They say it ain’t over til it’s over.
It’s over.
Ted Stevens conceded the Senate race to Mark Begich today.
Given the number of ballots that remain to be counted, it is apparent the election has been decided and Mayor Begich has been elected.
My family and I wish to thank the thousands of Alaskans who stood by us and who supported my re-election. It was a tough fight that would not have been possible without the help of so many Alaskans – people who I am honored to call my friends. I will always remember their thoughts, prayers, and encouragement.
I am proud of the campaign we ran and regret that the outcome was not what we had hoped for. I am deeply grateful to Alaskans for allowing me to serve them for 40 years in the U.S. Senate. It has been the greatest honor of my life to work with Alaskans of all political persuasions to make this state that we all love a better place.
I wish Mayor Begich and his family well. My staff and I stand willing to help him prepare for his new position.
Mudflats 
It’s about time!
Oh yeah, baby!
In conceding, Stevens finally got an ounce of integrity. All he needs do now is do his penance for his crimes. Perhaps an admission that he did more than just take advantage of the rules (as he saw them) might help him avoid jail time. There is no dignity in him further denying his guilt and having to live the rest of his life in a prison.
Thank you, Uncle Ted. Well said.
YEAH! I’m so glad he has decided to go as gracefully as possible at this point.
Alaska Demorcrats now is the time to work on taking back the other seat in 2010. Good Luck.
I am so happy for Mark Begich and the people of Alaska. Ted did
well with his speech conceding the election. He got his 40 years
and the taxpayers 122,000 year. If only SP would just give up and
take Door #4 as someone suggested on last thread.
I can only say “It is about time!”
Ted, don’t let the door hit you on the way out…
at long last!! The first year I was in Anchorage, the plane went down with Mark Begich’s dad in it…….never found. So happy for Mark and his family!
A generous and eloquently written message, Mr. Stevens.
After 40 years, times and outlooks do change.
The fact that so many Alaskans thanked you for those 40 years by voting for you this time around will show you and yours that your service over the years still resonated in many, many hearts and minds.
This is fantastic news. Congrats to Mark Begich and congrats to Alaska. 🙂
I’m consistently disappointed that he doesn’t have a single nice thing to say about Mark. His comment on Mark in this is far more respectful than his response to a question from their debate, in which Stevens said he respected Mark as a father but not as a politician, but his well wishes and offer of support comes off as so insincere.
Definitely respect that he has conceded gracefully though.
what a great retirement present, congrats Begich and MUDFLATS!!!!
http://WWW.BUZZWORD101.COM
Glad he bowed out with a little dignity. I was dreading him fighting this one tooth and nail with appeals and recounts. Well done, Ted. Enjoy your golden years with your family.
Thanks a million, Prisoner 99901. Enjoy the rest of your days in the pokey – unless Bush pardons you.
God sends a message:
Stevens LOSER.
Palin LOSER.
Those doors just keep on closing for the GOP.
He served Alaska for a long time. I do not know his history- but surely it was not all bad. For those years of honorable service he should be thanked. For conceding now, he should be thanked. And truly it is time.
Good luck Alaska! It is a bright new day!
The Alaska Wilderness League thinks it’s a good time to send a message to “Keep Alaska Wild” to President-Elect Obama and your congressional representatives.
Sign on here at this link: http://capwiz.com/alaskawild/issues/alert/?alertid=12217801&external_id=10396.-695669
I just did (editing the comments to my own personal preference). It was reported that my comments were being sent to Begich, Young, and Obama.
End of GOP
era in the Senate — it
doesn’t make me sad.
http://www.thehaikudiaries.wordpress.com
When it’s win/win, it’s good. America and Alaska won today.
Oh….happy day. I’m so glad Begich won.
At Long last!!!!!! I don’t think Begich will need his help. He will do just fine. My, what a nice looking YOUNG man. Congratulations Alaskans!!!!
WAY TO GO ALASKA!!!!!
VA turned blue – you can, too!
Now, how can you get rid of Palin????
GREAT NEWS! I can’t even believe he came that close to re-election…
Your a little slow AKM. This was announced hours ago.
Dang…there goes that payin’ job interfering again! I trust the Associated Press to take care of you guys when I’m busy. 😉 AKM
We`re happy for you Alaskans. Now maybe SP will just fade back into the woodwork, never to be heard from again. She sure was annoying, popping up everywhere in Florida, during the campaign.
I’ve been working so I just read the news on NYTimes.com. YES! Stevens is no friend of wildlife or ecosystems or just about anything that matters and it’s past time for him to go.
Now we gotta send packing that loopy governor of yours.
s.
