Posted on 11/09/2006 5:35:03 PM PST by libertarianPA
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Two days after losing a bid for a second term, Sen. Lincoln Chafee (news, bio, voting record) said he was unsure whether he would remain a Republican.
Chafee lost to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse in a race seen as a referendum on President Bush and the GOP. On Thursday, he was asked whether he would stick with the Republican Party or become an independent or Democrat.
"I haven't made any decisions. I just haven't even thought about where my place is," Chafee said at a news conference. When pressed on whether his comments indicated he might leave the GOP, he replied: "That's fair."
Chafee, 53, is a lifelong Republican who has represented Rhode Island for seven years. His father held the same seat for 23 years before that.
He is the most liberal Republican in the Senate and was the sole Senate Republican to vote against the war in Iraq. But that was not enough to prevail against Whitehouse, who shared many of Chafee's views but was a Democrat in a heavily Democratic state.
Chafee said his loss may have helped the country by switching control of Congress.
"The people have spoken all across America. They want the Democrats and Republicans to work together," he said. "I think the president now is going to have to talk to the Democrats. I think that's going to be good for America."
Chafee said he waged a lonely campaign to bring the party to the middle. He described attending weekly lunches with fellow GOP senators and standing up to argue his point of view, often alone.
"There were times walking into my caucus room where it wasn't fun," he said, adding that he stayed with the GOP largely because it allowed him to bring federal dollars home to Rhode Island.
Good riddance! Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out!!
Back to shoeing horses for old Linc. Couldn't happen to better RINO.
If this is the case, remove him from the committee that moves the Bolton nomination to the full senate floor NOW. Replace him with someone who will support Bolton's nomination. Easy, just do it. Then Bolton can be confirmed in this lame duck session of congress.
He shouldn't be allowed to leave, he should be kicked out.
No point in him pretending anymore.
He's not a Senator anymore, so it's puzzling why he thinks anyone would care.
Beat me to it. I was going to say one of the following:
1. And the difference would be....?
2. Don't let the door hit you in the @ss, jack@ss
3. As if it matters now
4. As if it mattered then
5. Go tell it to the mountain
Just rambling. Cheers!
Be gone RINO. Do not haunt our side of the senate.
I think Rhode Islanders just chose the more conservative of the two candidates ... and Linc lost!
Buh-by LOSER...
I just read the headline and laughed, I won't even read the article, go contemplate your navel in private, no one cares what you think Linky, you lilly-livered metrosexual waste of testostetone.
Yep, don't let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya.
Amen.
I think I'm gonna die from NOT surprise! He hasn't voted with the Republicans for years, so will anyone notice?
YES! They should accept his resignation immediately. That way he can't hold up John Bolton's nomination. If they accept his resignation, he's off the committee.
Amen.
GMTA, I should have read down a bit before posting.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.