McConnell calls on Stevens to resign.
McConnell calls on Stevens to resign.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) called last night for Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) to resign his seat in the Senate. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports:
“I think he should resign immediately,” McConnell, Kentucky’s senior senator, told the Herald-Leader Tuesday night after a Hardin County GOP rally. “If he did not do that … there is a 100 percent certainty that he would be expelled from the Senate.” … “The Senate would have zero tolerance for the continued service of a convicted felon,” McConnell said.
In calling for Stevens’s resignation, McConnell joins several other prominent Republican senators including Jim DeMint (SC), Lindsey Graham (SC), John McCain (AZ), Gordon Smith (OR), and Norm Coleman (MN). Other Republican senators, including Pat Roberts (KS) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX), have suggested that “it’s up to Alaskans to decide Stevens’ fate.” Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) also called for Stevens to resign.
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“If he did not do that … there is a 100 percent certainty that he would be expelled from the Senate.” … “The Senate would have zero tolerance for the continued service of a convicted felon,” McConnell said.
Only because the Senate is about to become overwhelmingly Democratic.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:46 amMitch just knows what’s comin……the dems will send this crook home and Mitch just wants to act like he’s a good guy. Nothing invested by mitch so nothing lost.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:46 amLooks like the GOP is starting their house cleaning early. If Nov. 4th turns out as most are predicting the GOP will be on the verge of extinction. This is just getting a head start on the culling of the remaining herd.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:51 amWhy does he have to be asked to resign?
Public servant? what a joke.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:52 amThat smells like an old grudge finally given freedom from repercussions…
October 29th, 2008 at 10:53 amThe latest polls show McConnell in a tight race with Democrat Bruce Lunsford in Kentucky. An average of 4 polls show McConnell’s lead is only 4 points 48% to 44%. Traditional wisdom holds that an incumbent with less than 50% in the polls is in serious trouble. Could be, the voters of Kentucky will ask Mitch McConnel to go away.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:53 amOT- Fulfilling my mission for today- “Did you Vote? Well, get to it!”
October 29th, 2008 at 10:54 amBefore she was against him, Sarah Palin was for him. She was one of three directors of the the 527 group “Ted Stevens Excellence in Public Service, Inc”, a fundraising group.
And good ol’ Uncle Ted (as Stevens is known in Alaska)
endorsed Palin as vice president for John McCain, as well as endorsing Palin in her campaign for governor in 2006 in a TV commercial that aired in Alaska.
In fact, you might even say Sarah Palin owes her political success to Uncle Ted.
But he’s excess baggage for the Diva, now, and its time to throw him under the bus.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:56 amMitch, I’m calling on you to resign.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:57 amCome to think of it, felony convictions have restarted several peoples careers.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:57 amvinylspear Says:
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…felony convictions have restarted several peoples careers.
Republican theme for the 2012 elections.
October 29th, 2008 at 10:59 amOther Republican senators, including Pat Roberts (KS) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX), have suggested that “it’s up to Alaskans to decide Stevens’ fate.”
Considering who they elected Govenor…
October 29th, 2008 at 10:59 amUnder recent legislation, a member of congress would lose their pension if convicted of corruption. I assume this would apply to Stevens.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:00 amAh, but does Stevens ‘pal around with terrorists’?
October 29th, 2008 at 11:04 amI have a better idea Mitch…why don’t all of the criminals, traitors and corporate puppets of the republican party resign?
October 29th, 2008 at 11:05 amDamn, the moderators are working OT…I guess the third times a charm.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:06 amBecause it’s now too late to change the ballots in Alaska, I doubt that Stevens will resign before the election. That would essentially throw the election to the Democratic candidate without a fight, as it’s doubtful an organized write-in campaign could be mounted for another Republican in less than a week (and far fewer people would vote for Stevens if he were to resign and effectively say that if elected he wouldn’t serve).
If Begich wins (whether or not Stevens resigns), the status of Stevens in the Senate is moot.
But if Stevens wins the election, he could then resign and then the Republican governor (Palin) would appoint an electable Republican to replace him — probably somebody who would do well in the special election that followed.
I find it fascinating that so many Republicans are calling for Stevens’ ouster before the election, when they have a chance at saving that Senate seat for their party if he stays in. Unless their cries are of the “wink, wink” variety — making a lot of noise to distance themselves from Stevens (looking good for their own campaigns), but privately telling Stevens to hang in there until after November 4.
Here’s another scenario, which Palin might go for if she’s smart (wow, what am I saying?). If Begich wins and Stevens resigns right after the election, Palin could appoint Begich to fill the balance of Stevens’ current term (all two months of it). This would give Begich a seniority edge over the rest of the freshman senate class, which would be good for Alaska.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:06 amPoor Theodore, being thrown under the wreckage that is the Ripeuglycan party… Waaaahhhhh!
October 29th, 2008 at 11:08 amMissHMolly, could ImPalin appoint herself to the empty Senate seat, should Theodore win then resign?
October 29th, 2008 at 11:08 amUncle Fester Lurks Says:
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I have a better idea Mitch…why don’t all of the criminals, traitors and corporate puppets of the republican party resign?
