Will Prospect Of Palin In Senate Save Stevens From Expulsion?

Not to rain on our post-election parade...but here's some food for thought...Among the yet-to-decided U.S. Senate races is the Alaska seat where 7-count convicted felon Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) is seeking re-election. The last count I've seen shows him with a modest lead.

While it seems quite likely that Stevens would face a likely expulsion from the Senate if he wins re-election -- even Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) guaranteed it -- I now wonder whether some Senate Republicans and Democrats might back-off such a move given the possibility that Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) might then appoint herself (or make a deal with her LG for the appointment) to any vacancy created as a way of remaining relevant on the national stage? 

Would some members of that chamber believe that Stevens remaining is the lesser of two evils and, conversely, might some Palinists push hard for expulsion for this very reason?

Thoughts?

Update: Thanks to former Senator Frank Murkowski's (R-AK) decision to appoint his own daughter to his seat after he was elected governor, Alaska law now requires a special election within 90 days. So, Palin could either appoint herself (or more likely resign and have her LG appoint her), or simply skip the appointment, call a special election, and run.

Regardless, and back to my original point, a Stevens' vacancy as a result of expulsion will likely result in Palin being the next senator from Alaska and you have to figure that will be part of a strategic decision on all sides as far as how to proceed.

Here's how Alaska law reads:

Sec. 15.40.140. Condition and time of calling special election.
When a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator or United States representative, the governor shall, by proclamation, call a special election to be held on a date not less than 60, nor more than 90, days after the date the vacancy occurs. However, if the vacancy occurs on a date that is less than 60 days before or is on or after the date of the primary election in the general election year during which a candidate to fill the office is regularly elected, the governor may not call a special election.

Sec. 15.40.145. Temporary appointment of United States senator. [See revisor's note]..
When a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator, the governor may, at least five days after the date of the vacancy but within 30 days after the date of the vacancy, appoint a qualified individual to fill the vacancy temporarily until the results of the special election called to fill the vacancy are certified. If a special election is not called for the reasons set out in AS 15.40.140 , the individual shall fill the vacancy temporarily until the results of the next general election are certified.

Mark Nickolas is the Managing Editor of Political Base, and this story was from his original post, "Will Prospect Of Palin In The Senate Save Stevens From Expulsion?"

Follow Mark Nickolas on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mnickolas

Comments

[KimberleyC]

Fine. Put her in the Senate. (You can't have a 7x convicted felon there.) Her presence will only further illustrate her incompetence. And I'd love to see Hillary wipe the floor with her. Alaska would continue their winning record of corrupt politicians. And Jon Stewart will have something to make fun of. It's a win-win situation.

[markscoular]

I'm with you. She will be ineffective and between Jon Stewart and Keith Oberman with supporting roles from every other comedian in the world we could have great on-going entertainment.

BTW, did you see the news reports today that she thought Africa was a country and South Africa was a suburb... Better yet, she had no clue who the members of NAFTA are. Perhaps she could join Joe Lieberman on the Foreign Relations Committee.­...... Oh, but I forgot that she is the foremost expert on Energy....

[DennyCrane]

Can you imagine what Senators McCain and Clinton would think?

[MathIsTruth]

Hopefully, the Senate will do what's right to preserve the credibility of the institution. If that means expelling Stevens, so be it.

Is it actually a forgone conclusion that Palin would win an election for Senator? I assume the Dem who just lost (or appears to be losing) to Stevens would run and put up a decent fight.

[DoctorDan]

Even a convicted Ted Stevens can be a very powerful influence in the Senate, his home away from home. What do we have to fear from Sarah Palin in the Senate? She's already sown bad will among the majority party (and a large part of the minority party) of Congress. Would she really be an effective Senator? I wouldn't mind seeing her fizzle out on the national stage, rather than worry about her lying in wait, getting stronger, up in her cocoon in Alaska.

[NoSillyName]

Great point!!!

[midwesthousewife]

I don't know--it isn't wise to underestimate the shallow understanding of the American public, especially when confronted with the best snake oil salesman we have ever seen on the national stage. Still, how well received will she be by Republicans in Washington when she is being blamed for McCain's loss? Did anyone catch her fevered attempt to exonerate herself today as she left Arizona, I think it was on ABC evening news?

[wydgage]

OMG... Palin in the US Senate? it would be constant FODDER for Tina Fey and the rest of the gang at Saturday Night Live!

[sanfoz]

The geatest service Sarah could for her country is go back to Alaska and keep her eyes on russia for us. If anything unusal happens like Putin raring his head she could General Pitraus on his hotline.I mean after all she can see Russia from her house.

[TommyMcCarthy]

Just one more thing to thank the "superpatriot" ..Sen. McCain for: the gift of Sarah Palin.

Let's hope that one isn't placed in a positin to keep on giving
tm

[fishgirl26]

DOH! I forgot about that presidential pardon thing! Hmm...Ted Stevens, Scooter Libby...an­yone else??

[RSLIP]

Blame the real culprit in this PALIN nomination and that is Rev. James Dobson and his ilk. They tend to overthink their influence on Republicans and Independants. McCain caved in to this very small faction. Net result,,,,a crushing defeat. Republicans have to Focus on votes and not Focus on the Family.
RSLIP

[SeenItBefore]

Let's save the courts and the American taxpayers a bundle of loot and a lot of time. In the next 75 days, Bush is going to pardon most of the Federal Government and all of Wall Street, Energy companies, Investment banks, Corporations with more than 5 employees, and ground squirrels.

Why bother.

[NoSillyName]

Hmmm, another "lesser of two evils" choice. But not for me this time. Thank you Obama!

[liberalsrheros]

palin as a party leader would be perfect.

[drdanaviv]

You assume that Palin will dodge the bullet from Trooper-gate ...

[AKPhil]

Can't happen. After Murkowski appointed his daughter to the senate the law was changed. The governor does not appoint a replacement, temporary or permanent. A special election has to be held 90 day after the vacancy. She could run for the seat and she would probably win it. ( before last night I didn't think she would have a chance but the idiots in my state RE-ELECTED A CONVICT TO REPRESENT THEM IN THE SENATE! ) I just read these rules in the Anchorage Daily news yesterday. They were explained by a judge.

[blood1]

If she thought long and hard about it, she would not take Steven's job, if she really wanted to move up in the GOP. Actually, she would be bored and hate it in the Senate, as she would not be leading the way.

[Aldyth]

Yeah, but then she might have a reason to keep the clothes.

[midwesthousewife]

And she might have to read something boring like the Constitution, and show up for committee meeting and hearings and votes when there'd be so much better shopping in DC than in Juneau. The Alaska legislators could send the Senators their "Where's Sarah?" buttons.