Ted Stevens

Now about that wardrobe………

lemme see if I have this straight…felons are barred from voting in elections, but can hold national office?!? WTF?

Well, as a Democrat, I would like to thank Mr. Stevens for his fine service to my cause. Nothing would be finer than to point to the GOP as the party of convicted felons.

Life was in a different place when Stevens said that. He’s had so much power for so long he didn’t know he could be taken down. Begich is already ahead by a small amount, so he will be defeated.

Saw this coming when I heard about the chair in his house for seven years which he hadn’t “accepted as a gift.” No juror reasonable could hear that and think “no, he’s not a crook!”

Should have invoked his right to silence.

THis is also not good news for Sarah Palin. (copying my last comment from another post):
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She may well have engaged in very similar practices in the building of her house (“It’s the way they do things in Alaska” may come home to roost). And the amazing thing is that she actually invited the investigation that’s going to look into this by asking the Personnel Board to look into Troopergate. And the investigator has made it clear he’s extending the complaints he’s looking into, and looking into more people.

Also breaking on MSNBC – apparently ATF looking into a plot by skinheads to assassinate Barack. Not exactly a surprise – I’d think there were a dozen of these a day, so why let us know about this one?

hmmmm – comment put into moderation, and maybe I would have too. Just check out MSNBC for other breaking news concerning barack. (though if it’s on the teevee we should be able to say it here.

felons are barred from voting in elections, but can hold national office..

The barring from voting is decided on a state by state basis. In Florida he’s be unable to vote for himself. I’m more interested in whether serving time is considered a better excuse for missing votes than campaigning is.

hmm – plans released in court records today, not not “news.” Somebody wouldn’t be trying to suggest we shouldn’t elect Barack would they

KT here–

Kathy, we continue to work on our “issues” here. I’ve mentioned the moderated comments problem, and the High Sheriffs say they are on it.

Watch McCain say this is proof of how corrupt earmarks are, and how wonderful Sarah Palin is for confronting her own party in Alaska.

So how did everyone else put spaces into their names? I got stuck with khakipants because I couldn’t get it to accept my old display name “sean decoursey forgot his password” which I’d kind of grown attached to.

Also, Yay! Yay! Yay! for convicting corrupt public officials. Hopefully more to come.

KT here–

Kathy: good point. wonder who palin would appoint to replace him. maybe — sarah palin?

KT – yes, I know. I just thought there might have been a reason to thwart that last comment of mine, and you’re free to delete it.
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Thanks for putting in the extra time on this. Mostly it has seemed to most of us that there isn’t rhyme or reason to the moderation, so we mostly aren’t getting bent out of shape about it.

Well, as Kathy has said, wait until they start in on Sarah’s house. May not be done before the election but…
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Stevens sentencing hearing will likely be in February. If Martha Stewart had to serve time, he better serve some as well.

Karen – oh gosh. What a delicious possiblity! Would we pay to see a floor debate between Al Franken and Sarah Palin? Yes we would.

Nate Silver has Begich at 53% against Stevens, so Stevens is not likely to pick up ground now.

OMG, Franken – Palin debate? As jayackroyd said someplace else, I’m buying Orville Redenbacher futures!

KT here–

Okay, I should fess up right here and now: Ted Stevens used to have monthly lunches for the press in the 1980s, back when he was asst maj leader, with free Alaska salmon. I WENT, commenters! I ATE! And now, I’m ashamed, I tell you. ASHAMED!

It might be a fine thing if Palin were to appoint herself to the Senate. I’d love to let her get some national exposure (on a Michele Bachmann scale) over the next four years instead of seeing her re-emerge from the virtual media blackout of Juneau.

btw, KT – I don’t know about the technical delivery issues, but the previous Swampland format wasn’t broke. I can’t stand this substitute, even if it’s only a patch. I’m strongly inclined to hang out instead at FiveThirtyEight at least through next week.

I think that sews up that seat.
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Actually, the “preferred” method for the Republicans would be for Stevens to win, resign, and then have a replacement appointed to his position by Palin until a new election is held that is untainted by Stevens.
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Of course, that hinges on Stevens winning.

KT, LOL!
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FlownOver, I don’t think they picked this as a fun thing to do for the last week of the election cycle. I thought the old software crashed and it took two days to get something (anything) up. Annoying as it may be, at least WordPress was a system that they knew would work.

More seriously, Stevens could resign now and let her appoint someone else, but I can’t imagine that would happen for many reasons even apart from his ego.

