Can we expect any defections to the GOP?

[Bluegrass Federalist]

Can we expect any other Dems, like Breaux or Zell Miller, to jump ship to the GOP now that the majority is secure? I would imagine that they will not want their states to suffer like NY, NJ, W.Va., and especially Vermont are going to in the pork department. It will be interesting to watch, but what do you guys expect? Since we are Chafee-proof (and if we get SD, McCainiac-proof, too), it looks like the shoe is on the other foot.

[trebb]

Yahooooooooo! The only way to make it better is to have SD go Rep..... :-)

[PokeyJoe]

Zel Miller, in Georgia, might be inclined to jump ship - given what happened to Cleland.

[ReleaseTheHounds]

Zel Miller, in Georgia, might be inclined to jump ship - given what happened to Cleland.

I doubt Zel would jump -- in many ways, he and John Breaux are more effective as swing Demos who occasionally "do the right thing."

[Credo]

Zell may be more likely to jump given the Republican avalanche in Georgia. I read that the long time Democrat Georgia State House Leader was even beat. Given what happened to Cleland & Barnes it may be a smart political move.

Breaux is another interesting prospect. It may depend on Landrieu's fortunes Dec. 7. Breaux has already been coaxed to join the Bush administration. He may find it more to his liking now. LA has a Republican governor.

[rintense]

If there is a clear majority in the senate, there will be no *real* need for anyone to jump. Besides, who wants to jump to the minority party? LOL! But I do agree, clearly Georgia has made it's case for Miller to consider the voting trend.

[retiredtexan]

As much as I hate to say it, the dems ain't jeffords.

[11th Earl of Mar]

I hear Jeffords is coming back.

[Ulysses]

Zell may be more likely to jump given the Republican avalanche in Georgia. I read that the long time Democrat Georgia State House Leader was even beat. Given what happened to Cleland & Barnes it may be a smart political move.

OTOH, now may be the time ol' Zell "really returns to his roots" and becomes the fiercely partisan Democrat that he really is on the inside!

I hope not, but they don't call him "Zig Zag Zell" for nothing!

[JoeGar]

I seriously doubt that Jim Jeffords has the guts to attempt to jump back on the Republican ship. (It's going to be so much fun to watch what happens to him in the coming year.)

[section9]

Zell Miller, Ben Nelson, and Breaux will stay. To get them, some Republican would have to give up his committee chairmanship, which won't happen.

These three will stay because they will calculate that they can extract more from the President and the Republican Leader of the Senate by remaining Dems. Which they can. Do NOT be surprised if Breaux becomes a new kingmaker in the Senate as leader of the moderate Dem caucus.

Daschle burned his bridges to the conservative Dems. Now he pays the price.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[AppyPappy]

Jeffords will return. The question is "When"?

[wewillnotfail]

The DUers are worried about ZigZagZell

[TC Rider]

I hear Jeffords is coming back.

Ha ha

I hear his new office will be sharing the janitor's closet in the basement with her highness, Hillery!

[Hoosierdvk]

If the margin is several senators, why not ask Chafee to leave? I, for one, am tired of his schtick.

[The G Man]

Re: Chafee

Any thoughts he had about switching have probably fallen by the wayside after the GOP took the governorship of RI in an upset yesterday

What a night! Hey Tip O'Neill ... SOMETIMES POLITICS IS NATIONAL!!

[laconic]

Patrick Leahy called the White House this morning and offered to push through every one of the backstabbed conservative judge nominees. That bozo Ralph Neas won't be sitting at the table in the Judiciary Committee anymore passing judgment on men and women far better than he.

[Skip Ripley]

THe DUers are calling for the heads of Gephardt and Lil Tommy. The idiots STILL don't see the damage the Klinttons have done to their party.

Stubborn Jackasses, the electorate just cracked them accross the head with a 2x4 and they still won't get it...

[Jalapeno]

They most defintely WILL NOT switch. Breaux and Miller now become the most powerful members of the minority part of Congress. They have shown they are willing to work with the President, and thier votes would break any fillerbuster attempts. Look for them to get alot of attention from Bush in the coming years.

I wonder where the dems are going to draw their battlelines in the next congress...trying to block everything would be suicidal.

[You Dirty Rats]

Maybe James Carville will switch.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

James has more hair then the Democrats have ideas.