Vote Begich!

The polls I've seen show that Mark Begich is poised to defeat Ted Stevens tomorrow, but if he doesn't it's important to recognize what scenario would result. Stevens would be expelled from the Senate. There's no doubt about it.

Roll Call reports today that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has no intention of letting Stevens' career go forward, even if he manages to win on Election Day: "In a bluntly worded release from his office, Reid warned that Stevens would not only face an ethics investigation but also expulsion proceedings regardless of his efforts to appeal the convictions."

The release from Reid's office doesn't leave much in the way of ambiguity.

While I understand that Senator Stevens is fighting for his political career, you don't have to go any further than the comments of:

* Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell who said there would be zero tolerance for a convicted felon in the United States Senate

* NRSC Chairman Senator John Ensign who said Senator Stevens'career has ended in disgrace;

* Or Republican Presidential candidate Senator John McCain who said it is clear that Senator Stevens has broken his trust with the people and should now step down.

And so his victory and subsequent expulsion would give Sarah Palin the ability to select a member of the United States Senate. And even if she managed to not choose herself, do you trust her to do the right thing?

Vote Begich.