Our friends over at Redstate are doing something very... well... un-conservative, or at least it might seem that way at first glance.

They've invited Dick Durbin, a Democratic Senator, to post a guest blog on their site tomorrow morning and then follow-up the post with an online discussion at 6:30 PM ET with readers of the site.

The conversation seeks to get input (from both sides) about a broadband access bill which Durbin will pen later this year.

The Redstate contributor, Robert Bluey, writes:

I don't see this as a Democrat vs. Republican issue. President Bush in 2004 called for universal and affordable access to high-speed broadband. Many conservatives welcomed his goal as a way to spur innovation, new jobs and economic competitiveness.

It's refreshing to see Durbin reaching out to both sides of the aisle for input. At the very least, it's a smart communication strategy by his team to recognize that they can get more "bang for their buck" by reaching out to both sides for input, and it'll help his team push-back when the bill is released.

And Durbin will always be able to add one word to his forthcoming press releases and blog posts: "Bipartisan."

Frankly, I'd like to see more Republicans and conservatives step-up-the-plate and support broadband access measures. It's sad to think that many go without that which we all rely upon and utilize so much.