Ted Stevens, supporter of the bridge to nowhere and other fine projects , has been indicted on corruption charges for receiving money from an Alaska-based energy company in exchange for intervening on their behalf in Washington.

In a 28-page indictment from a federal grand jury, Stevens was charged with seven counts of making false statements on his Senate financial disclosure forms.

Stevens has not yet commented on the indictment.

It charges that Stevens
"knowingly and willfully engaged in a scheme to conceal ... his
continuing receipt of hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of things
of value" by failing to report them on his annual financial disclosure
forms.

The home improvements provided by Veco and its chief executive officer, Bill Allen, a "personal friend of Stevens," included a new first floor, a new garage, a new first- and second-story wraparound deck, new plumbing and new wiring.

Allen gave Stevens a new 1999 Land Rover worth $44,000 in exchange for $5,000 and Stevens' 1964 Ford Mustang, which was worth less than $20,000 at the time, the indictment charged.

Nobody was under the impression that Senator Stevens was a choir-boy, but the continuing parade of corruption scandals involving Republicans is becoming staggering in its weight. 

Anyone who knows me well realizes that I am at times very much disenchanted with the direction of the Democratic party, and their lack of initiative and willingness to rock the boat, particularly in the Senate.

But at least most of them seem to be able to stay out of jail.  Let's chalk up yet another reason to vote Democratic in the next election.  For everything.It appears that many Alaskans had already decided to do so , in an astoundingly Republican state.  This should help ensure a Democratic victory there.