Editor’s note: The following column was recently posted by Alaska GOP District 20 Chairman Paul Bauer to inspire Alaskans to actively engage in shaping the future of the Republican Party.
What many people fail to fully consider is the cumulative impact of more than a decade of left-leaning Democrat control at the national level. Those 12 years fundamentally reshaped institutions, culture and policy direction. Reversing that scale of change cannot realistically be accomplished in less than a single year. Expectations should be grounded in reality. Meaningful course correction takes time, organization and sustained pressure.
If there is frustration with Alaska Republican leadership – including party officers or district chairs – the solution is not disengagement or public dismissal from the sidelines. The solution is participation. Join the party. Show up. Engage in the process. Voice concerns through structured conversation, debate and internal reform mechanisms. That is how parties improve and remain accountable to their base.
I do agree that the Alaska Republican Party has areas that need strengthening. We have legislators who place too much faith in so-called “bipartisanship” without fully understanding the asymmetry involved. History shows that Democrats routinely exploit that posture – using cooperation as leverage while undermining conservative priorities behind the scenes. Strong conservatives recognize this pattern and do not confuse compromise with principle or weakness with civility.
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To undeclared or nonpartisan voters, a fair question must be asked: are you engaged, undecided, or simply choosing to remain on the sidelines? Avoiding affiliation may feel safe, but it does little to shape outcomes. Progress – especially conservative progress – has never come from hesitation or anonymity.
As your Alaska Republican Party District Chair and any future endeavors of mine, I am not afraid to be clear about where I stand. I will continue to push for stronger organization, more disciplined leadership, and sustained perseverance within the party. That is how we reclaim effective governance, defend conservative values and put Alaska – and the nation – back on a stable, principled path.
The views expressed here are those of the author.
8 Comments
Well Paul your question presupposes that the gop has ears to hear! THEY DONT! CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW!?
It’s time to let go of the Old and replace them with the new. It’ll tell you this much: aggression isn’t working for the conservative ideal I love!
Yes – and no. There are many people still engaged in the GOP who are trying to make a difference. There are also some who don’t care if the party slides to the middle, or worse. There are district party officials who have no problem with “their” state senator or representative joining hands with and empowering democrats in our state legislature. Even though there should not be a “bipartisan coalition” since there are more “republicans” than democrats in the legislature. On the flip side, there are district officials and some districts who are doing everything they can to hold legislators accountable when they abandon their constituents by joining democrats. Yet, it often falls in deaf ears. At least some in the GOP have pushed for and even successfully censored the likes of Murkowski, Stevens, Bjorkman, Merrick, Giessel, Kopp, Stutes and others who typically sell their soul to democrats for power. The power of the GOP from that perspective is limited. Censorship doesn’t do much. Why? Let’s face facts – money matters. When the Murkowski’s, or a Bjorkman, can get all the money they want from the D.C. swamp, or from big unions they are beholden to, it’s difficult for the party or other candidates to fight against the kind of money we often see thrown into some races. We have also seen weak, or complicit (as in the case of Ann Brown former GOP chair), leadership of the GOP at the state level where “unity” is more important than principle. Or in her case, excluding conservatives in favor of moderates (or RINOs so called). Rot at the top is often indicative of how an organization will fail to uphold it’s mission. I agree with the author on the point, however, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. The GOP can be effective, it can help shape the narrative and the course of Alaska. But it must have people willing to put in the effort to get involved. Much like churches that preach “we don’t do politics”, if good people, those of faith or otherwise, do not get involved? Well your throwing the game to the other side. You know, the side who thinks men can get pregnant, it’s ok for boys & men to destroy girls & women’s sports by allowing biological me to complete, that thinks Palestinian’s somehow support LGBT because you wave their flag around, or it’s ok to have a no king’s day one month protesting the US president who by all definitions isn’t, then protest when an actual king/dictator is removed just a few months later.
Most Republicans I know are tired of voting republican and getting a liberal democrat who ran as a republican. This is the most liberal republican state in the nation. All of our republican politicians are liberal democrats, how does this happen. We don’t want bipartisanship in the legislature that is just moving us backwards. We overwhelmingly voted for Trump, let’s stick to his ideals. And we need to change the judiciary, it’s a mandate from the people. Clean up the Alaska bureaucratic swamp.
“Press for change” . . . talk about a fool’s errand!
But for the sake of argument, let’s say newcomers to the GOP can accomplish significant change. Where would that leave all the folks who like things the way they are?
Mac Carter tried running for office here in the interior of Ak back in the early 2000’s. He ran with the Republican Party only to find out the Ak Republican Party chairman at that time was giving money to his opponent. Needless to say he lost.
As long as Murkowski still has the R behind her name, I’ll not have much to do with Alaska GOP
If you’re justifiably disappointed the the Republicans, wouldn’t it make more sense to join the party which actually works for the people, not the oil companies and oligarchs?