Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe to retire in blow to GOP — Maine Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe will not seek reelection in 2012, she announced Tuesday. — Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) on Dec. 17, 2011, after leaving the floor of the Senate. (J. Scott Applewhite - AP) . . . . .
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| Chart created by FiveThirtyEight at the NY Times. Click on image to enlarge. |
Editor's note: not a "blow" at all. Understand that an important aspect of TEA Party purpose is to "take back the GOP." While Olympia Snowe stood by the GOP in its opposition to the Stimulus and ObamaCare as it is currently structured, she is not aligned with a conservative agenda that demands a return to Constitutional values in determining our legislative future. If a proposed bill, for example, has value to the larger population but defies Constitutional principles, Olympia is just as disposed to ignore the Constitution as are the Democrats.
Personally, I feel no animus toward this Senator. Olympia simply disagrees with the notion that the founding documents need to play an increasing role in the legislative agenda of Congress. That is her choice. But she no longer fits into the scheme of things as defined the by present-day politics of the Right.
Understand that the GOP is a very compromised party, allowing the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Bloomberg, Arlen Specter, Senator Dick Lugar, Olympia Snowe, her Maine senatorial partner, Susan Collins, Collin Powell, and the very unpopular John McCain to continue in the party until they see fit to move on.
The chart, above, shows a steady progression toward conservative values and away from liberal, big government intent within the House of Representative. Of course, those who created the chart are, themselves, big government liberals, but, nevertheless, the conservative trend is real and, even, substantial.
It is my belief that "we" should not fear the offering of choice. While GOP Establishment types (those who work for the status quo) seem to fear the creation of a political agenda that offers a fundamental choice to that of the Democrats, conservatives say, "Bring it on." With the departure of Olympia Snowe, the conservative positioning is strengthened, not diminished. Can a true conservative win election in Maine? Probably not, at least not now, but how on earth will we ever know if we continue to refuse to offer Maine voters a choice? And if Maine voters are so far "gone" that the Constitution is no longer important to them, who really cares?
Snowe is not leaving politics. She is leaving the GOP and may be aligning herself with a group in the "no labels" movement called Americans Elect.
Here is the Senator's announcement:
As I enter a new chapter, I see a vital need for the political center in order for our democracy to flourish and to find solutions that unite rather than divide us. It is time for change in the way we govern, and I believe there are unique opportunities to build support for that change from outside the United States Senate. I intend to help give voice to my fellow citizens who believe, as I do, that we must return to an era of civility in government driven by a common purpose to fulfill the promise that is unique to America.
The highlighted portions of her statement make it clear that Senator Snowe is looking for a political alternative that is neither "Democrat" nor "Republican." The frustrating aspect of her decision is found in the fact that she is not looking to continue Constitutional concerns, per se. As much as we complain about the court system, it is the only thing that prevents the Left from simply walking away from the founding documents and our national historicity, and creating an America that has little to do with its foundational base. In Snowe's statement, above, she speaks of a "time for change in the way we govern" rather than announcing a call to agreement as to the place and purpose of the Constitution.
Political angst has, indeed, increased and no one enjoys that fact. But, this growing antagonism is because Leftist concerns and blatant Marxists have decided to take this country down a different path, do it now, do so whether the people agree or not . . . . . and, it appears, that the people "do not."