Will Olympia Snowe Bolt the GOP?
It would be understandable for those who closely follow politics to have missed Republican Senator Olympia Snowe’s comments on health care a couple of days ago.
The second week of September was an unusually big week for partisan politics (and that’s saying something in this day and age). Commentators on both sides of the divide sparred bitterly over the crowd estimates for the massive 9/12 Taxpayer March on the National Mall. In addition, the drip, drip, drip of scandalous revelations surrounding the ACORN “prostitution sting” further strained the lengths of recent political polarization. And as the weekend neared, allegations of racist opposition to President Barack Obama’s policies — aired by former President Jimmy Carter, no less — had further dashed the longstanding hopes for bipartisan cooperation that followed Barack Obama’s inauguration in January.
Given all that, Senator Snowe’s mid-week remarks on her place in a changing GOP might seem tame. Snowe, a moderate Republican and senior senator from Maine, stated that “I haven’t changed as a Republican, I think more that my party has changed.” The comments came in an interview with John Harwood on CNBC. Citing the full quotation might be a useful background for the analysis that follows. Asked why she was a Republican, she answered:
Well, you know, it’s — I’ve always been a Republican for the traditional principles that have been associated with the Republican Party since I, you know, became a Republican when I registered to vote. And that is limited, you know, limited government, individual opportunities, fiscal responsibility, and a strong national defense. So I think that those principles have always been a part of the Republican Party heritage, and I believe that I, you know, reflect those views. And I haven’t changed as a Republican, I think more that my party has changed.
The context for Snowe’s partisan affirmation is her target as a potential — and crucial — GOP vote for the president’s ObamaCare legislation. Snowe has been on record as opposing the “public option” provision that would create a government-sponsored insurance “exchange” to compete with private companies. (On the left, some hope that a “robust” public option will eventually form a “single-payer” nationalized system of universal health care). In fact, the public option has become the face of “socialized medicine” for conservatives throughout the year. And, as the administration has essentially squandered its political capital on a measure that’s ostensibly marginal to its oft-stated claims of lowering costs, increasing efficiency, and guaranteeing affordability, the defeat of health care reform has remained a not improbable outcome these last few months.
But in the last couple of weeks a new proposal by Senator Max Baucus of Montana has rekindled Democratic prospects for the passage of landmark legislation. The Baucus bill drops the public option but mandates that all Americans purchase health insurance coverage. The measure also would prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage to those with a pre-existing condition. A number of top senators oppose the Baucus measure (Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Ron Wyden of Oregon, etc.), but Senator Snowe has been sympathetic. And as a key member of Baucus’ Senate Finance Committee, many are looking to Snowe as the one GOP vote needed to pry the legislation out of committee.
And that’s the problem. It turns out that Senator Snowe is coming under intense pressure from the Senate GOP caucus to vote against the Democrats on health care. As Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller was quoted with regards to Senator Snowe’s vote:
I think the world of Olympia Snowe. She’s got incredible courage, and the Republican leadership is brutal in the way they apply pressure. Much more so than the Democrats. …
They bring the hammer down on her, and I’m not going to say how. She’s very strong, and she represents a very rural state that has gone blue. So I don’t know what she’s going to do, and I’ll respect her whatever she does.
Rockefeller is hush-hush on the “hammer” he refers to, but Snowe will stand for reelection in 2012, a presidential election year (and referendum on the Obama administration). It’s likely that Snowe is hearing whispers of a possible GOP primary challenge (as is suggested here); and recall that when Pennsylvania’s Pat Toomey was pegged as increasingly likely to pick off Senator Arlen Specter in the state’s GOP primary next year, the latter left the GOP to caucus with the Democrats.
It is thus a dangerous environment for moderate Republicans thinking about bucking the party orthodoxy. Snowe’s case signals the long secular decline of “Rockefeller Republicans” in American politics. These GOP moderates took their name from former New York Governor Nelson Rockfeller, who led the “liberal wing” of the GOP until 1964, when the “Rockefeller Republican” brand was vanquished by the conservative ascendancy in Barry Goldwater’s presidential nomination. With the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, the moderate wing of the GOP became increasingly marginalized. As of 2008, congressional Republicans faced near extinction in the Northeast. As Ronald Brownstein noted at the time of Senator Specter’s defection to the Democrats:
In 1988, George H.W. Bush won eight of the 11 states from Maryland to Maine. Even as recently as 2000, Republicans won 40 percent of the House seats and held eight of the 22 Senate seats from those states. But amid the younger Bush’s polarizing, Southern-inflected conservatism, Northeastern Republicans fell through the floorboards: They now hold only 18 percent of the region’s House seats and, since Specter’s switch, just three of its 22 Senate seats.
It will be interesting to see how things play out for Senator Snowe and the Democratic health care bill. If Snowe toes the line with the GOP caucus, Democrats will fall short of the 60 votes they’ll need to avoid the filibuster. In that case, the party will likely attempt to pass the bill using the reconciliation process, which will look like parliamentary strong-arm tactics. The victory will be precarious and will provide volatile campaign fodder in upcoming elections.
Events will likely provide a turning-point for Snowe no matter what happens. As a social moderate who favors choice on abortion, gun control, and same-sex marriage, she voted against the Bush tax cuts in 2003 and for the Obama stimulus in 2009. That’s not the kind of record that fires up the GOP base or the tea party activists who have led the resurgence of libertarianism all year.
