Hillary Clinton just voted "no" on cloture and final passage of the FISA bill expanding the government's domestic spying powers and guaranteeing retroactive legal immunity for the telecom companies that assisted the spying program.

Barack Obama voted "yes."

The New York Times calls the passage of the bill "one of Mr. Bush's most hard-won legislative victories in a Democratic-led Congress where he has had little success of late. And it represented a stinging defeat for opponents on the left who had urged Democratic leaders to stand firm against the White House after a months-long impasse."

Here's the roll call.

Comments (10)

1. Hillary, dear Hillary, if only, if only you'd dumped Bill years ago & followed your own star.

   Too much high-priced baggage so beclouded you.

   May you become the Great Liberal Lioness of the Senate for 20 years to come.

   A courageous voice in the increasingly arid wilderness.

   Ignore Bill.

   Find your own sole voice.

   Posted by sloper at 07/09/2008 @ 4:35pm

2. How...strange.

   A polar reversal.

   Posted by Benchrest at 07/09/2008 @ 4:35pm

3. I'm not surprised by either vote.Obama is trying to look tough on national security for this election and Hillary is starting her run for POTUS in 2012 now by trying to look more progressive since progressive grass roots and progressive votes are what helped get Obama the nomination.Look for her to start going after the black vote next.She is not a senator.She is a POTUS candidate and always will be until she wins or retires.

   Posted by i'm nobody at 07/09/2008 @ 4:48pm

4. Eh I think there is more intelligence here than anyone can acknowledge. If he actually did vote because he believes in this then that sucks, but he is still better than McCain. However people have brought up the point before. Why not vote for this? It makes sure Republicans can't say he is weak on defense. On top of that once he gets into office he can just reverse the legislation to achieve his real agenda. Maybe it's being hopeful but I don't think things are ever as simple as they appear when you are playing politics.

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/09/2008 @ 4:52pm

5. As I said in Nichol's blog about this:

   So taking positions that are actually popular--sometimes wildly so--won't get you elected? Fascinating...

   Posted by geezjan at 07/09/2008 @ 4:59pm

6. If Clinton were still in the race, she would have voted "yes", just like Barack.

   What you fail to realize, Max, is that most of the country is NOT like Feingold's Wisconsin, so if you are in a "national" race and intend to win, then you cannot allow yourself to be put in the "He/she won't keep America safe" box that the Republicans are trying to but Obama in.

   Once Obama's in office, FISA will be overhauled and the Bush-era abuses eliminated. If you can''t see this forest because you are focused on this one tree, then you are like a number of other progressives who only want to make noise rather than get the power necessary to bring about progressive change.

   Posted by Metteyya at 07/09/2008 @ 5:00pm

7. >>>So taking positions that are actually popular--sometimes wildly so--won't get you elected? Fascinating...

   Posted by geezjan at 07/09/2008 @ 4:59pm<<<

   How popular is it in the battleground states that Obama has to win?

   Think before you speak!

   Posted by Metteyya at 07/09/2008 @ 5:01pm

8. Oh, we weren't really using the 4th Amendment anyway. No biggie.

   Posted by 2PartyRegime at 07/09/2008 @ 5:12pm

9. if it weren't for the fact that all this nonsense affects MY life so much,

   i would laugh at you guys for being stuck with one more president.

   i say scrap the office. make the world a safer place.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 07/09/2008 @ 8:41pm

10. Once Obama's in office, FISA will be overhauled and the Bush-era abuses eliminated. If you can''t see this forest because you are focused on this one tree

    That is wishful thinking. It will be very difficult for Obama to have any credibility trying to overhaul a statute for which he voted in an election year.

    Further, telecom immunity means that many Bush-era abuses won't even be uncovered.

    Posted by brunowe at 07/10/2008 @ 10:48am