We note with grim satisfaction the conviction of Senator Ted Stevens. It has the feeling of justice long-postponed and richly deserved.
It’s just a drop in the bucket, though, as Mark Twain reminds us:
“It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly American criminal class, except Congress.”
Celebration would be premature: the man is still seeking re-election. He may well win; as we have seen lately, standards are rather low up there.
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Ah… one question.
I realize Congress usually exempts itself from whatever laws it passes in order to promote the good law and order amongst the rest of us who do not belong to the ranks of Congress. Be it the House or Senate, but I can find no promulgation or ordering in either the Constitution or any other related Congressional stuff. But in my recent memory most of the exemptions have to do with paying some sort of tax on clothing from Saks Fifth Avenue, Indian casinos, lobbying efforts, or income of other sorts.
But generally both Houses agree that a convicted felon cannot, indeed loses his/her enfranchisment to vote in any case. Whether for dogcatcher or union membership, even leader of the local Brownie troop.
My question is: can a convicted felon, even though he/she be elected to membership as a Representative vote in any way which may empt or pre-empt the rest of us?
Just asking, I’ve never been arrested for a felony sort of thing. Perhaps suspected but I’ve never even been declared “a person of interest”- to my knowledge.
Ahh, can I get one more question in?
It’s about that “Bridge To Nowhere” that Governor Sarah initially welcomed before she rejected it, (not a flip-flop of course).
The appropriation was apparently instigated by the now convicted felon Stevens who passed it on to “I hate Pork Barrel as much as the next guy,” President George (where have I heard that name before?) McCain. I mean Bush. Really.
The Governor welcomed then rejected it of course. And then she returned the appropriation. “Gosh darn it, this pork barrel stuff has to end in the hockey net, gosh darn it.”
My last question is, what happened to the money for that appropriation?
Surely it didn’t go to an Alaskan house on stilts?
Although felons cannot vote, there is nothing to prevent a convicted felon from serving in the Senate.
The money which was originally appropriated for the Bridge to Nowhere was given to Alaska anyway, which used it for other purposes.
So does this mean the convicted felons’ service in whatever legislative house is limited to serving tea and cookies? None of that “Yay or Naying” stuff?
Other purposes. Thanks.
A Senate felon could vote in the Senate but would be unable to vote in general elections in many states. Hence Stevens can’t vote for himself next Tuesday. However, a Senator has to be physically present at the Senate to cast a vote, which might be tough for Stevens if he’s living in the Big House.
The Big House? He’s moving to Ann Arbor?
those mavericky Alaskans may just re-elect the miscreant – you betcha!