Blogosphere unmasks the 'secret senator'

CNN.com reports that Alaska's Ted "Secret Senator" Stevens--aka the funny, old, "Internet is a series of tubes" guy in "" clips--has been outted by bloggers as the senator who placed a hold on a bill that would require the government to publish online a database of federal spending.

CNN's report says the bill has become "a cause celebre for both liberal and conservative bloggers as they tried to uncover the 'secret senator' who had blocked passage of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act."

Blog community response:

"I don't have an opinion either way on the spending bills mentioned in the article, but I find secret holds troubling regardless of who puts them on whatever bill. We end up with a Senate that operates in backrooms, where members scratch each other's backs--I'll lift my hold if you lift yours--with little accountability for their actions. Stevens will get a black eye for his hold, deservedly, but Coburn's use of the same tactic doesn't inspire a lot of confidence."
--Bill Allison

"Well of course it is my very own Senator that would be putting the brakes on a bill that would reveal who spent what, and how much. He has much to keep hidden. I am so embarrassed. But not at all surprised."
--Gryphen

"If that obvious BS doesn't get Stevens hooted out the U.S. Senate...How about we do a cost-benefit analysis of Stevens' tenure in the nation's capitol?"
--Tapscott's Copy Desk

"Yes, yes, 'Tubes' Stevens has finally admitted putting a secret hold on the leetle tiny Senate proposal to have a Web site where you could see what crooks are taking all your tax dollars. But it's not what you think, really...Stevens needs that money for Alaska, where he plans to spend it on a new coffee maker for a loyal supporter in Juneau."
--Wonkette