Stevens will lose for sure, now. Many Alaskans are bound to be getting embarrassed about how their Republican politicians are looking nationally. I

I was watching Dora the Explorer with my daughter the other day and I realized that Ted Stevens is the Grumpy Old Troll that Lives by the Bridge. That is all.

A process question –

The jurors were having serious problems with one of their number before one of them headed out for her father’s funeral at week’s end. After she was replaced this morning the verdict took only hours. Was the problematic juror the one who was replaced?

Nightmarish scenario:
1. Stevens wins the Alaskan Senate seat, pending appeal of his felony conviction.
2. The Palin/McCain ticket loses the Presidential election.
3. Stevens’ felony conviction is upheld and Stevens is kicked out of the U.S. Senate.
4. Replacing Stevens: Sarah Palin.
5. Mrs. Palin goes to Washington, shores up her national/international credentials and makes a bid for the Presidency…

…Hey, it’s Halloween week! What’d you expect?

Independent-minded, small government states tend to shy away from re-electing corrupt officials- just ask Conrad Burns. Even if Stevens had been leading prior to the conviction, there would be no way Alaskans would elect him now.

I’ll echo Cliff in thanking Senator Stevens for his sterling work for the democrats this year, though I’ll point out that the record for unintentionally helping my party goes to Tom “permanent Republican Majority” DeLay for his late resignation in 2006.

More bad news for the Republicans – and just when McCain was beginning to find a message.

http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/10/27/mccain-has-found-his-voice-but-it-is-too-late/

Flown over- nope, one was juror #9, the other juror #5. Also, I tend to think that Palin will be absolutely destroyed by your Romneys and Huckabees in a primary season- no need to sacrifice four years of a democratic senate seat on that account.

After Murkowski appointed his daughter to the Senate, Alaskans overwhelmingly passed a citizen’s initiative stripping the governor of any power to appoint Senators.

As I understand current law, should Stevens resign before next Inauguration Day, the seat will simply stay vacant until filled, either by Begich (if he wins) or by the winner of a special election.

…and an Alaska question –
Could Stevens still campaign on a promise to resign and let Palin appoint his replacement? Stranger things have happened, like Mel Carnahan’s Missouri victory (over John Ashcroft) following his death in a plane crash.

Unrealated, but a hate filled triple play:

She was a McCain volunteer!
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/10/police_mccain_volunteer_made_u_1.php
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Questions of a sharper kind:
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/239900.php
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And, my least favorite bit o’ news, kinda what I feared when two weeks ago, racial hatred was all the rage at Palin and McCain rallies:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27405681/
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Yes, these GOPers’ are certainly using acceptable tactics…

An interesting piece on Stevens’ case is on Alaska Daily News: http://www.adn.com/news/politics/fbi/stevens/story/569134.html
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It has Stevens telling his wife, rather ominously, it’s not over yet!
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The two reporters list their email addresses at the bottom. I just sent one of them an email asking for details on Alaska law. If (s)he responds, I’ll post it.

Unrealated, but a hate filled triple play:
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She was a McCain volunteer!
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/10/police_mccain_volunteer_made_u_1.php
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Questions of a sharper kind:
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/239900.php
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And, my least favorite bit o’ news, kinda what I feared when two weeks ago, racial hatred was all the rage at Palin and McCain rallies:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27405681/
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Yes, these GOPers’ are certainly using acceptable tactics…

Sweet justice as this obvious scumbag was leading the charge of ending Net Neutrality, which pretty much would’ve destroyed the vibrancy of individual internet entrepreneurship and raped the consumer so that telecoms execs can buy more ivory backscratchers.

Tubes Guy’s collapse also thoroughly ensures, Mark Foley-style, a total rout for Rethugs (assuming that wasn’t already guaranteed).

What is with this moderation madness? KT, check out what I just posted — what rationale could there be for stopping it from being posted?

WordPress is insane.

test

Unrealated, rather nasty triple play:
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She was a McCain volunteer!
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/10/police_mccain_volunteer_made_u_1.php
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Questions of a sharper kind:
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/239900.php
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And, my least favorite bit o’ news, kinda what I feared when two weeks ago, racial hatred was all the rage at Palin and McCain rallies:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27405681/
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Yes, these GOPers’ are certainly using acceptable tactics…

“Okay, I should fess up right here and now:”
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KT,
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Never confess KT. Even if they have you on film wiping the sauce from your lips. You did nothing wrong. You never saw it or ate before in your life.

