But later in that year, two Republican Senators died, leaving Wayne Morse as the swing vote who could change the Senate to Democrat control. Morse voted with the Republicans on organization of the Senate, instead. He explained that his constituents had elected him as a Republican. He said it would be a breach of faith with them unless he voted Republican on organization of the Senate, until he had faced his voters again, and been reelected as an independent, if that was their will.
Wayne Morse was reelected as an independent, and thereafter voted that way. Wayne Morse was an honorable man. Notice that the lamestream media NEVER mentioned the example of Senator Morse in talking about the "courage" and "principle" of Jeffords.
Jeffords is not a man of principle. Compared to the example of Wayne Morse, he is a turncoat and a prostitute. He has earned for Vermont whatever political repercussions the state gets, due to his actions.
Leahy, on the other hand, is and always has been, a garden-variety corrupt Democrat who is a liar whenever it suits his needs. He, too, has earned for Vermont the bad treatment it can now expect. A man who cannot keep his word, and who cannot keep his mouth shut (remember the "Leaky Leahy" flap when he revealed sensitive intelligence data) does not belong in the US Senate.
It is up to Vermont to clean up its own mess. In the meantime, its two Senators can be assigned to adjoining stalls in the Senate Washroom as well-earned premium office space, for their "service."
Congressman Billybob
As I recall, Phil Gramm of Texas resigned as a Democrat, and then ran as a Republican, rather than switch horses in midstream.
We elect men, not parties, every two years, and we entrust with them the decision-making responsibility for us. And, this means that if the gentleman's opinions or inclinations shift over time, or if his party moves in an unfavorable direction, he must do what his conscience tells him.
Voting to organize with the other party is no more of a "turncoat" act than voting with the other party a la Zell Miller of Georgia. People change! If you were in a Republican club in your hometown, and one of the officers stood up and announced that he had switched registration and was leaving the club, and provided a heartfelt explanation, would you hate him, rough him up, and throw him out in the street? No! You might gently ask him to resign his office, or initiate a recall, but you would respect his switch if it was conscientious and honorably done.
Don't get me wrong -- I am a very conservative Republican and view Jeffords' switch as an act of betrayal, but it was his motives that were suspect. I do not view the switches by Richard Shelby and Ben Nighthorse Campbell that way. And, to be candid, Jeffords' departure probably was one of the reasons that Republicans regained the Senate because the obstructionist Democrats only increased voter frustration before this month's elections.
I'm glad to have Jeffords on the other side because without him our party is closer to its principles. His switch was a purifying act.