Ted Stevens will not seek presidential pardon

[babylonsister]

Stevens will not seek presidential pardon
By J. Taylor Rushing
Posted: 11/18/08 11:55 AM


Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens (R) said Tuesday that he will not seek a pardon from President Bush for his recent conviction on federal charges of concealing gifts and home renovations from an oil executive.

Stevens said the conviction, along with his likely expulsion from the Republican Party, is hurtful, but he won’t seek special treatment from the White House.

Republican senators held back on voting on a motion to expel Stevens but are expected to follow through on that motion later in the week.

"I wouldn't wish what I'm going through on anyone — my worst enemy, OK?" Stevens said after a short bathroom break outside the Senate Republican Conference meeting. "Look, I haven't had a night's sleep now for almost four months, all right? And I went home even during the trial and came to the Senate the night after the trial. I've been living about three different lives."

Stevens, who turned 85 on Tuesday, told reporters that he had not yet addressed his Republican colleagues in the closed-door meeting.

Stevens simply said "No" when asked about a Bush pardon, and bristled when a reporter asked if he expected to be expelled as a political liability to Republicans battling an image of corruption.

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/stevens-will-not-seek-presidential-pardon-2008-11-18.html

[FrenchieCat]

1. Does he have to ask to get one?

Cause if he doesn't, he'll probably get pardonned whether he asks for it or not.

[onehandle]

4. He doesn't. And he will.

But after the count and we've taken his seat, I suspect he'll change his mind about begging smirk.

[Coexist]

2. did he say, "No" or did he say

NO!

:rofl:

[gratuitous]

3. Translation: Pardon me!

Yes, Sen. Stevens, it can be a really “trying” experience (no pun intended), called to account for your crimes. And I’m sure that with your long history of corruption and the generally hands-off approach to Republican criminality that has been one of the hallmarks of the Bush administration, there was little reason to suspect that you’d ever have to answer in a court of law. It’s really tough, to be sure.

But you’ve had every advantage in life, a secure position with terrific benefits, and still that wasn’t enough. It’s not like you couldn’t afford to remodel your own house. There are people rotting away in jail for stealing to provide for their families, and any compassion you may have previously had for folks in that situation has escaped public notice. I think you are entitled to all the mercy you’ve doled out to others over the years, and all the concern you’ve expressed for the less-fortunate throughout your career. If you can find a microscope powerful enough to detect it, please feel free to bring it to our attention.

[DireStrike]

5. Delete

well I lost that post race by about an hour... haha. I should have checked BEFORE posting.

[Toasterlad]

6. It's Easy Not To Ask When You Know You're Going to Get One Anyway.

[MiniMe]

7. I can't wait for him to say "Thanks but no thanks" to Bush for the pardon

Yeah, right.

[trueblue2007]

8. Gooooooooo to Jail Ted. Go directly to Jail. Do NOT collect $200.

[Truth Teller]

9. "Stevens will not PUBLICLY seek presidential pardon"

There we go.

[TripleKatPad]

10. I don't think he has to ask

I suspect he's on W's short list of pending pardons. The short list is now at about a thousand names, give or take, I would guess.