Because there would be no one left to accept the resignations.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:13 amI for one will not miss hearing Stevens annoying incoherent babbling stop and start ramblings on CSPAN.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:13 amOffer Stevens a community service detail in lieu of prison time.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:14 amPut him on a beach in the Bering Straits with a pair of binoculars and a thermos of hot chocolate.
Let him keep an eye out should Putin rear his head.
No reason for US Senators to have any moral fiber in their bodies. . . that will only happen if they are in danger of losing their jobs!
October 29th, 2008 at 11:14 amLeftside Annie Says:
Ah, but does Stevens ‘pal around with terrorists’?
October 29th, 2008 at 11:16 am“““““““““““““““““““`
Only good terrorists like abortion clinic bombers. Wait I forgot, according to Vampyra Of The North, abortion clinic bombers aren’t terrorists and do Gods work.
Remember all the GOP support for Libby, Delay, Foley, Vinner?
October 29th, 2008 at 11:16 amIt’s not the crime that’s bad, it’ the getting caught.
McWars Says:
Under recent legislation, a member of congress would lose their pension if convicted of corruption. I assume this would apply to Stevens.
But isn’t this the same promise made by congress after we found out about Duke Cunningham in 2005? Cunningham pleaded guilty to tax evasion and conspiracy to accept bribes, evade taxes and commit wire and mail fraud, and accepting $2.4 million in bribes. According to law at that time, only a conviction for crimes such as treason, trading secrets with the enemy or perjury causes former federal workers to lose their retirement benefits.
They always promise to fix it, but I don’t believe a real bill has yet been signed into law by the President. I’m just thinking, anyway.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:16 amHow long will it take for Stevens to announce that he is resigning to spend more time with his family and is turning his life over to God?
October 29th, 2008 at 11:18 amPoor God. Doesn’t he have any say about which scumbags turn their lives over to Him?
October 29th, 2008 at 11:21 amUncle Fester, I think Ted will resign after next week’s election. Should Alaskans the convicted felon win, Republican Governor Sarah Palin would appoint Ted’s replacement. Todd Palin, U.S. Senator?
I also expect Bush to pardon Ted before his appeal is heard.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:22 amThis is what I meant to say in post 29, my apologies:
I think Ted will resign after next week’s election. Should the convicted felon keep his seat, Republican Governor Sarah Palin would appoint Ted’s replacement. Todd Palin, U.S. Senator?
I also expect Bush to pardon Ted before his appeal is heard.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:24 amUncle Fester Lurks Says:
How long will it take for Stevens to announce that he is resigning to spend more time with his family …
As in Senator Larry Craig?
October 29th, 2008 at 11:27 amWould they also call for his resignation if they were assured of reelection?
October 29th, 2008 at 11:38 amI’ll go out on a limb and say Stevens doesn’t care who tells him to resign.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:44 amSome people say that Stevens is not fit to sleep with pigs. But I defend him. I say he is.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:55 amHopefully Stevens will lose his reelection bid, but if the senate is going to expel him it should be before the election. If the voters decide for good or bad that they still want him representing them after his conviction then IMO purely from a democratic view the worst that the senate should do is remove him from any committee he serves on. The republicans should dismiss him from the party and let him serve as an independent.
I make this point because elections are upon us. I would think differently if the conviction came after the election. Then I would be thinking about a recall in his constituency and if he decided to stand again that’s up to the voters.
I’m not a supporter of governors installing unelected lawmakers.
October 29th, 2008 at 12:15 pmGosh, don’t these guys know that “IOKIARDI”, corruption, hive mentality, hate, bigotry, immoral behavior, closet gayness, fascism, lies, are all things that the Republican Mafia can really get into, and that goes for the regular republican Joe Neanderthal also.
The republicans are only doing this because of the election, and they FEAR a huge loss, otherwise this would be no big deal to them.
October 29th, 2008 at 12:18 pmMitch has his own problems now. I notice how Mitch quickly toss Uncle Ted under the bus. Looks like Republicans are saying everyone for themselves and loyality is gone.
October 29th, 2008 at 12:36 pmThey eat their own and politicize their own demise for political gain.
Desperate fools….
Projected Senate: Dem 59 GOP 41
October 29th, 2008 at 1:18 pmFivethirtyeight has Begich winning with a probability of 87% so I don’t think Alaskan conservatives are going to elect the felon. Franken is ahead slightly as well, so we’re looking at 59 Democratic Senate seats. Bernie Sanders is a reliable 60th vote, so Dems may have a filibuster-proof majority without Lieberman’s vote. If that happens, Lieberman loses all committee assignments and is reassigned to a shadowy seat in the back of the chamber near the bathroom.
October 29th, 2008 at 1:18 pmPalin cannot appoint a replacement Senator. That rule was changed after the previous Govenor, Frank Mukowski appointed his own daughter to his seat when as a Senator he ran and won Govenor of Alaska. I believe Palin defeated him. There has to be a special election to replace Stevens, if he wins and later gets thrown out.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:12 pm