Murkowski Asks Bush to Pardon Ted Stevens.
18 01 2009Is anyone surprised?
I’m not.
Murkowski’s spokesperson, Mike Brumas spoke to CBS News’ Ryan Corsaro by phone, saying that Sen. Murkowski had made the request to President Bush, but would not give details.
“It’s a sensitive time right now,” said Brumas after confirming the pardon had been requested. Murkowski does not have an announcement scheduled for tomorrow.
A spokesperson from the White House could not be immediately reached for comment.
Why am I not surprised? I infiltrated the Ted Stevens “Welcome Home Convicted Felon” party at the Era Aviation hangar back in October, and Lisa was one of the featured speakers.
Here’s what I posted back then, after the event:
Here was one angry lady. After being introduced by [local radio personality Rick] Rydell as the “other Senator”, she was met with lots of cheering and chants of LEE-SA! LEE-SA! She flashed the crowd what I can only describe as a you’re-in-deep-trouble ”Mom face” and said “NO. NO. This is not about me. THIS IS ABOUT ALASKA!” Then, she went on and on about how Ted has “more to give”, and he had faith in us, and we need to have faith in him, and that it was “not a good day for the country when justice is not duly served.” Then she proceeded to slam everyone she could think of for turning on Ted, including the Democratic National Committee (boos from the crowd). She, of course failed to mention that the Republican National Committee, The Republican Senate Minority Leader, The Republican Presidential Candidate, and our own Republican Governor VP Candidate Sarah Palin ALSO asked Ted to step down. Details, details. Much more fun to Boo the DNC. And then the grand finale…we were told to “feel the love in the room” and “wrap our arms around Ted” and give him a “hero’s welcome.”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski at the "Welcome Home" rally for convicted felon Ted Stevens on 10-29-08
Clearly, Murkowski is on the “personality over principle” bandwagon that Alaska politicians of all stripes seem to be riding these days. And frankly, she doesn’t have much to lose. “Ted Love ” is very much alive in the state, and the news of FBI whistle-blowers telling all about the shenanigans of the prosecution in the trial, is only playing up the “poor old sympathetic Uncle Ted” meme.
If you need any more convincing, take a look at the garb being sported by attendees and Stevens staffers at the rally.
Ah, yes. Class all the way.
Now, if Bush does pardon Ted, and Ted accepts the pardon, won’t that mean that he is admitting his own guilt? He said repeatedly that he wouldn’t SEEK a pardon, but never said he wouldn’t ACCEPT one.
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January 18th, 2009 at 5:28 PM
I hope that Bush isn’t waiting until the last minute to pardon anyone.
It would be the final insult.
January 18th, 2009 at 5:29 PM
Hey AKM — did you get my emails?
Stevens is too slippery to ever spend any time behind bars. He’ll bullshit his way out somehow…..
January 18th, 2009 at 5:37 PM
AKM – you rock. Thanks!
January 18th, 2009 at 5:54 PM
‘He said repeatedly that he wouldn’t SEEK a pardon, but never said he wouldn’t ACCEPT one.’
You wrote it here first, AKM. He’ll take it. Betcha a C note, that’s been the deal betwixt and between him and Ms. Lisa since before the “Welcome Home Convicted Felon” party.
January 18th, 2009 at 5:58 PM
A pardon will make the Feds work extra hard to nail Sarah !!!
January 18th, 2009 at 6:12 PM
I told my husband just a bit ago, the only thing about all the attention being on OBama right now is that you can never tell what the old Bush gang are doing on their way out of town. I thought he left the White House yestereday, can sign a pardon this late…at Camp David? Maybe it was a done deal last week, and they are just going to release it tomorrow or Tuesday hoping it will get buried on the far back pages of the news unitl sometime next week. I’m sure we will be hearing lots more dirty tricks that have been done on Bushes way out of town….so, My guess is as good as yours…
If Ted takes the pardon he will always go down as a convicted felon that was pardon at the very, very, very last second….not a good thing for his ailing image…
January 18th, 2009 at 6:15 PM
One of things about Lisa is she can’t be her own women.. She is Still Frank,Ted and Don’s little puppet on a string.. the only thing she has going for her is she is socially moderate and she might obtain energy relief for rural Alaskans (some human compassion???). My expectations are LOW.
