CNN

Why are we discussing 2012?! None of these people are qualified or have enough skills to replace president Obama. It takes smarts, charisma, and having great interpersonal skills. Prez. Obama has it all!

Wow! So Republicans in Alaska will have a choice between two politicians who have had corruption cases brought up against them? GO DEMOCRAT, ALASKA! looking forward to seeing them swing blue in 2012!

Who cares about these wacky GOPers? Alaska could do much better.

let the show begin for 2010. the republicans "LOVE" themselves so much that i can't imagine why anyone will want to be a republican.

am sure Mr Steven was let off because of his age and maybe connection. palin will be called to account for the things she said about him when she was running for vp. i don't see that old man letting her off the hook just like that. the unfortunate thing is that she will not have mccain on her side. am sure she can build an alliance with rush.

can someone please tell me what is happening with the republican party? damn!!!

I want Sen. Begich to resign. democrats will do anything to cheat. Look at Barack Obama's senate seat. It is a disaster. Once they occupy the senate seat, they do not want to go. These guys have to go.

In a Good and Honest U.S., they would hold a re-vote because the only reason Begich won was the lies and the scandal about Stevens that were instagated by the Democrats, even thought the Justice Dept was Republican. Holder new once the truth came out that the BOYS were in deep trouble if Stevens or his lawyers went afte them for deformation of character and slander. How would that look against the new and all perfect HOLDER???? But since Stevens is a Republican and NOT a cry-baby Democrat (like in Minnesota) , there will not be a re-vote. Democrats only scream and throw temper fits to get attention and to get people to give in to make them shut up – fact. Now that sme Democrats are being found unscrupulous, they are trying to HIDE them for view as they do not want the public to see how crooked they are.

At 87 years old, why would anyone want to be anything besides RETIRED. I don't want an 87 year old in charge of things that affect my future and news flash, when I'm 87 years old, I know for a fact that no one will want me running anything either...

If Rep. Young doesn't want Sarah Palin to be the Govenor of Alaska, he should run against her himself or find another candidate to support.

Former Senator Stevens needs to remain RETIRED...

I'm all for somebody running against Palin, because she's corrupt and needs to get out of there... but Stevens? He's way too old and he's as corrupt as she is, almost. The Alaska GOP needs to run someone GOOD against Palin instead.

Young is testing the waters for his own run. It's unfortunate the lower states Americans didn't take Palin seriously. She's done great things in Alaska amid one of the most corrupt bi-partisan political systems in the USA, making lots of political foes along the way while trying to clean things up. People balked at her folksiness and wilderness priorities because she's different from Hollywood priorities. If you look closely you'll see that what she shook down the oil companies for was to benefit the people of Alaska (her job) not personal gain. Look real close and you'll see a female Teddy Roosevelt in the making.

Good Grief - I used to think visiting Alaska would be such a beautiful trip - the more I hear from these folks up there, the more I NEVER want to see the state. Who knew the people were such BLOCK HEADS.

I, for one, will not be voting for an elephant into office in 2012. I will only do that if they HAVE paid back the 5 trillion dollars left by giving W a blank check.

Ted Stevens still did all the very bad things they say he did. He just got off on technical faults. The kinds of things that keep our jails full pot dealers while our goverment officials rob us blind!

Who cares about Stevens. We all know he's corrupt, we all know he lost we all know what an anal orifice of a politician he's always been. Go home, Ted, and give thanks to me that I gave you a small reprieve so you can go to your grave thinking you kept your dignity.

As much as I dont care for Palin's politics, Ted Stevens needs to sit his aged self down, retire already, and let younger folks lead into this new century.

I'm a democrat but I'd vote for Stevens if he ran against Governor Sarah "Airhead"

the eyes of the world are watching in disbelief, two exposed, proven corrupt politicans possibly slugging it out for a governorship...comedy at its finest, the sailing ahead for Obama just gets smoother and smoother.

Sorry Ted, done is done. And your own party did this to ya!!!!!

I believe the only reasons the charges were dropped was because he was no longer in the political arena.
Based on his age it was a gesture to let him fade into retirement.
If he wants to pursue a further political future I believe it was a mistake to drop the charges.
This man represents everything that is wrong with government.
He is corrupt, he believes he is truely above the law, and he is totallt out of touch with the nation.

It sounds like the Republicans are trying to steal a Senate seat....

Remember everyone, Stevens was NOT DECLARED INNOCENT!!! The verdict was thrown out due to it not being a fair trial due to withholding of relevant information. Of course Stevens is still faced with all these allegations of wrong-doing, and what he gained from all these contractors during his tenure. He is by no means of anyone's imagination, guilt-free! He still has this burden over him of all that he was charged with and perhaps might have gotten a harsh sentence. So he is and should not be declared INNOCENT. Go for another trial if must be, and let the verdict fall where it may, but we would not see that because he would be too afraid and exposed to all these allegations and accusations again and again.