Lots of torches passing.
I wrote congratulations last night to Begich and all Alaskans.
Today I sit baffled by lack of reporting of news coming out of a Texas court today. Cheney and Gonzalez have been indicted by a Texas court…and one has to actually SEARCH MSM for this report! This isn’t news? Or am I missing something?
Everything in good time. I bet AKM was out in those yellow boots, working undercover, when the announcement was made.
I finally took my Obama for President sign down. It felt so good to have him win that I left it up to enjoy the glow! Now I think I will hang it inside on my wall. : )
Ah, faint magnanimity for Mr. Begich in the face of Mr. Stevens’ own ignominy! That he started his career illegally lobbying for Alaskan statehood and ends it a convicted felon (regardless of his denial or having the verdict overturned by the appeal process), begs the question of how many other illegalities have gone unrecognized through those many years. Power corrupts and having forty years to use it ensures a truly corrosive effect — term limits anyone?
I believe that he probably did have the best interests (whatever he perceived those to be) of Alaskans in mind over the years. It is just so sad that he believed himself above the rules that were designed to prevent politicians from being unduly influenced by those with money and selfish motivations.
That being said, Mr. Stevens served the residents of Alaska for four decades and deserves thanks for his service. So thank you, Mr. Stevens, enjoy your voter-enforced retirement.
Ah, he’s “proud of the campaign they ran?” He spent most of the campaign season being tried on seven felony counts!
Well, at least that is over. Good luck to you Alaskans on the new era. I’m sure it can only get better.
Hello Senator Begich – another Democrat! Thank You ALASKA!
The Sergeant
Indianaapolis
Congratulations, Alaska! I grew up in Anchorage, my mother’s from Wasilla (and voted for Obama, thank you), and I’m thrilled to see Alaska send a Democrat to congress, a first during my lifetime. Woohoo!
AKM, where are the critters?
The critters got voted down in the poll last night. That’s OK. I had planned them for celebratory purposes only, and had originally meant to only post them for the day. I’ll bring them back next time we have something to celebrate! AKM
Phew…I thought for sure he was going to ask for a recount. But, then, with all his legal bills to pay, how could he pay for a recount. I do think, if he could have gotten the Republican party behind him to pay for it, he would have asked for a recount. The Republicans, however, see this as the easy way out of their “Ted” problem.
Sue (14:24:04) :
I finally took my Obama for President sign down. It felt so good to have him win that I left it up to enjoy the glow! Now I think I will hang it inside on my wall. : )
The weirdest thing happened to me. Someone stole my sign AFTER the election! Darn, I wanted to keep it as a souvenir. Oh well, I still have my T-Shirt and my magnetic bumper sticker (which I took off my car after noticing my lawn sign was missing).
Ted Stevens was gracious enough to concede. I am not familiar enough with Alaskan history to know for sure, but I suspect somewhere over the 40 years he served his constituency well. I was afraid he was going to drag this out but it’s over now.
Congrats to Senator-elect Begich.
Maybe Uncle ConvicTed will have some company: Cheney and Gonzalez have been indicted by a Texas, one of the most commented on stories in the news in Houston.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/6119459.html
Thank you TED!!!!
Ted for being so kind we will give you your first bar of soap on a rope after that your on your own…… Although I have a feeling you just made W’s short list for Pardons… Let’s see that would be Rove, Cheney, Rice, Gonzo, Goodling, ah dang let;s just say maybe the list isn’t that short…. I would put a steak dinner on this one G.W. will top his own list. Come Jan. Washington will be a lot cleaner.
Good Luck Mark, Nice job Uncle Ted you were good for a long time. I guess time caught up with you. Enjoy your borrowed Massage Chair…….
So it’s official. Ted will be spending his golden years travelling that freshly paved road between his chalet and his favourite restaurant. Oh, wait, what’s that about sentencing?
Yes, when IS Uncle Ted being sentenced?
And what about his felonious son, Ben? Any word on an indictment for him?
CONGRATS AGAIN ALASKA! Good onya Stevens for showing a bit of class on the way out 🙂
Can someone steer me towards the instrtuctions for changing your avatar? I saved my little celebration critter and want to exchange it for my snowflake.
(I don’thave anything against snowflakes mind you, I just really really like the purply critter.)
Go to wordpress.com and create an account. This will allow you to upload an avatar of your choice. AKM
Loving that colour blue which is slowly spreading over the state. I just hope that what I read somewhere (that Begich was a “Drill, Baby, Drill” proponent) is not true. Now if we could just see the backside of “The Plastic Pair”, Ken and Barbie Palin (aka First Dud and Scary), those long winter nights might seem a little more heart-warming and brain-nourishing.
