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Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told NBC that he was caught off guard by Sen. Olympia Snowe's retirement announcement yesterday, but said he understands her decision.
He is now searching for a GOP candidate ahead of the March 15 filing deadline in Maine.
"I was very surprised," Cornyn said, "because up until yesterday afternoon, mid-afternoon, she gave every indication that she was running for re-election. But obviously after much thought and soul-searching decided that she would retire."
He added, "As you know, she's had a long run in public life at the state legislative level and also in the House and now in the Senate. So while I'm disappointed because I think she's been a very solid member of the Senate and our Congress, its understandable."
Cornyn conceded that a once-safe seat in Maine will now be a battle for Republicans given the state's independent nature and Democratic leanings in presidential elections. But he said he still believes the GOP can win.
"I don't really get this idea that Republicans can't run and win in Maine, because demonstrably, they can," he said noting that Paul LePage, a Tea Party Republican, won as governor in 2010 -- and Republicans Snowe and Susan Collins hold the U.S. Senate seats.
Cornyn rejected the scenario that Republicans may need to win as many as six seats or more to take back the Senate, if they were to lose Maine, Sen. Scott Brown's seat in Massachusetts, or the open toss-up race in Nevada.
So who will jump in now for Maine? Cornyn said he doesn't have anyone "in" yet, but he is burning up the phones and sending emails.
"Republicans who come from Maine have a more moderate appeal than someone in Texas," said the Texas senator. "That shouldn't be surprising."
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the man who would set the agenda as majority leader if Republicans take back the House, said today at a news conference with House Speaker John Boehner, that the Republicans were "surprised and disappointed" by Snowe's decision, noting that he's confident she would have been re-elected comfortably.
"We hate to lose Sen. Snowe," McConnell said. "She's been an extraordinarily effective member, been right in the middle of bipartisan legislation over the years. I think she would have been re-elected comfortably. We were surprised obviously and disappointed, but, in the end, members in public life have to kind of make a decision about whether they want to continue, and she had a great run, and we wish her well. We're going to miss her."
And he likely hopes the GOP doesn't come up one race short of a majority.
Leave a Comment:
And I believe in unicorns, John!
The voters of Maine aren't soon to forget the destruction tea bagging Gov. LePage has brought to the state!
This is the direct result of the overreach by the GNOP!
Looks like the Senator from Texas is not a close friend of the Senator from Maine.
And the Maine filing deadline is only 15days away....
I am loving this day in politics.
It looks like Olympia gave her two week's notice. The RNC can scramble all they want, they won't find another candidate to fill her shoes.
The political genius, our own Democrat hack Feisty , predicted in 2010 the Democrats would gain seats in the House...they lost 62 seats..
So based on "Feisty's law", Maine will elect a GOP Senator, it 's a lock.
You might want to look into buying a new calendar Boob - the year is 2012 & it's a whole different playing field! ;o)
Have you gone in for your rectal probe yet? Try it... from the sound of you, you'll ♥ it!
Voters gave you tea baggers a chance and you BLEW it!
You might want to start thinking about packing for Costa Rica, Limpballs is looking for a pool boy!
It's actually sad about Olympia. She was a moderate who had good sense and values. Her input will be sorely missed by intelligent people. They will be hard pressed to find a Republican who can fill her shoes. My guess is Maine will go blue! Good pick up for the good guys but I wish Olympia well. She was a true public servant.
Fiesty an obama progressive? Maybe, obama can force him to buy a health care plan that covers stupidity. Wait, as a protected class maybe geitner can write the check and sebailia can have him fill out a race form so he remains in a protected class with free healthcare. Ha ha Feisty. What you don't get is the tea baggers are in it for the long haul. the republicans --notice I didnt say conservative--lost some compromising socially fiscal liberal who thinks your money is her money who wants to control your life decided to retire is no bones off the party.
jolly joker - the Republican party doesn't exist anymore. It is now the party of Tea Partiers who want to control everyone's lives. It is the party of desperation and no integrity or intelligence. Olympia is WAY too good for that party!
Kind of interesting how Senator Cornyn and Senator McConnell have nice things to say about Senator Snowe, but most of the Republicans and Conservatives on the internet are happy to see her go and calling her a RINO, etc.
Perhaps if the old white republican farts in the senate concentrated more on helping the country than in womens vaginas, mabe Olympia might have decided to run again.
"Rambote,
sure, he concentrated on women's vaginas, but Ted Kennedy has been deceased for years now, so stop bringing him up...
Virginia Bob..... You are just like a mushroom... fed on s**t and kept in the dark.
Ramboet - and that's really the best place for Bob!
I love the new slogan for Virginia that Steeler Fan came up with.
"New slogan for Virginia------Virginia is for lovers........of transvaginal probes."
The home of the transvaginal probe Governor, who will never be the VP.
