Stevens testily insists that Alaska loves him.
Stevens testily insists that Alaska loves him.
TPMMuckraker points out that yesterday in a debate, primary challenger Vic Vickers asked Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) about the federal indictment he is facing on seven criminal counts. Stevens angrily responded that his Alaskan constituents don’t care about the investigation:
As I’ve traveled around Alaska, you know, I haven’t had that question asked to me by anyone but a newsperson. And now you join that rank. Uh, the Alaskans I’ve talked to said “Ted, we believe in ya’,” “Ted, I’m gonna give ya’ a prayer,” “Ted, we’ll see you through this,” uh, “We know, we know (emphasis) that you’re innocent ’cause you said you’re innocent.”
However, earlier this week, Alaskans calling into Alaska Talk Radio repeatedly asked Stevens about the corruption charges. He angrily refused to say whether he would accept a presidential pardon or why he won’t disclose the source of his legal fees, and at one point, seemed to challenge a caller to come and fight him. Listen here to highlights:
Transcript:
HOST: Ok, let’s try some calls from Alaskans, if you’re ready, senator. Let’s go to Bill, who joins the program from Wasilla. Hello? Hello, Bill, you’re on Talk of Alaska with Ted Stevens.
BILL: Hi, thanks for taking my call. I understand that you can’t answer any specific questions about the nature of your current case in court, but I do have a question about how you’re paying your legal bills. I think, you know, in the context of a corruption case, it’s very important to know — that the voters here, your constituents, know who is footing the bill for your legal expenses. [...]
STEVENS: I’m not hiding it at all. I’m not paying it from my campaign. There are rules that apply to the legal defense fund. We will abide by those rules. They do not call for disclosure until a specific time, and when that specific time arrives, it will be disclosed.
BILL: Do the rules say that you can’t disclose it right now? And if not, why not let people know right now?
STEVENS: I don’t know myself. But besides that, my answer is, you’re just trying to make it a political question. It’s not a political question. It is a legal question and it’s in court, and I am not going to take it into my campaign. [...]
HOST: Ted Stevens is our guest on Talk of Alaska and Charles joins the program from Anchorage. Welcome to Talk of Alaska, Charles.
CHARLES: Hi, thanks for taking my call. Senator, my question is — and I know you’ve said you can’t discuss the specifics of your case and you feel you’re innocent — but if you are convicted, would you take a presidential pardon, or would you live with the court verdict?
STEVENS: Why would I cross a bridge I haven’t seen? I don’t know. I don’t know the answer to that question.
CHARLES: Well sir, I just think it’s something that the Alaskan public should know. If you —
STEVENS: Why? Why? You tell me why. They’re not — I’ve been around the state — I — You —
This morning, I have had more questions about the case and what I would do if I lost it than I have had in the last month. So —
CHARLES: Well, sir, I believe this is only the second question about the case, and I think it’s a fair one.
STEVENS: That’s the second question I’ve had state-wide. [...]
CALLER: Can you see how the appearance of impropriety is there for sweetheart deals, like these?
STEVENS: What’s sweetheart about it? …. There’s nothing sweetheart about it at all.
CALLER: I certainly can’t get that kind of return on my money. I wish I could —
STEVENS: I can’t either. I can’t either. Mine is in a bank now, and I get bank returns. Ok? [...]
HOST: Ok, let’s go to Dan who joins the program from Fairbanks. Welcome to Talk of Alaska, Dan.
DAN: Hello, gentlemen. Senator, regarding the criminal indictments, I understand —
HOST: Oh, no, not again!
DAN: Yeah, well, you have to be accountable to your constituents. You don’t have to refuse to talk about these actions. You choose to, to protect yourself. Don’t you think you should be accountable to the people who elected you, regardless of your legal predicament? Either you took expensive gifts from Allen and VECO, or you didn’t. Who would know you took a cabinet full of tools, a gas grill, or traded a 35-year old car for a $44,000 one. So did you, or didn’t you?
HOST: I’m not sure we can get an answer on that.
DAN: Well, how about letting the senator answer?
STEVENS: Well go talk to the FBI. Ask them that question, will you please? Thanks again. Good-bye. Good-bye.
DAN: Well, I think —
STEVENS: Good-bye.
