This is the place to talk about Alaska politics -- state, local, national. Public life in the Last Frontier has probably never been more interesting than right now -- the governor as candidate for vice president, the broad and still-evolving corruption investigation, a big election, powerful members of Congress under scrutiny, and the usual hardball Alaska politics. Come here for news, tidbits and information, and join the discussion. Keep your comments civil and on point. Avoid personal attacks. Do not use profanity. Posts that violate the Terms of Use will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be banned.
Erika Bolstad
Erika Bolstad covers Alaska issues, including the congressional delegation, from Washington, D.C., for McClatchy Newspapers. Before joining the bureau in 2007, she spent seven years as a reporter at the Miami Herald, where she covered politics, government and the state legislature. E-mail Erika at ebolstad@adn.com.
Sean Cockerham
Sean Cockerham writes about Alaska state politics. He spent three years based in Juneau for the ADN before joining the Tacoma News-Tribune to write about Washington state politics. He went to Iraq twice for the News Tribune, and previously wrote about Alaska government and politics for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. E-mail Sean at scockerham@adn.com
Kyle Hopkins
Kyle Hopkins covers politics and other stories for the ADN. He covered the 2006 campaign for governor, has blogged extensively about Alaska politics, covered Anchorage city government and was a reporter based in the Mat-Su. He grew up in Southeast Alaska and previously was a reporter at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and Anchorage Press. E-mail Kyle at khopkins@adn.com
SECTION
The FBI raided state legislatures offices in Aug. 2006, and the fallout since has been epic in Alaska's political world.
Bob Poe running for governor - 1/7/2009 1:50 pm
Before the storm - Palin e-mails from Aug. 27 - 1/7/2009 12:07 pm
Reid on punishment for Stevens - 1/7/2009 7:32 am
Polling on Palin vs. Murkowski - 1/6/2009 3:24 pm
Citgo 'suspends' free heating oil program - 1/5/2009 2:37 pm
Palin's comments on first grandchild - 12/31/2008 4:35 pm
Suicide council audit - 12/30/2008 9:11 pm
Son of Snowzilla - 12/30/2008 8:55 pm
'People' editor: No deal for baby photos. Yet. - 12/30/2008 1:12 pm
'Baby Name Bible' - 12/29/2008 8:14 pm
Anchorage Mayor: Begich out, Claman in Jan. 3 - 12/26/2008 12:40 pm
No trash power? (Plus: School board pay) - 12/26/2008 11:22 am
PETA's beef with Palin - 12/24/2008 12:02 pm
"The opportunities that were not seized." - 12/22/2008 1:48 pm
Palin's next big speech? - 12/22/2008 12:37 pm
Here we go - a look at potential 2010 election matchups (and Palin popularity) - 12/20/2008 1:42 pm
Hawker to Palin: Try again - 12/19/2008 5:11 pm
Video: Palin on salary, energy plan - 12/19/2008 9:58 am
Walt Monegan is planning to run for mayor - 12/18/2008 4:40 pm
Covering Juneau - 12/17/2008 5:07 pm
Palin says no to raise; energy plan delayed - 12/17/2008 2:19 pm
Meyer joins majority, gets LB&A (Updated with McGuire, Menard joining too) - 12/16/2008 5:45 pm
Posted by Alaska_Politics
Posted: August 20, 2008 - 10:45 pm
From Sean Cockerham in Anchorage ---
Lots of action during tonight’s KAKM public TV debate among Alaska Congressional candidates. I’ll start with a post giving some highlights of the U.S. Senate debate and then do one on the U.S. House. (Listen to the Senate Republicans here and Democrats here).
In the Senate Republican debate, Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens bristled when challenger Vic Vickers pressed him on the federal indictment.
“Senator, why did you accept more than $250,000 in gifts from your friend Bill Allen and Veco?” Vickers asked Stevens.
Stevens replied by making reference to the fact that Vickers only moved to Alaska in January. Stevens said he wonders sometimes “who qualifies to run for the Senate and who is an Alaskan.”
Stevens said he's denied the federal charges and Vickers is wrong.
“I hope that you would understand, Alaskans, as I’ve traveled around Alaska, I haven’t had that question asked of me by anyone but a news person. And now you join that rank,” Stevens told Vickers.
