Ben Franklin said that our founding fathers gave us a republic, not a monarchy, if we could keep it. Sen. Olympia Snowe wants to give the republic away.

When the president authorized spying on Americans in violation of the FISA statute, Snowe promised she would defend the Constitution. But, when the Intelligence Committee met, she voted for secret briefings, rather than public congressional oversight of the executive branch. Score that, Monarchy, 1; Republic, 0 (with an assist to Snowe).

Sen. Snowe then co-sponsored legislation that would retroactively legalize the spying by which the president broke the law. Snowe’s legislation also limits the Senate’s ability to perform oversight duties. Score that, Monarchy, 2; Republic, 0 (with another assist by Snowe).

We learn today that the president’s lawyers argued immediately after 9/11 that the president had the power to ignore the Fourth Amendment’s warrant requirements when perfoming searches within the U.S. Sen. Snowe’s silence on the topic is deafening. Score that, Monarchy, 3; Republic, 0.

Three strikes are enough for this former Snowe voter.

Sen. Snowe has a lot in common with members of the Roman Senate, who voted in the year 69 to retroactively ratify Vespasian’s seizure of the throne. Of course, Vespasian had an army at the Senate doors. Snowe has no such excuse.

If Olympia’s too frightened of the president or Karl Rove or Dick Cheney to defend the Constitution, as her oath of office requires, Mainers should find a senator who’ll fight for the republic.

Margaret Imber, Turner