Senator's Way to Wealth Was Paved with Favors (Stevens, R., Alaska)

[DeepModem Mom]

A major piece of detailed reporting from the Los Angeles Times:


He wielded extraordinary power in Washington for more than three decades, eventually holding sway over nearly $800 billion a year in federal spending.

But outside the halls of the U.S. Senate, which is a world of personal wealth so rarified some call it "the Millionaires' Club," Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) had struggled financially.

Then, in 1997, he got serious about making money. And in almost no time, he too was a millionaire — thanks to investments with businessmen who received government contracts or other benefits with his help.

Added together, Stevens' new partnerships and investments provide a step-by-step guide to building a personal fortune — if you happen to be one of the country's most influential senators.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-stevens17dec17,1,6515979.story?coll=la-home-nation

[Ferretherder]

1. — if you happen to be one of the country's most influential senators...

...which I, and many of you, are NOT!

Good job, if you can get it, huh? Sheesh.

[DemNoir]

2. Just one more story

Another Republican stuffing his pockets with money. Imagine that.
No one will care, the mighty (R) is an impenetrable shield

[dusty64]

3. Looting the country

for personal gain, weapons of mass destruction, murder of thousands, kinda sounds familiar doesn't it.

[0007]

4. And Stevens' does it all in the name of patriotism,

supporting the President, supporting the troops, his rants on the senate floor in response to Senator Byrd's questioning of Bush's war policies and tax cuts and money for war are outrageous. Senator Steven raises his voice and starts stuttering like pokey pig. At times Stevens' is worse than senator Sessions and that's hard to do.

[ellie]

5. The Toledo Blade

just had a three-part article about Michael Oxley that was in the same vein: http://www.thetoledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=SROXLEY

The result? In a letter to the editor the next week (sorry, no link), Oxley blamed the liberal media for portraying him in such a fashion and then promised to not spend any campaign advertising dollars with the Blade! Coercion, threats, and misdeeds! It's the repubic way.

[lumpy]

6. Hope the little weasel gets thown

out on his ear. He is an embarassment and a liability to the state of Alaska and the nation. A man who is willing to corrupt the state ecology for the sake of oil money. Fie on the greedy Alaskans who vote for Stevens in hopes they will get more free money for oil. They are a disgrace to the Alaskan flag, a symbol revered by the Pioneer Alaskan.

[pfitz59]

7. Strip mining the ocean......

Don't forget his ties with fishing interests.

[lumpy]

8. Oh yes,

part of the greedy group that for years have tried to strip native Alaskans of their fishing rights and sell salmon at favorable prices to Japan to add to their fish stockpile. Have you priced Alaskan salmon in US markets lately?

[davidinalameda]

9. no surprise

it's a wash my back and I'll wash your back world in Washington

[DeepModem Mom]

10. Kicking for any Alaskans now online.... (nt)

[theoceansnerves]

11. Stevens is deplorable

from a man who comes from an extraordinarily beautiful state, the "last frontier," this man has done nothing but support trashing of the environment. he is an utter disgrace.

[prisonerseven]

12. He should take a lesson from Kerry

And learn how to make millions the honest way. Typical repug.