Even Stevens

David Weigel | September 25, 2007

Last week we learned that crooked businessman Bill Allen had participated in a sting on possibly-crooked Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).

The recorded calls between Stevens and businessman Bill Allen were confirmed by two people close to the case who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is still under way. They declined to say how many calls were recorded or what was said.

Allen, a wealthy businessman and Stevens' political patron, agreed to the taping last year after authorities confronted him with evidence he had bribed Alaska lawmakers. He pleaded guilty to bribery and is a key witness against Alaska legislators. He also has told prosecutors he paid his employees to renovate the senator's house.

We already knew that Allen had bribed Stevens' son. Now we're seeing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin scrap efforts to build the "bridge to nowhere" that Stevens tried to earmark the funding for. And the Club for Growth brings home a poll from Alaska:

If the Republican primary election for U.S. Senate was held today, and the candidates were Ted Stevens and Sarah Palin, for whom would you vote?

Stevens - 31.7%
Palin - 56%
Undecided - 12.3%

Do you approve or disapprove of spending $223 million in federal tax money to build a bridge from Ketchikan to Gravina Island, which is sometimes referred to as the “Bridge to Nowhere”?

Approve - 24.7%
Disapprove - 66%
DK/Refused - 9.3%

I doubt the Club could actually edge Palin into the race (she was elected governor ten months ago) but if the knock on them is that try and shove aside semi-popular moderates who bring home pork for less winning anti-spending conservatives, it's less true here. If the scandals sink Stevens, a marmot with an "R" after its name would still win the Senate seat. (I don't know how easy marmots are to bribe, but they've got to be hardier than the Stevens clan.)

Comments

Marmota Broweri-R|9.25.07 @ 9:33AM|#

I hereby announce my intent to run for Senate in our 49th State.

|9.25.07 @ 10:03AM|#

Instead of a marmot, I would prefer to see an Alaskan Brown (aka Kodiak) bear roaming the halls of Congress.

|9.25.07 @ 10:05AM|#

For what purpose does the gentleman rise?

To gnaw through the femur of the honorable gentlewoman from Michigan.

Syloson of Samos|9.25.07 @ 10:05AM|#

Weigel,

I guess you are referring to the sub-species known as the Alaska Marmot. :)

One good thing about marmots is that hibernate, thus they are not available for winter time voting.

|9.25.07 @ 10:09AM|#

Palin would win the entire male vote as well as a small bonus percentage of women who actually like Monty Python.

|9.25.07 @ 10:19AM|#

"The money will now be distributed to other projects. Just what projects remains unknown at this point."

Bicycle trails and statuary, perhaps?

|9.25.07 @ 10:25AM|#

P Brooks,

The importation of loose women.

|9.25.07 @ 10:37AM|#

The importation of loose women.

Ah, bringing a new meaning to the phrase "government pork", I see.

|9.25.07 @ 10:49AM|#

Sarah Palin is a GILF. (Governor I'd Like ...)

|9.25.07 @ 11:06AM|#

de stijl: agreed. She looks like a sexy librarian.

Episiarch|9.25.07 @ 11:13AM|#

Instead of a marmot, I would prefer to see an Alaskan Brown (aka Kodiak) bear roaming the halls of Congress.

As long as he's really, really hungry and the Congressmen have been relieved of their weapons.

brec|9.25.07 @ 11:40AM|#

"... but if the knock on them is that try and shove aside semi-popular moderates who bring home pork for less winning anti-spending conservatives, it's less true here."

Could someone translate that to English for me? Thanks!

|9.25.07 @ 11:45AM|#

Do you approve or disapprove of spending $223 million in federal tax money to build a bridge from Ketchikan to Gravina Island, which is sometimes referred to as the "Bridge to Nowhere"?

Approve - 24.7%
Disapprove - 66%
DK/Refused - 9.3%

Okay, to be fair since only a bit more than 1% of the state's population lives in Ketchikan the dissaproval rating for this question has always been high. Indeed, I suspect that the 24% approval rating has more to do with defending Ted Stevens than actual support for the bridge itself.

|9.25.07 @ 11:45AM|#

...a sting on possibly-crooked Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).

Possibly crooked? Did he say POSSIBLY CROOKED?

|9.25.07 @ 11:48AM|#

As long as he's really, really hungry and the Congressmen have been relieved of their weapons.

And smeared with liverwurst.

|9.25.07 @ 11:49AM|#

Furthermore, I suspect that if you were to ask only the 7400 residents of Ketchikan which they'd prefer, a bridge to the airport or $45,000 cash (the $329mil est cost of the bridge divided equally amongst the residents) I am positive that even local support and need for the bridge is pretty much non-existent.

|9.25.07 @ 11:50AM|#

I welcome our new Congressional Brown Bear delegates.

Stephen the Goldberger|9.25.07 @ 11:54AM|#

i know absolutely nothing about this guy other than his awareness that the internet is not a big truck that you dump things on. But is in actuality, a series of tubes.

|9.25.07 @ 3:31PM|#

I picture some 20-something staffer who got tasked with explaining to Stevens what the internet was.

OK, Senator, think of it this way...

|9.25.07 @ 6:43PM|#

As long as he's really, really hungry and the Congressmen have been relieved of their weapons.

Even if they had their weapons, the bear needn't worry. Dick Cheney is the best shot in the building.