It Must Be Something in the (Melting) Icebergs

/54 Comments/in /by

Sarah Palin:

… the report that came out also was very clear in that there was no unethical or unlawful behavior on my part.

[snip]

No abuse of power there at all.

Sarah Palin’s mentor, Ted Stevens:

With just four days before the election and Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens insisting he’s not a felon, the U.S. Senate race is white hot. 

"I’ve not been convicted yet," Stevens said Thursday in a meeting with the editorial board of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

image_print
54 replies
  1. emmett4444 says:

    Sorry to break this to you teddy bear, but there has to be a judgement of conviction entered in order to have an appeal..Trust me, I’m a lawyer.

    • puravida says:

      I know you’re serious, but I just can’t help snickering at the “trust me, I’m a lawyer” line.

      Might I suggest: “Believe me, IAAL”

      *g*

  2. TobyWollin says:

    I said it in my diary and I’ll say it again – I think we need to take up a collection and get all Alaska politicians a copy of the Webster’s Unabridged — there is obviously a severe lack in the language arts component of the education there, since the vocabularies seem so deficient. They don’t know what ‘gift’ means..they don’t know what ‘convict’ means..it’s very sad, actually.

    • Gitcheegumee says:

      Here’s a link to a fascinating daily kos diary entry from Sept.’08. This is a must read-relates to Wasilla RNC donations sent DIRECTLY,in, ‘06′ to Minnesota address of FLS-the robo call company who is also Coleman’s DC landlord. You gotta read this one. Its a doozy.—–Daily Kos: CA-04 McClintock’s Alaskan ConnectionCA-04 McClintock’s Alaskan Connection. by AmericanRiverCanyon. Sat Sep 13, 2008 at 11:46:18 AM PDT. Well, I never expected to be writing this diary ! …
      http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/13/22010/6402 – 44k – Cached – Similar pages

      • freepatriot says:

        I hate to do it, but I too must;

        I was NOT caught blowing that goat

        no, wait …

        Arlen Specter doesn’t say that till next week

        never mind …

  7. dakine01 says:

    To use the words of the immortal Inigo Montoya:

    You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

  8. Neil says:

    Branchflower investigated and found Palin broke the Alaskan government ethics law. That wasn’t a dream was it? So how does she say:


    … the report that came out also was very clear in that there was no unethical or unlawful behavior on my part.

    – Sarah “Liar Liar Pants on Fire” Palin

  9. RevBev says:

    You all have captured what is so scary about these people. Can Stevens be that dumb; I know he is old, but shouldn’t be illiterate. Words do not mean anything to them, let alone lies, but they are willing to say anything in the face of glaring evidence. Sounds like a mental disorder to me; please protect us from them. We need a professional analysis of how folks can lie not only with a straight face but also free of fear of being caught/exposed. This is the kind of stuff that makes people, kids especially go crazy from the illogic and insanity that surrounds them. Do these people think no one gets it? Quick tell the Judge: Why, there was no conviction…that’s not what the jury meant. Confused yet?

    • bmaz says:

      As emmett4444 noted above, Stevens is exactly correct. A conviction is not official until entered as a matter of record at sentencing. Should he be using that as a crutch to lean on here, no, that is a little tacky; but it is technically quite correct.

      • RevBev says:

        I thank you for the clarification, and I truly did not know that. I will allow myself the pleasure of noting a “distinction without a difference” even if I’m technically wrong. I’m betting Stevens is very good at splitting hairs…Thanks

        • bmaz says:

          Heh, yeah, it really is a bit absurd for him to be publicly hanging his hat on; I guess it is his prerogative though. There were a lot of problems procedurally with his trial. He may get it reversed on appeal. Should be noted that they were procedural things, not substantive; he is guilty by any fair assessment.

  10. Ahgoo says:

    Alaska Department of law issued its analysis concluding Ted is not “convicted” in the popular sense (like with the jury verdict return) but will be “convicted” in the technical sense when the final judgment and sentencing are imposed.

    I thought this ‘issue’ was to allow Ted the privilege of voting next Tuesday. Silly me. After watching him debate Begich last night I realize it was so he could campaign as a ‘conviction’ free person.

  11. Neil says:

    Bmaz, technically right is inside baseball, no?

    Ahgoo, ‘Conviction free’ now there’s a high bar.

    freep, Are you ready for some trash talk? …. Giants/Boyz Pats/Colts

  12. BoxTurtle says:

    Stevens can play word games all he wants. The only people in Alaska who don’t think he’s been convicted are far enough from civilization that they likely won’t vote.

    But is it making a difference? I get the impression that most of Alaska considered him crooked long before now, but they liked the money he brought home. Even in a strongly dem senate, being the most senior GOPer is more powerful then being the Juniormost Senator of the majority.

    Boxturtle (Palin can’t appoint herself. Too bad. )

    • emptywheel says:

      I don’t think prognosticators are right to assume Stevens’ conviction will result in a Begich win. But it increased the chances significantly. Before, we were at neck and neck, which I assumed would make a Stevens win. Now, Begich as an out-of-the-margin lead, but even still Stevens might keep it.

      The pro-Palin turnout might make the difference, IMO.

      • hackworth says:

        The Alaaaskins who turn out for Palin will likely F*** the Feds and Vote for Ted, while they’re at it.

        In that way, Alaaaskah can f*** the world.

      • BoxTurtle says:

        If Ted wins and returns to the Senate, we’ll get to watch the GOPers squirm. Ted will be under pressure to resign, but as the most senior GOP Senator he might be able to escape impeachment by his fellow senators.