By golly, I think it would be GREAT !!!!!!!! Oh, yes ! And we could have a write-in for Alfred E. Neumann, also.

It shows the state of Alaskan politics...Palin is marginally corrupt, but Stevens (despite the ruling) is deeply corrupt...He'll probably win in a land-slide....

Ted Stevens should thank his God and stay retired. He is quilty as charged, and everyone knows it. He took those things and didn' t report them, and that is a violation of senate ethics. Stop trying to let this old man off the hook people. Justice has been served, he is out of the senate, and because of too much time there anyway, he is where he belongs.

the man accepted a ton of gifts and work for free

it is crazy to not try him in the court of law

dropping charges is suspicious

I can say this and not be predjuiced......I'm 76...Ted Stevens is too darn old to run for any public office......It is bad enough all the crooks and thieves are in office why put more in. So a technically let him go, doesn't mean he didn't do what he was convicted for in the first place.

Look at the ex-governor of Illinois, bet they don't let him off.

To Dave in Houtson who says he is a Democrat, and that Palin is getting everything done for him? What? I didn't know Palin was doing things for people in Texas these days. I would say that this is gross overreach on her part. I think she is still the gov in Alaska, isn't she? What a vast wasteland the Republicans are. All they can come up with is near do wells and criminals.

He would be foolish to do so. First, he's 87 yrs old and Palin is a superstar. She would win by a landslide, if she chooses to run.

Nonsense.

They should look for the right candidate to take over the reins at this difficult time, and not focus on finding the nicest, most fitting way to round off some octogenarian's political career.

Anything else is a grave disservice to the people of Alaska.

All of this smacks of a 'jobs for the boys' insider mentality.

The office of governer is not a sinecure. And anything more than a sinecure is too much for Ted Stevens at this stage.

Poor, poor little Donny Young and his sour, sour grapes. PATHETIC. You're right about a primary election little Donny, but it will be YOURS. I hope you enjoy your forced retiement in 2010 with Stevens!

Isn't that just like the Republicans. They'll do almost anything to overturn a legal election. If they had their way I gues they would all just be declared winners despite election results.

Yup-

just add ted stevens to the republicans high powered gang of:

sarah palin
bristol palin
joe the plumber
megan mccain

What an overwhelming group of talent!

This is absolutely insane "BS!"
Do they think the rest of the world is as idiotic as are they?

Stevens probably did the bad deeds he was charged with, he just got a free pass to avoid paying the penalty.

I have a 95-yr old mother who was on her city council for three terms and left at age 90. She is now suffering from some dementia issues common to her age.

Stevens is far too old now to be in politics where he has his hands in things involving citizens. He needs to have the thinking capacity to do it, and I don't think that is going to happen.

Who cares about Palin or Stevens running Alaska, it's harder to be a manager at your local Walmart.

Funny that the the people right now who are on Palin case big time are her fellow Republicans and not the Democrats! Seems some GOP folks are not up on current affairs!

I'd be going for Stevens all the way. Palin is a disgrace. Stevens may be a convicted felon who got off, but at least he has a brain and far longer record of public service than palin has

your are crazy to say the least

From these comments, you can tell that the Democrats who voted for Barrack Obama are very hateful indivuduals who lack the respect of poltical and economic knowledge, It takes a Democrat to ruin this Country.

It's great to see how accepting people are of the opposing opinion.

Ideologues at their finest.

Do-overs, that sounds so, um, childish. What will republicans come up with next. Remember, the justice department was filled by Bush appointees at the time. Maybe if they were imcompetent it was the republican's fault. And let's not forget, it was a Decmocrat appointee that made the decision to drop the charges.

matt April 3rd, 2009 11:35 am ET

liberals and dems are mad because the british didn't receive him like a messiah Gordon brown isn't popular in england
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You are joking right? The Queen has never put her arm around any other First Lady in History....

What has just happened to our society is going to hurt us in the long run. We, as a nation, need to distinguish and honor honesty and integrity in our work. It's the only standard to a healthy nation.

Maybe Ted Stevens should have not been prosecuted on a federal level, but he is not innocent by any stretch of the imagination. This man still did things he should have not done and he should not be rewarded in anyway for it!

Stevens need to retire and go away and let America turn over a new leaf.

I am becoming more independent everyday – I can't believe how rediculous both the Democrats and Republicans can get.

Very Good!!!! Love to see that primary!

