Granted, we need to maintain the majority...but a 51-49 majority can be MORE effective than a 55-45 majority. Rick Santorum's support of Snarlen Arlen over uber-conservative Pat Toomey made no sense whatsoever from a 'get things done' standpoint. It only made sense from the 'promote Ricky at all costs' standpoint. Ricky is going down to defeat in November 2006. The party would be well advised to replace him in the primary, because principled conservatives are still LIVID, and would rather vote for a Dem than vote for Ricky.
Then find a principled conservative and support him. Supporting a Dem or failing to support the Republican only gives power to the Dems. Life ain't pretty but it is all we have.