Mr. Series of Tubes, we bid thee well

Alaska Senator Ted Stevens (necktie explanation here), a fixture on Capitol Hill since 1968, delivered his final speech on the floor of the Senate yesterday. Stevens? emotional farewell came a day after he conceded defeat to moderate Democrat Mark Begich in an extremely tight race eventually decided by absentee and challenged ballots; the Republican?s conviction on seven felony corruption counts last month didn?t help his bid for a seventh term.

As loyal readers of this blog (and devoted Daily Show viewers) know, Mr. Series of Tubes has provided us with many an opportunity for ridicule in recent years (OK, there were only a couple, but man were they good). It?s also fair to say that Alaska has had no greater champion over the past 40 years.

Ted Stevens, we?ll miss you.

- posted by ben fuchs