Even though just about every Republican Senator up for re-election this year is treating indicted GOP Sen. Ted Stevens’ campaign donations as if the dollar bills themselves were infected with anthrax, one Senator is standing strongly by his side:
Stevens also said that Senator Daniel Inouye, the Democrat from Hawaii who Stevens refers to as his “brother,” was in Alaska with his wife, to join Stevens while he campaigns across the state (Inouye didn’t join Stevens at this rally). Inouye is scheduled to appear with Stevens in Anchorage at the Alaska Federation of Natives’ Leadership Roundtable Partnership for Affordable Energy at the Hotel Captain Cook Tuesday morning and at the dedication of the Opinsky Mail Center at 4141 Postmark Drive Tuesday afternoon.
Stevens said he would fly to Fairbanks today to join President Bush and meet U.S. troops at Eielson Air Force Base, and return to Anchorage this evening.
I realize that the Alaska-Hawaii bond is strong in Congress, but it’s quite telling that the only other prominent figure standing by Stevens’ side is George W. Bush. The Senate is truly a messed-up place.
it is truly messed up to place personal friendship over politics and what is politically expeidient. Truly disgusting. The reason Inouye is appearing at that event is because it’s a native american luncheon, and he’s always been very involved in their affairs, one reason why he’s always voted for drilling in ANWAR. Inouye is just standing by an old friend. Stevens does the same for him in his reelections, and, if Begich turns out to be a child molester and Stevens wins reelection and Inouye gets a strong challenge from Governor Linda Lingle in 2010, Stevens would come campaign for him.
This Hollies classic reminds me a lot of this situation.
But what to do about it? Let’s stop complaining and figure out a solution. Stevens at this point looks like he’s toast (warm buttery toast), so that leaves Inouye.
Anyone have an idea who would likely be crazy enough to take on the Senior Senator from Hawaii in a primary should he decide to to run again?
over at DailyKos: