Bush's new buddy, Lieberman

When President Bush cited Joe Lieberman's "good advice" in his address to the nation Wednesday night, it was the most public evidence yet of how Republicans have embraced the Connecticut senator.

And he has been embracing them back.

Lieberman won re-election in November by winning about 70 percent of the state's GOP vote and 33 percent of the Democrats. He calls himself an independent Democrat, and continues to caucus with Senate Democrats.

But the Connecticut lawmaker's smooth glide between the congressional aisles quietly annoys a lot of Democrats. They just won't say so publicly, not when a party switch would create a 50-50 Senate and a Republican majority.

Last Friday, for instance, Lieberman left an all-day Senate Democratic retreat to head uptown. He was on the program to address the American Enterprise Institute about Iraq, appearing with Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain.

Now what does all this mean? Well to me personally, I think Liberman might be a wild card int he Senate and could decide a lot of key legislation down the road for both Republicans and Democrats. I find no problem with Liberman lobbying with both because technically he's an Independent. However he needs to put politics aside and do what's best for the American people and not try to pay the Democrats back for not backing him and not try to give favors to Republicans for getting him elected. Instead Liberman needs to try to build bridges between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate so that legislation can pass that will help the American people. Build the bridge Liberman and show the way for the rest of your colleagues.