Too good to pass up: Seven! Seven Counts! A-HAHAHA!

Good heavens – he’s like a crazy person.

And thank you to the tech peep who put a space between commenters.

helps these very old eyeballs.

Also, see http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/102708/sta_348821512.shtml which, ironically, pops up with a special Sarah Palin header for the paper’s special collection on the governor.

Ok, that last comment of mine was a must-see. So please liberate it, mkay?

BTW, Stevens was convicted of not declaring these gifts on his forms, but I assume he therefore did not also declare them as gifts on his federal taxes. Is the IRS waiting in the wings?

I’ll try it one more time, just in case: Seven! Seven Counts! A-HAHAHA!

I WENT, commenters! I ATE! And now, I’m ashamed, I tell you. ASHAMED!

oh noes!!
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Hey, why didn’t they serve Alaskan King Crab?

Completely off topic, but where are the horse-race posts on the race in AZ? Just because it’s not looking close nationally now we are getting substance-only posts (not aimed at you, KT)?

In case anybody has missed them, here are the last 4 polls from McCain’s home state:

Poll Date Sample MoE McCain (R) Obama (D) Spread
Rasmussen 10/26 – 10/26 500 LV 4.5 51 46 McCain +5
Myers Res/Grove (D) 10/23-24/08 600 LV 44 40 McCain +4
Zimmerman (D) 10/16 – 10/19 408 LV 4.9 44 42 McCain +2
Arizona State 09/25 – 09/28 975 RV 3.1 45 38 McCain +7

Bush Margin in AZ 2004- 16.6%
McCain avg margin in these polls- 4.5%

That’s change you can believe in, my friends.
(Apologies for any formatting ugliness).

AP is reporting that ATF has broken up skin head plot to kill Obama on this story suggests that the part of this plot that involved killing Obama was much more aspirational than anything they’d worked out a clear plan to accomplish. But they had worked out a plan to raid a predominantly African-American high school and kill 100 kids.
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http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/

Jenn, you were right. It was worth it.
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Wow, a comment I made at 5:04 in moderation. Maybe the bot doesn’t know common acronyms.

This actually shows how thin the bench is in Alaska: you had Murkowski nepotism and Young/Stevens fun and games, which explains Palin’s elevation from small-town mayor.
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I like indybikehiker’s nightmare scenario: Senator Palin, 100th in seniority. Well, not ‘like’, but it’s the kind of thing that’s made for DC media.

No, No, No, No, No, No!!!!!

/ted stevens

KT,

I’d stick to the “there was no rope swing” defense.

In all seriousness, and not to beat up on KT here, but why do journalists get to make fun of politicians for imposing “no silverware” ethical-lobbying rules, but also get to laughingly blow off any suggestion that receiving their own perks from lawmakers is corrupting?

Here are two things I know to be true:

1. I love Alaskan Salmon.

2. As a general rule, people who are given free Alaskan Salmon are likely to not bite the hand that feeds them.

Does placing one’s cursor over each date-time stamp then reading what number WordPress gave it accurately tell one about comments awaiting moderation?
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ivb3016′s 38th comment is numbered 11321, accordingly, and psuedonymous’ is 11323; hence 11322 is awaiting moderation?

archi – mudflats.wordpress.com is another great palin/Alaska/Stevens site. Also a wordpress site, so you’re already logged in to comment.

Ugh, is Swampland actively trying to drive posters away from this site? For the last month it sure seems that way.

My point, hopefully not to be moderated, is that Stevens will become a Foley-like spark for Republicans to be booted over this election (and, like Foley, become a big blame magnet along with McCain while letting their real problems fester).

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Looks like Ted ‘King of Pork’ Stevens didn’t need John McCain to make his name famous…And I can totally see Palin appointing herself to the Senate if Stevens (if elected) steps down.
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archimedesncarlsbad Interesting, I had not realized that numbering existed. No, my comment still in moderation is 11316

thanks Kathy. Many funny comments there.

Also – the mudflats people have formed community in a way we have not. We must be – horrors – mainstream. The mudflat commenters from Pittsburg have held a reunion!

Karen – I’m trying to figure out the ethics here. It’s always a good thing to eat salmon. But this is a slippery slope. When I was 24 I ran for the state legislature, and a friend’s mother paid $36 for me to run an ad in the local paper. But she was very particular about the wording of the ad, and clearly felt that if she paid for it she should get to say what the words were. I don’t really remember whether I let her, but I probably did. I feel your shame.