HOST: You know, you’ve made the point, as you wished to make it. It is the subject of a trial and I think it’s only legitimate that he not speak about it, and it’s also a rule I agreed to before the program. And that’s just the way it is, Dan.
STEVENS: Also, see, remember now, if I made a comment on this program that could be interpreted as influencing a potential juror, I could be accused of —
HOST: Yes!
STEVENS: — influencing the jurors.
HOST: Absolutely, absolutely.
DAN: Excuse me, Steve, but the senator is a big boy and can take care of himself. He’s been in the game a long time.
STEVENS: You’re damned right I can take care of myself. Any time you want to come, friend.
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That must mean that Alaska also loves jock itch , venereal diseases and athlete’s foot ………
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:36 amAnother insular, hard hearing crook? Gee, what a surprise. Coach Karl inspires his hypercompetitive, greedy, influence peddling team.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:39 amIf you only speak to groups of campaign donors and volunteers with carefully vetted participants and questions assigned in advance then you tend to hear only what you want to hear.
I still laugh out loud thinking about a question George W. Bush was asked at one of his town hall meetings. It went something like, “Mr. President, I just thank God every day that you are running this country … How do you put up with people who don’t understand how great you are?”.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:40 amI see JimAK has been given a morning shift at Troll Central. Did Gigi call in hungover?
I wasn’t aware that there one could be formally charged with “corruption”. What is that statute?
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:44 amSTEVENS: You’re damned right I can take care of myself. Any time you want to come, friend.
What is it with the septugenarians in the GOP believing they’re tough guys ?
I thought with age , came wisdom ; these morons are attempting to prove that old proverb is manifestly inaccurate ……
What a bunch of sorry , delusional old clowns…………
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:44 amJimAK, I think it’s fair to say that Ted Stevens has been charged with “corruption” in a general sense. Although he has not been charged with bribery, he has been charged with non-disclosure of favors that certainly look like bribes. The prosecutors were careful to say that they are not alleging a quid pro quo and they cannot prove a quid pro quo, but they most certainly do not rule out the possibility of a quid pro quo.
This is typical Republican spin. I’m concerned about the crimes that Ted Stevens has committed and those include taking bribes for legislative favors. It’s too bad that he hasn’t been indicted for those crimes. But, that doesn’t mean he isn’t a dishonorable crook who deserves to spend time in jail for his actions against this country. I do not hold to the Attorney General’s idea that there is no crime if there is no prosecution.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:45 amJimAK Says:
——————————————————————————–
(Stevens’ attorney) Sullivan is rare among Washington’s legal elite because he rarely defends his clients in public, even those whose reputations are on the line. He believes winning at trial is all that matters.
Stevens is not normally so reserved. Never one to back down from a fight, he has had to change his style while campaigning under indictment. He has been reluctant to talk about the investigation or the charges against him, even last week when prosecutors previewed some of the evidence they planned to use against him at trial.
“I’ve trained him well,” Sullivan said Wednesday. “It’s not easy with public figures.”
But he said Wednesday that Stevens would not be so reserved at trial.
“A defendant is only a punching bag at this stage,” Sullivan said. “We cannot even begin to fight back until they begin their case.”
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:41 am
WTF does this have to do with the thread topic , you rube ?
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:46 amThanks for that information, JimAK. Looks like this case is about wrapped up. The Bush DoJ doesn’t even have enough evidence for an indictment, so Stevens can breathe easy.
Oh, of course, there is that whole “due process of the law” thing to worry about. But not a problem, judging by the statements of the Senator’s legal representation.
Good. You don’t have a thing to worry about.
(By the way, anyone recall which troll was defending Stevens this same way last week?)
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:47 amJimAK Says:
——————————————————————————–
Says wiki:
Political corruption is the use of governmental powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:45 am
Ummm , according to the indictment , Stevens used his position as a Senator for his own personal gain and comfort ………..Sounds like political corruption to me.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:47 amI know for a FACT that all Alaska tribes and all members as well as HUD-NAHASDA, BIA, and NARA will not vote for him.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:50 amThis man is a wash up and needs to be let out to dry.
I see JimAK misread my query.
I wasn’t interested in how wikipedia defines “corruption”. I have a pretty good idea of what constitutes political corruption.
