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xzins,

Your idea is actaually pretty good frm a purely Realpolitik angle. It seems to me that letting him come back just could be better revenge on him in the long run than keeping him isolated. Consider these benefits:

1. It destroys his credibility even more. He will be shown to everyone to be the weasel we always knew he was.

2. It presents a humbling scenario to potential party switchers like Chafee, that traitors will eventually come crawling back. Plus it shifts the balance enough in our favor to the point where 3 Republicans would have to switch to make a difference.

3. The Democrats will start hating him as much as our side does. Then he'll really have no where else to go in the furure.

4. The GOP will appear magnanimous, and not the stereotypical mean boogeymen the media like to present.

Of course that's just playing Devil's Advocate from the most cynical standpoint. Ultimately, I don't think it would or should happen. It would just be too hard for any Republican with principles to stomach letting him back. Despite the possible political advatanges of taking Jeffords back, I'm glad that the GOP is telling him to go F himself.

It seems to me that letting him come back just could be better revenge on him in the long run

There are benefits, but only if he returns to the Republican fold. None of the caucus stuff. Your comment above is excellent.

Realpolitik has its place.

We would automatically get a 2 vote margin in every committee if he were to come back. That makes the Landrieu/Terrell election in LA important, but not almighty important.

I think I'd offer him committee membership but not chairmanship.

4. The GOP will appear magnanimous, and not the stereotypical mean boogeymen the media like to present.

The media will have a field day with this guy. He will no longer be a good guy standing up for his beliefs, but be a looser willing to sell his votes for the highest bidder. They will tar him until he leaves office!