You’re right that Gov. Brownback should be held accountable for not trying to stop Sebelius’s nomination. But, as a practical matter, the Democrats had 59 Senators (and soon had 60), and Brownback couldn’t have done more than delay her eventual confirmation. And even had Brownback’s opposition to the nomination convinced Obama to nominate someone else, whomever he named to HHS would have issued the same regulation, since Obama would control him or her.
He certainly should not have supported her, there was legitimate fear she would run for the Senate in 2010 (back when we didn’t know whether it was gonna be a good year) but that was a poor excuse, Brownback should have been well aware she’s an incompetent lightweight hack who would bring national shame to Kansas. But I doubt his opposition would have made any difference (and I know for a fact anyone else Obama would put in there would be doing the exact same things as she).
I don’t think there’s been a single Obama cabinet nomination I would have voted for I were a Senator.