The Republican Party, moving further and further to the ideological right, has purged yet another moderate Republican from the northeast.
U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), fed up by "anatmosphere of polarization and "my way or the highway ideologies," says she's not running for re-election.
The three-term senator's campaign office issued a statement this afternoon, indicating that she is in good health and was confident she would've won re-election.
“Unfortunately, I do not realistically expect the partisanship of recent years in the Senate to change over the short term,” Snowe said in a statement. “So at this stage of my tenure in public service, I have concluded that I am not prepared to commit myself to an additional six years in the Senate, which is what a fourth term would entail."
Snowe’s retirement represents a major setback for the GOP’s efforts to regain a majority in the Senate. As a moderate Republican, she may be the party’s only hope to hold a seat in the strongly blue state (Obama won the state by 17 points in 2008 and has gone Democratic in every presidential election since 1992).
Snowe, 65, has served 33 years in Congress.
Northeast moderate Republicans became an endangered species years ago. With Snowe's retirement, Republicans are certain to hold only three seats from the northeast in the U.S. next year: Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Susan Collins of Maine.
A fourth, Scott Brown of Massachusetts, is expected to face Democrat Elizabeth Warren in a tough battle for re-election.
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Good = Terrific === GOODBYE !!!!!!! Yes ; One More DOWN !!!!!!!
MD/MI, Your right one more down. When the Re Pubs start getting the hell out of Dodge and leaving there party you know they have a mutiny at hand. I love it when people come to there sense's !!!!!!
So another very possible pick up for senate!!
good news and well she talked a lot but always feel in with the wrong side.
Just goes to Show you that Ms Snow does not think it is the grand old party anymore. She has had enough of the republican congress monkey shine.
well be nice to see her vote with her beliefs again and not just blind vote with Mitch. or talk one way vote against it.
And the Republicans get rid of another intelligent person.
With Nebraska possibly back in Play if Bob Kerry decides to run and if Elizabeth Warren can defeat Brown in MA their is and if the republicans continue to push hard to the right on womans issues even the so called safe republicans may not be safe. More woman vote in elections and their are alot of independent woman who will not vote for tea party or far right white men who want to tell them what to do with their body. The dems could even possibly take back the house too.
tanya,
i didn't know Bob Kerrey was reconsidering his decision not to run, but apparently he is.
i am hopeful for Elizabeth Warren as well, that is one race i will watch closely, and now with olympia giving up her seat, i will also watch that race.
i still worry about the redistricting and voter suppression in republican led states. millions of voters will be disenfranchised.
there the one in Nevada Dean i vote twice so far to kill medicare as we know it Heller, think Berkeley has a shot she is well liked.
Last time I looked Suzette, Elizabeth Warren was leading Brown in three of four polls anywhere from 3 to 7%. I think we have a decent chance to pick up another seat here. She's well liked and has no ties to wall street.
i'm glad she's ahead.
electing scott brown after Teddy died was a fluke, part of it probably due to the economy not turning around fast enough.
Actually the lady running for kennedy's seat blew it by not spending the money to campaign thinking because she was a Dem she had it in the bag. In my opinion Elizabeth reminds me alot of Ted Kennedy with her passion.
This is a seat that just went from one that was almost certainly lost to one that we have a good chance of picking up. Thank you, right wingers! We couldn't have done it without you.
They're following the example of Sanitarium and Robme.
It's about time to put an end to these political dynasties staying in the Senate for 40 or 50 years, no wonder they're so out of touch. The GOP needs to get back to reality and stop pretending they can do as they please while backstabbing the very same voters that sent them into power.
And Steve, you're damn right. The GOP's own little war on women will cost them a whole lot come november, maybe they can control their wives and make them feel worthless, but that's about it. Obsolete minds do not belong in Congress!
And yet they're there.
I have always liked her, but found it unbelievable, when she and Susan Collins, voted for Paul Ryans bill on Medicare and Social Security. So I quess it was time to go!
You don't know the deals anymore than I do, maybe they figured it wouldn't go, so they went along to get something else. God only knows what goes on there, and He must often shake His head. Is she better than some-yes, worse than others-maybe, but she is sane and intelligent. What a mess she leaves!!!
she is a republican for a reason, she agrees with most of their ideals. i like her and agree with her on some things, but she is the kind of repub we need in washington. olympia could be persuaded to vote on democratic bills when no one else would do it. she is a great example of what should be going on in washington; COMPROMISING TO GET THINGS DONE.
this morning i was listening to Chuck Todd interview reince priebus about the retirement of Olympia. reince thinks that when Olympia says she is fed up with the polarazation in washington, the "my way or the highway" attitude, that she is referring to all the bills sent to the senate, by the house, that have not been passed. in other words, reince thinks that Olympia is fed up with the democrats and President Obama.
reince can really SPIN it.
...and the old right wing ushers in the New Extremist Party, owned and controlled by Wall Street, Big Bank, Big Corporate Run Republican Style Billionaire Government.
If you can't beat em' (all those mean little ol' "tea baggers" that is)
Just pack up and go home.
Now you know why the "WSBBBC" love small government...
It is cheaper to buy and easier to control
Snowe was one of the sane republicans! She would respond to requests unlike some of our democratic types that WILL NOT if the issue is uncomfortable in this state! The United States Fish and Wildlife service harrassed me about using my sick leave to take care of my 86 year old silver stared WW-II silver stared veteren father!I had stopped checking on him daily until I got my family medical leave form signed by my doctor. I stoped in to see my father and share the news about the form and he was on the floor----for three days covered in every bodily fluid know to man! He died in the veterans center a few weeks after!I spoke to a Mike Micheau office type and he did not want to deal with it. I think Snowe would have done so. I will not deal with mikes office again! Snowe will be missed by all maine people.
I had much respect for Ms Snow. However, I hope we can get a Democrat elected to
her seat. She did some Republican things, but-------------she is a Republican.
Even Ms Snowe finally got fedup with the Repugnant Obscene Partisans. It just validates that even republicans within the party are sick and tired of their own.
There's room on this side of the aisle, Senator Snowe, love to have you move. For the most part, she tried to be fair, as far as I could see. Yes, did she vote sometimes in a way I'd wished she didn't, but, don't they all??? One good lady, sad to see you leave, and thanks for all you've done. From one loyal DEMOCRAT!
Here, here.
Good bye! See ya! She was never a Republican anyway. She was a RHINO at best. She voted with the Dems almost all the time. She may as well have had (D) after her name. At least now the Republicans will have a chance to get a true Rupublican in the Senate. If they don't, it's no loss anyway.
LOL
you need to slow your spin down as you seem to have either twisted your bit off, or you just keep hitting dry holes.
LOL