Today, a federal jury found Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) guilty on all seven counts of making false statements on his financial disclosure regarding “$250,000 in home renovations and other gifts he received from an oil contractor.” According to the AP, Stevens “faces up to five years in prison on each count, but under federal sentencing guidelines, he would likely receive much less prison time, if any.” Watch MSNBC’s report:
UPDATE: Stevens is currently locked in a tough re-election race against Democrat Mark Begich, and the Hill observers that the verdict could “spell the end of a 40-year…career for a man” who is currently the Senate’s longest-serving Republican.
UPDATE II: Sarah Palin has not yet released a statement on the Stevens verdict. Palin once served as director of the 527 group Ted Stevens Excellence in Public Service, Inc. So far, she has also refused to call for his resignation.

UPDATE III: At a July press conference in Anchorage, Palin and Stevens couldn’t stop lavishing praise on one another. Palin said that she had “great respect for the senator. He needs to be heard across America. His voice, his experience, his passion, needs to be heard across America.” Watch it:
8-O
;-)
October 27th, 2008 at 4:09 pmYES! Justice has been served. Thank you, jurors in the Stevens trial.
Would Ted’s seat be the 59th seat or the 60th?
October 27th, 2008 at 4:10 pmWhoohoo! What a great day for justice!
I wonder how many Alaskans will be dumb enough to vote for this convicted felon.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:11 pmOh what a shame-the man gave his life to public service and now this-why its hardly safe for crooks to run for office any more. P.J. Orourke, a solid republican said it took forty years for the Dems to get corrupt, the repugs did it in 12
October 27th, 2008 at 4:11 pmDrop him off on the Road to the Bridge to Nowhere.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:12 pmOkay, now I can go along with the Democratic landslide possibility. Thank goodness they didn’t put this one off until after the election. Stevens and Palin = BFF.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:12 pmLet the right wing whining commence in 3…2…1….
October 27th, 2008 at 4:14 pmSo will Scarah now take credit for “taking down” another corrupt republican?
October 27th, 2008 at 4:14 pmHA !!! buh..bye..to ANOTHER rove-smear-machine as*hat….SURE hope it’s cold in that cell where you end up bubba….
October 27th, 2008 at 4:14 pmhussein toasterhead Says:
Whoohoo! What a great day for justice!
I wonder how many Alaskans will be dumb enough to vote for this convicted felon.
I can think of at least two Alaskans who will vote for him, but personally, I think he’s, er, toast (no comparison implied!)
PEACE
October 27th, 2008 at 4:15 pmWill FoxNews even mention this?
October 27th, 2008 at 4:16 pmheadline… eyebrows raise… sharp breath in… ” w o w ” …
i must say i am surprised.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:16 pmHow Mavericky of him.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:17 pmHe’s 84.Don’t put him in a prison. The kind of prisons he would go to are much too nice. Put him in a shitty old folks home. The kind him and his buddies don’t want to fund or improve.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:18 pmAll I have to say is : goodbye 2 youuuuuu! goodbye 2 youuuuuu!
Good riddence to all other corrupt republicans as well!
October 27th, 2008 at 4:18 pmlurker Says:
So will Scarah now take credit for “taking down” another corrupt republican?
i’d bet she’ll try…
October 27th, 2008 at 4:19 pmFound guilty by a jury of his peers. I wonder if he will appeal because the jury was not his peers? He considers himself far above the ‘common’ person. Or what other excuse will he use?
Let’s hope this is the start of a long line of corruption trials. And if some have a D after their name, so be it. Although the R’s appear to have a firm majority on corruption.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:19 pmOT, but Geezus Phiking Christ! The ATF just broke up a ring of skinheads (MSNBC’s words, not mine) who were intending to assassinate Obama, and take out another 100+ African Americans in the process. Tennesse and Arkansas, in case anyone is surprised.
And neither McCain nor Palin believes they have any culpability in inciting racist hatred.
PEACE
October 27th, 2008 at 4:19 pmBill Allen, the former CEO of VECO, who was previously convicted in this corruption case, was Palin’s biggest contributor when she ran for Lt. Governor. I think there is also suspicion that Allen did some home improvment for Palin.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:20 pmWill FoxNews even mention this?
Yes, but they’ll “accidentally” describe Stevens as a Democrat.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:20 pmhis endorsement of the mcsame/palin
ticket could make the difference on
november 4th.
*
zooey, the tp troll is
officially on the endangered
species list. from now on
we’re just going have to make do
with our own zero calorie,
decaf troll droppings.
sorry.
^
October 27th, 2008 at 4:20 pmKarma strikes again.
