Ted Stevens found guilty in corruption case (updated)

[ProSense]

Ted Stevens found guilty in corruption case

WASHINGTON – Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens has been convicted of lying about free home renovations and other gifts he received from a wealthy oil contractor.

The Senate's longest-serving Republican, Stevens was found guilty on all seven counts of making false statements on Senate financial documents.

The verdict throws the upcoming election into disarray. Stevens is fighting off a challenge from Democrat Mark Begich and must now either drop out or continue campaigning as a convicted felon.

The trial hinged on the testimony of Stevens' longtime friend, who testified that his employees dramatically remodeled the senator's home.

Stevens faces up to five years in prison on each count but, under federal sentencing guidelines, will likely receive much less prison time, if any.

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Let's not forget Palin's ties to Stevens.

[jakem]

1. wait for it....

[MellowDem]

2. And...

Dem. Senate +1

[Cha]

24. Is that lie-berman's

vote that we won't have to coddle his lying a$$?

[MellowDem]

26. It's a step towards it.

I think we still need two more races where Republicans currently lead.

[lebkuchen]

3. He should continue campaigning as a convicted felon

and prove just how insanely stupid the people of Alaska who vote for him are.

[BOSSHOG]

4. And of pissing off his wife

[Pattib]

5. Love it...What does this mean now? Jail? He certainly won't run, right?

I'm sorry to admit that I haven't been following this to closely. I know the jury was out for deliberation since late last week but I want to know what this means for us? BTW, Ted Stevens is a tool and an douchebag!

[roguevalley]

19. everyone I talked to up here said if he was convicted they would

not vote for him. I believe them. A Begich back in the congress once more.

[4_Legs_Good]

6. OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

Holy shit!

Wow. Wow. Wow.

Wow!

Geesh.

Wow!!!!!!

David

[Hamlette]

7. Jon Stewart is peeing his pants he's so happy

this probably won't help the GOP's chances in November in Alaska or nation wide.

Wonder if McCain or Palin will issue a statement?

ha ha

[ProSense]

10. Palin has ties to Stevens.

She should be questioned.

[Hamlette]

21. that too but he LOVES showing those clips from the Senate floor with Stevens screaming "NO" in his

big hulk tie.

He'll play it at least three times tonight (then say something about not being able to help himself for playing it so much)

[sniffa]

8. No fucking way!

:woohoo:

:bounce:

:party:

:beer:

[grantcart]

9. Never ever bother to fight a federal prosecutor

They only go to trial if they are 100% sure that they have a slam dunk.


Even if its 75% sure they will give it a pass.

[ProSense]

11. Leave it to Politico's Ben Smith to make a stupid comment

The Stevens conviction:

How does Ted Stevens' conviction play in the presidential race?

If life were fair, it would bit a boost for McCain, an old intramural Stevens foe and enemy of Stevens' earmarks. But Palin's mixed relationship with Stevens complicates that, as does the fact that much of what filters through will just be another Republican going down.

[catgirl]

14. Actually McCain did attack Stevens AND Palin for earmarks

McCain would have used this verdict to his advantage, but seeing Palin is his
running mate, he'd rather this news get buried ASAP.

[ProSense]

15. He would have used it, but

we know McCain's spin on earmarks is BS. I simply question the "if life was fair" quip.

Edited to clarify: not just the spin, but the fact that he has on occasion looked the other way on earmark spending.

[TankLV]

12. Really! I hadn't heard...

I wonder what the othere FIFTY posts have to say on the subject...

[catgirl]

13. I hope Palin's ties to Stevens gets media attention

And I hope her house gets some attention too.

[goddess40]

16. emailed and called both senators from my state

and let them know that I expect them to move swiftly to remove Stevens from his senate seat. This man has been abusing his power and breaking the laws since at least 2001. I also let them know that I can not vote for them again if they stand with Stevens instead of doing the honorable thing of removing a criminal from their midst.

If these organizations want to police themselves then they need to do it with honor without consideration of the fact that they all belong to the same "fraternal order" and stop making excuses for their fellow Senator's bad behavior or worse pretend it doesn't go on.

[wiggs]

17. Palin in tough spot on what to say about Stevens. If she is to avoid

nullification of her campaign meme as a reformer she has to throw him under the bus.

I bet she says very little.

[high density]

18. Wunderbar

[yellowcanine]

20. Maybe they will lock him up in a country club prison and he can bring his chair.

[DCBob]

22. This should seal the deal for Obama and the Democrats.

What perfect timing!

[Cha]

23. Thanks for doing all this research, ProSense..it's funny

going back and reading the "palin thread" in early Sept. My My My..how far we've come and how low palin has been shown to have sunk even before she ever darkened our door.

[ProSense]

28. Thanks. Agree.

Palin lived up to our low expectations of her, and then some.

[ProSense]

25. What a joke. Palin's statement

Palin: Stevens verdict ‘shines a light on the corrupting influence of the big oil service company.’:

Hotline reports that Sarah Palin issued a statement about the guilty decision in the Ted Stevens corruption case:

Thanks for your patience there. And that control was part of the culture of corruption that I was elected to fight. And that fight must always move forward regardless of party affiliation or seniority or even past service. And as governor of the state of Alaska, I’ll carefully monitor now the situation, and I’ll take any appropriate action as needed. In the meantime, I do ask that the people of Alaska join me in respecting the workings of our judicial system, and I’m confident that Senator Stevens, from this point on, will do the right thing for the state of Alaska.

CNN reports, “Palin did not respond when asked if she will vote for Sen. Stevens and promptly boarded the campaign plane.”

[ProSense]

27. Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin's Mentor Ted Stevens Found Guilty...on all counts

Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin's Mentor Ted Stevens Found Guilty...on all counts. (w/video)

[ShadowLiberal]

29. Better yet, Steven's says he won't resign, imagine how much his poll #'s are going to plummet

I bet our candidate gets at least a 10% boost from this.