... that the best male friend of our Secretary of State was on the Clinton Administration's National Security Council and advised President Clinton and the National Security Adviser on Russia, the new Independent States, and the former Soviet Union.

... that the "liberal progressive" best female friend of our Secretary of State was a producer for Bill Moyers and a staff producer, director, and writer of current affairs programs and investigative documentaries at KQED in San Francisco.

... that the best male friend of our Secretary of State, the best female friend of our Secretary of State, and our Secretary of State purchased a Palo Alto, California, home together which now belongs solely to the two women.

... that our Secretary of State would say these wingnut-head-explosion-inducing words at the swearing-in of a subordinate last year:

Thank you. Thank you very much. I am truly honored and delighted to have the opportunity to swear in Mark Dybul as our next Global AIDS Coordinator. I am pleased to do that in the presence of Mark's parents, Claire and Richard; his partner, Jason; and his mother-in-law, Marilyn. You have wonderful family to support you, Mark, and I know that's always important to us. Welcome."

... that the best male friend of our Secretary of State would bounce a quarter off her butt to prove how tight it is.

After she became secretary of state, she came to a party at Blacker's house, kicked off her shoes, and began dancing through the night to rock and and roll. Blacker, who is gay, wanted to show his partner how tight her behind is; he postulated that if he aimed a quarter at her butt, it would bounce off like a rocket. He was right. Rice, who was dancing, didn't realize what he had done until everyone began laughing hysterically. She was flattered -- and proud.

... that the GOP, so very concerned not terribly long ago about America's representation abroad by a proud gay American, James Hormel, would let our never-married, home-owning-with-another-single-female, best-friends-with-a-gay-Clinton-adviser, thigh-high-stilleto-boot-wearing Secretary of State represent American interests everywhere Dear Leader cannot be at the moment.

No One Could Have Anticipated...

Also! David E thinks perhaps the inherent juicy possibilities of the "Rice & Bean's house" saga (none of which the Washington Post included in its obligatory staffer-author article by Glenn Kessler -- who penned the new Rice bio -- or even his WaPoO chatz) may be eclipsed by yet another tsunami about to break over GOP House Deputy Whip Patrick McHenry. One place to start learning about McHenry is the General's letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: Can Rep. McHenry's Hostel for Strapping Young Republican Lads Survive This?

UPDATE: Howie Klein reports that Baby McHenry may have a Navy-hero Democratic opponent.