I guess it won’t be Snowe-ing in Maine this year
Olympia Snowe gave Maine’s GOP a nasty start when she announced she is withdrawing from the 2012 Senate race.
“Race” is a misnomer, really. Right up to the moment she withdrew she was set to win in an easy walk, despite being primaried by two very weak challengers, one of whom had already left the party a week ago to run as an Independent. So why did she pull out? And why now?
First, let’s see what Snowe herself said in explanation:
In a statement issued by her campaign, Snowe said that both she and her husband, former Gov. John R. McKernan, are in good health and she is certain she would have won re-election.
One of a dwindling group of GOP Senate moderates, Snowe said she no longer wanted to serve in an increasingly partisan and polarized Senate.
“As I have long said, what motivates me is producing results for those who have entrusted me to be their voice and their champion,” Snowe said in a statement. “I do find it frustrating, however, that an atmosphere of polarization and ”˜my way or the highway’ ideologies has become pervasive in campaigns and in our governing institutions.”
My first thought was that she might be ill. But Snowe has finessed that already by saying she and her husband are in good health. So although I have little doubt that Snowe isn’t at all happy with the current climate in Congress—both the low regard the public seems to hold for its members in general, and the increasing disfavor with which her brand of moderate (read: RINO) Republicanism has come to be seen within her own party—I think there must be more to it than she’s admitting.
A lot more, because successful politicians just don’t do that sort of thing. Not for reasons like that, anyway; not in the middle of a successful campaign, and not 15 days before the new candidate would have to file a petition with 3000 certified signatures on it.
One can’t help but suspect that Ms. Snowe’s motive has something to do with anger and something to do with revenge and goes a bit like this: “You think I’m a RINO and don’t appreciate me much? Well, get a load of my replacement. Miss me yet?”
Whatever Snowe’s true motives, Maine Republicans will have to hustle if they want to get a candidate on the ballot who’s more viable than Scott D’Amboise, the current Tea Party guy who has little chance of winning a Senate seat:
There are several possible Republican contenders for the seat including Senate President Kevin L. Raye, former gubernatorial candidate Steve Abbott, Secretary of State Charles E. Summers Jr., Peter Cianchette, the former ambassador to Costa Rica and State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin…
With two weeks to go, there is still time for these established names to call on their own organizations to get the signatures they need to be on the ballot…
Meanwhile, Maine Democrats already in the primary may be replaced by stronger candidates, too, now that they have a real chance of winning.
Those who don’t like RINOs will probably say to Snowe buh-bye, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. But if the GOP wants to gain a Senate majority, this makes it that much harder. On the other hand, if by some chance a new Republican contender can be found who manages to win the seat, my guess is that whoever it is, he/she will be considerably less of a RINO than Snowe.
But boy, Snowe must be really angry at the Republican Party.
[ADDENDUM: Could this have had something to do with Snowe’s abrupt announcement?]
Bitter, angry,old, ugly RINO woman! Buh-Bye!
A.Men: Snowe may be bitter, but she was a fairly attractive woman not all that long ago.
And watch who you’re calling old. Snowe turned 65 a week ago (hey, maybe that’s the key to her retirement?). She’s more or less a contemporary of Romney’s. She just looks older than she is, IMHO.
I used to live in Maine and the old-school New England RINOs were becoming a dying breed. The state has shifted much farther leftward (the election of Paul LePage was a surprise) and support for the 2 Maine senators Snowe and Collins was waning from what I saw. Their campaign ads basically focused on “what I got for you in Congress” (ie, money). They had to campaign like Democrats and did not mention their party affiliation.
She may be retiring for the same reason Barney Frank is retiring. The party is over for the pro-entitlement types.
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“But boy, Snowe must be really angry at the Republican party.”
No doubt. But how typical of this bitter, entitled member of the ruling class to spit in the eye of the GOP on her way out, the way she did so many times in office.
Some are speculating that she’s been offered an ambassadorship. Personally, I think she’s going to pull a Jumpin’ Jim Jeffords and, “with great sadness,” run as a Democrat. Which would be entirely in keeping with her backstabbing nature.
