Ted Stevens ignored yesterday, got a standing 'o' today

[babylonsister]

I see their hypocrisy hasn't been lost.


http://thinkprogress.org/2008/11/19/mcconnell-stevens/

McConnell bids farewell to ousted GOP senators…except Ted Stevens.»

This evening, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) took to the Senate floor and paid tribute to Republican senators who lost their re-election bids. While McConnell had plenty of nice words for Gordon Smith, Elizabeth Dole, John Sununu, he never mentioned Ted Stevens, who lost his bid in a tight race after being convicted on seven felony charges. McConnell’s office insisted that “the oversight was nothing personal and pointed out McConnell did not give a farewell speech for retiring Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska either.” Stevens is the longest-serving Republican senator in history, in office for almost 40 years.

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http://thinkprogress.org/2008/11/20/stevens-ovation/

Senate Throws Good-Bye Party For Ted Stevens, Gives Convicted Felon A Standing Ovation»

Today, Ted Stevens — Alaska’s defeated Republican senator and a convicted felon — was granted time on the Senate floor to deliver his farewell speech. Stevens said that he still can’t believe that he’s “privileged to speak on the floor of the United States Senate.” He also added that he “doesn’t have a rear-view mirror. I look only forward, and I still see the day when I can remove the cloud that currently surrounds me.”

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) then took the floor and said farewell to his “distinguished colleague.” Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had previously called for Stevens’s resignation, recalled the longest-serving Republican’s “extraordinary accomplishments.” Watch it:

Matt Yglesias writes: “I cannot believe that (a) Ted Stevens got a standing ovation from his fellow senators, and (b) Harry Reid is now delivering an ode to him. I mean, the man’s a criminal. Senatorial courtesy is a really bizarre institution.”

Full list of senators speaking on behalf of Stevens today, in the tribute that lasted over an hour (continually updated): Harry Reid (D-NV), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Pete Domenici (R-NM), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Pat Roberts (R-KS), and Kay-Baily Hutchison (R-TX). John Warner (R-VA) also praised Stevens in advance of the Alaskan senator’s farewell address.

[benld74]

1. Done let the door knob hit ya, where the good Lord split ya!!!

[Blue_In_AK]

2. There was a long biography/tribute to Ted

in this morning's Anchorage Daily News, but that's to be expected. We may not have liked his politics or his style, but he did a lot for this state -- not just bringing home the pork but in resolving Native claims and other land issues, fisheries, etc. -- especially in the early days of statehood. That doesn't excuse his ethical lapses in the past decade or so, but he is definitely a mixed bag -- particularly in the minds of Alaskans.

We are moving into a new era here, and judging from the letters to the editor this morning, some people are in panic mode. I'm not -- I think it's time to move on, and I'm sure Mark will do a fine job.

Here's the Ted article for anyone who wants a little history lesson. It might give some insight into why he is still held in high regard by a lot of people here, despite the troubles.

http://www.adn.com/news/politics/fbi/stevens/story/594135.html