Reid Says Stevens Cannot Serve

[DainBramaged]

Source: Roll Call

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was forced into the middle of Sen. Ted Stevens’ (R-Alaska) re-election bid late Saturday night after a senior Senate Democrat endorsed Stevens and called on voters to disregard his seven-count felony conviction.

In a bluntly worded release from his office, Reid warned that Stevens would not only face an ethics investigation but also expulsion proceedings regardless of his efforts to appeal the convictions.

Reid’s decision to jump into the Alaska Senate race with both feet marks the first time a leading national Democrat has explicitly warned that Stevens’ ouster from the Senate would be sought. GOP leaders including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) have already called for him to step down or face expulsion.

Reid also rebuffed comments made by Sen. Daniel Inouye (Hawaii), one of the chamber’s senior Democrats who had previously endorsed Stevens, and who has reaffirmed that sentiment since his conviction last month.

In a statement released by the Stevens campaign, Inouye argues that his longtime friend will be seated as a Member of the Senate next year if re-elected and that he believes the felony convictions will be overturned.



Read more: http://www.rollcall.com/news/29690-1.html

[Blue_In_AK]

1. I don't know what the deal is with Senator Inouye

and Senator Stevens. I understand friendship and all that, but this level of denial on both of their parts is pretty disturbing.

[PatSeg]

9. I don't understand it either,

though they both have been in the senate forever. Inouye was featured in Frank Burns "The War" and his story was very impressive. I may disagree with his unwavering support of Stevens, but I have enormous respect for the man.

Maybe it is just time to retire. 46 years in the senate is a long time.

[amb123]

14. Ken Burns / Frank Burns

Ken Burns produced "The War". Frank Burns was the stupid right-wing doctor on the TV show M*A*S*H who gave us the Republican Party Creed:

"Unless we each conform, unless we follow orders, unless we obey our leaders blindly there is no possible way we can remain free!"

:hi:

[PatSeg]

16. Oops!

As I typed it, it didn't sound quite right!!

[skepticscott]

37. And the other Republican Party Creed:

"They don't respect human life the way we do. I'd like to take him out and shoot him!"

[amb123]

57. The Sarah Palin Corollary

"I love animals, that's why I like to shoot 'em!"

[Lancer]

53. Frank Burns Classic:

It was one of those days that more than most, reminds us that war, however much we may enjoy it, is no strawberry festival.

:hi:

[pokercat999]

17. They both have been in the Senate way too long and are

prime examples of the case for term limits. They are permanent members of the American royal court....sicking. I'm not talking voting records, I'm not talking how nice they may be I'm talking about bloodsucking leaches that are worst than any welfare queen ever dreamt up by the RW slime machine.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

25. IT WOULD BE NICE IF THE MSM would make this headlines tomorrow

it highlights the corruption of the GOP

[bertman]

33. Yes, pokercat999, I concur. And yes, they are sickening.

[Ken Burch]

26. It could be a bond as senators from "far away" states.

And it could also be that it frightens Senator Inouye that Stevens, whose margins of victory have been about as large as Inouye's, could suddenly be beatable.

It could simply be the "club" mentality in the Senate, as well.

[AllyCat]

34. Supposedly, they "help" each other out on things that only benefit

their states that might be otherwise tough to pass. It's an unholy alliance IMO.

[KamaAina]

65. That is *supposed* to be the deal. Instead, Stevens says "Jump!" and Inouye asks "How high?"

Inouye routinely goes against the wishes of pretty much everyone here in supporting ANWR drilling, a pet Stevens cause. Meanwhile, Stevens sits on his scaly little hands while his fellow repukes torpedo the Akaka bill for Federal recognition of the Native Hawaiian people year after year. :grr:

edit: header

[ColbertWatcher]

40. Maybe it's time someone looked at Inouye's house(s)?! n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

41. I would wager that he has received contributions

from VECO in large amounts -- if not directly, for sure through Ted Stevens' Northern Lights PAC.

[ColbertWatcher]

45. He's not as corrupt as Stevens (who is!), maybe it really is a kinship? n/t

[Demeter]

2. Sounds Like Inouye Has Got to Go

He was always a loose cannon. Now if he's senile, even more so.

[ClarkUSA]

4. He made derogatory remarks about Obama during the primary that he had to later apologize for...

Inouye also votes for drilling in ANWR everytime. He needs to go. So does Hawaii's nasty anti-Obama Republican governor, who is a big Palin booster.

