Time that we got away from a party system of government. I applaude Senators Snowe and Collins for voting their conscience instead of the party line. If anything messes up the government it is partisan politics. We put those people in Washington to do what was best for our country NOT what is best for the party.

Well said brown1tree2.

And nominating "extreme conservatives" instead of these two will absolutely ensure that these seats go to Dems.

We absolutely need to get away from the two party system.

I wonder if in years to come the children and grandchildren will find a way to reclaim from us the debt we have laced them with? Perhaps care for seniors will be very different in their generation or even nonexistent.

This guest editorial is the elongated yelp of a beaten cur. Face it -- the GOP is practically on life support after being walloped soundly in the last two elections. Will the party recover? Don't bet on it. As long as the extremist ultraconservatives remain the majority within the GOP, it cannot and will not appeal to the majority of the voters out there.

Get ready for a protracted era of Democratic rule, Paul!

GOP Buster

V Paul, you have it down pat! I believe that Snowe and Collins are in DC to feather their own nests. I am 68 years old and a life long REPUBLICAN,who after the last election because of my dislike for there liberal votes changed to independant. I voted for Paylin [not Macain] and left it blank as far as Collins goes. Will not vote for Snowe or Collins ever and will not support the Republican party again till they run a real Republican against these two. God please watch over the USA as we are in trouble.

Paul,

As always, I enjoy reading your thoughts.

As a Republican, I am caught with mixed emotions. I see the stimulus bill as a piece that would have passed one way or the other - even if Snowe and Collins had rejected participation in the discussion...in Washington, the party in charge finds a way.

We do not know the details of the discussion and are not privy to the specifics of their negotiation in the Oval office. What we do know is that in an arena controlled by a force we cannot contain, any use of a political position by the minority to influence a piece like this has to be used wisely. Regardless of whether or not you agree with the stimulus bill in its entirety - and I do not - I do believe that the bill is now more responsible than it would have been without Susan Collins participation. Is it completely responsible?- Of course not. Heck there's no proof that it will actually work.

On the other hand, this bill is nothing more than allocated resources for the states to receive.

It is up to each state to "approve" and use the funds at their disposal. They are not forced to do so.

I wonder how many of the "principled" Republicans who took the "party line" to stand strong and remove themselves publicly from the process of crafting this enormous package will fight equally as hard to reject the funds for their state and not use the money.

Shall we wager?

Would I like to see our two Senators somewhat more conservative? Sure. But conservatives don't win in Maine (Governor Chandler Woodcock anyone?). So I'm willing to support a representative to Congress that I agree with on most issues rather than disown them if they disagree with me on some.

Personally, I've become more disillusioned with the Republican Party as it used to be the party of ideas. Just saying "NO" to the Democrats is not leadership.

Mainecommenter: an excellent segway to this announcement:

The Bangor Republican City Committee (www.gopbangor.com) will be holding its February Meeting on Wednesday the 25th at 5:30pm at Husson University. Details of the meeting are online at www.gopbangor.com.

Why do I post this here? It's a big day for political discussion and as Chair of the Bangor Republican City Committee, I am encouraged by the number of folks commenting on their desire to see true Republican principles return to our government arenas. Our committee gives you the forum to do something about that desire.

By becoming an active part of the committee - you are helping to recruit and foster candidates for a variety of local and state offices - and support their efforts by donating time, talents or funds (or all three!).

I would welcome anyone who has a desire to not only voice their concerns but help the cause to participate in the committee. It is absolutely the best way to see that your voice is heard and the people we elect to represent us are fiscally responsible for your tax dollars.

Again - www.gopbangor.com for complete information on the upcoming meeting as well the remaining year's calendar of meetings.

New faces are ALWAYS welcome!

Thanks!

Cary Weston

Chair - Bangor Republican City Committee

As long as we are making SEGUES, how about sequeing away from narrow party interest to what's best for the people of Maine. Silly me; I always thought that this is what senators were for--acting in the best interests of their states rather than the best interests of their parties. Although Snowe has a funny habit of voting for whatever the president wants, whether the president be Bush or Obama, she does seem to take an interest in what's best for Mainers. As long as she and Snowe continue fighting for Mainers instead of Republicans, I will keep voting to send them back to the senate.

V. Paul Reynolds, I can't help wondering where you were the last eight years. Was deregulating the financial sector "responsible fiscal policy?" Did signing statements, trashing of the Bill of Rights, torture, executive privilege by decree and unprecedented erosion of civil liberties and privacy really guarantee that "every person's dignity and freedom, liberty and responsibility" would "be honored and protected?" Was the unprecedented incompetence of the Bush years what the Republican party means by saying, "the best government is that which governs least?”

Enquiring minds would like to know.

Betrayal? The author's beef is with the Party and the Maine electorate, both of which apparently prefer moderates. Reynolds may disgaree with both senators but to accuse them of pandering to the media smacks of sour grapes. Most states should be so lucky as to have two straightforward and unpretentious delegates who do not appear to have succumbed to the maelstrom of slush-money and backroom politics.

brown1tree2, maybe their conscience can pay for their next campaign for senate instead of the republican party dumping $$ into these 2 RINO's it could dump the $$ into someone who might actually be a republican.

They could have stood up for the people of Maine but instead sold out for next to nothing! Maine is on the bottom of the barrel as far as funding from this bill goes! Considering the enormity of their votes they could have gotten a project or two here in Maine! Like extending rail service to northern Maine where there is no public transportation! When gas goes back up Northern Maine will be crippled again but hey do they really care about what is going on back here or is it all about getting their name in the paper as moderates?

