There are reports today that Independent Democrat Joe Lieberman (I-Conn), the Democrats’ vice presidential nominee in 2000, could be the keynote speaker at the Republican National Convention this summer.  

Lieberman’s strong support for defending our homeland and securing Iraq has drawn ire from the Liberal base and lead to his exile from the party via a 2006 primary challenge from Ned Lamont.  Lieberman still won the seat as an independent, despite many of his Senate colleagues endorsing Lamont, including fellow Connecticut Democrat Chris Dodd. 

Lieberman was allowed to keep his seniority by caucusing with Democrats, thus giving them a slim majority in the Senate, but there has been speculation recently that if their party picks up additional seats in the 2008 election (which is highly likely), Lieberman will be stripped of his committee chairmanship.

Is it any wonder then that Lieberman does not feel a particular loyalty to the party that tries to get rid of him at the drop of a hat only to keep him around when it’s in their best interest?  Is it any wonder that he has endorsed his fellow independent-minded Senator and friend John McCain (R-Ariz) for the presidency?

Despite the promises of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill) to work across the aisle and unite the country (and his record shows no prior instances of such cooperation), Lieberman’s story is clear evidence that the Republican Party is the refuge of diverse ideas and the home of independent public servants with the courage to not simply toe a party line.

For if anyone disagrees with the “open-minded,” and “tolerant” base of the Democrat Party, he will be exiled.  In the case of Sen. Lieberman though, his exile could lead him to a major cabinet position (i.e. Departments of Homeland Security or Defense) under President John McCain.