# Is Ted Stevens toast? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 21, 2008, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851 "2008-10-21T03:17:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/221 "2008-11-16T19:06:27Z")
Oh, I LIKE tubes. You get more protection from the wind. If ballots were delivered by tubes rather than bridges, there would be fewer delivered to Nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/222 "2008-11-16T21:31:55Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Oh, I LIKE tubes. You get more protection from the wind. > > If ballots were delivered by tubes rather than bridges, there would be fewer delivered to Nowhere. Yes, but then you’d run the risk of the tubes being clogged. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/223 "2008-11-16T21:43:16Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Yes, but then you’d run the risk of the tubes being clogged. Normally I’d say Ted Stevens is a big enough blowhard to keep the tubes cleared, but he is gettin’ a bit old. Nasty as ever, but not with the wind he used to have. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/224 "2008-11-18T18:53:48Z")
So by the end of today we’ll know who the presumptive winner is. Pray to whatever deity you choose. I say “presumptive”, because there could be a recount, which would extend the misery to December 1. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/225 "2008-11-18T19:07:40Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > So by the end of today we’ll know who the presumptive winner is. Pray to whatever deity you choose. I say “presumptive”, because there could be a recount, which would extend the misery to December 1. Have they put out any more interim numbers? I’ll bet you there will be a recount. Stevens certainly won’t accept a loss, and if i were the other guy, I wouldn’t either. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/226 "2008-11-18T19:16:50Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Canada has laws too, I bet. Just as big and remote as Alaska’s. Well, yes: there’s the territory of Nunavut, with 30,000 people living in a space the size of Western Europe, first formed as a territory in 1999. Two-thirds of them live in about half a dozen communities. I don’t know about their election returns, but even in Canada, that’s hardly enough people to decisively turn an election. It hasn’t been until … well, ever … that Alaska’s election results have been of any consequence, and I suspect Nunavut is similarly obscure in the wider scope of Canadian politics. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/227 "2008-11-18T19:37:32Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Have they put out any more interim numbers? > > I’ll bet you there will be a recount. Stevens certainly won’t accept a loss, and if i were the other guy, I wouldn’t either. Hell, they probably haven’t finished their coffee and bagels yet. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/228 "2008-11-18T19:39:00Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > So by the end of today we’ll know who the presumptive winner is. Pray to whatever deity you choose. I say “presumptive”, because there could be a recount, which would extend the misery to December 1. Isn’t the end of today in Alaska close to tomorrow morning? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/229 "2008-11-18T19:53:34Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Have they put out any more interim numbers? Not yet. Check [here](http://www.elections.alaska.gov/08general/data/results.htm) for updates. To save you the trouble of scrolling down before there’s any point, note the ‘300113’ in the ‘Times Counted’ line under the “US President” heading. Once that changes, the Senate numbers will change too. Based on the timing from last week, I’d be surprised if we heard anything before 7pm Eastern time, and it might be a couple hours later. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/230 "2008-11-18T22:56:29Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > So by the end of today we’ll know who the presumptive winner is. Pray to whatever deity you choose. I say “presumptive”, because there could be a recount, which would extend the misery to December 1. And according to the local rag, “Uncle Ted” turns 88 today. Happy barfday, Ted! Many happy returns — to private life. (For the record, I’ve lighted a highway flare to Og on Begich’s behalf. Last time I looked, most of the remaining returns were from Anchorage and Juneau, which bodes well.) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/231 "2008-11-18T23:31:39Z")
Flash! Begich now up by 2374 votes! ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/232 "2008-11-18T23:36:02Z")
It is so close that they are headed for a recount. The internet said the trailer has to pay for it. So Stevens will have to pony up. Then we will have to wait for sometime in June for these speed demons to get it done. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/233 "2008-11-18T23:37:47Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > It is so close that they are headed for a recount. The internet said the trailer has to pay for it. So Stevens will have to pony up. Then we will have to wait for sometime in June for these speed demons to get it done. First week of December, if there’s a recount. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2008, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/234 "2008-11-18T23:58:45Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > It is so close that they are headed for a recount. The internet said the trailer has to pay for it. So Stevens will have to pony up. Then we will have to wait for sometime in June for these speed demons to get it done. Actually, Begich is currently up by over 0.5%, which, if it stays that way, means no recount. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/235 "2008-11-19T00:32:15Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > Actually, Begich is currently up by over 0.5%, which, if it stays that way, means no recount. No _automatic_ recount. I think voters can still ask for one. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/236 "2008-11-19T00:50:54Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > No _automatic_ recount. I think voters can still ask for one. But why does it take so long to get the results in the first place? kidding:) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/237 "2008-11-19T01:34:38Z")
It’s at 3724!! Yeehaw! Of course, there are still those absentee ballots counted tomorrow… ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/238 "2008-11-19T01:36:20Z")
Nate Silver says Begich has [won](http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/11/begich-will-be-alaskas-first-us-senate.html). As far as I’m concerned, that settles it. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/239 "2008-11-19T01:48:47Z")
AP calls it for Begich. They say he’s ahead by more than there are votes to count. If Stevens wants a recount, he’ll have to pay for it himself. He should do that, win and then have the Senate expell him. Then we can have Sen. Palin. And I will be entertained for 6 more years. If that should happen, you have my condolences, Chef. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2008, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/240 "2008-11-19T01:50:24Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > Nate Silver says Begich has [won](http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/11/begich-will-be-alaskas-first-us-senate.html). As far as I’m concerned, that settles it. Yeah, there aren’t enough leftovers to catch him at this point. Buh-bye Ted, you old warhorse. Too bad you had to go out on such a sour note, instead of as the hero you once were. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851.md?page=13)