After decades of bending over to accommodate her every whim, of being back-stabbed by her (in the name of “moderation”, of course), they didn’t kiss her behind enough for her to feel loved.
Good riddance.
Chris above may be right. Just like Lisa is Alaska… Conservatives are expected to take one for the team but RINOs can screw us over and its okay…
But if the GOP wants to gain a Senate majority, this makes it that much harder.
True.
It’s just as hard to keep things rolling if your “moderates” go vote with the opposition on key votes. That’s one thing that Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are very good at: keeping the membership in line.
“But if the GOP wants to gain a Senate majority, this makes it that much harder.”
You’re missing the point: as long as Snowe was around and pulling backstabbing cr*p like “hearing the call of history” and still voting ObamaCare out of the Senate Finance Committe–after whining long and loud about its flaws–the GOP would have never had a real majority anyway.
From a GOP perspective, if an independent-minded Democrat replaces Snowe he or she couldn’t be any worse than Snowe–and that person might even turn out to be better.
Olympia Snowe? Pfui! She won’t be missed.
A few random thoughts.
To gain and hold power as a party you better have a bigger “tent” than hard right conservative or you can kiss states like Maine goodbye.
That bitterness is on display in the first comment in this thread.
You can be ideological purity, functioning government, control. Pick and two.
They don’t call them the stupid party for nothing.
While I realize that this will make it much tougher to take back the Senate (and I am therefore troubled by it) if this was truly done out of spite then I have trouble being depressed about her no longer being in a position of power.
Baaad spelling… sorry. Wish I could edit. Point still holds.
Ahhhhh, Rush Limbaugh. el Rushbo.
said “We didn’t have the Senate with her in it.!
“But if the GOP wants to gain a Senate majority”
But what kind of majority would it be with RINO Snowe in it?
What would be the point if the marginal Senate vote were this disloyal straddler?
Bye, bye beeeyatcchh.
(Actually, I agree it may not be bye bye – Snowe may jump to the Dems – notwithstanding the “hyperpartisan” crocodile tears).
But better that politicians stand revealed (and reviled) for what they really are.
Steve D< I'm sure glad the Evil Party has a "big tent". Oh, wait. Nevermind.
If gas prices go to 5/gal this summer in Maine, a Right Repub could win. I wouldn't count it out.
I suspect Maine may not be as easy for Dems as they would hope.
The other possibility is that a scandal is on the horizon, personal or public, and she wants out before the storm hits. Never forget–Snowe is first and foremost a lifelong politician.
“To gain and hold power as a party you better have a bigger “tent” than hard right conservative or you can kiss states like Maine goodbye. “
Which has a big fat nothing to do with Snowe abruptly quitting two weeks before the nomination deadline. Try to put the blame where it actually lies for a change – in this case at least it’s not with the “hard right conservative”s.
Snowe’s 30 year legacy in Congress:
1978 Total Debt: $.78 T and 35% of GDP
2011: Total Debt: $15 T and 99.7% of GDP
Snowe compromised on everything except the endless expansion of the federal government. She is part of the problem for anyone who cares about debt and individual liberty.
Not that the D will be any better, but with this legacy, who really cares other than R’s seeking group power.
… woman scorned … and all that, right?
Sigh. How do we end up with these mutts in office in the first place? Was she marginally better than a Democrat? Yes, but not by much.
She got a little push by Conservatives on her right, and I do mean “little” and she caved. Took her toys and went home.
I hate to say “check the gender” but … well, check the gender.
Maine has finally reached the point where its economy is unable to support its entitlement mentality. To those of us who have been watching Maine LePage’s victory was not a surprise. While far from a sure thing, he was looking likely in the weeks before his win.
I believe that Snowe had decided not to run months ago, and waited to announce so that the Republican party would not have a better organized replacement. While she speaks of partisanship, the reality is that if the Republicans can get to 55 seats, her influence and that of her sister Senator will be all but gone. For years she has been far more a Democrat vote than a Republican holding the party hostage because of its narrow margins in the Senate.
Maine has moved rightward in the last few years. This is not terribly surprising since it could have hardly moved leftward. If the Republicans can get their act together quickly, there is no reason that they can’t win.