Bill clinton never used vagina's. Smart guy that dem.. The definition of is is alive and well.
jolly joker - was that supposed to make any sense?????
Thanks Job1. We are starting to plan our travel/vacations for the year and we're going to put our travel dollars to work in states where we agree with the politics. We're planning a trip to the DC area and will stay in Maryland rather than Virginia. As much as we like Arizona (esp. in the winter), we won't go back til it becomes a blue state.
Seeking Sanity - please don't feed the troll!
If you starve them of their Cheeto's eventually they dry up and blow away! ☺
Steeler Fan, that sounds like great vacation plan.
Bob @2.1===I see you are still in lock step with your vaginal scoping Governor.
Ramboet,
Spot on! Those "old white republican farts in the senate" haven't been near "one" in so long it has become an obsession with them!
New Republican Motto: Government small enough to fit in a uterus!
Ramboet,
OWRF's just don't get it.
They are digging themselves deeper and deeper into the ditch.
You would think. However, I am so sick of watching women standing behind these old men nodding and smiling while they are being humiliated. Just look at Santorum's daughter. She looks like she has come right out of the fifties with pouffe hair and polka dot dresses.
He believes a Republican will win in Maine. I believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, and oh - don't forget the Great Pumpkin!!!
By Great Pumpkin are you referring to John Boehner?Ooww!
Ramboet @3.1---I completely agree with your statement, especially about Santorum's daughter. She looks like a blank statement standing behind her father.
Maybe Senator Sanctimonium would be willing to settle for a Senate seat. Betcha Landslide Willard would campaign for him in Maine, a state he almost controls.
Ramboet
I object to your personal attack on Ricky's daughter. He is fair game. His family is off-limits unless she does something outrageous, like campaign for Ron Paul.
I wonder what the real scoop is with respect to her not running again? Politicians just don't quit like that unless somebody's got something on them. "I just wonder"
GT- I believe she saw a chance to screw the all boys club mentality of her party. Imagine the grief she got from Mitch McChinless and the gang for any compromising she did. I believe the coattails may be growing on this president.
GT - Gotta admire her and if anybody has/had anything on her, I doubt she would have been so frank in her assessment of Congress. Sen. Snowe said to the world what we have been saying among ourselves - about time it came from someone in the public eye !!!
Congress - they are people we voted for to represent us. How's that working out?? It's not. They can't get it together - the only people they represent are themselves and their special interests.
And - how about this Sen. Cornyn?? All he's concerned about is a replacement. Apparently, he didn't get the message - he and the rest of Congress - all of its parties - are the next best thing to useless.
I hope that it woke up some of these Congresspeople - they'd better start scrambling before election day or it will be an empty place on Capitol Hill.
GT
"She's been an extraordinarily effective member, been right in the middle of bipartisan legislation over the years.
I think Senator McConnell pretty much answered your question. Her specialty is bipartisan legislation. Mitch McConnell set the marching orders for the Senate GOP: We are here to make Obama a one term president. There ain't going to be any bipartisanship.
Why would he be surprised she quit after he sent the message that she was not needed anymore?
I'm glad Obama, is finally working on fixing the country, just wish he would of started two years ago!
Ramboet,
I looked up the history of Roy Blunt who has the amendment attached to the transportation bill in the Senate. He the "cultural warrior"...
Roy had been married for 35 years while he rose in politics. Then the divorce and he married a lobbyist.
He reminds me of another guy running for president who found love in DC.
I know little about Sen. Snowe but I have to admire her. I've heard the interview and her reasons for not seeking office. She called it the way it is in Congress. It doesn't matter who belongs to what political party, they are useless. Chaos is the name of the game. All they are is a bunch of seat warmers - they do nothing for their constituents. They agree on nothing, even within their own party. Their only distinction is the fact that they haven't managed to pass a single bill. They've done nothing work on our problems yet grant themselves raises and 'golden cadillac' healthcare, exempt from Obamacare.
This crew doesn't know the meaning of the word "consensus". Maybe they need a course in it !! Congress can put laws into place - I suggest term limits!
Apparently, Sen. Coryn is only concerned about losing a member of his party. Didn't he hear the reasoning?
Now hear this, Senator, your party, your Congress, is a mess. You, the rest of Congress is clueless. It took one of your own to stand up and speak, tell you what a disgrace the whole group of you are. It's time for a good house cleaning.
Get rid of Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi - their States rank up there as the worst in the country !!! Shame on those who voted them in. My own state, RI, fares no better. We are at the top of the worst states and on the bottom for anything positive.
