AP to Palin: Olympia Snowe’s the real maverick in this party
posted at 8:16 pm on October 13, 2009 by Allahpundit
Really? They acknowledge that her Senate seat is entirely safe, in which case what’s so “mavericky” about casting a vote that (a) ensures a degree of input into the final bill that other Republicans can only envy and (b) earns her the sort of fawning media coverage of which this very piece is a sterling example?
The Palin comparison is useful, though. If Sarahcuda had said something as comically insipid as “When history calls, history calls,” Tina Fey would have an entire skit built around it on SNL this week. As it is, our moronic media’s treating it as some sort of faux-profound rendezvous with destiny.
Forget Sarah Palin. The female maverick of the Republican Party is Sen. Olympia Snowe…
“When history calls, history calls,” Snowe told her colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee, several hours into the debate.
Snowe had kept virtually all of Washington guessing how she would vote, not even letting Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., or Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus of Montana in on her secret. She did call her Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Tuesday morning to break the news about her plans…
Snowe may face a rough time with her Republican colleagues in the Senate but not necessarily in fiercely independent Maine.
“I don’t think there’s any possible negative political implication,” said Sandy Maisel, director of Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. “She is untouchable electorally in the state of Maine.”
Some maverick. Here she is in all her mavericky glory, giving an exclusive!!! and otherwise substance-less interview to ABC about the process going forward. Exit question: Was there any reason not to tell Obama, Reid, and Baucus in advance how she was voting aside from wanting to bait the media by building a feeling of suspense? Click the image to watch.
Blowback
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I want to know exactly what the dems bought her off with for this vote.
Daemonocracy on October 13, 2009 at 8:18 PM
I believe the adage “sell out” is apropos
blatantblue on October 13, 2009 at 8:19 PM
She must be solid bone from ear to ear…. repugnant, to say the least.
ultracon on October 13, 2009 at 8:19 PM
Snowe…It’s 3am and History’s calling.
Please don’t answer the phone.
DrAllecon on October 13, 2009 at 8:19 PM
A good looking woman with economic sense. A twofer.
a capella on October 13, 2009 at 8:19 PM
ONCE AGAIN…. NOTHING has changed. I’ll bet hotair readers a jillion dollars that snowe votes down the final Obamacare bill that has a public option, etc.
In retrospect, this isn’t ‘game over’ for we opponents of obamacare, in fact it’s not a biggie at all.
1. The dems had a 13-10 advantage in committees, so it was going to pass anyway
2. This ‘finance committee bill’ is one that the finance committee MADE. Love or hate obamacare, public option, etc., why would the finance committee present themselves a crap sandwich and then vote DOWN their own work?
3. The Blue dogs voting ‘yes’ and the RINOS voting ‘yes’ mean nothing; again, it’s the COMMITTEE bill, it’s not the final bill, besides, even Snowe reserved the right to change as later CBO scoring/budget reports came out in the next few weeks
4. The ‘big deal’ isn’t this committee bill anyway; it’s what happens when this bill is merged with the other committee bill (h.e.l.p. committee), and then what happens to the final senate version; and then what happens in the house (public option mania!); and then what happens in the back-to-the-senate compromise session; etc…. nothing unexpected happened today, and they haven’t even voted yet anyway
I still maintain OBAMACARE is DEAD! DEAD! DEAD!
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 8:20 PM
….
There are no words.
Emily M. on October 13, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Snowshoe face needs to be showed the door.
There is always a back room deal. How much did you get?
We have a similar problem in Florida, the media plans on getting Crist elected to the Senate so he can be the sellout vote.
tarpon on October 13, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Maine gets Arizona and New Mexico if it enters WWI?
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 8:21 PM
“I want to know exactly what the dems bought her off with for this vote.”
A shiny new quarter. That’s all it takes when “History Calls!”
the scandal isn’t just that she sold out, but that her price was so low.
WWS on October 13, 2009 at 8:21 PM
“When history calls, history calls.”
I nominate Snowe Ma’am for Chauncey Gardener Award.
casel21 on October 13, 2009 at 8:21 PM
On the news they made the point that she voted for it even though she did not like the bill. They said the same about several of the Dems who voted. Is this where we have gone?
This is crazy.
CWforFreedom on October 13, 2009 at 8:21 PM
You want to know how dead this current bill is?
