I wrote this over the summer when I was used and abused as a serf; by a middle-class family on a roofing project. Will never do that again; would rather die than cow-tail out of my class and social spere again.

"A DEEPER SHADE of BLUE"
By
Brett Alexander Macarius Andreeivich Encelewski

They are like us; but they are not us.
They talk like us; but don’t say the same things.
They know similar people; but their people are more powerful.
They know the same TRADES; but they have different, better jobs.
They know the same craft; but they don’t know it as we do.
They work to play; we work to survive.
They clean-up nicely; we don’t.
They have a blue-collar; so do we, however:

It is a deeper shade of blue: saltier, grittier, earthy, and true.

Sometimes God-fearing,
Sometimes godless,
Sometimes enlightened,
Sometimes ignorant,
Sometimes grandiose,
Sometimes depressed,
Sometimes epic,
Sometimes tragic.

For millennia; civilization has risen and fallen at the compliance or rebellion of our meek and calloused hands. We may be your slaves; but you are just slaves of the WHITE COLLAR. A truly righteous and liberated man is he who has no servant; but serves and loves all mankind.

Who are we? Who are you? Our collar is cut lowest, a deeper shade of blue.

The following was published in my college Biannual Literary Magazine--'DRIFTWOOD' (2002 I think) It was inspired after the actions (and continuing actions of the United States--in response to Terror attacks); I felt it appropriate to repost here in wake of the RECENT INCIDENT in INDIA.


'IT DOES NOT CONCERN ME'
By Brett A. Encelewski

Children slowly die from starvation, in blistering hunger. Their bellies fill and expand with need. The eyes roll back into their infantile skulls in sunken misery. They bathe their chapped skin out of the same stagnant pool civilization has allotted them, and then quench their thirst with the same water. It does not concern me; I am an American.

Behemoths of death glide over the unforgiving surface of the gentle and delicate oceans. They send the carcasses of their steel kin to the bottom, to bleed their toxins into the gills of the children of the drink. They drag their screens of doom, raping the vitality of the deep blue sea. It does not concern me; I tend to the vitality of America.

A market place erupts into a macabre spray of fire, shredded produce, and the flesh of men, women and children. Religious patriots lob crudely constructed explosives into crowds. They reap the crimson glory for Allah, for Christ, and for Jesus. It does not concern me; I am a citizen of a great nation under God.

Whole countries bolster their economy on growing, producing, and manufacturing illicit substances. They aid international militants in their quests of terror. They slash down the great grandfather trees without an ounce of respect for their age, their function, or themselves. They fight, kill and die for primitive non-renewable resources. With great effort they smuggle their poisons through our borders. It does not concern me; I am an American consumer, and they can do what they want.

Men achieve great feats of martyrdom and bring down majestic mountains of steel and glass and gold. Brits lose lives, Japs lose lives, Frenchman lose lives. They all lose lives. Americans lose lives, and the streets of Babylon are filled with the dead. I am America, and I shall make the world pay the price, and cooperate with my vengeance lest they face my wrath.

When done, her hellfire spent, the beaten and weary citizens of a crumbled nation shall arise to see their crushed cities smoldering from the helping hand of America. It is a punishing hand, a disciplined hand. She shall feed them, and clothe them, and dictate their new government. Then the small men, the silent women, and the quivering children shall look up at the ominous figure of Lady Liberty and say “thank-you” to their great savior. They will have to rebuild the cities, and pick-up the dead, because America has done the hard part for them. But when the refugees come knocking at her door, she shall swat them like diseased flies, turn them away, and send them back to the dusty little hole that they came from. It does not concern me; I am an American, and that is the way it should be.

I was thinking to myself again about the classic hypocrasy and injustice of matters/issues regarding "ECONOMICS" and "SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES" when discriminating/ discerning PUBLIC or PRIVATE jurisdictions and/or the enforcement of the U.S. Constitutional Civil Liberties governing them.

Ergo:

Ultra-Liberals (in America more appropriately called "SOCIAL LIBERALS"/ aka the "Far Left" are the Ultimate Social and Political Hedonists. Wanting what they want, when they want it, how they want it; from whom they want it from; it what combination they want it in; as quickly and as conveniently as possible; with little or NO regard for current or past moral, cultural, or social tradition, norms, or morays. MAXIMUM liberties; MAXIMUM benefits; WELFARE-STATE; SOCIALIZED HEALTHCARE; any number of personal economic systems--socialized after that;

SOCIAL LIBERALS. "SOCIALISTS." They like to call themselves "Progressives," but THEY ARE, indeed, NOT.

