Reid: Stevens Cannot Serve In Senate

Roll Call:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was forced into the middle of Sen. Ted Stevens' (R-Alaska) re-election bid late Saturday night after a senior Senate Democrat endorsed Stevens and called on voters to disregard his seven-count felony conviction.

In a bluntly worded release from his office, Reid warned that Stevens would not only face an ethics investigation but also expulsion proceedings regardless of his efforts to appeal the convictions.

Read the whole story: Roll Call

Comments

[AprilPA]

Win or lose, I would bet that Stevens will not do one day in jail. I'd bet that Bush would pardon him.

[terragazelle60]

Bush might pardon him, but he has to have gone through his appeal first. Stevens is toast. Bush does not have that kind of time in office. Ha!

He might not spend any time in jail, because of his age and the nature of the crime. But Steven's name is mud.

[AprilPA]

I hope that the Republicans lose big on Tuesday!

[MissKaren]

Stevens is an old man and he may get house arrest rather than jail. As long as they do give him something, I'm all right with that. I believe that the law ought to mix severity with compassion and it would not look good for an ex-Senator to die in prison. He can be sentenced to home confinement with an ankle bracelet and permission to leave for church and medical appointments. They gave Martha Stewart that.

[Sassys]

Well he should at least wait to see how long his jail term will be, no? I mean if the man is sentenced to 20 years in jail and he is close to 90 years old now...hell it doesn't take a genius to know that only Alaskans would vote for this idiot and "hope" he doesn't go to jail...*si­gh* I just wish we could see any number of other politicians get theirs already...­yes even the "dirty Democratic ones"...a thief is a thief no matter who's label they wear.

[Oregon Ivy]

I'd like to know which Democratic Senator came to his defense.

[Big0725]

Read the article. It was Dan Ineoye of Hawaii.

[KarateKid]

They might not have to go that route. Begich is running ahead. But, it would be interesting to see if there would be an expulsion hearing, and who would vote which way; it would be public record to see who is practicing cronyism. Shame on Inouye.

[JayeSF]

I agree...it won't have to come to that. But I gotta say...Reid actually showing some balls ? (OK, maybe just ONE ball)....

who'da thunk it ?

and for gosh sake...Ino­uye...OK, he's a longtime Dem...but, really....­. he's gotta retire....­..

[ThePublicRecord]

http://www.pubrecord.org/sarah-palin/448-alaska-ag-under-pressure-to-probe-mccain-palin-campaign.html

Alaska AG Under Pressure to Probe McCain-Palin Campaign

Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg is under pressure to appoint an independent investigator to probe whether operatives in Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign broke Alaska’s criminal witness-tampering laws after the state’s personnel board advised him earlier this week that it does not have the authority to take up criminal matters.

[the964kid]

I don't think this fool is gonna win his election anyway, so it probably doesn't matter. Then again, Alaska voters did bring us Sarah Palin - so who knows?!

[wookierage]

why is it that felons can run for congress/senate but can't vote?
WTF?

[Softnsweet]

LOL

[mcpaininmybutt]

My thoughts exactly--WTF?? A person can't be a police officer, or even security, or a bank teller, or a postman, or a thousand other professions, with a felony record. But one can remain a US Senator with 7 felony convictions? If Alaskans don't vote him out, I will begin to seriously question their intelligence and sense of integrity (as if I'm not already, considering who they voted in as Governor).

[bascombe]

reid is a republican apologist.
Why is any space at any blog wasted on his statements?.
I haven't seen anything quoted from him not being reversed by himself.

[KarateKid]

A Republican apologist? Get your facts straight before you rant. He's a Democrat.

[Big0725]

You're not making any sense.

[NoSillyName]

Why in the world would Inouye tell others to ignore Stevens 7 (SEVEN) FELONY convictions?! WTF? Is Inouye as corrupt as Stevens or what? This is just plain silly. I haven't heard or thought about Inouye in many years, but I thought he had a good reputation.