@Bea (15:11:22) :
Sentencing for Ted is scheduled for some time in Feb. I suspect things are still in the FBI works for Ben…
Happy Thanksgiving everyone…we have much to be thankful for this year!
Schadenfreu is not my thing, so I say:
Mark Begich and family, congratulations; 🙂
Mr. Stevens, graceful concession; 😦
AKM, I miss my critter. 😉
I’m so fecking proud of ya’ll…
@Vlad the Palin:
“I just hope that what I read somewhere (that Begich was a “Drill, Baby, Drill” proponent) is not true.”
______________________________
I read that too. I get the impression that if you want to get elected to ANY office in AK you have to chant “Drill, Baby, Drill” with enthusiasm.
@Deep Blue in VA (15:23:14) :
Unfortunately, ’tis true. Begich supports drilling in ANWR, as do basically all Ds hoping for statewide office in AK.
oops…Anonymous (15:17:56) : was me
Congratulations! This is wonderful news. I guess God must not want Sarah Palin plowing through the door to the senate! LOL
yay…poop-colored snowflake returns
I would hope that even the most hardcore drill-proponent wouldn’t want to sell ANWR reserves at such low prices as we are seeing today. GO GREEN ENERGY! Let’s get the new infrastructure in place quickly, so that oil becomes irrelevant.
I wrote congratulations last night to Begich and all Alaskans.
Today I sit baffled by lack of reporting of news coming out of a Texas court today. Cheney and Gonzalez have been indicted by a Texas court…and one has to actually SEARCH MSM for this report! This isn’t news? Or am I missing something?
Deb
This morning on Good Morning America news, Cheney and Gonzalez charged with organised crime involving privatly owned frederal prisons. According to the news, Cheney is a big stock holder in this outfit.
Many Many Many Congrats to Alaska & Mudflats
Now let’s get those other two States finished and
the Historic 2008 Election will (finally) be over !
Let the bells ring
Let the horns blare
Let the balloons fly — Blue ones of course!!!
AKM, Your next mission, should you accept it…..
This post will self-distruct in 10 seconds!! Poof!!!
Congratulations to Alaska and its voters! Truly, I am amazed that you were able to unseat Stevens, with his popularity as it was before the convictions. Y’all didn’t have much time to turn it around, but you did it!
Thanks for your efforts. If I ever get to Alaska, I’ll buy y’all a beer.
Deb (14:19:59) :
I wrote congratulations last night to Begich and all Alaskans.
Today I sit baffled by lack of reporting of news coming out of a Texas court today. Cheney and Gonzalez have been indicted by a Texas court…and one has to actually SEARCH MSM for this report! This isn’t news? Or am I missing something?
I saw a bit of follow up on that on a MSM site, don’t remember which, a Judge has to rule on the acceptance of the indictement, or some such, and then the article went on to bad mouth the lawyer that brought the charges. And it’s apparetly not against them pesonally but against a busines association they were in on.
But Hey, it a start. Let there be many more.
The Burnt Orange Report has a short piece and will I am sure follow up.
http://www.burntorangereport.com/
The Lone Star Iconoclast is I think a weekly and doesn’t have anything yet.
(It is the paper in Crawford Texas and it came our for Dole and Kerry!
http://lonestaricon.com/
If anybody knows a good blogger in Texas, it would be nice to know it so we can keep an eye or Bush, Graham, Cronyn, Delay, etc. you know they will be up to no good.
Now that the Democrats are mostly in charge, can Universal Health care be far away?
For a rip-roaring belly laugh on this one, see today’s post of Margaret and Helen.
http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/2008/11/19/money-guns-and-sex/#comment-9513
Down here in Santa Cruz, Ca – I have been watching with great interest but have not had any direct impact, as far as Ted Stevens and other Alaska issues like Troopergate, the faux pipeline, etc….sometimes I wish I was a resident! But alas, I have my own city and state to take care of…
Kudos to you, AKM, for all the education you have provided…as well as all the contributors to the blog.
It’s clear to me that this blog easily influenced at least enough votes to have made the difference and won this election for Begich. And it is such a delight that it has been done in a positive way, instead of the toxic, profane, hateful dialogue I see on so many blogs.
Job well done, AKM!!!
Marnie,
Here is a link from Huffington re Cheney & Gonzales:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-latt/can-dick-cheney-pardon-hi_b_144927.html
Never thought I would someday miss computer bugs, but I do.
Well done citizens of Alaska!
Or as the current POTUS would say…Mission Accomplished!
