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Is Sen. Susan Collins a Member of an Endangered Species?
May 01, 2009 7:08 PM
On this week's ABC News Shuffle Podcast, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, talks candidly about the party-switch of Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Penn., her worries about her party and why she shouldn't be attacked for helping to remove money to combat the flu from the stimulus package.
You can listen to the podcast HERE or on iTunes. The Shuffle is produced by Huma Khan.
"I was really stunned by his decision and it took me completely by surprise," the Maine senator says of Specter's announcement. "I would not have been surprised had he announced that he was retiring and I would've been less surprised if he'd announced he was going to become an independent but continued to caucus with our party. But I was shocked that he became a Democrat."
Collins said that "there's no doubt that this was a political calculation as he freely and forthrightly admitted, but I also think that being Republican had become increasingly uncomfortable for him and that's the part that really concerns me."
Re-elected last fall, Collins says that "the Republican party needs to broaden its base. I'm very concerned that it's increasingly becoming a regional party and we cannot regain control of the Senate, much less the House, nor can we win presidential elections if we're just a small regionally based party. I also don't think it's good for the country, it's not good for New England. ... It's much better for our democracy that there be robust competition between the two parties in all areas of the country. So I think this is a worrisome sign for the Republican party but it's also not good for our country nor for specific regions."
This week Collins has taken some heat for being part of a group of Senate moderates who stripped $870 million "to prepare for and respond to an influenza epidemic" from the stimulus bill in February.
"Collins played politics with public health and the economic recovery," wrote John Nichols in The Nation. "That makes her about as bad a player as you will find in a town full of bad players."
Collins maintains that she's been a longtime advocate of funding for flu preparedness, but this particular funding did not belong in this particular bill.
"We made exactly the right decision," she says. "This is just a blatant political attack and it's the kind of unfair attack that ignores those of us who have worked very hard on this issue and what our record is... It's what the American people really don't like seeing in Washington these days."
Again, you can listen to the podcast HERE or on iTunes.
-- jpt
May 1, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (124)
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To me, there is a simple reason why Republican are simply losing their base and it is because they have nothing new to say. When they had the White House for the previous 8 years they voted and supported the ideas of the leaders biggest bafoon George Bush Jr. Now that those last 8 years have taken the country to the depths of incompetence they now want to do all they can to make the new administration and its leader Barrack Obama as a tax and spend liberal President who will run the country fiscally into the ground. HEY REPUBLICANS, WHO DO YOU THINK HAVE PUT US IN THE MESS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY IN, THE TOOTHFAIRY? Funny how they seem to remember selectives what they want to remember and choose to forgot was is really important? Keep letting Rush and the skeleton Ann Coulter along with the Fox channel keep supporting this failed agenda as you already are the laughing stock of the country!
Posted by: Anthony Ravenell | May 9, 2009 11:47:11 AM
Hey GOP continue to let the far right wingnuts control your agenda. Have Rush,Hannity,Cheney and Palin be your spokespersons too. You wonder why your becomingthe exclusive party of the over sixty angry white uneducated bigots?
Posted by: AJ | May 5, 2009 8:23:13 PM
THE PROBLEM with the Republican Party IS Susan Collins and the other RINOs who have been working from inside the party to destroy it. We don't need a Democrat Party and a Democrat Lite Party. There MUST be a unified Conservative-Patriot Party to do battle with the Democrat-Socialist-Communist Party.
Posted by: Ron | May 5, 2009 11:16:45 AM
That is Why the Gop has Shrunk to 21 Percent and Falling THE COUNTRY IS MODERATE Not hard Left or Hard Right!The Republicans need to Lose the Far right wing nuts!
Posted by: Angie in Pa
You are SO wrong. This country by all polling is Center Right. Many Republicans like myself and my family have changed to the Independent Party because of the out-of-control spending of George Bush, plus his refusal to enforce our immigration LAWS and stop the flood of illegal aliens from destroying our school system and bankrupting our hospitals! Many Independents are NOT swing voters and will always defer to the most conservative candidate. Go ahead and think we are a dying breed and see what happens at the mid-term election in 2010!
Posted by: Peggy | May 4, 2009 4:29:25 PM
I've never cared for any of the RINO's, including John McCain (had to hold my nose when I voted for him but I was actually voting for Sarah Palin.) I have more respect for the Blue Dog Dems than for Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, Arlen Specter, etc. They are NOT moderate Republicans, they are LIBERAL Republicans. A Moderate would never have supported this Administrations ridiculous spending bills! They need to join the parasite Specter in the Democrat party. Good Riddance.
