Reply #13: Jim Jeffords

[CorpGovActivist]

... handed the Dems the Senate back on a silver platter in May 2001, just four months into the Bush Presidency.

Many in my party - myself included - rejoiced at his act of supreme patriotism. You could not ask for a more clear-cut example of putting country ahead of party.

No less than George Washington himself reportedly described the Senate as the "saucer" in which the hot-headed legislation of the House is cooled: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=washington+jefferson+senatorial+saucer+to+cool+it

Because the Daschle Democrats played tiddlywinks instead of mounting a campaign in 2002, the Dems lost the Senate again - and we now have Chief Justice Roberts and Samuel Alito bolstering Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia. The fumble in 2002 was an expensive lesson for the Dems (and the whole country), but it seems to be one that the party has learned.

So, yeah, the Dems are going to need patriotic Republicans - like Jim Jeffords. If the Senate ties up 50-50, you may even see an Olympia Snowe or Lincoln Chafee reprise Jeffords' brave act of patriotism, to break the tie and rob Cheney of the tie-breaking vote.

- Dave

P.S. If I took a "never work with Democrats" mentality, I would never have had the opportunity to meet with Senator Clinton's staffers, who have been nothing but gracious and helpful.