So apparently Ted Stevens is going back to the Senate. Or rather, not since he is now a convicted felon.
What is up with that? How does a felon get elected? And how does a state produce a governor like SP?
With all the federal aid they get and the secessionist crap, I'm half inclined to think that it might be a good idea to give Alaska back to the Russians -- only problem is they probably don't want it any more.
Anyway: what happens with Stevens' seat? Who gets to go there now?
If I'm not mistaken, the Governor will get to choose a successor to Steven's, since he's unable to fulfill his position. I'm no expert in Alaskan politics or constitution though, but that's how it works in Louisiana. The person just has to be from the same region as the original candidate.
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He gets it unless the Senate decides to kick him out - a felon can be a senator if he wins the election.
If they do kick him out (something they haven't done to anyone for over 100 years IIRC), it is up to the state law on how he is replaced. By default, the governor appoints a new replacement, but some states have their law change it so there is a special election to pick his replacement.
I think Alaska is one where the governor picks.
(Probably the same deal with Illinois and Delaware to replace Obama and Biden when they resign. Biden just got reelected on tuesday too, somewhat interestingly.)
Votes still being counted, but I believe an article on Palin's career sums it up. 'I don't like this, I preferred when we didn't have any government.' This was a reference to one of her rivals, she, of course, brought only government dollars. And debt, but no one seems to have noticed.
Should Stevens 1) Win, 2) Lose his Expulsion hearing, Reid will throw him out. Palin will appoint a temporary Senator, and a special election will be held. Now comes the fucked-up, now-we-know-why-they-elected-Palin part. Nothing prevents Stevens from running in the second election. Potential for Senatorial ping-pong exists.
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Alaska will have to have a special election if Stevens resigns, and Palin cannot appoint herself or anyone in her family to the position. When the former AK senator ran for governor and won, he appointed his daughter to fill the vacant seat, and a constitutional amendment was put in place by Alaskan voters to prevent that from happening again.
However she could run in the special election, and would probably win.
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