The Occasional Observer

A couple of quick thoughts.

What a shame that a legendary public servant allowed himself to become so corrupted. It was pure chutzpah on the part of Stevens not to withdraw once his legal issues became known. Now the party and nation will pay the price.

Begich will be tough to defeat. Alaska likes to keep incumbents forever, and he has a strong base in the state's largest city.

That said, things set up pretty perfectly for Palin now. Her second term as governor will end just as Begich's first term winds down. She'll be term limited as governor at that point. I dare anyone to predict with more certainty a Senate race in which the incumbent's opponent in 6 years is as much a sure thing as in this case.