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On Nov. 12, we asked if you think Maine would be worse or better off in Washington if one or both of Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins were asked to take seats in President-elect Barack Obama’s Cabinet.

61.4% of you said worse
30.0% of you said better
8.2% of you are undecided

Reader comments

Worse. Baldacci might put Tom Allen in to replace them. 

Definitely worse if we lose Senator Collins. This would be a definite advantage for the Democrats to add to their majority in the Senate by Gov. Baldacci appointing a Democrat as replacement.     

They would be more focused on national issues and less on issues that affect Maine    

Maine has two valuable assets in the Senate with people who can cross aisles and build Republican support when necessary. Maine will also be better served by Senate representation that is not looked upon as unfriendly to the new administration. 

If either or both were appointed to cabinet level positions Maine's "political clout" in Capitol Hill would be advanced. It would however, be unfortunate to lose Senator Snowe's experience and true bi-partisan approach to getting things done in the Senate for the people of Maine.  

A cabinet position brings so much more to Maine than a single Senate seat, even for a senior member like Snowe. 

We would lose one or both of the best Senators in the land. They would serve at the pleasure of President Obama, not the Maine people. It might advance the career of one Tom Allen though!

Hard tellin' not knowin' - good for PE Barack - he knows good people when he sees 'em...

I think better. There is a lot of legislation that will need to be passed regarding health care and the Iraq War. If both of them were out of the Senate, they would likely be replaced with at least one democrat. We need more democrats in the Senate right now to push through some of the big changes we need. However, both Snowe and Collins are extremely bright women and I would feel proud to have them in cabinet positions.

Both of our Senators are great advocates for our state. While this move would be great for their personal careers, I think that their voices for Maine would be missed in the Senate. 

Then Allen will get Collin's seat in the senate. I hope this doesn't happen.

We'd have another Democratic Senator named to fill the spot of the departing (Republican) Senator.

We need their expertise on a variety of issues, especially for healthcare.   

I am a Democrat, however; I always vote for Susan & Olympia - they are very involved the wellbeing of Maine and I feel they are very honest with the public. They are a great team and dedicated to their positions whatever they might be.   

They each represent our state with distinction.   

Worse off, if Tom Allen ends up with Susan Collins seat.     

Gang of 13.   

Collins and Snowe have become congressional ICONS, recognized locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. In fact,Snowe has been named as one of the Top 100 most powerful women in the world. Asking someone to fill either one of their shoes would be akin to asking a high school sophomore to fill in at linebacker for the Patriots...   

Definitely worse because Baldacci would appoint Allen or another democrat to take their place.   

If the Dems get a filibuster proof majority...look out!   

Better. Good balance.   

While I think it is an honor for both of them, it could possibly hurt us in the long run due to their clot in the Senate.   

Much worse off. It would definitely make the senate filibuster proof as Baldacci would appoint Dems to the US Senate. Snowe and Collins are very effective Senators, as well.   

Think about who Governor Baldacci would appoint to replace Sens. Snowe and/or Collins. Not the kind of change we need at this point. 

Both are more valuable to our state in their current Senate positions. We need their experience and influence in the U.S. Senate 

Potentially better because then we would need a replacement Senator and maybe, just maybe, Tom Allen would get the nod.   

They both do a great job! While it may be a loss to Maine, it would be a gain for the country. 

Losing Washington veterans with proven ability to work on both sides of the aisle would be devastating for Maine. 

Sure; let them both take those positions and then our Democratic governor can replace them with 2 Democrats so the Democrats can get a filibuster proof Senate. No way! It might be "better" for our state, but I think it will be worse for our country.        

I'm not really sure what Olympia Snowe does, except that she seems nice. Collins is really good at self-promotion. If we could get them out of Maine, then maybe we could elect someone who does something. It would be nice to get rid of Mike Michaud too. He and Tom Allen are practically invisible. Hopefully Chellie Pingree will see better accomplishments. Maine has really suffered since the departure of Mitchell and Cohen. 

Are you kidding? A Democrat Governor appointing two more Democrat Senators?      

Take the other two reps. They’re not doing anything anyway.   

If it helps the country by all means   

Better if we can replace them with Democrats   

It depends on who would take their place. 

Neither will be appointed.   

They will better serve the interests of Maine's dwindling industries in their current Senatorial roles than they possibly could as Government Bureaucrats. We need Collins and Snowe to use their considerable influence on their various committees to keep Maine's interests at the forefront. If they both leave, their positions will be filled with far less influential Senators who will have to start at the bottom of the Committee hierarchy in Washington. They should stick to what they do best and one of them will rise up to a potential Presidential or Vice-President candidate in four years.   

Senator Snowe and Senator Collins have been strong advocates for Maine, its people and its small businesses. Losing that representation in the Senate would be detrimental for the state.   

The two Maine senators are voices of reason in the congress. The nation needs them to stay where they are. McCain should have picked one of them for VP; he might have had a chance then. 

As we all know the amount of time that it takes to become an influence in the Washington political environment is considerable! They both will serve us better as full time senators. We are in dire need of their full time expertise.     

Maybe take one but certainly not both!      

Having either of our Senators in the White House would remind the rest of America how significant Maine has been to our Nation's history--from Chamberlain's troops to Margaret Chase Smith to George Mitchell to the Obama White House!   

.......could get any worse? 

Susan Collins is such a gem. It would be devastating to lose her as a representative of the state of Maine. No doubt she will do a great job as Sec of Homeland Security though. She is an amazing woman.   

Especially where Susan Collins is concerned, I hope that she does not give up her senate position for the short-term job of a cabinet secretary. She is an effective advocate for this state, and a voice of moderation in the Republican party.   

As moderate Republicans they have a strong position to bridge the two parties. Their replacements will not have the seniority or possibly the moderate positions to be in this position of strength. 

Maybe not "Maine" but nationally, yes. A Dem. Gov. would likely appoint a Dem. replacement, pushing them ever closer to 60 vote majority. This would eliminate a substantive check on one-party rule. (My feeling, being neither a Dem. nor Repub.) 

Both of those Senators have always been good for Maine (not quite as good as Ted Stevens was for Alaska, but still).   

Maine would most likely be better off in Washington... but would not Maine's internal political future depend on their respective replacements?   

How can it hurt Maine to have Cabinet members? The more representation in Washington we can get, the better.   

This is a way of getting a fillibuster proof senate. Knowing the Governer will appoint Democrats to replace either or both senators. I feel that this is just another example of working against to good of our country. I haven't seen one example of trying to bring this country together by the next President! 

What a way to get more senators who are Democrats   

Would they consider positions in the Canadian government as an option?   

Interesting. Then we could have 2 more Democratic US Senators and the country would be better off!   

If we lost Sen. Collins, good for Maine, not necessarily for Homeland Security. Admittedly Sen. Snowe would be a great loss to the state.   

So, is Obama picking off Republican senators in states with Democratic governors? One way to get to 60. 

They both command respect and have power as a result of their fine work in the senate. They will be far more effective for Maine by staying in the senate.      

Definitely worse off. Obviously the Governor would appoint 2 Democrats to fill these seats, and that would give them the 60 needed to make sure the republicans can't get anything accomplished!!   

The goal is to place the most competent and capable people in the Cabinet. If either of our Senators meets these very high standards, it is good, not only for Maine, but for the country.   

It would be a loss for Maine to lose Senator Snow. If we lost Collins, not so much a loss. The question then becomes, who among Maine's GOP would replace them. I shutter to think. 

 

 

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