The trouble facing so-called Republican "moderates" (all 2 of them) is that aside from a general fealty to the Bush years and, of course, tax cuts, being a conservative in good standing has little to do with anything policy related. It's why snarlin' Arlen couldn't just come up with a couple wingnutty proposals (flat tax!) and expect conservative Republican voters to applaud. Even though Specter was hardly a thorn in Bush's side over the last several years, he didn't sufficiently adopt the identity politics of the Republican tribe. So the tribe rejected him.
Olympia Snowe probably should make a few more Michael Moore is fat comments.