OK.
All charges were dropped. Much like OJ you are either innocent or guilty. No middle ground. IF evidence is discovered and held from defense that would find the person innocent that is what they are.
As far as this Prosecutor being in the Bush Admin that may be true BUT were they Dem or Repub. What really needs to happen is a full investigation of everybody that worked the investigation. What were their political ties., any contact with Democrats during the investigation? If so the election must be thrown out.
The Stevens for Governor could help Sarah. She has not announced she is running for GOV and may want to go strictly National Scene. If Stevens announces she could be on stage with him and say this would be a great cap to a long career and not seek reelection and go on the National scene.

Let Sarah keep eyes on those Russians

Brian Crooks: Thank you for your insight into the Iowa Caucuses – although I don't like our protracted Presidential election process, it's heartening to hear that in Iowa at least, politicians can't get away with much.

I would say the only part you've got wrong is that we already know what Sarah Palin has: good looks and an ability to lie to get what she wants (without the looks, she'd never gone anywhere in politics). She's an intellectually-challenged hypocrit and in general, mean-spirited and shallow.

Sarah Palin is doing a wonderful job. She is getting everything done that I want done.

I'm a Democrat.

liberals and dems are mad because the british didn't receive him like a messiah Gordon brown isn't popular in england

Kevin in Ohio April 3rd, 2009 11:12 am ET

Love these Palin articles….. we all get to see the true stripes of the liberal left….. nothing but HATE and VITRIOL for decent hard-working, god-fearing traditionalist Americans like Sarah Palin.
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Put the crackpipe down. Why do you clowns think you are so much better. There are hard working, God fearing democrats and republicans. There are also hateful folks on the left and right so what the hell is your point. Stop listening to talk radio. It's making you looney....All they do is incite violence. I listen once in a while just out of curiosity and it is truly scary. You people believe you a supreme being.....Wow.

That sounds about right for the stupid Repubs! Vote in a used up old crook for Gov. Glad I don't live up there, near RUSSIA! Must be a lot of real IDIOTS in Alaska! LMAO

This party might as well END................

OMG....I cannot believe the utter ignorance of the Regressionists posting on this site...I just wonder what it is like to be brainwashed and hoodwinked by a party whose motto is Party First. Americans Last.

Senator Begich was elected by the people of Alaska – end of story. Or is that the new Republican strategy – keep pestering the electorate until they vote the way the party wants them to?

Republicans are a very weird bunch, indeed!

Palin should step aside so that another election can be held in Alaska for governor. How many Alaskans prior to the last election knew she was that stupid?

The corruption case against former Sen. Ted Stevens has been dropped have been dropped by the Attorrney General due to misconduct of the federal prosecutors, not because the charges were without merit. The Attorney General stated that two of the reasons for dropping the charges were to send a message to Federal procesutors that he would not tolerate this type of behavior from procesutors and because of the age of Stevens. He never said the case was being dropped because the charges were without merit.

The misconduct by Federal Attorneys was commited within a Republican DOJ, by Republican appointees, but then again the new Administration did say it was going to be a return to the rule of law.

For those that say that Alaska has a surplus therefore Palin must be doing something right. Alaska is rich with big oil money always has been. Its not big feat to govern an state with those kinds of resources.

I'd love for her to run and lose, that way we can let the air out of her crazy sails.

Bush-league justice was the one that botched the case. Stevens got lucky on a technicality of incompetent handling, but the charges against him were legitimate. For the GOP to think he deserves another public office, it only continues to baffle the mind of many Americans.

Great, a choice between "tweedle crook" and "tweedle dumb."

Sarah Palin should call for a special election for the Alaskan Senate seat that was stolen based on a corrupt investigation, that investigation caused Ted Stevens to lose the Senate seat.

Connie: Begich just recently took office. What exactly has he done to earn the praise you give him.

Stevens would get my vote against palin any day.

U bet ya.....Palin wants a re-vote (thinking that Stevens would win) that would make it safe for her if she wants to run again for Govenor, because if Stevens were to run againist her I think the 87 year old crook would win over this "Sleezy Sarah"

If you belive Gov. Palin is running her state so great, why havn't you relocated there?

I agree, she asked Sen Stevens to step aside but only after she came under fire to do so.

This should tell you the kind of politician she is, a hypocrite.
In fact all she ever does is speak political double talk. I am surprised that she can do that given her level of intelligence.I have never seen anything like this, so many people resent her because she is a liar from the pits of hell yet she is revered by some saying she is the average american. Well, there is nothing average about her
(including her intellect)
Everyday Americans are not elected officials making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, Everyday Americans work very hard for the change and taxes they get.
They claim to be everyday when they want your vote but they don't want your salary

If you think about it, what better way for the Bush administration to pardon Ted Stevens without actually pardoning him. Just make sure the prosecution commits enough "mistakes" that the case has to be thrown out – or would be thrown out on appeal.

