Alaska: Nominated for the worst place in America

I had posted about freshly-convicted (yah!) Ted Stevens’ (R-AK) chances to be re-elected to Senate a bit previously (here).  Thankfully, the end of the trial did not stifle the New York Times’ interest:

‘Alaska G.O.P. Still Backs Re-election for Stevens’

“Republican leaders in the Senate have abandoned Mr. Stevens, as has the party’s presidential ticket.

Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee, called Tuesday for Mr. Stevens to resign, as did his vice-presidential running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, whose relationship with Mr. Stevens is not close.”

Yet the GOP has no choice but to back a convicted felon rather than concede the seat, as it is too late to change the name on the ballot.  Glad they planned ahead.  But I doubt Stevens would ever concede his office if his party asked him to.  And he certainly, if re-elected, won’t resign even if he does lose his appeal.  He won’t be shamed simply because he is shameless.

And for those who doubt the possibility that Alaskans would vote for a huge asshole, notorious government leach, and new convicted felon:

‘Ted Stevens Receives a Hero’s Welcome in Alaska’

The title says it all, really, but:

“Mr. Stevens faces a strong re-election challenge from Mark Begich, the mayor of Anchorage, a Democrat. Even as top Republican leaders have called on Mr. Stevens to resign and many political experts believe his chances of re-election are slim, some people refuse to rule out the possibility of his winning, given his stature here.

The senator, a 40-year incumbent known for delivering billions of dollars of federal money and projects to Alaska, was met in an airplane hangar here on Wednesday night with chants of “We need Ted.””

I don’t want to have to rely on the Senate doing the right thing by tossing the convicted felon out.  Step it up, people of Alaska.  This election is a referendum on Alaska’s willingness to sacrifice democracy and the national interest to keep a notorious thief (whose theft they profit from) in office.

(And yes, I still do believe that Ted will be pardoned.  And I do wonder if his desire to expedite his trial might be to ensure that Bush would be in office to pardon him)

… and the cow goes moo