Scandal-Infested Ted Stevens Doles Out Earmarks For ‘Rodent Control’
Scandal-Infested Ted Stevens Doles Out Earmarks For ‘Rodent Control’
Currently, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) is under investigation by the FBI for his relationship with Alaska energy company Veco, whose CEO pled guilty to bribing government officials, including Stevens’ son Ben Stevens. The FBI is also investigating Stevens’ use of earmarks to reward his friends. This summer, FBI agents raided Stevens’ home in Alaska, the first ever raid of a sitting senator’s home.
Yet such scrutiny apparently hasn’t changed the behavior of Stevens, who added $88 million in “earmarks and directed spending” to this year’s omnibus bill. Some of his earmarks include:
– $113,000 for “rodent control”
– $975,000 for berry research
– $825,000 for “alternative salmon products”
But one particular earmark deserves special attention. Roll Call reports:
That total includes nearly $3.5 million for the Alaska Sealife Center — which is being investigated by the FBI, Department of Interior and the Internal Revenue Service as part of their inquiry into Stevens.
The SeaLife center is at the heart of the FBI’s criminal investigation of Stevens. The Bureau is examining whether Stevens directed funds there to benefit his friend and longtime business partner Trevor McCabe, a former aide to the senator. In 2005, Stevens directed millions of dollars to the SeaLife Center, which then paid over $500,000 to McCabe to buy a parcel of his land.
By directing additional millions to the scandal-ridden SeaLife Center this year, Stevens is effectively thumbing his nose at the FBI investigators — a move worthy of his inclusion as one of the top ten ethics scandals of 2007.
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59 Responses to “Scandal-Infested Ted Stevens Doles Out Earmarks For ‘Rodent Control’”
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Rodent control. How ironic.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:19 am… “alternative salmon products†???
… $825,000 … for soy???
December 18th, 2007 at 10:20 amSenator Stevens, if you have any ‘rodent control’ materials left over, could you send a few pallets to the White House & Republican legislators.
America has had a rodent problem for 7 years with rats in the White House & Congress.
Thanks, Ted.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:21 amFinally the Troops are refusing to fight this immoral war for israel.
‘Army Times’ Article Describes U.S. Troop ‘Mutiny’ in Iraq
By Greg Mitchell
Published: December 16, 2007 8:20 PM ET
NEW YORK While violence is down in Iraq, Americans continue to die and fall badly wounded, and suffer severe stress and trauma caused by 15-month tours of duty. A remarkable article on Friday in the Army Times is titled: “Not us. We’re not going: Soldiers in 2nd Platoon, Charlie 1-26 stage a ‘mutiny’ that pulls the unit apart.”
Here are two excerpts. The first describes only one of several incidents that drove many soldiers to “stand down.” The second looks at how some responded. The entire lengthy piece by staff writer
Kelly Kennedy can be found at:
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/12/bloodbrothers3/
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/12/bloodbrothers2/
http://www.militarytimes.com/ forum/ showthread.php?t=1561122
http://www.militarytimes.com/ news/ 2007/ 11/ bloodbrothersredirect/
Care to comment or read more on Iraq and the media ? Go to Mutiny.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:30 amhttp://gregmitchellwriter.blogspot.com/
#4, note that TP had that story yesterday:
http://thinkprogress.org/ 2007/ 12/ 17/ thinkfast-december-17-2007/
December 18th, 2007 at 10:34 am… “alternative salmon products†???
… $825,000 … for soy???
Comment by katy — December 18, 2007 @ 10:20 am
That one caught my eye, as well. I wonder what an alternative salmon might be. Whatever it is probably won’t be coming out of the ocean.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:38 ami really hope senator stevens goes down in flames and ends up in jail. he’s a product of good ol’ boy politics that needs to just go away.
but couldn’t be argued that the ceasing of earmarks to the sea life center would be a tacit admission of guilt? i would think that in the context of an investigation, the moment you begin to be investigated and cease the alleged illegal activity (in this case, earmarks as economic boon to personal friends), that gives prosecutors even more ammunition.
if stevens continues the earmarks — the difference being that this year there probably is no quid pro quo as there may have been in prior years — he’s basically saying, “see, i’ve been doing this nice and legal all the time and i’m not going to stop now.”
seriously, the guy has some high dollar legal advice. you would think he wouldn’t be doing anything while under investigation that isn’t met by the approval of his attorneys.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:38 amalternative salmon products?!?!?!?!
wait, Soylent Lox is made of….