Nothing about dropping the charges says Ted Stevens was actually innocent. All it means is that the case as played out was not fair.

And for those talking about how wonderful Palin is because Alaska has sufficient money in its treasury, it's always much easier to manage a state when you aren't having to tax your citizens for revenue. She's got all sorts of oil money in leases and taxes coming in. In a state with a low population but with huge amounts of income from oil, even George Bush could probably manage to balance the budget. Probably...

Greg Smith in PA, shame on you. If Obama were running the country like Palin runs Alaska, we would all be getting a check every month from our landlords, the oil companies.

Since that oil money comes from those of us in the other 49 states, the oil companies would have to find other suckers to gauge.

Oh, that's right, they are already paying over $4 a gallon in Alaska now. Great thinking, Greg. I'll stick with Obama and $1.80 a gallon.

Love these Palin articles..... we all get to see the true stripes of the liberal left..... nothing but HATE and VITRIOL for decent hard-working, god-fearing traditionalist Americans like Sarah Palin.

Doug, New Jersey,

It was a republican DOJ that charged Stevens. The democrats set him free.

Now a Stevens-Palin contest would be FUN!!

Trooper Gate guilty (with no guilt admitted) vs Federal Charge guilty (dropped because of prosecutor mishap)!! Oh Yeah ALASKA!

The Dems on here said McCain was too old to be president, but now want a man closing in on 90 to be a governor. Hyprocisy.

Thanks Greg, rare to see a truth sayer on this forum, you are what makes this nation great. You are right, so many red states running surpluses with little taxes, and blue states running unheard of deficits with taxes that are nothing short of insane. Its funny, drive in the red and not pay one toll, drive in the blue and you pay one every 10 miles. Yet the libs are in debt and the republicans are running surpluses.

Don Young is opposing Palin because she endorsed her Lt. Governor Sean Parnell when he ran against Don Young.

It is easy to have a surplus, when the state is less than a million people, you have oil...and most of your people live in remote villages with shacks for housing and no services, no highways, etc
As far as TED Stevens is concerned, just because the charges are dimiss does not mean he is innocent of the charges. He still stole from the American people, are you blind and dumb. Wake up!!!

Alaska is largely dependent on federal funding. Why isn't this considered socialism?

"Prosecutorial misconduct" does not equate to "innocent defendant."

It most certainly does not equal "Senate resignation" or "Let's put the King of Pork back in office."

You got to love it, post the truth that lib doesn't want to hear and watch them distort and re-write your own words just as they have Limbaugh's and so many before. As you can see libs may not take pride in our military but they sure do take pride in lying and being dishonest.

The libs trashed and lied about Stevens to defeat him in an election. It turns out that he was found not guilty, yet somehow it is a republican who is at fault for the lies told by the libs? Whoever was running the DOJ is irrelevant here, we are talking about the election in Alaska, the Dems told lies to get their guy elected, and the facts show that not one lib has the decency to apologize like the thousands of republicans would be doing if the shoes were reversed. See, this is what we mean by morals and values, some on the right may have very little of them but no one on the left has even a remote trace of them.

He is to old to hold office anyway! does anyone recall the crap the media and the other liberal idiots were saying about McCain runnuing for president! This guy is to old to hold office and palin is still a babe! I don't know what kind of a govenor she is but she is really the best looking one in this country!

To Pat NY-

ND also does not have a defecit, and we don't have your "wonderful" Palin mucking around in anything. Palin will do any say anything to stay in the public eye. God save the country if she were in National Office.

As someone who used to live in Alaska, I came to understand that the oil companies and the government there are one-and-the-same. They don't see the collusion as corruption, it's just how the state works. It's almost like one of those company built towns... where everyone works at the mine and the the mine owners build the houses and schools and make the rules. So, by their standards Stevens hasn't done anything unusual. And, "Uncle Ted" has done great things for Alaska... brought in tons of lower 48 tax money, built the airport (the "Ted Stevens International Airport"), built roads, helped native villages build schools, airports, bridges, etc... the Alaskan natives love him. He is actually fairly "moderate"... except when it comes to drilling for oil, but all Alaskan politicians are for more drilling, the state is dependent on it.

Palin has her own share of corruption, she just pissed off the natives by selecting W.A.R. as her AG, and a lot of Alaskan's didn't like her flitting around the lower 48 embarrassing them.

I predict Stevens would bury Palin in a race for governor.

I'm just glad it's not my problem. Let Alaska worry about that. What is my problem is the way Obama is slowly but surely destroying the economy with misguided and wrong-headed policies.

