Comments on: Sen. Stevens Refuses To Answer Questions About Federal Investigations http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:23:51 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Probus http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-2/#comment-3994074 Probus Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:12:42 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3994074 Stevens must step down from the Appropriations and Commerce committees. He is unfit to serve on the Commerce committee considering he doesn't even know what the Internet is. Stevens must step down from the Appropriations and Commerce committees. He is unfit to serve on the Commerce committee considering he doesn’t even know what the Internet is.

]]> By: J Lewd http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-2/#comment-3993988 J Lewd Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:49:51 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993988 Smell that? That's Ted Stevens' wrinkled ass roasting on a spit. Call it Baked Alaskan. Stick a fork in him; he's done. Smell that? That’s Ted Stevens’ wrinkled ass roasting on a spit. Call it Baked Alaskan. Stick a fork in him; he’s done.

]]> By: blogbob http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-2/#comment-3993457 blogbob Wed, 08 Aug 2007 18:44:54 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993457 Maybe Ted can use the money intended for his "Bridge to Nowhere" for his and his son's defenses. It'll just take a quick-thinking lobbyist to think up a plausibly deniable explanation... Maybe Ted can use the money intended for his “Bridge to Nowhere” for his and his son’s defenses. It’ll just take a quick-thinking lobbyist to think up a plausibly deniable explanation…

]]> By: Gregory of Nazianzus http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-2/#comment-3993361 Gregory of Nazianzus Wed, 08 Aug 2007 18:25:38 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993361 Great Work in here, Trolls. KKKarl is proud! Great Work in here, Trolls.

KKKarl is proud!

]]> By: Gregory of Nazianzus http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-2/#comment-3993290 Gregory of Nazianzus Wed, 08 Aug 2007 18:09:46 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993290 Hubris. He doesn’t even answer to his constituents. He can answer from his jail cell….. Comment by Zooey — August 8, 2007 @ 11:56 am -------------------------------- Wow! Zooey is misusing her newly learned vocab. words!!! Why am I not suprised?!?!?! Hubris. He doesn’t even answer to his constituents.

He can answer from his jail cell…..

Comment by Zooey — August 8, 2007 @ 11:56 am
——————————–

Wow! Zooey is misusing her newly learned vocab. words!!!

Why am I not suprised?!?!?!

]]> By: missmolly http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-2/#comment-3993228 missmolly Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:55:57 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993228 Someone else brought up the idea of term limits — might help change the culture for the better by reducing the average time spent in Wash. Comment by Cynicon Implant — August 8, 2007 @ 1:07 pm I like the idea of term limits (if it's OK for the president, it should be OK for both houses of Congress), but only if it's on a national level -- that way the playing field is level for everyone. I would not, for example, support any effort by the state I live in to limit our congresspeople if the rest of the states were not similarly limited. Why give up seniority if we don't have to? Why term limits? I believe our founding fathers believed that service to our country in the form of congressional participation was never intended to be a lifetime career. Yet that's what it's become. And the system has become one where the most senior fossils serving are able to funnel the most pork back to their states. And the sad thing is -- the longer people spend in Washington, the greater the chance they serve the political system more than the people they represent. Unfortunately, a constitutional amendment would be required to put term limits on Congress. And this will be almost impossible to ratify. If you look at the current seniority list of senators, you will see that the top ten in seniority come from not so big states. Byrd (D-WV), 48 years Kennedy (D-MA), 44 years Inouye (D-HI), 44 years Stevens (R-AK), 38 years Domenici (R-NM), 34 years Biden (D-DE), 34 years Leahy (D-VT), 32 years Lugar (R-IN), 30 years Hatch (R-UT), 30 years Baucus (D-MT), 28 years It would not be easy asking the citizens of these states to give up their very senior senators and the resulting flow of pork. We would have a better chance of eliminating the Electoral College. Someone else brought up the idea of term limits — might help change the culture for the better by reducing the average time spent in Wash.

Comment by Cynicon Implant — August 8, 2007 @ 1:07 pm

I like the idea of term limits (if it’s OK for the president, it should be OK for both houses of Congress), but only if it’s on a national level — that way the playing field is level for everyone. I would not, for example, support any effort by the state I live in to limit our congresspeople if the rest of the states were not similarly limited. Why give up seniority if we don’t have to?

Why term limits? I believe our founding fathers believed that service to our country in the form of congressional participation was never intended to be a lifetime career. Yet that’s what it’s become. And the system has become one where the most senior fossils serving are able to funnel the most pork back to their states. And the sad thing is — the longer people spend in Washington, the greater the chance they serve the political system more than the people they represent.