PEOPLE?!?!?!!?!?!?
NOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooo….
December 18th, 2007 at 10:38 amchl, your thoughts?
(i’m going to keep chl here all day.)
December 18th, 2007 at 10:39 amWHY do we keep the system of earmarking? The potential for abuse is staggering. Never mind — I know the answer to that. Earmarking is a great way to pay back the people who brought you to the dance, and neither party wants to give that up.
Earmarks can be used for great, worthwhile things. They can also be used for political favors that are just a waste of taxpayer money.
Good causes or bad, earmarks are essentially grants. We need to get these grants OUT of Congress and have them authorized by other federal agencies — the decisions made by people who don’t have to get elected and don’t have campaigns to pay for.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:40 amFew people know that Ted Stevens is actually older than Alaska.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:43 amAlternative salmon products are products that use salmon as the alternative. Like powdered salmon for your coffee, or salmon skin chips and salsa…. Stevens is going to need to earmark a few millions for the marketing campaign I would think.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:44 amWHY do we keep the system of earmarking?
Comment by missmolly — December 18, 2007 @ 10:40 am
Earmarking sounds harmless, it should be called something else.
I thought maybe something like butt-stuffing, but that would just entice more closeted Republicans to do it, so it needs a different name.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:50 amIdeas?
=D
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 18, 2007 @ 10:49 am
it’s so easy to con-troll chl!
December 18th, 2007 at 10:52 amFew people know that Ted Stevens is actually older than Alaska.
Comment by Zimzone — December 18, 2007 @ 10:43 am
Oh geez — I thought about that, and I’M actually older than Alaska, too! And my day was going fairly well up to this point…
December 18th, 2007 at 10:55 am$825,000 for “alternative salmon productsâ€
There are bits of the salmon that they don’t currently use, when harvesting.
So perhaps we’ll soon see salmon-based products, like salmon beer coolers - or salmon-ella, the new, low-cal spread. With no transfats!
December 18th, 2007 at 10:56 amTed Stevens is certifiably “senile”. He needs to be expelled from Congress.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:56 amwait i’ll have jas hendler over here in a minute.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:57 amDemocrats may have broken promises; Republicans have hijacked our constitution and rule of law. Which is worse? Nothing any Democrat has done or can do can parallel the ongoing shenanigans, chicanery, perversion and lies of the lockstep GOPhers.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:58 am“This is just a witch hunt!!!!!”
December 18th, 2007 at 10:59 am~CHL, Frank, Hillybill, etc., etc.,
The practice of “earmarking” is as obsolete and some of terms of office of Congressmen. Along with serious campaign finance reform, term limits have to be mandated (not more than two consecutive terms like the President) and this ludicrous practice of earmarking and throwing in everything but the kitchen sink into our bills.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:00 amAnother ‘Family Values’ case. !!
December 18th, 2007 at 11:02 amAlong with that, the new practice of “sigining statements” needs to be investigated and carefully monitored. Now Bush has over l,000 signing statements which may be patently illegal - ongoing investigations need to occur to see just what which laws he’s handily excused himself from obeying. This is such a whimpy practice - to actually give the appearance of signing a bill or law and then making a postscript exempting oneself. So the MSM only runs the actual signing…..and doesn’t disclose the signing statement. How cowardly can one get?
December 18th, 2007 at 11:02 am20.Democrats may have broken promises; Republicans have hijacked our constitution and rule of law. Which is worse? Nothing any Democrat has done or can do can parallel the ongoing shenanigans, chicanery, perversion and lies of the lockstep GOPhers.
