Clinton Confirmed as SoS: Vitter, DeMint Out-Wingnut Entire Caucus

Former Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was confirmed by the U.S. Senate today as the nation's new Secretary of State, with two lone holdouts in the entire Republican caucus.

WASHINGTON - The Senate has confirmed Hillary Rodham Clinton to become secretary of state.

The Senate vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the former first lady despite lingering concerns by some Republicans that her husband's charitable fundraising overseas could pose a conflict of interest.

Republicans and Democrat alike say her swift confirmation was necessary so that President Barack Obama could begin tackling the major foreign policy issues at hand, including two wars, increased violence in the Middle East and the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.

The Senate voted 94-2, with Republican Sens. David Vitter of Louisiana and Jim DeMint of South Carolina opposing.

Not voting were Clinton herself, as well as Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sen-elect Al Franken, and Sen.-designate Michael Bennet (Franken and Bennet have yet to be sworn in).

In other words, on this issue, Vitter and DeMint - both up for reelection in 2010 - are trying to outcrazy the entire Republican caucus.

Jim Inhofe voted to confirm Clinton. Sam Brownback voted to confirm Clinton. Tom Coburn, Jon Kyl, and Saxby Chambliss voted to confirm Clinton.

Hell, even John Cornyn, the man who made the roll call vote necessary in the first place, voted to confirm her, indicating once again that Cornyn is all talk and little action.

But David Vitter and Jim DeMint stand as the next Congress' new Conservative Icons, bravely daring to cast a meaningless vote against the Big Bad Clintons even as the rest of the caucus grudgingly accepted the new reality.

For DeMint, this is not shocking; DeMint is, after all, one of the Senate's archconservatives, and liable to go off the reservation at any time.

But for David Vitter, a man with an all-too-public affection for prostitutes and diapers, this vote will no doubt be the first step in an extended campaign to ward off a primary challenge in 2010.

Which is fine. If David Vitter wants to position himself as the most right-wing member of the Republican caucus, the Democratic nominee in Louisiana's Senate race will have a lot to play with.

(Discussion of Clinton's confirmation is also going on in StuHunter's recommended diary.)