As Rob at Say Anything noted with regard to Senator Snowe’s suggestion that she hadn’t “changed as a Republican”:
Is the GOP leaving Snowe behind? I hope so. Snowe represents big-government Republicanism. Snowe represents finger-in-the-wind Republicanism the adherents of which do whatever they think is necessary to cling to power instead of sticking to principle.
Snowe hasn’t limited government or promoted fiscal responsibility while in office, and neither have many of her fellow Republicans which is why their party isn’t in power any more. If the GOP wants back into power they have to leave people like Snowe behind.
No doubt someone is going to be left behind. And given the examples of increasing ideological polarization we’ve seen this month, it’s likely that potential attacks on Snowe as “RINO” may well force her to leave the party, bowing to the increasingly monochromatic ideology of today’s GOP.
Get her out of the party. She’s about as worthless as Arlen Spector. There is no hope for the Republican Party as long as it is full of Dem-lites like Snowe.
A bit of perspective, please.
“It is thus a dangerous environment for moderate Republicans thinking about bucking the party orthodoxy. Snowe’s case signals the long secular decline of “Rockefeller Republicans” in American politics. These GOP moderates took their name from former New York Governor Nelson Rockfeller, who led the “liberal wing” of the GOP until 1964, when the “Rockefeller Republican” brand was vanquished by the conservative ascendancy in Barry Goldwater’s presidential nomination.”
That would be GOP RINOs being “vanquished” also after
16 years of FDR,
4 years of Truman,
3-4 years of Kennedy, and
4 years of Johnson.
And that’s supposed to be a reason to support/coddle Snowe?!
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
*My* only concern would be tactical, as in: number of Representatives….
Maybe she’s waiting to see how it all plays out for Arlen Specter before she switches?
As long as Olympia Snowe considers the Country club, Rockefeller wing of the Republicsns to be, in perpetuity, the leadership of the Republican Party, then she would say these things.
I will help pack her bags, and I add this: don’t let the door and gate hit you on the way out.
If there is any justice in this world she will!
“” Will Olympia Snowe Bolt the GOP? “”
We may only so pray and trust!
I am sure she is just waiting to see what her bonus check will be before leaving.
Is there an honest one in the bunch?
Olympia Snowe, like Minnesotans before the entitlement crowd from other states (poor whites and disabled included) took up their invitation and flooded their cities, is a Cold-Country Socialist — like the Swedes.
But like Swedes, scratch a Mainer and you’ll find a Nazi. She just doesn’t know, it the poor imbecile.
She’s Dagney Taggart before Galt taught her a lesson in the train tunnel. (Olympia Snowe?? Gawd, just think of it!)
GOOD! This is the best news I’ve heard since Ted “the Swimmer” Kennedy kicked the bucket.
If Conservatives are going to recapture government, we have to start with recapturing the Republican Party. It was the RINO’s that allowed the ‘Culture of Corruption’ to spread under the Republican nameplate.
Get rid of the RINO’s and get rid of the corruption. Get rid of the corruption and gain the White House and Congress.
KISS maens “Keep It Simple, Stupid”. It is a basic principle of engineering.
Steele needs to lay down the Law on this and I’m not sure he is the right guy for it.
As a helpful hint, Have Republican candidates sign a contract saying when they leave office, they will not have a penny more in wealth then when they entered public office. If they won’t sign the pledge and provide full disclosure of their net wealth, then make them run as Democrats. A big tent shouldn’t be full of crooks, which is how it is today.
My second idea is to put a web-csa in EVERY Republican’s office. Keep them going 24/7. Let the voters watch as their ELECTED officials wheel and deal with the voters money.
This is an appearance thingie since the wheeling and dealing is actually done outside the office. Sansuci’s, the Press Club, Burning Tree, or that little hole in the wall on 15th street just over from the WaPo.
The Old Soviet Embassy was right behind the Post and they had that little hole in the wall eatery wired like a pinball machine.
I sure hope she does. She’s thoughtful and intelligent, and thus, might be well received outside the Republican party. Unlike a lot of her party mates, she is more interested in getting things done and influencing them with her personal beliefs than she is in topedoing everything that the Democrats are championing.
Northeast Republicans seem to be socially liberal and fiscally conservative, a combination which I can support as a liberal. The party, however, has lurched toward a radical social/religious agenda for years, alienating thoughtful folks who understand the Constitution, and who support it.
She’s the latest right-centrist to feel the urge to leave, and really, you have to ask yourself why these folks are leaving? Regaining political influence is done by recruiting people to your cause, not by further polarizing the population. Maybe a move toward the center would be a better approach? Drop the religion. Drop the absolutist positions on the free market. Drop the resistance to change and adapt to the need to address new developments in the world. Drop the anti-science kneejerk crap that the last administration demonstrated so conclusively. Drop the need to support every bad Wall Street characteristic in the book. Maybe we’ll listen to your political ideas once you quit screaming them and start reasoning.
Come on over, Olympia.
limited government, individual opportunities, fiscal responsibility, and a strong national defense
Where is her track record to back up those Republican principles?
limited government
Absolutely Nope
individual opportunities
Niet
fiscal responsibility
A big fat Nada
a strong national defense
(Don’t know, I’ll need to check it up.)
Snowe voted for multi-trillion dollar pork barrel, earmark filled federal deficit spending. So how can Snowe credibly claim that the GOP left her when she left her senses and the historic commitment of the Republican Party to fiscal responsibility?
It’s about time. Let’s hope she takes Collins with her. Specter, Snowe, Collins and maybe two others are not losses for Republicans. None of them were true Republicans.
