So don't you find Maine's otherwise liberalism confusing? What's the deal there? Are they gerrymandered to the point where a bunch of urbanites in Portland have all the votes? Is everyone there on welfare?
The deal with Maine is this:
The bulk of the state’s population is in southern Maine, which is more liberal than northern Maine. Also, there are a lot of transplants from Massachusetts who have moved to southern Maine and, unfortunately, they brought their liberal voting patterns with them.
Northern Maine has a great deal of poverty; it’s been that way for many years. Jobs in the paper mills as well as logging were good paying jobs, but many of those mills have shut down over the years. Healthcare is the number one business in Maine. Tourism is another big industry, but it’s seasonal. Acadia National Park is a big draw in the summer. But Maine also has an aging population, and senior citizens here want social programs. So do the younger people who can’t find jobs....there aren’t many good paying jobs here, and many young people move to other states once they get out of school.
No, not everyone is on welfare, but a lot of people are, especially in the northern, more rural part of the state.
The southern half of the state is more prosperous.
Many people here don’t perceive either Snowe or Collins to be liberals. You should see the moonbats who run against them from the democrat party. When Snowe ran for re-election in 2006, she was challenged by a woman I never heard of....Jean Haybright. This Haybright woman reminded me of Cindy Sheehan, although Cindy was better looking!
Haybright had very little money, ran some anti-Iraq war TV ads a week or two before the election which showed the flag-drapped coffins of soldiers, and lost the election to Snowe, who received 71% of the vote.
Collins ran last November against former 1st district congressman Tom Allen. He is an ultra-liberal, and Susan Collins looked like Sarah Palin when compared to this guy.
I guess it boils down to the power of the incumbency....both Snowe and Collins are very well known, and they appeal to democrats, independents, and most of the state’s Republicans. I’m afraid we’re stuck with these two RINO’s. Congressional term limits would be a blessing.
I’d like to see them both out of office as much as my fellow Freepers.