louisiana, New York, Michigan to name a few, that people are hearing on a day to day basis in their own towns.
The Dem brand isn’t in that great of shape.
Comment by LunarTuna on 7/29 @ 5:20 pm #
Top, you gotta point, but the MSM will trumpet the evil scourge of Republicans and not the other way round.
Comment by B Moe on 7/29 @ 5:25 pm #
That’s all fine and dandy ‘cleo, but I would be happy if the Democrats would just quit protecting the crooks and remove them from office.
Comment by happyfeet on 7/29 @ 5:27 pm #
At least he voted for oil drilling though. The ones that don’t are every bit as corrupt as this piece of shit I think. This one never got conufuzzled that his job was to save the stoopid planet. I’ll say that for him. But still, I hope is family is ashamed and no one sends them Christmas cards and people look at all of them with scorn when they go out to eat. Forever.
Comment by happyfeet on 7/29 @ 5:27 pm #
*confuzzled*
Comment by Cave Bear on 7/29 @ 5:30 pm #
Hey! What Baldilocks said; has anyone heard from Darleen? They did have a 5.4 earthquake in LA today.
Comment by happyfeet on 7/29 @ 5:31 pm #
*his family* … sheesh. After the shakeyness we had to go to lunch with this person visiting from NY and she was shook up so she had wine and then some more wine and so then we all had wine and then some more wine cause she is more important than we are and if she wants to drink wine we can’t very well let her drink wine by herself. That would just be rude. But it sort of went on and on. Now we are all pretending to be productive for 29 more minutes.
Comment by Mikey NTH on 7/29 @ 5:34 pm #
haps - even a corrupt vicious idiot can have a few good ideas that don’t involve money. I’m not saying it happens often, but it is possible.
Comment by Mikey NTH on 7/29 @ 5:39 pm #
haps -pretending to be productive? And you are here?
That is some Disney-level-pretending, my line-of-thought friend!
N.B. - I do that too; but not the wine drinking during school hours. No dispensation for that!
Comment by Sdferr on 7/29 @ 5:43 pm #
Have some more wine would be a productive thing I think. It’s good for the vintners if for no one else. Oh, and the glass recyclers. Shouldn’t forget them.
Comment by happyfeet on 7/29 @ 5:47 pm #
T minus 14 minutes and counting.
Comment by Semanticleo on 7/29 @ 5:48 pm #
BMoe;
Thanks for your BiPolarPartisan comment.
Comment by Ric Locke on 7/29 @ 5:51 pm #
Article 1, Section 5: Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members…
There is a very good reason for that provision, and I for one am not nearly disgusted enough by the bunch we have now to throw the baby out with the bath water.
Regards,
Ric
Comment by Semanticleo on 7/29 @ 5:52 pm #
I see this is a popular thread.
Regardless, Hat Tip to Karl for posting it. Did you lose the coin-toss to Collins?
Comment by Karl on 7/29 @ 5:55 pm #
Dan’s computer is in the shop this week, so his access is limited.
Comment by Karl on 7/29 @ 5:56 pm #
Also, I did just e-mail Darleen to suggest she check in when she gets the chance.
Comment by Topsecretk9 on 7/29 @ 5:58 pm #
Incidentally, Nancy Peolosi said that like all DEMOCRAT citizens, William Jefferson should be considered innocent until proven guilty.
Comment by Spies, Brigands, and Pirates on 7/29 @ 6:29 pm #
Seman, how about regaling us with another cartoon analogy? That was great.
Comment by Semanticleo on 7/29 @ 6:51 pm #
“regaling us with another cartoon analogy?”
I would but I might get convicted of contributing to your delinquency.
Comment by Mikey NTH on 7/29 @ 6:53 pm #
No, you are too unique to do that, cleo.
Comment by Spies, Brigands, and Pirates on 7/29 @ 6:54 pm #
Oh, come on. I’d love to hear your thoughts on, say, the fall of the Roman Republic, quantum physics, or 18th century British mercantilism cast in terms of old Deputy Dawg episodes.
Comment by Rob Crawford on 7/29 @ 7:02 pm #
The funny thing about the leftards coming here to berate us — has anyone defended Stevens? Hell, the original posting says it’s a shame he wasn’t indicted on more serious charges. A sentiment I happen to agree with.
Comment by Spies, Brigands, and Pirates on 7/29 @ 7:03 pm #
Rob, they just don’t get it, I don’t think.
They don’t believe in honesty, morals or ethics, only political expediency.
Comment by B Moe on 7/29 @ 8:08 pm #
They don’t believe in honesty, morals or ethics, only political expediency.
They sure as hell don’t have no sense of irony. The Republicans get blasted for being the culture of corruption for kicking out and convicted their crooks, while the Democrats parade theirs around as heroes.
Comment by B Moe on 7/29 @ 8:32 pm #
Right on cue, the latest douchebag to show his ass here,
http://proteinwisdom.com/?p=13019#comment-498427
puts up a post on his blog bemoaning the fact the Republicans are kicking Stevens ass:
http://nomoremister.blogspot.com/2008/07/stevens-indictments-good-for-gop-alas-i.html
These fuckers are loyal to nothing but the Democrat Party.
Comment by ccoffer on 7/29 @ 8:38 pm #
The difference, my friends, is there is no pretense of honor if one is a leftist. Its all about the start line………..the bar. Yet, what is the alternative? Scum are scum, but who wants to become scum in order to win? It is fitting that one party holds their members to an ethical standard and one does not. Instead of bitching about it, we should herald it as just one more example of why the democrat party is ruled by abject pieces of shit and the other one not so much.
Comment by Christopher Taylor on 7/29 @ 11:17 pm #
Article 1, Section 5: Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members…
There is a very good reason for that provision
There was good reason (originally thought) for the president to have unlimited terms too. Turns out the public isn’t producing men of the calibre required to have power continuously for as long as they do now. And the founding fathers never intended the federal government to be as big, rich, and powerful as it is. The bigger the government, the more money and corruption it produces, and the worse the effect on the people in power. Too much power, too much money, too many opportunities for corruption. They all eventually fall, if they serve long enough. Just ask former Senator Mark Hatfield from Oregon.
We need term limits.
Comment by Semanticleo on 7/31 @ 8:13 am #
d
Comment by JD on 7/31 @ 8:17 am #
That is the most coherent post Miss Cleo has ever graced us with.
Comment by happyfeet on 7/31 @ 8:23 am #
NPR said this morning Republicans were circling the wagons around Stevens. I have their lies for breakfast.
Comment by JD on 7/31 @ 8:24 am #
Do those lies go well with Grape Nuts and a little sugar?
Comment by happyfeet on 7/31 @ 8:26 am #
Green tea and brown rice. It’s a thing.
Comment by JD on 7/31 @ 8:28 am #
Sounds like dinner last night. Better Half’s mother is in town and she made some tea that is apparently called Colon Blaster. Also, these little shrimp things, wrapped in some odd Vietnamese meat (pork-ish) and then breaded and fried. Yummy.