The Gentleladies from Maine
In the thread on Sen. Mitch McConnell that I started earlier today ("The Hero of the Hour"), Ricochet member Duane Oyen offers a shrewd observation:
I have been pretty supportive of McConnell here in the past; he is not, nor has he ever been, a RINO. We need to stop using those terms on people who are conservative, but not as [conservative as] Ayn Rand or Ron Paul or the TEA Party caucus thinks they should be....
In Minnesota, there are some bloggers who like to call Pawlenty a RINO because he has to govern realistically in a Blue-Purple state. Reality: you can't run Minnesota like it was Utah- and you can't manage a caucus that includes the Maine twins as though it was the Utah state senate. Sometimes you must choose between actual government and pleasing headlines.
All well-stated and true, although Duane's comment about the "Maine twins," the liberal Republican senators from Maine, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, got me to thinking.
For years now, Snowe and Collins have been telling their fellow Republicans that they had to break with the party on one vote after another because they had no choice. After all, they represented Maine, a blue state. If they didn't vote with the Democrats as often as not, they'd lose their seats.
Well now.
In the past election, quite a few Maine voters went hunting for more conservative purity. The result? A conservative Republican and tea partier, Paul LePage, won the gubernatorial race. In the state Senate, Republicans picked up five seats, increasing their presence from 15 to 20 in a chamber of 35. And in the state assembly, the GOP presence rose from 55 to 78, producing, in a chamber of 153, another majority.
From which, I very humbly deduce two lessons.
The first? That although Duane is quite right about the need to compromise in politics, maybe the supreme skill lies in knowing when to refuse to compromise, instead recognizing and seizing the rare moment when the bold and the principled can achieve a breakthrough.
And the second? That whereas senate minority leader Mitch McConnell remains, to my mind, a hero--he's the man, after all, who for some two years now has kept all the renegade Republicans in line--Sen. McConnell's job just got a lot easier, at least with the respect to the gentleladies from Maine. On Election Day, Sens. Snowe and Collins will by now have recognized, the folks back home deprived them of their excuse for voting with the other side.
My. That last election really was just glorious, wasn't it?
- Comment (21)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (1)
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
- Pages:
- 1
- 2
Comments :
Jul '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
I don't accept the assertion by the Ladies from Maine that they were obliged to vote as they did. I think they did it because it was in accordance with their own views.
Remember "When history calls, history calls"?
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
Kenneth: I don't accept the assertion by the Ladies from Maine that they were obliged to vote as they did. I think they did it because it was in accordance with their own views.
Remember "When history calls, history calls"? · Dec 17 at 7:02pm
Well, would you predict that they'll do now? Switch parties? Site their consciences, then resign? I dunno. I just get the feeling that these two ladies are working politicians. They'll adapt.
But I don't want to press my luck. Having you tell me I'm right has already happened today, Kenneth. I figure that's probably it for the month.
Edited on Dec 17, 2010 at 7:10pmJul '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
Peter Robinson
Well, would you predict that they'll do now? Switch parties? Site their consciences, then resign? I dunno. I just get the feeling that these two ladies are working politicians. They'll adapt.
But I don't want to press my luck. Having you tell me I'm right has already happened today, Kenneth. I figure that's probably it for the month. · Dec 17 at 7:09pm
Edited on Dec 17 at 07:10 pm
Peter, I thought we always agreed. It's just a matter of style. Remember when I told Rob Long, "Dammit, Rob! Put on some socks!"
Your just quietly adjusted the knot in your tie, but I knew it meant you were on my side.
Edited on Dec 17, 2010 at 7:14pmJun '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
I've always believed that whichever way a politician votes, the stated public exegesis is never the truth. Who knows what sort of backroom deals lead to a vote for or against? These people are professional politicians after all. What was it the secretary of state said in the movie Hunt for Red October? Let me paraphrase: "I'm a politician. When I'm not kissing babies, I'm busy stealing their candy." Got it.
Edited on Dec 17, 2010 at 7:41pmMay '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
"... stealing their lollipops." I love that movie.
Politicians should represent their constituents. In some areas of the country, the problem is not the representatives but the voters. Much of our necessary work lies outside of politics.
