Power continues to corrupt in Alaska

Republicans in Alaska's state House decided finally not to force fellow GOPers to sign a pledge to ignore their values and constituents and vote straight Republican, and for that we were thankful.

Well, over the weekend, perhaps as a backlash, moderate Republicans joined with Democrats to form a new majority and seize control of the state House. Other Republicans reacted predictably to shut down bipartisanship and attempted to regain control:

Legislators who had called each other friend just days before were now describing each other as liars and power-hungry turncoats. Both factions claimed to have enough support to rule the state House.

Harris and his supporters were calling up Republican legislators and telling them to abandon the Saturday rebellion that created the new bipartisan coalition reinstalling the previous speaker, Eagle River Republican Rep. Pete Kott.

Quite a coup if it holds.

*UPDATE* Looks like it didn't hold:

Republican caucus leaders on Monday said they had reclaimed the House majority after a weekend of marathon phoning persuaded some lawmakers - who had defected to a bipartisan coalition - to return to the fold.

Rep. John Harris of Valdez, who was named House speaker earlier this month by the caucus, said the caucus has shored up commitments from at least 26 members and could have 28 by the end of the day.