Commentary: Future of Republican Party depends on more Republicans like Susan Collins She has defended Liz Cheney and Mitt Romney – and she could form a Senate bloc of Republicans who are willing to seek bipartisan compromise. By Frederic B. HillSpecial to the Press Herald Share Sen. Susan Collins took a sound and sensible step last week in standing up for the traditional values of the Republican Party, in which she has flourished as one of its more moderate members. Sen. Collins scolded Utah Republicans for harassing her colleague, Mitt Romney, saying she was “appalled” by their treatment of a fellow – and equally moderate – Republican.