“The Alaskans I’ve talked to have said Ted, we believe in you, Ted I’m going to give you a prayer, Ted, we’ll see you through this, we know you’re innocent because you’ve said you’re innocent. So as far as I’m concerned Mr. Vickers, you don’t belong at this table, but it’s nice to have a chance to say that,” Stevens said.
Vickers tried again.
“Well senator, you still didn’t answer the question, the truth is you’ve stonewalled the people of Alaska for the past year, once your house was raided by the IRS and the FBI. You now stand accused by George Bush’s administration, not Bill Clinton, George Bush and you are in effect taking the 5th amendment to the people of Alaska,” he said.
Stevens said he’s answered Alaskans and they will make their choice in Tuesday’s primary.
“They will vote either for you or for me and I’ll guarantee what the outcome of that is going to be,” Stevens said.
Republican senate candidate Cuddy talked about his Alaska roots, the problems with Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and the deficit. Cuddy is running as a conservative and Jerry Heikes, another Republican running, asked Cuddy what are the top three things he’d do to deal with the federal debt and what he’d do to balance the budget.
Cuddy said Congress said national defense, the highway system and “protection of Constitutional rights” should come first in spending, and other things cut off if there wasn’t enough revenue.
“Alaska would be the biggest beneficiary if we were to reduce spending and strengthen the dollar and balance the budget because we have a strong savings account and a good budget surplus,” he said.
Heikes said he’s for reducing the welfare system. “There are too many people living off the system that are illegal that don’t belong here,” he said.
Candidate Rick Sikma spoke of following the U.S. Constitution and said “the federal government isn’t supposed to be in control of the federal lands.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The Democrats
The Democratic U.S. Senate candidates had their own debate. In that one, Ray Metcalfe told Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich he suspected him of taking a bribe from developers.
Metcalfe said he doesn’t believe Begich’s statement that he received an interest in the Midtown Calais Towers as compensation for a reduced commission for a 2002 real estate deal.
Metcalfe said he’s long been in the real estate business.
“I’ve never seen anybody pay a real estate commission in the manner that you described it and I don’t buy it…I’m asking you to meet your commitments of openness by dispelling my suspicions of bribery and by allowing the public to see your 2002 tax returns and your broker’s information showing where it went through your broker,” Metcalfe said.
Begich said he’s answered the question. He said he was in the real estate business at the time, not in office, and “was paid a reduced commission of $22,000 for that transaction you talk about, a couple of months later I received a share of the Calais buildings…everything about me is an open book,” he said.
Metcalfe pressed him, saying Begich hasn’t answered the question.
Begich said Metcalfe is just throwing mud to try to get name identification.
Begich said this election is about moving into a new era in Alaska, and dealing with issues like high energy and health care costs.
Metcalfe said he’ll bring ethics to government.
Democratic candidate Frank Vondersaar was also in the debate, and talked about how he’s “experienced first hand the torture terrorism and treachery of the U.S. secret police terrorist criminal surveillance harassment teams.” He used the word fascist a lot.
Earlier, Alaskan Independence Party candidate Bob Bird said he’s been inspired by Ron Paul’s presidential campaign.
Bird called for a return to the gold and silver standard and said the country is losing its freedoms under the “guise of homeland security.”
Libertarian candidate David Haase said he’s running to keep the party viable in Alaska.
“I’m not naïve to think I’m going to get elected here. But it could happen, I believe in miracles,” Haase said.
14 November 10, 2008 - 7:19am | y4yycom
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13 August 22, 2008 - 2:45am | Gus_Davis
"Incidentally, I asked Bill Allen to hook up a generator to our chalet for Y2K – JUST IN CASE!!"
According to prosecutors, Stevens got his generator, and as with the rest of the gifts, seems to have forgotten to mention it on his Senate disclosure forms.
I bet there's a record for 500+ gallons of number 1 stove oil, too. Won't the Gen set run on it too? Or perhaps is that something he remembered to disclose while all the gifting is happening?
I bet the fuel store or DOJ has a record!
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12 August 21, 2008 - 8:46pm | sp1deyluvr
..on all the negative, why aren't we figuring out who could do a good job, NOT embarrass Alaska, and isn't moving up to Alaska JUST to kick Steven's out?