Congrats to Sen. Snowe for standing up and telling the truth. Get out of that ship of fools and enjoy your life. It took a woman with guts and courage to call 'em as she sees 'em. Good for her....
lesmax - let's not forget John Boehner who is only good at blocking progress; Mitch McConnell from Kentucky who believes his job is to object to anything the President proposes - let's make sure we get those in! Oh and don't forget Lindsey Graham
SeekingSanity - don't worry, I haven't forgotten about Boehner. I'm not an Obama fan but when the Prez gives a speech, the Boner is right up there on his podium, back stabbing all the way. He never addresses the speech - just shoots his arrows. That's his platform - attack Obama personally. He has no ideas, plans except to get to his next tanning session. I expect some rebuttal but it never happens. He's in a constant attack mode - guy's gonna stroke out someday!!! Mitch - well, at least he voices his objection, Boehner just plain hates Obama. I can't address Graham - don't know all the players.
All I know is we're in a heap of trouble....
As a conservative and proud Tea party supporter, all I can say to Olympia Snowe is "Don't let the screen door hit your *** on the way out!" I like having our enemies on the other side of the fence, not stabbing us in the back and undercutting our attempts to fix the damage the liberals have done. As for the chance that Republicans will now be unable to win the Senate: What good is it to control the Senate when there are RINO's like Snowe acting like Democrats? If the country is stupid enough to reelect Obama and give the Democrats control of Congress, this country is finished anyway.
I. Samwell - I'm so sorry for you. A proud Tea party supporter - can you actually say that and not puke??
I.Samwell - The Tea Party we now have is not the Tea Party I was expecting. When Palin entered the picture, I washed my hands of anything Tea Party. I have no party affiliation - I vote the person, not the party.
In my comment, I said I knew little about Ms. Snowe. We have enough problems in my State !!! I have to admire her - she told the truth from an insider's view. It just reaffirmed what we already know about Congress. Congress thinks all its dirty little doings are secret - they're not and this woman exposed the whole lot of them.
I'm from RI. My Gov. (Chafee) father was a well respected, good Republican governor in a Democratic state. He moved on to become Secretary of the Navy. His son was in the Senate as a Republican but usually hung onto Demo. lines. He ran as a Independent but it was a 3-way race which is bad but he barely won (2% pts). He is lack-luster, aligns himself with the Dems/the ACLU, has done zilch. This State is still in recession mode and his solution is to keep taxing & driving business away. His father would be rolling over in his grave. He has no ideas. He'll be a one-term governor. My opinion - he's looking for a Cabinet seat. He's not his father.
What I want to see in Congress is people who represent us - I don't care about their party. I want to see my country fixed, go back to its former glory. Right now, we are an embarassment and embarassed. People need to get out and vote and KNOW who/what they are voting for. In this day of technology, how can they be so uninformed? Why don't they vote? It's a privilege afforded by living in a democracy.
Wow, where did you come from? An honest, respectful, free-thinking individual seeking the truth. Boy are you in the wrong place! Seriously, I think we are sadly past the time when voting for the person and not the party is an option. This was demonstrated on the Obamacare vote when all of these 'conservative' and 'moderate' Democrats showed their true colors. This country is split like no time since the 1850's - 1860's because of abortion (though most people haven't figured that out yet) and it is manifested on virtually every issue. When I voted for the first time in 1972 as a first-time, 18-year old voter, my father gave me just one piece of advice. A lifetime conservative and one-time county chairman for the Republican party, he suggested I vote for his friend, the incumbent Democratic congressman. Were he to ask me that again in the same situation, today I would have to tell him "Sorry, Dad.". I enjoyed your observations and comments; please feel free to do so again.
It's a sad day when fellow Senators and American's are called 'the enemy'
Lesmax, you say we are an embarassment. Do you think we are a bigger embarassment today than we were 10 years ago? Do you think we are less respected in the world than we were 10 years ago? Just an honest question for you.
SeekingSanity - I wish you success in your quest for sanity. "A proud Tea Party supporter, A proud Tea Party supporter, A proud Tea Party supporter"...Hmm, yep, I said it three times and no vomit!!
I Aye Aye Samuel por que yo no tiene una cavesa? Considering your TP's demographics you folks aren't long for this place and I say good riddance to such foul smelling fools.
Gee, I thought I showered today! Actually Talking Toy Ou55, I like our demographics just fine. I guess I have more faith in the Hispanics believing in the rule of law and not particularly appreciating jumping through all the hoops to become U.S. citizens and then competing with illegals for jobs. By the way, when are the blacks and Hispanics in this country finally going to realize that the Democrats don't want them to emerge from poverty and lower-middle class despair? When people become successful, they purchase nice homes, stocks and bonds, and all of the trappings of the good life. Suddenly things like property taxes, inheritance taxes, capital gains taxes, luxury taxes, etc. don't seem like such a good idea! And the Republicans become more attractive to them. So the Democrats grease the palms of a few judas goats like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to keep everyone voting for them and then throws the masses some crumbs. Bringing minorities out of poverty will destroy the Democratic Party, they know it, and they're not going to do it. Comprende?