Patooty, while not yet up to past Republican standards, I do take the broken promises very seriously. The swamp hasn’t even started to drain. In fact, our leadership seems to have diverted a few streams to make sure the water level stays high and the smell stays strong.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:02 amAs for this old, braindead codger, well, what can you say? Is it time to feel sorry for his addled brain or is it time to boot him from Congress. He, obviously, is clueless about the laws in this country and has no business remaining in public office.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:03 amcold_flaccid_right IS Jason M. Hendler. Judge for yourself:
For those of you who missed it, here is Barack Obama drop kicking Hill’reh in the last debate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhPxSm9Es0w
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — December 15, 2007 @ 11:12 am
————————————
Perhaps they should follow Hill’reh’s example wherein she fired a staff member that made mention of Obama’s admitted, repeated abuse of cocain.
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 17, 2007 @ 2:08 pm
Two posts, two days apart, both wildly off-topic, almost identical in their non-sequiter nature in the run of discussion, both focusing on the Clinton-Obama matchup, and both use the same idiosyncratic bastardization of Senator Clinton’s name.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:03 amNotice that our pal from the extreme right doesn’t mention the individual who is guilty of stashing absolute largest wad of earmarked cashola …?
Who would that individual be…?
Why, CHL’s dearly beloved leader, Gee Dubya hisself.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:04 amPeople of Alaska- PLEASE wakeup and stop voting for these corrupt, immoral, un-American fascists!!! Stevens, Young, the Murkowski’s. All terrible individuals that are bad for Alaska and the whole US.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:05 amMenehune: As a true independent, I couldn’t agree with you more strongly. In watching the proceedings yesterday, there definitely are democrats who have hidden agendas. Some obese woman (Barbara ??) rambled on and on infinitum and then tried to present the case for defacto immunity. Clearly, there are very few democrats who deserve the party distinction at this point. Either they’ve been blackmailed by Boosh or they’re getting ready to continue Boosh’s (sarcasm on) heinous criminal tactics when they take control of the WH.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:06 amYes, how much did Chimpy have tucked into that bill??? I think that his own earmarks trumped anyone else’s, didn’t they? And what were they for? I can’t even recall.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:07 amComment by ralph the wonder llama — December 18, 2007 @ 11:03 am
Good job!
December 18th, 2007 at 11:08 amGeorge W. Boosh (Boo-sh) seems to work for me. The Boo is for his incessant and ridiculous fear mongering(boo) and the “sh” is for the obvious - the feces word. I like it.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:08 amRalph: What do you think about the new alliance - Bush 41 and Bill clinton? I don’t think that making this front and center is going to help Hillary’s campaign one iota at this critical point in time.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:09 amcold_flaccid_right IS Jason M. Hendler…
Comment by ralph the wonder llama — December 18, 2007 @ 11:03 am
busted!
(probably chuck napier too… wtf is it with these repub aliases?!)
December 18th, 2007 at 11:15 amAs long as the rodent control includes sniffing out the real rat, Senator Stevens and his cronies, I’m all for those kinda earmarks.
BTW, rat bites on your ears make terrible marks…
December 18th, 2007 at 11:16 am“ralph the wonder llama is republicans hate facts. busted!”
Well, gee, CHL. That’s utterly fascinating. What a milestone for you. Mom must be proud.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:27 amralph the wonder llama is republicans hate facts. busted!
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 18, 2007 @ 11:21 am
Bwahahahahahaha**cough*idiot*cough**hahahahahahahaha
December 18th, 2007 at 11:30 amralph the wonder llama is republicans hate facts. busted!
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 18, 2007 @ 11:21 am
evidence? Proof? No? Looks like CHL=Jaxon Hitler is the BUSTED one!
December 18th, 2007 at 11:31 am‘
Bwahahahahaha! Two idiots in one, such a deal.
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 18, 2007 @ 11:21 am
gotcha!
December 18th, 2007 at 11:31 amComment by cold_hard_left — December 18, 2007 @ 11:21 am
c’mon jas, don’t go all tim mcveigh on us… you lost this one. take it like a man.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:34 amNice one, Lefty Patriot.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:36 amcold_flaccid_right IS Jason M. Hendler. Judge for yourself:
For those of you who missed it, here is Barack Obama drop kicking Hill’reh in the last debate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhPxSm9Es0w
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — December 15, 2007 @ 11:12 am
————————————
Perhaps they should follow Hill’reh’s example wherein she fired a staff member that made mention of Obama’s admitted, repeated abuse of cocain.
