[marajade]

Because the Dems only gained 51 seats when a Republican left the party and became an independent... The Republicans won a majority by election in 2000 and in 2002.

Lott decided that since it was 50-50 they decided to split everything half and half. The Dems decided against another reorg resolution when Jeffords switched... that's not the Republicans fault...

[Steven W.]

it was never Democrats 51-49 - it was 50-50 and then, following the overturn of the election by Jumpin' Jim Jeffords, Democrats 50, Republicans 49 and Independents 1. Now it is Republicans 51, Democrats 48 and Independents 1. The Democrats keep wanting to count Jumpin' Jim as a Democrat when he's still (supposedly) an "Independent" (which is the only time this distinction really matters)