As a conservative I will never again cast a vote for Snowe or Collins, I would rather vote for the Dem and know what I would be getting. I will help who ever runs against them campaign as well. They need to get out and if it is a Dem to do it then so be it!

Mihousmadov: You wrote," Silly me; I always thought that this is what senators were for--acting in the best interests of their states rather than the best interests of their parties."

There are some, like me, who believe acting like a conservative IS in the best interest of the state. It is for that reason that Republicans (typically more conservative than Democrats) supported and helped fund our two Senators. We have always recognized their short comings as being more to the left than we like, but they have always been better than the alternative. If we want to put conservative principles back in the party, what we need to do is offer the people different candidates. We might even be forced to tolerate a couple of Democrats for a period of time. I understand Maine is a Blue state, but after four years of Obama's socialist agenda, the people of Maine might decide conservative principles are the better choice, that is, if you enjoy freedom.

Jennifer...I'm with you.

To read this piece and the companion piece by a local Democratic attorney is to realize to what depths the Republicans have sunk. While the Democratic attorney actually reflects on what the party of Lincoln once was, V. Paul Reynolds simply calls those who disagree with him traitors to his party. Paul, your party will go the way of the Know Nothings unless you smarten up.

I agree with Sens. Snowe and Collins vote. I've been a Republican for 56 years and haven't always approved of their thinking, but they are clearly thinking about the interests of the country as well as the interests of Maine. I would recommend that Mainers travel south of the Maine border. What you will find is the rest of the country.

Maine is the armpit of the United States, a Third World Country if you will. Accept it, and if you can't accept it I have just one word for all of you: Move!

So, where do you live now Survivor, Chicago?

Further mainesurvivor...what I understand you to say is that as log as the politicians thinking is meant to be in the best interest of the country, we should blindly support their votes? Isn't that a bit like saying, I used bad judgment, but it's the thought that counts?? Okay, even though Collins and Snowe made a bad decision, I should support them because they meant well? hmmmmmm.....faulty logic in my humble opinion. I've been around the rest of the country and I don't want Maine to become part of that way of life!!! Then where do I move? Australia??

Paul, 'tis good to see you exercised over something bigger than LURC! It ain't the GOP...its the conservatives who don't have the stomach for a fight. Party means nothing without principle. The GOP talks a good game until voting time. Maine has not contributed to the Nation for decades. We are a "welfare" state by every definition of the word! If you give a man a fish why should he learn how to fish? We live in a state where every man could grow his groceries, heat his house with a 50yr old oil drum, and enjoy the finest God has to offer without a dime from the rest of country. Yet we continue to milk the federal teat like a newborn. Our dependence on the likes of Snowe and Collins, who represent liberalism at its finest, is symptomatic of a far greater problem than tolerance or bipartisanship. Those virtues mean nothing when we the people have handed over every individual responsibility to the government. Since when did poverty and shame become synonymous? Poverty has been a motivator for all of human history. Our Senators have fallen into the same trap as most well-meaning Mom's of modern America...if I can protect my children from the pain of failure and ease their discomfort, I have done my job. Borrowing from our grandchildren to ease the discomfort of our decisions (and votes) is reprehensible and liberal. Conservatism is not painless, but it is necessary. I pray we can find it again someday...reguardless of party.

Greyghost, you do little to promote the intelligence of the average Republican voter when you misspell the names of BOTH people on your party's 2008 presidential election ticket. If "Paylin" is the face of your party, the Know-Nothings have certailnly taken it over.

Both Collins ans Snowe show intelligence and responsibility to this state and its people AND to the American people, especially during these challenging times. They are exactly what the Republican party needs MORe of - responsible moderates. But, as long as the RNC wants to plant its feet in obstructionist philosophies trying to buck the message the American people sent very clearly last November, people like Sen. Bennett and Boehner and find a small closet and get comfortable. As to the new RNC Chair, Michael Steele (?) thinking "work" is not jobs (and equating construction projects as just work - and construction companies as outside small businesses, that man needs to go back to school.

I'll stand by Maine's two Senators but I'm not sure I'll be staying with the GOP considering its inability to pick its head out of the brown sticky stuff.

Saltoria, if you want low taxes, unregulated markets, and banks gone wild, try Iceland. Oops, the application of those "Republican" principles has bankrupt that country. They now want to join the EU, which I'm sure you would call "socialist".

Hankwilliams, the secret to GOP success is to defund education. Only with an uneducated populace can the Know Nothings succeed. Look at the group most likely to vote Democratic: those with professional degrees. A generation ago they were Republicans.

I've said this before: An educated population is in the greater interest of society. Educated people earn more money, pay more taxes, commit fewer crimes. Recognizing this, we have public (or socialized, if you will) education, at no cost to the consumer. The same principle applies to health care: healthy people miss fewer days of work, earn more money, cost the medical system less. A healthy population is also in society's best interest. Therefore, we should have public (socialized, if you will) health care, at no cost to the consumer. We will all save money in the long run. Deductibles and co-pays should be illegal. It's a crime that anyone in the United States faces bankruptcy over health care issues. Universal Health Care in the U.S. is long overdue.

There's a huge difference between being educated with the ability to think for one's self (which used to happen on a large scale in this country) and being indoctrinated (which is what we have now with NEA control over public education and post-secondary education being the domain of the liberal elite).

SOME ONE SHOULD TELL THE AUTHOR THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS BEFORE THEIR TAX RATE CAN BE CUT.