"Packmates"

Alaskan Senators Murkowski and Sullvan have not only publicly rebuked Republican presidential nominee Trump after one of the most recent ickier revelations about his character surfaced, they even eventually called on him to drop out from the race, followed by resignation of their respective leadership posts in the state central committee on xenophobia.

Emphasis here is on most recent, as it is revealing of their political expediency and fortitude, and by extension those of his other supporters who also claim moral superiority in their sociopolitical views, to have waited this long. Thank you for playing, but far too little, far too late: for a refresher read this closing argument for an ever-updating roster of examples, or his fascism here. Trump defines the Alaskan Republican party - and to a great extent, Independents like Joe Miller at al. A reminder that after the Alaska state primaries in August, Cruz got 36.4% of the vote, and Trump was a close 33.5% - still earning eleven delegates to Cruz's twelve. 

Retired comedian Letterman has summed it up best by flagging an early indicator of Trumps deplorable, pathological condition after mocked a reporter's condition last year:

"I would have said something like, 'Hey, nice to see you. Now, let me ask you: What gives you the right to make fun of a human who is less fortunate, physically, than you are?'" he continued. "[...] But if you see somebody who's not behaving like any other human you've known, that means something. They need an appointment with a psychiatrist. They need a diagnosis and they need a prescription."

Unfortunately judging by the comments in threads across Alaskan on-line media, everything new Trump says and does seems to only further entrench his appeal to his fan base (as in base - "1. Having or showing a lack of decency; contemptible, mean-spirited, or selfish").

Put another way, when considering the state of Alaska's recurrent ranking in domestic violence and sexual abuse it's appalling but not surprising many residents and supporters presumably view - or outright endorse - Trumps behavior as an asset rather than a liability. In other words, there are far too many Alaskans who think this is all okay. It's not.

Garry Trudeau called it in 1999

The personal is political. This "senseless cruelty" incarnate transcends the normal boundaries and limitations of political debate and discourse into the realm of the personal: I have had numerous face-to-face confrontations with otherwise decent folks who tie themselves in knots while honestly trying to parse their support for anyone who would act like Trump does. *There are notable exceptions. 

Keith Knight calls it now

I would juxtapose all this with thoroughly depressing turnout in our recent local elections (around 15%) leads me to believe all the self-righteous posturing from liberals in particular surrounding the acrimonious primaries is mostly sound + fury. There were non-partisan positions and neutral ballot initiatives on the ticket, and yet all the folks who scream about the tyrannical rule of a two-party system etc. etc. somehow couldn't be bothered to vote.

Speaking of not voting, of particular note is the ongoing "I support the Constitution" hypocrisy of Senator Sullivan: readers will recall him not just as Palin's second choice, but now as bravely condemning - but still supporting - Trump during the Gold Star family fiasco, along with getting that 15-minutes of fame by eagerly toeing the party line in July. After eight months of cowardice and dereliction of duty by refusing to even give a Supreme Court candidate a hearing, the absolute least he could do is his damn job.

On an even more local level, "Exhibit A" would be North Pole Senator John Coghill (ammosexual, proud proponent of state-sponsored rape, and all things anti-choice), who needs to be held accountable for his indelible association with Trump - as does every other person on that list. Might seem to be painting with a broad brush but even if all you do is hold the can of paint and provide the canvas, you bear responsibility. Which is a glaring hypocrisy when Coghill serves as one of the official Policy Platform Committee members for Trump in Alaska.

"Integrity and decency" - putting the "Cog" in Cognitive dissonance.

  
Footnote: Americans For Prosperity, a Koch-backed political group, is exerting its influence right here in our local elections by distributing a flier in support for Coghill. While in the case of Trump it's painfully apparent that money can't buy you class, but it's too bad $900 million bucks can't even buy you a good editor to catch massive typos. Wickersham's Conscience has a list well worth checking. 

See you at the polls.