Pertaining to the second comment, the hell with numbers. They will change in 2010. Unfortunately we must live with the incompetent one in the White House and the democrat majorities.
This is more tricky than it appears. A RINO still votes with their nominal party for the majority control of the legislative bodies. If they are the swing vote, and they change from R to D (or the reverse) the whole constellation of all the committee chairmanships changes. The chairmanships determine and move legislation. They frame the agenda of the bodies. Thus purifying the party could have the effect of keeping Nancy Palosi and Harry Reid (and Barney Frank, and …) in power.
Seniority is a powerful part of the process, as it determines who is chairman of the committees, etc.. Fifteen years of seniority should not be needlessly squandered.
It is therefore ill advised to simply dismiss the unorthodox and drive them into the arms of the opposition. Better to win them over to party orthodoxy by persuasion. After all, principles are more persuasive than force.
Example in point, Bush’s loss of Jim Jeffers in ’00 by trying to strong-arm him into orthodoxy. The perceived slight damaged Bush’s ability to drive legislation for the remainder of his term of office.
I believe conservative ideals are more powerful, more proven and more in the ascendancy than socialist ideas. Experienced politicians will be aware of this and adjust their positions in response to the trend. I think I see this in Snowe’s changing voting behavior (moving from pro-stimulus to against ObmanaCare). She is no longer a reliable leftist vote and will likely keep moving as times change. Lets win her heart to the true orthodox constitutional principles that she swore to uphold in her oath of office.
Senator Snowe has moved away from the GOP; she has already left the reservation in all but name. She is a female version of Arlen Specter which is not saying much.
Ha ha! A replay of the Spector sessions. What a joke!
A RINO playing the victim card, what a hoot! Senator Snowe, go take a hike, please, to the other side of the aisle.
While I’m sympathetic to the conservative arguments that Snowe and Collins “gotta go,” I wonder where will it stop?
After the conservatives have succeeded at kicking out all the moderates from the GOP, will they then turn their attentions against us libertarian Republicans?
“Oh, you know that Dana Rohrabacher supporters marijuana legalization, let’s get rid of him too.”
“And that crazy Jeff Flake of AZ, he just never toes the Party line…”
The GOP has three wings, always had, always will: Moderates, Conservative, and Libertarian.
My conservative buddies need to understand that we libertarians actually agree with the mods on some social issues, even Olympia. If you kick them out of the Party, are we next?
Eric Dondero, Publisher
Libertarian Republican
History:
During the first weeks of 2000, Sen. Jim Jeffers was snubbed by the White House because he would’t vote with Bush 100%. He wasn’t invited to the ceremony honoring Teacher of the Year who happened to be from Vermont. This infuriated Jeffers enough to cause him to switch parties to independent and give control back to the Dems.
She says that the Republican Party move away from her, well I doubt she even knows the Republican Party principle. I fact I doubt that 9o% of the elected Republicans know it. Once elected they become RINO’s, and believe government is all seeing an all knowing. Most of the time we vote for them because alterative is worse.
If she is going to be a Democrat let her, at least that will get her off of Republican committees.
Soon the two party split will be almost totally geographical…red state, blue state, in the Congress and presidential elections.
Reminds me of the realignment in the mid 1850s after the Kansas-Nebraska Act was foisted on an unwilling public by Stephan Douglas so he could build a transcontinental railroad.
That act messed with people’s everyday lives…slavery suddenly became possible through court edict in all states…as Lincoln pointed out.
This healthcare thing messes with people’s lives too…Douglas got his railroad but brought on the Civil War.
We’ll see what happens this time.
Mr. Dondero, I am surprised you adopt the librul-speak term “moderate Republican” as applied to Snowe. She is not a moderate Republican. Her voting record shows her to be a moderate Democrat, a role she is playing again to have some fun with Obama, Dean, Steele and conservatives. Girls just like to have fun, at least this one does.
I have long refused to provide financial support to The Republican Party to be distributed to whomever it pleases. Instead, I support The Club For Growth and individual candidates. I have refused to give to the party largely because of chameleons like Spector who is a pompous ass. I think both of the ladies from Maine voted for the Porkulous. They allowed themselves to be sandbagged into rushing through a corrupt and wasteful monstrosity. I really don’t mind their stance on women’s issues at all, but both seem utterly clueless in the realm of ecomomics. Bottom line, they are both big government spenders.
I must say Snowe seems lovely, almost regal, while Collins impresses me a a very likable sweetie, although she sometimes seems to be talking baby talk.
The bigger question is who is Maine? The boilermakers at Bath Iron Works so proud of the Navy ships they build? The blue bloods in their summer homes hoping a little income redistribution will not harm their enormous trusts? The unemployed guys who worked in the lumber yards?
Who is Maine?
Why would Snowe jump? Her being in the Republican Party more or less completely scuppers Republicans in Maine. She runs the state party and has enormous power. They crush anyone not on their “wavelength”. This is especially the case if she is watching Specter’s experience.
This article is missing a vital element of the whole question of switching parties: the fact that party switching has never had a high rate of success. After an initial wave of excitement/consternation (depending on your perspective), those switching often don’t win re-election. In the case of Spector, he’s been completely marginalized in his committees, losing any power he once held as a much more senior member of the Senate (albeit in the minority party). He’s been forced to become a kind of pathetic caricature of a liberal Senator, when his record is solidly moderate. The result? Liberal and conservative voters are bound to reject him in favor of something more idealogically pure. Surprise! Liberals do this too, not just Republicans.
