ANCHORAGE DAILY PLANET
Why is it, do you think, that Democrats seldom jump ship on their party? Their loyalty often is impressive and they prove smaller numbers do not always predict defeat.
On the other hand, some Republicans, especially in the Alaska House of Representatives, too often appear to be political opportunists willing, if not eager, to sell out their party for personal political gain.
More galling, in doing that, they hide behind late Sen. Ted Stevens’ missive, ““To hell with politics, do what’s right for Alaska,” as if denying voters’ their wishes is, somehow, a good and honorable thing, the right thing for Alaska.
Make no mistake, Alaskans went to the polls last year and voted to put Republicans in charge of the Legislature. There are 23 Republicans in the House. Two of them were those who jumped ship last year to join a Democrat-led coalition to lead the chamber – and were rewarded with powerful positions. That left a 21-20 Republican majority in the House this year.
Rep. Gary Knopp, a Kenai Republican and a former Democrat, no less, thought that was not good enough and derailed for 30 days Republicans’ efforts to organize a leadership caucus by refusing to vote for a Republican speaker, causing a 20-20 tie.
Read more at:
http://www.anchoragedailyplanet.com/148315/what-is-it-with-republicans/