Last night's State of the Union address was just another reminder of just how far removed the current U.S. administration's agenda is from the goals of the majority of the people of Maine. In the past we might have been shielded from such rampant cronyism, such irresponsible fiscal policies, such boneheaded warmongering by the checks and balances of a functioning democracy. However, today's Republican stranglehold on the federal government has left us (and future generations) little protection from their gross mismanagement of the government, and the Republican plan for America has little to do with guaranteeing Maine's citizens safe, prosperous, and healthy lives as we progress into the 21st Century.
Therefore, it's time for the people of Maine to do our part to change the tone in Washington D.C., to do our part to restore meaningful checks and balances to the federal government - which we will accomplish by sending Democrats to the US Senate in 2006 and 2008.
At a minimum, our current senators are complicit in the "screw you unless you're rich" Republican approach to governance, and at a maximum they further the carnage by lending their two voices to the Republican majority, rarely opposing anything that the party leadership throws their way - no matter how detrimental to Maine, no matter how contrary to the progressive values of the majority of Maine's citizens.
Who is going to hold the administration accountable for its illegal spying on US citizens? Not Olympia Snowe and not Susan Collins! Who is going to demand REAL funding for alternative energy research to help us heat our homes and fuel our cars? Not Olympia Snowe and not Susan Collins! Who is going to support a woman's right to control her own body? After their votes on the nomination of Alito, we can conclude - not Olympia Snowe and not Susan Collins! Who is going to advocate for sustainable economic growth, policies that favor the workers of Maine (instead of tax cuts for already wealthy executives)? Not Olympia Snowe and not Susan Collins! Who is going to make sure that all Mainers have adequate health insurance? Not Olympia Snowe and not Susan Collins! Who is going to make sure that our veterans and their families have exceptional medical care and post-conflict benefits? Not Olympia Snowe and not Susan Collins! Who has a vision to keep Maine successful and thriving once the last defense job gets outsourced to somewhere else? Definitely not Olympia Snowe and not Susan Collins!
Let's send some new senators to Washington, Democratic senators who truly represent the values of a majority of Maine's citizens, who can help provide a little bit of light and balance in the clearly ineffective and corrupt Republican-heavy federal government. While Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins might call themselves "moderate" Republicans, it's clear that their presence in D.C. is part of the problem - not part of the solution. What we have now are two shills in the Republican shell-game - and it's time to take action before the integrity of our federal government disappears right alongside its fiscal solvency. Why should we settle for pawns when we could actually become players in the game? As long as the Republicans have the majority in the US Senate, we can kiss meaningful checks and balances good-bye. It's time for us to have a couple senators who can represent the citizens of Maine the way that we truly deserve to be represented - through their independence, their honesty, and their positive vision as leaders for the future.