If you don’t know who Senator Olympia Snowe is, you should read about her. If you want to know what a serious legislator looks like, you should study her career. She has been a public servant for over 30 years. She represented Maine’s second district in the U.S House of Representatives from 1975-1995, and was elected Senator in 1995. Throughout her career, she has developed a reputation of being one of the leading moderates in Congress. In 1995, she helped establish the bipartisan group of senators called the Gang of 14 to preserve the right to filibuster judicial nominations even though Democrats were in the minority. She’s a trailblazer in many ways. At age 26, she became the youngest Republican woman and first Greek-American ever elected to Congress. In 2001, she became the first Republican woman to secure a full-term seat on the Senate Finance Committee.
Amidst the deeply polarizing environment in Washington, Senator Snowe is the epitome of grace and civility. She doesn’t engage in all the name calling, finger-pointing and partisan bickering that goes on in Congress. She’s not a politician with an insatiable desire to be in the spotlight or go on Cable TV talk shows to score cheap political points against her opponents. She’s a serious legislator that is more concerned about solving problems for the people of Maine and the entire country. An independent thinker that is willing to work with Democrats because she recognizes that the Republican Party doesn’t have a monopoly on good ideas or good policy.
Her personal story is very inspiring. She has suffered crushing setbacks and hardship in her life. Her mother died of breast cancer when she was only eight years old, then her father passed away just a year later. Her first husband was killed in a car accident and she lost her step-son when he was only 20 years old. To go through those difficult challenges and still possess the fighting spirit and strong dedication to public service is remarkable. It is a testament to her character. The Congress just lost a leader and role model to men and women alike. The U.S Senate and the citizens of Maine will miss her voice, passion, and tenacity. So will I.
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Senator Olympia Snowes' bowing out today is a sombre moment and a sad day for American politics.This political system of ours,revered,loved,envied and copied worldwide has hit a glitch in the last few years. Our politics has descended into name calling,fillibuster and no more compromise and policy collaboration that moves the discourse to a visionary outcome. It has degenerated into the political imbroglio pervasive in my old country,Nigeria ,politics governed by partisanship,tribalism and nepotism.It is ironic that Olympia
Snowe of Greek descent ,the cradle of democracy was lent to us to show us the artisry of this great system. She has too much sway ,suave,political sagacity and plain old common sense than these new breed of Republicans.I salute her for her candor,valor ,true grit and being a homo sapien in republican ape country. Overall it is a sad day for us inheritors of this great democracy but a heartfelt celebration by our ancestors,George Washington,Thomas Jeferson,Alexander Hamilton and James Madison,drinking to Olympia Snowe and the triumph of
common sense which they envisioned for the American democracy.
this is my first time hearing of her. it's always inspiring to read about unsung heros. i'm sure that she will continue to make a difference even in retirement.
ps: i think it's really cool that your dad commented