Big Lizards:Blog:Entry “What to Do About Criminally Convicted Sen. Teddy?”

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October 27, 2008

What to Do About Criminally Convicted Sen. Teddy?

Hatched by Dafydd

No, not that Teddy... I said "criminally convicted." I'm referring to RINO Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK, 64%), just found guilty of all seven counts of felony corruption charges. He was already in a tight race against Democrat Mark Begich -- the polling at Real Clear Politics has three polls, each within the margin of error; what can be done to make it more likely that Republicans will hold that Senate seat?

As an immediate first step, I would hope that the governor of Alaska (some woman, I vaguely recall) should call a press conference. Because of other recent activities of hers, I suspect she will get a lot of reporters. At the presser, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin should discuss the verdict, note that she has fought Sen. Stevens for a long time over his corruption, and announce that when he is finally forced to resign his office -- she will call for a vote to expel him from the Senate feet first, if he won't go vertically -- she will appoint David Cuddy as his successor.

A vote for Stevens, she should say, will really be a vote for Cuddy.

Former state legislator David Cuddy was the second-place finisher in the GOP primary; Stevens got 67% of the vote, Cuddy got 28%, and nobody else was even in double digits.

Palin should make it clear that even if Stevens tries to stay, Republicans in the Senate will vote en masse against allowing a convicted felon to serve.

But since expulsion from the Senate requires a two-thirds vote (67 members), it would finally be up to the Democrats to complete the sequence; in the current Congress, that means that if all 49 Republicans vote to expel, it would still require 18 of the 51 Democrats, or 35%, to rid the senatorial body of its cancer -- or this particular cell of it, at least. (I include Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-CT, 70%, and Bernie Sanders, I-VT, 95%, as "Democrats" because they caucus as such). Thus, if Stevens stays, it will be because Democrats, in a fit of staggering partisan gamesmanship, vote to keep him there so they can try to hang him around Republicans necks.

There is certainly no guarantee such an announcement would hold that seat; it was already dicey before the convictions. But at least this would give the Alaska GOP a fighting chance to make the case that they stand foursquare against corruption; and that if anyone is going to keep a convicted felon in the United States Senate, it will be the Democrats... who in the past have rarely seen mere criminality as a barrier to public service.

Hatched by Dafydd on this day, October 27, 2008, at the time of 2:58 PM

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» Maybe Sarah Palin Reads Big Lizards...! from Big Lizards
Earlier today, I gave Mrs. Palin a piece of my mind (I haven't many left) about what to do in response to the corruption convictions of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK, 64%). I suggested: At the presser, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin... [Read More]

Tracked on October 27, 2008 11:38 PM

Comments

The following hissed in response by: Stephen Macklin

Palin can't and wont make that speech. I expect Stevens will occupy his Senate seat (provided he wins the election) until he has exhausted his appeals and has to report to prison. Stevens will not be sentenced, even without appeals, for four months. Palin does not want to give a speech in which she says in four months she will still be governor of Alaska.

The above hissed in response by: Stephen Macklin at October 27, 2008 3:53 PM

The following hissed in response by: Dafydd ab Hugh

Stephen Macklin:

Palin does not want to give a speech in which she says in four months she will still be governor of Alaska.

No, she'll be the president of the Senate... in a position to work even harder and more effectively to get them to oust Stevens, assuming he wins reelection.

The point, Stephen, is that unlike Democrats, Republicans must always get out front of any corruption charges and make it clear to even the yellowest of yellow dogs that we do not tolerate malfeasance in office. (Democrats don't have to worry so much; it's impossible to fall short of standards one doesn't possess.)

Palin is currently the governor of Alaska; and come what may, she will be so at least until January 20th, 2009 -- nearly three months away. If she sits idly by and does not forcefully denounce, renounce, and attempt to bounce the corrupt felon Ted Stevens, then that cripples the strongest argument for her and McCain's election: that they are political reformers who will fight, as president and vice president, against the old-boy network in Congress.

Dafydd

The above hissed in response by: Dafydd ab Hugh at October 27, 2008 5:49 PM

The following hissed in response by: MNotaro

Yes, Palin needs to jump in and stand strong and not completely stop being Gov of AK. Has anyone noticed that the "Senator" has missed 45% of his Senate votes! Who in their right mind would then elect him to run our country?! The left wing illuminati are just using Obama for his good looks and personality to get a democrat into the White House and it's working! Palin needs to show she stands strong and doesn't put up with corruption on any level!

The above hissed in response by: MNotaro at October 28, 2008 10:34 AM

The following hissed in response by: Stephen Macklin

I agree that she should come out forcefully against Stevens. I think she can outline what she would do as President of the Senate if he is still serving when she takes office.

As for naming a replacement, that is a task that would fall on whoever replaces her as Governor. Though perhaps she could point out a few well qualified contenders to convince voters to keep the seat Republican.

The above hissed in response by: Stephen Macklin at October 28, 2008 12:17 PM

The following hissed in response by: Dafydd ab Hugh

Stephen Macklin:

As for naming a replacement, that is a task that would fall on whoever replaces her as Governor. Though perhaps she could point out a few well qualified contenders to convince voters to keep the seat Republican.

I think you've lost sight of the purpose of the statement. People need to know for whom they're voting... they need a name, not reassurance that some "well qualified" but unnamed Republican would be appointed to fill out the term.

"Don't worry -- a vote for Stevens is actually a vote for [real person's name]. So go ahead and vote for Stevens, even though he's a convicted criminal."

I picked David Cuddy because he is the only person in the GOP primary besides Ted Stevens who even got double-digit support.

Dafydd

The above hissed in response by: Dafydd ab Hugh at October 28, 2008 1:14 PM

The following hissed in response by: Xpressions

Palin needs to get into Washington and reform it completely. That's why the liberal illuminati don't want her there. If she goes after her own party, the elitist are open targets as well.

The above hissed in response by: Xpressions at October 29, 2008 1:16 PM