All I'm saying is that Cuddy is a great guy, with an honest desire to make the place he was born and raised in better. He's responsible, and kind. I think he would be great in DC, and that's what I'm focusing on.
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11 August 21, 2008 - 4:31pm | akbosco
The Gambling Commission's first order of business could be to authorize a pool on how long it will take Vic Vickers to move back to Florida after he loses dismally next Tuesday. It would be kind of like the rat (gerbil) race they do at the State Fair. Never mind, this rat will probably be gone before they had a chance to meet.
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10 August 21, 2008 - 1:31pm | twinspapa
“I hope that you would understand, Alaskans, as I’ve traveled around Alaska, I haven’t had that question asked of me by anyone but a news person. And now you join that rank,” Stevens told Vickers.
I would personally love the opportunity to ask Ted the same question and I'm not a new person.
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August 22, 2008 - 12:00am | jerrydfuller
Wow! Stevens hasn't lived here for many, many years. Congress gets a multitude of holidays...week for Labor Day, week for Memorial Day, week for Easter, weekends from thurs. thru Monday night, Christmas vacation for two weeks, a week for Thanksgiving, one month in August......Stevens did not take these opportunities to come to Alaska. He preferred staying in D.C. Now that election time is here, he shows up everywhere. He only thinks of what is good for him, not Alaska. At least Vickers has apparently spent more total days in Alaska than Stevens in the last years.
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August 21, 2008 - 5:39pm | lecjb
Perhaps because people interested in asking
the question aren't interested enough in Stevens to go out of their way to wherever he is speaking?
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August 21, 2008 - 2:28pm | fred280403
It is noted that folks (including Ted) are jumping all over Vickers for this - calling him a carpetbagger (which he is) and worse - but no one is addressing the validity of the question itself. Why are we, Ted's constituents, NOT entitled to know why he "accept(ed) more than $250,000 in gifts from (his) friend Bill Allen and Veco"? I sure as hell want to know.
It's just a shame that Vic Vickers was the only one (other than "a news person") asking it. The way I see it, anyone who DOESN'T want to know the answer to that question probably shouldn't be voting at all.
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August 21, 2008 - 4:24pm | akbosco
What part of not guilty don't you understand?
He has said he is not guilty. What more do you need or want at this time?
We will see in a month or so if the prosecutors can prove their allegations. We have had enough recent vilification of people based on news reports who turned out to be innocent. Duke lacrosse players ring a bell? Aviation Security's missiles? They did get Avery for something completely unrelated but the other guy got off Scot free except the trashing of his reputation (not that it was not somewhat overblown).
The glee that some are having over this is somewhat disconcerting, given all that Sen. Stevens has done for the state. I guess it comes down to the fact that he has been reelected by 70-80% of the voters over the past few elections. The other 20-30% (from both wings of the political spectrum) see this as their only chance to defeat him. The rest of us still trust him.
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August 21, 2008 - 5:07pm | Natalie_0
Its not glee...its retribution!
Stevens can say he's not guilty all he wants but there would be no way in hell that the Justice Department could go after a senator, such as Stevens, if they did not have any hard evidence. Now you can believe what you want...but what else would you expect him to say at this time? In my opinion..he's guilty and we've probably only been given half of the story on his illegal doings. Perhaps if Stevens clicks his heels 3 times and says "I'm not guilty, I'm not guilty"....someone in disneyland will believe him..but not most of us...who really know what Ted Stevens is all about!
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August 21, 2008 - 4:58pm | fred280403
...and if it turns out that the feds are all wrong and that he DID NOT accept hundreds of thousands of dollars in freebies from Allen/Veco, then I will owe you AND Mr. Stevens a very large and heartfelt apology. That said, somehow I don't think that'll end up being the case.
And please note that I am not talking about just acquital on the charges entered against him. I don't want him taking buckets of cash or getting sweetheart deals from anyone - legal or not - and I think (or at least hope) that most sentient Alaskans would agree with me.
