Snowe: GOP Has Abandoned Principles; Specter Switch "Devastating"

Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, one of the few remaining moderate Republicans in the Senate, said Tuesday that Arlen Specter's abandonment of the GOP is "devastating," both "personally and I think for the party."

"I've always been deeply concerned about the views of the Republican Party nationally in terms of their exclusionary policies and views towards moderate Republicans," said Snowe, who has been approached, she said, by Democrats in the past about switching parties.

Specter's switch to the Democratic Party "underscores the blunt reality" that the GOP is not a welcome place for moderates, she said.

So far, she said, she's staying put. "I believe in the traditional tenets of the Republican Party: strong national defense, fiscal responsibility, individual opportunity. I haven't abandoned those principles that have been the essence of the Republican Party. I think the Republican Party has abandoned those principles.

She added that being a Republican is simply part of who she is. "It's my ethnic heritage, Spartan side, that continues to fight," she said.

Ryan Grim is the author of the forthcoming book This Is Your Country On Drugs: The Secret History of Getting High in America

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Comments

[Schvenzlerman]

Why does she look like one of my uncles?

[violettefemme]

Well that's helpful---a woman who holds a high political office has something relevant to say and the best response is, OF COURSE, to focus on her looks.

Thanks! Those d*amn feminist*s almost got one past us!

[shanester]

It was just a bad attempt at humor.

[Doofus]

It seems that the Demos COULD work a deal here, if
they do it 'Law & Order' style. Put both Maine Senators in
separate rooms (over at Demo HQ), make each of them
an offer. First one to accept, can become a Demo.

The other has to remain a Repo. Bound to pick up one more vote.

[jdw1981]

Collins doesn't have the makings of a Democrat. She pretends to be "moderate" because Maine is a very blue state, but she's not a real moderate like Snowe when it comes to legislation.

[Doofus]

At the moment, Maine is the least 'blue' of all the
New England states, having 2 Repo Senators,
who are regularly re-elected with wide margins.
There are, of course, NO New England Reps in
Congress who admit to being Repos.

[wornsmooth]

Just my two cents worth as to the decrease in GOP influence. (I know,on HuffPo, preaching to the choir)
1. The GOP has become anti personal liberty and freedom. For at least 15 years plus, it seems to me that ANY time there is a conflict between individual rights and liberty/vs the State or Corporation, the GOP congress members and GOP Supreme Court types will back the State. If it is a dispute between Corporate rights/vs the State, they will back the Corporate interests.
This "knee on your back" attitude and a general view of regulating personal morals and life is sensed by more and more of the population, even when unable to put ones finger on the specific.
2.A growing sense amoung people that Republicans have used the trust invested in them to engage in a huge redistribution of wealth---from labor to the wealthy and those in power. Done by cutting taxes to wealth(sto­cks/capito­l gains), cutting taxes on high incomes, and transferring the results to those who earn less...either by fewer tax breaks for them, or fewer and fewer services.(such as filled pot holes etc). The next part has been using their power to take public money(from either taxing or borrowing) and transferring it to outfits like Haliburton, Blackwater, Lockheed/Martin etc. All their proposed "reforms" involve some sort of privatizing of public funds.

I could go on, but you get the idea. For what it's worth.

[Citizane]

Good points. Another transfer of wealth is the fraudulant billings on millions of americans phone bills. Through aggragator ESBI, BSG (BIL.L on AiM Trading) has accumultated over 100 million from citizens in USA and is global. Frightening.

[jdw1981]

She says: "I believe in the traditional tenets of the Republican Party: strong national defense, fiscal responsibility, individual opportunity."

The thing is, these aren't tenets of the GOP anymore, since Clinton co-opted them in 1992. Most Democrats in Congress now, as well as Obama, shun the idea of "liberal" values (sound as most of them are). So the Democratic party has become the GOP-Lite Party (minus the religious aspect), while the GOP has turned into a crackerbarrel full of loonies. Just switch already, Sen. Snowe, you'll be right at home.

[zerotimes10]

The "tenants" of the Republican Party is to do everything they can do to stand in the way of the natural progression of Humans. I sincerely believe, with minor historical setbacks, that the Human Race wants to be at Peace and live in Harmony with itself and the planet. All that the Republican Party does is try to stop this from happening. We need to speak up and Vote more than ever to completely destroy their sick, dark philosophy of Life. I wonder, who they are really worshiping on Sunday Mornings ... aside from the Golden Calf? Could it be ........???

[Robert Cantor]

Very uplifting words, indeed.

[nana4g]

I cannot even get to the "political differences" of the two parties. I cannot get passed their total lack of values and respect for people; their sick "logic"; their willingness to trash people so easily; and their psychotic ability to create their own reality about issues that have been proven and documented to be the opposite. Until they can clean up this dynamic which has branded them as racists, bigots, hate mongers, I cannot even begin to weigh their ability to govern re national security, fiscal responsibility, individual liberties. Couple that with the past 8 years which failed on all of those points, I see no use for them. This party needs to die and be reborn somehow. And, if I were them, I wouldn't wait for the current Administration to fail. I would rather have a sane government that fails on some issues or stumbles than an insane one that fails on all issues.

