Analysis: Verdict helps Democrat Senate-seekers {Stevens Guilty Verdict }

AP via SFGate ^ | 10/27/8 | DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent

[SmithL]

Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens' conviction Monday on corruption charges gives Democrats a late boost in an improbable drive to win the 60-vote Senate supermajority they want as they look ahead to the new Congress.

Until the jury rendered its verdict, Stevens had been in a close race with his opponent, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, in a state that hasn't sent a Democrat to the Senate in a generation.

Now Begich becomes the favorite as Republicans walk away from the 84-year-old Senate veteran and Democrats and their political allies waste no time trumpeting his conviction.

"Alaskans deserve better than a convicted criminal for a Senator," said Democracy for America in a fundraising appeal e-mailed less than an hour after Stevens was found guilty. It praised Begich as "a leader that will fight for the people instead of using his power for personal gain."

With 51 seats currently under their control, including two occupied by independents, Democrats are overwhelmingly favored to pick up GOP-held seats in Virginia, New Mexico and Colorado where Republicans are retiring.

No Democratic-held seats appear in jeopardy.

[SmithL]

The AssPress in their role as DNC Propaganda Merchants.

[nhwingut]

I don’t recall this “analysis” from AP when Mahoney was bagged last month. Hmmm...

[Apercu]

Meanwhile....Reid,Dodd,Pelosi,Jefferson,Frank and comrades
skate.

[OneWingedShark]

>Meanwhile....Reid,Dodd,Pelosi,Jefferson,Frank and comrades

Oh, how I would love to see them faced with charges of corruption that stick.

[MeanWestTexan]

They presumably wrote the story this way:

Stevens [acquittal/conviction] helped the Democrats . . .

[MileHi]

I question the timing of this...

[mewzilla]

One down, 534 to go.

Next...

Senator Hides His Sweet Deals When Will He Release Records?

[dr_who]

How surprising! Not really.

[billhilly]

Look, no matter what, if our guys are crooks they should be treated like crooks. The others should be also, but we are adults and we know how the deck is stacked against us. That doesn’t make Stevens less reprehensible. It just makes us more vulnerable politically.

[areukiddingme1]

Oh, the article was about Stevens -- I thought it was about Jefferson; On June 4, 2007 Jefferson was indicted on 16 charges of corruption by a federal grand jury. On June 8, 2007, Jefferson pled not guilty to the charges. After the hearing, Jefferson said, "I am absolutely innocent of the charges that have been leveled against me. I'm going to fight my heart out to clear my name." He further explained, "The $90,000 was the FBI's money. The FBI gave it to me as part of its plan — part of their plan — that I would give it to the Nigerian vice president, but I did not do that. When all the facts are understood, I trust that I will be vindicated." Oh, and the Dems re-elected him...hhhhhuuuummmmm.

[MileHi]

Amigo, I was parroting the tired dem line.

I bet this gets big play the next few days. Bam-Bams qualification to run...

{{{{ crickets }}}}

[Blood of Tyrants]

I think that having Sarah on the ticket will boost the voter turnout in Alaska and keep Stevens in. After which he will be very heavily leaned upon to retire and allow Sarah to replace him.

[Oldexpat]

Osbama got the same kind of home improvement from Rezko.
Stevens screwed the party and the country. He deserves to go down and Osbama also.

[spinestein]

I seem to recall the junior Senator from New York also illegally failed to disclose hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions. I wonder when her trial starts.

[kittymyrib]

When is the Justice Dept. going to look into BO’s Rezco house deal? That was worth $300K, much more than Steven’s paltry deal. I guess only White GOP politicians can be charged by our toothless government.

[ought-six]

Gee, the Dims had no problem with convicted criminals when they eagerly supported Alcee Hastings.

[MilspecRob]

Stevens asked for the accelerated trial

[MileHi]

OK

[Nextrush]

I would vote for Stevens if I live in Alaska but my assumption in voting for him is that he will be forced eventually to resign and Governor Palin or Lt. Gov Parnell as the new governor will appoint a Republican replacement.

If Stevens loses and Begich wins the seat is lost to the Democrats.

[pasquale]

The sob should have pulled himself out of the race months ago so another Republican could take the seat. But he put himself above the good of the party. That said, let’s hope you’re right and he wins, then gives up his seat and lets Palin appoint a replacement.