PROGRESSIVES; are painstakingly disciplined; conservative or liberal (usually moderate) socioeconomic political producers. That's a fact; JACK.

NOW--SOCIAL LIBERALS say things like "Live and let live..." interestingly (in theory) the cry of the Libertarian or Classical Liberal. Only the Classical Liberal and the Libertarian MEANS IT.

...while a REPUBLICAN would say: "Live and let DIE..."

Classical Liberals et al. are MONDO-SERIOUS about CIVIL LIBERTIES, PRIVACY, etc.

NOW; here is the hypocracy; A group--take your GAY RIGHTS movement; marches down on the STATE and/or FEDERAL scene; thereby making themselves PUBLIC; attempting to affect sweeping PUBLIC change.

IN THE PROCESS--groups of them viciously interfere with their peaceful opposers RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH (in PUBLIC); and RIGHT TO ASSEMBLY; now if that protestor group was a formal group; they could be BROUGHT TO TRIAL...

NOW; again--as a political paradigm/school: SOCIAL LIBERALS; who are so big into "Live and Let Live" right?

Well then--why is it that the SOCIAL LEFT interferes (for many, many decades now) with SO MANY of our PRIVATE MATTERS?

A child's RIGHT to read a BIBLE in SCHOOL!?

A Blue Collar working-poor family's RIGHT to 100% of their PRIVATE BUSINESS earnings (INCOME); or EVEN;

A successful Upper-Middle-Class entrepenuer's RIGHT to 100% of his BUSINESS earnings?

"ALL DEBTS PUBLIC and PRIVATE"

WHAT CONSTITUTIONAL PRECENDANT and "RIGHT" DOES the SOCIALIST LEFT have to STEAL anyone's money? Even if it is EARMARKED for "SOCIALIST" programs. So tell me the distinction? How is it different.

It is the BIGGEST SCAM IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD! Most educated people (that acquiesce to paying SOCIAL SECURITY) know that 70-85% or more of it goes into pasting people's heads against the wall in the Middle East...).

The SOCIALIST, FACIST, LEFT--thinks it can get away with anything; taking prayer, and bibles from our schools; inserting facist Office of Child Safety agents into our lives to keep us from disciplining our children properly; While crack-heads rape their daughters across the street.

Tell our son's they cannot wear political or provoctive speech T-shirts; but allow girls to run around looking like WHORES. (interesting double-standard).

We may as well get rid of the white stripes on Old Glory and just put the Big Bird on there (emulated from the Roman Empire).

So SQUEAL about "Live and let live." But the SOCIALIST LEFT needs to STAY OUT OF OUR LIVES; LEAVE OUR CHILDREN; OUR PAYCHECKS; OUR STATES RIGHTS; etc, alone first. I am the LAST person to tread on YOU or your business... but YOU are ALL UP IN ON MINE.

But many people are not fooled--many people are not decieved by the reverse-psychology; the pity-call of the SOCIALIST.

If were going to do it--lets do it. Go big Red! Only thing is Alaska's Flag will stay blue; and Fly ALONE.

God preserve the Congress; and God preserve America.

As we attempt to coalesce, coexist; and build the party together--in all our diverse views, philosphies, theologies, ideologies, and especially political agenda--

We must be especially aware and VIGILANT; within the Democratic Party; of the far Left, Ultra-Liberal quasi-professional (or even professional--some even being payed by SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS)...

BIGOT-MONGERS. What is a "Bigot-Monger" you ask? Well we all know what a "Bigot" is. Now, a BIGOT-MONGER is someone who would call ME a "BIGOT" for merely writing this post on BIGOT-MONGERING... lol.

They are akin to the same hen-house breed of garden-variety SCANDEL-MONGERS; common to any hair salon. Furrowed, hateful, accussatory (guilty?) brows; pointing, trempling, intense index fingers...

BIIIIIIIGGGOOOOTTTT! YOU! You HATE [*insert group here*] REPENT, CONFESS!

Like any group of pitiful, feeble witch-hunters; the scour the community for signs of dissidence against their agenda; their weapon of choice; REVERSE-HATE; BIGOT-MONGERING.

What is VERY, VERY, sad; is that the Type-B far-left ultra-liberal innocent is oft duped by this agenda; and scared into submission; usually having NOTHING to do with the agenda of the group; or perhaps even STRINGENTLY disagreeing with it--however; manipulated and intimidated inot submission with REVERSE-HATE and PSYCHOLOGY and BIGOT-MONGERING;

"Don't speak out Karl, you don't want to be labled a Gay-basher!" or

"David--you should say those things about 14 year old girls wearing coochie-cutting denim-shorts, G-strings, and v-neck m-drifts in Junior high; you might get labled an Anti-Feminist or a Sauvinist!"

