Which means Epic WIN for the GOP in the long run, I think.  First, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich is claiming victory in this years Senate race:

With 100 percent of Alaska's precincts reporting, Begich, the mayor of Anchorage, had roughly 47.7 percent of the vote, compared with about 46.6 percent for Stevens, according to unofficial results posted on the Alaska Secretary of State's Web site.

He appears to have bested Stevens by 3,724 votes, according to the posted results.

Alaska elections Director Gail Fenumiai said 2,500 overseas ballots remain to be counted.

Sadly, this announcement came after the Senate GOP decided to delay a vote to kick Sen. Stevens out of their caucus.  You had your chance, fellas, and you failed us.  No biggie, though, we're used to it. 

While they have failed us, Reps. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and John Campbell (R-Calif.) are standing up for ethical reform in the GOP:

Trouble popped up elsewhere for Stevens. Reps. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and John Campbell (R-Calif.) announced they have requested a probe of some $240 million in earmarks Stevens received this year. In a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations committee chairmen, Flake and Campbell said they want Stevens’s earmarks for fiscal 2008 scrutinized before they are granted.

“I would hope that his conviction spurs Congress to examine these earmarks more closely before they are awarded,” the two congressman said in a joint statement.

I would have preferred that Sen. Stevens had won and thrown it to a special election, but it's good to have him purged from the Senate regardless. 

Posted by: It's Vintage, Duh at 11:11 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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