I appreciate Ted’s graciousness in conceding and on the plus side, he did work hard to help Alaskans as individuals. It’s just the oil special interest thing that is so serious for all–because it has led to war, skyrocketing energy prices, and delayed implementation of a smarter, more diverse energy policy.
Hi Eyes Wide Open. Good to see ya.
Bea – As part of the sentencing process – the judge takes into how “forthcoming” and “cooperative” the freshly minted felon is. Uncle Ted DOES know where a lot of skeletons are…….uh…Sarah…….getting much sleep??
I am glad to see Stevens’ concession speech is a faint echo of McCain’s. I know he did good thing for the state of Alaska, perhaps through the first couple of decades, but he stayed one decade too many (and pocketed a few too many contractors’ goodies). I hope Begich will be an honest, hard-working Senator for all of you Alaskans.
Marnie (16:05:03) : and the rest-
I assume this might be the first of many indictments/investigations into the corrupt actions of the Bush administration.
Well, it’s a little early, but what a great way to start the new year! Wouldn’t it be wonderful, seeing that Sen. Begich comes from an “energy producing state,” if he ended up on an energy related committee? It would be nice to somehow reconcile the groups who object to drilling in ANWR with those who support it, and finally have an intelligent energy policy.
The story of Sen. Stevens is sad – absolute power and all that. Maybe this is why the founding fathers didn’t envision a permanent political class. How can someone do so much good for his state, and at the same time be so arrogant to think the rules don’t apply to him? I can’t see any value in putting an 85 year old man in jail – but I sure would like an admission of guilt and an apology. Do you think our other elected officials will get the message?
So, what will GOP Alaska Governor
Sarah PalinAlex Forrest have to say about this development?Howling Wolf Pup:
I’m still chortling! Margaret and Helen are hilarious- and right on target. BTW, I just returned from a week in Omaha; yes, the safe haven law was a problem and is being changed this week. It attracted people dropping off teens (more than 20) from other states- states, like Nebraska, that lack adequate mental health care and other services for children/teens. Another health care issue-
At least it got the discussion started in the Cornhusker state-
YO, Alaska, congratulations!
@ AMK
RE:Dang…there goes that payin’ job interfering again! I trust the Associated Press to take care of you guys when I’m busy. 😉 AKM
~~~~
You get paid to sit in your parent’s basement and blog all day? **incredulous look**
OT quick (sorry AKM)
Liberty and cupcakes for all
Our lovely President-Elect remembered his No. 1’s B-day. Cute little story on Politico.
http://www.politico.com/politico44/
Happy Birthday Joe! 🙂
Sparky “heart” Joe Biden 😉
“It was a tough fight that would not have been possible without the help of so many Alaskans…”
Yep…the fight was TOUGH because of the many Alaskans who persisted in voting for a convicted felon whose time had passed.
But…The fight was WON with the help of many more Alaskans who were progressive and concerned about the legitimacy of the political process and future of Alaska.
Two sides of the same coin….which landed “heads, we win”
Maybe Palin is looking to join ConvicTed (from ADN.com):
“The latest complaint about Palin may be breaking new ground. . The rules don’t spell out whether state officials can tell a national television audience about their past political campaigns from their government office.
McAllister said Palin has spent the past two days in policy meetings, and her team hasn’t talked about how to handle all the attention.
“That will happen soon,” he said.
Meantime, Henning argues that Palin already broke the same ethics law that she exposed Republican Party chairman Randy Ruedrich for violating when both served on the state oil and gas commission.
Ruedrich admitted in 2004 to conducting party business on the job — and leaking a confidential state document to a lobbyist — and was fined $12,000.
More recently, Palin joined Sen. Ted Stevens for a July press conference in Anchorage. At the time, Stevens was running for re-election, but had not yet been charged in federal court.
Reporters asked Palin if her appearance signaled a campaign endorsement for the 40-year senator.
“I’m on the clock and we’re in a federal building, so we won’t talk about campaigns or endorsements,” she said at the time.
QUESTION OF CONFIDENTIALITY
Henning is asking the state Personnel Board to investigate his claim. While the ethics law calls for confidentiality, that doesn’t mean the attorney general can throw out a complaint because the person who filed it spoke out, said Assistant Attorney General Judy Bockmon.
At least two other Alaskans have publicized their own recent ethics complaints against Palin in the past four months.
Palin, who campaigned for governor on ethics and openness, waived confidentiality in an earlier Personnel Board investigation into the firing of her public safety commissioner.
Henning has been watching Palin for months. In May, he made a public records request for thousands of e-mails from Palin aides looking for evidence they were trying to oust Ruedrich as Republican party chairman.
