Sound Politics: Continue Cleaning Up Alaska

July 30, 2008

Continue Cleaning Up Alaska

One of the best long-term outcomes of this election year for Republicans might be the expunging of Members of Congress who made the "culture of corruption" line possible. As such, David Postman's breakdown of the potential electoral impact of Ted Stevens's indictment is quite useful.

The trick for Republicans is obviously beating Stevens in the primary or praying to the god of punk conservative bloggers that he bows out, allowing the GOP to run another candidate (as Patrick Ruffini discusses). Even before the indictment, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich looked like the slight favorite against Uncle Ted.

In related news, Lt. Gov. and challenger Sean Parnell leads pork-master himself, Don Young, in at least one pre-primary poll. Let's hope that holds.

Posted by Eric Earling at July 30, 2008 08:19 AM | Email This

Comments

1. I say we get rid of Ted Stevens when William Jefferson also leaves Congress...

Posted by: Shanghai Dan on July 30, 2008 10:01 AM

2. No, Rs are more responsible and ethical. Stevens needs to go in the primary, if not before.

There are more Dems than Jefferson that are allowed to stay and keep the D side extremely corrupt- starting with McDermott.

Posted by: swatter on July 30, 2008 10:36 AM

3. I suggest, since the other contestants in the Senate primary are weak and would lose, it would be best to let Ted Stevens win the primary with the understanding that he will resign or get one of the lesser primary contestants to say he would resign if he wins and then tell everyone to support him in order to let a better candidate be chosen. If the current Stevens opponent just ran to get Stevens out, he could declare victory when he bowed out.

My further idea would be for Sean Parnell to defeat Don Young in the primary and then resign the candidacy in order to be appointed to the Senate race if it looks like he can beat Begich. Parnell has a statewide campaign already going and is a known figure with some funds. Then a strong House candidate could be chosen to replace him. This would get rid of Young and Stevens and still leave a chance to keep both seats. If there is a stronger candidate than Parnell for the Senate seat, this would not apply but I do not know who that would be.

Posted by: KW64 on July 30, 2008 12:02 PM

4. @2: Rs are more responsible and ethical.

Funniest joke I've heard all day! :)

Posted by: demo kid on July 30, 2008 06:07 PM