January 18th, 2009 at 6:17 PM
I am, unsurprising, not surprised.
January 18th, 2009 at 6:22 PM
Peaceful Grammy – Pardoned by the worst President ever……..Don’t forget about the half a mil. on the dishes the other day!! Michelle needs to send that back and say “No Thanks” If the dish company whines….send it to Crawford C.O.D !!
January 18th, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Blue Moose – I hear ya! It’s like I keep thinking, “It could be worse.” And it sure has been. But I’m tired of feeling like that. I want for my state what we got for the nation. At least some hope. Begich is a start – but —-
January 18th, 2009 at 6:37 PM
If Uncle Ted receives a pardon, does he keep all the swag?
January 18th, 2009 at 6:49 PM
Disgusting!
January 18th, 2009 at 7:04 PM
And so the worm turns, so slowly. I thin this is just a gesture. And if akdennis is right, the Cheney puppetmaster will say thanks, but no thanks to that pardon.
January 18th, 2009 at 7:12 PM
DrChillNo Gravatar (17:28:17) :
I hope that Bush isn’t waiting until the last minute to pardon anyone.
It would be the final insult.
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I am not surprised and I think Bush is holding back some pardons for tomorrow…on his way out…No wonder Barbie thinks she can do whatever….
But people are asking for Bush/Cheney’s heads…they are even saying OBama must act and not “take the high road”
I think corruption in politics should not be tolerated at any level, and I’m hoping under Obama, he looks under every nook and Cranny….HERE THAT BARBIE???
Also any word on Nick in the Bush yet? Did he get out? It would be great if this could get out tomorrow and overshadow Barbies interview with Glenn beck, or be a Monstrous question “So what are you doing about it?” if it goes viral before the program…
Also Mudpups…when is the inauguration on Tues? in the morning? What time PT or AK time? I thought it was going to be in the evening, but now I’m seeing the morning? Who knows?
January 18th, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Where did it say on the ballots we cast that political election confers immunity against legal prosecution??
Bush and Cheney–war criminals
Stevens–corruption with 7 felony counts
Palin–abuse of power and ethical violations….not to mention stupidity ( Oh, wait….that’s the voters’ fault for electing her)
January 18th, 2009 at 7:14 PM
I’m steeling myself for Bush pardoning all these scheisters in the final day. It will be like, behind all the good talk about duty and patiotism to get us into the Iraq war, behind it all was just a lousy attempt to install Chalabi in Saddam’s place. Of course, that failed. The pardons won’t.
January 18th, 2009 at 7:18 PM
I say pardon him. In exchange, he has to agree to supervise the work crews that take his name off of every public facility named after him. And he has to let me do the documentary on the removal job…
January 18th, 2009 at 7:26 PM
Now that Stevens has been thrown out of office, a pardon would be no big thing, but maybe Bush doesn’t have the stomach for any more politicking. He’s already at the stage where he’s saying very flattering things about Barack Obama.
crystalwolf a.k.a. caligrl (19:12:07) :
Also Mudpups…when is the inauguration on Tues? in the morning?
There is a legal requirement for the inauguration to take place before noon.
January 18th, 2009 at 7:55 PM
I have not a single doubt that Ted would accept the pardon, even if he said he wouldn’t seek one. I doubt Lisa did this on her own or without Uncle Ted’s full approval.
If Bush has any brains, the last person he’ll pardon is himself.
January 18th, 2009 at 8:04 PM
Being an Outsider, I really don’t care if he gets a pardon, but I think the ol’ codger should be under house arrest for the rest of his life — wouldn’t that be ironic? He can spend the rest of his days thumbing through all those papers he’s now down in Washington DC trying to organize for his appeal lawyers.
