With Democrats and their leftist allies set to control both the Alaska Senate and House, it’s going to be a particularly difficult two years for conservatives, even more so than the past few legislative sessions in which bi-partisan coalitions effectively sidelined conservative priorities.
There’s no chance that the incoming slate of lawmakers will pass pro-life measures, enact meaningful election integrity reform, restore the statutory Permanent Fund Dividend, hold activist judges accountable, empower parental rights, expand school choice, defend religious liberty, strengthen gun rights, defend the constitutional authority of citizen grand juries or resist the relentless effort to inject woke ideology and LGBTQ dogma throughout the tangled web of state government.
What we can expect is a concerted attempt to oppose any and all such efforts while seeking to massively expand funding for our chronically failing public schools without any meaningful accountability measures. Expect also to see a push for more pre-kindergarten services, school-run day care and woke student health centers.
It’s time for the governor to gather strength, shake off the dust of these past defeats and rediscover his fighting spirit.
Additionally, the Legislature is likely to pursue expanded budgets for health and human services, government retirement benefits and a litany of entitlement programs, all of which will give leftists more reason to raid the Permanent Fund in order to feed a fattened government.
Given this dire situation, what levers can conservatives still pull?
For starters, Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy remains at the helm for another two years. That may not be much consolation for conservatives who are deeply frustrated by his adherence to unconstitutional rulings by our activist Alaska Supreme Court when it comes to violating grand jury rights, demanding abortion funding, suspending election integrity laws or allowing the multi-issue ranked-choice ballot measure to go before voters in 2020, despite violating the single-subject requirement spelled out in the State Constitution.
For all the blustery claims that he would “stand tall for Alaska,” Dunleavy has largely avoided confrontation with either the judiciary or the legislature.
After enduring harsh criticism and a much-publicized recall attempt in the wake of his initial ambitious agenda to drastically cut the state budget back in 2019, Dunleavy has largely backed off when it comes contentious hot-button issues.
It’s time for the governor to gather strength, shake off the dust of these past defeats and rediscover his fighting spirit.
Perhaps that is a long shot, but it’s not impossible.
I’m reminded of the scene in JRR Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings,” when Gandolf inspired the lethargic, aged and weary King Theoden to reclaim his true identity as king of Rohan, and lead his men into a glorious battle against the seemingly insurmountable forces of the wizard Saruman and his army of orcs.
Dunleavy needn’t brandish a sword, but he must be willing to thunder from his bully pulpit, refuse to enforce unconstitutional court opinions and wield his veto pen with confidence.
As a twice-elected Governor, in his final two years of service, he needn’t fear another recall effort, or worry about reelection. Plus, his vetoes have a solid chance of surviving any override efforts, which require a 2/3 majority in a narrowly divided State Legislature.
Similarly, if Dunleavy were to stand up to unconstitutional court rulings, and refuse to enforce them, there would be no stopping him unless 3/4 of both the State House and Senate moved to impeach him. That, too, is unlikely given the substantial number of conservative-leaning lawmakers in the minority.
If Dunleavy embarks on the difficult path of principled opposition, he must know that conservatives have his back – both elected lawmakers and Alaska voters. It is imperative that Alaskans contact Dunleavy directly, as well as urge like-minded lawmakers to support him.
In this battle for Alaska, we need a bold leader, not a kowtowing manager who seeks swamp popularity.
May the best man win.
TAKING ACTION
— Click here to contact Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
The views expressed here are those of the author.
20 Comments
Your praise of and belief in Dunleavey is ill applied. The only attribute Alaskans can count on is his incompetence. In the algorithm of Dunleavey integrity analysis, the first question is, Does he support Trump? If yes, Alaska is doomed. If no, he’s lying.
CASTING THE VISION, thank you Joel! Dunleavy in the roll to fulfill the that VISION, highly questionable! IT WOULD MEAN A TOTAL OVERHAUL OF HIS CHARACTER!
Is this the same Dunleavy that recently opened the immigrant employment office…and you expect him to do the right thing?
I think our energy and resources would be better spent figuring out we are going to push back on the state swamp.
