Here are the pre-election polls for Stevens and Young.

They might be the two biggest upsets of all Tuesday. Both in Alaska.

Coincidence? Or is someone counting votes funny up there?

I read somewhere that Stevens did better in the actual vote than in the exit polls. Presumably, this would be a Bradley effect - some percent of people are willing to vote for a convicted felon, but aren't willing to admit it.

Nah, the conviction helped Stevens because it means that a vote for him is in fact a vote for a Republican to be named later (does Palin nominate a successor once Stevens is in the slammer or is there a special election?)

Congratulations, Florida! You're no longer the biggest laughing stock in the country.

Maybe Scooter Libby has a future after all.

The Alaskan Welfare Republic of Corruptistan should be stripped of statehood and replaced with a decent place like Puerto Rico or Washington, DC.

They can be a territory with no Congressional representation until such time as they prove they're capable of governing themselves.

What a bunch of idiots.

For a really fun story along these lines check out the town I grew up in Providence RI and Buddy Cianci. He has multiple criminal convictions but if Buddy Cianci were allowed to run for mayor of Providence today he would win.

Children, play nice: you can vote for criminals if you want to. The genius of democracy is that you get the government you deserve.

And no, this is not a vote for a GOP appointment, but a special election. AK changed its laws after the prior appointment debacle.

Guys, I am seriously dreading a Senator Palin right now.

floccina, I met Buddy Cianci a couple of times, he was certainly a larger than life character, but completely delusional in many ways. And you could smell his cologne a half hour before he entered the room.

maybe that Alaska successionist group Todd Palin belonged to had the right idea. any state that elects Sarah Palin AND Ted Stevens is a state we can do without.

add Puerto Rico, that way we won't have to change any of the flags and stuff.

They seriously do not like Democrats in Alaska... whew!

Yo, I've been to Providence. Spent time on Federal Hill. That doesn't surprise me in the LEAST.

[great town btw]

People in this country who think seven criminal convictions should probably lose you your Senate seat

I can imagine that Republicans were voting strategically in favor of a Senate seat to be held by a Republican to be named later after Stevens is kicked out.

But I echo the person who wonders why Alaska is so deserving of statehood while DC goes without. At worst, DC allowed its mayor to hand out civil service jobs to unqualified people while letting the infrastructure rot and smoked crack. We didn't turn the district into a petrostate kleptocracy. Or, at the very least, I would hardly call the justification for DC's statehood to be less valid than Alaska's.

The Senate might not keep him, but anyone wonder whether Bush will give Stevens the I. Lewis Libby Get Out of Jail Free Card before taking off for Texas?

@scythia
Spent time on Federal Hill

great town btw

Ah yes Federal Hill was quite a place home of Raymond Patriaca. I remember as a youth walking there and getting assaulted for being not from there. The characters there were a rough crowd. Great Italian food though, great Italian bakeries!

It doesn't count as a Bradley effect - it really deserves its own term. What is short for "Republicans don't like to tell pollsters that they really are going to vote for their convicted-of-corruption morally bankrupt leaders"?

Yes, I don't want to hear another word from Republicans about Marion Barry after this.

Not just Alaska...
http://www.nola.com/elections/index.ssf/2008/11/rep_jefferson_cruises_to_reele.html

i understand the concept, but is there something missing in the statement?

Not just Alaska...

No, really, just Alaska. Jefferson has a looming trial. Stevens was tried and found guilty as charged on several counts.

The man is good at siphoning off large sums of money from the rest of America for his state. If he can keep the millions in pork flowing to Alaska, they'll keep him. Without him Alaskans might actually have to start paying taxes. And that would be totally unfair, right? I mean, what with their socialized oil revenues and stuff. Alaskans not only get a free lunch, they think they deserve it.

To be fair, Jefferson is pretty clearly guilty as hell. But still, there's a whole new level to electing someone just after he was convicted on seven felony counts.

And JJF may have a point. Really, the corruption is already established here -- the question is whether Alaska is corrupt enough to re-elect a couple of crooks (while lying to pollsters about it) or to get their vote stolen. I suppose there might have been an effect on turnout because of the Presidential election getting called at 11pm EST -- anyone know if that's quantifiable?

I don't want to hear another word from Republicans about Marion Barry after this.

The difference is Republicans are not going to allow Stevens to serve. It's simply strategy for keeping the seat.

I wouldn't be a Democrat and a White Sox fan if I couldn't throw a little pessimism around after such a great day.

Stevens gets expelled from the Senate. A special election is called by Alaska's Governor, who decides that she is the best candidate for the job. She wins, and we have Senator Palin.

Add to that this scenario: Norm Coleman wins the recount but is finally caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and either is expelled from the Senate or resigns his seat. Governor Pawlenty gets to appoint a successor until the next General Election, and will undoubtedly choose a prominent Republican.

Senator Bachmann.

I hope I'm wrong about this, but worry I must.

What is short for "Republicans don't like to tell pollsters that they really are going to vote for their convicted-of-corruption morally bankrupt leaders"?

The Stevens Effect, obviously.

As for Senator Palin: who cares? Senator Palin, Senator Stevens, whatever. Anything that gets Palin closer to running for President is a win in my book.

Stevens is too common a name to tarnish like that. Think of poor Justice Stevens, for example. Maybe if we called the Tubes Effect...

As much as I like that meme, malatesta, I think its meaning will get lost too easily. How about The Alaska Effect - the entire state should be shamed with the name.

Check out this article on how the Alaska election smells funny:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shannyn-moore/stolen-election-in-alaska_b_141704.html