Fred Kaplan talks about the withdrawal of Susan Rice for the post of Secretary of State. I dunno if she was the best-possible candidate but don't you get the feeling that the opposition wasn't about her qualifications or Benghazi; that it was about some Republicans' need to prove they can still beat Obama at something?
If I were Barack Obama, I think what I'd do is nominate my second choice for each position and let Republicans tear that person apart. Then once that nomination was dead and they had their "win," my first choice would sail right through.