His next reincarnation will be as a marmot.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:26 pmI hear that jail is made up of “a series of bars.”
October 27th, 2008 at 4:28 pmOpon hear the verdict, Senator Stevens turned towards the White House and said, “Pardon Me?”.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:29 pmWonder if Sarah of the North will now deny that Stevens endorsed her for governor and gave a glowing testimonial when McCain announced her as his veep choice?
October 27th, 2008 at 4:29 pmDoesn’t it cease to amaze you how tight this crew holds on, refusing to acknowledge reality? It shows you what getting away with murder leads to.
“I didn’t know they added an entire level to my home. I came home and the work was done, it was very strange! I hardly recognized the place.”
“Oh, that $3000 leather massage chair from 1998, I was just storing that for him.”
October 27th, 2008 at 4:29 pmNoticed some one begged the question if Steven’s would get vote’s,…Hell yes remember the dummie’s voted in a dead guy one other time…LOL..Can’t remember his name.Short term memory loss.Think Molly Iven’s pointed that one out..How I miss her…..Blessings
October 27th, 2008 at 4:30 pmTed Stevens’ Christmas gift list: soap-on-a-rope.
City of Wasilla, are you going to take steps to look into who provided what to the building of Casa de Palin? You know, that 3,700 sq. ft. home built lake side a mile down the road from Princess Bobblehead’s legacy sports arena? Somehow I’m doubting the First Dud really built that house with his drinking buddies.
I’m guessing some of that $20 million deficit she left ya with was contract kick backs. You betcha!
PEACE
October 27th, 2008 at 4:30 pmSpencers’ mom –
October 27th, 2008 at 4:30 pmThe repugs are already saying, don’t blame us, don’t blame us!
That they and their candidates have repeatedly smiled, and tacitly approved comments made by extreme racists and lunatics at their rallies would have nothing relative to the attempt to kill Obama and others is ludicrous. They KNOW they are responsible to some extent – their guilt (what little they have left in their collective conscience) is what prompts them to make a preemptive defense.
The skinheads involved probably would have acted on their own regardless of anything Palin, McCain or their rabid supporters said or did — but repugs deny that they have any influence on radical behavior — they condone it by not condemning it.
HA HA!
October 27th, 2008 at 4:32 pmMaybe those news hounds on Fux News can ask the ethically-challenged Sarah Palin about her service as a director of the “Ted Stevens Excellence in Public Service, Inc.,” (a 527 group that could raise unlimited funds from corporate donors.)
October 27th, 2008 at 4:33 pmStevens is pathetic. He should have retired long ago, but ego and greed seem to have prevailed. Now he will go down in ignominy, and so he should.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:33 pmWayne A. Schneider Says
October 27th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Would Ted’s seat be the 59th seat or the 60th?
_____________________________________________________________
Probably neither. Because Stevens has been running behind in the polls for some time now, the Dems have long counted this Alaska seat in their column.
According to electoral-vote.com, there are already 59 seats solid or leaning Dem (which includes the Alaska seat, and assumes that Franken will win). Best bet for that 60th seat? Probably Ronnie Musgrove of Mississippi, who only trails incumbent Roger Wicker by a point. Or Jim Martin of Georgia, who trails incumbent Saxby Chambliss by just two points. Or Bruce Lunsford of Kentucky, who trails incumbent Mitch McConnell by four points.
Sixty seats does look very possible.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:35 pmGary Kleppe Says:
Will FoxNews even mention this?
Yes, but they’ll “accidentally” describe Stevens as a Democrat.
—————————————————————-
You beat me to it!
October 27th, 2008 at 4:38 pmTed is toasted. Justice has been served. Hope Rep. Don “King of Pork” Young is next.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:40 pmWait a second ……………
Those supposed $250,000 improvements were “paid” by only $160 grand ; 160 on any other part of the planet doesn’t equal 250 ……
Since when did Alaska become Fantasy Island-North ?
October 27th, 2008 at 4:40 pmEverything Palin knows about politics she learned from Stevens. When are the feds or the IRS going to start looking into who paid for her big house?
October 27th, 2008 at 4:43 pmWitch 1,
The senator who lost to a Dead Guy was none other that John Ashcroft, Bush’s emabattled Attorney General.
The reason Ashcroft was Free to assume Bush’s cabinet post was that he Lost to Gov. Mel Carnahan in the 2000 Senate race even though Carnahan Died in a plane crash before the Election.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:43 pmtee-hee
Don’t let those “tubes” hit you on the way out!