But political pundits, like weather forecasters, base their predictions more on past trends than understanding of the present. The GOP should always allow for the possibility of change when presenting primary candidates to voters.
May '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
I do indeed hope that the Maine sisters see newfound wisdom in sliding a bit to the right to match the recently elected Maine officials. And I definitely agree that the real political genius is knowing when you can get a more doctrinaire conservative elected from a more port-sided state or district. My sense is that Rove, who is not a liberal, despite many contrary Ricochetian views expressed, actually watches that dynamic as much and as well as anyone out there.
Even as frustrating as they have been, though, it was Snowe who along with Lieberman killed the public option in Obamacare, and Collins has also taken some solid stands built on Right Thinking over the last two years. They are definitely slightly more accurate than a stopped clock.
I may just be giddy and spoiled- because the big names in the Republican Senate when I was a kid were Hugh Scott, Everett Dirksen, Thomas Kuchel, Mac Mathias, then Lowell Weicker..... and the only prominent name on the other side was Goldwater. Unless you remember that era, you probably can't appreciate the meaning of what a real RINO is.
We are a lot better off today.
Jul '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
Duane Oyen:
We are a lot better off today. · Dec 17 at 8:30pm
Agreed.
May '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
I don't really understand the Maine ladies. When I was growing up, northern New England (ME, NH, VT) was considerably different, demographically, from southern New England (MA, RI, CT). When you drove across the border from MA to NH, you could immediately see you were entering blue-collar country. Of course, the coast of Maine has been colonized by rich folks from NY, but they don't live there year-round and don't vote there. What's going on? Anyone know?
Jul '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
Lefties from NY and MA colonized ME and VT. Lots of retirees and lots of folks who opened romantic bed-and-breakfasts, antique shops, restaurants, organic dairy farms, etc. NH, of course, has been colonized by MS tax refugees, who take their pestilential politics with them.
Meanwhile, the children of hardy Nor' Easterners have fled the states because there isn't any decent employment and no hip urban centers.
I can relate to your comment about crossing the border. I remember the same thing crossing from leafy, tidy Vermont into upstate New York, where every trashy mobile home was surrounded by rusted-out cars up on blocks.
Sep '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
I see this all as a natural phenomenon. We are coming from an age of American wealth and world dominance into a different, much less secure position. We are losing freedoms left and right, our economy and livelihoods are changing rapidly,and mainstream media dominance is ebbing.
Obama and Democrats have moved so far to the left, in a time we can least afford it and Americans are resisting. As Aaron Miller said
...political pundits, like weather forecasters, base their predictions more on past trends than understanding of the present. The GOP should always allow for the possibility of change when presenting primary candidates to voters.
It is a new era in America. Obama and left wing Democrats turned the heat up too fast on the froggy in the pot and he jumped out. Now the frog knows someone wants to kill him and eat him.
I want the Republican party to recognize that the era of playing appeasement games with Democrats is over. Sure there are some political calculations they can make, but there are crucial issues, life or death votes politically speaking. Moderate republicans can't just run to the middle for refuge when things get difficult.
Sep '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
I regard Reagan and Goldwater as the true RINOs. They were principled conservatives who used the GOP to advance the conservative cause. McConnell is no more a RINO than a hero. He is a true Republican, just a finger in the air, professional politician; who judging from the tax bill could not negotiate his way out of a paper bag. I hope I am surprised, but I believe the only thing that will change in 2011 is the excuses the GOP uses for the ever increasing seize of the federal government and the debt. It will take at least another cycle before the Tea Party folks make and substantial difference. The GOP has been producing excuses for over 10 years now. I can’t wait to here why it is an imperative that the Feds bail out CA and IL. It should make the tax bill and TARP excuses seem like reality.
May '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
Kenneth
Lefties from NY and MA colonized ME and VT. Lots of retirees and lots of folks who opened romantic bed-and-breakfasts, antique shops, restaurants, organic dairy farms, etc. NH, of course, has been colonized by MS tax refugees, who take their pestilential politics with them.
Meanwhile, the children of hardy Nor' Easterners have fled the states because there isn't any decent employment and no hip urban centers.