[Grinchie]

31. Linda Lingle is the source for the Cells used to make the Clone Palin

Linda Lingle is the worst, syrup covered bag of Republican slime there is. The only reason she is not McCains VP pick is because she has dealing with Abrahamoff, gave waivers to the Hawaii Superferry that allowed them to circument and enviromental assessment of it's impact, and gave them 40,000,000 dollars of free harbor upgrades. Now she is cutting childrens healthcare which is a fraction of that 40,000,000.

Lingle has kissed Bush's ass for a long time, and the result is that it is coming back to haunt her in a big way. Unfortunately, she, like Bush, have no remorse, and are hurting the state as much as they can before getting booted out of office.

[ClarkUSA]

52. What I want to know is how the hell did a Bush Republican become governor in Hawaii?

I hope Pres. Obama campaigns for her challenger the next time around.

[busybl]

50. hmmm

I wonder if Hawaii has any oil. Let's see how it would play to drill there.

[Delphinus]

64. Didn't he chair a major investigation?

He's got a bad arm? He was in the military? He chaired Watergate? Or Iran-Contra? And isn't he a Democrat?

[shadowknows69]

3. Careful Harry. There are symptoms of spine growth happening.

Better have that looked at.

[Demeter]

6. Frightening, Isn't It?

Wonder which toe Daniel stepped on.

[bertman]

36. Keen diagnosis there, shadow. I'm pretty sure it's the testosterone emanating from "the

pair" that Hillary lent him for the weekend.

He'll return to his old ways when she gets them back on Monday.

[Kalifornia.Kid]

5. My Hawaii relatives consider Senator Inouye a "one-armed bandit" and calls him Senator "In-your-way"

[Jakes Progress]

19. He's been riding that Watergate

gravy train for a long time. Time to get off.

[NV Whino]

7. Brave talk, Harry

When you know he isn't going to be reelected in the first place.

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

8. Reid's Comment

I feel a little odd. A touch of light headedness is coming on. I think I just heard Senator Reid reinflate his nads. Ted needs to go and Dan can go with him.

[dkofos]

10. I guess Reid doesn't think ted has a chance at reelection.

And Inouye needs to just STFU and watch his back.
Anyone with that much time in the Senate can't be pure as snow.
YOU COULD BE NEXT!!

[CLANG]

11. I'll give Reid one vertebrae (a small one)

but he has a long way to go to grow a complete spine.

[orbitalman]

12. Inouye has not been 100% pro-Democrat.

Over the years I have watched him even in hearings and have been diametrically opposed to a number of his positions. He is a difficult read and hard to understand where he is coming from at times.

[Grinchie]

32. He is a Military/Industrial Enabler

He has no party other than Corporatist.

Watch him intervene on behalf of Ollie North in the Iran/Contra hearing when a Senator quetions North on REX 84 or Continuity of Goverment. He has shown his true colors for a long time, but nobody has been paying attention.

[Piewhacket]

48. b1924. He is of the greatest generation-

abt 86 years old. military hero (DSC upgraded to Medal of Honor, June 2000)
"Go for Broke" regiment (442nd). Helped rescue the Texas "Lost Battalion"
in one of the bloodiest actions in WWII. A genuine war hero. The real deal.

(I found out years after his death that my college adviser "shuki",
a physics prof, was in the US japanese internment camps, then in the 442.
I kept wondering why the other profs were so respectful of one of
his "charges", ie me. I remember how he was always encouraging me to do better.
But did I listen to him? Nooooooooo. Of course not. I was just a smart
kid who already knew everything.
Now here I am, a lost soul posting in DU..... so let that be a grave
warning to all you younger folks: listen to shuki!)

Anyway, that was a different generation. Inouye is moderate to conservative, yet
generally aligns with Dems. He is NOT a progressive Dem.
Still, Dems are very glad and proud to have him.

Yet, with deep respect, it is perhaps time for a new generation.
So let us play it that way, yes?

[Peace Patriot]

13. Reid is wrong (or the headline is). It's not that Stevens "cannot" serve. He certainly

can. The Constitution protects the right of the people to vote for WHOMEVER THEY WISH, for House or Senate--even a convicted felon--because prosecution, conviction and imprisonment are executive functions that can be misused by the president (as, formerly, by kings) to harass the peoples' most direct representatives. This is not a matter of the privilege of the rich and powerful, or of Bushwhacks, as some have wrongly stated. It is a fundamental protection of Congress against executive tyranny. Once elected, a member of Congress may be deprived of his/her seat in only two ways: by vote of Congress on the validity of the vote totals ("certification" of the election) or by impeachment. Not certifying the election leaves the people without a rep until a new election can be held, and would involve election officials or others in a finding of election fraud. Impeachment requires an investigation, hearings and a vote by Congress on throwing the member out.

