Posted on 11/21/2007 8:09:14 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
A pair of ethically-embattled GOP lawmakers from Alaska are finding themselves viewed unfavorably by a growing number of the state’s voters, according to a newly-conducted poll from Hays Research Group.
Only 44 percent of Alaska voters said they approved of Sen. Ted Stevens’ (R-Alaska) performance in office, while 38 percent disapprove. Stevens has been a stalwart in Alaska politics since first elected in 1968, and the six-point net approval rating is one of his lowest levels of support since first elected.
Stevens has faced little re-election difficulties since first elected, never winning less than 66 percent of the vote. But he has been implicated in a cash-for-favors scandal involving oil services-giant VECO Corp. executive Bill Allen, and his support has declined since then. He has denied any wrongdoing.
No Democrat has yet stepped forward to challenge Stevens, but the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has met with Anchorage mayor Mark Begich, who they view as a top recruit.
Meanwhile, a near-majority of voters said they have a negative opinion of Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), who has held the state’s at-large House seat since 1973. He was viewed favorably by only 34 percent of respondents, while 48 percent disapproved of him.
Young is under investigation by the Justice Department over his ties to VECO Corp. and has spent much of his campaign funds on legal fees over the last several months. He also has denied any wrongdoing.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Stevens and Young need to retire.
They won’t, like Larry Craig these guys cling to power like a bulldog on a hunk of meat, they lock their jaws and will not let go.....
Stevens and Young, the AK kings of pork.
Everyone I know is voting for Teddy boy & don young. You know what you got with those 2 guys and they for sure are smarter than Berkowitz (what a clown) and mark begich nobody trusts him.. Repubs should run Nick Begich; he’s in the center and somewhat kooky like Wally Hickel; but the real deal. Nick was close to AIP a few years back. AIP makes repubs look like greenies.
Yes. Everyone knows you've got two of the most corrupt Congresscritters in DC. Sorry, but renominating corrupt and unpopular politicians is PRECISELY why the GOP lost control of Congress last year. Your logic is the exact same logic of those folks who renominated Charles Taylor, Mark Foley, Bob Ney, Don Sherwood, etc., and not one of those clowns is still in Congress... they're free pickups to the Dems.
No offense but, Where you been all your life?
Politician=Corruption Don’t matter party or state; they’re not in the game for some noble cause or ideology; rather money & power.
Teddy Boy
brought home the bacon to Alaska for years, Alaskans understand how system works. Even the Indians (50 years removed from the stoneage got it figured out & support him, they have seen the govt projects in all their villages) Seems to me the backward Indians are way ahead of your political shrewdness & savvy; ha.
Joking aside, Berkowitz came here 10 years back; has lots of back east liberal family financial support; only reason he keeps running for office after office.
Mark Begich is caught up in his own corruption probs.
I'm not sure I'd go that far, but it's a somewhat valid point. That said, I think you have to agree that not all politicians are corrupt equally. Stevens and Young appear to have taken large bribes, and that's not going to be popular with Alaska voters.
If you don't want Berkowitz and friends elected, Alaska Republicans need to find fresher, less tainted candidates.
Young could easily be primaried with those numbers - Stevens, I’m not so sure.
Term limits would solve this entrenchment - and improve both parties. They could be several terms in a row - I think it is important you don’t have a bunch a rookies constantly coming in with no insitutional memory, but 40 years is certainly more than enough - time for a change.
There should also be term limits for Congressional aides and government bureaucrats.
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