‘Can you understand English?’
‘Can you understand English?’
CNN reporter Dana Bash confronts Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) in the hallway with a microphone. Bash reported that Stevens had been attempting to escape reporters all day. When she finally caught up to him, he refused to answer Bash’s questions, saying “Can you understand English? That’s the only statement I’m going to make.” Watch it:
SEN. TED STEVENS (R-AK): I put out a statement and I’m not saying anything to anybody beyond that statement.
BASH: Can you say, sir, why the federal agents went to your House or what they took?
STEVENS: Can you understand English? That’s the only statement I’m going to make.
BASH: I do understand that sir, but obviously this is a very important issue, when federal agents and IRS agents come to the home of a U.S. senator.
STEVENS: I understand you’re recording this, but I told you again I made the statement. It’s issued, that’s what my lawyers told me to say, and that’s all I’m going to say.
Watch it:
Atrios notes that Stevens’ legally parsed statement suggests he only paid home reconstruction bills “that were presented to him.” The statement discounts bills that may have been paid by others that never reached Stevens.
UPDATE: Stevens has threatened to place a hold on the “Democratic-drafted ethics legislation just passed by the House and expected on the Senate floor by week’s end. The senator told a closed session of fellow Republicans today, including Vice President Dick Cheney, that he was upset that the measure would interfere with his travel to and from Alaska — and vowed to block it.”
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No entiendes ingles ?
July 31st, 2007 at 6:07 pmPlease forward that CT_V1 is sorry for disrespecting Wayne’s mil. service.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:08 pmShorter Ted Stevens: "NO!"
July 31st, 2007 at 6:09 pmCan't you understand I'm a criminal and trying to avoid Jail?
July 31st, 2007 at 6:14 pm:|
Gee, Ted sounds a little agitated.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:14 pmCheney will protect his fellow criminal. Now as to the comment do you understand English. I would like the
July 31st, 2007 at 6:15 pmvoters of Arkansas to explain why they have a criminal representing their State. So many Republicans have had a field day with crime. It's as if they knew when Bush stole the election in 2000 that it was ok to commit crime and hire prostitutes. That was a hell of a party for 6 1/2 years. Now Cheney can't remember as was the problem with Libby. Gonzales has a sister who is a career drug dealer name Theresa Gonzales and she is free to commit crimes without being picked up. Welcome to the Bush Administration's new America. Looks like Bush/Cheney liked the Saddam laws so well they are now making crime legal for GOP only friends. No wonder the stolen money is Iraq is over 11Billion dollars and counting as all the Iraq leaders are criminals just like the United States.
Well, like I said last night.
Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:15 pmSo a Senator under investigation is holding up ethics legislation - Oh, that is rich. He's going down folks.....And another one bites the dust! h/t to Queen.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:16 pmI would like the voters of Arkansas to explain why they have a criminal representing their State.
Comment by Jackie — July 31, 2007 @ 6:15 pm
You mean Alaska.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:16 pmRemember Jackie?
A "bridge too far"?
July 31st, 2007 at 6:17 pm"Do you understand illegal?" "Not lawful?" "Against the law?" "Criminal act?"
Oh, he's an Alaskan Senator. Those abbreviations can be pesky.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:17 pmAn ethics bill is like kryptonite to Senators like Stevens. What's truly appalling is the Senate rule that allows a single person to put a hold on a bill, even one that passed the House 411-8.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:19 pmGee Ted sounds a little cranky. Perhaps he isn't sleeping well. That happens when the feds are raiding your house, I imagine.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:19 pmThe Senate recently celebrated Stevens as the longest serving GOP member in the Senate's history. In light of this investigation, Stevens should step down from all the committees on which he sits. The House republicans pushed hard for Jefferson to step down, they should do the same for one of their own. Stevens can't hide behind his lawyers. He needs to level with the people of AK and tell the truth. For years he has push for drilling in ANWR, he has always favored policies that have hurt the environment. This corruption scandal will hurt his chances for reelection next year.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:20 pmYou mean Alaska.
Comment by BARTLEBEE — July 31, 2007 @ 6:16 pm
Arkansas too.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:21 pmStevens is perhaps the most foul, bitter and disgusting excuse for a senator as has ever darkened the rotunda.
He is a festering, fumbling, flatulent old fart full of vile, venom and spite.
He worships the pain and suffering of others and steals tax dollars from the poor to build his extravagent and over budgeted projects.
I'll say it again. It just couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:24 pmBARTLEBEE thank you your the best and I really like having you around. I guess you can tell I'm a baby boomer all this is to much like WaterGate but worse. Don't stop checking up on me please I do love the help as even the print is getting harder to read.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:25 pmSomeone call the old folks home they've got a stray.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:26 pmShould Senator Stevens resign.....a new contract?
July 31st, 2007 at 6:26 pmThe senator told a closed session of fellow Republicans today, including Vice President Dick Cheney, that he was upset that HAVING TO REPORT TO JAIL would interfere with his travel to and from Alaska.
There - fixed it.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:27 pmOK, you fruits got to lay off me. I've been ruling longer that you've been alive. So LAY OFF! That bridge was going to do a lot of good for some eskimos. So what if you did have to pay a few million more that we deserved. I am a senator after all and you all should bow down before me.
As for the ethics thing, I am as pure as the driven snow! So BACK OFF! Jeeezus H Christ!!
July 31st, 2007 at 6:28 pmLittle testy, eh, Stevens?
July 31st, 2007 at 6:32 pmCall Cunningham - he may be able to arrange a cell with a nice view for you.