Good point, vicious. Also, strike another news cycle from McCain’s quiver. How many does that leave him with to turn it around?

And by the way (last time I abbreviated that I was put in limbo), my comment 11321 shows as 39 on my screen because my limbo one changes my numbering. So as long as that exists, we can’t use referential numbers.

prior to ivb3016 last post, number 44 (or WordPress 11336) and viciousmaniac’s number 43 (11334) appears to be a missing 11335, no?

I’m mystified too. Not realizing that now, comments held for moderation don’t appear, but you’re not even advised they are, led me to do a quadruple post that somehow has disappeared in limbo.
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Check these out. I’m afraid to comment, I’ll trip over the “moderator” again…
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/10/police_mccain_volunteer_made_u_1.php
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http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/239900.php
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27405681/

It seems that freeloading, locally and off US taxpayers is the name of the game in Alaska.

53_3: good lord. That MSNBC post is frightening.

archi:
It’s pretty much all over the news now. It looks to me like Hannity, Limbaugh, Palin and McCain have a few followers that really appreciate the fact that actions speak louder than words.
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And people just can’t stand it when I tell them the GOP bears some responsibility for the ERM bombing…

11335: who are you? I’d like to confirm when you finally come out of moderation corner, if possible.

53_3: I don’t understand the white top hat and tuxedo thing.

I mean, top hats are awesome! Why do skinheads have to ruin everything good?

(Please don’t moderate. Please don’t moderate. Please don’t moderate.)

“It seems that freeloading, locally and off US taxpayers is the name of the game in Alaska.”

http://www.hulu.com/watch/13153/the-simpsons-movie-alaska

did Ted endorse Sarah Palin before geting locked up?

(:

anon76: Thanks for the numbers on AZ. Here in Phoenix, I’m seeing about 5 Obama stickers for every one McCain sticker, but I’m still not holding my breath.

Ms. Tumulty has new post

sorry, Ms. Ana Marie Cox

heh heh heh…

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Fifteen posts later, and I’m still in moderation. One italics formatted-word, one hyperlink, no profanity.
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*shakes head*

Was he wearing his hulk tie KT?

I’d like to see a story on why these people are so desperate to cling to their position that they will endure themselves, and force their parties to endure, embarrassments and outrages that are unthinkable for most of us. Larry Craig, Vitter, this guy, the Dem rep in Florida, not to mention the people who keep on running for re-election when they are almost 100 years old, like Byrd and Thurmond. Everyone talks about how much they hate Washington, and then they go out and degrade themselves to get and stay there. It must be a soft job, but this guy is old enough to spend the rest of his days sucking up Social Security and a pension while doing nothing at all: it doesn’t get softer than that. But no, he’d rather allow himself and his state be humiliated in exchange just for the chance to go back and … what? What’s so intoxicating about Congressional life in Washington, DC?

those numbers archi is talking about don’t show up in mozilla, as far as I can tell. Anyone else agree?

I bet he goes Shawshank and finds a way out. Those Alaskans are magicians with pipelines.

KT – I hope the Salmon was good. News flash, Stevens to promote federal prison reform. I wonder which country club he gets to attend. Bush could always commute the sentence or give a pardon!

Steven King could write a sequel to Shawshank, coffee.

TEST

Hello

KT here–

Sometimes, it wasn’t salmon. It was that fake king crab stuff. And I ate that, too!! How can I live with myself?

KT here–

Flownover et al: The sheriffs swear they are working on the technical issues, though I’m beginning to think they should bring in an exorcist (espcially on this moderation stuff). And this was not a matter of choice on our part. Everything blew up, or melted down, or whatever.

I’m going into the dark heart of this software now to liberate some comments. If you don’t hear from me in a reasonable amount of time, assume I’ve been swallowed up and please put out an Amber Alert.

KT Can you do something about my comments being held for moderation?

I think you need to give money to a moose rescue group KT. That should absolve you.

KT here:

andyinny: I have liberated everything I’ve found.

It’s reassuring to know that the Republicans will move quickly to rid themselves of Ted Stevens, in the same decisive way that they dealt with Larry Craig . . . never mind. Vitter who?

Thanks KT I feel like I’m in purgatory or stuck on the MBTA like Charlie.

KT
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Your girl Heather Wilson called Joe Biden out for his hair plugs today
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http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/heather-wilson-compares-rncs-150000-shoppi

KT, sorry to bug you, but I have a polite and on-topic comment in moderation. Don’t make a special trip, but the next time you’re in there?

