I think of Stevens is like George Allen (VA), who took a sure thing and screwed it up with his corruption (Stevens) or ineptness (Allen).
In the mean time, what about the cowards Domenici, Warner (Republican), or Allard? Warner and Domenici are older than dirt, but what was Allard’s excuse? Cut and run Republicans, all of them.
I suspect Allard would have been defeated if he ran. He used his own term limit I guess. If only Warner, Stevens, and Domenici had done that after only 12 years! They might have been replaced with other Republicans at a time when the party was still competitive in their states. Now sadly I have to wonder if we will see a GOP Senate majority again in my lifetime. Only if Obama screws up really badly can the Dems lose enough seats in the next 2 or 3 cycles.
Allard had a self-imposed two term pledge.