Just a note – some things I saw in the news this morning (http://www.patriotpost.us/):

In 2001, when Vermont’s Jim Jeffords switched from the GOP to the Democrats, giving the Senate majority to the Democrats, Arlen Specter publicly opposed the move as unethical and unfair to the voters. “I plan to propose a rule change which would preclude a future recurrence of a senator’s change in parties, in midsession, organizing with the opposition, to cause the upheaval which is now resulting,” he said then.

“I am staying a Republican because I think I have an important role — a more important role — to play there. I think the United States desperately needs a two-party system. It is the basis of politics in America. I think each of the 41 Republican senators, in a sense, and I don’t want to overstate this, is a national asset, because if one was gone you would only have 40. The Democrats would have 60 and they would control all of the mechanisms of government.” –Sen. Arlen Specter in March