Ted (probably actually "Theodore") Stevens, the senior senator from Alaska, has really upset me in recent weeks. Granted, I cannot say I particularly liked him before, but a series of recent actions has ruined any chance, however remote it may have been, of me liking him.

His first misstep concerns the so-called "bridge to nowhere," a part of the ten bazillion dollar highway bill Congress approved last summer. The bridge, which will connect a tiny remote island to an almost equally small town, in some remote part of Alaska, will cost taxpayers around $225 million all together. One congressperson figures the government could buy a Learjet for every person living on the miniscule land mass with the money appropriated for the bridge.

So, when hurricanes ravished parts of the Southern United States, some sharp senators had the bright idea to prune some pet projects from the pet project laden highway bill. This, they reasoned, would help pay for hurricane relief and reconstruction. Quite logical indeed.

Some senators succumbed to the spirit of helpfulness by relinquishing the funds their states had been designated to receive in order to build new tree lined streets and avenues. But Ted Stevens shot down the idea with the speed of a cheetah on steroids. "I will put the Senate on notice, and I don't kid people," stated Stevens, continuing, "If the Senate decides to discriminate against our state and take money only from our state, I'll resign from this body." He should have just been allowed to resign.

The second slip happened this week during a Congressional hearing about the record profits oil companies had in the fourth quarter. Five of the CEO's from the nation's largest oil companies were in Washington to answer questions put forth by senators. At first glance, this has the air of a great opportunity for politicians to really drill the CEO's and get some real answers. But Ted Stevens sat in on the meeting. First, Stevens imposed a time-limit on each senator's questioning, preventing them from really accomplishing anything. Stevens also squashed a motion to place the five executives under oath. thus saving them from potential embarrassment. There is nothing wrong with corporations making lots of money, but there is a problem when they are making money in an illegal, or superbly sneaky way.

When 2008 rolls around, Alaskan voters had better come to their senses and prevent this senator - who, by the way, has already served for forty years - from getting re-elected again.