It’s this dead.
jhffmn on October 13, 2009 at 8:22 PM
The fact that it would still have passed out of committee without her vote just shows the dripping hypocrisy in her actions. History indeed…. history will show her as a RINO, nothing else.
ultracon on October 13, 2009 at 8:22 PM
RINO… Thanks Maine…
This is EXACTLY why we need a Third Party in this country…
Khun Joe on October 13, 2009 at 8:22 PM
Nope. But, Olympia is a whore. She’ll cross over for anyone.
HornetSting on October 13, 2009 at 8:22 PM
Snowedrifting left.
fourdeucer on October 13, 2009 at 8:23 PM
That’s either a reference to Palin, or someone is off their meds.
Master Shake on October 13, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Who would envy having input into a bill that violates the Constitution ten ways from Sunday, let alone being eminently un-American. I wouldn’t want to have my name anywhere such an atrocious POS like that.
You have a strange idea of what “Republicans” want, allah. McCain, Grahamnesty, and the rest of the Vichy Right might want input to that legislative suicide bomb, but they’re slugs who deserve to be thrown into the street.
progressoverpeace on October 13, 2009 at 8:23 PM
I agree it’s not game over, far from it, but had she voted no there is a good chance Lincoln and Nelson would have as well which have killed the bill in committee. The democrats would have been completely at each others throats from their own quarters while the public watched. This may still yet happen with the Unions opposing the cadillac plans tax but the media and Obama still get to parade Snowe around as a symbol of bipartisanship.
Daemonocracy on October 13, 2009 at 8:23 PM
It is the new Maine state motto!!!!
Other suggestions:
“When it rains, it gets wet”
“Hats are good, caps are not”
“Time runs by, and we lose time”
“Happiness is a reward for being happy”
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 8:23 PM
Yup.
DEAD.
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 8:24 PM
Wow, another mavericky maverick! Maybe this one reads newspapers and knows what the vice president does.
You betcha!
simplesimon on October 13, 2009 at 8:24 PM
Yep…. they are correct… Snowe is JUST like the Maverik… siding against with the Dems against the American conservative.
What she is NOT is a Rogue!
Romeo13 on October 13, 2009 at 8:24 PM
‘Maverick’ in APspeak – a Republican who tongue bathes a Democrat
nyx on October 13, 2009 at 8:24 PM
Steele, if you want to get us on your side, boot Snowe out of the GOP.
cubachi on October 13, 2009 at 8:24 PM
Troll, please tell me what palin was supposed to say on “what newspapers do you read???”
Please!
if she says NYT, she’s screwed with the base
if she DOESNT say NYT, she’s screwed with the media
Pretend you are palin, how do you answer????
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 8:25 PM
The investment of most of the major media in the President and the Democratic Party is just amazing.
CWforFreedom on October 13, 2009 at 8:25 PM
Wait until Maine voters find out they’ll have to pay taxes on their “cadillac” health care plans. History will call back.
billy on October 13, 2009 at 8:25 PM
is this because Palin is more attractive???
alexraye on October 13, 2009 at 8:26 PM
And your boy Biden is a racist idiot.
CWforFreedom on October 13, 2009 at 8:26 PM
And the AP used to be a news gathering network. History.
d1carter on October 13, 2009 at 8:26 PM
Especially for The One.
nyx on October 13, 2009 at 8:26 PM
I agree.
I used to not agree, but I agree.
I heard her on record once saying “im a republican because i believe in small government”….. and then she votes for porkulus, etc.
What is a Republican?
SHE is socially liberal, fiscally liberally, economically moderate at best, defense moderate at best, ‘size of government’ liberal…..
…what else is there?
WHY be a Republican if you have no values that fit our party?
GET OUT!
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 8:27 PM
That’s the kind of stuff opposing teams put on the bulletin board to get fired up.
SouthernGent on October 13, 2009 at 8:27 PM
When nature calls, nature calls.
S’cuse me, y’all.
John the Libertarian on October 13, 2009 at 8:27 PM
SimpleSimon boy is he an idiot!
CWforFreedom on October 13, 2009 at 8:27 PM
Obama/Democrat play book… The Health Care Bill is a Victory. Palin is evil.