I am quite sure that Snowe is observing the political winds and especially the experiences of Senator Spector. If the political winds are blowing in the direction of the GOP and Spector gets picked off by a ideologically pure Democrat primary challenger, I would think it unlikely that she’d surrender her party affiliation.
Oh, in addition, I do think Snowe does enjoy her position not unlike Justice Kennedy, our kingmaker in the SCOTUS. Snowe is heavily courted on all of the partisan Democrat bills, given deference, and has concessions made according to her preferences. If she changes her party affiliation, this enviable position goes away, and she becomes just another Democrat who is expected to vote lock-step, lest a more idealogically pure candidate come along.
I could be completely wrong, but there is a considerable argument against the prospect of a Democrat Senator Snowe.
“I, you know, became a Republican when I registered to vote. And that is limited, you know, limited government” – Olympia Snowe
And so she will join the party of Huge Government Nanny statism, lets run our citizens lives from Cradle to Grave?
“My conservative buddies need to understand that we libertarians actually agree with the mods on some social issues, even Olympia. If you kick them out of the Party, are we next?” -Eric Dondero,Libertarian Republican
No one is “kicking” these “moderates” out. They are quitting the GOP because they don’t like conservatives anymore and joining with Big Government Socialist Democrats by repudiating and abandoning their alleged limited government principles. THEY are abandoning their “big tent” to join the narrow ideas of the Dems, who are pushing socialism.
There is even less room in the party of slavery for moderates vestigial conservative views of limited government. Olympia Snowe is very confused if she thinks she will find any support of limited government with the Dems. Or she is not really an advocate for limited government at all and is merely using conservatives as an excuse to fly her socialist freak flag. Or maybe she wants the good press and cocktail party invites that will flow when she abandons the GOP?
There is no position supported by the current Democrat party platform that squares with libertarianism, unless you count abortion. Add it up; they are just as bad or worse on the war on drugs, personal liberty, property rights etc.
Snowe is the Mother of All RINOs (Republicans in name only) and really needs to find another party, just like Arlan Spector. As a loyal Republican she’s really worthless and at best she can be seen as an Independent. Nobody in the Republican caucus should ever count on her vote and what makes her even more despicable is that she’ll use the party to get elected in a marginally conservative state like Maine, but when the chips are down she can be counted on to vote like a democrat. If I was Michael Steele I would stop all Rupublican National Committee funds from ever being spent on her re-election campaign. If she wants to vote like a democrat and act like a democrat, she should have to stones to BECOME a democrat and try to “out-liberal” the people who make it an art form, the Democratic party. And if Snowe decides to leave the party, I hope she takes a look at how much luck Arlan Spector is having in doing that.
It seems a bit strange that people want to get rid of people who are willing to be identified as Republicans.
It’s a bit like being on a sinking ship and saying the boat needs more holes.
Yes, yes — today’s far left neo-Marxist Democrat Party is far more in line with the GOP of yesterday that Snowe pines for than is the hyper-moderated GOP of today that is nothing but a total squish on anything of consequence.
Anyone who is so delusional as to believe that needs to go.
Does it matter? Democrat. Republican. They all make a full time job out of thinking up new laws to control the masses in every way possible.
We need a new party. A party of black and whites and browns who really do believe in free markets and personal responsibility.
It galls me that Teddy Kennedy and just about every Democrat I know (which is pretty much everybody here in my neck of the woods) loves minimum wage but hires illegals to do the lawn work and the house painting. Stifle and smother American business every day all day long and then go for the cheap labor.
Senator Snowe is like that. You can’t, absolutely can’t, believe in these things, “And that is limited, you know, limited government, individual opportunities, fiscal responsibility, and a strong national defense.” and vote the way she does. Are the people of Maine paying attention? Has she bamboozled them with that kind of rheotoric? Geez louise.
We need a new party, and we need it fast.
Olympia Snowe and all “Rockefeller” Republicans are just younger dumber Harold Stassens. Check out that guys career.
Well, Mr. Dondero, as a conservative, I’m all too happy to have moderate Republicans in the Republican party. I just wish that they would adhere to Republican principles on occasion, like not voting for the $787 billion stimulus plan, Cap-and-Trade, ObamaCare, etc.
I can tolerate the moderate Republicans who stray from the party line on the most important issues 20% to 30% of the time; I cannot and will not support those who stray more than 70% of the time and Olympia Snowe is now at this point, IMO.
TERM LIMITS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SGT Ted, serious question here.
You say they’re leaving cause they “don’t like conservatives any more…” Maybe? But conservatives are only one of the three wings of the GOP.
They may very well still like us libertarian Republicans.
Libertarians are the bridge between the gap, between social moderates and conservatives.
Most of us libertarians, like the moderates, are Pro-Choice. We’re also cool with Gays (though not necessarily Gay Marriage), and support Marijuana legalization.
I read an an article once featuring one of Olympia’s top Senate Staffers. I believe it was in The Hill. The lady was a self-described “libertarian.”
It’s like this:
Conservatives and Libertarians agree on the economic side. Moderates and Libertarians agree mostly on the social side.
It’s three wings, working together. We lose any one of those three wings, and we’re cooked.
The voters of Maine need to speak up.. If they like Olympia’s views and she is doing what they want..fine, if not…dump her. We can cry all we want to ..it doesn’t matter. Maine put her there, only Maine will take her out.
HOWEVER!, She received 74% of the vote in her home state. She’s obviously very popular. Maybe she should go Independent.
