Susan's factually lacking
She cites her vote against cloture on DADT as a blow for bipartisanshio whereas it was coming to heel for the DeMints and Enzis who dominate the Republican world of the Senate.
Lest we forget, Progressive Punch"s latest lifetime scores list only two Senate Republicans who vote "liberal" in the crunch even 20% of the time (the two Maine ladies), and only three others who manage a crucial liberal vote between 10 and 20% of the time. Those other three would be Scott Brown, the retiring Feorge Voinovich and John McCain who managed a zero rating on clutch votes in 2009-2010. So as of January 2010 the GOP "moderates" will pretty much formally consist of Collins, Snowe, and Brown.
On the Democratic side of the aisle, the rush to compromise is barely slowed. Just 17 Democrats have a clutch vote of 90% or more; 42 reach the 10% threshold vs. 5 Republicans. Of course, 26 compromise at least 20% of the time on crucial votes including that awful Harry Reid (see article) vs. the lonely Maine Ladies on the GOP side. They may be lonely in their own caucus but the bizarre interpretation of the 60 Rule makes them the most sought after dance partners in the land (clunky jewelry and horned rimmed glasses forr Collins have no effect).
Oh yeah. As I mentioned recently, Republicans have never had 60 popularly elected Senators. The last time they reached 60 was in the 61st Congress, exactly 100 years ago (1909-1911). Back then, William Howard Taft was President, there were 92 Senators and 46 states, and state legislatures selected the Senators. They did reach 60% once when Harding was President. That's it.
Collins and Ben Nelson did more to warp the Stimulus to uselessness than anyone else in Congress. She thinks she's a national treasure and so does Versailles. They are both wrong. (Note to movie fans, the Maine Senator Brewster who was "owned" by Pan Am in "The Aviator" lost his next election. Where's Howard Hughes when we need him?).
