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.