I was wondering under which statute would one have to be charged to meet the definition of “charged with corruption” that JimAK uses in post #2:
“And you might want to correct your story – if you’re concerned about accuracy, that is. Senator Stevens has not been charged with corruption“
just curious, as I like to be fully-informed when I consider my stance on issues like this.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:51 amCall it what you will, but all I’m trying to do is figure out where your complaint about “accuracy” comes in.
You claimed, essentially, that TP’s story was inaccurate because “Senator Stevens has not been charged with corruption”.
I’m just asking you to man up and explain what would constitute such a charge in your mind.
Talk about not taking a stand… sheesh.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:57 amJimAK Says:
——————————————————————————–
Work was done on a cabin just south of Anchorage. Anybody know how much that work was worth? Anybody know how much Stevens paid for this work?
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:51 am
Wrong
He is under indictment for work he had done on his Girdwood home ; the Anchorage home is the one that the Feds raided…….
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:58 amWhy don’t you just answer Ralph’s question Jim?
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:59 amTed “Hulk” Stevens channels Stuart Smalley:
Just saying . . .
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:59 am“Stevens testily insists that Alaska love him.”
All polling evidence to the contrary:
http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2008/Senate/Maps/Aug22-s.html
http://pollster.com/
But don’t let facts get in the way of desire.
PEACE
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:05 pmJimAK Says:
And you repeat the process. Senator Stevens has been charged with failing to report gifts on federal disclosure forms. That’s it.
Yes, and Libby was only charged with lying to congress. But he’s still a convicted felon.
PEACE
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:07 pmJimAK Says: the RNC is desperate and has issued his talking points on toilet paper.
So I see they have cheaped out on JimAK, they are only paying him a nickel a post, so he has to post alot of times today….
….poor Jim, so lame, so desperate, so stupid.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:07 pmSo, basically, you’re upset because Sen. Stevens has not been charged with crimes that meet your definition of corruption.
Was that so hard?
Obviously, it was my mistake to think that when you said “Senator Stevens has not been charged with corruption” you were speaking as authoritatively as you tried to sound. See, I was confused because the way you said Senator Stevens has not been charged with corruption, it sounded like there was an actual statute that made “corruption” a crime, and my understanding was that “corruption” was a blanket term for a number of (mostly financial) misdeeds that involved misusing the powers of one’s office to benefit oneself or family or friends.
Good to know that getting work done on his house for below market cost doesn’t fit that category.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:07 pmDelusional Old Coot!
I heard McCain wanted him as a running mate but his staff informed him that too much crazy on one ticket just might cause …
oh hell, you guys fill in the blank I’m all outta funny.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:08 pmJimAK Says:
——————————————————————————–
And you repeat the process. Senator Stevens has been charged with failing to report gifts on federal disclosure forms. That’s it.
He has not been charged with taking bribes, he has not been charged with taking any government action on behalf of the party that gave the gift. By definition, corruption would say that Stevens somehow deviated from his path as an elected official because of these gifts and no such charge was made.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
He has been charged on 7 different counts ; each one a FELONY CHARGE.
Are you somehow trying to claim that it isn’t that “bad” ?
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:09 pmRazster Says:
“I know for a FACT that all Alaska tribes and all members as well as HUD-NAHASDA, BIA, and NARA will not vote for him.
This man is a wash up and needs to be let out to dry.”
rather the old coot be fed to Brown Bears.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:10 pmhe can return as Brown Bear shit.
fletc3her Says:
——————————————————————————–
If you only speak to groups of campaign donors and volunteers with carefully vetted participants and questions assigned in advance then you tend to hear only what you want to hear.”…”
I remember that one too… Cost me $800 bucks to replace my TeeVee, after I pulled my foot back out from the screen! ;)
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:12 pmJimAK your desperation is showing, and why are you bothering…do you need that nickel a post that bad?
Anchorage real estate businessman Jim Crawford is a lifelong Alaskan and former Fairbanks resident. He served as REPUBLICAN PARTY of Alaska chairman from 1986 to 1990.
So someone show believe this crap because a Republican says so….why, NO, of course not.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:17 pmJimAK Says:
——————————————————————————–
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
An article with a sub-heading entitled : Jim Crawford, Community Perspective
means what , assbag ?