October 27th, 2008 at 4:44 pmStevens’ll never serve a day, I bet. Let’s hope he’s out of the Senate, though.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:45 pmWitch1 Says:
——————————————————————————–
Noticed some one begged the question if Steven’s would get vote’s,…Hell yes remember the dummie’s voted in a dead guy one other time…LOL..Can’t remember his name.Short term memory loss.Think Molly Iven’s pointed that one out..How I miss her…..Blessings
I think the guy you are talking about was a Democrat who was
October 27th, 2008 at 4:46 pmvoted for instead of a republican who was alive. (sort of)
Now there will be a stream of Righties “Standing up for Ted, ’cause he’s such a great guy.” PUKE
October 27th, 2008 at 4:46 pm“He needs to be heard across America. His voice, his experience, his passion, needs to be heard across America.”
“NO!” (We did, Sarah. We did.)
Will he resign now?
October 27th, 2008 at 4:46 pmIn a sane and just universe, the entire Republican Party would be detained in Gitmo as enemy combatants.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:46 pmHahahahahahahahaha!!!
October 27th, 2008 at 4:47 pmThanks, missmolly. I wasn’t sure how they were counting Stevens’ seat. They said if he was acquited it was an easy win, and if he was guilty he would likely lose.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:48 pmFrom an article I just read -
Otherwise, you’re going to wake up two years from now and find out that a Democratic president, a Democratic Senate and a Democratic House have been funneling a ton of that money to their friends and allies.
Just replace Democrat with Republican and that is why 2006 happened and why 2008 is going to squash them.
Have fun in jail Senator, I’m sure your contractor can redecorate your cell for you.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:48 pmStevens will have to call in the big guns for this one. Will Bush get involved to save Ted? The Media is suggesting that Ted Stevens could remain in office even as a convicted criminal. If that’s true open the election to the jail house guest and they can run the country. But looking at the lack of qualifications needed to be VP you never know. Now look for not only Joe the Plummer but Beauty contestants to run for President and VP. This might example why the US is in this mess. We allowed Bush to steal the election twice so other nuts are coming out of the wood work.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:49 pmGreat picture of Sen. Tubes and Sarah “Mayor Quimby” Palin.
“Err, ahh…these clothes, they are not my property.”
October 27th, 2008 at 4:50 pmAnother sinker attached to Palin’s line.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:51 pmThere’s still time for McCain to do something really mavericky, like throw her over the side… wouldn’t that be fun to see!
I guess that damn bridge finally took him somewhere …
October 27th, 2008 at 4:53 pmAnd yes, Steven’s supporters are considering asking Bush for a pardon before he leaves office (which is an admission of guilt by the way) and they are definitely considering an appeal. Five years per count (7); the guy is 84 years old. Frankly, I think the loss of a 40-year career, plus probation and hefty fines would be sufficient.
Something that we’ve seen far too often among the Republicans is the attempt to blame others for their transgressions…in this case, Steven’s defense team basically has tried to blame Steven’s WIFE. And I guess he was ok with that.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/washington/28stevens.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
October 27th, 2008 at 4:53 pmUpdate– Stevens is currently locked in a tough re-election race against Democrat Mark Begich, and the Hill observers that the verdict could “spell the end of a 40-year…career for a man” who is currently the Senate’s longest-serving Republican.
If the Alaskans still reelect him, even though he may be going to prison, then the Alaskans have been taking more “stupid” pills than previously thought.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:55 pmlurker Says:
I think the guy you are talking about was a Democrat who was
voted for instead of a republican who was alive. (sort of)
YUP! In fact, it was John Ashcroft, the GOP incumbent, who lost his re-election to Democrat Mel Carnahan, who was dead at the time of the election.
Interested point from the CNN reporting at the time:
Ashcroft was supported by two thirds of the voters who in exit polls said the federal budget surplus should be used to cut taxes. A majority of the voters who supported Carnahan said the surplus should go toward the national debt.
PEACE
October 27th, 2008 at 4:56 pm> Karl Rove’s Brain <
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
not with a whimper
October 27th, 2008 at 4:56 pmbut
with a bang
I’m guessing Sarah Palin is the happiest girl in the whole USA. today. (there’s a reference nobody will get) 2012 she can run for senator. if she gets elected 2016 she can run for President with the experience of being Governor and Senator. If she’s patient this has opened up the door to the highest office in the land to her even wider.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:58 pmThis article tells us that one can be found guilty of a federal conviction and still serve in the Senate of the US. That is amazing from a human perspective especially. Where would one get the gall to serve? Would not the shame and dishonor inflicted cause such a criminal to hide his/her head in shame? Guess not as Ted Stevens claims he will continue to run for re-election. Is it worth it to have the few tangibles and money that disgrace brings. Oh the honorable life is so appealing.
