How Ted Stevens is in a position to win his Senate seat in Alaska is beyond me. The man was convicted on multiple counts almost two weeks ago on not reporting gifts to turn (at least from what I’ve heard) a simple cabin into something like the White House. I understand he has gotten a lot, and I mean a lot of stuff for Alaska through huge chunks of pork, but Stevens coming close to re-election is as puzzling to me as Al Franken coming close to winning in Minnesota (please Lord, not Franken), or the 12th district in Pennsylvania re-electing a man who refered to his constituents as racists, and then rednecks.
If Stevens winds up getting jail time, what happens to his seat? Does Sarah Palin appoint someone to fill his term if he goes to prison, or is there a special election? I don’t know what Alaska state law is, so what are the options on teh table?
Another interesting question is that if there has to be a special election, would Sarah Palin run to fill the seat herself?
If it comes to that (and I might be getting ahead of myself here), she shouldn’t run. Focus on getting back to work as governor, do what she needs to do, and prepare for the bludgeoning Democrats will attempt to hand to her when she runs for re-election in 2010. It’s also interesting to note that Lisa Murkowski’s Senate term will be up in 2010 as well, so we know that she could conceivably challenge for that seat as well.
I heard somewhere that her approval ratings have dropped 20 points in Alaska since her selection as John McCain’s running mate, but I haven’t seen any data to support that. One thing is clear, she does have some options, and the Democrats will do anything and everything to either unseat her as Governor or beat her up even more (if they can) to the point she wins a close election and won’t even consider thinking about the Iowa or New Hampshire primaries.
The GOP also needs to make sure she’s included in the future for the party. I have a hard time believing (without new leadership) that the establishment will include her, but discarding the fastest rising star of the party would be a huge mistake. I just hope Palin and the Republican leadership make the right decisions.
So, What if Ted Stevens Wins then Goes to Jail?
Does Sarah Palin make an appointment to fill the seat, or is there a special election? Can we be talking about Sarah for Senate?
He's Still Senator
BigGator5 Sunday, November 9th at 11:10AM EST (link)He can be sitting in jail and still be a Senator. The Senate has to kick him out, then Alaska can replace him.
And I agree, Sarah Palin should stay governor.
“There are worse things out there than reptiles.” -BigGator5
She can seat the 1st dude....native Alaskan..
JadedByPolitics Sunday, November 9th at 11:25AM EST (link)good family man beloved by the people….I think that is the way to go with Steven’s seat….and if it is a special election he should run for it!
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
There would be a special election
gigi21 Sunday, November 9th at 11:26AM EST (link)I believe that Sarah will have to step down to run for Senate, but I may be wrong. This law has been changed relatively recently. Before Sarah could have stepped down and then the Lt Gov could have appointed her to the Senate.
No she needs to run
SteveLA Sunday, November 9th at 11:32AM EST (link)Palin and her husband are a team, breaking up the team ether in Alaska or in the Senate would be bad. They raise their kids as a team, and they both need to be together to do that.
Just think, in the Senate Palin can show people what she is really made of, how effective a legislator and leader she really is. Palin in the Senate is just the ticket!
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Competency over ideological purity
It can go either or for me SteveLA they are both wonderful people...
JadedByPolitics Sunday, November 9th at 11:36AM EST (link)who have the hardworking conservative credentials to run for whatever office either of them chose to run for!
Whoever has his enemy at his mercy &
does not destroy him is his own enemy
Palin Should Get Nowhere Near The Senate
IJB Sunday, November 9th at 11:39AM EST (link)She needs to stay on as AK Governor, and then win a 2nd term.
The Senate is a boneyard for promising politicians, esp. Republican ones.
Just say “No!”, Sarah!
Senate would give a record
SteveLA Sunday, November 9th at 11:43AM EST (link)IJB
Being in the Senate would give Palin a record, one of ether being an accomplished Legislator, on top of the issues, or a record of something else. I don’t have a clue how Palin would do in the Senate, but as one of the Doubting Thomas class, I would like to see how she votes and leads on the big issues confronting this country, and the Senate is going to be one of those battle grounds where these issues are debated.
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Competency over ideological purity
I don't see her going for the Senate,
Achance Sunday, November 9th at 12:17PM EST (link)but she’s surprised me before. She has a very good political ear and if she’s listening, she knows she has her hands full here. In ‘02 when she came on the Statewide scene, Alaska was among the reddest of Red States. She lost the Lt. Gov nomination to someone MUCH more conservative than she. By ‘06 when she ran for Gov, the State was trending purple. She won on a combination of her being the “outsider” against the very unpopular Murkowski and the Rs being able to hang the Greenies around Tony Knowles’ neck. Now the State is purple trending blue; a 10-10 Senate with a coalition leadership led by Democrats, a lessened R majority in the House, Stevens mortally wounded, Young badly damaged, and the Republican Party in dissarray. Much of that disarray is because of Sarah Palin, and the people that she bragged about taking on and cleaning up are the ones who’ll have to support her in a Senate bid.
