Let me clarify, my friends. I didn't mean that the Maine GOP would kick Snowe and Collins out. I meant that since the national party is moving so far to the right, it will be hard for them to identify with their party and they'll probably either become Independents or the national party will demonize and label them as RINOs (which they already do) so much that they may possible jump ships and join the Democrats, but I think the first scenario is more likely than the latter. Clearly New England Republicans are much more moderate than Republicans elsewhere, and I don't think the mainstream GOP understands that. If the Republicans want to have a presence and a voice in New England, they're going to have to swallow their pride and tolerate the idea of allowing moderates in their party, otherwise the Democrats will completely dominate New England like they already do - Snowe and Collins are the only "Republican" U.S. Senators from New England, there are absolutely no Republicans serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Democrats control all the state legislatures and statewide executive elected offices in New England. The only bright spot for Republicans is the Governorships in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont, where these three Governors (M. Jodi Rell, Don Carcieri and Jim Douglas) are also moderates/RINOs/whatever the mainstream party labels them as.
Isn't it funny, though, how these moderate/RINOs (Snowe, Collins, Rell, etc.) are considerably more popular among their constituents than most conservative Republicans, or the "real" Republicans if you will?
