The Problem Sometimes with Answered Prayers

There is an old bromide.  "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it."

Two years ago, President Obama wanted to name Elizabeth Warren to head the Consumer Protection Bureau.  Republicans in Congress were "outraged" as only obstructionist Republicans in Congress can be.  (It's probably not an accident that the admonition, "Just Say No," came during a Republican presidency.)  They screamed and yowled and fought and filibustered and finally blocked her nomination as one of the most qualified experts in the United States for the job.  They got what they wanted.

And instead, she ran for the United States Senate and beat the sitting Republican.  So, she now sits amongst her opponent as their equal, perhaps for decades, rather than being a temporary beaurocrat of a little-known government agency.

A couple months ago, President Obama wanted to name Susan Rice to be Secretary of State.  Republicans in Congress -- okay, you now the rest of the paragraph, but I'm going to repeat it anyway -- were "outraged" as only obstructionist Republicans in Congress can be.  They screamed and yowled and fought and filibustered and finally blocked her nomination as one of the most qualified experts in the United States for the job.  They got what they wanted.

And instead, word is now filtering through the cracks that Susan Rice is the leading candidate to be named National Security Adviser.  So, now she would be sitting at the elbow of the President of United States as he chief adviser.

The position would put her at the forefront of helping develop U.S. foreign policy and be at a level equal to that of the Secretary of State.  There have been cases in recent years where the National Security Adviser has perhaps had even more influence.

The kicker, of course, is that National Security Adviser is not officially a cabinet position, and therefore doesn't have to be confirmed by the Senate.

Now, of course, there's no guarantee that former Ambassador Rice will get the position.  But I suspect that if anyone was going to be in Las Vegas and chose to make a bet, it would be wise to put your money on it.

Y'know, the next time Republicans decide they want to behave like petulant bullies and (literally) make a federal case out of blocking the nomination of a hugely qualified women for some notable job, they might want to take a time out and reconsider.  Not just because it looks really, really bad to the female electorate when you've been charged with waging a War on Women -- but it just might come back to bit you where the sun don't shine.