LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

State's Transportation Plan Gets Federal OK
28 Mar 2024 15:06

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Federal officials on Wednesday approved most of Alaska’s four-y [ ... ]

New Funding Plan Ahead for Visit Sitka?
28 Mar 2024 15:02

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    At an hour-long work session with the Assembly Tuesda [ ... ]

Sitka 'Frankenstein' Puts Classic Tale in New Ligh...
28 Mar 2024 15:01

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    The story behind a classic, though often misunderstoo [ ... ]

State May Los Millions Over Ed Dept. Missteps
28 Mar 2024 14:59

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    The state government risks losing millions of dollars in feder [ ... ]

Gov Signs Bill On Internet In State Schools
28 Mar 2024 14:57

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday signed a bill that promise [ ... ]

Capitol Christmas Tree to Come from Tongass
28 Mar 2024 14:56

By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
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City League Games Thursday
28 Mar 2024 14:52

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing Wednesday in competitive division City League volleyball matches, Ca [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Police Blotter
28 Mar 2024 14:50

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 27
At 2:36 p.m. a dead  [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Community Happenings
28 Mar 2024 14:48

This Week in Girls on the Run By Sitkans Against Family Violence
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During th [ ... ]

New RFP Sought For Managing PAC
27 Mar 2024 14:48

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
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Seiners Get Second Day with 2 Areas to Fish
27 Mar 2024 14:46

By Sentinel Staff
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Braves Take Second in Last Minute Upset
27 Mar 2024 12:41

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
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Tuesday City League Volleyball
27 Mar 2024 12:39

By Sentinel Staff
    The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]

Kodiak Alutiiq Museum Getting New Attention
27 Mar 2024 12:37

By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
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House Hearing on Inmate Deaths Halted
27 Mar 2024 12:35

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in  [ ... ]

Nominee to Bering Sea Council: Not a Trawler
27 Mar 2024 12:34

By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
    Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Police Blotter
27 Mar 2024 12:26

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Community Happenings
27 Mar 2024 12:25

Big Rigs Sought
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The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]

Reassessments Raise Tax Bills for Sitkans
26 Mar 2024 15:22

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]

Two Areas Opened in Herring Fishery Today
26 Mar 2024 15:21

By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]

Lady Wolves Rally to Take Fourth at State
26 Mar 2024 15:16

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]

Edgecumbe Girls Close Out Season Up North
26 Mar 2024 14:58

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
    Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]

City League Monday
26 Mar 2024 14:55

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]

House Votes to Broaden Rules For Review Panel Memb...
26 Mar 2024 14:52

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday  [ ... ]

Other Articles

Daily Sitka Sentinel

The Election

The emergence of a popular TV showman as a viable, though unprincipled, candidate for U.S. president refutes our long-standing belief that democracy as practiced in this country has built-in protections against the election of a demagogue as commander-in-chief.

As it turns out, there are no such protections. By tapping into the deepest fears, insecurities and prejudices harbored by masses of Americans Donald J. Trump stands a chance of becoming president.

We find the alarming part of the situation is that he would not stand a chance of being elected without the assistance of voters who, despite this candidate’s vile utterances and demonstrated unfitness for high office, will fall in line behind him in the name of party solidarity.

The irony is that the party that these voters are defending stands to suffer even greater damage than Donald Trump has already recklessly inflicted during this year’s seemingly endless campaign.

The three members of Alaska’s Congressional delegation, all Republicans, have tacitly recognized this fact and have already bailed on supporting their party’s nominee. Nevertheless, Alaska is forecast as a “red” state in the upcoming election. If borne out in the results, this will do harm, in our opinion, to the image and reputation of a state whose people by and large, we feel, do not support what Donald Trump believes in.

A close examination of the trope about “two equally unpopular and unfit candidates” for president serves to demonstrate the falsity of the comparison.

Donald Trump is damned by his disdain for the rights and dignity of others, demonstrated by his conduct in business as well as by campaign statements that fly in the face of the values that most Americans hold dear.

The unpopularity of Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, can be attributed in large part to an unremitting 30-year campaign of vilification by such well-financed right-wing ideologues as Roger Ailes, and his cable news network that is the antithesis of “fair and balanced.”

We don’t need to compare Hillary Clinton with Donald Trump to reach our own conclusion that she is highly qualified to be president, and has earned her right to be elected. Any personal failings she may have, in our opinion, are insignificant considering the many fine qualities she has demonstrated over years of accomplishments while under the hostile scrutiny of her political enemies.

Other issues in this election:

We’ll give Lisa Murkowski and Don Young a bye, failing any showing that their continued service representing Alaska will cause undue harm to the state.

For Legislature, we point to the dedicated service of Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins the past four years, and his emergence as an influential player in the organization of the House as reasons he should be elected for a third term.

Bert Stedman has no opponent, but deserves our support for his willingness to make the hard judgments that so many of his fellow Republicans are failing to do in the Senate.

There are two Constitutional amendments on the ballot. They are uncontroversial, in our opinion, and both deserve to pass because they will make voting more accessible to more people and will take at least a small step to make college more affordable to more students.

 

 

 

 

 

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

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