He reminds me of Sen. Artemus Phlegm, the last of the "murder for co minglers" crowd of senators from the south in the genteel age before equality set in and ruint' it all. Artemus was known fondly for the angle and subsequent direction that liquid sploo would cascade from his drool bucket. Many wagers were won and lost by the page boys that couldn't escape the force of gravity, or the senators ugly little habits.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:33 pmSen Steven said during the debate on opening ANWR. That he wouldn't retire until ANWR was opened for drilling and if it didn't get opened, they'd have to carry him out.
Well his dream is coming true.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:36 pmBARTLEBEE thank you your the best and I really like having you around. I guess you can tell I’m a baby boomer all this is to much like WaterGate but worse. Don’t stop checking up on me please I do love the help as even the print is getting harder to read.
Comment by Jackie — July 31, 2007 @ 6:25 pm
No problem. I felt bad doing it but wanted to do it before one of the trolls jumped on it.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:40 pmYou know, if they try to arrest Stevens, he's likely to freak out and take a few people out.
:|
Unless he blows a head gasket first.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:42 pmBARTLEBEE the officers put in charge of arresting him can break his hip if he tries to bite them.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:45 pmSo Stevens is getting a little testy with the press? Sorry, Ted -- when you chose a career as a public servant, dealing with the press was one of the things you signed on for. My suggestion is to get some better lines from your lawyer. A person who's been a Senator this long should be able to move his lips a great deal and manage to say nothing.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:45 pmhe was upset that the measure would interfere with his travel to and from Alaska — and vowed to block it.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:47 pmSo, let's just throw the thieving bastard into jail. Then he won't need to worry about travel restrictions.
I loved when she said he has very CAREFULLY stated that he and his wife have paid every bill that was presented to them. That could be zero. hahahaha
July 31st, 2007 at 6:49 pm"Can you understand English! I'm corrupt! No! My money! Corrupt! No!"
July 31st, 2007 at 6:55 pmBlocking the ethics bills while being investigated by the FBI isn't the smartest move a guy could make. Make it look like there might be just a teeny bit of self serving behavior.
Idiot.
July 31st, 2007 at 6:59 pmStevens:'Can you understand English"?.
D. Bash should have replied:" Mr. Stevens:"Do you know what 'Public Service' is?
July 31st, 2007 at 7:02 pmIt's probably not a good time to oppose ethics reform when you've got the FBI crawling up your backside, Ted.
July 31st, 2007 at 7:03 pmSniff. You smell that? It's the wrinkled ass of pork-encrusted Senator roasting on an open fire. Call it Baked Alaska, if you will. Whatever, it suuuuurrre smells good!
July 31st, 2007 at 8:16 pmOne would think that as an experienced politician and a Senator that Stevens would make sure that he was paying market value for renovations to his home lest it look bad......oh but wait, heeeeees a Republican.
July 31st, 2007 at 8:21 pmHe hid the money in "the Tubes" - look there!!!
July 31st, 2007 at 9:50 pmStevens is to ethics as truth is to (???)
July 31st, 2007 at 10:09 pmLawyer up Teddie.
July 31st, 2007 at 11:15 pmBFD as truth is to Satan.
July 31st, 2007 at 11:20 pmUS Senators are smarter than the normal criminal.
They listen to they lawyers. A hidden message here is say nothing without represention present.
For the record, I think Stevens is the biggest shitbag of all, just a smarter one.
August 1st, 2007 at 12:18 amPaying a bill that is below fair market value for the services provided is considered being given something of value.....so if someone who isnt supposed to give you anything of value hands you a a 10,000 $ bill for 100,000 $ of services or merch, you've taken a bribe even if you pay the entire 10,000 bill...
August 1st, 2007 at 12:53 amIn response to Jackie's question (post #9) - quite frankly, the reason we keep re-electing Ted Stevens is that he delivers the "goods". He's soft on immigration, and wobbly on social issues.
We Alaskans are not the "freeloaders" we are portrayed to be. Yes, I've heard the tired old canard "Alaska gets $1.87 back for every $1.00 paid in taxes". This is a distortion, because 77% of our land is owned by either the Feds or Alaska Natives. By law, the state cannot tax this land, but we provide services to it nonetheless. Ted Stevens' "pork" helps correct that deficiency.
If you really think we Alaskans should pay more of our own way, convince your lawmakers to allow us to open up ANWR for exploration and RESPONSIBLE development. Unless, of course, you want us to continue paying $3.00 per gallon for gas and losing 73 G.I.s per month in Iraq.
BTW, we have some responsible and respected Democratic opposition contemplating the possibility of running against Ted Stevens next year. First and foremost is Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich. Begich has some expensive municipal tastes, but he puts the community first, unlike the notorious grandstanding Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson, who jets off to Mayor's Conferences just to give antiwar speeches. I'm a Republican, but I could live with Mark Begich representing our state in the Senate. And Begich is as clean as a hound's tooth.
August 1st, 2007 at 4:27 amHas Fox News made Stevens a democrat yet?
August 1st, 2007 at 9:04 amUh oh, Teddy's getting cranky. I haven't seen him this mad since ANWR drilling went down to defeat, when he threw that temper tantrum and threatened to get the Senators (namely Matia Cantwell) who spearheaded its defeat.
August 1st, 2007 at 1:25 pmTubes its a bunch of tubes. I guess that is how he plans to escape from his cell.
August 1st, 2007 at 2:17 pmnot a troll to be seen..heheheh
August 1st, 2007 at 5:47 pm