Hubris

Today I have a few spare minutes to convey my observation on some of the worst offenders of the elitist attitude that has become the norm of our elected officials.
Sen. Stevens of Alaska have been standing trial federal government charges that the 84-year-old Republican accepted and concealed more than $250,000 worth of free home renovations and gifts from Bill Allen, the head of Veco Corp., a now-defunct oil-services company, and other friends.
The Trial is now in Jury Deliberation, But I am highlighting some of the elitist above the law attitude that the senator has shown during the trial.

The senator's testimony was the most dramatic -- and puzzling -- of the trial. He said Veco played no role in the extensive renovation of his once-modest A-frame Alaska cabin, which now has a new first floor, a wraparound deck and other amenities.

Mr. Allen, Sen. Stevens said, was a trusted friend who was supposed to find workers for the project and keep an eye on things, nothing more

Yet under a barrage of questions from prosecutors, Sen. Stevens acknowledged that multiple Veco builders spent time on the renovation, while a Veco engineer drew up the architectural plans. Sen. Stevens and his wife, Catherine, testified that they asked to be billed for everything and had no idea that Mr. Allen hadn't passed along tens of thousands of dollars of project costs.

"I can't pay a bill until I get it," Sen. Stevens said.

Yeah about all that.. When you have home renovation is only (i can't find the number)K, you have had dozens of workers, an engineer plus material (Keep in mind in Alaska,) You have to know that you are getting a GOOD DEAL from a buddy.

Now If you are an working class dirty blue shirt, that is one thing to get a good deal from a buddy. But if you are trusted as an official of the United States Senate, you need to be above and beyond the question and reproach and keep this at arms length

BUT Sen. Stevens and his wife, both lawyers, allowed the renovation to proceed without written contracts, estimates or checks on the workers.

Sen. Stevens said it was "the Alaska way" of doing business. He also struggled to explain other gifts, including a gas grill and a $2,700 Brookstone massage chair he received from a friend. The chair was just a loan, he said.

Yeah, Right, No paper, jut the "Alaskan Way"

This guy is nauseating in his disdain for the fact that he is being called on the carpet for what is probably not the first nor the last soft shoe bribe.

Personally, I hope the Jury finds him Guilty. At the very least, the people of Alaska should have rendered him ineligible to further represent them as a member of the senate.

Now here is the kick in the ass..

If U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska is found guilty of falsifying Senate financial disclosure forms over seven years but wins re-election, he could still serve in the Senate until that body votes to expel him.

Article 1, Section 5 of the U.S. Constitution provides, "Each House may determine the Rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member."

According to the U.S. Senate Web site, "since 1789, the Senate has expelled only fifteen of its entire membership. Of that number, fourteen were charged with support of the Confederacy during the Civil War. In several other cases, the Senate considered expulsion proceedings but either found the member not guilty or failed to act before the member left office. In those cases, corruption was the primary cause of complaint.

So, let's see, Judged by a jury of Peers, Not good enough, now you have to be so vile that the other politicians don't want you around. And it seems that you have to betray the republic in a time that someone cared about betrayal.


Next post Murtha