October 27th, 2008 at 4:58 pmDespite being a convicted felon, he is not required to drop out of the race or resign from the Senate. If he wins re-election, he can continue to hold his seat because there is no rule barring felons from serving in Congress.
And the US is the “greatest” nation on the planet ?
Almost every state strips convicted felons of their voting rights ; and this shitbag can continue to be in one of the highest elected offices in the country after committing the same offense ?
What a joke………….
October 27th, 2008 at 5:04 pmVery interesting that a convicted felon can serve in the U.S. Congress, but in many states, they are not allowed to vote. Is that what one would call “equal protection under the law?” Hmm..seems to me there’s been a few U.S. Supreme Court cases addressing similar issues.
October 27th, 2008 at 5:09 pm“Stevens ‘faces up to five years in prison on each count, but under federal sentencing guidelines, he would likely receive much less prison time, if any.’”
The man is 84yrs old and a cancer survivor. He won’t serve any time; we’ll settle for him suffering a humiliating defeat to Begich.
Thankfully this occurred much too close to election day for Stevens to resign and Palin to appoint a successor (such as Sean Parnell)
October 27th, 2008 at 5:10 pmGood for the election but I doubt justice will be served–guess who’s going to get pardoned or commuted?
October 27th, 2008 at 5:12 pmWhat is his record regarding Gitmo? Perhaps he should spend time there.
October 27th, 2008 at 5:13 pmWayne A. Schneider Says:
YES! Justice has been served. Thank you, jurors in the Stevens trial.
Would Ted’s seat be the 59th seat or the 60th?
I think it just might be the 60th. Wouldn’t that be grand!
October 27th, 2008 at 5:16 pmRegarding Sarah Palin’s future in Politics…
She is Wildly popular with her base (Values voters, Gun owners, culture warriors) But her Divisive Political Style has made her A LOT of Enemy’s.
I think she could win a Senate Seat from Alaska, but to win the presidency she would have to adopt a Karl Rove style of campaigning…namely…shoot for 51% of the voters and Demonize the Rest.
I just don’t see that happening. Voters are sick of it. Independent voters, who hold the key to winning the presidential election have had it with the Karl Rove Playbook.
Of course, Gov. Palin could reinvent herself. She’s young and pretty darn good at memorizing her lines.
October 27th, 2008 at 5:16 pmI can’t wait to hear about how this “snarling” animal pleads for leniency in sentencing. But we all know he won’t spend a day behind bars. Well, just being a convicted felon and losing his senate seat will have to be enough.
October 27th, 2008 at 5:16 pmCount Istvan,
Senate seats only come up every six years, so it wouldn’t be until 2014 until she could run for the senate (I just threw up a little in my mouth thinking about that)…
“I’m preoud tah be reeepreeeseenting the greeet steeeat of Ahlahskaaa, you betcha” [shudders]
October 27th, 2008 at 5:17 pmPwned. I wonder if this officially tops his current “worst day of his life” when the artcic drilling bill, which he OBVIOUSLY had no financial interests in. was defeated..
Lets feed him to the polar bears and let them defacate him all over that fancy free furniture.
Can someone suggest an alaskan wildlife fund we can make a donation to in teddys name?
October 27th, 2008 at 5:17 pmSo Palin was palling around with corrupt felons?
October 27th, 2008 at 5:19 pmBuh bye Teddie the tube man.
another one bites the dust…
October 27th, 2008 at 5:20 pmCan’t he just claim that the findings totally exonerate him ala Ms Palin?
October 27th, 2008 at 5:22 pmBadger Says:
Regarding Sarah Palin’s future in Politics…
I think she could win a Senate Seat from Alaska, but to win the presidency she would have to adopt a Karl Rove style of campaigning…namely…shoot for 51% of the voters and Demonize the Rest.
I’m not so sure she would win a Senate seat in Alaska. She has pretty much thrown the whole state under the bus by sending all the McCain henchmen there to try and manipulate their processes regarding Troopergate. People in Alaska DO NOT appreciate outside interference in their state.
What I would love to see is Monegan challenging her in the next Governor’s race. Wouldn’t that be fitting justice if he beat her!
October 27th, 2008 at 5:22 pm#EnnuiDivine Says:
Thankfully this occurred much too close to election day for Stevens to resign and Palin to appoint a successor (such as Sean Parnell)
She couldn’t do that because after the last Governor appointed his daughter to a vacant Senate seat Alaska passed a law requiring a special election to fill a Senate seat.
October 27th, 2008 at 5:25 pmcjmartinez Says:
——————————————————————————–
So Palin was palling around with corrupt felons?