Posted by: Peggy | May 4, 2009 4:18:18 PM
This Republican ranting about Specter doing it for political advantage is pretty silly. Specter hasn't changed, the GOP base in PA has.
Show me a politician who doesn't calculate the political advantage of any given situation and I'll show you an ex-politician.
Posted by: Brooklyn Democrat | May 4, 2009 2:42:18 PM
It's going to be one hell of a going away party for you right wing lunatics. I'm sure your defacto leader Rush limblah, his hand puppet Sean Hannity, their bag boy Glen Beck and Ugly (her Rants) Anne Coulture the voice for females in your party will keep you all happy as your party fades into darkness... The Alaskan Palin, Joe the fake Plumber and the new one dimensional miss Boob Job California. The voice or Morality. You guys are doomed we might just get an Independent Party or Libertarian Party to replace you Stoneage Back woods bumpkins.. But then again you have God on your side right? Nothing to worry about. You're going to Heaven?
Posted by: RushTheLushLimblah | May 4, 2009 10:10:42 AM
So now she's a Pig? McCain is a traiter for speaking out against Torture? Snow is also a traitor? You guys are looking to go down faster then the Titanic and you seem oblivious to your fate as you dance around with each other looking down on everyone else..
Posted by: BushWasaRetard | May 4, 2009 10:03:44 AM
The little boy named sue set up an organization called the HSS to separate the nation calling out sheep and goats. How the heck does she think she is god? Thanks you worthless little kook. Did you think the lives of one human is worth less than another in the eyes of god? Well this half pint god does. She is intoxicated with the blood of SO's and will be coming after anyone in her way.
Posted by: Keith Richard Radford Jr | May 4, 2009 9:27:40 AM
SUSAN COLLINS is a Liberal, not a Moderate.
Posted by: Ron | May 3, 2009 10:38:24 PM
Collins and Snowe need to be removed from the party as well. The GOP won't get a dime of my money if they continue to support those two RINO's who voted for a mass spending bill that they never even read. Specter leaving is a godsend.
Posted by: Cindy | May 3, 2009 5:31:47 PM
Republicans,
Haven't you heard this story before from democrats, independents, and republicans, men, women, children, nationally, and internationally.
Get a clue. It's true.
Accept. Embrace. Change.
Just trying to help. 9 time out of 10 you will reply with some asinine remark and I will say YES!!! they are still ignorant and the Democratic will continue to gain seats.
Posted by: Omentum | May 3, 2009 3:35:00 PM
>>>He [Obama] was very smart removing Hillary from the [2012 election] equation.<<< Don't worry, that won't stop Hillary. She is not above challenging a sitting President for the party's nomination. And there is precedent for it that she can point to - Ted Kennedy did exactly that when he challenged Carter for the nomination in 1980.
Posted by: The End Up | May 3, 2009 7:39:31 AM
>>>Is Sen. Susan Collins a Member of an Endangered Species?<<< I most certainly hope so.
Posted by: The End Up | May 3, 2009 7:37:05 AM
"Soros" is Esperanto for 'will soar'. 'To soar' is "sori".
Posted by: stevo | May 3, 2009 3:53:21 AM
"Sen Collins need to learn how to blow her nose."
*******************************************
Certainly with social distancing givven the current H1N1 paranoia. Dear me, do I dare specify the politcally and socially incorrect . . . swine flu?
Posted by: kim | May 3, 2009 2:17:23 AM
Have the Tyrannosaurus Rexes come home to roost? I mean, is "endangered species" an accurate nomenclature?
Posted by: kim | May 3, 2009 2:11:36 AM
Sen Collins need to learn how to blow her nose.
Posted by: Sluggo | May 2, 2009 10:20:26 PM
“The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated” – Mark Twain. The GOP will be just fine. In a couple of years, the Obama mania will be replaced by the reality a new Jimmy Carter. A filibuster proof Senate will only hasten its coming. The democrat’s policy is to do anything to spite Bush, even if it kills them in the long run. Liberals are not rational, history has proven that. In the mean time, enjoy the show. “The resulting torrent of illogic will be most entertaining” - Mr. Spock
Posted by: realitycheck99 | May 2, 2009 10:06:53 PM
Memories of an era are still there...
Posted by: blablabla | May 2, 2009 9:14:37 PM
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