PEOPLE; in the name Christ, the Holy Mother, God and all the Saints; BEWARE of the BIGOT MONGERS! Be strong for your Family, for your State, for Country, and for your God.

Stand up for the Family, Stand up for Tradition, Stand up the preservation of a healthy society; Stand up AGAINST TRUE HATE-MONGERING and BIGOT-MONGERING;

God preserve the Congress; and God bless America. C.P.Q.A.

Someone had asked; or rather retorted; "What is AMERICA!" as if they didn't know... it was meant to be a rhetorical question, perhaps incredulous in nature. I say they did not fully understand themselves.

Our forefathers "crossed the ocean" to escape the tyranny of the English monarch, parliament, and the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England; which had a knack for having 'that affect' on people those days. Did this mean people 1)Believed; 2)Worshipped; 3)Intended to promulgate society in the name of the Lord any LESS?

Um, NO. Indeed; "ONE NATION, UNDER GOD." It becomes clear that the Anti-Christian Ultra-Liberal Coalition has become contented in their "belief" (and attempts to spread propaganda) that this statement in our Nation's ORGANIC DOCUMENTS is a "TRIVIAL NOVELTY" ....

"...inapplicable, and irrelavent to any State and/or Federal law in the land..."

WRONG.

Acts/ Policies/ Legislation like the ever-vaunted: SEPERATION of CHURCH and STATE; were FAVORED by the ever-PIOUS founders of our nation; to simply prevent over-zealous, radical THEOCRATS from overrunning our State and/or Federal Government(s); becuase especially in the matter of, say, the Roman Catholic Church--they are an Organization almost like a government unto themselves; and the POWER would be too terrible to comprehend.

This goes back to the case of THOMAS BECKETT, Arch-Bishop of Canturbury in England; while Beckett himself was not himself the problem; the situation he was put into BY THE KING (Henry II) and the CHURCH--was. I rest my case there.

The Founding Fathers knew this INTIMATELY while hammering the ORGANIC DOCUMENTS on the ANVIL of U.S. FREEDOM.

"What is America?" America is the IV Rome. The III Rome was Imperial Christian Russian Empire ("Tsar" was a Ruso-Greco-Roman derivitive of Caesar).

The Founding Fathers were scholars, scientists, soldiers, patriots, and mostly VERY PIOUS men.

There work on the ORGANIC DOCUMENTS of this country was based on their contributions to the works and texts; standing on the shoulders of TRUE INTELLECTUAL giants; dating back mellenia. Much of the ideology, philosophy-theology, principles, ethics, and constitutional draft; as well as the BILL of RIGHTS was based on: the French Revolution, English Civil War; European Enlightenment/ Renassaince; which all in turn hails back to the work and innovations of the Roman Empire and Hellenistic and Classical Greece.

Our BILL of RIGHTS is simply a clean re-draft of the ENGLISH Bill of Rights; facilitated after the English Civil War; thanks to the British 'ole Blood & Guts; Oliver Cromwell, Lord High Protector of England (PATTON; unleashed, uncut, and totally "proper"?)

SO; in sum, indeed--"What is America?" AMERICA is the IV ROME. Yes, the Fourth Great Roman Empire. To recap: Roman Empire of Italy; Holy Roman Empire (Constantinople); Tsarist Empire of Russia (Orthodoxy); and the United States of America.

Pax Roma and the U.S. the Irst and IInd "Romes" are great cultural and military, political, and economic powers dominating all the world; the IInd and IIrd "Romes" were the greatest Christian empires ever known to the world; RUSSIA suffered a great period of persecution and darkness during the SOVIET/ COMMUNIST athiest era; but held on; and is rebound healthily. Their President is THE FIRST ORTHODOX RULER since TSAR NICHOLAS II was executed in the October Revolution.

IN AMERICA; We believe in Christianity; it is ENCODED and LOCKED IN to our ORGANIC DOCUMENTS; but like the FIRST ROME; our EMPIRE entertains all types and "creeds" every household may have a different shrine; as is there right. Different Cities may erect larger community monuments and chapels/ temples as they see fit. It is SO REMARKABLY LIKE ANCIENT ROME; the parallels are frightening/ but they can be ENCOURAGING--if we reign in the positive elements...

And doggedly QUASH and DESTROY what is ROTTING this country to the core.

Senatus Populusque Romanus [(S.P.Q.R.) "The Senate and the People of Rome" or "The Senate and Roman People"), referring to the government of the ancient Roman Republic, and used as an official signature of the government.

