BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon

Subject: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Riginslinger
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 12:22 PM

The Feds are in the pursuit of a course to drop the charges against Ted Stevens. It looks like the whole thing was politically motivated, just like Stevens said it was. The prosecustion withheld evidence.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090401/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/stevens_justice_14

          What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon in the Senate?

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 12:52 PM

It should be pointed out that it was the Bush Justice Department that prosecuted the case, and the Obama Justice Department that dropped it.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 12:56 PM

How would they be different from the rest of us?

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 12:56 PM

Link

John

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Big Mick
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 01:13 PM

Two important distinctions.

The Dem's used the jury's verdict because they thought it legit.

As Carol pointed out, it was Obama's AG that was called a "pillar of integrity" in this, and correcting the situation.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 01:19 PM

Rig, Mark Begich is no buffoon. He is a well-known, well-vetted politician. His history is open, and goes way back; his father was Congressman Nick Begich whose plane, along with Hale Boggs, was lost in the Alaska wilderness and has never been found.

(Besides, his brother Tom is a folk singer.)

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: DougR
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 01:26 PM

Ted Stevens is a Republican. Based on evidence presented at the time, the Bush justice department would have been crucified if they HAD NOT prosecuted Stevens.

This current situation is not a question of guilt. It's a question about why the prosecution withheld information from the defense attorneys.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 01:29 PM

Why the Bush Justice Department prosecution withheld information from the defense attorneys.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Riginslinger
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 01:37 PM

And why would they? And should they be prosecuted?



      "(Besides, his brother Tom is a folk singer.)"


          Well, I guess it's all right then!

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: robomatic
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 04:15 PM

I remember one juror's post verdict comment that Ted testifying for himself was the most damning witness presented.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Riginslinger
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 05:02 PM

Probably why he wanted the jury to come from Alaska and not DC.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 05:46 PM

Ted Stevens is a Republican. Based on evidence presented at the time, the Bush justice department would have been crucified if they HAD NOT prosecuted Stevens.

Being an occasional conspiracy-suspector (especially in regard to the Bush administration), I tend to think that they had to prosecute him, as you say, but then they fouled the process up on purpose, so that eventually he'd have to be let off.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Riginslinger
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 06:08 PM

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm?

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Genie
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 06:22 PM

Didn't Mark Begich lose the Alaska Governor's race to Sarah Palin by only a very small margin, too?
He might possibly have defeated Stevens even without 'toilet gate.'

Still, I thought all along that he should not have been prosecuted for trying to proposition another adult (for consensual, non-commercial sex), even if was clear that that was what he was trying to do. It was great fodder for the comics, and it kind of did make him look like a bit of a hypocrite, but as far as I know, that's not against the law.

Glad Holder is trying to undo the injustice as much as is possible.

Too bad he can't similarly remediate the miscarriage of justice in the case of Don Sigelman in Alabama.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 11:06 PM

Genie, to the best of my recollection, Mark Begich has never run for Governor.

"Still, I thought all along that he should not have been prosecuted for trying to proposition another adult (for consensual, non-commercial sex), even if was clear that that was what he was trying to do. It was great fodder for the comics, and it kind of did make him look like a bit of a hypocrite, but as far as I know, that's not against the law."

Genie, who are you talking about? Not Mark Begich, surely.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Genie
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 12:28 AM

I thought he had, Ebbie. Run for governor, that is. I coulda sworn during the 2008 election campaigns, when Begich was running for Senator, that the news reported that he had come close to beating Palin for Governor. Do I have him mixed up with another Alaska Democrat?

But the people I really was mixing up were Ted Stevens and Larry Craig.
Now I can't remember what it was that Stevens was convicted of.

I still wish the current Justice Dept. could undo the horrible wrongs that were done to Don Sigelman - but that was a state prosecution, so I'm not sure they can do much.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 01:18 AM

Palin defeated Republicans Fairbanks businessman John Binkley and Gov. Frank Murkowski to become the Republican nominee. Neither of them has been involved in a scandal, as such. Murkowski, however, had a 19% approval rating. We didn't like the man. Binkley had run for governor before and never drummed up much interest.