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9 August 21, 2008 - 11:38am | akmooster
diva... if it doesn't count that begich took between $52,000 and $475,000 from rubini three weeks before he filed to run, than I guess that is how the politico buyers should do it. If it doesn't matter because he wasn't in office yet, than why the hell is it required by APOC to report income from the year previous when you file to run?
He didn't even bother to report it, but you think ted should go directly to jail for the same crime.
mark begich, if you are so innocent and everything is open and transparent and honest, show us your taxes for the years he gave you interest in the Calais buildings and when he bought it back. That's all. You won't because it would be the end of your political life and we both know it.
marky says in his campaign ad that every senator should be required to show all their income, why won't he?
If you blind-begich-backers would make him, than perhaps Ray could spend this valuable 'air' time to say more about what he is for and what he represents. But with begich getting a free ride, he has to spend it trying to show the truth.
I happen to KNOW mark is under investigation by the FBI. It is too bad that isn't public yet.
But just remember this: A vote for mark begich is a vote for Alaska having TWO of our sitting Senators indicted for political corruption back to back. Call that change, sheeple?
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August 21, 2008 - 8:03pm | predictable
"I happen to KNOW mark is under investigation by the FBI. It is too bad that isn't public yet." akmooster
Name one public official that hasn't been questioned or investigated by the FBI in the last 2 years. They're all falling under that umbrella, just some more severe than others. Alaska in a whole is being examined under the microscope of the FBI.
Next I'll tell you about the black helicopters.
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August 21, 2008 - 11:54pm | staufen
National Archives has.
As in think: investigator generals.
What the heck was your point -- that the FBI does blanket door-to-door surveys just for yucks? That you think they are like a couple of rainy city evangalists with umbrellas? Your imagery exceeds reality.
Think BLACK BAGS (and the Petroleum Club cash jackpotting and check bundling) not helicopters, and people won't think you so cuckoo-ca-choo.
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August 22, 2008 - 8:00am | predictable
Didn't know I needed to drop the sarcasm.
Point being that there are still a handful of public office holders that are "on deck" or were apart of this whole corruption investigation. The length of the list is longer than the media has lead on to. It wouldn't surprise me if Begich was on this list, even if it's as simple as being questioned.
"Blanket investigations" might be a bit overkill, but you have to admit the names keep coming out.
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August 22, 2008 - 9:22am | akmooster
being questioned, you could be questioned. It's about being the subject of an investigation.
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August 22, 2008 - 9:25pm | Gus_Davis
TARGET is a neat description. Material Witness, Confidential, Cooperating Witness, "or CW" as the Feds call cooperation.
Has anyone received a LETTER OF PROFFER lately? I guess no one couldn't say iffin' secrecy..
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8 August 21, 2008 - 9:29am | Denali_king
Why does everyone refer to a conclusive guilty appearance of a charge that is not being brought against Senator Ted Stevens? He's not on trial for bribery or corruption. The upcoming trial will give Ted the opportunity to clear himself. I believe that he will. As far as Vic Vickers. Who do you think you are? You have the disrespect to come to our state with the demeanor of your campaign. You have no idea of the life here in the last frontier. However, let's talk about Generation Blue and their PAC. The democratic aligned group of lawyers and their friends wish to influence campaigns across the country. Please. Take your friends and go back home to Florida. This coming Tuesday, Alaskans around the state will be sending you on your way.
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August 21, 2008 - 1:49pm | twinspapa
and thank God he's gonna get his due process in DC.
;)
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7 August 21, 2008 - 9:24am | danamber
that comes from Florida 8 months ago, changes from Democrat to Republican in the process and is backed by money from unnamed and therefore questionable sources just so's he can front for the other democratic candidates who don't have the stones to go against Senator Stevens on their own make this "debate" and Mr. Vickers candidacy a joke of the highest order. I'd rather give my vote to a VERY effective but indicted Sr. Senator than some Democrat shill who wants to get in a position to sell Alaska down the river. The only use Alaskans should have for Mr. Vickers is to drop kick him onto the first plane out of Alaska. The fact that Mr. Vickers is even given airtime is an insult to this state.
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August 21, 2008 - 1:35pm | twinspapa
Vickers is a self made millionaire. He doesn't need anyone's support, in fact if I'm not mistaken he says he pays for his own ads.
