Condoleeza Rice’s confirmation hearing might be worth keeping half an eye on.

She’s often cited as having a formidable intellect (speaks x languages, piano player etc.) But after watching her performance at the September 11 Committee hearings, I got the impression she wasn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the box. Which isn’t necessarily a barrier to advancement in a Bush cabinet.

It’s possible the hearing will get to the bottom of her thinking on a range of issues - she’ll be the face of the Bush administration in the rest of the world, after all. And if the Democrats can get a rise out of her on issues such as Iraq and September 11 (or Iran, even?), we might see some fireworks.