[Jeff Chandler]

And what happens if Lott doesn't resign, and some Northern RINO's like Chaffee, Snowe and Collins, along with McCain, decide they don't want to belong to a party that has Lott as majority leader, and do a Jeffords?

You're the first person I've heard suggest that scenario.

[Right_in_Virginia]

IMHO, Chaffee, Snowe, et al. are more likely to bolt if the Republican leader is a conservative.

They'll stay with Lott and say they accepted his apology, know him well, and he's not a racist...yada yada yada.

But, a conservative leader? NO WAY.