On July 13, the consequences of Sen. Susan Collins’ vote for tens of billion in additional funding for immigration enforcement agencies, bestowed with unlimited power, landed on her home turf, causing her a big pickle. As in Houston, Texas, an innocent person was killed simply driving to work. 

For the love of pearls! Guess who is concerned? Not about the death of an innocent human, but rather her own keister. Maine and Texas are two vulnerable Senate seats. What ever will Collins do?

Collins has been in hiding for this entire century, nary a town hall nor any meaningful open forum in all that time. Instead she and her team regularly manufacture tightly controlled forays out into safe zones in the community to pose for public relations fairy tales. She cannot come out into the light because the illusion would be shattered by hard questions. 

She has perfected the magic trick. Watch her recent performance.

First, stay cloistered. Then call the newly minted head of the Department of Homeland Security and have him stop the bad thing, the traffic stop. Done. Then, with a click of the heels, get the word out. The Atlantic, among other national outlets, expeditiously announces that our heroine saved the day again. Next, a quick PR statement to ensure Mainers understand how dangerous it would be here without ICE, because remember how dangerous Maine was before January 2025? Then, roll out a Facebook post sharing her genius move. If we aren’t watching closely, Operation Abracadabra works every time. 

Mainers should be watching closely and remember, in November, Operation ABC: Anyone But Collins.

Jennifer Jones
South Portland