Again,as long as the people of her state don’t mind..there is nothing anyone can do. She is going to vote as she pleases,for or against repub positions, and only her home voters can determine if she has overstepped her position.
BUT!!People like Spector etc should be kicked out. Olympia has yet to make a decision like his. Again, Spector’s voters need to take him out. And it should be illegal for an elected official to change their affiliation without the voters at home having a say in the process.
I don’t’ know that Republicans are taking a completely narrow view…I do believe they have standards and don’t want to compromise American value. Values America was built on. If we wanted socialism, we would have embraced it long ago. BUT, they do need to realize not everyone is Chrisitan, not everyone is totally against abortion, no everyone likes being looked down on by politicians.
could it be she is an
independent thinker? just
not leaning republican on
every issue.
Four “you knows” in the quote attributed to her. Pathetic!
Dorothy: The broom! May we have it?
Captain of the Winkie Guard: [hands Dorothy the broomstick] Please. And take it with you.
The sooner we purge the RINOs the better. Purge away.
Eric Dondero said:
“Libertarians are the bridge between the gap, between social moderates and conservatives.”
This, I believe, is not entirely true. There are two fundamental breeds of centrism: big government paternalism and small government libertarianism.
Olympia Snowe and Arlen Specter are centrists of the worst kind. Their voting behavior is the polar opposite of libertarianism.
Your suggestion is that the “moderates” are the key to sustaining a limited government perspective. As far as I am concerned, it is the “moderates” in Congress and the Senate that are the worst abusers. Principled progressives can be very good on civil rights issues, drug issues, etc. Republicans can be very good on economic issues and property rights.
However, the implication Snowe and Specter are better than the Republican party on either of these issues is ridiculous. They are the worst of both worlds. Being libertarian doesn’t equate with being moderate; it’s entirely possible to mix and match the worst policies from both sides.
Is it really ethical to switch parties after being elected as Republican or a Democrat. Switching parties during the term for which a candidated was elected should be illegal. They should finish out the term with the party they belonged to when elected. If they wish to switch they should have to wait until their term is completed or be forced to resign. Senators and Representativew were elected to represent the will of the people who put them in office. If they ran as a Republican or a Democrat and feel that they can no longer uphold the values or ideas of that party then they must resign or perhaps not vote at all.
I have to agree with most of the above comments on this one. Olympia Snowe, and most of the Northeast and the far west, California side should leave the Republican party. Arnie Schwarzenegar and Snowe and the rest of the “educated progressive” wing of the party is now ignored. Republicans have been dominated by big oil, religious and multi national corporate banking wings now for years. The republican party no longer actively supports environmental concerns, health care reform or human rights. The types of issues that their party progressives know once made their party relevent. Hence, folks like Snowe, Arnie, Collins should join the thousands from both ends of the of the country and join them…that have now joined up with democrats, where they would be welcomed. Republicans can keep the deep south and their near western sprinkling of support.
“limited government, individual opportunities, fiscal responsibility, and a strong national defense.”
In what sense do Obama’s Democrats embody any of that?
If Olympia Snowe would live up to her own rhetoric Republicans would be very happy to call her one of their own.
I find unbelievable the fact that while a socialist-fascist regime is being built in this country someone can write a sentence like this:
“the increasingly monochromatic ideology of today’s GOP”
The only MONOCHROMATIC thing today is the red flag in the hands of the commies leading America into totalitarianism.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
The Republican party has been taken over by the Teabaggers, Birthers, Deathers, Town Hall Screamers, fundies, and other wingnuts. Its leaders are idiots such as Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, and Joe the Plumber. Snowe is much too intelligent to be a Republican. I wouldn’t be surprised if she goes independent.
The Republican party has been taken over by the Teabaggers, Birthers, Deathers, Town Hall Screamers, fundies, and other wingnuts. Its leaders are idiots such as Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, and Joe the Plumber. Snowe is much too intelligent to be a Republican. I wouldn’t be surprised if she goes independent.
Good riddance to all RINOs. The sooner we’ve purged every last one, the better!
Hey Cathy #48, those “Town Hall Screamers” that you so “happily” mentioned were the only people standing in between our “fearless” leader, Mr. Obama, and total bankruptcy. Obama is a rank socialist of the European mold and he will stop at nothing, absolutely nothing, to turn us into France or England, countries where there is no economic growth, high unemployment, gigantic taxes, and a military that’s all but a joke. Even the Russians don’t take the Europeans seriously anymore when it comes to military matters. And those “Teabaggers,” as you so scornfully call them, were the only patriots left in this country able to draw national attention to the criminal spending that’s going on in Washington. If you ARE an American, you should get down on your knees every day and thank GOD that this country can still produce people that are willing to stand up, be counted, and stop this country from sliding into the pathetic morass that is European Socialism. You should be ashamed at yourself for denigrating people who just want to bring some common sense to Washington, unless you’re one of those people who leach off of the Federal Government and are happy to let things stay as they are (an ACORN worker does come to mind). You’re right, though, when it comes to Snowe. She probably will become an independent. She still has enough sense NOT to become a Democrat. She may be crazy, but she’s not stupid!
And comment #48 is just one example of the MONOCHROMATIC radical-nihilist-socialist and fascistic pseudo-culture that infests ALL our public high-schools, all the universities, all the media.
Yeah, sure, Sarah Palin is an idiot, and YOU could become governor of any state any day, and do as much for your People as she did.
Believe it.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
PS All these trolls couldn’t even do what Joe the Plumber as a daytime job !!!
