| Ted Stevens Case Example Of Party Politics by Phil Staudt
April 2, 2009
The Phil Staudt Blog The loser is the Alaskan voters and the American voters.
In 1968 Robert Kennedy was not the Democrat candidate for President because he was assassinated. Voters ended up with Hubert Humphrey instead, and America ended up with Nixon.
Paul Wellstone died on October 25, 2002, when his plane crashed less then two weeks before election day. He was a Democrat Senator in Minnesota who was extremely popular and considered a shoe-in, but the voters ended up with Walter Mondale, who lost.
Ted Stevens remained on the ballot in 2008, but the reason he lost the election was because of far-fetched charges of criminal wrong doing levied against him.
But the story is that American voters are only left to choose between two candidates belonging to two lousy political parties. The Republican Party and Democrat Party control the elections, and if one of their shining stars gets knocked out during an election year, then voters are stuck with the opposing candidate from the other party. Every Senatorial race and Presidential race should have at least five real candidates in the general election, with at least two choices from each of the two big parties, with runoffs if needed, because of the wide scope of their power over all Americans. And when there is a Presidential election, there should be several Democrat and Republican choices, along with others, for voters to choose in the general election, with runoffs as needed. That would eliminate the nonsense of having the one and only candidate from a party being taken out of the race because of bad press (based on truth or not), or death, or affairs being discovered, or any other reason.
It is tax time. Do not let any of your tax money go to the leaders of those crooked gangs calling themselves political parties. by Phil Staudt
April 2, 2009
The Phil Staudt Blog     "Will Stevens dismissal undercut Alaska's corruption probe?"
MIAMI HERALD April 2, 2009 By Lisa Demer
ANCHORAGE — The government's sudden move Wednesday to drop its case against former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens...U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder noted Wednesday, the actions of the prosecution team that gained the Stevens conviction also are under investigation...read_article
"Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens vindicated as feds drop case"
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS April 2, 2009
BY Kenneth R. Bazinet and James Gordon Meek
Attorney General Eric Holder dropped a corruption case against ex-Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens on Wednesday, saying prosecutors blew it by failing to share evidence..."The trial was politically motivated and we've had a chance to see the justice system at its worst," Keith Tryck, who testified for Stevens, told the Daily News. "It was a setup."...read_article
"Justice Department moves to drop all charges against Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens"
CHICAGO TRIBUNE April 2, 2009 By Josh Meyer
WASHINGTON—In a stunning reversal, the Justice Department on Wednesday moved to drop all charges against former Sen. Ted Stevens..."I always knew that there would be a day when the cloud that surrounded me would be removed," said Stevens, 85. "That day has finally come. It is unfortunate that an election was affected by proceedings now recognized as unfair."...In a court filing Wednesday, Justice Department officials said they had they found that one key piece of previously undisclosed evidence had been kept from the defense...read_article
"Stevens case dismissal raises questions of Justice Dept. integrity"
FREEP.COM April 2, 2009 By David G. Savage
Attorney Gen. Eric Holder on Wednesday abandoned the case against Stevens, despite his conviction by a jury. Holder said he acted “in the interest of justice” after discovering prosecutors had illegally withheld evidence from the defense...The veteran lawmaker wasn’t charged with taking bribes or payoffs in exchange for favors. Rather, he was indicted for failing to disclose as gifts the full value of the repairs and improvements on one of his Alaska homes...read_article
"U.S. drops corruption case against ex-Sen. Stevens"
REUTERS UK April 2, 2009 By James Vicini
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday said it will ask a judge to dismiss the conviction of former Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens amid allegations of prosecutorial misconduct...In October a federal jury found Stevens guilty of seven counts of lying on a Senate disclosure form to conceal $250,000 (174,000 pounds) in gifts and home renovations from an oil executive and other friends. He faced up to 35 years in prison at sentencing...read_article   Tags: Republicans Republicans Democrats Democrats
|
Really nice read thanks, I have added this to my bookmarks Diary
Reply to this