I have access to the same deep-background anonymous sources as the “journalists” do, and my sources tell me she is getting out ahead of a scandal.
Apparently there is a steamy sex tape . . .
Apparently there is a steamy sex tape . . .
eeeuuuwww !
Most likely she bailed at this stage so that only someone with a major political machine can get the needed petitioning done in a little more than two weeks. And that would be whoever Olympia lets “inherit” her election operations. And she still has her huge campaign bank account to throw around.
She won’t be the candidate, but she’ll likely be trying to pull the strings to elect her successor.
I’m guessing she waited until this point to announce in order to minimize the threat of a major Democratic candidate from getting traction and fundraising too early. So not an F.U. to the GOP, but holding off on letting the blood hitting the water to hold off the sharks.
She will not be missed.
However if heavily funded moonbat Pingree wins, Maine will have a Senator left of Barbara Boxer. A complete disaster. Pingree easily won in 2010 when Republicans were kicking Donk ass.
Just the timing of her announcement is suspect and there should be no love lost for Snowe. The fact that she could do this to her constituency speaks volumes. Go! Go and don’t let the door hit you on the ass.
The reason? Her vote for ObamaCare and her continuing opposition to drilling for oil. Most of Maine depends on home heating oil. Home heating oil prices are around $3.66 right now. Up $1 from 2010.
This is not minor.
And frankly anybody who would primary Snowe would point these facts out to the public.
I think she sees the writing on the wall, and realizes that the time has come when Congress has no choice but to say “NO” and start pulling back on the endless freebies they use to buy votes and consolidate influence. For as much fun as it can be to buy friends and partners with other people’s money, it’s no fun at all to tell those “friends” that the gravy train is over.
Getting out now allows Snowe to continue pretending that her “friends” really like her for who she is, and not for the goodies she’s given out over the years.
She waited until the last minute to retire in order to hurt the Republican Party. She’s an establishment type – a total RINO and that’s exactly the kind of thing they do when they don’t get their way.
She’s incapable of thinking about the party any more than any of the other establishment types. It’s all about THEM. Their power. Their seat in Congress/Senate. Their position. And they, like anyone with a sense of entitlement, don’t like to be challenged. She had a tantrum.
And if, because of her inability to work with people who don’t kiss her *ss, the people of Maine are saddled with an Obama-type Democrat who helps spend their state into bankruptcy, it won’t bother her one bit. She’s wealthy. Her family’s wealthy. Her friends are wealthy. She has connections. She’ll be fine. And to her, there’s nothing else worth considering.
Please think of this the next time you’re tempted to vote for or donate time or money to a RINO.
Shawn L’s argument has merit.
If the Senator had announcement her retirement three or six months ago, the Democrats would have lined up their A-list candidate to take on the seat. Pubs also would have done the same, but the advantage would be to the Democrats.
If, however, she anoints someone in the next day or so and that someone uses her machine, connections and cash to get the signatures, etc., AND while doing this the Democrats splutter and spin their wheels so that they don’t get an A-list candidate on the ballot, then it’s advantage Republicans.
There’s a reason Ms. Snowe stayed Republican all these years when she could have jumped to the other side and won glory from the NYT. Remember, Jeffords jumped, she didn’t.
So if I credit her with basic party loyalty, Shawn’s argument is intriguing — she decided months ago to retire and held it as a tight secret until this week to disadvantage the Democrats.
How to tell? Easy — she what her staff and campaign people are doing today and tomorrow.
I am hoping my old friend Andrew Ian Dodge gets in. He’s a Tea Partier, but of the sane variety, and is also does not worship at the altar of Ron Paul, at least not on foreign policy. The GOP could do a lot worse.
And he’s a heavy metal fan. What’s not to like?
Shawn L.
That ‘minimize the threat of a major Democratic candidate’ hypothesis is proved false by the fact her own staff and the state party was blindsided as well. If she was doing this to hobble the D’s, her supposed side would have known.
DM
So the Barney Frank of the North wasn’t happy she had to work a little to keep “her” seat. What a poor winner.
I can’t say I’ll miss her when she’s gone. Yes, it makes the Republican gain of the Senate harder but that she is willing to do this at this incredibly crucial point in US history shows she needs to go. The well-underway enslavement and impoverishment of her citizens demand she stay and keep the seat Republican instead of throw a temper tantrum.
