Ted Stevens and John Dingell

"Politics is a fateful calling. The voters can end a political life in a few hours on any Tuesday. Promising public careers can be terminated abruptly. But like life itself, political life should be measured by its quality rather than its quantity."
-Senator Dick Durbin

Late last week we saw the end of the political careers of two congressional titans: Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska and Representative John Dingell of Michigan (yes, I realize Dingell was not beaten for re-election, but he lost his very reason for being in office, his gavel). In an eerie coincidence, literally minutes after Dingell was ousted as the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee -- a post he has held continuously for nearly 30 years -- Stevens came to the Senate floor to deliver his final speech. That both men met the low points of their long careers moments apart was a little strange, but perhaps very appropriate. For, despite the fact that one is a staunch Republican and the other a lifelong FDR Democrat, both men are examples of politicians who probably stayed around a little too long.

I have to be honest, while I think that what happened to both Stevens and Dingell was good for the country, I felt sorry for both men. Seeing the two old political warriors, men who not long ago were among the most powerful in the country completely stripped of their power and their dignity was striking and really, somewhat tragic. But both men could have avoided their fates if they had just relinquished their positions earlier and not been so stubborn.

Ted Stevens first came to the Senate in 1968, and before this year, he never faced a close re-election. He was the King of Alaska, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Yet, when his house was raided by the FBI at the age of 84, Stevens should have announced his retirement right then and there. He could have left on the right note, and had his legacy preserved. Perhaps his retirement would have even made him a less attractive target to the Justice Department. Alas, Stevens arrogantly plowed ahead with his re-elections plans. Even after he was indicted, he remained unbowed, and we all know how that ended: he was convicted on all charges, and last week, it was determined that he was ousted from his seat, albeit narrowly. Today, his career is over and prison time appears likely. This is a pathetic ending for such a distinguished and self-made public servant.

While John Dingell was not indicted or disgraced like Stevens, he too should have seen the writing on the wall. He had run the E and C committee for decades, sure, but he has had problems with Nancy Pelosi for some time, and was thus a marked man in politics of sorts. Furthermore, how did he not watch out for Henry Waxman as the California donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to fellow members and Democratic challengers across the country? After all, Dingell was there in 1978 when Waxman ousted another more senior member to take over a powerful panel. Simply put, Dingell did not watch his back and protect himself enough. He has no one to blame for his downfall but himself.

It may seem surprising that a political hack like me would feel sorry for two Old Bulls, one of whom -- Stevens -- is someone I have taken a lot of shots at in recent months. But my personal affection for either man (or lack thereof) is largely irrelevant. As a political follower, it is difficult for me not to feel some sympathy for men who could have ended their careers with much more grace and dignity. Unfortunately, the combined 93 years of service of both men will be greatly overshadowed now. The obituaries of both men will mention their recent downfalls in the first paragraph, and I think that's regrettable.