Jim Leach for UN Ambassador
Longtime centrist Republican Rep. Jim Leach’s defeat last Tuesday is a great loss for the House of Representatives, but it need not be a loss for the country. There is a diplomatic position for which Leach is not only qualified, but also particularly well suited: Ambassador to the United Nations. I am proud to jump on the Leach bandwagon today by announcing my strong support for his nomination and confirmation by the Senate.
Blog-ally Steve Clemons at The Washington Note has long been favorably inclined toward Leach and is also supporting the effort to secure his nomination. As he notes, Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-WA) and James Walsh (R-NY) have begun circulating a “Dear Colleague” letter recommending Leach for the ambassadorship, and are asking other members to sign on as well. Chris Shays (R-CT) and Jim Marshall (D-GA) have done so, and presumably other signatures will be forthcoming.
This is a bipartisan effort to name a man of experience, knowledge, dignity, pragmatism and principle to the post of UN Ambassador. There is no better choice.
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5 Responses to “Jim Leach for UN Ambassador”
Does it really matter who the ambassador to the UN is? President Bush should just forget about Bolton and let some career diplomat serve as the acting Ambassador and let the next president nominate someone. This would appeal to both the left who hate Bolton and the right wingers who think that the UN is a joke.
Why is Leach so well-qualified? As a representative from Iowa, what experience does he have in brokering and relationships with foreign governments. Is our goal to have a representative who embodies the “American Heartland”? I’m not against him, Bolton is a dolt, but why Leach in particular?
It is unfortunate that Leach and other moderate Reps were ushered out by virtue of their proximity with the rest of the GOP. One of the better lines I’ve read post-election is by Andrew Olmstead: Voting is a terribly blunt instrument.
I have always admired Jim Leach when I watch him in Committee meetings on C-SPAN. He comes across calm, articulate, fair and open minded.
If Bolton is not acceptable then Leach is a wonderful alternative.
One qualification I can think of is his work the legal area of adoptions (domestic and international).
He was voted out because of being a Republican. Also the area he was the Representative has gone more ‘urban’ in the past several years. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa City area is growing faster than other parts of Iowa. IC has the University of Iowa (and hospitals) and CR has Rockwell Collins, with just about everything inbetween.