OP/ED …………..Good call there.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:20 pmHey JimAK
Where is Crawford’s account of Stevens also receiving a new Land Rover worth far more than his 35-year-old Mustang …??
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:24 pmHey JimAK, I got a question:
why did you alter your screen name when “Jim Wilke” got banned? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just follow the TripleKick model and affix numerals to the end as you progressed through the levels of trolldom? Y’know,, “Jim Wilke2, jim Wilke3″…
Sure would be easier to keep track of you guys thataway.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:25 pmIs John McCain Ted Stevens’ Father?
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Cheer up Jim. Maybe the criminal charges that Sevens faces will be dismissed as politically motivated like Don Siegleman’s conviction in Alabama.
Of course, in that case, you had a notoriously partisan Republican DoJ prosecuting a popular Democrat, while here you have the same notoriously partisan Republican DoJ prosecuting a powerful Republican… not exactly the same situation… but you seem to have all the evidence at your disposal, so I’m sure it will all turn out all right for the good Senator.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:29 pmOkay, Jim, how many of us raised our hands?
And how do you know that?
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:30 pmralph the wonder llama Says:
——————————————————————————–
JimAK Says:
Okay, everybody who has read the indictment or looked at photos of the cabin, raise your hand.
That’s what I thought.
Okay, Jim, how many of us raised our hands?
And how do you know that?
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:30 pm ——————————————————————————–
I raised a single finger at Jim ; wonder if he can correctly guess which one …………?
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:35 pmDimAK,
Parting is such sweet sorrow.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:36 pmLet it go! He’s history.
Done!
Washed-up!
Don’t feel sorry for the constipated, old-fart. He’ll be fine. Who knows, maybe he can get a gig doing Viagra commercials.
Yeah, it’s only a goddamn indictment…heh.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:43 pmMCMetal Says:
I raised a single finger at Jim ; wonder if he can correctly guess which one …………?
________________
(TROS frantically waving hand in air…)
Oooo! Oooooo! call on me! Call on me! I can answer this one!
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:43 pmWell, this post doesn’t add anything to the thread, but at least Jim Wilke in AK is no longer subtracting from it with each post.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:48 pmRalph, I thought I smelled Wilkes here, good point.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:49 pmtony and lido
JimAK Says:
So where’s the $250,000 gift?
____________
Hate ta break yer heart, Jimbo, but ya don’t get to decide the case here at TP.
We’ll just all hafta wait for the legal system to do its thing.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:51 pmThat’s a good point, TRoS, but I’m thinking the Stevens legal team might want to contact ol’ Jim. Add him to the staff as a consultant or an expert witness or something. He seems to have this whole case wired.
Maybe he can even convince the DoJ how big a misunderstanding this all is.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:56 pmAl Capone was charged only with tax evasion. Does that mean he wasn’t guilty of any other crimes?
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:56 pmI see Jim Wilke has achieved a measure of peace. Must be all that yoga and meditation.
Now breathe, Jim, just breathe and be aware of your breathing…
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:02 pmJim AK/Wilke sure is trying hard to defend Ol’ Teddy. Wonder how much Jim has scooped out of all of Ted’s porkbarrel deals?
Me thinks A LOT!
But between Stevens and Rep. Young, AK has a lot to be proud of, not to mention Stevens’ son, who has also been indicted.
No wonder it looks like AK will have a new Dem Senator seated in the next Congress and AK is now starting to be considered a toss-up in the Presidential elections, too.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:03 pmShhhhh, upside… Jim just arrived at a delta brain wave state. It took a lot of concentration and effort to arrive here, let’s give him some peace and quiet to reflect on his place in the universe.
Who knows? He may even emerge as less of a right-wing apologist. Higher states of consciousness have a way of doing that.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:10 pmSorry Ralph,
What was I thinking??
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:12 pmJimAK Says:
——————————————————————————–
Not exactly the point, is it? Stevens has been charged with 7 crimes. Let’s see what happens in court and at the ballot box.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Does that mean I won’t have to read any more of your stupid insipid piss when Stevens loses at both the ballot box and in court ?
I guess we can all hope so………….
