Could she appoint herself Temporary-senator, until she wins the special election process?
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.
Is Sarah Palin still going to vote for him?
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?
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.
Alaska requires a special election - not governor appointment (source: NPR earlier today … and Captain Carrot!)
Ironically, I first learned of this on the internet, which, as I understand it, is a series of tubes.
Does anyone seriously believe that Bush will not pardon Stevens before Bush leaves office?
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?
But he has a strong right hook.
I was close to the point of wondering if the prosecution was tanking on purpose. I agree, Stevens has a good chance on appeal.
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.
IIRC, he may be able to be pardoned before sentencing – Dick Nixon got pardoned before being even charged with anything.
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.
Source: 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.
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?
Yes.
No, but they can expel him.
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.
Hmm. New York Times includes this paragraph…
“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.
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.