That was what unified Ancient Rome; and this is what I propose:

Congressus Populusque Americanus [(C.P.Q.A.) "The Congress and the People of America"], I hereby propose; for UNITY in civil, municipal, State, and Federal sectors of the United States; our official signature of the Republic.

We must ALL become more involved. The People; their Representatives must work closer together. The People must work for the Government; and the Government must work for the People; and it is the job of the U.S. Congress (the Senate; and the House) to see that this happens.

If the People cannot work with the Government; and the Government cannot work with the People--then in the NAME of CHRIST; the Government shall be destroyed.

That is why we have our Bill of Rights--that is the original purpose of the 2nd Amendment; have no illusions.

*BREAKING NEWS*

Sen. Ted Stevens the 40-Year; longest-serving (Republican) senator (and most powerful in Washington) in Alaskan history; CONCEDES DEFEAT to Anchorage moderderate-conservative DEMOCRATIC Mayor MARK BEGICH.

It is a glorious and bright new dawn for Alaska. It a glorious and bright new dawn for the United States Senate. It is a glorious and bright new dawn for UNION.

GOD BLESS MARK BEGICH; and GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, Disrict-33 Alaska Democratic Party

Begich's lead grows to 814 votes
by Jason Moore
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The race for U.S. Senate took a dramatic turn Wednesday as the Division of Elections began counting early and absentee ballots.

After nearly 59,000 of the more than 90,000 outstanding votes were tallied, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich pulled into a lead of just 814 votes over Sen. Ted Stevens.

Throughout the day, each update from the DOE drew Begich closer, until around 3:30 p.m. his 3,200-vote deficit became a three-vote lead.

By the time they stopped counting votes for the day, Begich's lead stood at 814 votes out of more than 278,000 tallied so far. Potentially tens of throusands of ballots are left to be counted.

Begich has 132,196 votes (47.41 percent) and Stevens has 131,382 votes (47.12 percent).

As the counting progressed it became clear Begich had the advantage in the early votes. No one knew how the absentees would break. By day's end, even the those, generally considered a Republican strongpoint, appeared to favor Begich.

"We had a strong drive to get people to vote early absentee, to get these votes in," Bethany Lesser of the Alaska Democratic Party said. "And I think that under this circumstance it's really hard to just say, ‘Well, usually in most election years they go one way.' This isn't most election years.

Republican candidate for the Sand Lake House seat Bob Lewis didn't like the early results in his district. Bob Buch extended his lead.

"It's a little steeper hill, but you just have to hang on and hope for the best," Lewis said.

Muldoon Republican Bob Roses, who trailed after Election Day, also fell further behind.

But most eyes were on the Senate race. At Begich's campaign headquarters, workers hovered over computers crunching numbers and enjoying the trend.

At Stevens' headquarters the doors were locked -- no one was around.

The DOE is expected to do another count this week. But absentee ballots mailed internationally still have until next Wednesday to arrive, so a final count won't be available until a week from today.

Contact Jason Moore at jmoore@ktuu.com

FWD; By:

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party

Begich, Mark DEM 132196 [47.41%]
Bird, Bob AI 11315 [4.06%]
Gianoutsos, Ted NA 1140 [0.41%]
Haase, Fredrick D. LIB 2086 [0.75%]
Stevens, Ted REP 131382 [47.12%]
Write-in Votes 718 [0.26%]

SOURCE: AK Div. of Elections

FWD; By:

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party

Sen. Stevens (7) Felony convictions DIDN'T help him at all; and DID help us; but not like you would think... Steven's loyalists were true-to-form for the most part (disqusting to see); but we never hinged on this.

Both the Alaskan Republican Party and the Stevens campaign aknowledge Begich as the straight-up toughest opponent he has EVER faced;

Alaska in general aknowleges the QUALITY and CAPABILY of the man [Begich]; and rarely in polics will you see such an amazing race--such a true exercise in Democracy; such a HARD CHOICE.

And ever as a cradle-to-grave Alaskan Democrat; I too must tip my hat to the great "Uncle Ted" for doesn't every family have one? A piller so established and legendary; that even with all his flaws, it is so hard to see him dishonored?

TED STEVENS is a undeniable piece of Alaska. That is history; but now--so is HE.

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party

Begich lead grows to 814 votes
by Channel 2 News staff
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Mark Begich's slim lead in the U.S. Senate race grew from three votes to 814 Wednesday night as the Division of Elections continued to count early and absentee ballots.

Earleir in the day Begich saw a 3,000-plus deficit turn into a razor-thin three-vote advantage over Sen. Ted Stevens.