        Boxturtle (I need 25 Senators who’d like to see their districts get rich)

        • dakine01 says:

          Not if there’s an overwhelming majority of Dems in control. I’m not positive but I think the vote would need 67 to expel and I would imagine that Toobz Ted has p*ss’d off enough of his “peers” over the years that they would pretty much have to vote him out.

          Even if his BFF from Hawaii deems him an honorable man.

        • freepatriot says:

          (I need 25 Senators who’d like to see their districts get rich)

          which repuglitards are on the menu in 2010 ???

          I know, I know

          I’m a little early with this question

          I should probably wait till next Thursday …

          knock yourself out toobz, it’s not like we’re paying attention or anything

          if the repuglitards give toobz a pass, their death will be all that much to achieve

      • freepatriot says:

        The pro-Palin turnout might make the difference, IMO.

        palin supporters ???

        are there any palin supporters left in Alaska ???

  13. Ahgoo says:

    The people around here who are still Stevens supporters blows my mind. The Welcome Back reception for him had 500+ folks – most of whom are heavy donor$. Ted knows and he knows what he is saying – a master wordsmith for years that one.

    Interesting t-shirt supposedly for sale at the event (I have only read about it) that said something to the effect of “F@#$ the Feds, Vote for Ted.”

    Cold dry air must damage the brain.

  14. hackworth says:

    What is the current status of Stevens? Is he adjudicated guilty, but not yet convicted? When will he be convicted?

  15. Petrocelli says:

    His rival has only to run the clips where McCain & McConnell say that Stevens is a felon and should resign …

    Game.Set.Match

  17. hazmaq says:

    FFL folke should tune in quickly to Chuck Todd’s interview with the AP’s CEO, one Mr. Fournier who appears to be selling his…services.. to any anti-Obama news source out there willing to be fed sh** …

  18. freepatriot says:

    how could all you brainiacs miss the obvious retort

    JUST A FLESH WOUND

    followed by the ultimate challenge

    come back here, you bastard, I’ll bite your kneecaps off

    • skdadl says:

      Another perfect time for that was a couple of weeks ago, when McCain hisself ran through a really depressing summary of what had been happening lately and then suddenly looked up and smiled and said, “We’ve got ‘em where we want ‘em.” Och, I thought I’d never stop laughing.

  19. freepatriot says:

    this is off topic, but I thought I should share it (like I ever pay attention to topics)

    what happens when the Obama kids come over to trick or treat:

    (knock knock)

    hello

    TRICK OR TREAT

    (two secret service agents grab you, search you, empty your candy bowl into a trash bag and replace it with tootsie rolls, a voice behind you says “give the kids their candy”)

    you look down, and there are Barack Obama’s kids, and the Democratic Presidential candidate himself, standing in the middle of 20 guys in black suits

    if you look closly, you can almost see one of the kids’ costumes

    if you look behind you, you can see a guy in a suit, holding a loaded 45, pointed in your general direction

    you reach thru the crowd of suits, and deposit two tootsies rolls in each plastic pumpkin that is extended

    dueling shouts of “OOh tootsie rolls, my favorite, thank you” echo across your porch, as the black suited crowd moves down your walk

    the guy behind you holsters his weapon, dumps the remaining tootsie rolls into a leather bag, empties your candy back into your bowl, and asks you to sign a waiver stating that your rights were not violated in any way …

    that’s why they don’t pay me to think …

    • freepatriot says:

      I disagree sir

      we’ve not “completely degenerated”

      with a little effort, I for one, could degenerate much more

      a lot more, if, you know, there was some money involved …

      an I just thought of something, maybe toobz hasn’t got the word yet

      with all us commie liberals clogging the innertubes, maybe toobz didn’t get the innernet telling him he is guilty

  24. freepatriot says:

    thousands of people lining up to vote early in Oklahoma

    FOOKIN OKLAHOMA

    at what point do the “likely voter” models break down ???

    130 million ???

    135

    we could be almost half way there, NOW

  26. freepatriot says:

    walks like a NAZI

    quacks like a NAZI

    it must be a NAZI

    According to Palin, what the Founders intended with the First Amendment was that political candidates for the most powerful offices in the country and Governors of states would be free to say whatever they want without being criticized in the newspapers. The First Amendment was meant to ensure that powerful political officials would not be “attacked” in the papers. It is even possible to imagine more breathaking ignorance from someone holding high office and running for even higher office?

    huffpo

    any doubts ???

  28. DeadLast says:

    “The tip of the iceberg is an endangered metaphore.”

    David Eisenberg
    October 29, 2008
    Ventura, CA

  29. OCPatriot says:

    That last line gives it away: “No abuse of power there at all.” When you mention that it does exactly the opposite of what you’re trying to cover up. It does indeed make someone with half a brain realize she’s covering it up, she’s not telling the truth. I really admire how she can lie with a straight face and say, Cleared of ethics violations. I guess she must have learned it from Ted Stevens, her old mentor, who claimed he hadn’t been convicted by a jury. Yes, John McCain, we need someone who can lie like this as Vice President. You could actually take lessons from her, and from Ted Stevens. She’s better than Nixon’s snarling, I am not a crook.

  30. CitizenE says:

    But the secret of both these people is they put money in their constituents pockets. What’s not to like? The goldrush of Alaska: the rest of the earmarked American taxpayers, and the American gas buyers at the pump. North to Alaska, subsidized rugged individualism.

Comments are closed.