November 20th, 2008 // comments (0)

Ted Stevens ‘Goodbye’ Speech

Convicted Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), fresh from his defeat in a belabored reelection race, gave his last ever Senate floor speech today, bidding farewell to his colleagues and the chamber he has served in since 1968.

Stevens, who was defeated Tuesday on his 85th birthday by Democrat Mark Begich, acknowledged leaving the Senate a wounded man, convicted this month of seven felony conspiracy counts.

“I don’t have any rear view mirror, I look only forward…I look forward to the day when I can remove the cloud that currently surrounds me,” the often irascible senator said. “My motto has always been ‘to hell with politics, just do what’s right for Alaska.’ And I’ve tried every day to live up to those words.”

He got a standing ovation? I know he’s been around for decades but Senator Stevens didn’t exactly go out on top. Claps were coming from both sides of the aisle for the man who once called the Internet ‘a series of tubes’. Stevens’ parting line: “To Hell With Politics“.

Related:

• March 23, 2009 -- Alaska’s ‘Mount Redoubt’ Erupts
• January 30, 2009 -- Alaskans Brace For Volcano Eruption
• November 18, 2008 -- Ted Stevens Loses Re-Election Bid
• November 15, 2008 -- Sarah Palin Visits The Pool
• November 7, 2008 -- Sarah Palin Addresses Naysayers
• November 7, 2008 -- Coming Soon: Senator Sarah Palin?