Forgot DOES in the last sentence …
Who cares about snow, what we need is to find, and fund, a real conservative/libertarian to replace here with. Same for McLaim in Arizona.
She can not claim to be for limited government and vote the way she has voted. She is a hypocrite at best. Check the voting record.
Regarding a monochromatic ideology, is that not what the Democratic Party has? If not, then name the conservative democrat who is bucking the party in the Senate. Please, I’m tired of hearing how the GOP needs more democrats in it so it can succeed.
To Olympia: “YOU LIE!!!”
Look, the woman has been drifting to the left for years. She talks about limited government then votes for big government much of her life. Then acts surprised when the national GOP sends out whispers of a primary challenger?
Libertarians and Conservatives don’t need her leftism anymore. What is really funny is that it is not like she is being FORCED to vote for the Baucus plan.
She is left of center and believes in more government. THAT is her problem.
“…limited government, individual opportunities, fiscal responsibility…”
If that statement is true, then she should feel comfortable in the Republican Party.
Well, we’re about to find out if this belief statement is meaningful. There isn’t a much better defined discriminator than the pending health care legislation. We’re all going to have a ring-side seat to what she does next.
Olympia gets voted in by the people of Maine, and only they can take her out.
Put a good candidate up against her and some money in the state…she did win by 74% in the last election. Could be a fight…bring up her “left” leanings. She’s like Specter….
Term limits are ideal but will never happen. Why would the guys that make the laws pass a law that would knock them out of a job..BECAUSE that would take ethics and a concern for America, something that seems to be lacking in Washington.
THIS IS ONE OF TH EONLY THINGS HER VOTERS WILL PAY ATTENTION TO….
“September 17, 2009, Washington, D.C. -
U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) today announced that $4.3 million in federal funding for projects in Maine has been included in the fiscal year (FY) 2010 Transportation and Housing and Urban Development spending bill, which passed the Senate today by a vote of 73 to 25. “
My heart bleeds for Olympia’s plight….NOT.
Poor Cathy (#48) is on the “call everyone names and hope to look superior” bandwagon. Sorry Cathy, that train left a LONG time ago when Obama’s poll numbers started speaking louder than dimwits like you. Please continue on with your tirade though. We wouldn’t expect any less from a liberal who must surely be suicidal from seeing The One now floundering around like a garage sale version of Jimmy Carter.
@47. Sherab Zangpo: – I find unbelievable the fact that while a socialist-fascist regime is being built in this country someone can write a sentence like this:
“the increasingly monochromatic ideology of today’s GOP”
SZ, you took the words right outta my keyboard! That stupid line had to be the most tone-deaf thing I’ve read all week.
The GOP is MONOCHROMATIC!?!???!11!! Give me an effing break. If the GOP got any more purple they’d match the color of the Joker-in-Chief’s dinner jacket.
Snowe is perfectly emblematic of what has caused the GOP’s failure – she lies about advocating limited government, fiscal responsibility, etc., and then legislates in line with the rest of the RINOs or the Dem politburo. God forbid we should actually see some Republicans who actually understand the definition of Republic, advocate for the letter of the Constitution and get this federal government back to serving the People as they’re supposed to.
Mr Dondero,
Olympia Snowes votes don’t square with her talk of limited government. I myself am more of a libertarian sided guy. The current Democrat party is leftist. I don’t see how anyone could honestly claim to be for limiteed government and then procede to vote with the current Democrat platform and policies. They are socialist ideas, not moderate. Sen Snowe isn’t a libertarian, thats for sure.
I am finding more and more people describing themselves as moderates simply to avoid having to call themselves socialists, which is what alot of them are, based on what they support. Also, being a conservative does NOT always mean soc-con exclusively. Moderates would do well to remember that.
Add a little heat to the Snowe & all you get is rain.
“Most of us libertarians, like the moderates, are Pro-Choice. We’re also cool with Gays (though not necessarily Gay Marriage), and support Marijuana legalization.”
Translated into English, that means “Most of us Libertarians are living with our Mothers, playing computer games, tuning in to computer porn, and wishing we could legally smoke dope and get hookers too, so we wouldnt’ have to deal with real people.”
Yep, real Captains of Industry, these.
All the Rinos that voted for the porkulous are going to be in trouble when it comes out how damaging and wasteful that spending and debt was to the Nation and the economy. I am sure Ms. Snowe is feeling a tad unsure of her “moderate” self since she voted a billion for ACORN in Porkulous after being warned by her party to cool her jets. Funding a criminal organization like ACORN to the tune of a billion dollars…how moderate of the fruit cake. She’s so moderate she even voted for that massive spending bill and debt burden written by Marxists before reading it and while revenues are dropping like a rock. Is moderate terminally stupid?
When the increased taxation comes on top of the massive waste and corruption of that non-jobs program, the “moderate” oldster is going to have to explain that to the rising taxes and unemployment in her State. How about the brilliance of Ms. Moderate’s “cash for clunkers” program?
That is why Snow is feeling uncomfortable. She acts on her emotions first and lives to regret her terminal stupidity when the truth comes out later. She will feel under attack by Republicans because they are the ones who are going to lay it all out for the public to see. She is so moderate, she can not tell the difference difference between democrats and Marxists. Republican leaders can not permit her to continue to damage the country with so many of their voters wide awake and screaming. She has done enough damage with current state of power imbalance in Washington.
Finally, you can call the tea party protestors “libertarians” if you so desire. But you would not be correct about that. They are social and economic Non-Marxist Democrats, Republicans, Independents and Libertarians.