Someone with a law degree may want to tell Govenor Palin that the dismissal of charges against Senator Stevens does NOT mean he's innocent. It means the prosecution by the Bush Justice Dept was incompetent. Wait... that may have been redundant.

Stevens vs Palin?

Conniving grandpa against clueless soccer mom.

OK I understand that the conviction was overturned and the election was influenced by that, but everyone seems to be overlooking one key fact: Ted Stevens is crazy!! Please, let's not give him a chance to get back in the senate. Unless evidence emerges that Mark Begich had a role in the prosecutorial misconduct– which I haven't heard anyone allege– then there is no basis to ask him to give up his seat. This is all nonsense.

Wow, now would not be something.

She is however a soccer mom and a maverick!!!

If this country was run like Alaska, there would not be any crises, the Democrats are contolling our Economy now and what a mess they got us into. Palin knows how to run a state, Obama is clueless in running our Country. This is fact.

In other words, one of the people who knows Palin best, Alaska's sole representative in Congress, doesn't believe Palin deserves to be re-elected. This is a true bombshell, a game-changer.

Someone please buy the republicans a clue,talk about grabbing at straws,they still think the Earth is flat.

it would be poetic justice if Stevens ran for and won the governorship. I would giggle all day over that one.

WOW, Palin is beyond ridiculous, she was one the repugs that asked Stevens to step down,.

how dumb is that–why would anyone with a brain vote for either of them. They both have major issues. She a total mess an doesn't even seem to be doing her job. And at his age , he really needs to be retiring

I am a republican and even I think the election results should stand as they are.
The Justice Department has no place getting involved in elections as they clearly have but that should have no bearing on a legal election. If anything the republicans should do what they can to bring to light the fact that during the last election the Justice Department went after two Alaska republicans for reasons that were unjustified.

Floyd in New York April 3rd, 2009 10:24 am ET

Alaska is the ONLY state that isn't running a huge deficit. Thay have surpluses! Palin must be doing something correct!
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Surplusses fueled by federal funding [aka pork thanks to Stevens]], and money from big oil in return for allowing oil to rape Alaska's environment, is nothing to be proud of.

"Six of one and half a dozen of the other" One is not ready, and may never be ready to serve on a larger stage, and the other got away because of a technicality. I am sure that Alaska can do better.

@ Danny J, who said Begich's campaign hit Stevens hard with the corruption charges, which now turned out to be false. That's cheating."

1. They did not "turn out to be false." There was evidence of prosecutorial misconduct such as withholding documents with potentially exculpitory evidence in them (i.e., they were evidence in Stevens' favor). There still exists overwhelming evidence that Stevens did receive these bribes: LOOK AT HIS HOUSE.

2. It's not cheating to honestly use existing facts that you have no reason to believe will be proven false. These weren't even proven false (see above), so you people need to take your meds, have a spot of tea and relax...Begich is there to stay and there's no real political leverage to be gained over Obama and the Dems by making 100% insane suggestions like having a new vote or that obviously-corrupt Stevens shoudl run for governor.

The Repuglicans will try anything to recapture a Senate Seat. Their problems are greater over because of their own political infighting. So I guess Alaska doesn’t like Sarah anymore. No wonder Newt wants to start another political party because the Repuglican Party is a Dead Man Walking, Reanimated...

Why is every media outlet leaving out the part where Stevens still commited a crime? Not one CNN story I have seen details why he is being pardoned.... Please tell us why he is being pardoned!!! He did receive goods from Oil companies and improvements to his home and he did not report any of it... Facts... so why no more charges????

Why doesn't the meia ever ask questions anymore? Who cares that he "might" run against Palin? Why are we not talking about jail?

One crook replacing another. Alaskans need to wake up and elect people they can be proud of, not clowns and crooks.

Hey Doug in NJ: Steven's was prosecuted by the Bush DOJ, which was clearly not a "lib" DOJ. In fact it was the most politicized DOJ in history. Bush's people never apologized for anything then, I wouldn't expect them to start now.

Just because the Justice Dept. wants to set aside the conviction, the basis therefore – prosecutial misconduct – does not at all exonerate Stevens for committing the charged crime. If he had prevailed on an appeal based on that claim – prosecutorial misconduct – all that he would be entitled to, is a new trial, not dismissal of the indictment. Therefore, Stevens, you claim of being exonerated, is baseless.

Another Bush administration bungle...Stevens is NOT innocent by any means, he just got off on a technicality that the OBAMA administration reviewed and AG Holder decided it was appropriate to drop the charges. The man should just ride off into the sunset and be glad he's not doing time.

