Thought we'd escaped; apparently not

al-Reuters has a story by John Whitesides about Hillary becoming (gag) Secretary of State:

Hillary Clinton headed towards confirmation as U.S. secretary of state on Wednesday despite renewed Republican concerns about potential conflicts of interest raised by her husband's foreign fundraising. Clinton's nomination by President Barack Obama to be the top US diplomat was on track for easy approval from the Senate later in the day. She will replace former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
During a Senate debate, Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas raised the issue of possible conflicts of interest created by foreign donations to the charitable foundation of her husband, former President Bill Clinton. But Cornyn and other Republicans said they would support her nomination and that it was crucial she be allowed to get to work on the array of foreign policy challenges awaiting the Obama administration. "I intend to vote for her confirmation. But I also think it's important to flesh out the concerns raised," Cornyn said. "If we are going to restore trust between the American people and their government, we need to be sure the reality matches the rhetoric." Among the nearly $500 million given to the foundation, established by Bill Clinton to pay for his library in Arkansas and charitable projects around the world, are donations from foreign governments that Hillary Clinton could deal with in her new role.
To answer concerns about possible conflicts, the foundation and the Obama transition team reached an agreement in December to make public a list of its past donors, annually publish the names of its current donors, and agree to submit future foreign donations to a State Department ethics review. Cornyn and other Republicans have suggested additional steps, such as cutting off all foreign donations during her tenure. During her confirmation hearing last week, Clinton resisted requests to amend the agreement. She said ethics lawyers concluded there was no inherent conflict of interest between her husband's foundation, which combats HIV/AIDS, global warming, and poverty, and her potential service as secretary of state.
Several Republicans praised Clinton and said she would be an outstanding secretary of state. Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, the party's presidential nominee who lost to Obama in November, urged the Senate to quickly approve Clinton. "The message that the American people are sending us now is they want us to work together and get to work," McCain said.
Clinton will face a barrage of international challenges in her new post, from the Israeli-Palestinian dispute to tackling the nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea and the duel wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The former first lady, a Democratic senator from New York, has promised a more muscular and "pragmatic" approach to US diplomacy, in sharp contrast to what critics considered the ideological approach of former President George W. Bush.
Obama has indicated his administration will take a more active role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and he leaped into Middle East diplomacy on his first day with a round of calls to regional leaders. He also may move quickly to name a Middle East envoy, and is strongly considering George Mitchell, a former US senator and veteran international troubleshooter, for the job.
Clinton, a fierce rival of Obama's for the Democratic presidential nomination, plans to resign her Senate seat upon confirmation as secretary of state. New York Governor David Paterson is expected to appoint her replacement later this week, with Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former President John Kennedy, one of those under consideration.

Rico says he wasn't whelmed by Condoleeza, but he sure as hell isn't going to be happy with Hillary...