62. Mattie A…
Try talking about something you know a bit about. Your random thoughts are juvenile.
48…at least the people you named have a job/ A real job, not the job of collecting the ole welfare check each month.
None of you have any facts to back up your drivel. You people are perfect Alinsky trolls,uninformed, uneducated trolls, but trolls none the less. You have no facts, just attack. You dole out crap without anything to back them up and think you sound really coooool on the ole internet.. Bet your uneducated, uninformed, AND UN employed
I’d rather have an intelligent troll than your drivel. Did I just say some of the trolls may be “relatively” intelligent?? eewwww
“Look, the woman has been drifting to the left for years. She talks about limited government then votes for big government much of her life.”
Sure looks that way. OTOH, she’s rock solid on supporting the War on Terror (or whatever it’s called these days), and I like her position on some issues like the Death Penalty.
She’s way too left for me, but I’d trade her in a heartbeat for my state’s two senators (Feinstein and Boxer).
62.. true that.
A real Libertarian would not be pro-abortion. For without the Right to Life, there is no Liberty.
DITTO 50/51 AND OTHERS
add #48 and #62….
to the uninformed, uneducated troll list. Uninformed lack luster talking points.
Clearly, the GOP has morphed into the John Birch Society, where RINOS like Ike (military-industrial complex indeed!) are no longer tolerated.
66. But,but…: “add #48 and #62….to the uninformed, uneducated troll list.”
And add But-head to the a-hole list.
Hey #48 (Cathy)–The Democratic Party has been taken over by Marxists, Truthers, welfare spongers (why is it that so many Democrats are on the public dole?), bigots, and anti-Semites. Its leaders are idiots like Pelosi, Rangel, Reid, Waters, Waxman, Olbermann, Garofalo, and other lunatic-lefty wingnuts, and its supporters think Jon Stewart is the best source for ‘news’.
PS–and liberals have destroyed our public education system too.
It looks like the far right and far left can find a little common ground here: Snowe should become a Democrat, because she obviously is no longer welcome in the GOP.
This is similar to what has happened to a large portion of the voting public, who have also become Democrats, as there is no room for them in today’s GOP.
Peace.
DS
She might be FORCED to leave the GOP because she’s not a racist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul_TpDvxUJM&feature=ytn%3Amptnews
Dr. Douglas teaches poli-sci. He once again represents the typical left leaning mentality in our universities. You know those folks. They change the meaning of common words to suit the argument. It is the Alice in Wonderland game. Up is Down. Down is Up.
How else can you explain his description of her as “Snowe, a moderate Republican.” In fact, she is the first in line to take a liberal position, to torpedo GOP objectives, and to support the Dems on their radical agenda.
Look at her record, not the application of that all too friendly adjective, “moderate,” by Douglas. She is a RINO period. If the
GOP is to come back and LEAD America back to conservativism, it must cut all ties with every RINO. It must find and support genuine conservatives.
Don’t forget that in the name of unity, the GOP discouraged a GOP challenge to Specter in the primary. Yes, he won reelection as a GOP member but look at that fine result. Oh, yeah. He’s a Democrat now.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…
“She might be FORCED to leave the GOP because she’s not a racist.”
Yeah, right.
The usual song and dance from the party of slavery, Jim Crow, the KKK and concentration camps for innocent Japanese-Americans.
73. Anonymous:
“d concentration camps for innocent Japanese-Americans.”
I think you have me confused with Michelle Malkin.
Time to show her and all other liberal Republicans (McCain) the door. SUre it will draw down or numbers & reduce voting power but having a reliable voting block is more important.
As a Conservative I respect Senator Snowe and I also see a tactical advantage to having her in the party. Her presence persuades moderates and liberals that we don’t all have fangs and horns. (I do and I’m proud of them).
I still haven’t forgiven her and the other Republican Women of the Northeast (including Virginia’s John Warner and Arlen “Scottish Law” Specter) for voting against Clintons’ impeachment.
Principle above numbers first. I don’t care if all the Republicans get are the South and a few pockets in the West; the results are the same. At least I would once again feel like I’m voting for a Republican when I vote. I wouldn’t wonder if I accidentally voted for a Democrat in sheep’s clothing.
The Democrats have the Left in lock step. Show me a Conservative (proven record and not what they call themselves) Democrat and I’ll show you a soft Statist. They still wouldn’t represent moderation and for sure wouldn’t lean Republican. The only difference between them and the other Liberal Democrats would be a few votes. Liberals control the Democratic party with an iron fist. I don’t see why Conservatives shouldn’t take their cue for the good of the United States and purify the Republican party in the same way.
Republican’s control their own party or they don’t. Its that simple. One thing that must be done is fight for closed primaries! That has kept Republicans from voting for their own choices for far too long.
#75, Serving in Afghanistan. “Sure it will draw down numbers & reduce voting power but having a reliable voting block is more important.”
I understand the desire for party unity, but the parties with the most reliable voting blocks are usually fringe parties. Reducing the GOP to fringe-party status is probably not what most people here want. drawing down numbers and voting power is the same as saying “We plan to lose elections for the forseeable future.”
Keep safe, and thank you for serving.
Consider this: The Repubs install committee heads on the basis of seniority. Since Spector jumped ship he is no longer on the Judiciary committee. Elections change what party is in power but these old Republicans from liberal states hang on to their committees. The only way to get them out is to get them to jump ship or defeat them in elections.
Senator Snowe – Buh-bye RINO.
