Senator From Vermont Says He Is Leaving G.O.P.. A Democratic majority looms as James Jeffords jumps ship, either to the Democrats or independent status. Jeffords, a moderate who often voted with the Democrats and opposed Li’l George’s tax cut proposal, was apparently offered strong, but unspecified, inducements by Dems. and Repubs. to convince him to go or stay. He’s going, and whether to the Dems. or independent, the Republicans lose their ascendency and their committee chairmanships in the Senate, and bye bye, Trent Lott. Now some of the heat is off frail 98-year-old Strom Thurmond to hang on as long as he can. New York Times