In 2006, Stevens brushed off corruption charges: ‘They’re not going to shoot us, it’s not Iraq.’
By on Oct 6th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
In 2006, Stevens brushed off corruption charges: ‘They’re not going to shoot us, it’s not Iraq.’
During the trial of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) today, prosecutors played tape of secretly recorded conversations between Stevens and former VECO chief Bill Allen, who has already been convicted of bribery. In the 2006 conversation, Stevens told Allen he couldn’t “think of a thing of anything we’ve done that wrong”:
The worst that could happen, Stevens told Allen, was that they would have to pay thousands of dollars in legal bills to get themselves out of hot water.
“They’re not going to shoot us, it’s not Iraq,” Stevens said, although he also expressed some concern about having to serve time in jail. “I hope to Christ it never gets to that, but I don’t think it will,” Stevens said.
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31 Responses to “In 2006, Stevens brushed off corruption charges: ‘They’re not going to shoot us, it’s not Iraq.’”
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Apparently Stevens learned nothing from ABSCAM...
October 6th, 2008 at 1:28 pmPoor Old Teddy, going to the big house and handing over another seat to the Dems on a silver platter. Maybe Palin will run for his seat next time around??
October 6th, 2008 at 1:35 pmActually maybe we should consider just that for corrupt officials in the future. Their families could even be charged for the ammunition like in the old Soviet Union.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:40 pmStevens is close friends with Sarah Palin. She has her own problems now but if she could she would toss these charges. Stevens built Sarah in her career and do alot more. Steven's ex wife testified against him and his best friend too. As the Republican Party falls apart it's every man and woman for themselves.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:41 pmSo, does this mean the judge is allowing the trial to continue?
October 6th, 2008 at 1:42 pmAw, come on, don't we all know that Republicans are above the law, jeez.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:43 pmGuido, I'm willing to allow the judicial system to run its course, and if it finds Stevens guilty, THEN I'll say he's guilty.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:44 pmTaguba Says:
Poor Old Teddy, going to the big house and handing over another seat to the Dems on a silver platter.
If Stevens winds up in prison, I think he's going to handing over more that one "seat" to some Alaskans.
Teddy needs a soap-on-a-rope.
PEACE
October 6th, 2008 at 1:49 pmJackie Says:
Stevens is close friends with Sarah Palin. She has her own problems now but if she could she would toss these charges.
Princess Wasilla and the First Dud seem to have some pesky IRS problems brewin' for them too, also. Seems they didn't claim Palin's per diem payments or the travel expenses for the First Dud and the Dudlettes as income.
I guess we now understand why Sarah doesn't consider paying taxes to be patriotic.
PEACE
October 6th, 2008 at 1:52 pm“They’re not going to shoot us, it’s not Iraq,”
Well duh, this is Amerika, we don't shoot the guilty*, we just pardon them**.
* Although some guilty and not guilty get the chair.
** So long as your loyalty is well-placed.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:57 pmCan Sarah run for VP & Senate at the same time?
Old Teddy's seat is up for grabs. Sarah would sure like her some Washington, don'tcha know, & by golly, it really wouldn't matter if it was VP or Senate.
Stop the insanity! Vote Obama in '08
October 6th, 2008 at 1:57 pmAnd Sarah Palin throws Sen. Stevens under the bus in 3, 2, 1...
October 6th, 2008 at 1:59 pmBilbo, the jury is listening to testimony but I can't find anything definitive about the latest attempt by his defense team to get a dismissal. The judge was supposed to listen to pleadings first thing this morning, but I can't find a result.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:59 pmOT, but Joe Klein has a great new name for Palin - Embarracuda, and a new Time article:
http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/10/embarracuda.html
PEACE
October 6th, 2008 at 2:02 pmMr. Stevens is up for re-election in one month. He's currently polling behind his opponent (Democratic Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich), but not by too much.
Mrs. Palin could run as the VP and Senate candidate simultaneously -- Joe Biden is doing that as we speak, and Joe Liebermann did it in 2000 -- but Mr. Stevens would have to quit the race suddenly, and I don't think Mrs. Palin would help John McCain by running for the Senate seat and the VP simultaneously. Her Lt. Gov. (Sean Parnell) just lost the House primary to Don Young, so he could run for Senate in a pinch, I suppose.