If she is truly interested in “limited government, individual opportunities, fiscal responsibility, and a strong national defense”, then she will remain a Republican. The Democratic party is the complete antipathy of these things.
My concern, thought, is that she pays these things lip service and then just follows the media created winds. I guess the choice is hers. Does she follow her principles and remain true or does she put her finger to the wind and follow the other sheep to leftist idiot island?
You guys are beginning to sound like alcoholics yelling at people because they’re telling you that you should seek treatment.
GET LOST! I DON’T NEED YOU! I DON’T NEED ANYONE!
I believe the 2010 elections will root out the remaining RINO’s who were not voted out the previous 2 election cycles; the anger is almost tangible, but moving against President Obama instead moving with him. This is why RINO John McCain has changed his tune. I’m not sure Senator Snowe is up for re-election this year, but she should be nervous.
Senator Snowe, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. This will make it easier to replace you with a true conservative.
Snowe listed limited government, individual opportunities, fiscal responsibility, and a strong national defense as being the core Republican principles. However she doesn’t have a good record on at least 3 out of 4, seems like things are the other way around about who left who…
Now Eric Dondero if you can agree with those above listed principles I don’t see why you couldn’t be a Republican. You seem to confuse RINOs like Snowe & Specter who can’t adhere to the basic tenets of the Republican Party with people who don’t agree 100% with Conservatives. Not the same thing my friend, not at all.
Senator Snowe:
I hope you read these candid, unfiltered comments.
Are you really a conservative, or are you just another politician looking to go with the prevailing ka ka?
You look so serene, so intelligent, so aristocratic. A real Lady, my English cousins would say.
Who are you? Are you really interested in freedom and prosperity? Or, is it just the prevailing ka ka which so absorbs your fine mind?
“I think you have me confused with Michelle Malkin.”
On the contrary. I can smell the stench of Dembot hypocrisy from miles away, no matter what name the bot is posting under.
Dems: A party of racists who are always talking about how racist everyone else is.
Can’t miss their song and dance…it’s quite distinctive.
Drop the religion.
As opposed to blind faith in one’s own omniscience?
Drop the absolutist positions on the free market.
As opposed to letting a relative few Best and Brightest dictate how we pursue happiness?
Drop the resistance to change and adapt to the need to address new developments in the world.
“Change” like the Climate “Change” Cult? “Change” BACK to accommodating and appeasing tyrants, as well as apologizing to them? “Change” BACK to the failed socio-economic policies of the 1970′s?
Drop the anti-science kneejerk crap that the last administration demonstrated so conclusively.
I’ll be glad to do so, whenever the members of the scientific community act again like scientists instead of ideologues and/or opportunists.
Drop the need to support every bad Wall Street characteristic in the book.
Like Barney Frank and Chris Dodd have re: the housing industry? Is the freedom to make a legitimate profit in and of itself a “bad characteristic”? You would get that impression if you listen to the Dims and RINOs.
Maybe we’ll listen to your political ideas once you quit screaming them and start reasoning.
We tried civility … and the Dims took over. They don’t play by the Marquis of Queensbury rules … they are intellectually dishonest, and civility in the face of dishonesty gives the dishonesty an unjustified appearance of legitimacy.
Maybe we’ll listen to the likes of you when you grow some respect for sound principle — and show us that you’re not so open-minded that your brain leaks out.
As evidenced by the comments here, the more moderate Republicans leave the party, it will be left with a majority of certifiable far-right nuts. What civility are you talking about? When Clinton was in office, Republicans spent $60 million of taxpayer money to get him. Now that Obama is president, Republicans continue the smears no matter how outrageous. Birthers, deathers–what’s next? Planning to shoot a few more people you disagree with?
What does she expect, all Republicans to agree with her? So she might bolt even though she was elected as an R, and she expects us to sympathize?
Let Maine have a real Republican on the ballot and see what happens, as we are doing in PA.
Act like an adult, Olympia. Stop whining and stand for something.
OH GOD! PLEASE LET HER GO!
What would be better: KICK HER OUT OF THE GOP!
She was never anything but a Closet Populist the same way NAZI PELOSI is a Closet Nazi…
Jumping Jim Jeffries, John McCain, Arlen Specter, Olympia Snowe, Liberals all that we will be well rid of. Let them go home and play with their grandkids.
Great. Send her over. Pretty soon you Republicans will be like the kid standing alone at his birthday party, saying, “Who cares? Zi didn’t need any friends anyway!”
(And I’m guessing that won’t be the first time you said it. Such a sad and angry lot, the conservatives. No fun in their lives, just resentment and regret and repression. Lighten up, folks . . . and I DO mean folks . . . Life is for the living, not the relentlessly angst-riddled. Now make a wish.)
63. Sara:
“Rinos . . . porkulous . . . ACORN . . . Marxists . . . “cash for clunkers” . . . tea party protestors”
Hey whooz that? Whooz that good girl? . . . Who’s a good little girl? . . . Who? . . . Who? . . .You, that’s who! . . . That’s a good little girl . . . You got all the cliche’s into one post! . . . Ooh you’r egonna get a belly rub for that . . . Whooza little cutie?
>As evidenced by the comments here, the more moderate Republicans leave the party, it will be left with a majority of certifiable far-right nuts.
How is she a “moderate”?
She votes with the Dems every time.
She is a traitor, and no army can win a war if they don’t evict the traitors in their ranks.
It’s not as if keeping her is protecting a majority. We might as well jettison the trash now, with the chance of electing somebody who, you know, acutally AGREES with, or at least cedes to their constituents.