It is for this reason that I totally oppose barring convicted felons from voting. A convicted felon can be elected president of the United States (theoretically), also to Congress. It is thus the right of convicts and the convicted to participate in the political process. It is unconstitutional to deprive them of that right. Also a convicted felon, who is in prison, CAN serve in Congress. He or she cannot be detained by executive authorities, right down to the local police and courts, nor prevented from entering Congress and conducting the peoples' business. And someone in custody at the time of election must be released to perform his/her duties as the peoples' rep.

So, neither Reid nor "Roll Call" is accurate in saying that Stevens "cannot" serve. It is accurate to say that Reid doesn't want him to serve, and will permit or lead either an impeachment proceeding, or non-certification. Both are troublesome. Both could entail significant public opposition. Reid or others would have to present their case and convince Congress to evict (or not seat) Stevens. And if Stevens IS elected (in so far as anyone can tell, given vote counting by Diebold & brethren), Congress would be overturning the will of the people--no small thing.

As for cronies like Inouye supporting Stevens, I don't think that is based on respect for the Constitution. Inouye began shredding the Constitution back in the Reagan "Iran/Contra" days. Reagan and his death squads blatantly violated a specific prohibition by Congress of a war on Nicaragua. Inouye presided over the hearings that inflicted only wrist-slaps for that horror, and let Reagan entirely off the hook--for the full scale war, including drug trafficking and weapons dealings with Iran that was conducted right under Reagan's rotten nose. Post-Vietnam violation of the Constitution's clear--couldn't be clearer--provision giving Congress SOLE POWER to declare war began back then, in the Reagan era, and it began with Inouye's failure to impeach--or even impune--Reagan. The cementing of the highly corrupt system of war profiteering, overseen by the president with the acquiescence of Congress, occurred then, was never corrected, and led straight to Bush Jr.'s tyrannical policy of pre-emptive war and the war on Iraq.

I have no sympathy for Inouye or Stevens. Both should be in jail for the rest of their lives, as far as I'm concerned. But we should be careful of the Constitution, and its protections of Congress, and of the rights of all citizens--felons or not--a point on which many DUers seemed very ignorant during the McKinney and Jefferson incidents.

[jamesinca]

24. I think a Senate ethics investigation can

If I remember right a Senate investigation for ethics can bar a member of the Senate, remove them from their seat. This is something I was reading about the Keating 5 scandal and John McCain.

[Peace Patriot]

61. Yes, the Senate can impeach and evict a member. The evicted Senator then loses

any legal protection he has as a member of Congress. The other route is not seating him in the first place, calling his election into question, but since our DINO's are into protecting the Bushwhack election theft corporations, they likely won't challenge the election. They cannot keep him out of the Senate any other other, and once his election is "certified," investigation, impeachment and removal is the only way to do it.

Please understand I have no sympathy for this thieving asshole Bushwhack, Stevens, but I am bloody sick of the Constitution being trampled by Pukes and DINOs alike, and I'm often appalled at people here at DU who put politics before the Constitution. If they don't like somebody, like Rep. Jefferson, they think it's all right for his offices in Congress to be raided by the FBI (the EXECUTIVE BRANCH!), or Rep. McKinney. It's okay with them for her to be strong-armed at the door of Congress, because they don't like her. The principle of the separation of powers, and Congress as an EQUAL branch of government, MUST be maintained. We have lost so much of this balance. Politics cannot be the first consideration when it comes to the fundamental law of this land.

[DainBramaged]

54. Thank you for protecting our freedom to allow Ted Stevens back into Congress

:eyes:

[clixtox]

62. A horrible post from you "DainBramaged"! Peace Patriot has only provided information!

Information that any intelligent person would appreciate knowing. To disparage DU stalwart "Peace Patriot" for his willingness to bother informing those interested in the law and procedures concerning our Senators and Congress persons ability to continue in office once convicted of crime(s) is very weak, and stupid.

Shame on you!

[Cleita]

15. All well and good but why can't Reid show that same courage in

regard to impeachment.

[truedelphi]

47. Yes that was my reaction also. reid voted on things tht make my skin crawl,

Including the give away of our Social Security monies in last month's "Bailout Bill"

But now he has courage. Or rather, now he has COurage?:?????????

[Ferret Annica]

18. Reid sees Stevens is on the edge and is giving the boy a nudge

and if this helps send him over the edge and into the pit he dug himself, it's all good.

[DailyGrind51]

20. WTF, Inouye was such a tiger at the Watergate hearings too!

Is he getting soft in his old age?