January 18th, 2009 at 8:11 PM
Get him a house for house arrest in Bethel. Let him pay ten bucks a gallon for milk. Put Uncle Ted in the Bush, and maybe Palin will get interested in their plight. NOT.
January 18th, 2009 at 8:17 PM
I say, “give him the Pardon”!
January 18th, 2009 at 8:25 PM
Murkowski seems like Bush, born standing on 3rd Base and thinks she hit a triple. When your Daddy hands you a Senate seat it should be pretty clear to
you that you’re beholding to a lot of people (Daddy and all that supported Daddy).
Oddly I don’t think Bush will pardon very many people. To a degree I think he feels he’s been thrown away by his party for the last year and additionally he never has cared about anyone but himself and maybe a few very close cronies (those who repeatedly kissed his arse). I can see perhaps Scooter Libby and maybe some Texans who may have helped along the way but that’s it.
Having said that though, you never know about Bush. If he does pardon anyone it will probably be on Tuesday at 11:59am, his final FU to the country he’s been giving the finger to for the last 8 years.
Anyway, just my 2 cents worth. All I know is that I can hardly wait until Tuesday when Bush’s Reign of Terror will officially be over. It will take some time to ferret out all the loyal Bushie’s who’ve burrowed themselves in but they’ll be exposed and removed eventually. Then maybe we can finally get our country back.
January 18th, 2009 at 8:26 PM
If Stevens accepts a pardon, that is acknowledging that the conviction was legal (see Scooter Libby)- from what I’ve read/watched, I don’t think he would want that. But what do I know-
I hope Bush does not make any more pardons. He has not signed that many-
January 18th, 2009 at 8:29 PM
Women Who Run With The Wolves (20:17:30) :
I say, “give him the Pardon”!
________________________________________
Do you mean this really, or are you being sarcastic?
January 18th, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Hey Lisa! Hope someone investigates you! Obama ain’t gonna pardon your arse!
January 18th, 2009 at 9:39 PM
Looks like Lisa is showing her true colors. Wonder if she will get reelected this way? You know, it continues to surprise me that many Alaskans still stand behind these crooks. Nothing will change until people start standing up to this crap and vote these people out. Where are the principles — a right and a wrong?
January 18th, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Just when Lisa was starting to look like she wasn’t a puppet on a string anymore….but then again, if Ted accepts the pardon he admits his guilt.
C’mon Unka Ted, confess!
January 19th, 2009 at 12:06 AM
Is there anyone that has done more to help Alaska Natives than Ted Stevens? I think not.
January 19th, 2009 at 4:39 AM
@Visitor. This is what help from Ted Stevens looks like? Thanks but no thanks! Through the years, the goal and aim of the U.S. and some State Governments has been the extermination of all Native cultures if not the Natives themselves.
January 19th, 2009 at 6:17 AM
I think this is more than just smart politics for Lisa, it’s who she is. She is part of the next generation of the old boys club. It’s no accident daddy picked her for his seat. The real bad part of it for Alaska though, is a weakened Lisa would put Palin back in play for her seat.
January 19th, 2009 at 7:01 AM
Burdick v. United States, 236 U.S. 79 (1915) would seem to cover the matter regarding an imputation of guilt.
Of course, Stevens could always die before the inauguration, Bush could pardon him and no imputation could occur since he hadn’t officially accepted – name cleared post mortem.
I doubt that either are smart enough to pull it off.
January 19th, 2009 at 2:05 PM
“…Back in Bethel, I met a dentist, a man who ran a janitorial-supplies service, and a man who ran a fuel service. I asked them how they thought Bethel and the villages it supported would fare without Ted Stevens in the Senate, in a time without earmarks. The dentist said, “We’re f***ed,” and the janitorial-supplies man said, “There will be ghost towns.” The fuel-oil man pointed to a hard black, jagged, wedge-shaped object on his desk, and asked if I knew what kind of tooth it was. “Mastodon,” he said.”
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/09/22/080922fa_fact_gourevitch
January 20th, 2009 at 4:40 PM
The Murkowski pardon letter
http://community.adn.com/adn/node/136924