ANWR remains locked up tight. Uh oh Uncle Ted must be so pissed!

The Senate blocked an attempt to open an Alaska wildlife refuge to oil drilling Wednesday, foiling an attempt by drilling backers to force the measure through Congress as part of a must-have defense spending bill.

It was a stinging defeat for Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, one of the Senate's most powerful members, who had given senators a choice to support the Alaska drilling measure, or risk the political fallout of voting against money for American troops and for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Democrats accused Stevens, the senior Republican in the Senate, of holding the defense bill hostage to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Gee thanks Ted for making all of us Alaskans look like unsympathetic assholes just looking to take advantage of the misery of others to line our own pockets. I do so appreciate your buffoonish behavior lately. Do us all a favor and just quit okay?

During the vote, Stevens, 82, who had fought to open the refuge to drilling since 1980 and is the most senior Republican in the Senate, sat unsmiling in a chair midway back in the chamber, watching his colleagues vote. When it became apparent that he had lost, he briefly talked with Frist, presumably over what move should be taken next. He briefly shook his head, a signal of his disappointment.

Actually that is fairly restrained for Senator Stevens, he is not known for taking defeat very well. I think he may have another trick up his sleeve. Stay tuned kiddies!