Reason rules out, and a convicted senator has been booted out of office. Stevens has served six terms in the senate, the longest serving senator in the history of Alaska. He will be replaced by Mark Begich, a democrat. Interestingly Begich ran on a platform that not only differed from his opponent, but greatly differed from former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Begich 's platform included promises to return Alaska to an education policy that respects community values, work across party lines to implement a new Alaska energy plan that works for Alaska families and communities, and to safely and responsibly redeploy our troops out of Iraq. Personally, I think he is the real maverick from Alaska.
WASHINGTON— Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens has lost his bid for a seventh term. The longest-serving Republican in the history of the Senate trailed Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich by 3,724 votes after Tuesday's count. That's an insurmountable lead with only about 2,500 overseas ballots left to be counted.
WASHINGTON— Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens has lost his bid for a seventh term. The longest-serving Republican in the history of the Senate trailed Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich by 3,724 votes after Tuesday's count. That's an insurmountable lead with only about 2,500 overseas ballots left to be counted.
Stevens, who turned 85 Tuesday, also revealed that he will not ask President George W. Bush to give him a pardon for his seven felony convictions.
Stevens had already been removed as top Republican on the Commerce panel and his ranking position on the powerful subcommittee responsible for the defense budget.
(http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-11-18-stevens-gop_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip)
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Personally, I think that Ted Stevens overstayed his welcome in the Senate. Here's a quote I found that pretty aptly states what has been a factor in his inability to win this election.
"On July 29, 2008, Stevens was indicted by a federal grand jury on seven counts of failing to report gifts received from VECO Corporation and its CEO Bill Allen on his Senate financial disclosure forms, formally charged with violation of provisions of the Ethics in Government Act. Stevens pleaded not guilty and asserted his right to a speedy trial, which began on September 25 in Washington, DC, to have the opportunity to clear his name before the November election. However, on October 27, 2008, barely a week before the election, Stevens was found guilty on all seven counts."
While Stevens pushed through a lot of legislature that certainly helped his home state of Alaska (i.e the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act,etc), I think it's time this guy turns in his title and recognizes that times, they are a changin'. ; )
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