By day's end it was up to 814 after 58,939 ballots were counted by the DOE.

Begich has 132,196 votes (47.41 percent) to Stevens' 131,382 (47.12 percent).

In the race for the U.S. House, Rep. Don Young now has 140,269 (50.41 percent); Ethan Berkowitz has 125,184 (44.99 percent.

Tens of thousands of ballots still have to be counted, and more absentees can still come in.

FWD; by:

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party

As it stands; all being equal; I will put all my chips and the farm on MARK BEGICH boys and girls. WE HAVE WON! Over this campaign, which "was always going to be close," as Mark himself says, the Alaska Democratic Party and 'Alaskans for Begich' deliberately pushed an Advance/ Absentee; and Early Vote strategem for the Democratic; Nonpartisan; and Swing-voters of DECISION-2008, ALASKA.

We have succeed. In just the FIRST DAY of counting; merely the absentee votes (which are ALWAYS severely biased to Republican advantage; because of the military demographic); Mark Begich, who was some 3,200 votes behind Ted Stevens... picked up 3,200+.... +3! To lead Sen. Ted Stevens; (according to a 'Breaking News' report released by KTUU News; based on the lastest press release from the Alaska Division of Elections).

There is still some 60,000+ EARLY VOTES to be counted. 'Early voting' has never been popular in Alaska. This year was a all-time record-smashing turn-out for Early Vote. This is unequivocally due to the Alaska Democratic Party. The Party is hoping for a 60-75% return on 'their investment' (or higher) in the Early vote count-out and report. (This of course conversationally speaking).

By the grace and glory of God, the Holy Mother, and all the Saints; we will have deliverance in this great State.

There is also still a reasonable chance for Democrat House challenger Ethan Berkowitz to take Don Young; if the numbers are as remarkable as Alaskan Democrats hope, dream, and pray them to be.

Even more MIRACULOUS; would be if President-elect Barack Obama retro-actively WINS Alaska's electoral votes; turning a RED-STATE to BLUE, that has not done so since JOHNSON.

This is the scope of the the DEMOCRATIC DREAM in Alaska. At the VERY LEAST we WILL HAVE the Senate; but so much more IS IN the realm of possibility... anything is possible; when people CHANGE their minds.

And the FRESH INSPIRED minds of ALASKAN, and AMERICAN DREAMERS, stand-up to be counted.

God bless Democracy, God bless, the President-elect, God bless Alaska, and God bless the United States of America;

Yours, ever in service,

Brett Alexander Macarius Andreevich Encelewski
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party

Begich holds 3 vote lead over Stevens
by Channel 2 News Staff
Wednesday, November 12, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska-- According to the Division of Elections, an updated vote count on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. shows Mayor Mark Begich with a three vote lead over Sen. Ted Stevens.

The Division of Elections began counting absentee ballots on Wednesday.

Begich currently has 125,019 votes and Stevens has 125,016 votes.

The Division of Elections will continue counting absentee ballots the rest of the week.

FWD; by:

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party;
Super Precinct Captain, (D33/Kenai);
Volunteer, Mark Begich for U.S. Senate,
('Alaskans for Begich'/ 'Victory '08')

SEN. TED STEVENS FOUND GUILTY IN CORRUPTION CASE

Associated Press Writers Matt Apuzzo And Jesse J. Holland, Associated Press Writers �" 4 mins ago AP �" Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, and his attorney Brendan Sullivan, leave federal court in Washington, Monday, …
Slideshow: Sen. Ted Stevens Play Video Video: New juror in Sen. Stevens trial AP Play Video Video: Stevens jury reports chaos, judge urges calm AP WASHINGTON �" Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens was convicted of seven corruption charges Monday in a trial that threatened to end the 40-year career of Alaska's political patriarch in disgrace. The verdict, coming barely a week before Election Day, increased Stevens' difficulty in winning what already was a difficult race against Democratic challenger Mark Begich. Democrats hope to seize the once reliably Republican seat as part of their bid for a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

Stevens, 84, was convicted of all the felony charges he faced of lying about free home renovations and other gifts from a wealthy oil contractor. Jurors began deliberating last week.

Visibly shaken after the verdicts were read �" the jury foreman declaring "guilty" seven times �" Stevens tried to intertwine his fingers but quickly put his hands down to his side after noticing they were trembling. As he left the courtroom, Stevens got a quick kiss on the cheek from his wife, Catherine, who testified on his behalf during the trial. He declined to talk to reporters waiting outside.

