Having predicted Hillary would vote for Rice (as Ramesh can verify) on the theory that she has more running room on the right than Evan Bayh, let me venture two more predictions. I think she votes against Alberto Gonzales because she’s one tough cookie on terrorism but “terror memos” hurt the war, endanger our troops, etc. etc. Then I think she votes in favor of Micahel Chertoff for Homeland Security, even though she opposed his nomination to bench. This is different, not a lifetime appointment, etc. etc AND New York being shortchanged in homeland defense money is a big fat issue. I don’t think she wants to risk being accused of letting her personal resentment about Chertoff’s past congressional work investigating the Clintons sour New York’s relationship with new DHS leadership. An affirmative vote would make it look as though she puts New York’s interests above all else. (Full disclosure: In 1999, I predicted Hillary wouldn’t run for the Senate from New York. Of course, she’s made plenty of choices I wouldn’t have.)