We have a new Director of Central Intelligence. Michael Hayden was confirmed 78-15 in the Senate. Some interesting votes: Specter actually voted against him. Jim Thune and Liddy Dole both abstained (for whatever reason).
Democrats running for President that voted against Hayden: Bayh, Feingold, Hillary, Dodd, Kerry.
Democrats running for President that voted for him: Biden.
Democrats not running for President that voted against him: Cantwell, Dayton, Dorgan, Durbin, Harkin, Kennedy, Menendez, Obama, Wyden.
And, significantly, Rockefeller, who chairs the intelligence committee did not bother to vote because he is in the hospital with a back injury. [Hat tip to Arminius].
(Below is the whole list, with Republicans voting yes deleted).
It looks to me like the Democrats are aware that Democratic primary voters take their civil liberties pretty seriously. Joe Biden never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity to make up to the netroots and grassroots of the party. No matter, he will be a total non-factor in the 2008 primaries.
I’m not terribly upset about Michael Hayden being DCI. I am much more concerned about curbing Bush’s abuse of power and having Congressional oversight of our intelligence activities. Feingold tried to force a showdown on that in a more appropriate setting than a confirmation hearing. That he didn’t win much support then from his colleagues was depressing. That his support online soared into the stratosphere was obviously noted by the other contenders to the party throne.
Our voice is being heard, even if we have precious little results yet to show for it.
Akaka (D-HI), Yea,
Baucus (D-MT), Yea,
Bayh (D-IN), Nay,
Biden (D-DE), Yea,
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea,
Boxer (D-CA), Not Voting,
Byrd (D-WV), Yea,
Cantwell (D-WA), Nay,
Carper (D-DE), Yea,
Clinton (D-NY), Nay,
Conrad (D-ND), Not Voting,
Dayton (D-MN), Nay,
Dodd (D-CT), Nay,
Dole (R-NC), Not Voting,
Dorgan (D-ND), Nay,
Durbin (D-IL), Nay,
Feingold (D-WI), Nay,
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea,
Harkin (D-IA), Nay,
Inhofe (R-OK), Yea,
Inouye (D-HI), Not Voting,
Jeffords (I-VT), Yea,
Johnson (D-SD), Yea,
Kennedy (D-MA), Nay,
Kerry (D-MA), Nay,
Kohl (D-WI), Yea,
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea,
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea,
Leahy (D-VT), Yea,
Levin (D-MI), Yea,
Lieberman (D-CT), Yea,
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea,
Menendez (D-NJ), Nay,
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea,
Murray (D-WA), Yea,
Nelson (D-FL), Yea,
Nelson (D-NE), Yea,
Obama (D-IL), Nay,
Pryor (D-AR), Yea,
Reed (D-RI), Yea,
Reid (D-NV), Yea,
Rockefeller (D-WV), Not Voting,
Salazar (D-CO), Not Voting,
Sarbanes (D-MD), Yea,
Schumer (D-NY), Yea,
Specter (R-PA), Nay,
Stabenow (D-MI), Yea,
Thune (R-SD), Not Voting,
Wyden (D-OR), Nay
