WTF is wrong with Daniel Inouye?

[marmar]

:wtf:



from the AP:



Inouye predicts Stevens will keep his Senate seat
10 hours ago

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye provided a campaign boost Saturday to embattled Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, predicting that his colleague from Alaska will win re-election and overturn his conviction on appeal.

"I am absolutely confident that Ted Stevens will be sworn into the Senate while he appeals this unjust verdict," said Inouye, D-Hawaii, a longtime friend of Stevens. "I am certain that this decision in Washington, D.C., will be overturned on appeal."

Stevens was convicted last month by a jury in Washington on seven counts of lying on Senate disclosure forms to conceal more than $250,000 in gifts and renovations to his home from VECO Corp. founder Bill Allen.

Inouye's written statement was issued at the request of the Stevens campaign — an unusual case of a Democratic senator campaigning against a Democratic Senate candidate.

It seeks to counter Stevens' Democratic opponent, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, who says Stevens can't effectively represent the state while pursuing an appeal. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ja_EJg1Qyff9S1_ISk7BLGUn72vQD946HOMG0

[Le Taz Hot]

1. Now that the Democrats will "have the votes,"

(repeated ad nauseum on DU), these Vischy Dems must be replaced.

[JI7]

2. the Hawaii and Alaska Senators have a certain relationship

with them not being part of the continental United States .

[charlie]

4. Yeah

Inouye, Akaka, and Stevens have always seemed to vote in a bloc.

[speedoo]

7. I know. But it's still bullshit.

Stevens is a convicted felon, already.

Sheesh.

[HereSince1628]

3. It's a long standing Alaska-Hawaii alliance....check this...

http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/07/the-senates-unlikely-hawaii-alaska-allies/

[babylonsister]

5. They're buddies that go way back. I wish he had kept his trap shut myself. nt

[fascisthunter]

6. You Know What? Fuck Him...

I have no patience for this type of political shit. Ted Stevens is a scumbag crook, and if Mr. Inouye thinks it's honourable to stand up for the likes of that man, well, it says everything I need to know about him too. Fuck him and any dem that pulls this shit.

[Canuckistanian]

9. Yes. It's taking "collegiality" a bit too far

I thought that "associating with criminals" was a BAD thing in America.

And what Stevens did was was definitely a crime - potentially MORE serious than a mere robbery or tax evasion.

It's a violation of public trust.

[Veronica.Franco]

8. Daniel Inouye is one of the top five pork-barrel spenders ...

The people of Hawaii would like to be rid of Inouye ... the few that I have met on my travels there had NOTHING good to say about him ... the old man is 84 years old now and it's time to put him out to pasture ... here's his connection to Stevens ...

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/10/13/daily12.html

A government watchdog group said Tuesday Sen. Daniel Inouye is one of Washington’s top five pork-barrel spenders.

Citizens Against Government Waste criticized the Hawaii Democrat for $182 million in wasteful spending, including $23 million for the Hawaii Federal Healthcare Network, $10 million for the Hawaii Technology Development Venture, and $3.6 million for Intelligent Decision Exploration.

Inouye is chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

The fiscal year 2009 Department of Defense Appropriations Act includes 1,968 earmarks, down from 2,108 projects in fiscal year 2008.

The cost of those earmarks fell 35.6 percent to $4.7 billion from the $7.3 billion in last year’s bill.

Despite the reduction, Citizens Against Government Waste said at least seven legislators appropriated more than $100 million, including Inouye.

They other top pork-barrel spenders were Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska; Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.; Sen Robert Byrd, D-W. Va.; and Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla.

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that aims to eliminate government waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse.

[FLAprogressive]

10. Someone should field a primary challenge...n/t