A bare-knuckle politician hulks over Senate race. (Stevens vs. Cantwell)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003084370_stevens25m.html

WASHINGTON —

SNIP

"For 38 years, few have been as fearsome or held as many chits as Ted Stevens, the irascible Republican from Alaska.

But four days before Christmas, when he tried to cash in those IOUs to approve oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Stevens found himself stymied by a freshman senator from a Democratic state: Maria Cantwell. The result was a spectacular 12-minute meltdown on the Senate floor.

Waving his hands, his voice rising in anger, Stevens admonished his colleagues that a vote against ANWR drilling would impoverish Hurricane Katrina victims, leave the elderly to freeze during the winter and even aid terrorists.

He vowed to travel the country and tell voters about the harm their senators inflicted by blocking the flow of Alaskan oil and the money it would raise.

Then he turned his attention to Cantwell, who had led the opposition: "I hope the senator from Washington likes my visits to Washington state, because I'm gonna visit there often."

SNIP

Good for Maria. I'm hoping all Stevens' efforts on behalf of the Republican candidate will backfire on them both.

I'm not really crazy about Cantwell, but I'd support her over any Republican challenger hands-down.

Thanks, Ted

n/t

From the article...

"Ted is the master of Senate politics," said former Sen. John Breaux, D-La. "Some people acquire power and never use it.

"But if you're in a position to use power, then shame on you if you don't," he said. "Ted can do more with a wink and a nod than many do in a decade in the Senate."