Hillary's Having a Bad Week: Part II

President Bush nominated Michael Chertoff to be the new Homeland Security Secretary.

So why have I listed this under 'Hillary's Bad Week'?

First, he was chief council in the Whitewater investigation, that is, he helped investigate the Clintons.

Secondly, he was later nominated for several Senate-confirmable positions, including the Third Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals. For that position, the only negative vote was that of Senator Clinton.

Yes, when given the opportunity, Hillary expressed her displeasure on an investigation into her and her husband's possible illegal activities by casting a vote against a appellate court judge nominee...please note, she had so little basis for voting against him that she was unable to convince anyone else (not even a member of her own party) to join her in her protest vote.

This is going to make the vote on whether to confirm Chertoff as Homeland Security Secretary more difficult for Hillary. If she votes to confirm him, she will be asked why she thought he was unacceptable for the appellate court but acceptable for the more important position of Homeland Security Secretary. If she votes against (and doesn't manage to get others to join her) she will be seen as infusing personal dislike into national politics.

Between this and the investigation into her aide's campaign fraud, there have been suggestions that this will not only affect her plans of running for the presidency in 2008...but may affect her chances in next year's Senate race.