He's the last Republican in New England. I think he's good as gone. Its a well deserved reward for the principal House author with Massachusetts Democrat Marty Meehan - of the BCRA law - better known on the Senate side as McCain-Feingold. Quite simply, his usefulness to the media and the Democrats is over.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
The DBM's use of the terms 'moderate' and 'maverick' are a riot. A moderate Republican(Collins, Warner, Voinovich, Lugar) is a Democrats 'useful-fool' on certain issues. But a maverick Republican(McCain, Graham, Specter, Snowe, Hagel)... is one who can actually undermine his own party and cause long-term damage.
The bottom line is that they're all weak-sisters... and they vastly outnumber their counterparts across the aisle.