Fake king crab stuff, and you’re claiming to have shame? You have no shame.

Obama calls out FoxNews again. Actually its Bill Burton who has become perhaps my favorite Obama surrogate but whose counting.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-orton/obama-continues-fox-news_b_138328.html

Mass protest against having to do McCain slimy robocalls
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http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/dozens_of_call_center_workers.php

This is interesting,from TPM:

Some three dozen workers at a telemarketing call center in Indiana walked off the job rather than read an incendiary McCain campaign script attacking Barack Obama, according to two workers at the center and one of their parents.

Nina Williams, a stay-at-home mom in Lake County, Indiana, tells us that her daughter recently called her from her job at the center, upset that she had been asked to read a script attacking Obama for being “dangerously weak on crime,” “coddling criminals,” and for voting against “protecting children from danger.”

Williams’ daughter told her that up to 40 of her co-workers had refused to read the script, and had left the call center after supervisors told them that they would have to either read the call or leave, Williams says. The call center is called Americall, and it’s located in Hobart, IN.

Hi Kathy…very heroic of those workers to walk off.

Gee Karen – it’s after hours isn’t it? It’s one thing to come out and play with us after hours, but liberating comments sounds like work.
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Free Karen Tumulty! Free Karen Tumulty!

This is a very long article but Hagel calls out McCain for selecting Palin
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http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/11/03/081103fa_fact_bruck?printable=true

BLOCKBUSTER! Joey Ramone back from dead to rock out with O and steal from the rich and give to the poor. Gabba Gabba Hey!

lol Kathy I had the link to that but my message is stuck in moderation right above your message

Ted Stevens, Larry Craig, David Vitter.

OK, I didn’t get busted for using their names.

Did I get busted for mentioning that the Republicans don’t keep their own house clean?

Nope. Well, that was the content of the message, more or less.

But it was funnier the way I did it in the original.

Which has been in moderation since 6:31

At least I’m driving up KT’s thread count.

Hey, new character for McCain: Ted The Felon!

Jenn, still dining on that Schadenfreude? Isn’t it even better the second time around? Third, fourth, fifth – who’s counting?

Stevens is obviously a victim of the elitist liberal jury system. Obviously, we need Gonzales back at the Justice Department to make sure these partisan witch hunts never start in the first place! (Unless the accused is a Democrat.)

Yikes I can’t seem to post at all.

I’ll bet Steven’s payments and excuses are stuck in the intertubes.

This is new. Why can’t Time restore the original Swamp??

Anyway, let’s just put bars on the criminal enterprise known as Congress. Stevens can be a trusty perhaps.

Marginally off topic, but relates to venal Alaskans.

Do you all think that perhaps Palin should start overtly telling her supporters that violence isn’t the answer.

If she doesn’t, what does that say about her?

wvng, Sarah cannot disavow violence. It is infused in her fascist Republican Party platform. Get real.

I kind of like this new thing, but I have to go. Before I go, please, please vote. It isn’t over until it is over. Go vote straight anti-fascist ticket. I will check back later.

Sarah Palin approaches her campaign as if it is a 3-hour talk radio shift: hard to swallow lies washed down with Hatorade. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

SP is going to be the next Ronald Reagan.

Sarah Palin is put on the spot now because she ASSumed that he would step down so she said she thought he would do whats right. I wonder what she is going to say now that he has vowed to keep on campaigning

Bill Burton calls FoxNews all the way out. I wonder if they will invite him back lol

I remain a candidate for the United States Senate.
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Seriously, we need to get this guy some roses. Maybe a gift certificate for a massage parlor or something.

GOP/Felons 08! We’re riding the Fail Train to Jail Town! Woot wooooot!

Oh COME ON there was nothing in that post deserving of moderation!

I remain a candidate for the United States Senate.
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Seriously, we need to get this guy some roses. Maybe a gift certificate for a massage parlor or something.
GOP/Felons 08!

All right, everyone, this is probably going to backfire and cause like a dozen of my posts to pop up at once, but I want to see exactly what the moderator bot is objecting to.

I remain a candidate for the United States Senate.
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Seriously, we need to get this guy some roses.
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GOP/Felons 08! We’re riding the Fail Train to Jail Town! Woot wooooot!

All right, there it is – the moderator bot does not like the name for a business where you go to have a Japanese lady work the kinks out of your back muscles. Or maybe the term “gift certificate’ is what offends it.

I DRINK YOUR BANDWIDTH…. (through a series of tubes)
sincerely, TED