[WildTurkey]

I would rather have him leave the party than to block the judicial nominees.

Forcing him out of the party would probably result in his being more likely to block any judges.

[Hendrix]

"Forcing him out of the party would probably result in his being more likely to block any judges."

I highly doubt that. He cannot block judges as a mere senator, even if he switched sides. If he joined up with all the liberal republicans, he still could not block a judge on an up or down vote (do the math). I am not advocating forcing him out of the party, but if he leaves because he is not made the head of the judicial committee, so be it.