Even Stevens

In order to stave off a filibuster-proof Democratic majority in the upper chamber, Republicans need to hold at least one of three Senate seats that have yet to be decided.

One of those is the post held by six-term GOP incumbent Ted Stevens of Alaska, who was convicted of seven felony counts last month. Ballot counting continues in his re-election bid as the final votes trickle in.

But even if Sen. Stevens hangs on, he may not be spending much more time in Washington. Next week, Republicans will decide what punishment Sen. Stevens deserves after being found guilty of lying on disclosure forms to conceal gifts from an oil contractor.

This should be a no-brainer.

If he had any concern for his own party, Sen. Stevens would resign and allow Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to appoint a Republican successor not tainted by bribery and scandal. We hope Sen. Stevens does the right and honorable thing.

If he doesn't, however, his colleagues should kick him out of the Republican Senate conference, strip him of his committee assignments and let him know that they will support removing him from the body altogether should his appeal fail.

Nor should they dither.

Two years ago, newly selected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- trying not to upset the Congressional Black Caucus -- waffled for weeks before opting to ignore seniority and bypass Rep. Alcee Hastings for the chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee. Rep. Hastings had been impeached in 1988 as a federal judge and was eventually removed from the bench. The fact that he was even considered for a chairmanship by the new Democratic leadership called into question their rhetoric involving ethics and reform.

Republicans shouldn't make the same mistake when it comes to Sen. Stevens.