And unless a person is a born in Alaska Native Alaskan we're all from outside to some extent.
I didn't realize there was a period of time someone had to live here before they could claim residency or Alaska as their home.
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August 21, 2008 - 8:58pm | danamber
I don't have a problem with Mr. Vickers being from out of state. As you say the majority of folks in Alaska are from somewhere else. But ya have to admit it looks a little funny to have a lifetime registered Democrat move all the way across the country to pour a million dollars (so far) into his (now) Republican campaign. I don't for a minute believe his altruistic "love for Alaska" that has him in the race to "replace the corrupt politicians". He's fronting for someone and it's convenient that he has the money to hide them with. There are residency requirements for holding state offices (governor, Lt. Governor etc.), for getting state fishing licenses and for the PFD. Mr. Vickers can only be in this campaign because it's a federal position. Mr. Vickers claims to have visited Alaska often in the past years. But how can he claim to represent a state that he's never resided in until now? Furthermore, his only claim to fame and position is that he's against Senator Stevens. Big whoopie, climb on the dog pile with a bunch of other folks. Just as I don't believe you can build a campaign on the strength of your dead husband and son like Gabrielle Ledoux. I don't believe you can build a campaign worth anything on the fact that you hitchhiked to Alaska 40 years ago. Are we Alaskans really that stupid that we'll buy the garbage?
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August 21, 2008 - 7:51pm | Emperor
He doesn't even qualify for a PFD and you think he can represent us in DC?
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August 21, 2008 - 1:53pm | me1979
self made millionaire from another state...
It doesn't matter if he's paying for his own ads. Bottom line...Living here for 8 months and saying he's been here several times, doesn't give him any kind of right to say, "take back Alaska".
I'm an Alaskan Native, born and raised....
Its all about the dedication to know what is right for a State, such as Alaska.
"I didn't realize there was a period of time...." I also wouldn't sell the Senate seat to someone that doesn't know this state inside and out. knowing the different villages, native cultures and heritage.
Alaska has only been a state for 50 years...FIFTY. We have parents and grandparents that have lived here and lived their whole life here in Alaska, before it became a state.....Now do you really think that a candidate such as Vickers has even the slightest chance......no.
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6 August 21, 2008 - 7:13am | staufen
Naked Ted! ... the little Emperor penguin...
Symbol of Alaska - A penguin (he's the only one here) wearing a Hulk tie, with a nasty disposition, warming his pectoral fins on a fire of burning taxpayer dollars.
Do the comic!
Obviously, California-Ted learned from the old sourdoughs about what to say to insult Vickers, when Ted first came from OUTSIDE to pursue opportunities in Alaska ... in a fast race to live in D.C.
Read the PDFs!!!! A former prosecutor who will tamper with witnesses before they head off to the grand jury will do just about anything.
Good on Vickers for taking on the crazy curmudgeon! Good on Vickers for saying that when it comes to corruption, Begich is another Stevens on training wheels.
RAY WAS RIGHT!!! Maybe the general election should be Vickers-D-as-R facing Metcalfe-R-as-D. Independents could love this too.
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5 August 21, 2008 - 6:37am | gbiegel
Of what? may I ask.
He requested the gifts.
He received the gifts.
He acknowleged receiving the gifts.
He failed to report them.
You may find a benefit in reading the facts of the indictment. Did he realize that raising his house, an entire floor of plumbing, electrical and several months of other work were worth more than $285? That is what the jury will decide.
My guess is you don't care if he's innocent or guilty because you don't care what he's done. He is just too important for our State and we would be crazy to replace him. If this sounds like the prattle rumbling around in your head, then you should turn up the volume to drown out the sound of "Senator Begich".
Stevens can't win. He won't even be running since he will be in DC. How long does it take for a jury to get through 67000 documents and 2800 recorded conversations? He will be in DC for a while. Make a smart move. Vote for the strongest Alaskan Conservative alternative in the Senate race. You'll thank me in September (and again in November when at least conservatives will have a chance.)
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August 21, 2008 - 12:37pm | Tpayne
"Make a smart move. Vote for the strongest Alaskan Conservative alternative in the Senate race. You'll thank me in September (and again in November when at least conservatives will have a chance.)"