Given that she’s willing for a Dhimmicrat to take her spot shows she never cared for anything other than herself…a true RINO.
I would suggest that Snowe is the female version of Arlen Specter.
I suspect Snowe looked at the current polls, realizing she would win her seat, but recognizing the Republicans have a good chance of taking the Senate. She would be outside, looking in during the appointments. As one of the few remaining blue blood Republicans, most of us have come to resent her type.
Republicans don’t trust her, and to Dimocrats, Snowe is not left enough to serve a useful purpose other than a stick in the spokes.
Somebody that has served as long as Snowe has a great sense of entitlement, and her allegiance stops at her own front porch.
It will be interesting to see if she stays in DC or returns to Maine. She’s been in Congress since 1979. Unless she’s retiring altogether, I’d bet she has some DC job lined up.
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So let’s say she’s replaced by a worse candidate. Easy to do in a kooky state like Maine. But the GOP will learn. We will not sit idle with RINO nonsense any longer. Getting an occasional vote for our side is worthless. It’s either Conservative or bust. No more GOP. No more Republican Party. No more working with the Democrats. Three years of Liberal Democrat policies have left this country a disaster. Replace them all and put the Conservatives in power.
TEA!
She mobbed up.
She moved up.
She puffed up.
She crapped out.
I strongly suspect that Leo Linbeck III and Eric O’Keefe are involved.
They’ve established a ‘Super-PAC’ — the Campaign for Primary Accountability.
It’s already picked off Burton.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20120129/NEWS0108/301270183/Super-PAC-targets-out-step-Schmidt
Snowe would fit their profile to a tee.
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/27/3620376/linbeck-holding-congress-accountable.html
Don’t believe the MSM (D) — these classic politicians poll very poorly once their voting record becomes known in their own communities.
Her ultra-late withdrawal is a slap in the face to the party.
She must have internal numbers that are terrifying.
RINOs are less than useless. They confuse the national voter into conflating Republicans and Democrats.
That’s not good.
“buh-bye, don’t let the door hit you on the way out”
And I mean it.
There is a great irony in her given name.
neo-neocon Says:
February 29th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
“A.Men: Snowe may be bitter, but she was a fairly attractive woman not all that long ago.
And watch who you’re calling old. Snowe turned 65 a week ago (hey, maybe that’s the key to her retirement?). She’s more or less a contemporary of Romney’s. She just looks older than she is, IMHO.”
With all due respect, she’s old. Hair-dye doesn’t stop the aging process. It just conceals it.
From 1 to 29, you are young. From 30 to 59, you are middle aged. For 60 and on, you are old.
Mitt Romney is 64. Yeah, he’s old. He looks younger. He may be strong and vigorous. But he is a strong and vigorous 64 year OLD man.
No disrespect intended. Age brings Wisdom and Experience.
neo-neocon Says:
February 29th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
“A.Men: Snowe may be bitter, but she was a fairly attractive woman not all that long ago.
And watch who you’re calling old. Snowe turned 65 a week ago (hey, maybe that’s the key to her retirement?). She’s more or less a contemporary of Romney’s. She just looks older than she is, IMHO.”
***********************
With all due respect, she’s old. Hair-dye doesn’t stop the aging process. It just conceals it.
From 1 to 29, you are young. From 30 to 59, you are middle aged. For 60 and on, you are old.
Mitt Romney is 64. Yeah, he’s old. He looks younger. He may be strong and vigorous. But he is a strong and vigorous 64 year OLD man.
No disrespect intended. Age brings Wisdom and Experience.
The question is what the hell is wrong with the people in Maine. If she hadn’t quit they would have elected her again! WTF?
I wonder how Snowe will vote on Senator Roy Blunt’s (R-MO) “Respect For Rights Of Conscience Act” Amendment #1520 to the Transportation bill tomorrow. The Blunt Amendment states that individuals, companies and insurers shall not be forced to “provide, participate in, or refer for a specific item or service contrary to the provider’s religious beliefs or moral convictions.”
memomachine Says:
February 29th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
$603 for 150 gal. in Spokane. They’re selling diesel for heating oil because of the low sulphur requirement which locked out the high sulphur heating oil. Of course the price is high because they left the road taxes on the diesel and added sales tax.