Stevens faces up to five years in prison on each count when he is sentenced, but under federal guidelines he is likely to receive much less prison time, if any. The judge originally scheduled sentencing for Jan. 26 but then changed his mind and did not immediately set a date.

The monthlong trial revealed that employees for VECO Corp., an oil services company, transformed Stevens' modest mountain cabin into a modern, two-story home with wraparound porches, a sauna and a wine cellar.

The Senate's longest-serving Republican, Stevens said he had no idea he was getting freebies. He said he paid $160,000 for the project and believed that covered everything.

He had asked for an unusually speedy trial, hoping he'd be exonerated in time to return to Alaska and win re-election. He kept his campaign going and gave no indication that he had a contingency plan in case of conviction.

Despite being a convicted felon, he is not required to drop out of the race or resign from the Senate. If he wins re-election, he can continue to hold his seat because there is no rule barring felons from serving in Congress. The Senate could vote to expel him on a two-thirds vote.

"Put this down: That will never happen �" ever, OK?" Stevens said in the weeks leading up to his trial. "I am not stepping down. I'm going to run through, and I'm going to win this election."

Democrats have invested heavily in the race, running television advertisements starring fictional FBI agents and featuring excerpts from wiretaps.

Stevens' conviction hinged on the testimony of Bill Allen, the senator's longtime drinking and fishing buddy. Allen, the founder of VECO, testified that he never billed his friend for the work on the house and that Stevens knew he was getting a special deal.

Stevens spent three days on the witness stand, vehemently denying that allegation. He said his wife, Catherine, paid every bill they received.

Living in Washington, thousands of miles away, made it impossible to monitor the project every day, he said. Stevens relied on Allen to oversee the renovations, he said, and his friend deceived him by not forwarding all the bills.

Prosecutors used a barrage of witnesses to question how Stevens could have been in the dark about VECO's work on the project. VECO employees testified to seeing Stevens at the house. One left him a company business card. Stevens sent thank you notes to others.

Stevens' conviction is the highlight of a lengthy FBI investigation into Alaska corruption, but prosecutors noted that it is not the end. Stevens' longtime Republican colleague, Rep. Don Young, remains under investigation for his ties to VECO. Stevens' son, Ben, a former Alaska lawmaker, is also under investigation.

Stevens is a legendary figure in Alaska, where he has wielded political influence since before statehood. His knack for steering billions of dollars in federal money to his home state has drawn praise from his constituents and consternation from budget hawks.

There was no immediate word on Stevens' campaign plans. His spokesman, Aaron Saunders, did not immediately return a message seeking comment on whether Stevens would stay in the race.

In Alaska, the Democratic Party issued a statement calling for Stevens to resign immediately. "He knew what he was doing was wrong," the party said. "But he did it anyway and lied to Alaskans about it."

Stevens is the sixth senator convicted of criminal charges. The last previous one was Republican David Durenberger of Minnesota, who was indicted in 1993 on charges of conspiring to make fraudulent claims for Senate reimbursement of $3,825 in lodging expenses. He later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges and was sentenced to one year of probation and a $1,000 fine.

The jurors left the court without comment.

Said U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan: "The jurors have unanimously told me that no one has any desire to speak to any member of the media. They have asked to go home and they are en route home."

The jurors had been shuttled to and from the proceedings each day by court officials.

FWD by;
Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party;
Super Precinct Captain, (D33/P710);
Volunteer, 'Mark Begich for U.S. Senate,'
(ALASKANS for BEGICH/ VICTORY '08)

Sh'ida'ina (my friends):

I could have fwd; every step of the STEVEN's trial, and so much more previous; but this campaign--on the media scale has taken a turn for the spectacularly dangerous. I will not fall prey to any broadcaster's trap; nor forward thier trash. I wait. For the hard facts; and not the rhetoric.

KEEP FAITH IN ALASKA; we ARE turning BLUE!!! It is phenomenal; I could say so much more--tell you stories from the front... I'll just save it for the book(s).

Brett Alexander Macarius Andreevich Encelewski

Branchflower: Palin abused power
by Channel 2 News staff
Friday, October 10, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Investigator Stephen Branchflower has concluded that Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power when she fired Public Saftey Commissioner Walt Monegan.

"I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska statute 39.52.110(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch ethics act," Branchflower said in the 263-page report to the Legislative Council released Friday afternoon.

"Alaska statute 39.52.110(a) provides 'the legislature reaffirms that each public officer holds office as a public trust and any effort to benefit a personal or financial interest through official action is a violation of that trust,'" Branchflower continued.

'this is a developing story--checkout: [ktuu.com] for more details.'

