Long slow goodbye

Sen. Ted Stevens in his Incredible Hulk tie. AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke On his 85th birthday, the longest serving Republican in U.S. history, Sen. Ted Stevens, barely lost his re-election bid yesterday. This is a major shift in Alaska: Stevens began his political involvement before statehood. Even the Anchorage airport is called “Uncle Ted.” Stevens was convicted by a federal jury for lying on Senate disclosure forms in an attempt to conceal more than $250,000 in gifts and home renovations from an oil field services company. The winner, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, will move Senate Democrats within two seats of a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority. More .