[Balding_Eagle]

a few senators actually wondered if he could possibly do the unthinkable--switch back

I don't know which would make me more angry, the fact that the Reps wouldn't take him back and stay in the minority, or the fact that they would take him back just to regain the majority.

What a b*st*rd, I wish him ill.

[rmgatto]

"Seven months after Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party and altered the balance of power in Washington, he remains something of an icon."

Icon? Moron is more like it.

[Diojneez]

I don't know which would make me more angry, the fact that the Reps wouldn't take him back and stay in the minority, or the fact that they would take him back just to regain the majority.

It's a no-brainer. Take him back and forget he exists.

[Mark17]

What a b*st*rd, I wish him ill.

I agree 100%

[chaosagent]

Unfortunately I don't think the GOP could keep him from coming back. He could just stay an independent but say he will now vote with the GOP. This would flip everything just like it did before.

[okie01]

"I don't know which would make me more angry, the fact that the Reps wouldn't take him back and stay in the minority, or the fact that they would take him back just to regain the majority."

Jeffords doesn't have to "move back". Nor do the Republicans need to "take him back".

All Jeffords has to do, in order to re-gain his leverage, is to remain Independent...and vote for Lott as the majority leader.

As soon as he lets both sides know that his vote can not be taken for granted, his legislative priorities will be catered to -- by both parties!

Jeffords, alas, is too stupid to understand this.