That politics makes for strange bedfellows is without question in U.S. history. Every governmental body, large or small, can cite frequent shifts in alliances as different issues are debated and enacted. Election cycles heighten the phenomenon as political fortunes live and die by the outcome.

How political organizations deal with so-called unholy alliances post-election go a long way toward defining their character.

It is in this context we suggest the Kansas Republican Party could learn a lesson from the national Democratic caucus.

In Washington, D.C., this week, Sen. Joe Lieberman was called out on the carpet by Democrats upset about the independent from Connecticut's support of Republican John McCain during the recent presidential election. At stake was whether the majority Democrats would allow Lieberman to retain his chairmanship status on the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

The caucus voted to condemn Lieberman's statements critical of President-elect Barack Obama and pulled him off the Environment and Public Works Committee, but agreed to let him keep the prominent Homeland Security chair. With Tuesday's action, Democrats appeared to be heeding Obama's call for healing, unity and governance from the center.

"We're looking forward," said Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, "we're not looking back."

The direction appears reversed in the Sunflower State, where the Grand Old Party put its loyalty test in motion in Johnson County. Lasy year, the Kansas Republican Party amended its own constitution to allow punishment of members caught supporting Democrats. On Monday, 15 GOP precinct leaders from the state's most populous county didn't have their votes counted for party leadership positions. Their crime? Making contributions or endorsing Democrats during the general election.

Party Chairman Kris Kobach well might believe such loyalty pacts will help the party retain its partisan advantage. We don't see it doing anything but driving the stake further into the wedge between conservative and moderate Republicans. That can't be good for the overall health of the Kansas GOP, let alone any bipartisan efforts planned in Topeka.

In an era where ordinary citizens are tired of political games triumphing over government efficiency, the Kansas GOP should look to our nation's capital for guidance. There, the bedcovers have been turned down and politics of retribution have been tossed out. We would be wise to do the same in Topeka.

Editorial by Patrick Lowry

plowry@dailynews.net