They're not all different.   Moderates--both Republican and Democratic-- may be an endangered species, but they still exist.   Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Kirk, would all be far better choices to head a committee than Murkowski. And as I said, seniority counts.   Miller would have no seniority so would not be head of any committee.

What makes this a moot point is that the Republicans will not take the Senate this year.   If they did, the question of whether Miller or Murkowski won in Alaska would be crucial.