I just finished reading the May 28 opinion page, and I must say that I was deeply disturbed by Daniel R. Lalonde’s letter. In it, he criticized Sens. Collins and Snowe for not having blind loyalty to President Bush. While blind loyalty does not surprise me among Republicans, I was angered at his suggestion that because of Collins’ and Snowe’s disobedience to the party, they put our military bases at risk, as if the Republicans would seek to close those bases out of vengeance.

If Mr. Lalonde can give me any reason why this cannot be considered anything less than extortion, I’d like to hear it.

While I have not always agreed with Collins’ and Snowe’s views, I have always respected them for not always going along their party’s lines and putting the interest of the people of Maine first. It makes me nervous when people demand blind loyalty from their politicians. It makes me more nervous when people believe that threatening the jobs and economy of fellow Mainers for that loyalty is justified, as Mr. Lalonde seems to suggest.

I, for one, do not want politicians to crack under party pressure. Then again, I do not want a political party in charge that has no problem threatening Mainers to attain blind loyalty.

Something to think about.

Troy David Minkowsky, Lewiston