Snowe, Collins key targets in ´perpetual campaign´

PORTLAND, Maine — The political season came to a close with last November´s election, but television viewers may get the impression that it never really ended.

In recent weeks, TV stations and cable outlets have been airing 30-second spots urging viewers to call the state´s U.S. senators and tell them how to vote on use of the Senate filibuster in judicial nominations, oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and changes in Social Security.

"It´s part of the perpetual campaign," said Sen. Olympia Snowe, who perceives that the number of such ads has increased exponentially in recent years. "Regrettably, it seems that the campaigning never ends and the governing never begins."

Sen. Susan Collins, too, said "it´s disappointing to see these polarizing ads continually run." But she, like Snowe, is quick to point out that special interest groups are within their rights to place their message before the public to try to influence her vote.

http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D89TO1681-125.shtml

People in the Northeast are going to have to get over this "but this Republican is all right" syndrome. The only vote that counts in the Senate is the vote for Majority Leader, and anyone who signs on as a Republican for that is the enemy....

I get so sick of Randi constantly saying how she likes these two. That they're DECENT Republicans. I say, "no such animal."

It's numbers we need. If these "ladies" are moderates, they need to see that their party has left them behind and choose accordingly to get some balance back in this country.

The only roles for women in that party are baby machines and figureheads that perform no function at all.

FSC

Absolutely.

ANYONE with even modest intelligence who chooses to be affiliated with the Republican party in this day and age IS NOT a good or decent person.

We're working on giving Olympia a long vacation next year.

and Minnesota-all blue states-would ditch their Republican senators, Frist would be minority leader of 46 senators. But no, some blue staters just can't get over their legacy of voting Republican.

And until they do, we don't stand much of a chance of taking the senate back.

but what do you think of Snowe and Collins? Ms. Snowe has always struck me as a Repub in the mold of Margaret Chase Smith, but I don't really have a feel for Collins. What is your opinion?

They are "moderate" only when it doesn't count. They both supported Frist, they both supported Gonzalez, they both supported Condi Rice.

In fact, during her last campaign, Susan Collins said something along the line of how she could never vote against one of President Bush's nominees. She was a peer sponsor for Ashcroft as AG. She never should have won her last election but campaign failures on the part of Chellie Pingree and that incorrect assumption that she is "moderate" handed her another 6 years.

The hard-core GOP in Maine wants to defeat Olympia in the worst way in '06. I can't say I disagree with that thinking but I'm looking at it in a different way. I want a Democrat in there; they want a conservative Republican.

and Margaret Chase Smith was my grandmother's basketball couch.

Snowe will never become a Democrat, but I would be great to see both Snowe and Collins pull a "Jeffords" and turn Independent.

...and Maine Dems REALLY need to find a good strong Maine Native to run against both of them.

Flatlanders won't cut it...

:)

I also wonder what their reaction will be when ChimpCo shuts down Brunswick Naval Air Station, the Kittery Shipyard and sends all Navy destroyer and cruiser contracts from Bath Ironworks to Mississippi...

and affects the ability of both sides to govern.

Snowe and Collins will retire eventually, folks, as will Chafee and other New England Republicans. When they do, they'll be replaced with Democrats, just as the GOP picked up the seats of all the retiring Southern Dems.

I guess that makes them both moderate. Collins rated 83%by Naral. Collins voting record for the rest of the story:

http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/Susan_Collins.htm


Snowe, rated 83% by Naral

Snowe voting record for the rest of the story:

http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Olympia_Snowe.htm

I am not sure that Collins can be turned re SS according to her votes. Snowe, since she is up for re elect, may turn.