Unfortunately, a constitutional amendment would be required to put term limits on Congress. And this will be almost impossible to ratify. If you look at the current seniority list of senators, you will see that the top ten in seniority come from not so big states.

Byrd (D-WV), 48 years
Kennedy (D-MA), 44 years
Inouye (D-HI), 44 years
Stevens (R-AK), 38 years
Domenici (R-NM), 34 years
Biden (D-DE), 34 years
Leahy (D-VT), 32 years
Lugar (R-IN), 30 years
Hatch (R-UT), 30 years
Baucus (D-MT), 28 years

It would not be easy asking the citizens of these states to give up their very senior senators and the resulting flow of pork. We would have a better chance of eliminating the Electoral College.

]]> By: missmolly http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-2/#comment-3993153 missmolly Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:31:14 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993153 The line item veto was declared unconstitutional by the supremes in 1998. Comment by WaltTheMan — August 8, 2007 @ 1:25 pm I see you responded at the same time I did with that info. Thanks! Are these the same supremes that believe in giving Bush anything he wants? Wonder why they haven't reversed themselves now that they have a Republican president? The line item veto was declared unconstitutional by the supremes in 1998.

Comment by WaltTheMan — August 8, 2007 @ 1:25 pm

I see you responded at the same time I did with that info. Thanks!

Are these the same supremes that believe in giving Bush anything he wants? Wonder why they haven’t reversed themselves now that they have a Republican president?

]]> By: missmolly http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-1/#comment-3993139 missmolly Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:25:41 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993139 I would have to check, but I think the line item veto was taken away at the end of the Clinton Administration. Bush uses “signing statements” to break the law. Comment by Krazny — August 8, 2007 @ 1:20 pm You're right -- I DID check, and the line-item veto was declared unconstitutional in 1998, two years after it was granted. Not that it would have made much difference to Bush -- using the line-item veto would mean he would actually have to read the line-items. I would have to check, but I think the line item veto was taken away at the end of the Clinton Administration. Bush uses “signing statements” to break the law.

Comment by Krazny — August 8, 2007 @ 1:20 pm

You’re right — I DID check, and the line-item veto was declared unconstitutional in 1998, two years after it was granted.

Not that it would have made much difference to Bush — using the line-item veto would mean he would actually have to read the line-items.

]]> By: WaltTheMan http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-1/#comment-3993138 WaltTheMan Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:25:27 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993138 The line item veto was declared <a href="http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/06/25/scotus.lineitem/" rel="nofollow"><strong>unconstitutional</strong></a> by the supremes in 1998. The line item veto was declared unconstitutional by the supremes in 1998.

]]> By: Truthiness http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-1/#comment-3993129 Truthiness Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:21:08 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993129 <em>Someone else brought up the idea of term limits — might help change the culture for the better by reducing the average time spent in Wash. Comment by Cynicon Implant — August 8, 2007 @ 1:07 pm</em> I agree term limits, as well as Chinese like methods for taking care of those in power who break the law, or ethics rules. Someone else brought up the idea of term limits — might help change the culture for the better by reducing the average time spent in Wash.

Comment by Cynicon Implant — August 8, 2007 @ 1:07 pm

I agree term limits, as well as Chinese like methods for taking care of those in power who break the law, or ethics rules.

]]> By: Krazny http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-1/#comment-3993127 Krazny Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:20:09 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993127 I would have to check, but I think the line item veto was taken away at the end of the Clinton Administration. Bush uses "signing statements" to break the law. I would have to check, but I think the line item veto was taken away at the end of the Clinton Administration. Bush uses “signing statements” to break the law.

]]> By: Cynicon Implant http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-1/#comment-3993094 Cynicon Implant Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:07:33 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993094 #45 -- well said, missmolly Your question about why so much pork and no line-item vetoing going on -- I think it is simply the culture of Washington at this point. It's been going on so long and Reps. and Sens. are in the culture for so long it's like they don't know any other way. Someone else brought up the idea of term limits -- might help change the culture for the better by reducing the average time spent in Wash. #45 — well said, missmolly

Your question about why so much pork and no line-item vetoing going on — I think it is simply the culture of Washington at this point. It’s been going on so long and Reps. and Sens. are in the culture for so long it’s like they don’t know any other way.

Someone else brought up the idea of term limits — might help change the culture for the better by reducing the average time spent in Wash.