[47of74]

21. You can actually see Reid's spine unaided now

Before you needed an electron microscope to see Reid's spine.

[protect our future]

22. Stevens won't serve if elected. That has been what some Repubs are

saying ... that they'll expell him.

So does that mean a new Senator will be chosen by the Alaskan governor? Is that how it works? Meaning that Palin may select Palin?

[Lochloosa]

23. Palin would select a Senator. Then there would be a special election in 90 days.

And she can chose herself.

[busybl]

51. read the other day that it doesn't work that way in Alaska

the gov. can't appoint one. Has to be a special election. anybody know the article I'm thinking of?

[BearSquirrel2]

63. I think Stevens knows he's done ...

I think Stevens KNOWS he's done but he's trying to stop Democrats from getting the supermajority. Yes, if Stevens if re-elected and subsequently is expelled or retires, Palin will nominate his replacement. Some suspect she might nominate herself.

[JDwho]

27. How can Ted Stevens hold a position in the senate, even if miraculously elected?

He has been convicted of seven felonies. He, by law, cannot cast a vote in the presidential election, much less cast many, many votes in the senate on behalf of the people.
:shrug:

[DainBramaged]

28. Because he is a Rethuglican?

[cstanleytech]

29. What votes that a senator usually does exactly couldnt he cast?

[Grinchie]

30. Inouye has long sing passed the point of being a Democrat

Daniel Inouye is a pork feeder on par with Stevens, and they most likely collaborate on how to wring the most pork out of washington to feed the Militarization of Both Hawaii and Alaska.

After seeing his voting history, I determined that Inouye was evil back in 2003, but since he has a captive Military consistuency in Hawaii, he has support where he would otherwise have none.

His defense of Stevens is a sign the the Sustainable Military's day are numbered, and he is fighting for his life.

[AllyCat]

35. Suppose Harry will send him a strongly worded letter?

I'll believe this spine with a LOT more proof

[Hekate]

38. I'm so sorry. Senator Inouye is a loyal friend, but in this he is wrong.

Senator Inouye has represented Hawai'i in Congress since it achieved statehood in 1959. He and Stevens have therefore known each other for about 40 years, and are friends. He is also a lifelong friend of Bob Dole, whom he met in the hospital while both were recovering from their respective war wounds.

I hope Inouye survives his defense of Stevens with his own reputation intact. His own career is very distinguished, and I trust that he knows nothing of the way business in Alaska was done...

Hekate

[underpants]

39. This is nothing but a pre-election cold political move

I love it :bounce:

[TygrBright]

42. Of course Inouye didn't think Stevens had done anything wrong...

...Teddy didn't do anything Dan hasn't been doing slightly less flamboyantly for years.

Heard it here first, folks. Dan Inouye is going to be the next major Congressional corruption scandal. What was Reid thinking to give him Byrd's Committee?

"Mr. Fox? We've been losing a few chickens, lately. Could I ask you to keep an eye on the henhouse?"

:eyes:

disgustedly,
Bright

[bigdgib]

43. Give me a break

I'm surprised Senator Reid had the brass to formulate an "opinion" on his own without first checking with the Bush Administration...

[DainBramaged]

55. Welcome to DU!

[L0oniX]

44. Hell ...what's a little seven felony count compared to the Bush murder war crimes?

:sarcasm: :evilfrown:

[zbdent]

46. Traficant was quite the mouth about all kinds of stupidity in Congress,

often chastising Clinton ...

and yet, because he was a Dem, and the # of dems would possibly tip the balance (and also probably as a warning to all Dems), the Repukes made sure that Traficant was shot down with a hail of judicial bullets which would make the end of the "Bonnie and Clyde" movie look like two kids with pump-action BB rifles ...

[DainBramaged]

56. You got that right, hell bring him back then

[zbdent]

58. I hear his hairpiece died when a spurned lover stuck a shiv in it ...

[busybl]

49. we must have term limits

government service was not meant to be a lifetime gig. That is one of the reasons nothing ever changes.
The same greedy people with no new thoughts, no new ideas and their fellows hogs at the trough covering
up their loss of capacity. In corporate America you have to retire at 65 in most companies and these guys hang on till they are dead. How can anything ever change if they are so old they can't even remember anything.

[pam4water]

59. I remember seeing something about Sen. Daniel Inouye and a road in Florida

as and earmark trades to a lobbiest, a couple of years ago?

[Wizard777]

60. He can't vote in this election either. They should stake out Stevens to see if he illegally votes.

If he does vote he should be charged with voter fraud. Next case!