[JMorgan]

The Republicans were the heroes in the Watergate hearings, not the Democrats. They crossed party lines back then to do the right thing instead of be blindly loyal to a corrupt politician. Since 1974, Inouye has wracked up a record of stymieing Democrats' efforts to serve the people's interests, choosing to serve Big Business interests instead of his own constituents' needs. Inouye, as a member of the Iran-Contra commission, helped Reagan and Busy bury their crimes. Had that commission been legitimate, we wouldn't have had a George W. Bush or Dick Cheney in the White House.

Most recently Inouye was a member, along with John McCain and Joe Lieberman, of the Gang of 14. He joined with Republicans and Bush to threaten Democrats into submission with the 'nuclear option' if they did not support the conservative views of candidates to the judicial bench who the Gang approved of.

Inouye is up for re-election in 2010, and if he doesn't choose retirement, Hawaiian Democrats would be wise to consider putting up a challenger for his seat. He's a serious threat to the reform and overturn of the last eight years that's desperately needed to get the country back on track.

[MBryant]

A couple of points
- the GOP would have a great replacement for Stevens in his minority leadership positions in Joe Lieberman.
- it looks like his re-election may be unsuccessful, but it he is re-elected and Reid manages to unseat him, then he will be replaced by appointment of the Alaskan Governor - Sarah Palin. Anyone want to take my bet that Palin will appoint herself?
- if Stevens has Dems speaking out for him - it may not be easy to unseat him, even with the new Dems coming in ... this could be a test of Reid's leadership and Reid and Pelosi have shown that quantity is very rare between them - just what is the procedure by which Hillary Clinton could replace Reid as the Dem Majority leader in the senate?

[LemonMeringue]

That's what worries me - Senator Palin.

I honestly would rather see old Ted stay in the Senate. He could keep Lieberman company at lunch, because they will both be shunned.

[KarateKid]

Hillary is too far down the seniority list to replace Reid. She might end up in Obama's cabinet instead, if he is elected.

[Softnsweet]

Of course Hillary would be important in Obama's cabinet. She deserves it.

[beartrack]

It's too bad that Inouye has taken this stand. He used to be be a good man at one time. So out with Stevens, maybe Inouye too but, the real Judas is Joe Lieberman. What a fool this one is.

[iconoclast33]

Mr. Reid may not need to even consider his options concidering the growing mood in Alaska right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lffB7B8jKE

Enjoy - vote - peace.

[tedbear]

It is rather amazing that a person with a felony cannot work for the federal government, but can work in the Senate. Am I crazy or wrong on this?

[Intelligentia]

That's why the rule of law is inseparable from politics. Those who hold the power determine what the law is. But, that is about to change for the better. What Stevens is trying to do is win the election, knowing that hecannot serve, which will pave the way for Sarah Palin to appoint a Republican Senator to replace him, assuming that the Governor has that power in Alaska..

[blueboomerintx]

Exactly.
And, as I understand it, she DOES.
In fact, I think it's the case in AK (as in some other states) that the Gov MUST appoint someone of the same political party as the outgoing person.
So, even if AK had a Dem Gov, he/she would have to appoint a Rep to replace Stevens.
(If I recall correctly what I heard on NPR last weekend...­)

2 more days to GOTV!

Go Obama/Biden!

[PCRX]

People guilty of crimes like this should NOT be able to RUN let alone SERVE for office. Period.

[rcampbell]

Stevens is still running in the hopes of winning and then resigning. He has no real intention of serving. If the Democrat is elected in Alaska, it's all moot. In Alaska, the Governor does not appoint a successor, it's done through a special election.

I'd like to see Reid replaced with Chris Dodd or someone else more assertive. If the Dems don't get 60 seats you can count on obstructionism. Ironic how the GOP railed against the Democrats when they were in the majority, but those same tactics will always be employed by the minority party. I suggest there be NO closure votes.

If the GOP wants to filibuster--their current campaign thrust is to beg for gridlock--make them carry it out and talk all friggin' day and night.

[BillORights1776]

"If the GOP wants to filibuster--their current campaign thrust is to beg for gridlock--make them carry it out and talk all friggin' day and night."

QFT!

They want to delay..the­n get on the floor and read some cookbooks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRinskWHk8I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZBPtZcp3ww