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RIP Ted Stevens
Author: BobR    Date: 08/11/2010 12:34:33

We heard the news yesterday that former Alaska senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) was killed in a plane crash in his home state. Like most career politicians, he was loved and hated and everything in between. Unlike some, however, his career had extremes in both directions.

Most people in America weren't really aware of Ted Stevens until he became infamous. First, was the Bridge To Nowhere, a project involving a bridge that would connect a small island to the mainland and eliminate the need for a ferry. It became the name and face of pork-barrel spending. It even became an issue in Sarah Palin's campaign (she was against it, but took the money anyway). One thing Ted Stevens was good at (and why he kept getting re-elected) was bringing federal money home to Alaska.

It was his indictment, trial, and conviction of charges relating to accepting inappropriate gifts (and lying about them) in 2008 that propelled Ted Stevens into an uncomfortable spotlight. It likely helped Democrats during an election year paint Republicans as corrupt. He refused to resign and claimed innocence. Nonetheless, it was enough that his Democratic challenger Mark Begich (D-AK) beat him in the general election, and Stevens was out. Early the next year (2009), information was found that evidence beneficial to Stevens had been suppressed by the FBI, and Stevens' conviction was thrown out.

What's often left out of the discussions about Stevens is that he was instrumental in Alaska becoming a state. Working for the Eisenhower administration, he worked closely with both houses of Congress to get the necessary bills created and voted on. He returned to Alaska and became a Rep in the State House in 1964. From there, he became a US Senator in 1968, and remained one until 2009. In that capacity, he used the skills learned from lobbying for Alaska statehood to bring spending projects to his home state. He is considered something of a hero (albeit flawed) in Alaska, and for good reason.

While all politicians have a certain sleaze factor, Stevens had it a bit more than others. As a Republican, his ideas were mostly alien to me. However, his conviction was based on an incomplete set of evidence; whether he would have been convicted with all of the evidence out there will never be known. He was a pig slurping at the pork barrel, but he was doing what he felt was best for his state, which - ultimately - is the main part of a Congress person's job.

So RIP Ted Stevens, join your wife in whatever resides on the Other Side. Hopefully those of us remaining on this planet earth will learn from your successes and mistakes to become good "stewards" of this country and planet.

 

19 comments (Latest Comment: 08/12/2010 03:22:38 by Raine)
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