Ted Stevens may have died in an Alaskan airplane crash last night

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Ted Stevens may have died in a plane crash last night. Reports are contradictory though. Former head of NASA, Sean O'Keefe was also a passenger on the same airplane and there is no word on his condition as of this writing.

Dave Dittman, a former aide and close family friend of former Sen. Ted Stevens, confirms to local Alaksa station KTUU that Stevens was killed in a plane crash in his home state on Monday night.

Stevens served as a Republican senator from Alaska from 1968 - 2008, and the longest serving Reublican in the United States Senate (Senator Thurmond served as a Democratic and Republican, so doesn't count). Stevens was President pro tempore in the 108th and 109th Congresses from January 3, 2003, to January 3, 2007. Stevens served for six decades in the American public sector, beginning with his service in World War II. In the 1950s, he held senior positions in the Eisenhower Interior Department. He served continuously in the Senate since December 1968. He played key roles in legislation that shaped Alaska's economic and social development, including the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act, the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. He is also known for his sponsorship of the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, which resulted in the establishment of the United States Olympic Committee.

On July 29, 2008, Stevens was indicted by a federal grand jury on seven counts of failing to report gifts received from VECO Corporation and its CEO Bill Allen on his Senate financial disclosure forms, formally charged with violation of provisions of the Ethics in Government Act. Stevens pleaded not guilty and asserted his right to a speedy trial, which began on September 25 in Washington, DC, to have the opportunity to clear his name before the November election. On October 27, 2008, barely a week before the election, Stevens was found guilty on all seven counts.National Public Radio reported on April 1, 2009, that United States Attorney General Eric Holder, citing serious prosecutorial misconduct during the trial, decided to drop all charges against Stevens—an action that vacated his conviction.[3]

During his trial, Stevens campaigned for re-election to his Senate seat. On November 4, 2008, eight days after his conviction, he lost the election to Democrat Mark Begich by 3,953 votes, a 1.24% margin.[4][5] Stevens conceded defeat in a statement released the next day,[6] making him the first U.S. senator from Alaska to be defeated in a general election and the longest-serving U.S. Senator ever to lose a re-election bid.


I hope the story doesn't end tragically, but wish the best for his family and friends and loved ones.

Comments

[op-tech-glitch.livejournal.com]

Dude is (or was) a complete lunatic in his twilight years, but I'm still hoping he goes out in a far better way than this. O'Keefe too.

[chipuni.livejournal.com]

He won't need to worry about remodeling his home any more...

[reflaxion.livejournal.com]

In other news, Sarah Palin may have finally nailed that pesky Alaskan Birdzilla (http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/West/10/18/offbeat.alaska.bird.reut/)!!


... okay, too soon. :(

[mijopo.livejournal.com]

Maybe, I still laughed, though.

[southwest]

at the age of 87 years this maybe not the worst way to go

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

May he rest in peace, if dead. If alive may he be uninjured.

[op-tech-glitch.livejournal.com]

It's official. R.I.P., Ted. (http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/10/alaska.plane.crash/index.html)

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

que the conspiracy theories in 5...4...3....

[op-tech-glitch.livejournal.com]

Pfff, if he'd actually still been in a position to do anything whatsoever, I could see the impulse toward it.

I was just over on Facebook mentioning the lecture I went to by Aaron "Boondocks" MacGruder, right after the Iraq invasion went down and as the Bush regime was going full whole-hog ahead. At one point the dude flat-out said, "How serious are they [the Republicans]? They killed Paul Wellstone."

(Even my eyebrows went up at that one.)

[udoswald.livejournal.com]

It's been confirmed by authorities and Stevens' family that he is indeed dead. It appears O'Keefe and his son are alive.

[mendaciloquent.livejournal.com]

Look, I hate to be the one to say this, but someone has to: this guy was a corrupt, wheeling-and-dealing scumbag who was also apparently hell-bent on raping the natural resources of one of the last relatively pristine natural areas belonging to the United States. There may be no justice in this world, but when horrible accidents happen to those who deserve it, we have a responsibility to celebrate.

[op-tech-glitch.livejournal.com]

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd, they're off!

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

No I don't think we do. :(

[mendaciloquent.livejournal.com]

Well, it's a free country, you can do what you like. Personally, I've never understood the unearned respect people automatically grant the powerful and famous when misfortune befalls them. I felt the same way when Reagan died. Suddenly all sorts of people came out of the woodwork to say how sad they were that he was gone, how great he was, etc., all sorts of crap they never would have said when he was alive, generally because none of it was true. The whole faux public grieving thing is lame.

[debergerac.livejournal.com]

great. have a five or six drinks in celebration, then drive home.

[malasadas.livejournal.com]

Win.

[politikitty.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reminding us that the Internet is not a truck, it's a series of douchebags.

[dreadfulpenny81.livejournal.com]

Have at it. I did a little dance when Ted Kennedy croaked. I'd be a complete hypocrite not to allow someone else to do the same.

However...

I think there should at least be a 24 hour grace period before all the assholes come out to play.

[ygrii-blop.livejournal.com]

*shrug* Good riddance, sixty years too late.

[mendaciloquent.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[akfelecia2.livejournal.com]

I was not a fan of Senator Stevens, and was thrilled to help do my part in making sure he was beat in his last election.

Having said that, I'm sad for his family members who are grieving right now, as well as my own family members who were very close with him, and have fond memories.

And let us not forget that others died in that accident and their families are grieving now too.

[404.livejournal.com]

Regardless of your personal feelings about Stevens' policies or actions during his life, the only people that will be hurt by others speaking ill of him now are his loved ones who lost a member of their family. In the words of Thumper, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

[mijopo.livejournal.com]

the only people that will be hurt by others speaking ill of him now are his loved ones who lost a member of their family.

You think they're members of talkpolitics? It's one thing to insist on politeness and kindness in a social setting in the company of those grieving, it would be really douchey to launch into a vitriolic criticism of the man if we're say at a viewing or wake. But it's a bit silly to expect or require such empty gestures from others. the time of the man's death is a good time to assess his contribution frankly if we're not in fact in the presence of his immediate loved ones.

[policraticus.livejournal.com]

I am sorry for his family, who must grieve his loss. I don't know anything about him as a person, I am sure he was as good a man as he could be. But, as a legislator, he was the sum total of everything that is wrong about Washington DC. I can't say I'm happy he's dead, but I hope he takes his porktacular ways with him to the grave. Not that I am holding my breath.

[kawaiimamimi.livejournal.com]

I can't be happy over someone's death, especially if they died in a plane crash, which is a crushing fear of mine.