Tell me about Ted Stevens.

[JohnLocke]

He's been in Congress forever - is he a sleaze? I need as much dirt as possible.

[cleofus1]

1. he's not a sleaze...

he's a cantankerous loudmouthed advocate for Alaska. he brings in more pork for this state than any other senator (i think). demos and re-pugs vote for him. he had been a great friend to the native people here in Alaska. he's gotten million's of dollars for native programs up here and he's respected by many...both my kids were born in the native hospital that was dedicated to him.

i think he certainly skirts the edges of propriety...but he only does it for money.

[stavka]

2. He's building a 220 Million dollar bridge to serve a community of 8,000

To help them avoid a $4.00 a pop ferry fee if they want to get to the airport.

I think that's 55 million rides on the ferry

Divided by the population of 15,000 for the entire island and you get something like 3,666 rides per citizen per life time, or one ride a day for more than ten years or one two way trip per week for about 28 years.

Alternatively the 15,000 citizens could each be bought their own boat instead.

- Now there is no indication any local labor will be used for this project, and it may even kill the tour boat industry through the need to re-route cruise ships.

Great thinking.

In case you are wondering? - apparently somebody is very eager to sell the land on the Airport side of the proposed bridge for mega bucks. -and if the bridge isn't built? it's just beautiful woodland.

Oh, last but not least- them's federal dollars go'nna build this lemon.

[cleofus1]

3. sounds familiar....

exactly which bridge are you referring to?

[stavka]

5. ...this one

Ketchikan's bridge to the airport, and only the airport, as far as I can tell.

[cleofus1]

6. i think you are thining about

alaska congressman don young. he won the golden pork award for that one.

[cleofus1]

4. here's a native dude that don't like Uncle Ted...

this is from the letter section of the Anchorage Daily News



"Sen. Stevens downplays his role in the destruction of Alaska Natives

I take issue with Sen. Stevens' quotation appearing July 11, "I am saddened that the Daily News seeks to discredit the reputation I have worked for over the last 35 years" ("Daily News falls short on the facts concerning Native allotment").

I'd like to remind the senator of his fine contribution to the destruction of Eskimos, Indians and Aleuts as peoples. I personally witnessed in his office the finality of proposed language by the chief lobbyist for Western Oil and Gas Association, John Pickering, for incorporating the extinguishment clause of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of December 1971, without a hearing. This is a boiler-room amendment.

The monetary award to the Adams family in Barrow should be applicable to all allotees in a similar situation. Is this a private relief bill for the Adams family only? Furthermore, Sen. Stevens is currently a benefactor of a lease developed by his brother-in-law in a limited partnership company with Arctic Slope Regional Corp. wherein the corporation has obligations under this noncancelable operating lease for the facility.

Sen. Stevens, Sen. Henry M. Jackson, as well as Congressman Wayne Aspinall, have been anathema to the constitutionally protected rights of Eskimos, Indians and Aleuts of Alaska. So, who is sadder here, Senator? It is the descendents of Alaska Natives whom you have extinguished with your vote.

-- Charles Etok Edwardsen "

here is Charles' picture...he is an inupiat eskimo and a native leader...and he sounds pissed.

[snowbear]

7. uncle ted

Cleofus is correctamundo! Ted Stevens tops the charts year after year when it comes to bringing home the pork. But you know what that generally means for the state you represent... :eyes: It means that residents (for the most part) will vote you in for life.

As a matter of fact.. (and the others from Alaska here can tell you this).. there's so many things in this state named after Ted Stevens it's completely iNsAnE !!!

The Anchorage Daily News refers to Senator Stevens as "Senator for Life".. Residents simply refer to him as "Uncle Ted".

I seriously think his goal is to outlive Strom Thurmond in office!

Hey cleofus.. I just pulled up your website and see that you also live in Anchorage... AND in South Anchorage.. Me too!! I guess we're neighbors!! ~~ :hi:

[cleofus1]

8. south anchorage

I live right down the street from northwood elementary.

[Ken Burch]

9. Fun Ted Stevens fact...

1)As majority leader of the Alaska state House of Representatives in 1967, Ted pushed through a bill that abolished the requirement that vacancies in Alaska's U.S. Senate seats must be filled from the ranks of the party that held the seats(both were held by Democrats at the time.) At the end of 1968, Democratic Senator R.L. "Bob" Bartlett died in office, and Republican Governor Walter "Wally" Hickel appointed the same Ted Stevens to Bartlett's Senate seat(Hickel having been elected governor by less than 100 votes in 1966.) Later,
a Republican legislature in the 1990's changed the law back so that vacancies in the U.S. Senate (both seats by then being Republican)had to be filled from the same party who held the seat, regardless of who was governor.