Prezzes

4 Comments

1. Ole Phat Stu
   Posted November 5, 2024 at 12:49 | Permalink

   Frank, I have a question, because I don’t know the US law in this case.

   It seems Alaska has returned Ted Stevens(R) by a hair.
   Are convicted felons allowed to run? (Not here in Germany).
   Will he be disqualified somehow?
   Does the Dem then get his seat?
   or is there then a re-election with new candidates?
   Does that mean Sarah Palin can run for senator (OMG!)?

2. Frank Paynter
   Posted November 5, 2024 at 4:12 | Permalink

   Hi Stu,

   The rules about who can do what generally vary by state, and of course criminal Ted hadn’t been convicted when he threw his hat in the ring. Having won, there are three likely outcomes. One: he resigns for the good of all concerned. Sadly he has indicated that he is unwilling to do the right thing, so what else is new? Two: he is censured and expelled by his Senate colleagues (they can do that, but it requires a two-thirds majority). Harry Reid says he’ll pursue censure and expulsion. Why he would want to waste political capital on flushing that turd Stevens into the sewer escapes me. Outcome Three is also quite likely… in Outcome Three (a), George W. Bush, an un-indicted lame-duck prezzie, pardons Stevens and Stevens serves six more years, free of the shadow cast by the felony convictions. Outcome Three (b) has Stevens serving because the Senate refuses to censure and expel. The sentencing phase of his trial begins in March and someone has suggested that continuing appeals of his conviction will allow him to serve quite a while before he is locked up in stony-lonesome. All of this makes quite a sideshow, and unless there is a Senate consensus to oust him, I think he’ll simply be ostracized but continue to serve.

   As for replacing him, Alaska Statutes cover this:

   AS 15.40.140. Condition and Time of Calling Special Election.

   When a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator or United States representative, the governor shall, by proclamation, call a special election to be held on a date not less than 60, nor more than 90, days after the date the vacancy occurs. However, if the vacancy occurs on a date that is less than 60 days before or is on or after the date of the primary election in the general election year during which a candidate to fill the office is regularly elected, the governor may not call a special election.

   I wonder if Palin will run for his seat? I think she can.

3. Ole Phat Stu
   Posted November 6, 2024 at 12:01 | Permalink

   Thanks, Frank.

4. McD
   Posted November 7, 2024 at 1:36 | Permalink

   Wow. There are hardly any bald Presidents. Or maybe they were a few Whigs or wigs were used as a cover up: WigGate.