Exhibit A of the Fraud Caucus - the Anguished Moderate

by publius

I direct a lot of my wrath toward "centrist" Republican legislators rather than, say, Inhofe. There's a reason. As numerous others have pointed out, they don't actually do anything to force a change of policy. They prefer to furrow their brow while voting lockstep to continue those bad policies. Their brow-furrowing, however, gives the appearance of a moderate, centrist wing of the party and thus obscures the national GOP's actual drift over the past 15 years.

To see a perfect example, consider Olympia Snowe - the "anguished moderate." Apparently the Anguished Moderate switched her vote on habeas at the last minute without telling Collins. This infuriated Collins because it removed her political cover (she's facing a tough battle next year). That's pretty hilarious, but this is what caught my eye:

Snowe had initially backed Republican leaders by voting "nay" on the procedural motion to force a final vote. But once it became clear that the GOP had more than enough votes to win, Snowe switched her vote to "yea."

Snowe apparently did not inform her leadership of the switch, according to aides and senators familiar with the decision. Therefore, Collins never got the message, leaving her all alone.

In other words, Snowe was willing to do exactly nothing to actually change the policy. Presumably, she disagrees with banning habeas because she ultimately voted Yea. But if her vote had actually mattered, she would have voted the other way. Thus, the Anguished Moderate gets to go on TV and take credit for her brow-furrowing, while doing exactly nothing to change the policy.

It's hard to find a more perfect example of the Fraud Caucus in action.

Comments

[Incertus (Brian)]

I had a few choice words for the Senate yesterday. I may have to edit that post now.

[Davebo]

As Atrios said recently, if your plan depends on "moderate republicans" doing the right thing, you're screwed.

[Justin]

Why do you presume that her personal views are the ones that she would have abandoned if it mattered?

[Fledermaus]

No wonder republicians have a higher approval rating of the Democratic congress than independents or democrats. By about 10 points. I'm trying to find where I saw that poll today but can't do it, so no link.

But still it is an amazing thing to behold. I've been thinking of the old Butron movie "Mars Attacks" where the alien leader shows up to address congress and, as an opening, disintigrates all of them.

An old lady watching on TV cackles delightedly "Hah, they blew up congress!"

[Nell]

I watched the habeas vote live, and heard Snowe's 'no' vote. You could see her at tableside consulting the leadership before she gave her signal.

Later, when the C-SPAN chyron showed her among the 'yes'-voting Republicans, I was completely disgusted and furious. Pleased to realize the effect that's having on Collins, though.

When I heard Coleman's and Collins' 'no' votes, early in the process, I knew we wouldn't succeed. The Republicans facing tight races in blue or turning-blue states were the only possible pickups for the habeas bill.

If I believed in it, I'd hope there was a special circle in hell for the fraudlent "moderates".

[Nell]

My last word on the subject -- Snowe is such a self-obsessed fraud that she doesn't even think of advising Collins to do what she did (in addition to or instead of her). After all, Collins is the one in a tough campaign.

Go Tom Allen!

[russell]

Go Tom Allen!

Checked out his website, liked his positions, and sent him some money.

Throw the bastards out.

Yes, I know Snowe is a lovely person, has a reasonable and balanced record, blah blah blah. Some things simply shouldn't be on the table, and habeas is one of those things.

We don't have kings or other forms of inherited position here. Folks can only be in office if they win.

Make them lose. Throw them out, and make it clear to them why they're being thrown out.

Thanks -

[Charles Bird]

Oh, for a second there, I thought you were talking about Dianne Feinstein. Never mind.

[Gary Farber]

"Never mind."

You have to say something before you can say "never mind" it.

[Jim Satterfield]

Where I live the moderate Republican is an extinct species though some examples do live across the state line. In that location there are also former moderate Republicans who became moderate Democrats and won elections. I quit voting for Republicans once it became quite clear that what few moderates were left had no influence on the leadership and only served to give the conservatives power as a majority party. That change of voting patterns on my part came many years ago.