I admit that Snowe’s votes and her liberal slant was upsetting. However, if she is replaced by a Democrat, that’s bad from a practical point of view. The majority party in each house of Congress (as defined by what THEY call themselves) gets to place majorities on all the committees and appoint the chairman of each committee.
Snowe was at least good for that.
My usual edit (grrrr)…
“votes and liberal slant WERE…”
“chairperson” instead of “chairman”
Why can’t I see these things before I hit “Submit”?
Texexec…
Snowe was far more liberal than her voting base.
In which case, LL3’s going to shift the Senate towards the people.
The Republicans are better off without Olympia Snowe. We either win or lose with politicians with a commitment to real American values, and not the welfare state, which with the help of people like Olympia Snowe has put us into a position where the very existence of the country is at stake. Good riddance Ms. Snowe, you were part of the problem, and now you’re gone.
Let me sum up; Dont Care, Dont Care,Dont Care. The R party will not do ANYTHING to fix,repeal or replace any of the crap law that has been shoveled out during this administration if they win the WH and the congress.Not. One. Single. Piece. Count on it!
I scrolled and read what I was thinking.
Tex says:
“I would suggest that Snowe is the female version of Arlen Specter.”
The idea or concept of a
moderate republican is the lamestream media’s spin,
as if moderation was a good thing. Solid principled
repubs are conservative. The others stick their
finger in the wind and like Specter will switch
sides in a heartbeat in hopes of getting re-elected.
I’d rather see someone run as a liberal or call themselves a liberal instead of a “moderate”
Not unrelated The Chairman says this of
swing voters and I’d project it on to “moderates”:
“The swing voters — I like to refer to them as the idiot voters because they don’t have set philosophical principles. You’re either a liberal or you’re a conservative if you have an IQ above a toaster.”
(Chairman Ann that is)
Hopefully , a principled republican runs in Maine to
take Snowe’s seat – win or lose.
My point was that one less Republican (even a RINO) and one more Democrat from Maine in the Senate will make it more difficult to have a Republican majority after this next election and therefore less likely that GOOD Republicans will be appointed to places from which they can control what goes on there.
Just a practical matter of procedure. I didn’t mean to imply that the over all voting would be better or worse when bills go to the floor.
Mr. Spokane:
You’re confused.
Middle distillate = heating oil = diesel fuel …
And ALWAYS has been.
In most areas diesel fuel is middle distillate #2; aka diesel number 2.
In Alaska this is replaced by middle distillate #1; this is a lighter fraction.
Middle distillate is sold all the way down to #6; a pretty heavy cut. This last item is the oil used by the USN. It has replaced ‘bunker fuel’ of WWII fame. ( When our Iowas were brought back into the fleet switching from bunker to #6 was a big deal. )
The latest generation of Diesel #2 is ULTRA LOW SULFUR Diesel #2. This is required to spare the catalytic converters now mounted in road worthy trucks.
This move is the result of CARB. ( Southern California Air Resources Board. )
So while ultra-low sulfur middle distillate is not mandated for all uses the production realities have caused it to replace low sulfur diesel just about everywhere in America.
After all, ultra-low can sell anywhere, low sulfur has to receive special treatment/ isolation.
There’s a HUGE hassle cleaning out low-sulfur equipment to make it available for ultra-low sulfur Diesel fuel.
——
Lastly, there are no fuel taxes on heating oil. One can file to have them refunded on your 1040 if the fuel was purchased with the tax imposed at the pump. Google the IRS forms for the pdf.
The real world difference: organic dyes are added at the refinery before motor fuels are sent out wholesale. They are metered and the IRS is electronically paid the excise tax.
—–
It used to be the case that middle distillate sold for less than unleaded gasoline — by ten to twenty-five cents per gallon.
Since the refiners have been forced to reduce sulfur from 0.2% down to 0.0015% ( 15 ppm ) they’re pushing the cost on to us.
Hence, retail is up about $ .60/ gallon.
