Flake only has so much power, because it’s a 51-49 Senate, and MooCowSki and Collins are there to give backup.
In a 53-47 Senate, without Flake, Romney is far less powerful, as even if he brings MooCowSki and Collins with him, It’s still 50-50 and Pence breaks the tie.
I hear ya but that’s a very tenuous “majority”. Mittens is going to be a major annoyance and the liberal media will shout his every anti-Trump utterance.
Collins and Murkowski aren't the ones backing Flake up here though, it's Tim Scott whose vote is allowing Flake to kill the nomination of Thomas Farr to the federal bench