Dunleavy is a lost cause. Here are the priorities.
1. Seek a MAGA governor and senator candidate to replace feckless Dunleavy and corrupt Sulluvan.
2. Support and help in the state where they are facing the Left’s dark money candidate. Living in the Valley and voting conservative won’t be enough…grassroots across the state.
3. Support any and all investigations into state political corruption…includingbthe Republicans.
Make criminals fear again!
Go back and watch the video of his inaugeration. Dunleavy, while the flags were being brought before the ceremony officially started, stood there with his right hand inside of his jacket the entire time – looked like a masonic hand gesture to me. I could be wrong. Maybe everyone was supposed to have their hand over their hearts when the flags were being brought in? Personally, I think his hand gesture was his signal to the deep state that he would follow their commands – and it sure looks like he has been bringing this state down.
If you have noticed, Governor Dunleavy is left-handed, and signs his documents that way. His right hand or shoulder was injured playing sports and he finally had an operation on it a few years ago. Remember the pictures of him with his right arm in a sling?
And your point is what Shelia?
it is well known that Shelia has close ties in the dunleavy family! SHES AS CORRUPT AS HE IS!
WELL DONE CALLING HER OUT FOH!!!
I don’t know. Dunleavy was strong during the Covid debacle. Since then, he has been influenced by family and tribal affiliations which lean left consistently. A strong man can be weakened if he wants to be liked more than he wants to do what is right for all the people of Alaska. A white man can be shamed into being politically corrupt not correct (these days). His original strength in crisis has been dissipated by these concerns. I agree he needs to be set free by the Christians of this state uniting in prayer against the evil that is attempting to overthrow the government that is working for for the people and not existing for the enrichment of itself. Alaska has been governed externally for a long time. It is time for a strong Alaskan leader
to rise up that can rally those who realize that Alaska’s own government is in peril and what happens to it will drastically affect all Alaskan lives. We are characteristically wilderness people who are governed by the elements and often at the mercy of them. We need to take that strength of character and thoroughly rally around Governor Dunleavy that he might be broken loose from what is binding him and the leader that was there before can come forth and do what he vowed to do when he took office. Grassroots across the state with a leader to rally behind! MAGA: Make Alaska Great Again.
I hardly characterize his COVID response as “strong”….he actually held the $49,000 weekly lottery to get people to take the vaxxx…
Dunleavy is a weak governor who is missing in action most of the time. He will give lip service to conservative ideals from time to time but NEVER follows through. Alaska is a blue state for all intents and purposes. The RINOs give all the power to the democrats in the legislature and have been doing so for years now. My advice is, don’t hold your breath. Dunleavy will drop the ball, yet again, and not do anything but give lip service. He cannot be relied on to do the right thing.
> With Democrats and their leftist allies set to control both the Alaska Senate and House
What a harsh, but oh so true opening sentence. We have to do better then this fellow Alaskans.
How come when your guy (Trump) is elected, it’s a “mandate” from the people, but when people who’s principals you disagree with are elected, it’s not?
Volumn counts! Against all odds “Too big to rig” won! That’s a mandate!
Man there’s so much dumping on the Governor here. If you were a hardline conservative and your constituents consistently elect a leftist legislature, then the message you’d get from that is “don’t be a righty.” He can’t accomplish anything if he poised himself as a brick wall against the legislature. And to do so would ruin any legacy he may have. I don’t think he has been all bad. I think we have a certain balance of power, and sadly he can’t be the polarizing force in this environment. Whether we like it or not, Alaskans love leftist policies. Love them. Up to and including RCV. I predict Gara will run for Governor again and the Republicans won’t be able to pull a strong enough candidate to win in an RCV election for Governor. I also predict that opportunistic Republican legislators (several of them!) will Begich-Palin style split the vote and assure that a dem governor is elected. The reason I say this is because of the personalities of the people who are talking about running. They’ll quagmire the situation. Alaska is turning blue, and the unorganized districts (meaning non-boroughs) where the old school Alaskans all seem to be can’t outvote the leftist village grandmothers and the queer army in Anchorage.