October 6th, 2008 at 2:05 pm17, Thank you, Alec...you're right, of course, Biden is doing that as we speak.
So, her Lt. Gov. is up for re-election, but she's not? That seems kind of weird, but it is Alaska, don'tcha know.
October 6th, 2008 at 2:09 pmSounds like a confession to me.
October 6th, 2008 at 2:09 pmWhen this corruption charge thing came out a while back, I was first struck by an oil service company apparently doing home renovation. Is that how they work in Alaska, or is that unusual everywhere? It has always looked pretty shady to me just based on an oil operation doing private residential work.
Speaking of corrupt Alaskan politicians, Plain and her husband have been subpoenaed but are ignoring the subpoena. It's gone through a judge and all that, so it seems they are ignoring the law. Anyone seen anything about this? It could be the first time ever that someone on the big ticket is in this situation. If she's ignoring the law now on something
October 6th, 2008 at 2:21 pmreally superficial, what happens when it's serious?
Alec Mento Says:
Mrs. Palin could run as the VP and Senate candidate simultaneously — Joe Biden is doing that as we speak, and Joe Liebermann did it in 2000 — but Mr. Stevens would have to quit the race suddenly, and I don’t think Mrs. Palin would help John McCain by running for the Senate seat and the VP simultaneously. Her Lt. Gov. (Sean Parnell) just lost the House primary to Don Young, so he could run for Senate in a pinch, I suppose.
Alec, I do believe (at least in most states) there is a necessity to gather signatures on a petition that then allows a candidate to file the necessary paperwork in order to run for such an office. Even if she suddenly decided she wanted to run for the Senate, she's missed that boat.
Stevens told Allen he couldn’t “think of a thing of anything we’ve done that wrong”:
This guy has been in the Senate for 40 years. Do any of us honestly believe this is the first time he's done something illegal?
October 6th, 2008 at 2:33 pmI thought that scarah had cleaned up all the corrupt republicans in AK?
October 6th, 2008 at 2:36 pmPalin has a way of using people to further her career then stepping on them once they are not useful anymore. It was reported she gave Stevens a Viking stove which isn't exactly cheap. She fits right in with the bush crowd, use em and lose em.
October 6th, 2008 at 2:54 pmIt boggles my mind that people can't see through her phoney good ole boys act. She is ignorant beyond belief and an embarrasment to her party.
October 6th, 2008 at 2:57 pmOld guys don't do so well in the slammer Ted. You're gonna love it, though.
October 6th, 2008 at 3:13 pmOh, and Ted? Don't bother hoping to X.
He doesn't care, isn't listening, doesn't really exist.
October 6th, 2008 at 3:13 pmThis is a free country, and the honorable Senator is now entitled to the ultimate freedom. In the words of Terry Pratchett, "Ultimately, there is the freedom to take the consequences".
October 6th, 2008 at 4:13 pmImpeach Pelosi, Cheney and Bush and Save the Constitution!
Ted sez "They're not going to shoot us".
Maybe the "reform" governor would like to take a shot. I doubt it, but it would be fun to watch.
October 6th, 2008 at 4:57 pmI don't think I'd be convinced of Ted Stevens' guilt of anything except being a creep, if I were on his jury. From the evidence I've heard, so far (granted I haven't heard ALL of it), I'd say nothing's been proved. And an acquittal just before election would really be good news for his re-election chances - he'd claim to a martyr.
Either there is no case, or whatever case there is is being deliberately botched.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:12 pmIs everyone clear on the fact that the Republican Party is a criminal organization?
October 6th, 2008 at 5:24 pmHe hopes it'll never get to that, but he doesn't think it will?
Those are the words of a person who knows they are guilty.
October 6th, 2008 at 7:13 pmplain said if stevens played Santa Claus all will be forgiven.
One degree of separation with these crooks.
Damn stevens sure put his foot in it. How will he lie himself out of this mess?
October 6th, 2008 at 8:53 pmWho has the money to make their first floor of their old house the second floor of their new house?
stevens has money to burn.
plain knows he's a crook; he's her private mentor. stevens and fargo-troopergate-hatin plain both known how to play their own government.
I wonder how many tapes are available? allen is a smart crook.
stevens will do a craig and plea guilty and then bad mouth the verdict.
October 6th, 2008 at 9:32 pm