Democrats former Alaska governor Tony Knowles and Congressman Eric Croft ran against Palin in the gubernatorial race in 2006. Neither of them has ever been involved in a scandal.

This year Eric Croft is running for Anchorage mayor, the seat that Mark Begich vacated when he replaced Ted Stevens and which is being held by an Acting Mayor. I suspect that he will win it; Croft has made a pretty good name for himself.

Ted Stevens would be hard to mistake for Idaho governor Larry Craig; Stevens is 84 years old, for one thing. lol

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 01:19 AM

By the way, Riginslinger, I'd be interested in why you thought of 'buffoon' in this connection?

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Greg F.
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 08:02 AM

the Bush justice department would have been crucified if they HAD NOT prosecuted Stevens.

Now, there you go again, Douggie - trying to make chicken soup out of chicken shit.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Riginslinger
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 08:09 AM

"By the way, Riginslinger, I'd be interested in why you thought of 'buffoon' in this connection?"


             Well, I knew he was a Democrat, and I've seen what the Dems have been doing at the national level since the election, so I just thought, you know...

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 10:14 AM

Frankly, my dear, you didn't think. :)

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Riginslinger
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 10:18 AM

Well, at least I didn't announce that Alasks "did" end up with a buffoon...

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 10:43 AM

Hmmmmm. That's an improvement.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: robomatic
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 10:55 AM

I think if one examines our Governor in light of her candidacy for Rep Veep and her current eye on future national participation in politics, the thread title is almost appropriate, even if Rig done up with it.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: kendall
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 12:39 PM

Washington DC where the only industry is destroying others.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Riginslinger
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 12:50 PM

Maybe not the only industry. I think some of them folks is perfectly capable of destroying themselves too. Foot in Mouth is pretty common back there.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 01:15 PM

Not you and me, of course.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Riginslinger
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 02:29 PM

Of course!

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Genie
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 02:04 AM

Ebbie, Tony Knowles is the one I was thinking of that I got confused with Mark Begich. Thanks for clearing that up.

Genie

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Riginslinger
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 10:31 AM

It looks like the Republicans are asking Begich to resign, what the seem to determine is his illgotten seat.


http://aprn.org/2009/04/02/republicans-call-for-begich-to-resign/

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 11:08 AM

Which is ridiculous. Begich was campaigning for the Senate seat before Stevens got in trouble.

What they - and others - seem to forget is that Stevens has not been adjudged innocent of the various charges; it is only established that the prosecution was flawed. Which is deplorable.

There are lots of stories about Ted Stevens.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 11:33 AM

I like this straight forward response to Governor Palin's suggestion :

Democratic Party Chairwoman Patti Higgins said a special election was unwarranted.

"Ted Stevens was convicted on seven felony charges of accepting gifts that he then never reported, as required by law. The fact that the Obama administration has decided to not pursue a case that the Bush administration lawyers handled in a faulty manner does not take away the fact that Ted Stevens broke laws," she said.

Governor calls for Begich Resignation

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Riginslinger
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 12:07 PM

Does that mean if Begich resigns, Alaska will end up without a buffoon?

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 12:57 PM

Are you thinking of a bassoon, Rig?

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Riginslinger
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 02:47 PM

If Alaska ended up with a bassoon, how would that solve the problem?

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 04:03 PM

It's more tuneful.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Riginslinger
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 04:13 PM

I see!

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Genie
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 05:02 PM

Or maybe they'll just end up with a baboon?   Playing the bassoon?


Ebbie's right. The fact that someone gets off because of prosecutorial misconduct does not mean the person was innocent, just that due process was not afforded him or her.

Sad to say, there are many cases of people getting away with serious violations of both law and ethics simply because an attorney or the police or a judge also broke the law with regard to their case.

