The Stevens ripple effect

MANIFESTO

Here's an interesting take on today's convictions of the odious Ted Stevens:

U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens' guilty verdict makes it even more likely Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will tell Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut to get lost.

... Stevens' conviction, handed down Monday in a Washington, D.C., federal court, almost ensures that his Democratic opponent, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, will join the Senate. Suddenly Democrats increasingly do not need Lieberman as much as he needs them. The Pindell Report now estimates that with Alaska flipping, Democrats will have 59 seats in the Senate. Democratic majority status is assured. Republicans are also are at risk of losing three more seats in Mississippi, Georgia and Kentucky. If Democrats pick off just one of those seats they will have necessary benchmark of 60 votes to override a Republican filibuster.

To tell the truth, this scenario is almost too much to wish for: getting rid of both Stevens and Holy Joe in one fell swoop. Personally, I'll be somewhat surprised if Stevens doesn't prevail next week, and for the Dems to capture a seat (or two) in the redder than red Mississippi, Georgia, or Kentucky really seems unlikely even this year.