Senator Susan Collins Rejoining The GOP WINO Caucus?

[babylonsister]

http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/jul/19/republican_susan_collins_rejoining_the_gop_wino_caucus

Senator Susan Collins Rejoining The GOP WINO Caucus?
By Greg Sargent | bio

Uh, oh -- that was fast. Looks like Republican Senator Susan Collins is reapplying for membership in the GOP WINO caucus. (Definition of term below.)

Yesterday, to her credit, Collins looked as if she was preparing to ditch her fellow WINO Senators for good. Unlike all the other GOP Senators in the WINO caucus, Collins voted in favor of the Senate measure that would have allowed the Reed-Levin amendment mandating withdrawal from Iraq go to a straight up-or-down majority vote.

Only 24 hours later, however, it looks as if Collins is pining for her WINO friends and may be looking to rejoin them. How? She's rapidly backing away from her support of Reed-Levin and mandated withdrawal.

Today's New York Times reports that Collins has now said that she supported yesterday's vote only because she objected to the GOP filibuster -- but not because she necessarily supports Reed-Levin's goal of setting a deadline for troop withdrawal.

Meanwhile, today's Washington Post quotes Collins as saying she has "grave reservations" that "an abrupt withdrawal" could produce "dire consequences."

Oh, dear, oh, dear. An "abrupt withdrawal." Is that what Reed-Levin calls for? Here Collins is adopting the same talking point that is actually being pushed by people who want to prevent any meaningful changes from being made to the war policies that Collins herself has been critical of and claims to want to change.

Meanwhile, Collins has her own measure calling for withdrawal from Iraq that would force a transition away from the current combat mission but wouldn't force withdrawal of the troops. The measure -- whose exact language hasn't yet been released, according to the office of its co-sponsor, Senator Ben Nelson -- is murky at best. And as best as we can tell, it appears to be riddled with loopholes.

Maybe Collins' idea is to become a member emeritus of the WINO caucus now, or something.

A postscript: The WINO caucus, as you all know, refers to Waverers In Name Only -- GOP Senators who are allegedly "wavering" in their support of Bush's war policies but won't vote for anything that would actually change those policies. Looks like Collins may just not be able to stay away.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Spineless jerk.

[pinto]

2. Memo to Sen. Collins, et al: Reed-Levin isn't an 'abrupt' withdrawal.

It's a reasoned approach to removing a majority of US troops, supporting international intervention and transitioning to an Iraqi answer on national security.

Yeah, there's a timeline. That's called planning.

Appreciate your vote, Ms. Collins, but the 'spin' on Reed-Levin doesn't pass muster. You can do better.

[jpak]

3. This was a calculated move on her part

She knew that the votes weren't there for cloture and her vote would not make a difference.

When a REAL end-the-war vote comes up, she will vote with the war-GOPers like she always does.

Maine voters aren't as stupid as she thinks we are...and November 2008 can't come soon enough...

[Jack Bone]

4. I read somewhere that she supported cloture...but that she..

..would've voted against the Levin/Reed Amend.

I suppose she must've believed in the "Up or Down" principle? :eyes:

[MiniMe]

6. Thats what she says. However, she didn't vote until cloture couldn't

possibly pass. She is up for re-election in 2008.

[bluedog]

5. wasn't she trying to start another gang of 13?

I thought I heard her say that during the sleep over

[babylonsister]

7. I don't know; I was sleeping! But she's so wishy-washy. She needs

to figure out what the heck she's doing.

[hey hey]

8. Votes usually with Snowe.

She usually votes pretty much the same as Olympia Snowe the other Senator from her state... who are BTW two of the very few pro-choice voting Republicans in the Senate...

It may be noted that Collins is up for re-election in 08 and may have voted that way just to appease her consitutients who want out of Iraq..

bot Snowe and Collins are fairly moderate, usually unless strongarmed by the GOP on big votes to get on-board.