they make it possible for the repukes to be in charge of the senate. Without them, Schumer would be majority leader.
Heard the same argument why we "had to" re-elect Democrat In All But Label Only Mark Kirk.
Kirk got slaughtered that November and replaced with official Democrat Tammy Duckworth, who votes exactly the same way but doesn't claim to be a "Republican"
Mitch McConnell remained as Majority Leader without Kirk around pretending to be a Republican.