Olympia to Obama: Let's Get This Thing Hashed Out

RINO! (Republican In Name only) Turncoat! Closet Liberal! Oh..... and one of the few moderate voices in Congress that the President trusts.

Yesterday, President Obama had a one-on-one sit down with Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), followed shortly by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) to discuss compromises that could keep the stimulus bill alive. Snowe is spearheading efforts in the Senate to "scrub" the stimulus bill of unnecessary spending, and has indicated a spirit of cooperation, not opposition. Ironically, liberal media groups are targeting Snowe and Collins in campaign ads as opponents of the bill, when in fact they may be the search & rescue team that drags it out of sea.

Snowe followed up with a speech on the Senate floor, including:

"Indisputably, the grave nature of the current economic landscape dictates the urgency of passing a substantial and comprehensive recovery plan. But I cannot support just any stimulus package. This amendment process is fundamental to achieve an improved package that will jump start the economy by creating jobs, assisting people in need, and charting the course for long-term growth... We must not confuse stimulus with omnibus. We have a responsibility -- an obligation -- to apply a rigorous standard to determine whether this approach will help extricate our nation from this crisis. There are no do-overs." [SOURCE]

A well-substantiated rumor says that Obama may have approached Snowe with an offer for Secretary of Commerce before offering it to Judd Gregg. Snowe is said to have declined, citing her desire to remain in the Senate. Snowe would have been an excellent pick (in fact, I name her as an excellent pick for Labor in my My Cabinet.) Snowe was a key GOP voice on the Senate Finance Committee that pushed the confirmation of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner through, after meeting with him privately and then endorsing him to her colleagues. Snowe was also a key Republican in passing the SCHIP bill that Obama just signed into law. And, just two weeks ago, Sen. Snowe and Sen. John Kerry published a fairly explosive report exposing wide-spread corruption in the National Veterans Business Development Corporation, along with a list of recommendations for fixing the problem, and redirecting Veteran monies where they belong: in the hands of veterans. If there is any single person in the GOP who has a) the ear of the President, b) the respect of her colleagues regardless of party, and c) the political clout to get things done, it's Olympia Snowe. Maybe, just maybe, if the GOP can get over their feeling that Snowe is a secret liberal and listen to her, the stimulus bill can make it through Congress and please enoughpeople.