Chocolate rations are up…
Dark days…
VERY dark days…
Skywise on October 13, 2009 at 8:27 PM
You say that like it’s a good thing. She’ll eat whatever turd the Dems hand her and she’ll like it.
Having your name on this bill is not going to be a winner, in the long term, either. Though, I’m sure that when the GOP gets into power, the morons will give her a committee chair or something.
AUINSC on October 13, 2009 at 8:27 PM
There is no bill…
Rest assured, they’ll be given whatever they want. Now that they have a piece of paper on the floor that can be passed with a 50+ vote majority they’ll put whatever they want on it.
Skywise on October 13, 2009 at 8:29 PM
And I for one do believe she was bought.
DerKrieger on October 13, 2009 at 8:29 PM
She should’ve said, “When history calls… I’ll try to find ya some and I’ll bring ‘em to ya!”
And winked.
benny shakar on October 13, 2009 at 8:30 PM
And when a doorbell rings, it goes ‘Ring!’
It ain’t over till it’s over?
I voted for it before I voted against it?
I see no Pultizters here for literature.
Mavericks run against the pack or the herd, and which party is in charge in Washington?
Liam on October 13, 2009 at 8:30 PM
Palin is not only in Obama’s head she’s in ALL of the MSM’s head. What in the world does she have to do w/ Snowe’s RINO traitor actions? Plus, Palin has never been in the senate. Geeez, the MSM and the left will find ANYTHING to keep her in the news… it’s getting really old…
davek70 on October 13, 2009 at 8:31 PM
Snowe is an attention whore RINO, nothing “maverick” about her except that she is squishy like the original “maverick.”
farright on October 13, 2009 at 8:31 PM
She did this to get face time on TV. Is there a politician who isn’t a narcissist?
Olympia Snowe, do us all a favor and please follow in the footsteps of Arlen Specter.
conservative pilgrim on October 13, 2009 at 8:31 PM
Do you ever wonder why only Palin’s words are spelled out phonetically in AP reports? And not Obama’s dropping-of-the-g when speaking “black” in the South? Obama’s ‘fixin’ becomes ‘fixing’?
Why is that, benny?
How come its ONLY palin that has her words spelled out phoenetically????
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 8:31 PM
I only know two Olympias: Olympia Dukakis and Olympia Snow – both liberals. What’s in a name they ask.
keep the change on October 13, 2009 at 8:32 PM
POS
RedNewEnglander on October 13, 2009 at 8:33 PM
“When history calls, history calls,”
WTF?
You know “history was calling” when Obama’s buddy Willy Ayers was setting bombs in the Pentagon and the Capitol Building too!
Would this “maverick” had got all “mavericky” had THAT history called her as well?
Idiot RINO!
gary4205 on October 13, 2009 at 8:33 PM
This is only a win for her… she now gets leverage so she might be able to slow this thing down till NJ and VA gov votes, keep out public option, and torpedo it if the winds change… and if she goes with it she bails out her state’s health care experiment…
ninjapirate on October 13, 2009 at 8:34 PM
Wow. Then I guess that makes me much more astute than “virtually all of Washington”, because I didn’t have a shadow of a doubt that she’d vote with others of her kind.
uncivilized on October 13, 2009 at 8:34 PM
If the French are laughing at our politicians, I can’t blame them.
Liam on October 13, 2009 at 8:34 PM
yup.
can’t wait for Christie and McDonnell to win, then obamacare is REALLY DEAD
battleoflepanto1571 on October 13, 2009 at 8:35 PM
I see Gilda Radner when I look at her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afi2xeM5ZSI
ProudPalinFan on October 13, 2009 at 8:35 PM
For someone who doesn’t read any newspapers, She sure likes to pick fights with them.
TimeTraveler on October 13, 2009 at 8:35 PM
Everyone is making too big a deal out of her vote… still a long way to go… settle down…
ninjapirate on October 13, 2009 at 8:35 PM
simply-tampon is back!! Yippee ~~ where is good ‘ole Joe these days anyway?
Ris4victory on October 13, 2009 at 8:37 PM
You got that right. She’s testing the wind, nothing more or less than that. Of course, that doesn’t change my opinion of her. It’s obvious that she takes no stand that she can’t immediately retreat from if it becomes politically expedient to do so.
uncivilized on October 13, 2009 at 8:38 PM
When they start writing admiring articles about maverick Democrats, then I will give the AP some credit. Until then it still looks like they think there is only one way to travel. Left.
