Happy Veteran's Day.
All my cohorts and I are relieved to know that the election is over. Political commercials have been replaced by far more recognizable symbols of the American Mundane: Billy Mays and his cool gadgets (why didn't he sell the Sham-Wow?), Toyota and its zero-percent financing (saved by zero!), and CBS' new No. 1 hit show in America (no references to the shows during the commercials -- just the stars hanging out).
Did you vote?
Walk your copy of the CT over to the nearest computer and set it close by. Fire up your web browser and hit every major news outlet's Web site -- FOX, CNN, MSNBC and politico.com. After sifting through the 12 stories released within the last three hours about President-Elect Barack Obama, try to find a story about Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens.According to a document released by the U.S. Department of Justice on its Web site on July 29, Stevens was indicted on seven counts of "making false statements related to Stevens' financial disclosure forms."
What did he do? Once again referencing the previous DOJ document, Stevens received unclaimed gifts from the Alaskan oil company VECO, which included various home improvements, a highly valuable new car in exchange for a significantly less valuable car, and a wine cellar as part of a refurbishment project for his Alaska cabin.
According to The Huffington Post, Stevens was found guilty on Oct. 27. He has since attempted numerous times to move for a new trial on grounds of a mistrial. To Stevens' credit, his trial featured a juror who took a one-day vacation to a horse track after claiming her father died. This juror was also accused of violent behavior during deliberations.
Nevertheless, the corruption charges still loom over Stevens' head. Behold, Alaska: Your senator is a felon.
Just a week after winning the senatorial election over Democratic challenger and mayor of Anchorage, Mark Begich, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is calling for the Alaskan's expulsion. Even if Reid is successful in this request, Stevens won't be the first Alaskan politician to give up his post. Since the Alaska political corruption probe, which started in 2004 under the direction of the Public Integrity Sector of the Department of Justice, five other current and former legislators have been indicted on corruption charges.
Wow. Where were we?
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