McAllister said talk of Palin’s team trying to push Ruedrich out was unfounded. Henning says he didn’t get all the e-mails he asked for — many were determined by the administration to not be public records and not released or redacted — and calls the search inconclusive.
He lives in Palin’s hometown and describes himself as a fiscal conservative. He worked for Conoco Phillips until 2005 and is now an environmental coordinator on the North Slope for Pioneer Natural Resources.
Henning’s also a member of a Valley conservative group called the Last Frontier Foundation — local tax hawk and property rights activist Penny Nixon is the chairman, he said — but said he filed the complaint on his own behalf.
Henning’s complaint criticizes interviews Palin held since returning from the campaign trail. On Nov. 7, reporters camped in lobby of Palin’s Anchorage office until the governor arrived, then peppered her with questions about the campaign.
On Nov. 10, Palin appeared with Van Susteren on Fox News, sitting in her government office talking about anonymous accusations from within the McCain campaign on Palin’s performance on the trail.
In the clip, now online, Van Susteren welcomes viewers, saying they’re about to see Sarah Palin at home and at work.
“Governor, it must be fun to be back in your office here in Anchorage,” Van Susteren begins.
It’s great, Palin says.
“A lot of work to do, so it’s good to be back.” “
“Todd and I express our gratitude to Sen. Stevens”, so says SP. I’m sure Stevens is thrilled to have Todd’s gratitude. Keep this guy out of the office. Maybe Todd, could hunt and fish more…………real core values. This family drives me nuts.
Way to go Alaskans!!!!!!
Whew. I’ve been waiting to exhale. Thanks, Ted, for listening to your wife, or daughter, or chief of staff, or whoever it was who convinced you to throw in the towel. Probably wasn’t your own decision. What a relief for everybody.
On the way home from work (in my pjs and bunny slippers, walking upstairs from the basement to have instant ramen noodles for dinner– I just put them in a bowl, sprinkle the flavor packet on top and crunch ’em down, boiling them in water’s for sissies) I was listening to an NPR story about another congressional octagenarian, John Dingell, being challenged for his chairmanship of the Energy and Commerce Committee by the youthful Henry Waxman (age 69). Dingell, representing Ypsilanti, Michigan, is partly responsible for giving the auto industry a bye all these years on energy efficiancy, safety, etc. Ya know, it’s time for the geezers to go. Go home, hang out with the grandkids, be a pain in the ass to their wives. Buh-bye.
Go Blue Alaska – AKM, YOU ARE THE BEST for all your work to make this happen.
For a… for such a… well, for the kind of person Ted is, he was pretty graceful about this. Sort of :o)
The comments sections sure have quieted down… where are ya alls hiding? Is the chat open 10 oclock eastern?
ira2 – I think he has found Jesus and is seeking redemption….as per my above post…….he is gonna “come clean” so he can have mercy from the judge……..
Mark had a very nice interview with Allison Stewart, who is subbing for Rachel Maddow tonight. He gives a good answer to how he feels about filling Stevens 40-years-of-experience shoes. Short and sweet — Alaska is ready for a change.
Mark Begich was on the Rachel Maddow show today (though, sadly, Rachel was not), and it was like a breath of cleansing air to hear him speak. I am grateful that Ted Stevens did the right thing and graciously conceded. He could have demanded a recount, but he didn’t. So, for the first and only time, good on you, mate.
P.S. Mark Begich is DA Man, you’re sauer kraut, aren’t you? Most people are in the forums because the blog is not only for comments relating to the post. There is usually an open thread in the forums, and many of the regulars hang out there at night. I flip back and forth between the blog and the forums.
Sorry for my cynicism but “Cheney indicted”? So what. Does anyone really think Black Dick gives a rat’s a$$ about the law? What do you want to bet that there is a secret opinion from the OLC absolving him from anything illegal he might have done or even thought about doing. No freaking way Cheney will be held accountable for any misdeeds while he was in office.
Sorry. Those criminals can’t get out of office fast enough for me, but there will be no consequences.
Goooooo Mark! He is a tremendously decent person.
Any photographer/entrepreneurs out there? I have an idea for a terrific poster. You know those posters highlight the architecture of specific cities? The Doors of London, say, or The Doors of Dublin?
I’d love to see The Doors of Sarah Palin, with all the beautiful doors that have been CLOSED SHUT on her ambition. VP, Senator, Miss Alaska, Mom of the Year, etc etc etc. With all the Palin Fascination, there might be a real market out there!. And it could be a beautiful item of Mudflat Gear.
Anybody listening to Stevens swan song in the senate right now?