Heck, we well may have some real terrorists set loose because the Bush Justice Department obtained evidence via illegal (not to mention unethical) means.

Anyway, Alaska already has a buffoon.   She thinks the fact that parts of Siberia are close to parts of Alaska makes her status as Alaska's governor count as substantial foreign policy experience -- because when Vladimir Putin "rears his head and enters American air space" it will have to be Alaskan air space. Like he would never dream of flying from Moscow to Washington DC or Miama over Europe and the Atlantic Ocean.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 05:36 PM

To my mind, a female buffoon is even worse than a male one. Perhaps I expect better of women. :)

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: artbrooks
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 06:40 PM

Do female buffoons also have bright red private parts? Or is that baboons? Or bassoons?

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 07:10 PM

Ted Stevens would be hard to mistake for Idaho governor Larry Craig; Stevens is 84 years old, for one thing. lol

Some of you need to Google these folks before you post. First you had Craig mixed with Begich and/or Stevens, and now you have him mixed up with C.L. "Butch" Otter. Governor of Idaho. I didn't know who was governor, but I knew it wasn't Craig.

Larry Craig was a Republican U.S. Senator from Idaho. He resigned his seat, then he un-resigned and finished his term, after the scandal in Minnesota. He didn't run for re-election last year.

They commented, with a chuckle, on the NPR Diane Rehm Show this morning that Sarah Palin had asked Begich to step down, citing the loss of Stevens' seat due to bad publicity of the trial. Rehm asked her weekly news roundup guests what they thought of those chances. The answer, with a guffaw, was "If you're asking what's the percent chance, 1 to 100, that he'll step down, I'd say it is a minus 50."

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Genie
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 09:06 PM

Art, that would be MANdrills you're thinking of. (Not to be confused with WOMANdrills?) ; D

Stilly, methinks you've similarly gotten some Mudcatters mixed up with each other. I mixed up Stevens with Craig (not because I didn't know the difference but because I wasn't paying that much attention to the news story). I know very well which one is which.   I also mixed up Begich with Knowles, because I actually had, in my memory, conflated two different Alaska stories (but I recognized Knowles's name and identity when Ebbie mentioned it). Someone else mixed up one of those guys with Butch Otter.   


Sometimes some of us do make mistakes, but someone's always quick to point out the error here at Mudcat. As for googling everything before you post, heck, this is just a BS thread on a message board, not a newsroom or a textbook.    :x

Genie

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: GUEST,heric
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 09:23 PM

So Begich was never in the bathroom with Otter?

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 09:34 PM

lol

So many choices.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 09:36 PM

Well, if Stevens is a complete buffoon, I'm sure he'll be in line for an Obama appointment to a cabinet position. Maybe he's being groomed!

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 09:44 PM

As is quite common, I've noticed, you haven't understood the discussion. No one has called Ted Stevens a buffoon. Except you, even though you may never have heard of the man before. Nice going.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 10:49 PM

"The Feds are in the pursuit of a course to drop the charges against Ted Stevens. It looks like the whole thing was politically motivated, just like Stevens said it was. The prosecustion withheld evidence.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090401/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/stevens_justice_14

          What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon in the Senate? "

Huh?

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Apr 09 - 11:38 PM

That was a collective "you," as in "you all," or the Texan "Y'all," but if the shoe fits. I detected both errors in your posts. I didn't ask what you'd been smoking, and I removed the name and substituted the general "you" to remove what might be perceived as an accusatory tone. Seems it hit a mark anyway. Oh, well.

;-D

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 08:20 AM

Jeez! I needed a proof reader when I was writing the script...but not a nit picker.

Subject: RE: BS: What if Alaska ends up with a buffoon
From: Greg F.
Date: 04 Apr 09 - 11:27 AM

ENDS UP with a buffoon?

They'ge got Palin.

Or, did you mean ANOTHER buffoon?