That's Bird, brother. We all know it. Can we admit it?
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August 21, 2008 - 8:47am | TheSdog
gave sweetheart deals to unions that backed him.
He has connections with Ted in the Rubini scandal with the piece of land near the library.
He used his position on multiple occasions to try and save Gottstein with the 4th Ave Theater.
Stevens has issues but after the searching they go after him for failing to disclose? That is like going after a gamg member for being out after curfew when they think he may have gunned down three people.
If you think you are getting something different with Begich you are sadly deluded. The truth is you do not care if Begich has issues because innocence and guilt do not matter to you either.
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August 21, 2008 - 8:14am | buddy305
The feds went out of thier way in thier press conference to say Stevens NEVER gave Bill Allen anything in return for any favors. This why he's not being charged with corruption, but rather with a paperwork technicallity.
Also, its worth noting that just today Begich admitted to withholding required info from his disclure statements. So why is he not under endictment? Whats good for the goose.........
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August 21, 2008 - 2:16pm | fred280403
Buddy, I think YOU are missing the point....
There is no way the feds said that "Stevens NEVER gave Bill Allen anything in return for any favors". Are you just making this up or are you deluded (or both)? What the feds DID say was that their specific indictments did not allege a "quid pro quo". They certainly didn't say it never happened - nor would any prosecutor in any circumstances I can imagine.
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August 21, 2008 - 11:09am | banjo
Try keeping up,
In court papers filed Thursday, prosecutors revealed new details about ties between Veco's executives and Stevens. Among the revelations: Prosecutors possess tape-recorded conversations in which Stevens said he would help Veco executives with stalled state legislation needed to authorize construction of a natural gas pipeline.
In one tape-recorded call, Stevens told Allen that he and one of his sons -- then the Alaska state Senate president -- would "try to see if I can get some bigwigs from back here to go up there and say, 'Look, you just gotta make up your mind, you gotta get this done,' " prosecutors wrote.
Stevens himself later urged a state Senate committee to pass the pipeline legislation, prosecutors wrote.
Prosecutors allege that Veco's executives asked for other favors from Stevens and his staff, including help winning a sizable federal grant and assistance in obtaining federal funding for a job-training program.
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August 21, 2008 - 9:41am | celtic_diva_ak
Paperwork technicality...hmmmm...
...you mean, the same way that "tax evasion" is a "paperwork technicality?"
I've said it before and I'll say it again. After over 15 years with the Feds, I can tell you that ANY FEDERAL EMPLOYEE responsible for budget, finance, contracts, projects etc...is required to fill out financial disclosure statesments every year. Those forms are audited every year. If it's proven that they withheld information, they are automatically investigated and will lose their job, possibly pay a fine and/or (if it's really bad) face criminal charges.
I've also told the story before that a project manager I know was investigated just because a contractor friend lent him a beat up old truck for a few days because the PM's truck died. Are you getting how serious this is yet?
Ted, as a U.S. Senator, has been getting away with bloody murder for years. There should absolutely be the same amount of oversight in the Senate as they have in Federal Civil Service.
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August 21, 2008 - 2:11pm | fred280403
There is NOT the same amount of oversight of the legislative branch as there is of the Civil Service - nowhere even close. And none of the Civil Service ethics regs apply to the legislative branch. As a matter of fact, I believe Ted is free to take money (for his personal use - not his campaign) from anyone he sees fit. Bizarre but (unless I am corrected) true....
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4 August 21, 2008 - 5:26am | eight_ball_nine
Fascism is an authoritarian nationalist political ideology and mass movement that is concerned with notions of cultural decline or decadence, and which seeks to achieve a millenarian national rebirth by exalting the nation or race, as well as promoting cults of unity, strength and purity.
Though I empathize, Mr. Vondersaar, it's difficult to label Republicans and people who know how to game the capitalist system as fascists unless you somehow redefine the term. Perhaps you should make up a new, uglier word to describe these people and coin it. Nonetheless, thank you for using the word "fascist" because it made me brush up on my twentieth-century history terminology and, consequently, think up a cyclical political spectrum that includes but is not limited to fascism, communism, capitalism and anarchism.
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August 21, 2008 - 6:14am | BravoSierra
Thank you and may I quote Wikipedia also?