Cindy Munford on October 13, 2009 at 8:39 PM
Still closer than it should be.
And her vote was grandstanding, they didn’t even need her vote. She elected to stand with the Democrats. She can stay there.
Skywise on October 13, 2009 at 8:39 PM
+100
Maybe the idiot fringe media thought Tammy Bruce was serious when she called Palin the 101st Senator after she kicked Obama’s a$$ for the umpteenth time!!
gary4205 on October 13, 2009 at 8:39 PM
Jeanne Devon? Long time no see!
Welcome back gal!
TimeTraveler on October 13, 2009 at 8:40 PM
The AP went overboard, too much praise for nothing make you look into things.
So why did she do this? The only History call she is answering is in relation to her own state’s failure at state run health insurance here is the result of the terrible state run health insurance plan they have, and the abysmal job they did to Medicaid by turning it into Mainecare
Her state has the failure of government run health insurance and a)she wants it for everyone, or b)she is such a jackass she can’t admit that they failed (Snowe championed it) and instead is looking for a bailout/wayout.
batterup on October 13, 2009 at 8:40 PM
They promised her no serious opposition to her reelection in 2012.
Which is great for her – GOP won’t put up a primary run and dems won’t run against her.
HondaV65 on October 13, 2009 at 8:40 PM
Sure there was a reason. You never want your vote taken for granted by the other side, even if everyone knows you’re a sell-out. Snowe undoubtedly thinks she retains bargaining power by hewing to the practice of remaining a question mark, until the vote actually happens.
Maybe, by playing it coy, she in fact got better promises of Halloween candy for Maine than she would have otherwise.
J.E. Dyer on October 13, 2009 at 8:40 PM
Until she bends over again…now president
maoHugoFidelPresent can call it ‘bipartisan’.HornetSting on October 13, 2009 at 8:40 PM
Just further proof of the destinct need to introduce term limits on both the House an Senate.
Besides the AP got the their analogy wrong, Sarah Palin is a Rogue not a Maverick, that’s McCain’s handle and given Snowe’s recent behaviour id say that she is being a Maverick in true McCain fashion.
Hellrider on October 13, 2009 at 8:41 PM
I hope Snowe will have a relative some day who gets really sick. And that relative has to wait 8 months to see a specialist because the govt rationing that her vote today created.
angryed on October 13, 2009 at 8:41 PM
Here is the e-mail address if you want to tell the NRSC your feelings about the Health Care Scam, spending and Senator Snowe.
National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC)
johncornyn@gopsenators.com
yoda on October 13, 2009 at 8:42 PM
I’ll take TRAITOR REPUBLICANS for $50, Alex.
stenwin77 on October 13, 2009 at 8:46 PM
Corzine will win in NJ. VA is a red state that went koo-koo for Cocoa Barry in 2008. Nothing revolutionary there. And besides the libs don’t care about elections. This is their holy grail. They run health care and socialism is entrenched for the next 100 years. Losing a few seats in 2010 is a small price to pay for that.
angryed on October 13, 2009 at 8:46 PM
One thing a Maverick is not is a consistent ally of Democrats on signature issues. Olympia Snowes vote is not a suprise to any follower of politics. The Maine sisters are
Theworldisnotenough on October 13, 2009 at 8:47 PM
It’s interesting to see that people in Maine are brain dead. Makes me want to quit eating lobster. I have friends in Maine who tell me that the idiots have moved out of New York and relocated up there. Thus, we have another State being destroyed by liberals that ruin one State and then move to another one to ruin that one. Hopefully, this bunch of people will be ineligible for healthcare treatment. Death panels in Maine – see how Olympia likes that one.
suzyk on October 13, 2009 at 8:48 PM
You know you can’t. Never, ever, ever.
ddrintn on October 13, 2009 at 8:48 PM
That this dolt can be called a “maverick” or anything like it is just more evidence of our political degeneracy.
rrpjr on October 13, 2009 at 8:49 PM
Here’s a thought: Tell the truth and let the chips fall where they may.
