If Donald Trump wins the presidency a second time, Gov. Mike Dunleavy has an exit strategy from the struggles of state government.

“I would not rule it out,” Dunleavy told reporter Nat Herz when asked about whether he would seek a job under Trump. Dunleavy said he hasn’t had “that conversation” with Trump.

In July he told Bloomberg TV, “If I were energy secretary, and we’re dreaming here for a moment . . .”

Asked by the reporter if he dreamed of being energy secretary, Dunleavy backtracked, “No, no, no, that was hypothetical. I’m just saying for the moment here . . . “

Would he take the top energy job if Trump offered it? he was asked.

“I’d have to have discussions with the president, but you know, I’m looking forward to working with the president, helping the president and moving this great country forward and Alaska forward.”

Dunleavy could have responded that he intends to fulfill his duties as governor and that he has no intention of quitting before his term ends in 2026.

“I would not rule it out,” is what a politician says when dreaming of an escape.

On October 2, Dunleavy attended a Texas fundraiser for Trump co-hosted by billionaire Jeff Hildebrand, the owner of Hilcorp, Herz wrote.

Dunleavy said he traveled to Texas to promote the gas pipeline, not to attend the Trump event. Pilgrimages to Texas seeking a gas pipeline miracle will never end.

The October 2 Trump fundraiser was a private event, the Houston Chronicle reported, during a Houston trip on which Trump held no public events.

“The Republican appears to have spent the night in Houston on Tuesday and attended a private fundraiser on Wednesday at Tilman Fertitta's Post Oak Hotel hosted by some of the biggest GOP donors in Texas, including Fertitta, health care executive Clive Fields and Jeff Hildebrand, founder of Hilcorp Energy Company,” the Chronicle reported October 4.

It’s been clear for a while now that Dunleavy is looking for his next job. While doing so, he has failed to perform his current job, preferring the act of making pronouncements to the difficult work of government leadership.

*****************************************

Meanwhile, the Guardian reported that during an August 10 fundraiser in Aspen organized by Hilcorp’s Jeff Hildebrand and others, Trump joked about the man who was killed by gunfire at the Trump rally in July.

"So they're going to get millions of dollars but the woman, the wife, this beautiful woman, I handed her the check—we handed her the check—and she said, 'This is so nice, and I appreciate it, but I'd much rather have my husband.' Now I know some of the women in this room wouldn't say the same," Trump said. "At least four couples here would have been thrilled, actually."

The crowd laughed.

Hildebrand and other members of the host committee had to pay $500,000 to be on the host committee, while it cost $25,000 just to get in the door.

“Trump cited a false example of 22 people he claimed had come to the US after being released from prison in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “We said, ‘Where do you come from?’ They said, ‘Prison’. ‘What did you do?’ ‘None of your fucking business what we did.’ You know why? Because they’re murderers,’” the Guardian reported, quoting Trump’s remarks to his wealthy Aspen audience.

“The dinner was held at the $38m home of the investors and art collectors John and Amy Phelan. Guests included the casino mogul Steve Wynn, billionaire businessman Thomas Peterffy, Texas governor Greg Abbott, Florida congressman Byron Donalds, Colorado congresswoman Lauren Boebert and former Colorado senator Cory Gardner.”

***********

Yes, Republican Nick Begich the Third did claim that Social Security is an unsustainable “Ponzi scheme” that is headed for collapse.

In doing so, he left himself wide open for attack ads from Rep. Mary Peltola saying he wants to cut Social Security. Will he “end Social Security as we know it,” as Peltola attack ads claim?

Without tax increases, benefit cuts or a combination of changes, Social Security will end in future decades.

Peltola is likely to support raising the income level subject to Social Security taxes and other increases to avoid benefit cuts. Begich is likely to oppose tax increases and support benefit cuts and an increase in the retirement age.

It is hardly original for Republican critics of Social Security to call the system a Ponzi scheme or to say they support “entitlement reform,” which means lower benefits and a higher retirement age.

The House Republican Study Committee, which Begich would probably join, has called for raising the retirement age and decreasing benefits by limiting increases for inflation.

Both Peltola and Begich say, of course, that they want to defend Social Security without specifying exactly how to pay for the increased costs. Or how to decrease costs.

The Alaska Beacon posted a story that claims that Begich was quoted out of context when he called Social Security a Ponzi scheme. He was not quoted out of context.

Begich the Third is using that story as vindication, claiming he does not want to end Social Security as we know it. No one wants to end Social Security as we know it.

“Begich’s criticism was with the way Social Security is funded, not the benefits the program pays,” the Beacon story claimed.

The way the system is funded is inherently tied to the benefits the program pays.

Your contributions help support independent analysis and political commentary by Alaska reporter and author Dermot Cole. Thank you for reading and for your support. Either click here to use PayPal or send checks to: Dermot Cole, Box 10673, Fairbanks, AK 99710-0673.

Write me at dermotmcole@gmail.com.