I thought Krauthammer’s analysis was uncharacteristically flat-footed. He thinks that Senator Clinton’s support for the Rice nomination was smarter than the other 2008 hopefuls’ opposition to it. But I think he’s ignoring the greater leeway she has. It may be that if you administered truth serum to him, Senator Bayh would admit that voting against Rice harms the Democratic party. But he needed to do it, personally, to enhance his appeal to the party’s left. Clinton’s choice may not reflect any difference in their views about the political interests of the party, but about their different circumstances within it. Clinton can get away with a lot more and retain the loyalty and affection of liberals.