Reply #13: Sen. Stevens has a huge amount of seniority

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

Even though he's a convicted felon, there's nothing the Senate can do to kick him out. Plus he's going to get a full retirement when he leaves.

From the Alaskan point of view (I only lived there a few years, but I know they are NOT crazy), with all his seniority Ted Stevens has been a senator who has brought a huge amount of money into the state -- a hundredfold the amount of taxes Alaskans pay to the Federal government. And even though his party is now the minority party in the senate, we didn't get a super-majority, so the Republicans are in a good position to make demands if the Dems want to accomplish anything in the next few years. If they vote Stevens out, Alaska ends up with two senators who have very little seniority, and hence no power to bring home the bacon.

Alaskans are independent and very practical. They will do what is right for them and as far as those of us who live Outside (they don't call it the "Lower 48"), "f*ck'em."