# Ted Stevens found Guilty **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 27, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834 "2008-10-27T20:15:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bonitahi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7993a0/32.png) [@bonitahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonitahi)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/21 "2008-10-27T21:53:39Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > No, she can’t appoint anyone. There has to be a special election. Could she appoint herself Temporary-senator, until she wins the special election process? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/22 "2008-10-27T23:15:04Z")
> [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](#): > > Can Stevens vote in this election now that he is a convicted fellon? that is a good question. it doesn’t seem he would do an absentee ballot. being seen voting on election day is key for elected (or ones who want to be elected) officials. ---
**Author:** ![bonitahi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7993a0/32.png) [@bonitahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonitahi)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/23 "2008-10-27T23:20:30Z")
Is Sarah Palin still going to vote for him? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/24 "2008-10-27T23:56:50Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Not if she’s VP at the time. But the new Senate convenes Jan 3. Let’s say on Jan 10 Stevens is expelled, and the Palin appoints a replacement. Then on Jan 20, she resigns her office to become VP? That would work, right? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/25 "2008-10-28T01:05:16Z")
With the evidence against Stevens, this shouldn’t surprise anyone (why yes, I was just storing this chair for a buddy, even though sent a thank you note for it). But I would not be shocked if this conviction gets overturned on appeal. Although I didn’t pay too close attention, there were a few things I heard about that gave me pause. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/26 "2008-10-28T01:38:39Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > But the new Senate convenes Jan 3. Let’s say on Jan 10 Stevens is expelled, and the Palin appoints a replacement. > > Then on Jan 20, she resigns her office to become VP? That would work, right? Alaska requires a special election - not governor appointment (source: NPR earlier today … and **Captain Carrot**!) ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/27 "2008-10-28T02:01:06Z")
Ironically, I first learned of this on the internet, which, as I understand it, is a series of tubes. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/28 "2008-10-28T02:24:05Z")
Does anyone seriously believe that Bush will not pardon Stevens before Bush leaves office? ---
**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, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/29 "2008-10-28T02:29:43Z")
Does anyone else think that having a convicted felon running for the senate might hurt the GOP’s electoral chances nationwide? What will McCain say when asked about this? ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/30 "2008-10-28T02:31:41Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > Definitely. He had a slight gap as it was, and this is going to kill any chance of a comeback, especially with only a week left. But he has a strong right hook. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/31 "2008-10-28T10:14:22Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > But I would not be shocked if this conviction gets overturned on appeal. Although I didn’t pay too close attention, there were a few things I heard about that gave me pause. I was close to the point of wondering if the prosecution was tanking on purpose. I agree, Stevens has a good chance on appeal. ---
**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, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/32 "2008-10-28T12:45:58Z")
> [@TV\_time](#): > > Does anyone seriously believe that Bush will not pardon Stevens before Bush leaves office? My understanding is that the sentencing hearing is not until February. That doesn’t mean whoever becomes president couldn’t commute the sentence. As mentioned, the legislature closed the loophole in state law that allowed appointment of a senator. This was after the Murkowski debacle, with him appointing his own daughter to take his seat in the Senate after he stepped down to take the governor’s job. It was too much even for Republicans to stomach. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/33 "2008-10-28T12:51:46Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > My understanding is that the sentencing hearing is not until February. IIRC, he may be able to be pardoned before sentencing – Dick Nixon got pardoned before being even charged with anything. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/34 "2008-10-28T16:18:04Z")
McCain says Stevens should resign his seat. Palin was more guarded but talked about the corrupting influence of big oil and the need for reforms. I thought that was interesting, since she seems to be considering the political climate of her home state. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/35 "2008-10-28T16:25:27Z")
> [@](#): > > With Stevens now a convicted felon, Rep. Don Young (R-AK) under investigation for corruption, and Gov. Sarah Palin guilty of ethics violations in the troopergate case according to a report issue to a special investigator, people are going to start getting the impression that something is rotten in the state of Denmark–er, make that the state of Alaska. Source: [http://www.electoral-vote.com/](http://www.electoral-vote.com/) I wouldn’t bet the farm that Stevens will go down in defeat next Tuesday. Alaskans appear to prefer their politicians smell as bad as the fish from an overdue trawler. Or a substantial number of voters suffer from frostbite or numbness to their noses. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/36 "2008-10-28T16:35:25Z")
Is Stevens even eligible for reelection now that he’s a convicted felon?😕 If he manages to get reelected could the Senate simply refuse to allow him to take his seat? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/37 "2008-10-28T16:38:20Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Is Stevens even eligible for reelection now that he’s a convicted felon?😕 Yes. > [@](#): > > If he manages to get reelected could the Senate simply refuse to allow him to take his seat? No, but they can expel him. ---
**Author:** ![Burton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Burton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burton)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/38 "2008-10-28T17:29:51Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Source: [http://www.electoral-vote.com/](http://www.electoral-vote.com/) > > I wouldn’t bet the farm that Stevens will go down in defeat next Tuesday. Alaskans appear to prefer their politicians smell as bad as the fish from an overdue trawler. Or a substantial number of voters suffer from frostbite or numbness to their noses. Several Alaska state legislators have already been busted. Apparently Veco went up there just started throwing money at everyone to see where it’d stick. Steven’s son is under investigation too. Oil is just like the the drug cartels. They have so much money and they say everyone has a price. Plus these guys were chumps they put themselves at great hazard for very little. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/39 "2008-10-28T17:50:16Z")
Hmm. New York Times includes this paragraph… > **[Alaska Senator Is Guilty Over His Failures to Disclose Gifts (Published 2008)](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/washington/28stevens.html?_r=1&oref=slogin)** > > Calling the verdict “unjust,” Ted Stevens, the Senate’s longest-serving Republican, asked voters to re-elect him. “In addition to his expected appeal, his supporters are also likely to explore the possibility of obtaining a pardon, or some form of executive clemency like a commutation of any sentence, from President Bush, a fellow Republican, before he leaves office.” I wonder if the airport in Anchorage will keep its name. We have a boatload of local politicians under FBI investigation here in El Paso. One guy had his name removed from a school. And they haven’t even gone to trial yet. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834/40 "2008-10-28T17:58:24Z")
I wonder if GOPs up for seats can be asked to on record now as to whether or not they’d vote for or against his dismissal from the Senate if he wins. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-stevens-found-guilty/469834.md?page=3)