]]> By: missmolly http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-1/#comment-3993067 missmolly Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:55:29 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993067 Whether it's a sting instigated by Senator Schumer or not is irrelevant. If Senator Stevens pushed through earmarks for his own personal benefit or for the benefit of those directly supporting him, he must be held accountable. If the voters believe he is innocent (or even if they believe he is guilty but like him anyway), they can return him to office in 2008 -- unless he is found guilty of a crime and is convicted, of course. I would like to point out that the standards of accountability we are holding Senator Stevens to should apply equally to ALL of our elected legislators, regardless of party. Stevens could just be the most obvious tip of the iceberg. Observation about earmarks and other pork in spending bills -- didn't we give the president line-item veto power especially to address this? How come it's never used? Whether it’s a sting instigated by Senator Schumer or not is irrelevant. If Senator Stevens pushed through earmarks for his own personal benefit or for the benefit of those directly supporting him, he must be held accountable.

If the voters believe he is innocent (or even if they believe he is guilty but like him anyway), they can return him to office in 2008 — unless he is found guilty of a crime and is convicted, of course.

I would like to point out that the standards of accountability we are holding Senator Stevens to should apply equally to ALL of our elected legislators, regardless of party. Stevens could just be the most obvious tip of the iceberg.

Observation about earmarks and other pork in spending bills — didn’t we give the president line-item veto power especially to address this? How come it’s never used?

]]> By: Juan C http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-1/#comment-3993062 Juan C Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:54:51 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993062 I think this Schumer guy is behind the polonium plot to kill Litvinenko. I think this Schumer guy is behind the polonium plot to kill Litvinenko.

]]> By: Marcus Aurelius http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-1/#comment-3993021 Marcus Aurelius Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:43:25 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993021 <blockquote>Schumer could have contacted his old sources in the FBI to conduct this raid any year. He chose to wait until Stevens was up for reelection for maxium impact. This is bogus, it’s poltics, and Schumer should be ashamed of himself. Comment by Dr. Dog — August 8, 2007 @ 12:36 pm</blockquote> Did I ever tell you that you've got a really pretty mouth? No? Well, you do!

Schumer could have contacted his old sources in the FBI to conduct this raid any year. He chose to wait until Stevens was up for reelection for maxium impact. This is bogus, it’s poltics, and Schumer should be ashamed of himself.

Comment by Dr. Dog — August 8, 2007 @ 12:36 pm

Did I ever tell you that you’ve got a really pretty mouth? No? Well, you do!

]]> By: BARTLEBEE http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-1/#comment-3993010 BARTLEBEE Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:38:10 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993010 Poor Ted Stevens. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Poor Ted Stevens.

Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.

]]> By: barfly http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-1/#comment-3993008 barfly Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:37:27 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993008 "Please compare and contrast this position with the statements of Jean Valjean in Misérables." Comment by Marcus Aurelius When did TP morph into summer school? Please don't do that anymore - you make my head hurt! “Please compare and contrast this position with the statements of Jean Valjean in Misérables.”

Comment by Marcus Aurelius

When did TP morph into summer school?

Please don’t do that anymore – you make my head hurt!

]]> By: Dr. Dog http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-1/#comment-3993006 Dr. Dog Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:36:37 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993006 When Sen. Stevens was caught stealing Vaco Corp’s silverware, they told inspector Javert it was a gift, and offered him $242,000 worth of candlesticks as well! Comment by toasterhead — Schumer could have contacted his old sources in the FBI to conduct this raid any year. He chose to wait until Stevens was up for reelection for maxium impact. This is bogus, it's poltics, and Schumer should be ashamed of himself. When Sen. Stevens was caught stealing Vaco Corp’s silverware, they told inspector Javert it was a gift, and offered him $242,000 worth of candlesticks as well!

Comment by toasterhead —

Schumer could have contacted his old sources in the FBI to conduct this raid any year. He chose to wait until Stevens was up for reelection for maxium impact. This is bogus, it’s poltics, and Schumer should be ashamed of himself.

]]> By: BARTLEBEE http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-1/#comment-3993005 BARTLEBEE Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:35:34 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993005 So when they asked him to answer questions, did he just say <b>"NO!"</b>? So when they asked him to answer questions, did he just say “NO!”?

]]> By: Marcus Aurelius http://thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/comment-page-1/#comment-3993003 Marcus Aurelius Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:35:22 +0000 http://edit.thinkprogress.org/2007/08/08/stevens-alaska/#comment-3993003 When it's one of their own with his nuts in a vise, Rethugs are suddenly all about justice. Tell it to Padilla. When it’s one of their own with his nuts in a vise, Rethugs are suddenly all about justice. Tell it to Padilla.

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