Michelle Kwan is nominated as ambassador to Belize

[Rob]

Biden picks Michelle Kwan to be ambassador to Belize and Caroline Kennedy to be ambassador to Australia | CNN Politics

President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced his intention to nominate Michelle Kwan, a former Olympic figure skater and longtime Democratic activist, to serve as ambassador to Belize.

www.cnn.com

 

[allezfred]

Is Belize a prestigious posting?

 

[Rob]

I think it is a first post type place, but it sure seems like a nice place to be posted!

 

[acraven]

This is the way it used to be and I assume still is:

US Ambssadorships in big-name countries (UK, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, etc.) virtually always go to very wealthy folks with political connections. There's a logical reason for that: The representation allowance (for entertaining) is grossly inadequate, so ambassadors are more or less required to dip into their own pockets. Those posts are prestigious, so I suspect folks interested in that sort of public service are willing to make sizable, on-going political contributions to get themselves on a list for consideration.

Edited to add: It would be nice if articles in the media covered Michelle's educational background, which includes an M.A. in diplomacy from Tufts. I assume that information was in the White House announcement but just isn't being included in the CNN article published online.

 

[kittyjake5]

Congratulations to Michelle!

 

[ribbon]

Not a winter sports country which I would have predicted but her statement talks about migration, economics, and the pandemic.

I’ve been to Belize - lovely place with some cool Mayan ruins, rainforests, beaches, and one of the top places for snorkeling/scuba. English is the language.

Hopefully if her nomination goes through she can add environmental issues to her list.

I can’t imagine why it wouldn’t go thru…Ted Cruz picks a battle with Michelle Kwan?

 

[VGThuy]

Good for her! She’ll be a beautiful ambassador. Here’s to one of many political appointments. She’s worked hard to get where she’s at and most people can’t get their foot through the door.

 

[skatingguy]

Is Belize a prestigious posting?

It is now.

 

[skatfan]

Belize is a pretty place and Kwan can always call Simone Biles who added Belize citizenship awhile back.

Frankly I wondered why it took this long for her to get a position on the Biden administration.

 

[MacMadame]

Frankly I wondered why it took this long for her to get a position on the Biden administration.

I have too! I know she wanted a position in the State Dept (heard it from reliable in Dem politics). I'm not sure this counts but maybe it will lead to bigger things.

 

[skatfan]

I have too! I know she wanted a position in the State Dept (heard it from reliable in Dem politics). I'm not sure this counts but maybe it will lead to bigger things.

It is in the State department, but she's starting out in a low rung.

 

[PRlady]

It is in the State department, but she's starting out in a low rung.

She’s young. A guy who worked for my husband just got his first Foreign Service posting - to Congo. Belize is a lot better than that!

 

[acraven]

I don't think an ambassadorship to Belize is a low spot on the totem pole. That's the highest-ranking US diplomat in the country.

Here's a list of the current US ambassadors and nominees. As you can see, ambassadors in small and underdeveloped countries tend to be career Foreign Service officers. Those serving in the big-deal countries tend to be "Other"--i.e., appointed. The career folks like to have as few "Other" ambassadors as possible, because those are highly desirable positions.

https://afsa.org/list-ambassadorial-appointments

There are a lot of vacancies at the moment. I wonder whether the focus on the pandemic has meant some other tasks are being addressed more slowly than usual. It was nice to see so many female names on the list, though, especially among the career officials. There was a time when a woman's role in the State Department was to be married to a foreign service officer and serve as the unpaid hostess of his dinner parties.

 

[Bunny Hop]

Can they not swap those two appointments around? We have ice rinks here in Australia!

 

[PRlady]

Can they not swap those two appointments around? We have ice rinks here in Australia!

You are geopolitically important. More and more the US is working with Japan, India and Australia to contain China. Not a job for a Chinese-American.

 

[Vagabond]

Biden Taps Michelle Kwan and Caroline Kennedy for Ambassador Posts (Published 2021)

Ms. Kennedy, nominated to be ambassador to Australia, and Ms. Kwan, nominated to be the envoy to Belize, were prominent Biden supporters during the 2020 campaign season.

www.nytimes.com

President Biden said on Wednesday that he would nominate two high-profile women who were early supporters of his candidacy, the former ambassador Caroline Kennedy and the decorated figure skater Michelle Kwan, to ambassadorships in his administration.

