Tougher in Alaska

[eskimo2]

I don't know anyone in Alaska who likes Stevens, but he keeps getting elected because he has so much power.  Having him in the senate is like having 2 or 3 new senators representing Alaska.  Term limits would be best for the nation.

[john9001]

term limits, line item veto.

There is a reason we have re-elections, the job was never intended to full be a full time life long career. It was intended to be a govt of citizens who would work in congress for a short time, then go back to their regular job/career/business.

[eskimo2]

Incidentally, Stevens first became a senator after Senator Bartlett died.  He was voted in by a landslide again and again though.

Also, he was a pilot in WWII. 
He was one of two survivors of a plane crash in 1978 that killed his wife.

[kamilyun]

term limits, line item veto.

I'd add to that:  no more bundling bills together, item by item votes.  If it sounds laborious and time consuming...good.  At worst, they'll learn to be more efficient, at best, they'll run out of time to spend our money.

[Sandman]

term limits - would not have time to get buddy buddy with anyone

have to note the timing of another republican "news story" though ....

Well... if there so many republican news stories that "they" can time the release, I think there's probably another problem.

As for term limits, we have those. We call them elections.

[Elfie]

As for term limits, we have those.

We also have a term limit of 10 years maximum on the Presidency imposed by Congress.......why not impose that very same thing on Congress?

[crockett]

I hope this weasel dies in jail---he exemplifies the 'me' mentality of what is wrong with government. He actually threatened a La congressman (Vitter, think) on the House floor for questioning the usefulness of the 'bridge to nowhere'

Yes I agree I think anyone caught taking bribes should be tared and feathered. This indictment with Ten Stevens has been coming a very long time, he has been under investigation for at least 6 months with most of this info already made public. So hopefully this one is down and I hope they get Orrin Hatch as well.

Both of these guys are always on any shady bill that gets pushed through the senate they are like the tag team duo of corruption for big business. Granted Ted Stevens was the worse of the two or at least he hasn't hide his as well.

IMO lobbying should be made illegal because it's nothing more than corruption in one form or another and all high up politicians should have term limits.

[crockett]

term limits - would not have time to get buddy buddy with anyone

have to note the timing of another republican "news story" though ....

There is nothing in the timing of this.. All this was made public months ago the FBI just finally indited him. btw the investigation was handeled by the justice dept whom is under Bush, so don't act like it was some Democrat planned news story.

[Eagler]

There is nothing in the timing of this.. All this was made public months ago the FBI just finally indited him. btw the investigation was handled by the justice dept whom is under Bush, so don't act like it was some Democrat planned news story.

the importance and coverage of the story will be exaggerated by the left media do you not agree? probably not ....

[Carrel]

the importance and coverage of the story will be exaggerated by the left media do you not agree? probably not ....

How imortant should the story be? It's the first time a US Senator has been indicted in 15 years- seems newsworthy to me.

Anyway we're missing the bigger picture if we focus on the political party of the Senator- we should instead of look at what he did as being politics as usual, according to our Politicians anyway, and that's the part I find disgusting.

"Prosecutors said Stevens "took multiple steps to continue" receiving things from VECO and its founder, Bill Allen. The indictment says Allen and other VECO employees were soliciting Stevens for "multiple official actions ... knowing that Stevens could and did use his official position and his office on behalf of VECO during that same time period."

VECO's requests included funding and other aid for the company's projects and partnerships in Pakistan and Russia. It also included federal grants from several agencies, as well as help in building a national gas pipeline in Alaska's North Slope Region, according to the indictment filed in Washington.

Stevens has maintained he didn't do anything for VECO that he didn't do for any other constituent or pro-Alaska interest. The indictment stops short of charging Stevens with bribery or other traditional corruption crimes."

[john9001]

Stevens did not have sex with that women, not one time.

oh, sorry, wrong politician. 

[crockett]

the importance and coverage of the story will be exaggerated by the left media do you not agree? probably not ....

Dunno I don't watch the news..

[DREDIOCK]

term limits - would not have time to get buddy buddy with anyone

have to note the timing of another republican "news story" though ....

Voting in more third party members would even be better.
Everyone has the mindset of only voting for one of two parties.
And those two parties have the sheep so brainwashed. That they can keep them fighting one another like Europeans at a soccer match.
Keep them fighting one another so much that all they do is vote for one or the other.
Even if its just to keep one of them out.
All we need to do to see a classic example of this is look at any of the current Barrack/McCain threads here on the boards
So what do those parties do.
When one leaves office.
They just replace him with a carbon copy.
What needs to happen along with term limits. Is we need to break up this more or less forced two party system.
centralise campaign funding and split up evenly among all candidates who manage to get their name on the ballot.
And forbid funding from any other sources.
Actually enforce equal coverage in the press.

THEN we could be presented with some real choices.

[Ack-Ack]

As for term limits, we have those. We call them elections.

Exactly.  Term limits are just a placebo to placate the apethetic American voter.


ack-ack

[Eagler]

Exactly.  Term limits are just a placebo to placate the apethetic American voter.


ack-ack

I wish that was the case but once a slug gets in a term or two the connections he makes, makes it practically impossible to remove him.

if term limits are go enough for the potus, they are good enough for the other dead heads in dc

would like to see the stats showing someone who has two or three terms under their belt getting the boot with a straight vote minus any kind of scandel.