I think anybody with a High school education and an online college degree can run against Palin and might win.. isn't that what the right wing wants .. some 1 so down to earth that they don't have to be highly educated .. just 1 of the people

Seriously...how much mileage do they really think they can get out of Obama's DOJ dropping charges that Bush's DOJ purposefully botched? They obvoiusly think they can convince their moron base that the whole thing was a scam to help Obama and the Dems, which is truly truly insane, and judging from some of the responses here, there are plenty of idiots who are willing to go along with that crazytalk.

Come on now, the man is 85 years old and it doesn't mean his hands are clean.......he should count himself lucky and take his retirement. Also if other republicans want him to run for Govenor what does that say about what they think of Palin........

Floyd replied to Jonita, who said: "Dropped charges does't mean innocent…"
And it doesn't mean guilty either !

Good point, Floyd. Conviction by a court means guilty, and Stevens was convicted. This makes him guilty by our laws. It makes him a convict and a felon – the kind of man who belongs in jail.

Run Ted Run!!

The only point in asking Begich to step down and allow a new election is that Ted Stevens lost because he had a huge scandal over his head, and was expected to face jail time.

Lo and behold, after the election, we find out that evidence was withheld that could have exonerated Stevens. Enough so that even Eric Holder demanded the case against Stevens be dropped.

The issue is clear....the charges against Stevens were brought up to directly impact his re-election, and put his Senate seat in play. Once he lost the seat, the truth comes out and the charges are dropped....after all, the Democrats already got what they wanted. One of the most heavily Republican states in the country unseated the longest tenured GOP senator and replaced him with a Democrat...that's like a wet dream come true for guys like Carville, Begala, and Rahm Emmanuel.

He was not acquitted.

The investigation and prosecution was the work of the Bush DOJ, NOT "libs" as one person suggests. In fact it was the "libs" who asked that charges be dismissed because of the ineptness (surprise,surprise) of BuschCo lawyers.

How did we survive 8 years of an administration that could screw up a one car funeral?

Ted Stevens should relax and enjoy the booty he gathered during his tenure as Alaska's looter-in-chief.

Doug, New Jersey are you kidding???
"Another republican who was trashed and lied about by libs."
Do you realize that Ted Stevens was prosecuted by a republican run U.S. Attorneys office?? It was republican appointed USDAs that concealed the evidence that lead to his conviction. It was the new Democratic US Attorney, and his people who threw the garbage out.
Ted Stevens' own attorneys thanked and praised him for doing so.
You guys on the right are so blind with hatred you can't even see the truth when it's right in front of you in black and white. It's so sad, so very, very, sad.

Forget Stevens. Forget Palin. This is about Young. Young shows a total lack of respect and concern for the great state of Alaska for suggesting this. He shows a lack of responsibility and maturity. Those that elected Young should take care that he is not elected again to any position.

Senator Stevens should spend the rest of his life in the slammer. Bernard Madoff may have stolen a few hubcaps, but Stevens committed treason by selling his legislative favors. Corruption in elected office is the worst form of treason, much more serious than selling military secrets to the enemy, which is very serious itself.

There are two possible explanations to the dropping of charges against this convicted felon:

1. The new Attorney General is sending a message about overzealous prosecution. He chose to realease a Conservative political hack convict rather than a pedaphile or rapist to blunt criticism from the wingnut right.

2. Stevens has threatened to go public with a lot of dirt about Washington and Alaska politicians, who are pressuring the Justice Department to let the crook to.

Ted Stevens is to old to hold that set. this is our problem to many old thinkers with no new ideas other than following their old ways.

Doug, New Jersey April 3rd, 2009 10:00 am ET

Another republican who was trashed and lied about by libs. You wont hear the lib apologize though, they can't do that, only republicans have the decency for that. Remember the Duke/rape case that was bogus, that lib leader never apologized either, the lib never does.
****************************************************************************

For the record, it is the Bush appointed AG that handled the Stevens issue and the Obama appointed AG who chose not to prosecute. That doesn't mean he didn't do it, it means that, yes, a "lib" did the right thing and put legal process ahead of politics. With people like you, you see what you want to see.

As far as the Duke rape case goes, at least the lacrosse team is alive and free. Black women were raped for hundreds of years and no one was prosecuted. Black men falsely accused of rape were not too long ago tarred and feathered, hanged, or burned alive, so cry me a freakin' river.

Oh, btw, wait for the Bush/Gonzales clan to apologize to Stevens.
Better yet, wait for Palin to apologize to McCain for how ungrateful and spiteful she's been.

AnnMM thinks Alaska is messed up because the people there have morals, values, decency, integrity, and are completely selfless. However, libs like this see nothing wrong with Chicago and think that there is nothing greater than the hate, dishonesty, and selfishness of Blago, Daly, and Obama.

