Ellington

Politico is reporting that Sen. Thad Cochran will take the seat of Sen. Ted Stevens on the Appropriations Committee as Republicans decide what to do with him since his indictment for corruption today:

"Beleaguered congressional Republicans woke up Tuesday morning thinking they'd gained traction with their focus on offshore oil drilling and hoping that they could pin the "culture of corruption" on Democrats. By lunchtime, the longest-serving Republican senator in history had been indicted on charges that he hid $250,000 in gifts from an oil company looking for favors. Can it get any worse for the GOP? "This is very bad for the party," a retiring Senate Republican told Politico as news of Ted Stevens' indictment echoed across Capitol Hill on Tuesday. "The timing on this couldn't be worse."[...]

The indictment further alleges that "during the same time he was concealing his continued receipt of these things of value from VECO and [VECO executive Bill J.] Allen," that Stevens "received solicitations for official actions from Allen and other VECO employees, and that Sen. Stevens used his position and office on behalf of VECO during that same time period."

In exchange, according to the indictment, the oil services company asked Stevens for help with company projects in Pakistan and Russia, as well as a National Science Foundation grant to a VECO subsidiary.

Matthew Friedrich, the acting assistant attorney general, said that prosecutors have not been able to establish the quid pro quo necessary for bribery charges. However, he said that the investigation is ongoing. [...]

Late Tuesday, an Appropriations Committee aide said that Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) will replace Stevens as ranking member on the Appropriation Committee's Defense subcommittee "through the end of this Congress or until such time as Sen. Stevens is able to resume his duties as ranking member."

Previous Comments

ID

139869

Comment

Isn't he convicted as of yesterday rather than merely being indicted? Anyway, he's the typical republican congressman or representative - dressed statesman-like, claiming to have integrity and family values, arguing government is too big or is out of place when involved in the lives of everyday citizen, while slowly dismantling the government by privitization, outsourcing of governmental duties or functions and having both hands, feet and tongue glued to the cookies jar extracting favors, money, and properties from the government and coroprations of local and and multinational sources. I say throw his old dirty butt in jail. He's more dangerous than any so-called thug in the inner cities. William "Dollar Bill Y'all" Jefferson said upon Stevens' indictment, "ain't that a itch, all I did was keep my hard earned and fleeced money in my deepfrezzer to keep it from getting hot."

Author

Walt

Date

2008-10-28T09:14:06-06:00

ID

139896

Comment

Senator Stevens is imploring his republican base to continue to support him, no matter his conviction on 7 counts of lying on ethics forms about favors and thousands of illegal dollars. He rportedly asked, who among us republican have cleaned hands or hands that have never been in the cookie jar at some point or another? Hopefully, he will lose and be replaced by a Democrat with integrity and a plan for Alaska and the country.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-10-28T11:47:42-06:00

ID

139900

Comment

The upcoming smackdown is likely to be so broad that even Sad Cochran will get run off. Oh what a day it will be when both Cochran and Lott are gone.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-10-28T12:20:30-06:00

ID

139901

Comment

Presidential hopeful John McCain called for Senator Ted 'Lil Man' Stevens to step down after the convictions. My sources are telling me that Stevens responded by saying, "McCain married into money, but when you don't marry into money, you get yo' money howsonever, whensonever, wheresonever and from whomsonever you can. Hell, I'm 84 years old and timesonever is running out on me."

Author

Walt

Date

2008-10-28T12:29:15-06:00

ID

139906

Comment

Walt, you put Cris Rock to shame. You should have your own talk show - "whenever and wherever." LOL II'm still trying to figure out why Sen. Stevens was popped about his "free" renovations; yet, Gov. Palin claims that First Dude and some of his friends built their million dollar home house. This is untrue: It was built by the same company that built the arena and their/her home was built first. Sounds like more of the same to me.

Author

justjess

Date

2008-10-28T13:29:47-06:00

ID

139998

Comment

The only seat Stevens should hold is the toilet seat in a jail cell, and rightfully so.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2008-10-30T07:23:21-06:00

ID

139999

Comment

The Governor, Sarah Palin, is asking for Sen. Steven's resignation? What a joke! She had done the very same thing that she is accusing him of doing. As I blogged earlier: Her house was reported to have been built by "First Dude" and some of his friends. The house was built by the same person who did the renovations on Steven's houses. Can anyone help me understand this? The question is: Why aren't they going after Palin?

Author

justjess

Date

2008-10-30T09:11:07-06:00

ID

140006

Comment

Palin directed Stevens' 527. Up until recently they were as thick as thieves: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/01/palin_was_a_director_of_embatt.html

Author

FreeClif

Date

2008-10-30T10:11:01-06:00

ID

140008

Comment

Unfortunately, Stevens might win again. His honest and forthcoming commercial urging people to vote for a man with convictions is a big hit in his district and the republican arena.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-10-30T10:48:25-06:00