Constitutional Crisis Looms Over Ted Stevens Indictment and Prosecution
What Happens When Appointed Officials Start Attacking the Elected Ones? by Mark Ulterman.
(libertarian)
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Constitutional Crisis Looms
Mr. Stevens is not on trial for murder or assault or some other greivous crime which could not go unprosecuted during his elected term. Instead, he is being prosecuted for a paperwork filing violation. If we could prosecute the Justice Department for every time they forgot to dot an "i" or cross a "t", oh the fun we could have, but I guess that's not our right.
But another - greater - reason why this prosecution is unjust still looms: Mr. Stevens is an elected representative of the people of Alaska (something the DOJ isn't). Since when does the Executive Branch have the right to seize elected representatives, prosecute them for paperwork violations, and suspend them from their elected position to be taken off to prison? This scenario just doesn't jibe with the Constitution that I grew up reading.
"For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:"
Look at it this way, An Alaskan, who Alaskans have elected and reelected to represent their interests, has been indicted and forced to stand trial where? In Washinton D.C. Why can't they try him in the state where he was elected? Why can't he be tried by the same people that elected him?
Election Results:
With 429 of 438 precincts reporting here are the results for the US Senate Primary in Alaska:
Mark Begich won the Democratic Senate Primary with 55,749 votes. A total of 61,255 Alaskans cast their vote in the Democratic Primary. Begich's closest competition came from Ray Metcalfe who received 4,709 votes.
Ted Stevens won the Republican Senate Primary with 59,024 votes. A total of 92,887 Alaskans cast their vote in the Republican Primary. Stevens' closest competition came from Dave Cuddy who received 25,332 votes.
What does this mean? It means that despite the Justice Department's attempt to try Mr. Stevens in the press, the people of Alaska are willing to wait until they hear all of the facts.
It also means that the US Government is pitting itself head to head in a battle with Alaskans that it isn't likely to win.
The game is afoot. Lets just hope for the DOJ's sake that that foot doesn't end up wedged so far down their throat that they can't get it out in time to explain themselves to the People of Alaska.
Full Results:
US SENATOR (R)
REP
Total
Number of Precincts
438
Precincts Reporting
429
97.9 %
Times Counted
94773/476472
19.9 %
Total Votes
92887
Corey, Michael D.
REP
1279
1.38%
Cuddy, David W.
REP
25332
27.27%
Heikes, Gerald L.
REP
498
0.54%
Sikma, Roderic H.
REP
945
1.02%
Stevens, Ted
REP
59024
63.54%
Vickers, Vic
REP
5190
5.59%
Wanda, Rich M.
REP
619
0.67%
US SENATOR (ADL)
ADL
Total
Number of Precincts
438
Precincts Reporting
429
97.9 %
Times Counted
68789/476472
14.4 %
Total Votes
65937
Begich, Mark
DEM
55749
84.55%
Bird, Bob
AI
3557
5.39%
Haase, Fredrick D.
LIB
1125
1.71%
Metcalfe, Ray
DEM
4709
7.14%
Vondersaar, Frank J.
DEM
797
1.21%
(note: Democrats were on the same ballot with 3rd parties: "AI" stands for Alaskan Independence Party and "LIB" stands for Libertarian Party.)
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The views expressed
in this article are those of Mark Ulterman. only and
do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates.
Mark Ulterman. is solely responsible for the contents
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with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
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