How dare you have a new election even though the last one was tainted by lib lies and attacks. That would be wrong, but paying homeless people to vote, not counting military votes, and counting the democrat votes of the dead is just fine.

Libs hate Palin, she told the truth about Obama. Yes, William Ayers is a terrorist. BTW, the libs planted at the Palin speeches who spewed out racist remarks cannot be counted as republicans, in fact when lib brings that up they are really just exposing the truth about them.

Just because the AG's office overturned the conviction on the PA's misconduct... doesn't mean that Stevens wasn't guilty of taking gifts and bribes in the first place.

If that's the case... then I have a friend named OJ I'm sure you're just DYING to meet!!!

RETIRE STEVENS You are 87 years old give it a rest Sara Palin are you Ever gonna Be Intelligent?

Palin should resign so they can have a special election against someone who is actually qualified and who isn't a big fat liar.....

Hey Doug in New Jersey, read much? Stevens was convicted before the election. It was BUSH'S justice department that skewered him, and OBAMA'S that just let him off the hook.

The saddest thing about America is that you can be a hateful partisan with no concept of actual events and still have the right to vote.

It's funny – Ted Stevens can be 'disappeared' and rubbed out from public office, but we couldn't find ways to get rid of George W. Bush!

Well, you have to hand it to Don Young; I'm impressed that he can flatly say, "hey, this guy won fair and square." Sure, that's obvious and the rest of the AKGOP's position here is madness...but still, it takes some guts. On the other hand, his idea that Stevens should run for a gubernatorial term that would end when he's 91 is awfully crazy as well.

I wanted to mention to several commenters who seem to assume that Stevens would be the GOP special election candidate should Begich resign that no one in the AKGOP has suggested that at all. My first guess would be that Palin would snap up that seat so as to not have to run against sane Republican incumbent Lisa Murkowski. I certainly don't see Stevens ever running for anything else again.

And Doug from NJ, just what exactly are you babbling about? What are "libs" supposed to be apologizing for? How did "libs" trash and lie about Stevens? You do recognize that the case against him was brought by the Bush DOJ, right? While they bungled the procedure...they also produced a mountain of evidence that shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that Stevens was corrupt as the day is long. So quit whining, and quit blaming "libs" for Republican-on-Republican violence. We had nothing to do with it.

The charges where dropped because of technicalities in the prosecution, not because he was innocent. He still got the money, he still did not report it, it still stinks. There is still lots of overwhelming evidence of guilt here. At least OJ was found not guilty in court, Stevens just go lucky.

How can Stevens run for Governor of Alaska if he has no "executive experience" anyway?

Begich did win the race, due to falsities. Begich's campaign hit Stevens hard with the corruption charges, which now turned out to be false. That's cheating.

Stevens still did the dirty deeds,he just got off the hook.

What a tapdancing farce the GOP is at this point. I've spent the past 2 weeks saying "OMG, that's the craziest thing I think I've ever heard!" And every say it's been true.

Why does CNN keep running stories about Sarah Pailn? Who cares? She lost the election and will never be on the national stage again. Why keep giving her airtime. Move on CNN. Move on.

The Keystone Gops strike again

The charges against Stevens were dropped on a technicality: Prosecutorial Misconduct. The court DID NOT find Stevens innocent of the charges. The Prosecutors screwed up and the case was thrown out.

Meanwhile, Begich WON the election. Period.

The Republican Party up there really needs to grow up.

Now, this would be an interesting political race for Alaska. However, former Senator Ted Stevens.., I think it's time to retire. Mike in Montana

Alaska is the ONLY state that isn't running a huge deficit. Thay have surpluses! Palin must be doing something correct!

Ha! The mentor against the mentee. Would be great for a laugh.

As for Palin sayind anyone should step down, please keep the madness to yourself. Stevens was prosecuted by a Republican AG in a Republican administration. That is all in house, not a democrat problem. Matter of fact, it was a democratic administration that dropped the charges. Not that I'm in favor of that move. Could be a sign of the good ol boy network or Obama willing to call a bygones on this one.

Other top Alaska Republicans, including Palin and Alaska GOP chairman Randy Ruedrich, said Thursday that Democratic Sen. Mark Begich should step aside so a new vote can be held now that the charges against Stevens have been dropped by the Justice Department.

Young dismissed those demands, calling them "a lot of noise."

I agree and I call it a lot of noise that is what Palin do best. I hope someone run againts this educated nut.

At least he has a double digit IQ.

Jonita April 3rd, 2009 9:42 am ET

Dropped charges does't mean innocent…

------------

And it doesn't mean guilty either !

Wow...are they just trying to one-up each other on the crazymeter or what?

Please someone, even with the last name Bush please run against Palin.

