Ted Stevens takes the bridge to nowhere

The end was not what Mr. Stevens would have scripted – a defeat just weeks after his conviction in federal court on ethics charges. The final votes were counted Tuesday, his 85th birthday, and the news came after his colleagues considered but postponed a vote on banishing him from the Republican ranks. Together, the developments represented a dismal finale for a man who had handled untold billions in federal dollars, helped create the modern military through his funding decisions and shaped his very state.

In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Stevens said the math was inescapable with Democrat Mark Begich, the mayor of Anchorage, ahead by more votes than remained to be counted.“It was a tough fight that would not have been possible without the help of so many Alaskans – people who I am honored to call my friends,” the statement said. “I will always remember their thoughts, prayers, and encouragement.”