West Anchorage Representative Lindsey Holmes announced Saturday that she changed her party registration from Democrat to Republican and has also joined the House Majority Caucus and will have a seat on the House Finance Committee.
In a news release, Rep. Holmes said “I’ve enjoyed a close working relationship with the Majority for many years and have found that we share a common vision for Alaska.”
“We have a large caucus with people representing every corner of the state, and with that diversity we often have different views and opinions on how we should approach the challenges facing Alaska,” House Majority Leader Lance Pruitt, R-Anchorage, said.
Okay so usually this might not seem like the biggest deal in the world, except that right now the Republicans control both the State Senate and the House, and of course also have Governor Parnell in place in the executive position.
That gives the GOP almost carte blanche to do whatever they damn well please, and since Joe Miller's pals managed their coup of the Republican party it looks like the inmates are in charge of the nut house.
By the way there is also some very troubling talk of Senator Mark Begich switching parties as well. I very much hope that is not true, but if it is then I really worry for the future of this great state.
Sounds like another person who have obtained Democrat votes, to become elected into office; then switched to Republican.
ReplyDeleteHope, that Begich, stays put but I guess he is worried about being re-elected in a Red State.
Maybe the only way they can logically initiate change is *inside* the Republican party???
ReplyDelete-Oz
I feel your pain. Be glad you don't live in Indiana where we have the newly-elected Tea Party king, Mike Pence, and he has a Republican super majority in both houses. He's now talking about things he never campaigned for but why does that not surprise anything. Indiana is now a right-to-work-for-less state and the Rupub super majority wants to outlaw same sex marriage and put that in the state constitution. Dirt bags. Tea Party people are just little wienies afraid of moving into the 21st Century and are happy to stay locked in the 19th, not even 20th.
ReplyDeleteMore importantly look what Pence is doing to education.
DeleteI have family in Indiana. They have been wanting us to move back. There is NO FUCKING WAY I'll willingly live in Indiana. You think Capt. Zero and his band of merry madmen are bad - JHC - they're amateurs compared to the A-holes running the state governments in Indiana and MI.
DeleteShe looks like a Republican. Pearls with denim.
ReplyDeleteThis always pisses me off! How can one day you be a Democrat and the next day be a Rethug? If you are going to change, you should wait until the end of your term before the next election. I see it being a traitor to those who elected you. I hope that Sen. Mark Begich does not switch, but then he is up for reelection in 2014.
ReplyDeleteIf Mark Begich switches parties it is time to vote him out. Are you listening John Binkley?
ReplyDeleteBegich would be stupid to switch parties. No one goes from a majority party to a minority. And the Alaskan GOP will probably put up some extremist weirdo against him in '14, which would make it easier for him to keep his seat.
ReplyDeleteIt's all about being elected - and being in power - NOTHING to do with beliefs and party - all rather sad - there are very few politicians who remember why they have the job & who they are supposed to work for - but they all no about the perks of the job.
ReplyDeleteHoly crap ! If Begich switches parties forget about the effect on Alaska. The bigger effect is that it gives the Dems one less person in the Senate and they have a thin majority now with several up for re-election in 2014. Not good news there.
ReplyDeleteI doubt Begich will switch. While most of the time I feel he is a DINO anyway...it would be devastating. He has some pretty die hard D staffers/campaigners...I just don't think he will.
ReplyDeleteAs for Holmes...I've been saying she was a R from the get go. I am a die hard liberal and still never voted for her. She grew up on the R side of a D district, surrounds herself with R's, grew up R...She is a true piece of self-serving, slow moving, selfish woman. This is a clear case of voter fraud. She, and those that celebrate this mess, should be ashamed.
I tend to agree on the "voter fraud" charge, except that it more like candidate fraud as she was elected as a D, then changed to R once in office, thus giving the finger to all those who voted for her with faith that she would support Democratic views. It should be against the law to change parties once elected. If one wants to join the other party, then one should quit and run again next election. This is truly a fraudulent action by Holmes.
DeleteThere should be some kind of way to punish politicians who switch on the people who voted her in based on her being a Republican. Basically, she's committed fraud on her electorate: Political bait and switch.
DeleteM from MD
I realized that Mark Begich had turned into a Blue Dog Dem about 5 years ago. Since then his votes have almost mirrored Lisa Murkowski's vote (Someone who once said that she now felt unfettered from the Republican party -but who's voting history is indistinguishable from their platforms)
ReplyDeleteMs Holmes better have a lot of support from the AK GOP because she just pissed off her constituents royally. The comments under the article on the ADN website were not happy. Recall petition anyone?
So what is it with those wonky-eyed women in Alaska?
DeleteJust askin!
In case folks haven't seen this...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/incoming-alaska-gop-leaders-could-be-unseated-even-assuming-control
She looks like she had a stroke. Mybe that's why??
ReplyDeleteVernD
Alaska internal politics is always a fun subject. Democrats won't do any better as long as they continue to vote for Lisa Murkowski. I'd really like to see Don Young finally forced into retirement. Where are all the dynamic men in the Alaska Democratic Party? I'm not seeing anyone outstanding coming up through the ranks, either, besides one in Anchorage whom we all know. The pool just seems to be getting smaller and smaller. Or am I just not paying close enough attention?
ReplyDeleteIf, I lived in a state that had voted in a dem, then that candidate changed parties,I would be s-o-o-o very upset and angry,I'd work like mad to get that candidate recalled, lose the next election and work for a state law that you(the candidate)at least give truth to your constitutes. What a lieing,cheating unethical way to do business for the people that voted for you. Although nothing surprises me when it comes from Alaska.
ReplyDeleteThis woman is in my district and I voted for her. Had I known she was going to switch to the Republican party, I never would have even considered her.
ReplyDeleteI'm one pissed off voter!! She should have declared this before we voted because she said she had been thinking about the switch for quite awhile. Is there a way to recall her? Just kidding - I'm sure there is not!
As far as I'm concerned she has moved to the corrupt party of Alaska and has lost every bit of integrity I thought she had!
Mark Begich has been acting like a Republican since he's been in Washington. No surprise if he officially switches.
ReplyDeleteI can assure you Senator Begich is staying a pro- business, pro-development Alaska Democrat. - Susanne Fleek-Green, State Director for Sentor Begich
ReplyDeleteGood to know.
DeleteThanks Susanne!