We have often thought one of the best testaments to the effectiveness of a politician is when voters from the other party adopt them. Locally, former state Sen. David Trahan had that kind of cache. Former state Sen. Marge Kilkelly had it before him.
You would see their campaign signs on lawns dominated by signs for politicians from the other party. It is the ultimate form of respect as in: “I may not agree with you or your party, but you’re the right person for the job.”
Olympia Snowe had that cache. She was the right person for the job.
Snowe likely won’t be remembered for any one piece of legislation as much as her moderation. Her effectiveness became more and more apparent as the years went on and her party lurched to the right.
While her critics called her a Republican In Name Only, critics outside the state never understood Snowe’s moderation is why she was able to comfortably win three elections to the U.S. Senate.
Wedged between a Democratic South and a Republican North, moderation is the true temperature of Maine.
As others have pointed out, the true damage from Snowe’s unexpected retirement announcement Tuesday comes at the expense of the institution, which hurts all of us.
Due to partisan rancor, which has bogged down politics across the nation, the United States Senate, the so-called “World’s Greatest Deliberative Body,” has done precious little deliberating and a lot more posturing in recent years.
Behind Snowe and Sen. Susan Collins, Maine was able to wield influence far outstripping our meager million plus population precisely because our senators could and would cut a deal across the aisle to actually get some legislating done.
Snowe was also a respected stateswoman who could be counted upon to lend a discerning ear. Mainers owe her a debt of gratitude.
