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Olympia Snowe is either afraid of losing her Senate seat in Maine or she’s, for once in her useless senatorial life, actually remembered she’s a Republican. She certainly hasn’t acted like it, from voting with treasonous Democrats to try to undermine the war effort in Iraq to voting for the pork-filled stimulus package with only two other Republicans and more. But, it’s looking like she deserves some rare kudos, as she’s apparently pulled her support of Obama’s government run health care. This leaves them with no Republican support.
Senate Democrats are going to have to move forward on healthcare without a single Republican supporter after Sen. Olympia Snowe said Tuesday she could not back the Finance Committee’s bill.
Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) failed to win any Republican backer despite weeks of intense negotiations behind closed doors to strike a deal.
Snowe (Maine), who was one of three Republicans who backed the $787 billion economic stimulus package, was being lobbied heavily by the White House, and some centrists view her refusal to strike a deal with Baucus as troubling. But concerns about how the plan would be paid for prompted her to back away in the hours before its release.
“I do have concerns and I’m not sure they can be addressed before he issues [legislation] tomorrow,” Snowe said.
… Democrats control 59 seats in the Senate. Without a single Republican vote, they would be forced to advance healthcare using a budgetary maneuver that requires only a simple majority.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday that Democrats are prepared to use budget reconciliation as a last resort.
They can certainly still get Obamacare passed without any Republican support. But they don’t want to, because it will mean that they completely own the failure that it will inevitably be. Democrats may be a lot of things, but stupid they are not. They know how unpopular this health care reform is, and with Republicans voting alongside them — no matter how few — they can call it a “bipartisan effort” and take some of the heat off of themselves.
I hope that Snowe does hold, and Democrats have to pass this thing all on their own. If she does vote against it, then we owe her a rare thumbs up. I may be pretty harsh on idiot backstabbing Republicans like Olympia Snowe, but all the same, if they do something right I’m not against acknowledging it. Perhaps we should all give her a call and give her some encouragement.
OLYMPIA SNOWE – REPUBLICAN, MAINE
DC PHONE: (202) 224-5344
MAINE TOLL FREE: (800) 432-1599
AUBURN OFFICE: (207) 786-2451
AUGUSTA OFFICE: (207) 622-8292
BANGOR OFFICE: (207) 945-0432
BIDDEFORD OFFICE: (207) 282-4144
PORTLAND OFFICE: (207) 874-0883
PRESQUE ISLE OFFICE: (207) 764-5124
But they don’t want to, because it will mean that they completely own the failure that it will inevitably be.
Now THAT is a fascinating discussion I’d like to see taken up. Speaking just for myself, I’m having a tough time buying into it.
After all, can it really be said democrats have a fear of owning failure? One that’s strong enough to motivate them? Their followers have no comprehension of history whatsoever and they know it. If all else fails, when people start to notice democrat policies lead to abomination blight chaos and destruction, they know exactly what to do: They say “Love me and love my policies or else you’re a racist.” Problem solved.
It’s that simple. You don’t need me to point it out.
btenney says: Don’t know how effective it is for someone who is not a constituent to contact a member of Congress.
I tried some months ago to contact Arizona’s Harry Mitchell and was told that my ZIP code was not in his district and he had no interest in my opinions.
When even the liberal Republicans (yes – let’s call a spade a spade! 😉 like Sen. Snowe oppose a proposed bill, it’s likely in big trouble.
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In addition to the coercion factor, penalizing those who refuse to participate in the government “option” – here is a list of all the tax hikes in the Baucus Draft proposal.
Taxes are high enough as it is, and the federal government has its hands more than full; we really need to have more transparency and accountability, before coming up with new spending programs.
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