But… Norm Coleman still has not returned all the money from Ted Stevens PAC.
And… Norm Coleman still has not returned the money received from the same, corrupt VECO executives.
So yeah. Ted Stevens: Please resign but Norm will keep the cash. Thanks.
Tag Archive for 'Ted Stevens'
So… Norm Coleman asked his friend Ted Stevens to resign today.
Today, Norm Coleman’s Senate Buddy, Ted Stevens, was “convicted on all seven charges of making false statements on Senate financial documents about gifts he received from contractor Bill Allen, oil services company VECO Corp., and others.”
Note that Norm Coleman still hasn’t returned the money he got from the indicted VECO executives that are involved with this case. Norm Coleman was a “Special Guest” at Ted Stevens’ “Kenai River Classic” for three years so he could hobnob with these very same oil executives. It is no surprise that Coleman has been trying to avoid saying anything about this even though he and Stevens were close companions in the Senate. Not good news today for Norm Coleman.
Roxane Battle with MinnPost got a video interview with Norm Coleman today regarding the status of the convention, the incoming hurricane and chatted about McCain’s VP pick. This part I found particularly interesting:
Coleman’s words regarding Sarah Palin:
She represents, I think, change represents, a dealing with changing the status quo, cleaning up corruption, I mean, she took on Ted Stevens and the political establishment in Alaska in a way that showed great courage.
Ironic, because Coleman has willingly been a part of that corruption with Ted Stevens. He was a “special guest” at Stevens’ oil company and lobbyist hobnobbing events in Alaska three times. VECO, the primary company involved with Ted Stevens’ latest scandal also gave money to Norm Coleman that he still refuses to return.
Why can’t Norm Coleman show the same “great courage”?
I mean, Coleman already has the courage to politicize hurricane Gustov, and it hasn’t even hit yet:
Republicans are already citing Hurricane Gustav as a major reason why voters should pick Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) this fall.
Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) made the case Sunday that McCain is best equipped to lead the country — whether it’s acts of terrorism or acts of God.
Appearing on Fox News, Coleman repeatedly cited the campaign theme of “country first” when describing efforts to prepare the Gulf Coast for Hurricane Gustav.
Absolutely disgusting.
The list is getting so long, NRSC spokesperson Rebecca Fisher says ”it’s probably easier to say who is attending.” OUCH. My three favorites that all hit close to home:
Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens is awaiting trial on seven federal charges stemming from a corruption scandal.
His staff says he won’t attend because he is too busy campaigning for his eighth term.
…
Idaho Sen. Larry E. Craig also has reasons to avoid the Twin Cities. Craig pleaded guilty in August 2007 to a reduced misdemeanor charge arising from his arrest for allegedly soliciting sex from an undercover police officer in a restroom at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. His term is ending; he is not seeking reelection.
…and of course, if it was anywhere else, we already know what Coleman would do:
One incumbent Republican senator has no choice but to attend: Norm Coleman of Minnesota pushed to bring the GOP convention to his state and is scheduled to address the delegates.
But facing a stiff reelection battle, he now admits he’d rather be out campaigning.
“If the convention wasn’t in St. Paul, I wouldn’t be at the convention,” Coleman told Minnesota Public Radio.
Read the entire piece at the Los Angeles Times. I was at the RNC media party on Saturday night and there was a lot of buzz amongst local and national media about the no-shows, the protests, the police raids and of course the hurricane that is looking likely to hit hard. In fact, a reason CNN’s Anderson Cooper wasn’t at the party is because he changed his flight plans from Saint Paul to New Orleans.
Update: 14 hours later, more developments: George Bush and Dick Cheney are both no-shows and McCain is calling off most RNC events for day one to monitor the situation with hurricane Gustov. While it is a lose-lose situation any way you look at it, I think they’re making the right choice.
From the Associated Press early this morning:
An Alaska contractor appealed to Sen. Ted Stevens to help win federal contracts, obtain grants and settle immigration issues, federal prosecutors say.
The Justice Department stops short of calling that corruption, but prosecutors want to present that evidence at trial next month.
The Alaska Republican is charged with lying on Senate financial disclosure records about hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts and services he received from contractor VECO Corp.
Ted Stevens’ friend Norm Coleman also received money from VECO executive felons such as CEO Bill Allen and VP Rick Smith. If Coleman returned $20,000 of the $30,000 he’s received from Ted Stevens’ PAC for “political reasons,” why hasn’t he returned the VECO money?
The whole piece starts to illustrate how embedded VECO was.
Then, this afternoon, another AP piece came out on the scandal:
This week, the Justice Department offered its first public glimpse at what it uncovered: a direct line of communication from a corrupt Alaska oil contractor to one of the nation’s most powerful senators. When VECO Corp. executives needed help securing business, winning grants or navigating the bureaucracy, they called Stevens.
And when Stevens needed a new generator for his house, a car for his daughter or a job for his son, prosecutors say he called VECO, the same company that oversaw an extensive renovation project on his home.
…and it’s not just Stevens:
Two VECO executives, founder Bill Allen and vice president Rick Smith, have pleaded guilty to bribing sympathetic legislators with cash, jobs and gifts to push for a state oil tax deal and construction of a natural gas pipeline.
So why is Norm Coleman still okay with money from Bill Allen and Rick Smith?
AP: “Feds: Stevens got favors, contractor got key ally and direct line to Washington power”
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