The New York Times' copywriter understands which appointment is more important, even if its reporter doesn't.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Frankly I wondered why it took this long for her to get a position on the Biden administration.

After Trump's administration decimated the State Department, the priority would be to get career, institutionalist employees with experience back into the ranks and rebuild it.

 

[VGThuy]

I can think of much lower rungs in government than an ambassadorship that requires Senate approval and confirmation and warrants news groups to make headlines out of it. Some are acting like she got an unpaid internship gig or got a job being a lackey for a low-level State Dept. official.

 

[BlueRidge]

I can think of much lower rungs in government than an ambassadorship that requires Senate approval and confirmation and warrants news groups to make headlines out of it. Some are acting like she got an unpaid internship gig or got a job being a lackey for a low-level State Dept. official.

It is totally a big deal! Sure Belize is not an "important" country but its a political appointment to an ambassadorship!

One big step in Michelle's career!

 

[Vash01]

Now I must visit Belize.

 

[skatfan]

After Trump's administration decimated the State Department, the priority would be to get career, institutionalist employees with experience back into the ranks and rebuild it.

Ah, of course. Makes sense to me now.

 

[rfisher]

I don't think an ambassadorship to Belize is a low spot on the totem pole. That's the highest-ranking US diplomat in the country.

Here's a list of the current US ambassadors and nominees. As you can see, ambassadors in small and underdeveloped countries tend to be career Foreign Service officers. Those serving in the big-deal countries tend to be "Other"--i.e., appointed. The career folks like to have as few "Other" ambassadors as possible, because those are highly desirable positions.

https://afsa.org/list-ambassadorial-appointments

There are a lot of vacancies at the moment. I wonder whether the focus on the ********* has meant some other tasks are being addressed more slowly than usual. It was nice to see so many female names on the list, though, especially among the career officials. There was a time when a woman's role in the State Department was to be married to a foreign service officer and serve as the unpaid hostess of his dinner parties.

It's because some GOP members of the Senate are being obstructive. MSNBC was discussing the blocked ambassador appointments this morning.

 

[PRlady]

It's because some GOP members of the Senate are being obstructive. MSNBC was discussing the blocked ambassador appointments this morning.

They want to decimate the foreign and civil services as they did under Trump. Starving the beast, they call it.

 

[Vash01]

I don't think an ambassadorship to Belize is a low spot on the totem pole. That's the highest-ranking US diplomat in the country.

Here's a list of the current US ambassadors and nominees. As you can see, ambassadors in small and underdeveloped countries tend to be career Foreign Service officers. Those serving in the big-deal countries tend to be "Other"--i.e., appointed. The career folks like to have as few "Other" ambassadors as possible, because those are highly desirable positions.

https://afsa.org/list-ambassadorial-appointments

There are a lot of vacancies at the moment. I wonder whether the focus on the ********* has meant some other tasks are being addressed more slowly than usual. It was nice to see so many female names on the list, though, especially among the career officials. There was a time when a woman's role in the State Department was to be married to a foreign service officer and serve as the unpaid hostess of his dinner parties.

So many vacant positions! I am sure Biden can fill them all with qualified people.

 

[Bunny Hop]

You are geopolitically important. More and more the US is working with Japan, India and Australia to contain China. Not a job for a Chinese-American.

Well if you insist on bringing logic into it….

 

[Deleted member 1204]

Is Belize a prestigious posting?

You better Belize it!

 

[VGThuy]

Belize is a pretty place and Kwan can always call Simone Biles who added Belize citizenship awhile back.

Frankly I wondered why it took this long for her to get a position on the Biden administration.

It turns out she spent the past nine months pregnant so that does explain some of it.

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

 

[CaliSteve]

Congrats Kween!

 

[CaliSteve]

It turns out she spent the past nine months pregnant so that does explain some of it.

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

And its nice place to raise a child.

 

[AxelAnnie]

How the heck is she going to be an ambassador with s baby. She certainly does not need money. Stay home and enjoy that baby. Those months go by so quickly.