WASHINGTON/ Conservative Monitor -- Senator James Jeffords (R or D or I?) from Vermont is receiving reams of press coverage over his proposed, possible, likely, will-announce-soon, maybe Wednesday, could-be Thursday switch to Independent or Democrat.

The Senator's vacillating coyness has generated discussion on the evening news, radio talk shows and created enough newspaper copy to require the mowing down of several rain-forests. On May 23, Reuters news service produced 5 articles on the subject. The AP produced 4 and ABCNEWS reported three stories, and all this by 1:00 p.m.

Besides, being the toast of the liberal press, Senator Jeffords is being wooed by both parties. He has had long talks with the President of the United States, and the Vice President. The Democrats have promissed him plumb committee appointments and other political bribes.

Power in the Senate hangs in the balance. The Senate is presently comprised of 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats with tie votes taken by Republican Vice-President Cheney. A move by Senator Jeffords would swing control of the Senate over to the Democrats.

Senator Jeffords motivation for switching parties has been deeply divined by various press sources. ABC news reported, "it can be viewed as much as a slap at Bush as an ideologically driven decision." Then they went on to cite such petty circumstances as the fact that "Jeffords was not invited to the Teacher of the Year ceremony at the White House, even though the educator being honored was from Vermont." There was no mention of whether the Senator was ever asked to get off the back of a plane.

An AP newswire story stated: "Jeffords is among a dwindling band of moderate Republicans in an increasingly conservative party. House Democrat Leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri said the reported switch was sorry evidence that 'there's no room for moderates within today's inside-the-beltway Republican Party.'"