Wasnt Veco a scab outfit?
Fascism also operated from a Social Darwinist view of human relations. Their aim was to promote "superior" individuals and weed out the weak.[82] In terms of economic practice, this meant promoting the interests of successful businessmen while destroying trade unions and other organizations of the working class.[83] Historian Gaetano Salvemini argued in 1936 that fascism makes taxpayers responsible to private enterprise, because "the State pays for the blunders of private enterprise... Profit is private and individual. Loss is public and social."[
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August 21, 2008 - 9:48am | celtic_diva_ak
Alaska has a unique system up here...contracts (oil specifically, don't know about others) I believe are still divvied-up 50/50 union and non-union. Like many oil contractors (HC Price/CONAM), VECO also had a union-side-of-the-house called NORCON.
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August 21, 2008 - 5:49am | leowassilie
but this is the 21st century. Not only that, we have people graduating under the NCLBA. Enough said on that ridiculous law.
The intelligentsia of the US love to use catch all phrases like socialist and communist when a person has an ideal that promotes a responsible society instead of unbridled capitalism.
Then, all you do is scare the intelligentsia and voila, you have fascism.
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3 August 21, 2008 - 3:32am | snowshoe
If you have roads, clean drinking water, a local health clinic, a fire hall close enough to your house to actually do anything but water down a burning foundation, thank Senator Stevens. He's been fighting for us since before statehood. I'm not hearing any Actual Alaskans dissing him. Just new people, who are welcome to go back to where they came from. ("Welcome to Alaska. Now go home".)
Ted Stevens works way harder than any of the rest of us, and he's working for us, to make our lives better/easier. This living in the Last Frontier stuff isn't for sissies, unless you live in Anchorage, Eagle River or the Valley.
I'm going to stick with Senator Stevens for as long as he wants to be our senator. I'm a liberal democrat for Stevens. Go figure.
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August 22, 2008 - 12:10am | jerrydfuller
I am an actual alaskan and I diss Stevens all the time. Stevens has not done one possible thing for me that I could name. Stevens came to Alaska as a Washington insider and he has remained that. Alaska was a new state. Any Senator would have done as much as he did, probably more. He did not start the pipeline or the native claims acts...he just took advantage of them.
He knew how to get votes in the Bush and which cities, towns and fishing lodge owners to make beholding to him for his favors.
He is a con artist from D.C.
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August 21, 2008 - 10:11am | lecjb
Well then, let me be the first "Actual Alaskan" to inform you
that there really are "Actual Alaskans" who don't like and have never liked Senator Stevens.
I am an "Actual Alaskan," born and raised. My family has been in Alaska since the 1890's. My family has been here for so many years that the only people who have been here longer are the ones who have been here for thousands of years. I fit the standard demographic of the majority of Alaskans by not being a Republican or a Democrat, and I have NEVER voted for Stevens, nor will I ever.
Stevens and Young are both obnoxious asses; I shudder when I hear them speak, and have been embarrased for years that they are representing Alaska to our nation and the rest of the world.
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August 21, 2008 - 1:46pm | twinspapa
but I agree with the rest of your comments.
I've only been in Alaska a few decades but I recall thinking when I first arrived here and started hearing about Young and Stevens, that I thought they were both pompous, arrogant, self serving and obnoxious.
I can't believe Alaskan's continued to put them back in DC term after term, it's like a bad virus that we can't seem to get rid of.
A lot of Alaskan's seem to be asleep at the wheel, they think that those 2 still have credibility in DC because of what they've forced down governments throats in the past.
Their era is over. They're done, they have no credibility. I will give them credit and that is they know what the issues are regarding ANWR for example but they no longer have the stroke to get it done.
Our reps are a big fat joke in the lower 48. That's the truth and the sooner we realize this the faster we can move forward.
The next incumbent(s) could easily be removed if they don't perform to our liking. These other 2 have to either die or be eviscerated to be removed from office and that's not a good thing people!
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August 21, 2008 - 4:30am | palmerbuyer
about 'Actual Alaskans'.
I grew up here....and I've lived in several places that were not 'Anchorage, Eagle River, or the Valley'. Alaska is HOME.
