Kathleen Parker is an "Independent" Horsepucky! She's like so many Alaskans who claim to be independents in order to pass themselves off as sophisticated voters. If the number of truly independent voters in the far north were even half of the total of all those registered as such, Don Young would not have held office for 43 straight years (and counting) and we wouldn't have a legislature dominated by conservative extremists. The "independent" voter in Alaska is one of the 49th state's biggest myths. (Apologies to those of you who are truly independent in your voting habits...I know there are a few of you out there).

In any case, Parker's claim is ridiculous. She has actively supported the republican party all her professional life. She's just trying to deflect responsibility for her party's long march to Trump; much the same way that republicans tried to avoid responsibility for 8 years of Bush by rebranding themselves the Tea Party.