# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/61 "2008-10-28T00:55:13Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > Are you seriously saying his conviction could actually _help_?! Man, Alaska sure is fucked-up, isn’t it? No. Categorically no. People from The Outside really have no idea what Alaska is like, or Alaskans. They think they can apply their experiences and methods from wherever they are from, and they _just won’t work_ in the Icebox. Things are different there. Sometimes very, very different. How many of you have ever had to eat boat eggs? How many of you have ever lived where freaking every manufactured item has to be shipped in, with the added increase in cost? Hawaii can relate, but they live in Paradise, so fuck them. Alaska is _not_ what anybody in the Lower 48 think. Period. They do things differently there. Marvelous people, stunning country. But don’t try to understand them unless you have lived there. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/62 "2008-10-28T01:09:46Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Marvelous people, stunning country. But don’t try to understand them unless you have lived there. Gawrsh, if only a guy from Alaska was participating in the thread. Ah well, guess we just need to close the thread. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/63 "2008-10-28T01:14:02Z")
You have a problem, **Merijeek**? Why should **Chefguy** have to waste his time answering every question about Alaska? There are more than a few of us around here who have lived there and know whereof we speak. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/64 "2008-10-28T01:16:14Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > How many of you have ever had to eat boat eggs? I have, and it was _torture_. All that yolk, splattered everwhere… the soggy _toast_… Christ, I’m going to be _sick_… ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/65 "2008-10-28T01:31:48Z")
Quick question: He got 7 counts of guilty. Seven of them are felonies doesn’t that prevent him from running for office? Seven felonies sure prevents anyone from voting for anyone in office. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/66 "2008-10-28T01:32:11Z")
He is guilty. And the prosecution has committed serious misconduct. If the judge does not overturn the decision (not likely) the Court of Appeal will, and then new trial, which Stevens will again lose, with or without new witnesses. This isn’t a mistaken letting an interested contractor pick up a Subway tab, it is a case with lots of ugly evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/67 "2008-10-28T01:34:56Z")
Yeah, but does a felony prevent him from even being eligible for reelection? ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/68 "2008-10-28T01:38:15Z")
Sure he can be elected, he just can’t vote for himself. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/69 "2008-10-28T01:49:11Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > Sure he can be elected, he just can’t vote for himself. Unreal. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/70 "2008-10-28T01:59:09Z")
Note that the Senate could vote to expel him by 2/3 vote (as **gonzomax** noted) even if he does get elected. [Article I section 5.](http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Expulsion_Censure.htm) ---
**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:** [October 28, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/71 "2008-10-28T02:06:35Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > You have a problem, **Merijeek**? Why should **Chefguy** have to waste his time answering every question about Alaska? There are more than a few of us around here who have lived there and know whereof we speak. It is indeed unique here. I haven’t said that before, because people tend to take it the wrong way. Every time you think you can categorize the people here, they do something completely unexpected. In another thread, I just saw where [Politico.com](http://Politico.com) is now calling Alaska as _leaning McCain_! This just leaves my jaw swinging in the breeze. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/72 "2008-10-28T02:43:44Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > Note that the Senate could vote to expel him by 2/3 vote (as **gonzomax** noted) even if he does get elected. [Article I section 5.](http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Expulsion_Censure.htm) But will they? I thought he was pretty popular in the Senate. It certainly seems possible that he’ll get re-elected. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/73 "2008-10-28T03:11:00Z")
Well, assuming that the Democrats retain control of the Senate, they could start expulsion proceedings. They win either way. If they knock him out, they have a shot at gaining a seat. If they don’t, they can use it as part of an anti-corruption talking point in 2010 for any Republicans who prevent them from booting him out. Sure, there are probably Senators on both sides of the aisle who like him. Maybe they even think he got a raw deal in his trial. But if you want a friend in Washington, buy a dog. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/74 "2008-10-28T03:33:22Z")
> [@CaveMike](#): > > But will they? They will if they want to be reelected themselves. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/75 "2008-10-28T03:47:02Z")
Figures the most Republican state in the country is the one with the closest thing to actual universal welfare… ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/76 "2008-10-28T03:49:39Z")
[QUOTE=Lobohan] He’s going to be introduced to a “series of tubes” in the prison shower. [/QUOTE] > [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Hey! [Only Sandra Berhard can make rape funny!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=486107) Remember: Rape is _only_ funny when it happens to a man, in prison. (All I know is if I were sent to prison, I’d wind up as the one being raped. Makes it difficult to wish on anyone else. It’s called empathy. Look it up.) ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/77 "2008-10-28T03:56:27Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Remember: Rape is _only_ funny when it happens to a man, in prison. I’m Ned Beatty, and I approve this message! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/78 "2008-10-28T05:15:48Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > There’s a very good chance that he’ll be re-elected anyway. People here are just that ornery and just that stupid, and there’s a healthy dose of rest-of-the-country-go-fuck-yourselves in the bargain. Somebody commented about Palin being tossed out of office. It will never happen, unless she becomes a serial killer. Her approval rating here is still way up there, and will only go up when she returns in defeat. > > Now, I’m not defending Stevens in any way with the following. I’m just telling you all how he’s viewed here. Ted was appointed as Senator all those years ago as a virtual unknown. Since that time, he has dragged Alaska from being a state with little government support into a place that has taken in millions (if not billions) of dollars in earmark spending. Most of that money has been for legitimate projects that have improved the infrastructure and quality of life for Alaska residents. A fairly goodly amount has also been pure pork. They love Stevens for bringing them earmarks; and they love Palin, who has promised to end earmarks? You’re right, I don’t understand that. And I’m not sure I want to. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/79 "2008-10-28T05:23:57Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > If they knock him out, they have a shot at gaining a seat. How do you figure? Ya think Palin might appoint a Democrat to finish his term? Frankly if he wins re-election I hope the Dems don’t try to expel him. Even a convicted crook in the pocket of big business has to be better than anyone Palin would appoint. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851/80 "2008-10-28T05:28:02Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > They will if they want to be reelected themselves. Do you really think so? Isn’t it just a matter of 34 Senators not showing up for the vote? And if so, would their constituents remember that come re-election time and vote them out for that issue alone? I guess I would expect them to expel him, but the cynic in me could see it getting ignored. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ted-stevens-toast/468851.md?page=5)