Maine voters

[MoonRiver]

should make it clear to Snowe and Collins that they will be Chaffeed if they do not switch parties (either Dem or Independent). And, they should make good on that threat if these two remain stubbornly Repub. The North East is our best shot to get a stronger majority in the Senate. After Chaffee's loss, moderate Repubs there know voters are not kidding. Put feet to fire people.
:dem:

[formercia]

1. Snowe will be hard to beat

judging by her win this time. Allen may go after Collins' seat.

[MoonRiver]

2. I remember people saying that about Chaffee too.

If she is seriously targeted and the Dems run a good candidate next time, who knows.

[formercia]

5. She would have to screw up big time

but nobody is unbeatable,it's just a matter of how much resources the Dems are willing to commit to her defeat. With unlimited cash and people, the Greens would do well too, especially if 2008 comes after 2 years of screw ups.

[MoonRiver]

7. "nobody is unbeatable"

That was amply demonstrated this November. Imo, every Repub in the North East should be seriously targeted by the DNC. I believe Americans know how dangerous it is for the Repukes to be in charge. Chaffee was beloved, but because electing him would allow the maniacs to retain control of the Senate, he was defeated. I have a feeling that Snowe, Collins, and Spectre are all getting very nervous.

[izzie]

3. I may get a boot in the back end but

I am happy to see old time GOP around. We saw what a one party of nut cases can do. I want in-put from both sides. Some how I feel safe when no one has all the power. Lets keep Maine Sen. as they are. Course I did not vote for Snowe but so be it.

[MoonRiver]

4. No boot but I definitely don't agree.

It's not politics as usual anymore. This country teetered on the brink of fascism before citizens said enough. I don't want to risk returning to that precipice.

[izzie]

16. Well I did not vote for her but I am not to up tight about it.

I had read that the GOP was looking for some one to run in her place that was more to their liking. Coming from a family of old time GOP people they really are not bad people. I do not know of one that wished a govt. that Bush gave us. Frankly they all felt wars were a waste of goods and people, and church should be as far away from the state as you could get it and as my father used to tell us. It takes a village to raise a child. some one has to give up some money for tax for the good of all. And he lived in a time when the tax rate ran way up over 50 percent for him. He did like low tax, govt. out of his business and the smaller govt. the better.

[formercia]

10. She could have picked a better husband...

I think she married down...

[izzie]

18. Everyone needs a pet.

--

[maine_raptor]

6. Olympia! won be some ungodly percent here.

She is the tough one to beat. She is well thought of in this part of the state because of her work on behalf of he constituent's. She is "good" at being a Senator to a lot of folks. Her support for the Bush Regime bothered some, but most saw nothing else wrong with past six years.

Susan is following much the same tack as Olympia!, but with her she has some baggage with her refusal to investigate the missing $8.8 Billion from the days of the Coalition Provisional Authority running Iraq. However, the question has to be asked though; Will that be a strong issue come her next campaign?

Maine has a tradition of electing strong Republican women to the Senate. Some are not all bad, look at Margaret Chase Smith, for example.

[MoonRiver]

8. The issue really isn't about them.

I think Maine is a lot more conservative than Rhode Island so maybe Chaffee is a bad example. However, he was defeated simply to help Democrats gain control of the Senate. He would have won on his merits and his popularity were it not for that issue.

[maine_raptor]

9. Ah-yup

In a lot of ways Maine is a Red State masquerading as a Blue.

[formercia]

11. He chose unwisely

drank from the poison cup.

[MoonRiver]

12. Yes, and I will never understand his "logic" in refusing to bend on the issue.

He was incredibly supportive of Jeffords when he flipped, but just would not consider it for himself. :crazy:

[formercia]

15. Political Evolution

those who fail to adapt, go the way of every extinct species. Sometimes it's just Asteroid Impact called Election 2006.

[NorthernSpy]

13. no, Maine is NOT more "conservative" than RI -- we're more rural and more populist!

Yes, we have very little gun control. That doesn't make us "conservative". It just makes us well-armed.

Sorry, but I really hate the "urban liberal" spin on these things. Apparently, you get to call yourself progressive if -- and only if -- you're with the Boston elite on their little handful of pet issues. As though they actually owned the Democratic Party and progressive values!

:argh:

[NorthernSpy]

14. so did Michaud, and he's one of us...

... as he keeps reminding everyone on the tv.

Seriously, he's one of the best from a working class perspective. And yet even he's been mislabeled "conservative", because he is pro-life and opposed to more gun control.

When are we going to start calling all those pro-choice, pro-gun control, globalization worshipping, war-enabling "liberals" conservative? Cause the word fits them just as well, if not better.

[Grebrook]

17. We can only hope Collins will retire in 2008, if she does, that's a guaranteed pick up for the Dems

[SoCalDem]

19. the democratic party just needs to get busy and find a good alternative

Chafee was popular and they found a guy who beat him:)

get busy :)