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Ted Stevens' fall points to political shift
AP via SFGate ^ | 11/20/8 | MICHAEL R. BLOOD, Associated Press Writer

Posted on 11/20/2008 7:46:52 AM PST by SmithL

Anchorage, Alaska (AP) --

Alaska's incoming senator is bullish on gun rights, wants to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling and believes less government is better. And he's a Democrat.

But "definitely different than a New York Democrat," says Mark Begich. "I'm from Alaska."

Begich, the 46-year-old, two-term Anchorage mayor, will take office in January after narrowly defeating 85-year-old Ted Stevens, the longest serving Republican in the history of the Senate. Part of Stevens' undoing in his bid for a seventh term was his conviction on federal felony charges last month.

With Republican Gov. Sarah Palin and 51-year-old Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Begich represents the face of a shifting political landscape in the nation's northernmost state, and arguably its most misunderstood.

Begich says he's part of a generational break with Stevens and others in the state's political old guard, a theme the 44-year-old Palin, the defeated Republican vice presidential candidate, has often used to define herself.

Begich says his concerns are in large part bipartisan,

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics/Elections; US: Alaska
KEYWORDS: 111th; ak2008; asspressbias; markbegich; tedstevens
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1 posted on 11/20/2008 7:46:53 AM PST by SmithL
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To: SmithL
Ted Stevens' fall points to political shift

Ted Stevens' fall is the result of Ted Stevens' corruption. Nothing more, nothing less.

2 posted on 11/20/2008 7:50:06 AM PST by The_Victor (If all I want is a warm feeling, I should just wet my pants.)
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To: SmithL

Hate to say it but I am glad to see Stevens go. He is definitely not the kind of Republican we need if conservatives want to make a comeback.


3 posted on 11/20/2008 7:50:06 AM PST by pnh102 (Save America - Ban Ethanol Now!)
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To: SmithL

Look Out !! An Alaskan mayor !!


4 posted on 11/20/2008 7:51:00 AM PST by stevecmd
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To: stevecmd

Looks like, although a democrat; Alaska still has commomn sense.


5 posted on 11/20/2008 7:52:00 AM PST by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote.)
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To: SmithL

The more conservative Democrats in Congress — the better. There will be fighting, no matter how disciplined. And these new conservative Dems will have to either buck their party or go on the record voting for some pretty liberal stuff.

I look forward to this.


6 posted on 11/20/2008 7:52:39 AM PST by rom (Voted for Ron Paul in the primary. Voted against Obama in the general and FOR Palin.)
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To: rom

Just as many Republicans are yelling for the party to become more conservative, it seems that some Democrats are already thinking in a more conservative vein. I think this is a good thing-—now if the Republicans will just cooperate—LOL!


7 posted on 11/20/2008 7:55:43 AM PST by basil (Support the 2nd Amendment--buy another gun today)
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To: SmithL
Part of Stevens' undoing in his bid for a seventh term was his conviction on federal felony charges last month.

You dont say!?!?!?

8 posted on 11/20/2008 7:56:15 AM PST by Long Island Pete (Facts are stubborn things.)
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To: SmithL

These Liberals are so delusional it beggars credulity. Stevens fell to Stevens’ corruption, nothing more, nothing less. Political ideology had no purchase here, except in the fact that Stevens came as close as he did.


9 posted on 11/20/2008 7:57:50 AM PST by Sudetenland (Those diplomats serve best, who serve as cannon fodder to protect our troops!)
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To: SmithL
Begich says he's part of a generational break

Yes, he and Palin are the first wave of GenX politicians. People who were in HS during the Carter years and went to college during the Reagan era.

10 posted on 11/20/2008 8:00:00 AM PST by Valpal1 (Always be prepared to make that difference.)
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To: SmithL
His first vote will be for Harry Reid.


11 posted on 11/20/2008 8:00:13 AM PST by j_k_l
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To: SmithL

The guy almost won in the middle of a major scandal where everyone knows he won’t be able to serve his term, and the Democrat ran as a far right conservative. A shift my butt.


12 posted on 11/20/2008 8:01:01 AM PST by Always Right (Obama: more arrogant than Bill Clinton, more naive than Jimmy Carter, and more liberal than LBJ.)
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To: Sudetenland

Nevermind...should have red the whole article.


13 posted on 11/20/2008 8:01:25 AM PST by Sudetenland (Those diplomats serve best, who serve as cannon fodder to protect our troops!)
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To: SmithL

I don’t know anything about this guy’s record as a Mayor, and wonder how effective he’ll be, especially on gun rights and drilling in ANWR. More than likely, he’ll get to Washington and fade into the woodwork. He won’t get anything from the Dem leadership if he goes against them too often.


14 posted on 11/20/2008 8:01:26 AM PST by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: SmithL
Ted Stevens' fall points to political shift
Right Ass Pres.
Stevens being a CONVICTED FELON had absolutely nothing to do with his loss.

Where does one go for a Lobotomy so they too can be an AP 'journalist'? Does it have to be a hospital, or can you do it in your garage with an Electric Drill?

15 posted on 11/20/2008 8:03:09 AM PST by Condor51 (Obama believes in Karl Marx. I believe in Sun Tzu.)
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To: The_Victor

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x32cxf_yuri-bezmenov

The propaganda never stops, you think they don’t know it was because of Stevens’ corruption that the lost? They know. They also know most people only read headlines, like polls.

The talking points are everyone loves Obama and democrats, every “thinking” person votes democrat, you want to fit in? be a democrat...


16 posted on 11/20/2008 8:07:01 AM PST by word_warrior_bob (You can now see my amazing doggie and new puppy on my homepage!! Come say hello to Jake & Sonny)
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To: SmithL

Political shift? What BS. Stevens was not elected because he was not honest, nothing to do with political shift. Only convicted dems have a good chance of getting re-elected, not Republicans.


17 posted on 11/20/2008 8:09:59 AM PST by TruthWillWin
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To: mass55th

He’ll vote as instructed by Harry Reid. They all toe the party line once they get to DC.


18 posted on 11/20/2008 8:19:16 AM PST by damper99
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To: Valpal1

Yes, he and Palin are the first wave of GenX politicians. People who were in HS during the Carter years and went to college during the Reagan era.


Not to be picky, but wikipedia defines Gen X as being born b/w 1965 and 1981. He is 46, and therefore outside the Gen X demo. I am part of this demo and was born in 1970.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_x

I also mention this b/c the entry in wikipedia also mentions that our buddy Chuck Toad on election night said Obama was part of Gen X which he is not. Sorry, but I don’t want Obama as part of my Gen X demo :)


19 posted on 11/20/2008 8:21:31 AM PST by davek70
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To: SmithL
Stevens exemplifies one reason for shift in power to the Dems.

Republicans came to town promising conservative social programs, limited funding, term limits, etc., etc.

Then they forgot all about their principles and became just more hogs feeding from the public trough.

Stevens got caught. Good riddance.

BTW, of course taxes are going to go up. How else will we pay for Mr. Bush's eight year domestic spending spree?

20 posted on 11/20/2008 8:29:31 AM PST by starlifter
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