3 possibilities when it comes to the dispute over Rice being nominated for Sec of State.
1. Obama doesn't nominate Rice for whatever reason. Conservatives might try to spin it that they denied Obama his first choice.
Obama nominates her, and...
2. Rice's confirmation is either bogged down (and withdrawn), or her confirmation fails in the Senate. Republicans portray it as a victory. Then they feel emboldened to fight him on even more fronts, or...
3. Rice is confirmed by the Senate, and the Republicans limp off to lick their wounds yet once again.
Just remember when she appears before this senate she'll be under oath.
I don't think she would be worried about that in the least. In fact, if there's as much nonsensical bluster in the GOP's opposition to Rice's nomination as I suspect there is, it's likely that she would make Republicans look like a bunch of idiots, cranks, and fools for their numerous public statements calling her honesty, credibility, and qualifications into question.
It would be a fine show.