Actually Chafee could be worse. He could pull a Jeffords move in the middle of a session of Congress. I'd rather know up front at the beginning of the session where Republicans stand in terms of numbers for support of leadership and important bills.
It wouldn't do him any good to join the minority. He benefits by being in the majority.
When Jeffords tipped the majority to the Dems he got keep his chairmanships and got other perks. Now he has nothing.
I think it's time for the president or the leadership to play a little hard ball with some of these wavering pansy Senators.
Maybe cut a some of their pork for a while might bring them back in line with their voters.