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:19 pmJimAK would have a point if only the DOJ could make this case go away. However, they can’t and it looks like TS will be found guilty. Video tapes are a somewhat powerful form of evidence.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:49 pmBet Bush already has the pardon written up for him.
As for the people of Alaska, if they vote for an old man who is corrupt, they will get the government they deserve.
trollsbwild Says:
As for the people of Alaska, if they vote for an old man who is corrupt, they will get the government they deserve.
Unfortunately, the rest of the country also suffers from his high ranking positions on many committees and his total immersion in the K Street oil lobbyist’s backsides.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:13 pmPoor little JimmyAK – he’s gonna be busier than a one-armed paper hanger defending that corrupt sack of shite Ted Stevens.
It’s kinda sad that he works sooooo hard – for nothing.
Jimmy, you ought to ask for a salary from the Stevens campaign!
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:13 pmYou know, we could argue with the trolls all day about the guilt or innocence of Ted Stevens, and that’s the battle they want to fight.
This is because the topic of the thread — Stevens’ popularity in Alaska — isn’t something they can argue. Rasmussen and Research 2000 both show Stevens’ opponent, Mark Begich, ahead of Stevens. And the latest Rasmussen poll shows Begich ahead by 13 points.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/senate/ak/alaska_senate-562.html
Stevens is delusional if he thinks Alaskans “love” him as much as they did before.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:26 pmWhen was Ben Stevens indicted? On what charges?
Not indicted, but definitely appears to be as dirty as his father.
Ben Stevens Implicated in VECO Corruption Probe
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=6482583
Ted Stevens’ Son Identified in Corruption Case
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/003172.php
Lawmakers Cited in VECO Case, Identifiable
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:38 pmhttp://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/fbi/story/8863305p-8763968c.html — Senator B and if you want to be 100% technically accurate, no, it does not name him by name.
STEVENS: Why would I cross a bridge I haven’t seen? I don’t know. I don’t know the answer to that question.
Priceless!
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:58 pmOh Yeah. His crooked son stole from the Special Olympics.
I never heard of people making their 1st floor the second floor. It’s expensive as hell and foolish. Good thing he got it free.
What a stand up family! And a stand up man!
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:12 pmJim Wilke,
You never did address how much you have personally benefited from all of Teddy’s pork. Something a bit touchy there?
And where do you think Ben Stevens learned all his “Probably far dirtier; the kid is widely regarded as a weasel” tricks from Daddy. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
And I witnessed some of Teddy’s oil-soaked activities up close during the 80’s and early 90’s.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:18 pmDaryll Says:
WILLIAM JEFFERSON!!!!
What does that have to do with this thread? Maybe about as much as the Keating 5, right?
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:29 pmDoesn’t being an leg-humping, sycophantic apologist for so much evil and corruption ever embarrass you, Jimmy…?
Yikes, dude.
August 22nd, 2008 at 3:42 pmAwww, now, Jimmy – do you *really* want to go there…?
I don’t think so.
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:22 pmKeating 5.
And did Marie Antoinette think the people loved her ? And King Louis think that there wouldn’t be a rebellion because he was so beloved ? and did Saddam Hussein hear from the people who loved him ? ……
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:01 pmJimAK Says:
Wow, 3 shills on a call-in radio show. A regular ground swell.
And you might want to correct your story – if you’re concerned about accuracy, that is. Senator Stevens has not been charged with corruption and the DOJ acknowledged that no pro quid pro took place.
Nice ostrich imitation. I am sure that flies on Planet Wingnut. Why did he HIDE what VESCO gave him? Why did he LIE about the gifts? Quid pro Quo is hard to prove but they did NOT say it didnt happen just that he wasnt charged with it THIS from the Anchorage NEws
Some of the solicitations were made directly to Stevens and included requests for help by Veco on its international projects in Pakistan and Russia; requests for federal grants and contracts, including National Science Foundation contracts worth nearly $200 million; and assistance with efforts to construct a natural gas pipeline from Alaska’s North Slope.
http://www.adn.com/news/politics/fbi/stevens/story/478349.html
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:05 pmThat wasnt even a good try.
See … it’s a series of toobs … and Alaska sure loves Stevens and them toobs.
August 25th, 2008 at 1:45 am