Begich On "Maddow" Stresses Magnanimity, Change (VIDEO)

Victorious in his race to unseat Alaska's best known collector of illicit felony-booty Ted Stevens, Democratic Senator-elect Mark Begich made an appearance on last night's Rachel Maddow Show (guest hosted by Alison Stewart), which, as before, he was "honored" to do! Begich magnanimously praised Stevens' service and voiced his excitement for "new opportunities" for his state. Begich also predicted that he would be able to successfully work with Governor Sarah Palin even though I'd bet twenty dollars right now that she didn't vote for him! Anyway, here's hoping that Alaska can come to be known for something other than frost-flecked, money-grubbing cronyism maybe!

(Also in this clip: Stewart shows how serious the Minnesotans are about their recount by describing the goings on in Ramsey County, where poll workers are counting ballots hand by hand at a clip of one ballot per five seconds, in rooms where no food, drink, or talking is permitted. I hope everyone drives really carefully in Minnesota over the next week or so, because there will be some fellow citizens walking around whose eyes are totally glazed over.)

Comments

[ninetwelve]

i love it when bill's in my corner.

[killmenow]

I loved seeing Arianna hosting because I am biased and I'm a huge fan, and I also, to be really superficial, loved the white blouse with all the black buttons and the earrings. And I loved her interview with Bill Maher. Arianna was a guest host, however, and her style isn't the brash, forceful and in-control manner that is more typical of TV hosts.

Alison, however, just slid right in there as if she'd been hosting the show all along. Soooo smooth and easy, and very professional. Again, to be superficial, I would NEVER have thought that she's 42, as someone commented here.

[care4mypeeps]

I thought Alison did a wonderful job. Since none of us have to read a teleprompter and deliver the
news with a smile, giving her the credit that she deserves should not be out of reach.

We shouldn't expect her to be anyone she is not. So Congratulations on the new baby and
your gig at the Rachel Maddow show.

[mom2sons]

I like Allison. She does a good job. Maybe a little offbeat, but so is Rachel. She looks good too since having a baby. Wondered what happened to her.

[evgolightly]

I can't sit through Rachel when Alison's at the desk. Arianna was much better than Alison, who looks like she's reading from the prompter all the time and lacks the brain fire power of Rachel and Arianna.
She guest hosted Keith once and it was even worse.

As far as debating skills, Arianna, who honed her skills at Cambridge, is in a league of her own.

[LittlePurpleUSA]

Wow, I remember Allison Stewart from MTV. She's come a long way. Where's Rachel anyways? I do miss the little lady (that wasn't too sexist was it?). Is she on vacation or what?

http://littlepurpleusa.blogspot.com

[deeppeace]

Please make Stewart go away. She's just to coy for words. And it doesn't work.

[GeorgeP922]

Coy? please explain, funny how everyone is clamoring for her to be on the tube more, and you call her coy.

first for everything.

[roblabrousse]

Stevens is ending his career with an enormous black eye. He is a convicted felon. He took illegal gifts. One of which increased the square footage of his home. Were there others over the span of his career not declared? Forty years of bribes, paybacks, perks, I mean "gifts", could have a lot of cash value. By the way how do you gift wrap an addition to a house?

Call it bittersweet. Call it sad. But call it what it is. It's a disgrace to the office he held. He soiled his image without anyone's help. Stevens will still cash in on his career. He will still receive a pension and health benefits. Will the addition to his home be dismantled or will he be made to pay for it?

Good -bye Senator Stevens, you took what you knew is legally forbidden. And you knew why it is so. What were you feeling when you opted not to report these gifts??? Was it a deep respect for the truth?

What if he had never been caught? And we all thought he was a hero ? He stole a piece of our hope to believe in our political system. He jaded our view a bit more. He re-enforced so much that's negative. He is a convicted felon . This is a lesson to us that our lawmakers can become lawbreakers. Ironically, this will be Senator Stevens' unwitting , final act of service before leaving office.

[lynettema]

Can a felon receive the pension and health benefits? Wasn't he found guilty on 7 counts? Were any of them felonious.

[dagnome27]

they were ALL felonies, IIRC

[christianmama4change]

I like Alison Stewart - she's the best sub to Rachel Maddow. As for Begich, stay away from Palin - she's bad news and only cares about herself and political future - she just might run to be a senator in a state she doesn't live in.

[inluvwkeitholbermann]

like Arizona

[RonNYC]

she's married to that hottie, bill wolff,
who used to be on the tucker carlson show.

[WowJones]

Smart and gorgeous, liked her better with the curly locks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Alison_Stewart.jpg

[DeeW]

I like her too - I thought she always did a good job filling in for Keith. And yes, I prefer the curls as well :)

[ZimboChick]

I do not know this Allison but I like her she is sharp! When Arianna was on, I was chiding Rachel for being so mean lol. Arianna is good when she is sparring with someone - but too mellow when she is on her own. Still respect you Arianna. Do not send Zeus after me.

[Woodley56]

I'm getting old. I remember Allison Stewart from MTV News. And I probably haven't watched MTV since they stopped showing music videos. Which is quite a while ago.

[postman606]

Allison was also the host of daytime shows on ABC and MSNBC.

[jayded]

with all due respect to women....Alison Stewart is a HOT CHICK!!!

i stared last night. and wondered.

[GwenElle]

Give it up. She's married.

[floydknight]

and?

[Aviewpoint]

It was great to see Alison covering for Rachel Maddow last night... She should come back on MSNBC; I liked watching her... she is smart and funny!

Keith O, Rachel Maddow,Chris Mathews, Alison..... would that be great!

[mlrlmsw]

Thank you, God, that Sarah Palin cannot run for Ted Stevens' seat. Keep her in Alaska. I was just dreading the next round of media - Sarah goes to Washington!

[ThankGodforAtheists]

Amen to that. Can I say amen?

[justoverit333]

you can say amen as long as
you go to confession on Saturday.
The Catholics aren't allow parishioners
to take communion if they voted for
Obama. good lord. how idiotic.

[TheGuide]

Here here!

[christianmama4change]

I was mighty thrilled that "cracked door" she wanted to "plough through" closed on her!!!

[meede]

Don't get too cozy -- There are 3 seats in Alaska for which she can run in 2010, which is when her term as Governor is up for re-election.

[Berkeleyan]

You are right. We should never get too cozy and underestimate this woman. Her ambition (and witchcraft stuff) is truly scary. She is vicious, my husband said. I had a bad dream about Sarah the other night. I saw that she morphed herself behind the walls of a house and destroyed all electrical wires. And then when she emerged, our ammunition used to drive her away (which needed electricity) was disabled. My husband used to laugh at my "stupid or funny" dreams. Could it be fear or sixth sense, I don't know. I just don't want her to harm President Elect Obama and his family and harm us as a country.

[lynettema]

Oooohh, NOOOOO!

[MarkVA71]

I can't believe he's 46. He doesn't look a day over 36. Must be the limited amount of sunlight...

[MilesTone]

Can someone get me Alison's phone number?!!!!!!

[SwingVoter]

She is married.

[cmeans29]

And just had a child.

[Df7702]

not if i get it first . man shes pretty .

[jackthecommentor]

1-800-you-wish!!

[patwal]

You have to chuckle at life's little ironies. MSNBC finds two really, really bright women almost at the wave of a finger; yet McCain could only find Palin. There must be a moral there somewhere.. lol

[MarkVA71]

IMO, there are very few bright republican women. *snicker*