Good riddance to bad rubbish
November 22nd 2008 08:48
Ted Stevens is out. In a very close election, Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) was ousted by Anchorage mayor Mark Begich. If you've read my blog, you probably know that I am no fan of Ted Stevens. I can't stand the man. He represents everything that is wrong with Washington politics and he is ground zero for the corruption that has hung heavy around the neck of the Republican Party. I'm not sorry to see him go.
With that being said, I will admit that I had a little hope that he could pull this win out. The GOP needs every seat it can get at this point. Stevens almost certainly wouldn't have been able to remain in the Senate. He's a convicted felon and would have been summarily expelled. Had that happened, he could've been replaced by another (hopefully non-corrupt) conservative. However, it's just as well that he has been voted out of office. For the GOP to right its ship, old flotsam and jetsam needs to be flushed down the drain. And while his replacement is a Democrat, Senator-elect Begich doesn't seem like an ultra-liberal ideologue. He knows that he represents a conservative state and, hopefully, he will vote accordingly. I can't really see him toeing the Democratic party line on far-out-of-the-mainstream bills. If that's the case, he's about as good as conservatives could hope for from an elected Democratic official.
While Stevens is out and Begich seems to be a reasonable (albeit Democratic) replacement, don't think for a second that the Democratic Party is as pure as the driven snow. Yes, Ted Stevens was the Republican king of pork. However, his expulsion from Washington only improves the credibility of the GOP. The Democrats, on the other hand, still have the burden of their primary king of pork, Representative John Murtha (D-PA). Also, Stevens was corrupt. His conviction solidifies that fact. Keep in mind, though, that William Jefferson (D-LA) is still under indictment and will likely get convicted of soliciting and/or taking bribes. Both Murtha and Jefferson got re-elected. So while the GOP is shredding it's most shameful member, the Democrats are still swimming in a pool of pork and corruption. Just as folks like Stevens eventually brought the GOP down, I suspect that the presence of the Murthas and Jeffersons will eventually turn voters against the Democrats. The electorate is sick of "politics as usual". Voters have done a good job of shedding refuse from the GOP through their actions at the ballot boxes. Eventually, the voters' surgical knife will start slicing off the most cancerous elements of the Democratic Party. I only hope this happens sooner rather than later. And when that happens, I will heartily state -- as I am now with respect to Stevens -- the following celebratory refrain: "Good riddance to bad rubbish."
With that being said, I will admit that I had a little hope that he could pull this win out. The GOP needs every seat it can get at this point. Stevens almost certainly wouldn't have been able to remain in the Senate. He's a convicted felon and would have been summarily expelled. Had that happened, he could've been replaced by another (hopefully non-corrupt) conservative. However, it's just as well that he has been voted out of office. For the GOP to right its ship, old flotsam and jetsam needs to be flushed down the drain. And while his replacement is a Democrat, Senator-elect Begich doesn't seem like an ultra-liberal ideologue. He knows that he represents a conservative state and, hopefully, he will vote accordingly. I can't really see him toeing the Democratic party line on far-out-of-the-mainstream bills. If that's the case, he's about as good as conservatives could hope for from an elected Democratic official.
While Stevens is out and Begich seems to be a reasonable (albeit Democratic) replacement, don't think for a second that the Democratic Party is as pure as the driven snow. Yes, Ted Stevens was the Republican king of pork. However, his expulsion from Washington only improves the credibility of the GOP. The Democrats, on the other hand, still have the burden of their primary king of pork, Representative John Murtha (D-PA). Also, Stevens was corrupt. His conviction solidifies that fact. Keep in mind, though, that William Jefferson (D-LA) is still under indictment and will likely get convicted of soliciting and/or taking bribes. Both Murtha and Jefferson got re-elected. So while the GOP is shredding it's most shameful member, the Democrats are still swimming in a pool of pork and corruption. Just as folks like Stevens eventually brought the GOP down, I suspect that the presence of the Murthas and Jeffersons will eventually turn voters against the Democrats. The electorate is sick of "politics as usual". Voters have done a good job of shedding refuse from the GOP through their actions at the ballot boxes. Eventually, the voters' surgical knife will start slicing off the most cancerous elements of the Democratic Party. I only hope this happens sooner rather than later. And when that happens, I will heartily state -- as I am now with respect to Stevens -- the following celebratory refrain: "Good riddance to bad rubbish."
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Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by Lester Caudill
Round Politics
The voters may remove these corrupt dems, but given the opportunity this elections they chose not to, and Murtha was reelected.
I think most of the corrupt dems live in heavily populated liberal areas and are protected from reasonable voters.
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by Nevar
Is Why
Alaskans have ready access to their elected officials, do Georgians? Alaskans have benefited from 40 years of Ted Steven's efforts. What he has done to get in trouble is pretty minor compared to antic's Georgia's politicians have pulled off in the past.
BTW ~ What considerable contribution have you made for the collective benefit of your state's population?
What I am suggesting is simple; wait until the dust has settled before blaming the woes of the world on Stevens. Steven's didn't corrupt the republican or the democratic parties; we're all culpable ~ term limits have been shelved by, " We the People's. . . ."
It takes years under the influencing mantel of an absolute power system to find yourself yielding to its lure and falling victim to the siren's call, like a moth drawn into the flames.
Not one person, at any level of politics should be allowed to serve more than an aggregate of 8 years in total; and that means, "We the People's . . . need to exercise our voting power," or quite bitching.
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
What, exactly have you done?
If the question was directed at someone else, maybe you should speak up first and explain what you've done for the benefit of mankind before throwing stones with a blindfold on.
Comment by Nevar
Is Why
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by Nevar
Is Why
and this:
Populist Conservative
where it states that the author is from:
Atlanta, Georgia, UNITED STATES
The initial sentence should have served as a clue SL.
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
The man is a crook, pure and simple. A jury of his peers has said so. And he is the most despicable example of how corrupt and wasteful Washington has become. The fact that you defend the man says more about you than it does about him.
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by Nevar
Is Why
PC, I am not kidding.
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Comment by Nevar
Is Why
Comment by Nevar
Is Why
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Comment by Nevar
Is Why
He got into trouble as a result of his dealings with a company called VECO.
This sounds off the wall I am sure, but I know a little about how VECO operated, when they ran up against a problem, they threw money at it until the problem got fixed. When you wanted to get things done quickly, VECO was your contractor of choice, because they would move a project along in a hurry. Over budget, but on time.
It's not hard for me to see a scenereo where Stevens decides that he needs work done on his house and wants it to get done quickly. Everybody in Alaska pretty well knows the major contractor players, and you end up doing business on a convenience basis.
Ted says, I need this work done and quickly, VECO says ok and rips into the project. When they run in to a problem, they don't ask, they get 'er done. Unfortunately, if they overstepped their boundaries, it's too late. The works done. VECO will eat their loses and not charge for the extra work; therein lays the crux of the matter.
If you aren't familiar with that kind of interaction, it looks suspicious. I've been caught up in the same way as a contractor; my crew caused damage to a project under contract and rather than fuss over it, I did major extra work to keep the peace. Had the client been a politician, he could have come under scrutiny for inappropriate business dealings; for accepting undeclared gifts.
So, I'd rather see Stevens come back and fight the case where it will be heard by individuals familiar with Alaskan business practices. If he is guilty, he should be punished; but too, he should be judged by his peers.
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate