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President Obama joined members of Congress in reacting to Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe's announcement that she would not seek re-election this year. The Maine senator has been in public service for nearly four decades.
Stressing her history of working with lawmakers on the other side of the aisle, Obama released a statement that read in part: “From her unwavering support for our troops, to her efforts to reform Wall Street, to fighting for Maine’s small businesses, Sen. Snowe’s career demonstrates how much can be accomplished when leaders from both parties come together to do the right thing for the American people.”
The President’s reaction is notable because he does not typically release statements when Republican lawmakers announce their retirements.
There was no paper statement when the second-ranking Republican in the Senate, Sen. Jon Kyl (R), announced he was retiring last February. The White House was equally mum when longtime Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) announced last January that she would not seek re-election.
One reason for the difference may be that Snowe has a history of breaking with her Republican counterparts and voting with the Democrats. The Washington Post points out that only Sen. Susan Collins -- also of Maine -- voted with Democrats more than Snowe last year.
Obama's statement also celebrated Snowe’s long career in public service: “Elected to the State House in 1973, Olympia went on to be the first woman in American history to serve in both houses of a state legislature and both houses of Congress.”
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Everyone on both sides likes her .She put the people's needs first not like the other repulsive old koots !I wil miss her . I hope they honor her with a reception at the white house .
What a crazy statement. No one on either side really likes her. I say good riddins to a selfish polition.
The President’s reaction is notable because he does not typically release statements when Republican lawmakers announce their retirements.
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Snowe is not a Republican, she's a Republic-rat RINO.
Don't let the door hit you in the a$$ on your way out.
Now you can officially register yourself in the Dem party where you belong.
That's right, Joey...only "True Believers" should be allowed in the GOP...moderates need not apply, right?
...only "True Believers" should be allowed in the GOP...moderates need not apply, right?
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Da Hemmorhoid: Just the same as moderate Dems: only "True Believers" should be allowed in the Dem party...moderates need not apply, right?
I seem to remember the Dem party actually disowning Joe Lieberman and endorsed another candidate for the Senate because he voted with the Republicans too many times. Of course, he ran as an independent and kicked the Dem party endorsed candidate's a$$.
Joe you are all heart. Ms. Snowe is did the job for her constituents back in Maine maybe that's why she kept getting elected. She not a representative of New York.
I seem to remember Lieberman getting Cheney's endorsement, kissing McCain's ass and speaking at the GOP convention in 08. Yeah, I think we got it right about Joe "War Horse" Lieberman.
I seem to remember Lieberman getting Cheney's endorsement, kissing McCain's ass and speaking at the GOP convention in 08.
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Too bad the Dems disowned him in the 2006 Senate election. Next time check the facts first, MORON.
Ive always thought of Snow as independent in her thinking and her voting... Although I sometimes didn't agree with her, I felt she was voting in the best interest of the country and not what was politically correct for herself...
Is that cheering I hear in the wind from the dusty red heartland? Who will water your shriveled seed now? Oh well, you always have prayer to turn your blind eye too.
Senator Snowe will be missed in the Senate. She is a thoughtful pragmatic New Englander.
I always saw her in the tradition of a Sara Owen Jewett of politic. She knew the needs of the people who elected her.
It is a sad commentary on our political system when reasonable people feel that reason no longer applies in our current form of government.
She's probably almost as furious about the current state of her anti-woman, anti-minority, anti-education, anti-science, anti-immigrant, anti-opportunity, anti-liberty, anti-worker, anti-competitve party as the majority of Americans.
What lies, Get a life and get over you hate. The funny thing is, you know your statement is false, but it makes you feel good to hate.
It's not hate. It's frustration and disappointment. I'd really like there to be some choice when I go to the voting booth, but with the current state of a Republican party dominated by irrational, hostile, extremists, they are simply not an option. I'm an independant and have no love for any political party, but the GOP has gone to a very dark place. They need to reform themselves, and that reform needs to start with ditching the fundamentalist religious right.
I am obviously dem/independent, but I always considered Sen. Snowe as a class act and admired her. President's statement also admirable in recognizing someone from the other side of the aisle for all of the hard work she has managed to do in the this super charged heated political environment. Another class act.
Great lady. I hate seeing the best and brightest leave the Republican party. We need viable opposition parties.
So remind me again, why was Snowe considered a Republican? She always voted along party lines...........Democrat.
Are you simply mis-informed or are you intentionally lying?
Snowe voted with her party about 70% of the time, until the most recent Congress when minority obstructionism and majority exclusion-ism exacerbated the polarization of the parties to an extreme degree and pretty much eliminated the ability for moderates in the minority to influence the legislation of the majority. In the current Congress, she voted Republican 90% of the time. And it's that polarized environment (which is the result of a bipartisan snowball effect) that's the main reason she's leaving.
Snowe was a lady and one of the better politicians - America will miss her thoughtfulness.
The fact that the Socialist "occupying" 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. praised Olympia Snowe tells me all I need to know about the woman.
She was nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Get her butt out of Congress and get an actual conservative in her place.
Dont let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya
So if the President (I'm assuming that's who you mean when you say "Socialist") were to offer praise for any other Republican Senator would you hate that Senator as well?
Here's another anti-constitutionalist who thinks we ought to be governed by some type of overlord who tells everyone in their party how to think and vote.
No thanks! I prefer someone who represents the local people who voted for him/her, and who votes in the best interests of the country.
Snow at best was a rhino and helped cause the mess we are in today! Why do people slobber over ther self-serving idealogs when in the same time look at our debt, standing in the world , divison of people in our own homeland, and the downward spiral of the economy! Next, people will want this phoney up on MT.Rushmore with hussain oBAMA! Give me a BREAK!
Mount Rushmore? Wow - that makes you sound stupid!!!
Self-serving idealog? Her job was to represent the people who voted for her - not you. Get over yourself.
To bad the rest of the republican/tea bag party doesn't have the balls to put America first as she does. Take heed republican/tea baggers you just ran off a good Republican. Its a shame that people in her party such as joe in albany feel the way they do about her.
And by "put america first" you mean unions and illegals, right?
trudat - I went to the Holocaust Museum in DC yesterday. Walking through the 4th floor and reading how it all started, I was struck by the similarities with many of todays rwnj comments like yours. Strike fear into the masses, find a scape goat to take the blame, discredit any news source that doesn't provide your point of view, and yell louder and longer than anyone else because volume and tenacity makes you right.
did you just call me a liberal? because they over-whelmingly portray all the traits you just described.
If you dont think democrats are in the pockets of the unions and arent protecting illegals strictly for the latino vote then you are either blind, insane or just a bit daft.
Dems dont care about the middle-class or poor, they care about votes, that is it, stop eating the sh!t they feed you.
If I was a Republican I would run from the party too!! The Tea/Republicans has become a party of hate and bigotry! Sad but good for Democrats because it is now a safe Senate seat turn blue!
To Realhope and Joe and others: Do we really need more division in our government? Snowe was a voice of reason for both sides, and she will be missed.