Sweet.
My point was that one less Republican (even a RINO) and one more Democrat from Maine in the Senate will make it more difficult to have a Republican majority after this next election and therefore less likely that GOOD Republicans will be appointed to places from which they can control what goes on there.
If the GOP needs totalitarian-minded “moderates” like Snowe to take control of the Senate, then Democrats get the best of both worlds: actual control of the Senate while passing the blame to the GOP. All pain and no gain for conservatives.
Snowe reminds me of Loretta Sanchez whose emails I get because I LIKE to PUKE. Here’s the opening line (She sure knows how to sidle up to a guy/voter/slave/dependent/loser!):
As our economy continues to recover, federal funds serve as a lifeline to our communities and help with our local job creation. For that reason, I am committed to bringing Washington, DC dollars to help residents of Orange County.
She’s a real champion and fights for us! And gosh the awful tea party people want to stop all her fun.
On the opposite side is the redoubtable Congressman John Campbell of Orange County.
Here’s a line from his email:
The same political dynamics that led to these deficits in the first place have been left unchanged and are currently causing the deficit to increase rather than shrink. Let me explain what happened, and more importantly, how and why it happened:
Could the contrasts be any more stark?
Last August, while Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, was in the midst of an intensive round of fundraising for her 2012 reelection bid, a four-year-old civil lawsuit alleging fraud by an education company in which she and her husband are heavily invested became public.
FROM INSTAPUNDIT
Nationally, most of the coverage of Snowe’s decision to drop her reelection bid has focused on the centrist Republican’s frustration with the polarized politics on Capitol Hill. But in Maine, a few newspapers have speculated that her husband’s legal entanglements had a role in Snowe’s sudden and surprising decision, which left her with more than $3 million in her campaign coffers and her party without a Senate candidate less than three weeks before the filing deadline for Maine’s June 12 primary.
I posted this elsewhere today, but Lee Merrick has hit the nail on the head, IMHO.
[[We couldn’t be happier at this news that Snowe is going home to Maine to spend more time with her family. We think there’s more to the story, and recalled that D’Amboise called upon Snowe to resign last May.
[[Why? Well, Education Management Corporation (EDMC) employed Snowe’s husband, former Gov. John McKernan. Last year the DOJ joined a lawsuit against the company. Since then the story has gone quiet. I think Snowe is probably doing the prudent thing here before the headlines hit the fan.
Here’s the story from last May: http://commonamericanjournal.com/?p=28254%5D%5D
“But boy, Snowe must be really angry at the Republican Party:”
Vile and ingrate! too late thou shalt repent
The base Injustice thou hast done my Love
Lee-
Olympia controls the $3Mill raised for campaigning. She gets to dole it out, e.g. to other campaigns. But where the money goes will not be reported. Mark my words.
In the RPGing world, we call it ‘flouncing.’
I can sympathise with gettng rid of rhinos, but you have to be careful of definitions, and also whether the state leans dem or repub. For example, I hear constant talk about how rhino Romney is, but from what I have seen, in his own state he is probably the most conservative politician there, and all his public positions in both 2008 and 2012 have been conservative. On the other hand, Linsey Graham has no excuse at all for Rhinoism, coming from a southern state that can elect any repub, no matter how conservative. My standard would be this:
1. If they are from a repub state expect them to vote with fellow repubs over 80% of the time.
2. If in swing state, expect 70%.
3. If from dem state, expect 60%.
Having a repub that votes with the party only 60% of the time seems pretty bad, but remember we are talking about a dem state, where their dem replacement would probably vote dem 80-90% of the time. You have to have some perspective.
It also depends on the issue. For example, if they are from a libertarian leaning state like New Hampshire, I would expect something like 80% on economic issues, and 50% on cultural. I am much less tolerant of economic issue rhinos than cultural issue rhinos.
If we get too fanatical about getting rid of rhinos, we wont have any repubs at all outside of the south. Having complete control of 30% of the electoral vote states in the country, and writing off the rest, is not a winning strategy. The dems have found a way to tolerate a few DINOS, like Joe Manchin. We should be able to tolerate a few moderate repubs, especially on cultural issues, in the northeast and the left coast.