UPDATE: AP calls race for Begich…
The Division of Elections has almost concluded an initial count of absentee, early in-person and questioned ballots Tuesday. That, coupled with the numbers culled from Election Day, gave Begich a 3,724-vote lead over Stevens, the 40-year Republican incumbent, with about 2,500 ballots left to count.
Earlier tonight from Bloomberg:
Begich now leads by 2,374 votes as the remaining ballots are tallied from the Nov. 4 election, according to division Director Gail Fenumiai. Officials said they may complete counting about 7,700 absentee ballots today with another 2,500 ballots from military families overseas yet to arrive.
Republicans in the Senate postponed their vote today to consider removing the felonious Stevens’ committee assignments, since indications are that he’s going to lose anyway at this point. Plus, it was his 85th birthday.
But he’s not deterred. According to AP, “Stevens revealed that he will not ask President George W. Bush to give him a pardon for his seven felony convictions.”
And Bloomberg says, in regard to his re-election prospects at this point, that he told reporters: “I still have faith I’m going to win.”
Ready for a recount, Ted? (Actually a count, since all of the ballots have only been tabulated by faulty Diebold op-scanners at this point.) If so, we’re happy to help.
UPDATE 11/20/08: Unfortunately, Uncle Ted concedes. We would have welcomed that recount. Instead, we’ll just have to be content this time with the end of an era. From Seattle Times:
Stevens’ office issued a written statement congratulating Begich, a Democrat who ran as a change candidate in the face of federal ethics charges against the man many Alaskans call “Uncle Ted.”
“Given the number of ballots that remain to be counted, it is apparent the election has been decided and Mayor Begich has been elected. My family and I wish to thank the thousands of Alaskans who stood by us and who supported my re-election,” said Stevens, 85.
[ed note: Comment deleted. Please don’t spam the threads with the same comment. Thank you. –99]
Teddy boy ~ You know what they say bout the screen don’t cha . . .
{Teddy boy ~ You know what they say bout the screen door don’t cha . . .}thx
Hey BH, I think screens an don cha. Works for me now. STEELER FAN!
ITP,
Welcome!! And please spread the word of what a great site this is. I’m beyond thrilled that we will finally have a sane president, but people still need to be persuaded that our election system is still manipulatable & manipulated. Send Brad some money!
Oh & I sure hope something comes from THIS headline from Raw Story…
“Cheney, Gonzales indicted over detainee abuse”
…like a conviction maybe?!!
[ed note: The software decided you were spam for some reason, Joan, sorry. –99]
If for no other reason (and in the case of Stevens there are plenty), I think at age 85 it’s time to go home and enjoy what remains.
Every time I read about Stevens’ conviction for stealing $250,000, I wonder why couldn’t the FBI investigate the many more serious crimes by the bush administration? Not that I feel sorry for Stevens but it does seem like small potatoes ( yes with an “e” 🙂 ) compared to other crimes committed in the last eight years.
Does FOX “news” say: “Felon Ted Stevens” like they ALWAYS say “Comedian Al Franken”??? No.
I heard that Stevens did NOT say he wouldn’t seek a pardon; that the “no” was even clarified as “no comment” – or was that some sort of joke? I’m having trouble finding a clip or quote. Sadly, it sounds a little too realistic to know for sure…
Hay ~ Ancient, BD ~ like I’ve been waiting (in absentia) for fox “news” to say “resigned in disgrace speaker Newt Gingrich” . . .
🙂 BH,
ya know, elections and such. 🙂
Senate Throws Good-Bye Party For Ted Stevens, Gives Convicted Felon A Standing Ovation»
Today, Ted Stevens “” Alaska’s defeated Republican senator and a convicted felon “” was granted time on the Senate floor to deliver his farewell speech. Stevens said that he still can’t believe that he’s “privileged to speak on the floor of the United States Senate.” He also added that he “doesn’t have a rear-view mirror. I look only forward, and I still see the day when I can remove the cloud that currently surrounds me.”
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) then took the floor and said farewell to his “distinguished colleague.” Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had previously called for Stevens’s resignation, recalled the longest-serving Republican’s “extraordinary accomplishments.” Watch it:
Matt Yglesias writes: “I cannot believe that (a) Ted Stevens got a standing ovation from his fellow senators, and (b) Harry Reid is now delivering an ode to him. I mean, the man’s a criminal. Senatorial courtesy is a really bizarre institution.”
Full list of senators speaking on behalf of Stevens today: Harry Reid (D-NV), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Pete Domenici (R-NM), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Kay-Baily Hutchison (R-TX), Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Larry Craig (R-ID), Jim Bunning (R-KY), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Thad Cochran (R-MS). John Warner (R-VA) also praised Stevens in advance of the Alaskan senator’s farewell address.
Update12:17 pm: The Senate just extended “morning business” until 2:00 p.m. to allow senators to speak about Stevens for 10 minutes each.
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/1...evens-ovation/
Guess who’s next in line out the doer in 2010, hmmmm?….
STEVENS SHOULD LOSE HIS PENSION HE WAS DISGRACED AND SHOULD LOSE ALL BENERFITS ANY BODY ELSE WOULD