The Republican Party here is pretty disciplined and dutiful, but that has its limits. Those rotting bodies that she’s left in her wake are stinking up the place. I’m thinking John Binkley throws his hat in the ring and the Party quickly lines up behind him thus telling Ms. Palin to shut up and be Governor for awhile; both she and Alaska have been too famous lately. I don’t know if Binkley can beat Begich but he has a bit of campaign infrastructure from his gubernatorial bid. His campaign manager did a stint as Palin’s COS then left to run Stevens’ re-election bid. It would be logical that he would go to Binkley and a lot of the old Murkowski band would line up with him.
In Vino Veritas
If she seats Todd she has 0 credibility
ClassicConservative Sunday, November 9th at 1:48PM EST (link)She defeated Murkowski on charges of corruption and being lame and appointing his family to the Senate seat.
If Palin, already bogged by Troopergate, appoints Todd to the Senate seat, she is no different than Frank.
The last thing we need to do is demerit Sarah’s credibility further, especially if a huge block of GOP wants her to be president in 2012.
I’d expect the Lt. Gov to get appointed.
She can't "seat" anyone.
NightTwister Sunday, November 9th at 1:54PM EST (link)Several here have already said there has to be a special election.
Get Connected in Colorado.
Vote for the seat, not the man
morningstar Sunday, November 9th at 2:33PM EST (link)That was the rallying cry in Alaska. If they didn’t vote for Stevens, then a democrat would surely win the seat. If Stevens won, there is at least a chance that the seat would stay Republican after he is forced out. I read somewhere, or heard it somewhere, but I can’t find a link.
My personal preference is
Andy Smith Sunday, November 9th at 3:23PM EST (link)for Sarah to remain as governor. I don’t know who the Democrats will have to throw at her in two years, but you can bet they’ll get substantial financial backing from the DNC to take her out. They’ve already proven they’re willing to do anything to her and say anything about her to damage her.
The most important thing is to stay on the national stage. Who knows? I have a strong feeling that if Obama doesn’t turn out to be another Jimmy Carter, she might not even run in 2012 unless he’s in danger of losing.
“Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.”-Abraham Lincoln
Ya'll are half right....
Mushy_MiddleGuy Sunday, November 9th at 3:41PM EST (link)Should Ted Stevens win, and then step down or be expelled from the Senate, then two things would happen. She would first appoint someone to fill the seat, while at the same time scheduling a special election for 90 days after the date Stevens left office. The person who won that election would serve out the remainder of Steven’s term.
My gut tells me she wants to stay in Alaska, and she isn’t someone who will be forced into doing anything. I think she appoints Sean Parnell, who then runs for the seat and most likely wins. Bet she appoints Linda Menard as the new Lt. Governor. I would advise against ever running for Senate, because she would lose the “outsider” status which so many lover her for. She needs to stay Governor, run for re-election in 2010, then immediately start campaigning for President.
Who knew this was a crime
emgbane Sunday, November 9th at 3:56PM EST (link)I have no brief for Ted Stevens, but I curious about his conviction. He was found guilty by a federal jury of “knowingly and willfully” making false statements on his Senate personal financial disclosure forms.
I did not know that was federal crime. I mean, Congressman Rangel and Senator Reid just amend their disclosure forms when news came out about Reid’s land deal and Rangel’s back taxes.
In Stevens case he paid $160,000 for the renovations, that is what he was billed. Some estimates say the renovations should have cost around $130,000 to $150,000. The government claimed they should have been valued at $250,000 or more.
I am at lost why the government would pursue this case. Am I the only shocked that it is a federal crime to file false financial disclosure forms. Has anyone else been charge with this before?
Was that what Dan Rostenkowski was convicted of?
Interesting
emgbane Sunday, November 9th at 4:44PM EST (link)That is very interesting. I don’t know much about Alaska’s internal politics. Is Alaska actually turning blue, or are people just tired of the corruption? I live here in Virginia and I think my state is becoming liberal in the more populous areas of the state.
I hope conservatives will start making better arguments. I’m certainly tried of politicians thinking all they have to say is I’ll cut your taxes and I’m pro-life. I want philosophical and economic arguments for low taxes. I want to be sure the politician gets it, or else you get Bush, a politician who favors increased spending and lower taxes. I do not want a politician who lowers taxes to increase revenue so he can spend more. I want a politician who lowers taxes to increase revenue so he/she can reduce the deficit and shrink the debt. I want a politician that wants to decrease the size and scope of government. I want a politician who does not believe government has all the answers.
I know here in Virginia that argument is being lost, people had been voting for more government spending. Who knows what will happen during the recession, maybe people will start to vote for less government spending.
I did hear Governor Palin say she was not interested in Steven’s seat, and that she was going to get busy working on Alaska’s 2009 or 10 budget. She did not say 2009 or 2010, I just can’t remember whether she said 2009 or 2010.