Alaska GOP party starts to clean up.

Politics: This is what I like to see, there needs to be more cleaning out of party members who are disruptive to the GOP nationwide.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A state Republican convention that could have unified a troubled party descended into infighting Friday, with the lieutenant governor announcing his intention to unseat a congressman and the governor calling for changes in GOP leadership. Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell said he would challenge U.S. Rep. Don Young, the 18-term incumbent who's the subject of a federal investigation that includes his campaign finance practices. "The days of unquestioning loyalty are gone," Parnell said a few hours later after filing candidacy paperwork. "It's time for principled leadership." Gov. Sarah Palin escorted Parnell into the Division of Elections office and immediately endorsed him over Young. She gave no thought to the protocol of an endorsement months before the August primary, she said. "When something's right, it's right," she said. "There's no time like the present to state your case and speak candidly about what you believe it. And I believe in his candidacy." Some lawmakers and party members characterize the turmoil as a healthy family spat, but other observers see it as symptomatic of bigger issues within the party. "The Republican brand has suffered from corruption issues," said John J. Pitney, a former researcher at the Republican National Committee who teaches government at Claremont McKenna College. "It's a major reason John McCain became the (GOP presidential) nominee. It's their best chance to remove the taint of corruption." The state's old guard has taken a shellacking of late. Three of the GOP's former state lawmakers have been convicted of bribery and two- thirds of the Alaska's congressional delegation is under federal investigation. Officials at the Republican National Committee refused to comment on Alaska's political strife, but Pitney said the committee is probably quietly encouraging the state's party to clean up its act, and soon.