There's sanity in Alaska politics after all

Old news on the blogosphere by now, but I'm doing a little happy dance anyway: Mr. Wayne Anthony Ross's nomination for attorney general by Ms. Sarah Palin was soundly rejected today (35 agin, 23 fer). I am, however, utterly astounded that as many as twenty-three members of the legislature thought Ross was sufficiently sober and appropriate to be confirmed. They would be:

John Cohill, R-North Pole (of course!)

Nancy Dahlstrom, R-Anchorage

Anna Fairclough, R-Eagle River (are you surprised?)

Carl Gatto, R-Palmer (nah--not him!)

John Harris, R-Valdez

Mike Hawker, R-Anchorage

Carl Johnson, R-Anchorage

Wes Keller, R-Wasilla (ah, yes, Mr. Wingnut. No surprises there.)

Mike Kelly, R-Fairbanks (I recall some real silliness from Kelly, but I would have thought he'd have more respect for the law. Well, maybe not.)

Bob Lynn, R-Anchorage

Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage

Cathy Munoz, R-Juneau

Mark Neuman, R-Wasilla

Kurt Olson, R-Soldotna

Jay Ramras, R-Fairbanks (Jay! Come ON! I thought you had more sense!)

Bill Stoltze, R-Eagle River

Con Bunde, R-Anchorage (This man's reputation extends statewide, which is too bad.)

Fred Dyson, R-Eagle River

Charlie Huggins, R-Wasilla

Lesil McGuire, R-Anchorage

Linda Menard, R-Wasilla

Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage

Gene Therriault, R-North Pole (Another one who shows sense from time to time, but still, I remain unshocked that he voted this way.)

So there you have it. The list of people who don't seem to get that when a nominee starts out with an agenda, this is bad; that when the nominee isn't too concerned about what's legal, this is bad; that when the nominee is blatantly bigoted against a group of citizens, that this is bad; that when the nominee has no concern for the needs and legal issues of half the state, this is also bad; that when the nominee is not just colorful, he's insensitive and rude, that's bad. These are politicians who don't have good judgement, I'd say. Apparently the overriding factor for them was that they felt they Must Show Party Loyalty. This seems to be the general pattern for Republicans in recent years: Party Solidarity Above All, and to hell with the country or what's good for the state or the people or the Rule of Law.

Go figure.

Watch them carefully. Look at their records. Decide for yourself. I intend to keep a sharper eye on them than I have been.