Snowe Health Care Vote Could Cost Her Ranking Position

The Hill:

Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine) is risking a shot at becoming the top Republican on an influential Senate committee by backing Democratic healthcare legislation, according to senators on the panel.

A Senate Democrat on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee said Republicans on the panel are threatening to vote against Snowe, who is in line for the senior GOP post that is about to come open.

Read the whole story: The Hill

Comments

[babyboomerorig]

Once again, Olympia Snowe says "So what!"

I don't always agree with her, but she does NOT care what the party threatens her with.

[ProudMilVet]

Olympia dear, time to switch parties !

[Emucrat]

Snowe is a Republican. What ever she is doing, it is NOT going to introduce the health Ca re Reform that we need. Don't trust her.

[kgb999]

I imagine Snowe would be a bigger asset to the democrats than Specter. The GOP can't be that short sighted .... can they?

[bobm0001]

So, what do we have now?

A piece of crap, Republican legislation that only the health care industry could love and a single, uncommitted GOP vote. Disgusting!

[Ifticar2]

Snowe has actually been a very clever Republican.

I know that many Republicans are angry at her but they fail to see the big picture. Snowe, by playing bipartisan, has slowed the process way down. Congress could have had a bill passed by now if it were not for Snowe. She has severely weaken the details of the bill. She is the one is responsible for the lack of a public option and many other liberal details being dropped or weakened.

Now, she will be courted during the resolution process. She will invited to the meetings the Rham, Harry and Nancy. She will continue to do her job of weakening the most liberal aspects of the bill and delaying the process. Republicans should be be giving Snowe hero parties; however, that would give away the game.

Obama and the liberal congress have been snookered by Snowe.

[kwoodberryesq]

LOL! You are stretching!!!

[pattyjack]

You are absolutely correct. Snowe may be a principled Senator, in her way, but she is still a Republican. In fact I have been asking all my family members from Maine to urge her to vote against the Baucus bill for just the reasons you've stated. She will drag the Senate and Obama to the right, and weaken the influence of the progressive caucus in the House. Olympia could sink, or at least seriously weaken, any public option. Bad news for us who want real reform. Good news for the canny Senator Snowe: her vote will be very popular in Maine.

[MANK]

Switch from R to I and Obama will show his thanks. Is it possible that the people in Maine are not in need of affordable health care?
As Sen Snowe goes, so goes the nation!

[roshni]

She would be very welcome in the Democratic Party. Her ideals and more in line with ours anyway.

[greysells2]

The one skill the Republicans have is bullying. Bully Dems; bully their own GOP's. They're good at it.

[Waltfl]

Solution: Switch parties.

[cef911f1]

My sentiments exactly.

[oxygen]

Maine does not require a prescription for simple codeine cough syrup - a wise move they made many years ago allowing people to take care of themselves

cannabis is about as legal as California and yet the state has not fallen off the map in some drug deluged chaos and has instead inspired brave individualists like snowe

the public health care debate is as much about simply letting people take care of themselves as most other countries do with their prescription drug laws not the ridiculously complex drug laws in the u.s.

why do pharmacists in the u.s. even need to go to school when they are treated like store clerks? if you can get alot of drugs from the internet then the market has already changed and time for the u.s. to wake up and smell the coffee of freedom and sustainability

[OleLadySquawking]

Is Senator Snowe prepared for the avalanche of hate she is about to be slammed with for voting yes? Cuz I can see the first "flakes" starting to fall

[roshni]

She is also getting a lot of support for her gutsy stance.

[LCLA]

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Despite the irony of her name, I think Snowe can stand the heat.

[Lori Bowles]

Could the Grinch's be hearing Who-ville?
Pretty sad that instead of the GOP listening to her and understanding or respecting that she knows its the right thing to do, shes pressured by this conservative party to continue against the people. God forbid one of their women step out of line and speak out. What does that say about this group of Chri.s.tians.
When a political party holds another group host.age thats trying to pass progress for the rest of the country its out lived its welcome. I want a two party system in this country for balance but this is not a two party system its a Democratic party trying to accomplish goals and a Republican Party putting up a wall at every turn. This is beyond ridiculous by the republicans its childish.

[ohmetoo]

Vote for Reform loose your ranking position. Don't vote for reform loose your base and the next election.

[Jesster]

She is in a double damned dilemma, but she ultimately did the right wing for both HER constituents and the country (some Senators seem to think they're in the House voting strictly paraochial kissues.)

While she did play an unfortunate role in both weakening and delaying health care reform (such as it is) she ultimately chose people over politics and I hope it's just the first step in being her own person/woman and not just following lock-step with the GOP looney leadership.

[Jesster]

"right wing" ...er fight THING... I was just thinking about what to make for dinner...

[akababs]

More elected officials should vote their conscious not the party line. Way to go Snowe!