Vote for Stevens
to keep balance
in U.S. Senate

WE FIND OURSELVES, like most Alaskans, greatly saddened by Sen. Ted Stevens’ conviction by a federal court jury in Washington, D.C., and immensely concerned about what that could mean in the long run, for Alaska and for the nation.

As the Nov. 4 election looms, there are many things to consider aside from Stevens’ 40 years of service to Alaska in the U.S. Senate, or the fact that Alaska is what it is today largely because of his efforts, or the immeasurable good he has done for individuals during his career. There are things to wonder about other than the odd conduct of a trial that occurred at exactly the right time — again — to affect political outcomes in Alaska. All that is for another time.

There are those who will argue that Stevens has forsaken the electorate and embarrassed the state and Alaskans should vote for his opponent. Stevens, they will intone, should resign. They are wrong. They are pressing their own agenda. What they want . . .

(con't from front page) Alaskans to do is cut their own throats. We are more pragmatic.

For now, we urge you to just consider what a Democratic, filibuster-proof Senate could mean to the state and the nation, especially when added to a Democratic House and presidency. Think Jimmy Carter. At his worst. Land grabs and lockups in Alaska. Markets in turmoil. Skyrocketing interest rates. A government run amok.

Voting Stevens out of office could play out the same way. In effect, Democrats — with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid leading the way — could outlaw the color orange if they had the notion. Any and all of the left’s crackpot schemes involving such things as taxes, guns and civil rights easily could come to fruition with such an imbalance in government. And development? Get serious.

Stevens remaining in the Senate would help upset the left’s apple cart, and the good news is that he can serve and continue to run for re-election as he presses his appeals. If he is re-elected, we retain 40 years of experience, friendships and know-how. And on a more practical note, pundits over the years have estimated his value to the still-young state at between $1 billion and $5 billion.  

If at some point down the road, Stevens runs out his appeals and must resign, Alaskans will have the chance to replace him in a special election. If he resigns now, we will be plagued with a guy who ran up, during his term, the Anchorage city budget by more than $170 million a year.

Until the final bell, Stevens could help stem the flood of Bozoism a completely Democratic Congress, Senate and president could unleash on America — in forms we cannot even imagine.

We urge you to vote for Stevens. For the good of Alaska. For the good of the nation.