Charles Krauthammer writes that rarely in our political system is the nomination of a cabinet official used by political opponents of an administration as a vehicle to make a wider attack on its policies. He argues that this is precisely what the Democrats who opposed and delayed Condoleeza Rice's nomination did, and that it is a highly risky course of action.

It is appropriate - and necessary - that an opposition party express criticism of the administration when criticism is due, especially in matters of war, provided it is done in a manner that does not endanger the troops or damage the mission. Anyone who argues otherwise is a blind partisan, and I will gladly part company with him or her. But the Democratic party is not expressing responsible criticism of the war. The criticism appears to most reasonable people to have just one goal: Damage the despised George W. Bush.

If they want to oppose her that is their right, but the appropriate vehicle for criticism of the war was not the delay of the confirmation of Rice as secretary of state. The delay served no purpose, as there were no questions about her qualifications, and no credible charges against her of either malfeasance or lack of integrity. It probably did damage to the diplomatic efforts of the United States in the continuing war on terror. The week before the election in Iraq was too important to have a postponement of her final confirmation unless the most extraordinary circumstances arose involving serious and credible charges against Rice. None arose. That is not likely to be forgotten by a very large number of Americans.

There was one person who realized the mistake in opposing Rice:

Among the list of Democrats who did vote for Rice is Hillary Clinton, steadily moving to the center with her relatively hawkish work on the Armed Services Committee, her recent conciliatory speech on abortion and now her unwillingness to go over the cliff in opposing the Rice nomination.

Who has the politics of this right? My guess is: Hillary, as usual.

Hillary knows. You can take that to the bank.