It looks like Ted Stevens is going to lose his senate seat after all--by the voters, in last week's election.
They had not counted the early voting or mail-in ballots, and it appears that many Dems voted early and Democrat Mark Begich clobbered Stevens in the early rounds, offsetting the almost-tie among election day voters.
As of a few minutes ago, Democrat Mark Begich was ahead by 814, with mostly friendly districts still to come in.
More here.
So we can feel better about the voters of Alaska.
But how much better? A hair under 50% for a felon is nearly as bad as a hair over.
Either way is pitiful.
Regardless of political affiliation, how do you justify voting ror a felon. And it's not like you can make the error-unrelated-to-politics argument here. He was convicted for what amounts to bribery. That's how they want to be represented?
That explains a certain governor. It also explains the alleged claim that she's "The Most Popular Governor in America"--which is probably bogus in any sense, but is at best based on popularity among the folks who choose to live in the tundra. A vast number were born elsewhere and drawn there.
I'm sure there are a lot of great people up there. And quite a few with appalling judgment. Good repository for the latter, I guess. Let's remember to keep the door on the icebox shut.
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It made me wonder how much Alaskans feel part of this country or not.
Out on the frontier, there's evidently a large proportion of the citizenry who went there precisely because they didn't "fit in", didn't conform to social norms. Their election or re-election of a felon is just a way of thumbing their collective noses at traditional society. It's been that way on "frontiers" from time immemorial.
Think Judge Roy Bean, "The Law West of the Pecos".
Ain't that the truth.
Incidentally, Tom, the gov does not appoint in Alaska anymore (due to her predecessor appointing his daughter). They have a special election within 90 days.
But she may well have been planning to run.
I can see someone voting for a felon--like and arsonist, burgler, or murderer...
...but what I cannot see is voting for a felon whose felony was stealing the public's money and abusing his office.
Voting for that kind of guy ought to be a felony in itself...and probably is. It sure as hell seems like abetting a felony!
All kidding aside, that's great news. Now "Seeerah" can go home and "Govern" like a MF'er!
70% and holding. Miss Popularity can go back to Miss Oblivion.
Get your Moose coat out Sarah, Anchorage is colder than D.C..
Look, Mitch McConnell, who would LOVE to hang on to as many republican seats as he can, said no felon is serving in the Senate. Harry Reid said Stevens will not serve.
The problem with Stevens is that he has managed to piss a lot of people off, regardless of their party affiliation. They can't stand him and this gives them an excuse to toss him out on his ass and say it's for the good of the country.
Would they be that petty? Sure. But they've got the perfect rationalization for their vindictive behavior. Stevens is a convicted felon. It makes it real easy for them.
All they have to do is say we don't want a convicted felon to serve in the Senate, and not say "and I can't stand the son of a bitch anyway" but think it, and they're off the hook.
And what none of you has mentioned, because none of you knows squat about Alaska, is that his opponent Begich is a Republican in all but party affiliation. It would not surprise me if a substantial number of people voted for Stevens so when he got expelled there would be a do-over (as required by state law within 90 days) and someone more palatable would be available.
Listen, we're talking about Alaska here. Know what one of the things Rahm Emanuel was smart about?
Instead of running Dennis Kucinich in North Carolina, he ran Heath Shuler. And instead of trying to run a John Kerry in Alaska, you run a Begich. You ain't getting a Kerry or Kucinich elected in Alaska, so you take what you can get.