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Tuesday, 28 October 2008

Throw the book at Ted Stevens

If Ted Stevens (R-AK) had an ounce of decency he'd resign from the US Senate. Of course, if he had an ounce of decency he would have resigned when he was indicted on charges of official misconduct and fraud. Instead he vows to fight on, even continuing his campaign to be reelected to his Senate seat. After hearing the verdict from the jury Stevens told his wife "it's not over yet".

Hey Ted, it's over. Go home. You're a disgrace to the Republican party. Why the RNC leadership hasn't taken you out behind the woodshed and read you the riot act is beyond me. Every day that they don't publicly disavow any association with you is another day they lose credibility in my eyes. What are they waiting for?

Yet somehow, even with overwhelming proof to the contrary, there are people who still stand behind Ted Stevens. Colin Powell called Stevens' reputation "sterling":

One of the nation's best-known retired Army generals, Colin Powell, described Sen. Ted Stevens in court today as a "trusted individual" and a man with a "sterling" reputation.

"He was someone whose word you could rely on," said Powell, secretary of state in President Bush's first term, who self-deprecatingly described himself as someone who retired as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and then "dabbled a bit in diplomacy."

That General Powell must be some judge of character, eh? Didn't he recently endorse Barack Obama for president?

Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) also stood up as a character witness for Senator Stevens. Maybe it's an old guy thing? At least the McCain campaign quickly distanced themselves from Stevens. Governor Sarah Palin issued a statement condemning the corruption which permeated Alaska politics when she took office and re-emphasized her committment to cleaning it up regardless of party affiliation, seniority, or past service.

The National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee issued a mealy mouthed statement from Senator John Ensign (R-NV):

"Ted Stevens served his constituents for over 40 years and I am disappointed to see his career end in disgrace."

Oh, please. He's still campaigning. His staff is still working the phones, raising money, and running advertisements. If out of some misguided sense of loyalty Alaskans return him to the Senate he will be untouchable and insufferable in his hubris. He'll lie, cheat, and steal with impunity. Is that really the example we want our US Senators to set?

Posted at 09:41 by Chris [] | | Perm Link |