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 17, 2007 @ 2:08 pm
Two posts, two days apart, both wildly off-topic, almost identical in their non-sequiter nature in the run of discussion, both focusing on the Clinton-Obama matchup, and both use the same idiosyncratic bastardization of Senator Clinton’s name.
ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CHL = pathetic mook
December 18th, 2007 at 11:40 amget rid of your rats on your dime, not mine…
December 18th, 2007 at 11:40 amComment by ralph the wonder llama — December 18, 2007 @ 11:36 am
i’ve seen chl/jas pissed before but this time he’s really steamed.
why did he try such a silly gag like that? is he so lonely he had to invent an “invisible” friend?
December 18th, 2007 at 11:40 amManners joe, manners. Didn’t your Mom tell you it’s not nice to make fun of the mentally challenged?
December 18th, 2007 at 11:50 amThe “rodent control” earmark is only fitting considering Alaskan politics is infested with hordes of filthy, thieving, Republican rats.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:52 amHe’s expecting, maybe, a pardon?
December 18th, 2007 at 11:52 amComment by nanlichi — December 18, 2007 @ 11:50 am
you’re right. i’d love to apologize. but to who?
jas or chl?
December 18th, 2007 at 11:53 ami’ve seen chl/jas pissed before but this time he’s really steamed.
why did he try such a silly gag like that? is he so lonely he had to invent an “invisible†friend?
Comment by joe cantwell — December 18, 2007 @ 11:40 am
I think he uses his jas handle when he thinks he has a rational point to make and he switches to CHL when he’s feeling “saucy”. Problem is, he almost never has a rational point to make, so the distinction becomes pretty much irrelevant.
December 18th, 2007 at 11:55 amI think he uses his jas handle when he thinks he has a rational point to make and he switches to CHL when he’s feeling “saucyâ€. Problem is, he almost never has a rational point to make, so the distinction becomes pretty much irrelevant.
Comment by ralph the wonder llama — December 18, 2007 @ 11:55 am
chl and jas have both disappeared for the time being, yet, chuckie nap has suddenly made an appearance.
December 18th, 2007 at 12:01 pmComment by ralph the wonder llama — December 18, 2007 @ 11:55 am
jeez and not a peep out him. where’d he go? who will he come back as?
let’s help him with some new name pairs. here’s one:
james f. tipton/rigid_stiff_craig
ralphie boy you really zapped him, congrats!
December 18th, 2007 at 12:05 pmchl and jas have both disappeared for the time being, yet, chuckie nap has suddenly made an appearance.
Comment by Dr. Matt — December 18, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
It’s that troll (tube)sock puppetry in action, don’t ya know?
December 18th, 2007 at 12:06 pmchl and jas have both disappeared for the time being, yet, chuckie nap has suddenly made an appearance.
Comment by Dr. Matt — December 18, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
he’s chuckie too?!
maybe we should call him sybil.
December 18th, 2007 at 12:07 pmjas, chl, chuckie… will the real Sybil please step forward.
December 18th, 2007 at 12:07 pmDammit joe! Sorry for the echo.
December 18th, 2007 at 12:08 pmComment by nanlichi — December 18, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
no problemo. but imagine poor chl/jas/chuck…
“echo, echo, echo…”
madness!
December 18th, 2007 at 12:10 pm825,000 for “alternative salmon productsâ€
Really Dumb Question: AFAIK, Salmon, especially wild Alaskan Salmon is in short supply with the harvesting season tightly regulated and concerns that we’re over-harvesting.
So why would we be looking for more ways to use something we don’t have enough of ?
December 18th, 2007 at 12:33 pmSo why would we be looking for more ways to use something we don’t have enough of ?
Comment by MapleStreet — December 18, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
Political favors require no logic.
December 18th, 2007 at 1:30 pmWhat is an “alternative salmon product”? Huh?
December 18th, 2007 at 6:22 pm