Joel did you mean Republicans in your opening sentence ? What we got how is exactly that 5 republicans that they call themselves “and their leftist allies set to control both the Alaska Senate and House,” will the Republican Governor lead as head of the party or not? To say that we should back him up is very distasteful to true conservative Alaskans…. when his acts of omissions don’t defend our liberties! In fact, his failure to enforce statutes that protect us like {Public official(s) BONDS how can we trust him on anything? Please commentary on this subject!!! Liberty Ed Martin Jr
I have been watching Gov. Dunleavy since he was elected. Every time he called for backup from the conservatives to help pressure the legislature to even pass the slightest conservative law, the left was able to mass whole multitudes of LGPTQ+ and other woke while the conservatives could not be even bothered to make phone calls, much less show up in Juneau. No man is an island, and yet those who are the first to condemn were the last to show any public support to their legislators on behalf of the governor’s stand. It was the old Hebrew statement to Moses: You and your God go and fight, we will remain here. You want him to defy the courts and play right into the hands of the left, who will certainly impeach him and then you expect the Rinos to come to his aid? Remember, he was almost impeached once after his first election. It was only the Covid emergency that saved him; it most certainly was not the Republicans who did not come to his aid then. You are indeed living in dreamland if you expect anything different now. He is much better picking the battles that he can possibly win now, a rear-guard action that can at least hold off the deluge that is coming out of Anchorage. Remember his veto of the enlarged education bill last year? It cam within ONE VOTE of being over turned. And two of his allies are now gone from the legislature. You have condemned him to a lonely, one person fight for his remaining two years. May God be with him and grant him the wisdom he seeks and the means of achieving at least some victories. Amen.
Republicans full of RINO’s is part of it, those that ran on a conservative platform and as soon as they got in went turn coat. Dunleavy should throw it to the wind and do what is right when needing to be done. All he has to waste now is his time if shut down, nothing ventured nothing gained. Just by putting up a fight he can shine a light on the communists we have running this state, supposedly legal on its face. That’s even a farce when scrutinized. Where is the state on grand juries? Have we seen any reports that had been requested on that issue yet? How many people have gotten behind that? Now that we were thrown a bone with Nick supposedly taking Peltola’s seat gained by RCV many have rolled up there bedrolls and gone home. Fight is far from over. Get Grand Juries back up and running, start taking a closer look at these people in Juneau and let the heads start rolling. It will take the people of Alaska, not just Joe next door. Once ,they in Juneau, are close to wiping out the PFD you will see a new push for state income tax and Alaskans being accused of being needy. When we speak of corruption Alaska is a shining light. Thank you judicial. So much we could speak to.
I thank God that that he helped Trump dodge another bullet by Trump not picking Dunleavy as Interior Secretary.
Dunleavy was spineless as the school district superintendent, as he proved with the Vaxx lottery.
Shelia since your so inclined to make biblical references as you do in supporting your uncle dunleavy, please answer me this, who has been entrusted with the governorship of this state for the previous four years and the following two years? DUNLEAVY. When Aaron was granted the opportunity to be the spokesman on behalf of Moses, his voice and position was recognized as the directives from God himself! As Moses departed toward Mt Sinai, Aaron was pressured by the people to make the infamous GOLDEN CALF,to worship! Because Aaron had a thin veneer of conviction and courage, he without hesitation complied to the wickedness. Was that not a fear of impeachment? The dunleavy of the old testament!
Let’s try taking a look at the shepherd David. The odds of him defeating his enemy/ GIANT, we’re completely, overwhelmingly against him! CALLED BY GOD TO THIS BATTLE IS THE RELEVANT OBSERVATION! NOT WHO WOULD WIN!!!
SHELIA YOUR NEED TO AFFIRM DUNLEAVY AND GIVE HIM A PAT ON THE BACK ARE NOTHING MORE THAN YOUR EMPTY THERAPEUTIC RELIGION BEING EXPOSED FOR WHAT IT IS. A DESTRUCTIVE FORM OF gODLINESS that WILL NOT STAND UP IN THE FACE OF EVIL!!!