FWD by;

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party;
("super") Precinct Captain [Commodore], District-33/ 710 (Kenai-1);
Volunteer, Mark Begich for U.S. Senate [vs Sen. Ted Stevens],
['Alaskans for Begich' and 'Victory '08']

By MATT APUZZO, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 35 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens is due in federal court to answer charges that he lied about hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts from an oil services contractor.

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Stevens is the Senate's longest-serving Republican and has been a dominant figure in congressional politics for a generation. After being indicted on seven counts of lying on Senate disclosure forms, Stevens was ordered to surrender in federal court and appear before a judge Thursday.

Stevens has said little about the corruption investigation that has dogged him for more than a year. Thursday's court hearing was expected to be no different. He was expected to plead not guilty, but initial appearances are usually brief affairs.

The indictment is a blow to the senator's re-election bid. Once a seemingly invincible political figure, he now faces both Democratic and Republican challengers who hope his legal woes make him vulnerable to defeat.

Though some GOP colleagues have distanced themselves from Stevens, he has steadfastly maintained his innocence, and his campaign has pledged to continue.

To do so, he would have to ask U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan for permission to travel. Stevens was expected to remain free while he campaigns and attends to Senate business, but Sullivan was to decide what rules the senator must abide by while he awaits trial.

Stevens, 84, is accused of concealing more than $250,000 in gifts and home remodeling services he received from VECO Corp., a once powerful contracting firm. Two top VECO executives have pleaded guilty to bribing state lawmakers. The executives cooperated with the FBI and provided information about Stevens.

If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison on each of seven counts.

FWD: by;

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party;
District-33 Precinct Captain;
Volunteer, Mark Begich for U.S. Senate

[This is not a very good article; but if you read 'in between the lines' you can 'see the writing on the wall']

by Steve MacDonald
Tuesday, July 29, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- News of the indictments against U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens comes at a time when he was already fighting for his political life.

Many polls prior to Tuesday's indictments show that the race between Stevens and Democrat Mark Begich is already close.

Without a doubt, Tuesday's announcement from the Department of Justice will have its effect on the election. But what effect it will have depends on who you ask.

It was already shaping up to be one of Stevens's toughest political campaigns ever, and the news out of Washington, D.C. could make his reelection bid even more difficult.

"Partisan politics should play no part, either in what charges we bring or in things like the timing of indictment or that type of thing," said Mark Friedrich, acting assistant attorney general. "That policy has been followed to the letter in this case."

Art Hackney, one of Stevens's long time campaign advisors, is questioning the timing of Tuesday's announcement.

"I think like most Alaskans, (I'm) flabbergasted and taken aback," Hackney said. "One cannot help, in this business, but be a little bit jaded to say it's kind of ironic. The one-year anniversary of the raid on the house, and to drop this bomb just a month before a primary election."

One person keeping his distance from the indictment is the man who perhaps could gain the most from it -- Mark Begich, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate.

"I think it's a sad day in Alaska, but we're going to keep focused on the future of this great state," Begich said.

Begich refuses to speculate on how Stevens's legal trouble will impact the election.

"It will always be close, at the end of the day I don't think it's really appropriate to talk about the campaign," Begich said. "It's an issue that Sen. Stevens will have to go through and it will go to where it goes."

While Begich is being guarded in his comments, others are not.

"I think he has a chance of winning the primary -- I don't think he has a chance to win the general," said Dave Cuddy, a Republican candidate for Senate running against Stevens in the upcoming primary.

Cuddy believes his chances of wrestling the Republican nomination away from Stevens in next month's primary just went up.

"As Republicans and Independents, as conservatives start to realize that if Sen. Stevens is the nominee, it's likely that Mark Begich will be the ultimate winner in the general," Cuddy said. "They have to start thinking about whether that's a scenario that they want to support."

In a written statement, Stevens says he's vowing to stay in the race. Most polls show Stevens and Begich are running neck and neck.

The question now is this: Can Stevens survive the news out of Washington, or will he become the latest to fall in the ongoing VECO scandal?

Tuesday afternoon, a spokesman for the Stevens campaign said the senator's reelection bid continues to "move full steam ahead." He said their office was flooded with calls and emails urging Stevens to press on.

None of Stevens' challengers say they picked up any new support as a result of today's indictment, but Cuddy said he expects to begin picking up what he calls "quiet support" from Washington, D.C., in other words, people who wanted to support his campaign but were afraid to anger the incumbent, Stevens.

Contact Steve MacDonald at stevem@ktuu.com

FWD: by;

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party;
District-33 Precinct Captain;
Volunteer, Mark Begich for U.S. Senate

by Jason Moore
Tuesday, July 29, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., indicted Sen. Ted Stevens on seven felony counts Tuesday.

