Push for Alaska senator to resign (Gov Heineman R-Ne) is unheeded

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2835&u_sid=10487825

Published Saturday November 15, 2008
Push for Alaska senator to resign is unheeded
BY ROBYNN TYSVER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Gov. Dave Heineman put his fellow GOP governors on the spot this week, urging them to take a stand against party corruption by turning against one of their own.

The Nebraska governor asked his fellow governors at a meeting in Miami to publicly urge U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska to immediately resign.

No one took Heineman up on his challenge.

Stevens was convicted of felony corruption charges last month. His re-election effort remains up in the air, as he and Democrat Mark Begich are locked in a tight contest with thousands of ballots left to count.

"I knew everybody was going to be a little uncomfortable. But the fact of the matter is, we ought to be a party that stands up against corruption," Heineman said in a telephone interview from Miami, where the Republican Governors Association was meeting.

"And I said we should call for Ted Stevens to resign. He should resign today."


FULL story at link.

[davidinalameda]

1. that's the difference between Democrats and Republicans

we never pass up the chance to eat our own, corrupt or not

Republicans protect their own no matter what, corrupt or not

[BrklynLiberal]

2. His is a voice in the wilderness....

[jaysunb]

3. Resignation won't be necessary

The ballot box will take care of that next week. :)

[Blue_In_AK]

4. I don't know why Ted's bothering to appeal to his fellow senators

for leniency. He honestly thinks he needs to be there in Washington while his case is on appeal, and he's seeking support. Why? He's going to lose this election anyway. He should just resign with whatever dignity he has left and deal with his legal issues. Even if he gets his conviction reversed on a technicality, I think we all heard enough on those tapes to know that he knew he was operating in a "gray" area.

He's been in the Senate sinc 1968. Sen. Stevens did a lot to benefit the new state of Alaska in his early years, no doubt, and he was responsive to all of his constituents, not just the rich ones, but at some point along the way he lost his moral compass. It's kind of sad, really.

What does he care what happens between now and January? His presence in the Senate wouldn't really benefit Alaskans; it would only reflect poorly on us. I think we the people of this stat can manage for a couple of months with only one senator.