I can relate to your comment about crossing the border. I remember the same thing crossing from leafy, tidy Vermont into upstate New York, where every trashy mobile home was surrounded by rusted-out cars up on blocks. · Dec 17 at 10:14pm
Kenneth, Mississippi tax refugees? Perhaps you meant MA rather than MS? Haley Barbour is actually sorta conservative, even though his two senators are as bad as Robert Byrd when snorting at the trough.....
Jul '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
It will be interesting to watch next year as the ladies of Maine will no longer have swing vote status and many fewer people will care a whit how they (or Scott Brown, for that matter) vote, assuming the rest of the caucus holds together to sustain filibusters. I, for one, couldn't be happier.
Sep '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
Duane, if you worked for the post office and you saw a letter addressed to Bangor, MS, would you send it to Mississippi anyway? jeeze louise...
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
Kenneth
Peter Robinson
Well, would you predict that they'll do now? Switch parties? Site their consciences, then resign? I dunno. I just get the feeling that these two ladies are working politicians. They'll adapt.
But I don't want to press my luck. Having you tell me I'm right has already happened today, Kenneth. I figure that's probably it for the month. · Dec 17 at 7:09pm
Edited on Dec 17 at 07:10 pm
Peter, I thought we always agreed. It's just a matter of style. Remember when I told Rob Long, "Dammit, Rob! Put on some socks!"
Your just quietly adjusted the knot in your tie, but I knew it meant you were on my side. · Dec 17 at 7:14pm
Edited on Dec 17 at 07:14 pm
This is true. I wouldn't want to be the one to remonstrate with Rob, but really. Would Cary Grant ever have gone sockless?
Aug '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
Yes you would. Because you're a US Post Office employee :-)
Jul '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
Peter Robinson
Kenneth
Peter Robinson
Well, would you predict that they'll do now? Switch parties? Site their consciences, then resign? I dunno. I just get the feeling that these two ladies are working politicians. They'll adapt.
But I don't want to press my luck. Having you tell me I'm right has already happened today, Kenneth. I figure that's probably it for the month. · Dec 17 at 7:09pm
Edited on Dec 17 at 07:10 pm
Peter, I thought we always agreed. It's just a matter of style. Remember when I told Rob Long, "Dammit, Rob! Put on some socks!"
Your just quietly adjusted the knot in your tie, but I knew it meant you were on my side. · Dec 17 at 7:14pm
Edited on Dec 17 at 07:14 pm
This is true. I wouldn't want to be the one to remonstrate with Rob, but really. Would Cary Grant ever have gone sockless? · Dec 18 at 11:51am
Only with Top Siders
May '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
Midget Faded Rattlesnake
Yes you would. Because you're a US Post Office employee :-) · Dec 18 at 11:57am
Actually, we are talking about two different situations here. This depends on the amount of available information. There may well be a Bangor or some similar name in MS, but the USPS employee may have an envelope with a zip code there as well.
What I think he would actually do if there was no zip is return to sender saying that the address is inadequate. Perfect bureaucrat solution.
The real question before the house. Does Rob use foot powder or anything to soak up the moisture or kill the interdigital bacteria that can produce olfactory distress?
Aug '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
Duane Oyen
The real question before the house. Does Rob use foot powder or anything to soak up the moisture or kill the interdigital bacteria that can produce olfactory distress? · Dec 18 at 1:18pm
Uhh.. remember Rob's ultra hi-tech toilet?
It comes with a special pedicure extension that sterilizes the feet with gentle UV radiation and then infuses them with a boutique strain of microbes that give off an odor of roses as they metabolize your foot excretions.
Rob's just a little embarrassed to admit to getting pedicures, is all. Much less from a toilet.
Edited on Dec 18, 2010 at 1:32pmJun '10
Re: The Gentleladies from Maine
The Gentleladies from Maine need to be defeated. They are Lowell Weicker or Lincoln Chafee in drag and the GOP is better off without them, even if we lose votes. Scott Brown as well. Get rid of the bunch of them. It is frustrating when you try to make conservative progress only to have our own turn against us. RINOs are worse then democrats because RINOs give us a bad name. Democrats only give themselves a bad name.