The charges allege that Stevens accepted more than $250,000 in gifts from VECO Corp. and its CEO Bill Allen and deliberately failed to report those gifts on disclosure statements.

"Earlier today, a federal grand jury here in the District of Columbia returned an indictment charging United States Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska with seven felony counts of making false statements," said Matthew Friedrich, acting assistant attorney general, announcing the indictments Tuesday.

Most of the gifts concerned the renovation of Stevens' Girdwood home, where the FBI served a search warrant one year ago.

Prosecutors say VECO employees did most of the work, and Allen paid most of the bills.

"These items were not disclosed on Sen. Stevens' financial disclosure forms, which he filed under penalties of perjury, either as gifts or as liabilities," Friedrich said. "And further, that Sen. Stevens did not reimburse or repay VECO or its chief executive officer for these items."

In the past, Stevens said he paid the bill he received for the project. According to the Seattle Times, Stevens says he spent $130,000 on the renovation.

The indictment claims Stevens received more than $250,000 from VECO and Allen.

Reaction to the charges against the longest serving Republican in the U.S. Senate spanned the country.

"I've known Ted Stevens for 28 years, and I've always found him to be impeccably honest," said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania. "I don't know that anything, that any stronger comment could be made, and that's my comment."

Gov. Sarah Palin weighed in.

"The news today rocks the foundation of our state, and I certainly share Alaskans concern and dismay over the turn of events today," Palin said.

Sen. Stevens Tuesday released a statement.

"It saddens me to learn that these charges have been brought against me," Stevens said. "I have never knowingly submitted a false disclosure form required by law as a U.S. Senator."

"The impact of these charges on my family disturbs me greatly," Stevens said. "I am innocent of these charges and intend to prove that."

"I talked to the senator personally," said Aaron Saunders, Stevens campaign spokesman. "He was upbeat, and the senator's been fighting for Alaska for a long time and this is another fight and he's going to keep at it."

It was eerily quiet at the senator's campaign office Tuesday. One supporter strolled in to write him a note, summing up the feeling of many.

"I was shocked by it," said John Strachan. "It's a great surprise to me. I was here for the earthquake, and I'm here for Ted's indictment, and of the two I'd rather see an earthquake. This is a disaster."

While prosecutors say Stevens did certain actions to help VECO during the time he was receiving the gifts, the indictment does not allege bribery, which would require prosecutors to prove a formal agreement that Stevens would make official acts in exchange for benefits.

Since the federal corruption investigation began in Alaska, there have been seven convictions, including three lawmakers, former Gov. Frank Murkowski's chief of staff, a lobbyist, and two VECO executives.

Prosecutors say Bill Allen is cooperating with the Justice Department in this case.

Contact Jason Moore at jmoore@ktuu.com

FWD: by;

Brett A. Encelewski,
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party;
District-33 Precinct Captain;
Volunteer, Mark Begich for U.S. Senate

ADDENDUM (by Brett A. Encelewski):

Can we let this man possibly sit in the U.S. Senate another Decade longer? He has been corrupt for years; this is merely the first time he has been CAUGHT. The F.B.I. and the Federal Grand Jury would not indict him if they had not collated some pretty astonishing evidence against him... what I think is compelling is that they skipped his son (Ben Stevens--who was named in the VECO trials) and went straight for the big man himself) ...the writing is on the wall. Let us Unite, join the 'crusade'; join the United Democrats for the Epic Defeat of Sen. Ted Stevens.

A Rasmussen Reports poll released today shows Mayor Mark Begich with an nine-point lead (50%-41%), up from a two-point deficit last month.

That's an 11 point swing!

We've been on the air in Alaska for two weeks and these ads reminding voters of Mark's strong record of success are clearly paying dividends.

To stay on the air for the month before Alaska's primary election on August 26 we need your help.

Will you help us keep our ads and message of positive change on Alaskans' televisions?

http://www.begich.com/contribute

While this is good news, we know Sen. Stevens, his DC Republican allies, and special interest friends will now throw everything from their bag of tricks at Mark in an attempt to drive down his strong favorability ratings.

Will you donate now to help us fend off this negative onslaught and keep Mark in the lead?

http://www.begich.com/contribute

Thank you for your continued commitment to electing a U.S. Senator from Alaska of whom we can be proud.

Heather Rauch
Campaign Manager
Alaskans for Begich

FWD: from;
Brett A. Encelewski
Secretary, District-33 Alaska Democratic Party;
Volunteer, Mark Begich for U.S. Senate [AK]