Wake Up call republicans!!!!! You'll never win with Palin on the ticket.

Palin is a joke. Please for the sake of the GOP get rid of this moron

Wait a minute, Doug. It was the BUSH Justice Dept. that went after Stevens; it's the Obama Justice Dept. that dropped the charges. Just who should apologize again?

The legal real estate between ‘Proven Guilty’ and ‘Proven Innocent’ in the U.S. is quite a large plot of land....

Stevens is in his eighties….although he would probably win…but would he want to run at this point? He’s a good 20 years past the age that many people retire!

He was not outted by the liberals, he was outted by his own party... get your head out the sand and join the land of the knowing... remember THINKING is patriotic!!! Doug you should know better!! :*(

Palin has made so many enemies with her self-absorbtion and her cronyism that all the winks and smiles in the world aren't going to help.

Honestly, the GOP has lost its collective mind. At 85, Mr. Stevens, should retire and live in peace.

However, the Obama Justice Department, MUST investigate the Bush Justice Department's prosecutor that threw Mr. Stevens "under the bus"!

Wow, they want to elect somebody worse then Palin

Begich won fair and square. Check the Constitution. Even if Begich stepped aside Stevens couldn't just step into the vacant seat. The people elected him, the Governor can't overrule that just because she thinks she's the right-wing's Messiah. Furthermore, how truly popular can Palin be if members of her own party would like to see Stevens take her job.

Alaska is messed up.

More Delusion from the GoP ...

They still don't get it ... Shameful ...

Actually this would be a good race. Of course Palin has not said she is running.

Ted Stevens should feel lucky and just keep his mouth shut and retire!

Alaska will be better off if Stevens keeps his mouth shut and retire!

Palin wouldn't stand a chance.

Another republican who was trashed and lied about by libs. You wont hear the lib apologize though, they can't do that, only republicans have the decency for that. Remember the Duke/rape case that was bogus, that lib leader never apologized either, the lib never does.

Gosh...who knew Alaska was so deprived of proper leadership.....good thing ol' McCain brought Palin to the surface or the corrupt ways and hate filled leadership never would have been brought to the attention of the lower 48~ It's time Alaska had some honest people in control!...and I don't think Stevens as governor would be the answer.....nor is re-electing Palin....they all need to be ousted~

Ted Stevens is 85 years old. That alone should be enough reason for him to sit back and enjoy that snazzy home he has up in Alaska with his obscene government pension. He’s older then any member of my family who are no longer here ever lived to see. With today’s challenges, the Congress needs new blood, not some old man set in his ways. And I’m not a kid myself, but that’s the way I see it. Being a senator is an elected position, it's not a life long entitlement.

They expect the guy who just beat their party in the race to step aside so they can get a second chance WITH THE SAME CANDIDATE? Really? REALLY? The "series of tubes" in their heads must be out of whack or something.

Great! Hasn't Palin called for Begich to resign so Stevens can take his seat back? She wishes. I hope Stevens runs and whips her butt.

It's not just a lot of noise, it's simply insane. Those long, cold winters must cause some kind of impairment when it comes to common sense.

LORD.... what's WRONG with these Republicans? Just when you think things CAN'T get any worse, they go from WORSE to WORSER!!!

Unbelievable!!!

She was one of the accomplies in rail roading Stevens. I believe if he ran he not only could make a good case on that front but would be considered vastly more knowledgable. It would also leave her free to devote all her time to 2012.......SMILE

Dropped charges does't mean innocent...

Boy, that'd be some fireworks. It would be nice to see Sarah Palin go through a primary, though.

Before she got nominated for VP, all I knew about her was that she was under investigation for corruption. If she plans on running for President in 2012, she'll have to go through the most difficult single-contest electoral process in the country in the Iowa Caucus. As a Political Science student at the University of Iowa in 2003 and 2007, I got to see two caucuses firsthand and I can tell you, Iowans love substance. Catch phrases and equivocating can work if you're only around for a few days before you move on, but the Iowa Caucus campaign can last 6 months or more. If she comes in and tries to pull the same tricks to avoid giving straight answers and instead shoots off a string of homespun colloquialisms, the Iowans will call her on it and nail her to the wall (example: Hillary Clinton). Maybe the Alaska Gubernatorial Primary would at least let us see what she really has.

at 87 years old, and taking into account what all he has just been through, he probably should think about retiring and maybe just throwing his support to a new up coming "younger" person..I feel much sympathy for him, but, honestly, at his age, how much longer does he have anyways ? America ( and yes, Alaska too ) needs fresh blood in senate and congress now..

Sarah Palin is like the volcana in Alaska, always blowing out hot crap. She should step down and give the job to someone who deserves it.