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Snowe: I Haven't Changed, My Party Has
Brian Beutler | September 17, 2009, 6:19PM
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It would be easy to over-interpret this statement from Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), but it would be a mistake to dismiss it.
"I've always been a Republican for the traditional principles that have been associated with the Republican party since I became a Republican, when I registered to vote. And that is limited government, individual opportunities, fiscal responsibility, and a strong national defense. So I think those principles have always been a part of the Republican party heritage. And I believe that I reflect those views and I haven't changed as a Republican. I think more that my party has changed.
So is Snowe about to pull an Arlen Specter? That would be wildly speculative. But is it a sign that she feels out of step with her colleagues as they try to kill health care reform? I think so. And when you compare that to the fulsome praise she offered President Obama, and her statement commending the Baucus bill, it seems pretty clear that--at least in public--she's leaning toward working with the Democrats on health care reform, specifically Baucuscare.
And she wants the GOP to know that she has an ace up her sleeve if they try to retaliate against her.
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magster
September 17, 2009 6:41 PM
You heard it hear first:
If Obama helps kill co-ops, she will switch parties -- behind the scenes bargain.
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JamieC
September 18, 2009 1:40 PM in reply to magster
Why? if she became a democrat, she would no longer need to worry about trying to scuttle healthcare reform
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mcc
September 17, 2009 6:53 PM
Maybe the message is that she intends to try to begin a countercurrent within the Republican party, challenging the party leadership and core assumptions and creating a movement to return America's conservative party to sanity, if not moderation.
...MWAHAHAHAHAHA! ...oh man. It was really hard to keep a straight face the entire time I was writing that paragraph
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cmpnwtr
September 17, 2009 7:49 PM
Oh, she loves those head fakes. And some people are just gullible enough to believe them. You're so important when people don't take you for granted.
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Zipperupus
September 17, 2009 7:50 PM
I don't trust this at all. This is her way of building support for the Baucus plan.
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Lalo35adm
September 17, 2009 7:55 PM
"But is it a sign that she feels out of step with her colleagues as they try to kill health care reform? I think so."
- Of course you think so, why else would you be a TPM writer?
One other think to "think" about: Snowe is from Maine. Not Deep South. She's the republican blue dog. And she's been playing an excellent game so far.
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jcricket
September 17, 2009 7:59 PM
It's very similar to St Ronnie's statement that he did not leave the Democratic party, the party left him. And he clearly switched teams.
Do I think she will switch teams? Dunno. But I DO think that every republican out there who prays at the alter of St Ronnie immediately recognizes the paraphrase, and screws with it at their peril.
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theone718
September 17, 2009 8:13 PM
Either way this bill better have a public option or I will "flexible" with my vote.
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
September 17, 2009 8:31 PM
If her conversion is a thorough as Specter's has become(whether because of Sestak's challenge or because he's feeling all free to follow his conscience at last--I don't give a damn as long has he votes right), she's welcome as far as I'm concerned.
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markg8
September 18, 2009 12:36 AM in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
I think Cronyn called her a c*nt.
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chimpale
September 17, 2009 8:50 PM
Hey, she's not driving the crazy bus. She's just along for the ride.
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bluebell
September 17, 2009 9:03 PM
My party left me too.
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beamreach
September 17, 2009 10:22 PM in reply to bluebell
Seconded. They went thataway ---->.
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Andreams
September 17, 2009 9:09 PM
Snowe is one of the very few Republicans I have any respect for. I'd love to have her as a dem but it's nice to know there's at least 1 person with a brain in the repus.I wish she could clone herself.
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TPMReaderHG
September 17, 2009 9:26 PM in reply to Andreams
How do you rationalize her adamant refusal to even consider a bill with the public option? She may not be off the deep end as so many Republicans are today, but we really don’t need any more Democrats who are in bed with big business.
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AJM
September 17, 2009 9:55 PM in reply to TPMReaderHG
Shorter Snowe Job: It's safe to vote for me because I'm not one of those crazies: all I do is put the crazies in charge when I get the chance.
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The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve
September 18, 2009 9:30 AM in reply to AJM
People like Snowe and Collins and Specter used to be the nurses who handed out the meds to the inmates of the asylum. At some point, they stopped checking under their tongues to make sure they swallowed them. Then, they started openly spitting them onto the floor and daring the nurses to do something about it. At that point, some of them, like Specter, noticed that they were surrounded by unmedicated psychotics who were torching the place and planning a breakout and it was time to leave.
The rest, like Snowe and Collins, just started taking the meds themselves.
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AnswerFrog
September 18, 2009 9:41 AM
Quit the crazy talk. She's still a Republican and will stay a Republican. The GOP is lucky to have ANYONE in the northeast. I think she is posturing and maintaining leverage.
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