Liz Goodwin’s Dec. 11 piece on Sen. Tommy “Coach” Tuberville’s stalling military promotions described how Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan watched helplessly from the sidelines as “Coach” Tuberville ran his scrimmage while hurting our military officers and their families. Then, in a breathtaking feat of statesmanship, Sen. Sullivan bravely but quietly back-channeled with Democrats — something Rep. Mary Peltola and Sen. Lisa Murkowski routinely do publicly because it’s their job. Dan is beholden to the same boss as “Coach,” though, so he had to sneak around.
The “ideological hold” was never about abortion. It was a scrimmage using the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 playbook that autocratically concentrates political power by dismantling traditional checks and balances. The plan would bring despotic change to the entire government,especially economic and social policies and the role of the federal government and federal agencies. In addition to slashing Department of Justice funding, dismantling the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, and eliminating cabinet departments — Education and Commerce — it’s quite possible Team Trump would take even more drastic action against their perceived enemies.
It was only preseason — the real game starts next year. Sen. Sullivan needs to choose between staying beholden to his current boss or rejecting autocratic retribution and joining Alaskans in building bipartisan trust and empathy.
— Chris Wooley
Big Lake
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