Proud Rino on October 13, 2009 at 8:49 PM
Hey Hellrider… I agree but how you gonna get those bunch of pikers to vote that in for themselves? There’s lots I would like to take away from them, but how do we do it?
suzyk on October 13, 2009 at 8:49 PM
Everytime I see her on tv I’m expecting her to turn into the wicked witch. Hurry throw some water on her quickly!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfV_ENR5IZE
jaboba on October 13, 2009 at 8:50 PM
Mmmm that is some mighty strong fear I smell.
The Wall St. Journal would have been a perfectly acceptable answer. Really, anything other than what she actually said would have been fine.
crr6 on October 13, 2009 at 8:50 PM
Snowe: When history calls, history calls.
Hmmmmm…
Better Snowe:
When history calls…
…for a plunger to get the crap on through, I’m not above getting my hair wet.
ROCnPhilly on October 13, 2009 at 8:50 PM
Battle, don’t waste your time. PR voted for obama. He is true RINO in all sense of the word…..
HornetSting on October 13, 2009 at 8:51 PM
Um, did I just see Allah kinda, sorta stick up for Sarah Palin?
ctmom on October 13, 2009 at 8:53 PM
No fear, just reality.
And anything other than “our Muslim population would make us one of the world’s largest Islamic countries” would have been acceptable too. But I guess that didn’t get your panties in a wad now, did it?
ddrintn on October 13, 2009 at 8:53 PM
One flake does not a drift make.
4of8 on October 13, 2009 at 8:54 PM
I don’t see why me voting for Obama in 2008 precludes him from explaining why Sarah Palin telling the truth about what she read would have been a bad idea. If you have an explanation, I’d love to hear it.
Proud Rino on October 13, 2009 at 8:54 PM
Can we discuss secession seriously now? I mean why should we conservatives become willing slaves to other citizens via BIG Government?
DerKrieger on October 13, 2009 at 8:54 PM
That just aint gonna happen!
farright on October 13, 2009 at 8:54 PM
Snowe is John McCain in drag. The love affair with AP is as steadfast as it was with our erstwhile loser candidate.
The historically fickle AP’d love Palin too if she’d do the turncoat thing.
marybel on October 13, 2009 at 8:54 PM
As if the ‘rats aren’t providing themselves dispensations from the disaster they plan to inflict on the rest of us. The special interest groups are already lining up to be excluded, including the unions, certain demographic groups, and certainly the relatives of politicos.
One of Snowe’s relatives gets sick, she will make a call and they go to the front of the line.
Bishop on October 13, 2009 at 8:54 PM
In honor of the Norwegians which awarded President Obama a Nobel Peace Prize, I suggest we label Sen. Snowe a “quisling”.
malclave on October 13, 2009 at 8:54 PM
Why watch?
She is Smeagol/Gollum…..and the ring is media attention.
Oily…..when the ring calls….the ring calls. It is precious isn’t it Senator Snowe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk4Ntcq5uNg
PappyD61 on October 13, 2009 at 8:55 PM
Fantastic. Thanks for the over-generalization.
Slublog on October 13, 2009 at 8:56 PM
I kind of think it’s funny that people like you hate your country so much that you can’t even get through a whole year with a Democratic president before wanting to completely give up on the United States. Thank God most of your countrymen are made of stronger stuff than you.
Proud Rino on October 13, 2009 at 8:56 PM
…but when the bills come due, I’m on the toilet.
The Ugly American on October 13, 2009 at 8:57 PM
Good God. Those talking points are soooooo 2008.
ddrintn on October 13, 2009 at 8:57 PM
the sick thing about this is the deeply ideological belief system that proponents have.
it is as plain as day that they will try to harm as many people as possible in order to, one day, get to the dream of single payer.
the details of this are irrational unless your goal is to make single payer look like a good system to go to after this fails epically
Rove said he thought a “public option” would be in the final bill.
Actually, at least HillaryCare prohibited $$$ being exchanged for healthcare. that means the rich would actually have to leave the country to get care. with ObamaCare they’ll always have private physicians whereas the Middle Class and Poor will share the health
r keller on October 13, 2009 at 8:57 PM
She looks a lot like Miss Gulch.
Dire Straits on October 13, 2009 at 8:57 PM
Thirty pieces of silver.
Bitch
Flyboy on October 13, 2009 at 8:58 PM
Really, Colin Powell. Tell me more….
HornetSting on October 13, 2009 at 8:59 PM
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