Well, of course. You don’t expect her to pal around with non-Republicans, do you?
October 27th, 2008 at 5:26 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
According to electoral-vote.com, there are already 59 seats solid or leaning Dem (which includes the Alaska seat, and assumes that Franken will win). Best bet for that 60th seat? Probably Ronnie Musgrove of Mississippi, who only trails incumbent Roger Wicker by a point. Or Jim Martin of Georgia, who trails incumbent Saxby Chambliss by just two points. Or Bruce Lunsford of Kentucky, who trails incumbent Mitch McConnell by four points.
Wouldn’t it be fitting justice to have the 60th (filibuster proof) seat be Mitch “I never saw a filibuster I didn’t like” McConnell!
October 27th, 2008 at 5:26 pmThank’s Badger and Lurker for fixing my memory loss,….Blessings
October 27th, 2008 at 5:27 pmAMacPill Says:
Thank you for correcting me. I don’t know why I thought it was. 4. Still she is only 44 and 12 years will only be 56. I don’t think she’ll ever be President but I do think this is her best route to go if she wants to be.
October 27th, 2008 at 5:34 pmCount Istvan – i got it…
i turned to country when 70s disco took over the airwaves…
it didn’t last long…
October 27th, 2008 at 5:35 pmStevens’ conviction hinged on the testimony of Bill Allen, the senator’s longtime drinking and fishing buddy. Allen, the founder of VECO, testified that he never billed his friend for the work on the house and that Stevens knew he was getting a special deal.
Stevens spent three days on the witness stand, vehemently denying that allegation. He said his wife, Catherine, paid every bill they received.
Living in Washington, thousands of miles away, made it impossible to monitor the project every day. Stevens relied on Allen to oversee the renovations, he said, and his friend deceived him by not forwarding all the bills.
This has to be one of the most idiotic and insane excuses I’ve ever heard of ……..
Why in the hell would Stevens’ drinking and fishing buddy purposely try to “deceive” him and end up screwing himself out of a couple hundred thousand dollars ???????????????????
How would that be in any way beneficial to Allen ??????
What a complete joke …………………
October 27th, 2008 at 5:44 pmSo Sarah Palin hangs out with convicted felons…?
Hmmmmm
October 27th, 2008 at 5:52 pmDamn, CJ, beat me to it!!! Good work!
October 27th, 2008 at 5:54 pmBINGO! TonyC.
October 27th, 2008 at 5:55 pmBarbie owes it all to “Alaska’s Fidel Castro”, Ted “gimme the pork, now!” Stevens.
That’s just precious.
You just couldn’t ask for any sweeter, more mavericky Republicans to sponge off the taxpayers of the “lower 48″ for years and years and years.
So rugged. So Independent.
So GUILTY!!
October 27th, 2008 at 5:55 pmIf Teddy Boy tries to stay in the senate, can they make him wear a scarlet F (for felon)?
October 27th, 2008 at 6:00 pmCount,
Actually, you might be right about 2012 depending on when the other AK senate seat would become available. I don’t know when the other seat has it’s election.
October 27th, 2008 at 6:12 pmAMacPill Says:
Count,
Actually, you might be right about 2012 depending on when the other AK senate seat would become available. I don’t know when the other seat has it’s election.
That would be the former governor’s daughter referred to above by Bilbo Baggins. Lisa Murkowski was appointed by her daddy to his own Senate seat, which he left in order to be governor. She was elected to a full term in 2004.
Nepotism appears to be the norm in Alaska.
October 27th, 2008 at 6:16 pmTed will die in prison.
October 27th, 2008 at 8:37 pmAlaskans live off pork. Their economy isn’t designed to be self-sufficient.
They get cash for their oil, and they get earmarks for everything else. That’s just how it always has been. The climate has proven too inhospitable for a sustainable local economy the size of which we’ve been supporting for decades.
October 27th, 2008 at 9:11 pm.
Well…
… We know she sleeps with separatists and now we know she palls around with felons.
.
October 28th, 2008 at 2:04 amJust like the cold war when everyone who didn’t agree with the U.S. was either a communist or a communist sympathizer. toki This poor crazy guy spent half a decade being tortured because a bunch
of stupid politicians araç sorgulama were sure the NVA
was in bed with the Russians (minimal help) and/or the Chinese (ancient enemy of the vietnamese). ssk sorgulama You would think he would have learned from others’
mistakes. Guess not. Republicans need an enemy. key ödemeleri This
century it apparently will be all Muslims, health all of whom must
be alQaeda operatives.
February 28th, 2009 at 7:56 pm