Ah, those Republicans strike again…
More details:
Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the U.S. Senate and one of the chamber’s most powerful members, was indicted Tuesday in Washington, a result of a years-long investigation into corruption in Alaska politics.
The seven-count indictment, charges Stevens with making false statements by failing to disclose things of value he received from the Veco Corp., an Alaska-based oil services compmany, and from its CEO, Bill Allen, over an eight-year period.
The indictment charges that among the undeclared items were substantial improvements to Stevens’s home in Girdwood, Alaska; automobile exchanges in which he received new vehicles that were worth far more than the old ones he exchganged; and household goods, including a Viking gas grill.
Oliver,
Have you heard anything about William Jefferson as of late? His scandal seems to have disappeared off the face of the planet.
As for Stevens, he’ll get no sympathy with the GOP. They despise him for his earmarks.
Don’t be so glass half empty. The glass is half full and Stevens was NOT guilty of cheating on his wife in a gay love affair.
I am hopeful that the placard on his bridge to nowhere can be changed to reflect this indictment.
Can’t say I’d be sad to see him retire. I hope someone gets him out of office, whether D or R.
Can’t say I’m sad to see him go, but it’s unfortunate that the wheels of justice turn more slowly than our election cycles. The formerly Republican-led House and Senate were incredibly corrupt and venal, but news like this plays into the MSM’s narrative of “OMG Congress is worse than Bush!”
So, glad to see the little scumbag get what he deserves. But expect the media to play this in their usually “bipartisan” manner — Stevens was just another politican, and his deeply Republican political ties had nothing to do with any of it.
Also strange to see a Republican scandal that doesn’t involve gay sex.
Ted Stevens: “NO!”
I have to say that I’m impressed with the commenters so far. Nobody has said ‘Republicans en masse are corrupt,’ and no Republican has retorted ‘here’s some scandals involving Democrats that prove they’re corrupt too.’
A hearty congratulations to everybody.
The formerly Republican-led House and Senate were incredibly corrupt and venal
That, however, is probably true. The story isn’t written on the current group, but I get the feeling it’s not going to look much better.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VEXJV2P2ZIw
Ted Stevens: “NO!!”
Glad to see it. I don’t follow Congress too carefully, but it’s been my opinion for some time — and, I think, with some justification — that members of Congress are “guilty until proven innocent, and probably oughta be tossed out of office anyway just on general principles” in cases like this.
He’ll become an instant pariah, and deservedly so, much like Mark Foley and Duke Cunningham and Larry Craig.
Here’s hoping the Democrats pay close attention, and apply even a fraction of the approbition to the aforementioned William Jefferson.
J.
Here’s hoping the Democrats pay close attention, and apply even a fraction of the approbition to the aforementioned William Jefferson.
doh! And we were so close, Parthenon …
doh! And we were so close, Parthenon …
Alas.
There are those among us who can’t help themselves.
(this infernal bag of bolts whacked out when I posted last, so apologies if this double posts.)
Larry Craig is still in office.
Just sayin’.
Nobody has said ‘Republicans en masse are corrupt,’
Well, other than Oliver’s “Ah, those Republicans strike again…” that led off the post.
But that’s to be expected… Oliver’s got a theme he has to push (i.e. “the huge, pervasive and overwhelming Republican culture of corruption that dwarfs the tiny, miniscule, almost non-exist cases of the occasional Democrat who gets somewhat into the gray area of ethical behavior, but it’s usually just an isolated case or a big misunderstanding”) if he wants to move up the Media Matters food chain.
>I have to say that I’m impressed with the commenters so far. Nobody has said ‘Republicans en masse are corrupt,’ and no Republican has retorted ‘here’s some scandals involving Democrats that prove they’re corrupt too.’
eh? What do you think this comment (which came before yours) from Jaim is?
“But expect the media to play this in their usually “bipartisan” manner — Stevens was just another politican, and his deeply Republican political ties had nothing to do with any of it.”
I considered responding to it but decided not to bother for the reasons you mention above – it just devolves into a “which party is more corrupt” waste of time.
Riiiight…. Stevens was just another bad apple. Not like he was one of the most powerful men in Congress or anything.
I say, root ‘em all out and tie ‘em up by their toes. Start with William Jefferson, then follow up with Stevens, Craig, Vitter, Foley, etc.
Sorry, the facts are against you. When you’ve got four major Dems indicted on obscenity, pederasty, visiting hookers, tax evasion, and corruption charges, etc., please put up a post on your own blog and I’ll happily eat crow.
Parth,
See Jaim’s last comment. I rest my case.
How nice it would be if somebody legitimately studied this – like rounded up all the legit clear-cut cases of corruption/malfeasance and just added up the bill for each party. You could even use some sort of standard pain-and-suffering civil court damages for corruption that doesn’t cause financial damage.
Until then, our evidence is pretty much anecdotal, no? Can we really go by the few high profile cases without including the piddly state-level stuff that probably flies under the national radar?