Does this make Nelson an independent voice? Hell No! This is all based on politics. Keep in mind this is the same Ben Nelson who stood in the way of health care reform, wall street reform, and voted against the unemployment benefits. He also was one of twenty-three democratic senators who voted to confirm John Roberts and one of only three democratic senators who voted to confirm Samuel Alito.  So why would Nelson act so much like a Republican even more than most cowardly democrats would? Well it's because Nelson is up for reelection in 2012 and he's made it clear that he plans on running and Dave Heinaman, Nebraska's Republican Governor who is considering running against Nelson is leading him in a recent poll. That's why but never under-estimate the power of progressives. For all we know Nelson could get challenged by a progressive in the democratic primary. I mean Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania voted for Roberts and Alito while he was a Republican and I think that was one of the many reasons he lost the democratic primary to Joe Sestak. Personally I believe Ben Nelson should get a progressive opponent in the democratic primary.  One that can make him act more progressive like how Sestak did to Specter.