Makes Sense...

How often do you see an indicted politician survive reelection...

Oh wait, didn't Bill Jefferson do that? Or was he indicted after his 2006 reelection?

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by: Don't Tase Me, Bro! @ Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 22:44:02 PM CDT

Scandal broke before the 2006 election, he was indicted after

However, Representative of New Orleans district is much different than senator of Alaska.  

All Jefferson had to do was survive a big primary, something very possible due to the number of persons participating.  Ted Stevens is probably favored to win his primary at this point.  The difference between the two, is after the primary, Ted Stevens is going into a general election against a tough sonova gun named Mark Begich.  Jefferson sees token opposition after his primary.  

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by: JeremiahTheMessiah @ Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 23:29:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Strictly speaking...

... there was a runoff between Jefferson and Carter (which Jefferson won).

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by: omarka @ Wed Aug 06, 2008 at 23:44:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yeah, what happened with that?

Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...

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by: Glenn Magus Harvey @ Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 00:19:05 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Carter wasn't popular with the other candidates

She fell out with the third place finisher over him refusing to let Katrina refugees into his town and I'm not sure she got on well with some of the others.

That, plus the knowledge that if Jefferson won they could always try again in 2008, led the third place finisher and a couple of others to throw their weight behind Jefferson.

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by: Englishlefty @ Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 09:33:47 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

It's possible

That Stevens could have his trial and get acquitted before November. But that would require two huge "ifs". First off, it normally takes over a year for criminal cases to get disposed of in the District of Columbia, and that includes plea bargains (which happen in probably 95-99% of cases). Cases which go to trial usually take a lot longer. It would be almost a miracle if this could happen in September, and would basically require neither side to file any pre-trial motions, or a judge who is really willing to shaft other litigants and clear time for Stevens.

The other thing, of course, is that Stevens would have to be acquitted. Meanwhile, he's already filed a motion to transfer venue to Alaska, so that's slowed things down. Though I'll note that federal district court in Alaska has shorter wait-times than in DC, so if the judge grants the motion, the timing could work a bit in Stevens' favor. Of course, the new judge might not be as accomodating in terms of even having time on his/her calendar to schedule a trial in September or October.

Anyhow, I recall that Tom DeLay also sought to try to "clear his name" quickly, and his case is still pending.

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by: DavidNYC @ Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 00:18:37 AM CDT