For Stevens, ANWR drilling is debt unpaid

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON - The Incredible Hulk appeared Tuesday on the Senate floor, adorning the necktie of Sen. Ted Stevens - a familiar sign that the veteran from Alaska is pumped for the fight to open part of an arctic wildlife refuge to oil drilling.

But to hear his colleagues tell it, Stevens is more like the Grinch who would steal Christmas - and New Year's, if need be - to collect on his end of a vote-swapping deal he struck with two Democrats 25 years ago.

"A promise made is a debt unpaid," Stevens, 82, is fond of repeating. "This is a debt unpaid to this Senate, to the country, to Alaska."

Back in 1980, the deal went like this: Vote yes on setting aside 19 million acres of wilderness, said Sens. Henry "Scoop" Jackson of Washington and Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts, and Congress will support permission to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

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http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/politics/13451267.htm

[leftstreet]

1. If he hasn't been able to collect on this "debt" in 25 years

he should give it up.
What a nut case.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. I believe that the arteries leading to his brain have hardened.

[newscott]

3. Ther're both dead. Move on buddy.

[sniffa]

4. NOOOOOOOO!

NOOOO!

[earthside]

5. Stevens-The Best Example ...

... of a guy that has been in Washington way, way too long.

But the worst of it is that he has become a "legend in his own mind" ... he thinks that everybody owes HIM because HE has been a Senator almost forever.

Frankly, Ted Stevens might want to join his old deal making pals, Scoop Jackson and Paul Tsongas ... they're in a better place than Stevens is tonight.

[karynnj]

6. What an evil troll he is

What was strange was that earlier in the year he seemed to imply that as Cantwell and Kerry were from WA and MA, it was somehow relevent. It's amazing that he and Kerry have fought over this for 21 years.