Mr. Stevens Goes To Washington

I love it when Republicans lament about how nasty things have become in Washington D.C. and then act like none of it is their fault, despite the fact that they control both branches of Congress and the White House.

Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska is, of course, responsible for more than his fair share of vitriol. Who could forget when he tried to sneak ANWR oil drilling in through the Senate's back door and then threw a hissy fit when his little scheme didn't work.

That's why I had to laugh when I read this:

As he pushed his way into the Senate race in Washington state last week, Sen. Ted Stevens (Alaska) did not wear the "Incredible Hulk" necktie that on Capitol Hill signals his readiness for close-quarters combat.

The Senate's longest-serving Republican sounded more wistful than wound up. Stevens reminisced about an era when he could trust Democratic senators from Washington state. He recalled that the late senators Warren G. Magnuson and Henry "Scoop" Jackson had "adopted" him and had always done right by Alaska.

"Warren called me 'Son,' " Stevens, 82, said at a breakfast in this port city with executives whose companies depend on trade with Alaska. "I have not forgotten."

So, Warren Magnuson called Teddy Stevens "Son." God, it almost brings a tear to my eye. But why is Stevens in Washington State you ask? Well --

Fond memory, though, has given way to bad blood between Alaska and Washington -- and Stevens blames much of it on Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who faces reelection this fall. She has lead Democratic opposition to Stevens's long-frustrated crusade for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

When Cantwell again worked last December to torpedo the drilling, Stevens warned on the Senate floor that he would go to her state and "tell them what you've done." And so he did last week, but more in sadness than anger.

"I can't remember until these past few years any senator from your state who wasn't a close friend of mine," Stevens said. "That is a problem."

Well now I'm really starting to get choked up. Poor Senator Stevens has no close friends in the Senate from Washington State anymore. Isn't that awful.

But you're probably wondering where the funny part of the article is. Well, it's right here:

The problem, though, does not appear to be costing Cantwell voter support. Polls here show that the public is opposed to ANWR drilling and increasingly frustrated with Republican leadership on Capitol Hill.

Stevens's ire, in fact, may prove a political windfall for Cantwell, who squeaked into the Senate six years ago with a winning margin of just over 2,000 votes and whom some Republican strategists have described as beatable.

In the past year, Cantwell's knack for getting Stevens's goat has won widespread attention across this Democratic-leaning state, garnered favorable local press coverage, partially drowned out the campaign of her formidable Republican challenger and, polls suggest, may help her win reelection.

Senator Ted "I Can't Seem To Ever See The Big Picture" Stevens is welcome over in these parts anytime.