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There are many intelligent, articulate, well-informed individuals serving in our nation's Senate.  Alaska Senator Ted Stevens is not one of them.  When the Senator voted last week against a net neutrality amendment to a telecom bill, he offered his own layman's explanation of how the Internet works, which included this choice line:

 

I just the other day got, an internet was sent by my staff at 10 o'clock in the morning on Friday and I just got it yesterday. Why?

 

Read his full remarks here and be astounded at the sheer ignorance he displays.  I'd have more respect for him if he simply pulled out a thick wad of cash from his pocket and said, "This is the only reason I need to understand why net neutrality is a bad thing." 

 

The days in which we are ruled by old, white, wealthy men cannot come to an end soon enough. 

Oh c'mon. There aren't "many" intelligent, articulate, well-informed individuals serving in our nation's Senate. If there are five I'd be pleasantly surprised.

Try running through the list. I like to do that when I'm looking to see who voted for what. In my mind there is a little roll call, like at the national presidential nominating conventions.

"Alabama!" "Mr. Chairman, the great state of Alabama is represented by Jeff Sessions, who says Guantanamo suicides could’ve just as easily been suicide bombers, and Richard C. Shelby,who supports gun control and abortion, and supports the Federal Marriage Amendment."

Alaska!" "Mr. Chairman, Alaska is represented in the Senate by Ted Stevens, who got this whole exercise rolling, and by Lisa Murkowski, who was appointed to the seat by her father."

(Actually, Murkoski is not so bad, by the standards of the Senate.)