I.: what I don't understand about the Republican party is how does the destruction of the middle class, hurting the poor, women, disabled all the while giving additional advantages to the wealthy help to bring minorities out of poverty ?
BTW: if you make the middle class poor, and then kill off the poor, who do you think you will have left to tax ?
Don't waste your time, he's and avowed bagger which means his vision ends at the tip of his nose and his concern for his fellow man ended with himself. There is no point in conversing with these self anointed people.
The quality GOP politicians will start to quit out of embarrassment now and the Democrats will begin the climb back. '
Act like a as,shole you get treated like one
Oh and thank your flea party and the bible thumping hypocrites and liars like Beck, Palin, Palin and Limberger
This is what happens when the Republican Party, embraces the hard core Taliban Tea Party. No bipartisan compromise, and you were shunned by the Taliban Group for being too moderate for their tastes. I believe they will find another Maine Republican, but the state is reverting back to the Democrats due to hard core screws loose, in Paul Lapage the Governor of Maine, and other Republicans there.
Why don't you just go blow Obama already, you bag of gas..
A headline never to be seen on Dem loving First Read:
A new Mass Insight poll in Massachusetts shows Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) leading challenger Elizabeth Warren (D), 52% to 42%.
Warren Buffet, in a recent interview with CNBC said "I could end the deficit in 5 minutes. You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3%, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election. Congressional Reform Act of 2012
1. No Tenure, No Pension
2. Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receive no pay when out of office.
3. Congress(past, present, future)participates in Social Security. All funds in congressional retirement fund move to the SS system immediately. All future funds flow into SS system and Congress particpates with the American people. It may not be used for other purposes.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all American do.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and particpates in the same health care system as the American people.
7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 1/1/13. the American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women.
It would be nice to have an "actual" Republican in Maine. Snowe always voted "along Party lines", Democrat. Maybe after she retires she can get a job being a PAID cheerleader for Obama, like Fiesty.................
Senator Snow did well by the party in announcing her retirement. As to whether a Republican can win the seat, it remains to be seen. If you believe that Senator Snow IS a Republican, the answer was (and is) yes. As to the importance of reaching 'consensus' - I think the truer word is a working 'compromise'. The last thing the country needs is for the collective politicians in Washington to reach a 'consensus' on anything. Congress needs factionism to give all sides input to solutions, so 'partisan politics' is not the dirty term it is made out to be. What the country needs is a serious effort to get current spending under control, allow the private sector the freedom to 'stimulate' growth, and understand that, in the long term, real answers must be found to deal with the Medicare and Social Security programs
It is a shame that the last couple of generations have not learned to disagree without being disagreeable. The fact that I have a different perspective than someone does not make me a moron, idiot, communist, fascist, racist, bigot or moron. I have my opinions and I have formed them over the years listening to many people who purported to be knowledgeable. Medicare and Social Security exist for obvious reasons that don't need any explanation. Old people cannot buy health insurance at hardly any price and social security existed because of the last depression. It is a trust fund that people want to do away with because of this near depression. Senator Snowe will be a loss because she is a voice of reason on her side of the isle. That is more than I can say about most republicans including the one interviewed in this article. The democrats are just as bad but this was not about them.
Ah--Tribalism always rules the day--Pathetic
speaking of tribes--where are the RP`S-Have they given up hope?
Time to do some housekeeping...
Ryandudya- No, it's a sad day when fellow Senators and Americans ARE the enemy!
dirp101 - The number of poor and middleclass individuals in this country's history who have become successful and even wealthy is enormous. Most of them have a dream, stay focused on that dream, are hard workers, and don't let the destructive influences of the world destroy them. America is the land of opportunity. There are no guarentees, life isn't fair, and not everyone you meet in life wants you to succeed. You can either realize those are the realities of life and plan accordingly as you follow your dream or you can stand outside a building holding a protest sign with a bunch of fellow losers trying to siphon wealth from people and organizations who actually provide goods and services to society.
Amused in the Midwest - Since we've never met in person, I wonder how you know that I only care about myself. I guess keeping a large percentage of the black population mired in poverty by using public education in the inner cities as a jobs program for the teachers unions is an example of how those 'caring Democrats' are fighting for the poor? Many Tea Party members are in favor of school vouchers so the poor kids can leave the rotten schools they find themselves in but one of the first things Obama did was to kill just such a pilot program. Finally, your comment to dirp101 translates as "You can't beat this guy with facts, so just try to ignore him like I am." I get that a lot.
One of the few old school Republicans who would work WITH the opposing party for the sake of the nation has said she won't run again. While this opens the door for Democrats to gain another seat it is too bad that it had to come for this reason. The Republican party has been hyjacked by right wing extremist Fascist wannabes who think they are soooooo patriotic but are just the opposite. Good luck Sen. Snowe.