[dontvote4him]

Please please leave please please.

[webrock]

Senator Snowe needs seriously to think about the possibility, it just a suggestion, an EXTREME! makeover..­...sorry..­..but she does..

[jdw1981]

Why, what purpose would that serve? This is her husband:

http://www.nndb.com/people/587/000120227/

[antifluff]

Conservatives are looking for representation. We want a strong national defense, fiscal responsibility, individual opportunity (including the innocents not here yet). We also want our borders protected, the law enforced equally, and indvidual responsibility.
Specter, Snow and Collins vote against these 'ideals' more than they vote for them. Let them join the dems, they can take the (all the names used against conservatives) left to the 'center' and dilute the power of that party.
Have you ever noticed how the ones on the far left do not talk about freedom or liberty?

[jdw1981]

You don't mean "conservatives", you mean NeoCons. There's a world of difference.

[nana4g]

No. They don't. They DO it. Civil Rights, Voting Rights......

[cminca]

How about a woman's liberty to decide for herself if she wants to remain pregnant?

How about a husband's liberty to decide the fate of his braindead wife, based on her express wishes?

How about a gay couples freedom to build a legally recognized family unit?

Don't even get me started on fiscal responsibilty.....

[Forest]

As long as Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter types define
the Republican party, it is doomed. Sensationalism for the sake of $$$ and at the
expense of decency isn't cutting it anymore.

[zerotimes10]

That's right Forest. These right wing radio heads have destroyed the Republican Party and they got rich doing it. They have painted their followers into a corner; surrounded by hate. The only way for them to get out of the corner is to break the wall down and possibly the whole house with it. May I lend you a sledge hammer?

[garymc8]

Everybody finally figured out the gop only care for the UN-BORN CHILD, not the born, so Abortion may backfire on them. Morning After pill does NOT ABORT A FETUS. Now what?

[garymc8]

Limited thinking marks all the gop. I examined my families long standing support of the gop in Texas where I grew up. In my second year in college I recognized most in my family "rooted" for a party like a football team with little or no self examination of the parties values or platform. I switched in the 70's and Ms Snowe is just "snowing us" if she does not recognize the TOTALLY SELF-SERVING NATURE OF YOUR PARTY OF GREED. kudos to Arlene, yes a political opportunist, but one with a conciousness.
BTW, those values you quoted have NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GOP ANYMORE. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY? LOL, INDIVIDUALITY? Party of unthinking talking point sheep. NATIONAL DEFENSE? We were hit on YOUR WATCH AFTER HANDING YOU A WARNING NOBODY TOOK SERIOUS. LOL I'd ask you to come on over but you are too big a greedy crook.

[GlenRast]

Get a clue Senator Snow!

The GOP is now a far right wing religious party and it's not going back to the Goldwater days.

[dsws]

Republican is an ethnicity now?!?

[smartalek]

Well, it does seem to be a heritable trait; the offspring of Rethugs are more likely to be Rethugs.
The real question is, how much of this correlation is genetic, and how much environment?
And if it is discovered to be largely genetic, will Republicans have to be treated as a "protected" class, subject to things like affirmative action?
As it is, it looks as if they're ready to be listed as an "endangered species." We might have to set aside some of the South -- and parts of Utah, Wyoming, and of course Texas -- as a preserve, to keep the last few Rethugs alive.

[QuasiEgalitarian]

She said , "being a Republican It's my ethnic heritage, Spartan side, that continues to fight."

here here to the defender of Hell.en.ism!

[beartrack]

It is way past the time for a third party. Maybe the moderates on both sides can get it together in the middle, where almost all of us are, and make the left and right fringes become irrelevant.

[ToastOnDayOne]

I think for all intents and purposes this has already occured. Absent some major transformative event, even without a centrist party formally established, centrist votes will decide who sits in the WH, and set the tone in Washington.

[GranE]

Mrs. Snow and Mrs. Collins are the salt of the earth. Their records and work are exemplary, and that says alot considering I am a Democrat. She speaks for many Republicans that I know. Many of them are sick of what their party has become. How do they cut loose the nut factor that has taken over that party? They can't. It's too late. Specter is right, moderate Republicans did nothing/said nothing and let raiders like Rove, Delay, Limbaugh take over. There's a lesson in that for Democrats.

Snow and Collins do their homework and listen (great skill) to their constituents, that's why they are still in office. One does not have to agree on all issues in order to form an opinion on what's best, and I hope they continue to do their jobs and vote accordingly, like all others elected to Congress should do.

I for one, would welcome them into the Democratic party at any time. We have some of our own who are not so moderate and some who are too moderate, but the door is open for these two Senators in my opinion. We have a very big tent to welcome them.

[GlenRast]

Why did moderate Republicans remain silent while their party was hijacked?

$$$$$$$$$$­$$$$$$$$$$­$$$$$$$$$$­$$$$$$$$$$­$$$$$$$$$$­$$$$$$$$$

[nana4g]

Why do they continue to remain silent when everyday some nutcase says something outlandish and offensive?