Let's Not Byrd Stevens

Former Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens died in a plane crash yesterday.  Death is a sad thing and my sympathies are with his family.  But let's not Byrd Stevens.  Remember when Senator Robert Byrd died, how the Democrats cleansed him of everything he did wrong as explainable? No?  Here's an example;

Ted Stevens served his country and his state. But he made mistakes. Let's not compound that by making the same mistake Democrats made with Senator Byrd. Ted Stevens should not be lionized because he has died, just as Byrd should not have been. Don't forget, Stevens had corruption issues.  To overlook them politically, would be the same as that for which we are condemning Democrats.  I'm not saying Stevens did nothing good, or that he doesn't deserve some respect for his contributions over a lifetime.  I'm not saying his family doesn't deserve our sympathies.  What I'm saying is he doesn't deserve a whitewashing of his record like Robert Byrd received.  Byrd didn't deserve a pass either.  The difference of course is that the press, who mostly took a flyer on pointing out the whitewashing on Byrd's record will likely be more than willing to point out the sins of Stevens.

Much Ado About Byrd

What's next in the appointment/election replacement for the vacated West Virginia Senate seat?  According to CNN, Senator Jay Rockefeller believes the late Senator Byrd will be replaced by Friday.

Senator Byrd Replacement By Decree

According to Jim Geraghty at National Review, while West Virginia law seemingly indicates a special election must be held to replace the deceased Senator,  it's not likely to happen:

You and I look at a West Virginia state law that declares an election must be called if a vacancy occurs more than two-and-a-half years before a term expires, and note that Byrd’s term would have had two-and-a-half years left as of next week — July 3, and so we conclude, there ought to be a Senate election in 2010.

(emphasis added)