Sometimes, in fact, often, politics is not only a game but a contact sport, best played by a team. Jeffords was a part of the "team" until he left--which meant that a liberal Republican was better than an "honest" independent because it kept OUR GUYS in management (even as weak as they were, at least those were OUR Committee Chairmen).
At the end of the season, fair or not, it's a matter of win's versus losses--and I'll take this as a win on an otherwise double-loss night, the year anniversary of a big race we almost lost.
I'm getting old--I'll take my win's, my joys, where I can find them and be grateful instead of critical.
Bloomberg in the GOP (whoopee) --and Gen. Arnold in the Continental Army! ;-`