"We have a lot of things in our house that don't belong to us"

[Stinky The Clown]

Here's a late exchange in the testimony of the good senator from Alaska.

He was being asked about a fancy-schmacy massage chair he has. He said he considered that chair a loan.

"And the chair is still at your house?" prosecutor Brenda Morris asked.

"Yes," Stevens said.

"How is that not a gift?"

"He bought that chair as a gift, but I refused it as a gift," Stevens said. "He put it there and said it was my chair. I told him I would not accept it as a gift. We have lots of things in our house that don't belong to us."

Playing to the jury, Morris appeared confused.

"So, if you say it's not a gift, it's not a gift?" she said.

"I refused it as a gift," Stevens replied. "I let him put it in our basement at his request."

Keep it up, Ted. The federal penal system needs guys like you.




http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/blogging_sen_stevens_testimony_1.php

[tanyev]

1. So do thieves, Ted.

[Dennis Donovan]

2. If that's the gist of his entire defense...

...he's screwed.

"I refused it, but he put a knife to my throat and said, 'keep it.'"

[TomInTib]

3. Try saying that to the IRS, Asswipe.

I am sure they will see the humor in it.

[central scrutinizer]

4. parse this, douchebag!

Depends on what your definition of gift is?

[amdezurik]

5. Um Ted...

you FAIL!

[baldguy]

6. So, he refused to accept "lots of things" as gift - but still kept them?

I don't think he understands the concept of "refusing" a gift & precisely what that entails.

[chaplainM]

7. Ah, yes, the Nancy Reagan dodge

Unwilling to pay for them, but loathe to refuse them as reportable gifts, Mrs. Reagan accepted each lurid swath of haute couture and called them "loans.'

[lonestarnot]

8. Is this the theory of not looking a gift horse in the mouth and then lie about it when you sneak a

peak and pull all of his teeth?