Troy Minkowsky’s letter on June 5 defines why many Republicans are upset at Sens. Snowe and Collins – blind loyalty. In order to appear independent and remain the darlings of the press, they now march lockstep with Ted Kennedy and his liberal cabal.

Kudos to the Democrats for turning a vote on a Senate rule change into a constitutional crisis. Shame on our esteemed senators for allowing them to do it.

Are base closings the result of lack of loyalty? Probably. In the everyday world, that could be called extortion. In the world of government, it’s called politics.

In Augusta, the Democrats, in lock step, quickly passed a budget that many Democrats did not like. Do you think their votes were obtained by politics?

The real problem is that many of our elected officials make their decisions using two criteria: Will it help me get elected, and how will my decision be portrayed in the press?

Left out is the question “Will it be good for the country, state, city or the taxpayers?”

How else could one explain their failure to deal with illegal immigration, tax relief or people like the Edwards brothers and Lisa Hanson, who continually tax our limited resources? Supporting them, the politicians are characterized as caring. Politicians become philanthropists with our tax monies. Go against them and you’re branded mean-spirited.

Maine is an economically depressed state. Perhaps, if our politicians were a little less independent and more mainstream, our state might actually start to flourish.

Robert E. Macdonald, Lewiston

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