And I'm not impressed by Stevens' and his minions.
Gifts and loans are required to be reported. That is a FACT.
He didn't report the gifts. FACT.
He didn't report a $30K interest free loan. FACT.
He broke the law that HE and the other senators wrote.
Stevens is not being accused of not 'doing enough' in the past. He is being accused of not remembering that he wasn't above the law.
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August 21, 2008 - 5:33am | leowassilie
He remembers the Gilliam gifts though
is it ok for Senators to accept $250,000 worth of gifts from campaign contributors?
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August 21, 2008 - 9:07am | Diogenes_lamp
I'm glad to disappoint you. But I remember when Unca Teddy was appointed to his job. I'm an Alaskan, was born here before statehood and think Ted is a crook.
Before Ted, the grass was still green, the sky was still blue, the water was good and Alaskans were proud of their government. (for the most part)
I supported Ted for years but stopped when it became crystal clear that Ted and his son Ben were enriching themselves through their jobs of representing us. Listen closely Snowshoe, THEY ARE CROOKS....no amount of hero-worship by you or any of the other Kool-Ade gulpers is going to change that.
It's time for you to wake up and start paying attention.
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August 21, 2008 - 8:19pm | drdrmann
Ted Stevens the last Racketeer
Right on D- LAMP! Ted is toast and he deserves the guillotine for commiting honest services fraud againt the American people and Alaskan citizens. He's hurt so many people just by working for the oil companies and letting them charge exorbitant prices for gasoline and diesel. He worked for Big Oil's benefit, not for his constituents.
He worked for fisheries processors and help them price fix for pollock & crab, while it leaned on salmon prices. What about no bid contracts for Native Corps, if that doesn't violate the Equality Xlause of the Constitution and don't know what does. Ted has so many impropriaties that there are too many to list.
He put 1,000 of my crab fishing commrades out of work and now the 500 guys left get paid peanuts instead of in $100 bills. Who's going to go the Bering Sea to crab fish for 50 to 70% less than them made previous to Ted privatizing for 70 people.
He's a liar, a thief, and he deserves God to throw the book at him after the DOJ sinks him. He sure has changed definitions of hulk. He went from the capitalized version, a strong person to the ship for keeping inmates on. Both are green, but one is strong and the other a slippery deck full criminals in chains.
Ben the Guppy will go to jail for a long time too. I predict Ted will take a dirt nap before he's finished being sentenced for RACKETEERING!
"you can pay for justice, but you can't buy truth" Shawn D
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2 August 21, 2008 - 12:24am | metcomre
Begich told the Anchorage Daily News that Jon Rubini gave him an interest in an office building as the result of a real estate commission. I've been a real estate broker for 34 years and I know what real estate commissions look like --- and what Jon Rubini gave Begich did not look like a real estate commission at all.
I have repeatedly asked Begich to dispel my suspicions of bribery and live up to his promise of openness by showing the voters his records.
Every time I raise the question he says “I answered all your questions,” hoping everyone listening will believe he had previously answered my questions when in fact he has refused, offering only the same old “I answered all your questions” comment every time.
Begich has been promising openness in his ads while refusing to produce the records to back up his claims that the interest Rubini gave Begich in his office building and then bought back later was money that Rubini paid him as commission.
Sounds a lot like Ted Stevens and his Florida condo doesn’t it.
Any way, after months of asking it’s pretty clear that Begich can’t produce the paperwork to prove that it was a commission and the only logical reason I can think of is because the money was really a bribe and the paperwork doesn’t exist.
State law prohibits sails agents from receiving commissions from anyone other than the broker they work for.
Begich hid the payment that Rubini paid him for four years. When busted he made up a ferry tail about it being a commission and I called him on it.
If it was in fact a commission and not a bribe, he would have put this issue to rest by producing the paperwork to prove it months ago.
Tom Anderson, Pete Kott and Vick Kohring need the company. Stay tuned for the perp walk.
Yours Truly
Ray Metcalfe
O-and PS Stags, I'm not AKmooster
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August 21, 2008 - 1:18pm | trappercreek
Go get 'em Ray. Alaska ain't for ferry tails.
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15 December 26, 2008 - 6:59am | nero6
Thanks
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