What Would Qualify Caroline Kennedy To Be Ambassador To The U.N.?

[malik flavors]

This would seem like a strange appointment to me. What has she done over the years that qualify her for such a position? I know she played a big hand in Obama's victory, but to reward her in this fashion would seem a bit inappropriate to me. That is, unless she's qualified and I just don't realize it.

Don't get me wrong, I love the hell out of Caroline, but I'm hoping Obama is looking for the best, brightest, and most prepared, and not just rewarding people.

[dennis4868]

1. What Would Qualify Caroline Kennedy?

common sense...been missing the past 8 years...

[Honeycombe8]

2. To quote from Legally Blonde, "Like it's hard?" Seriously. Like that would be a

hard thing to do? I mean, what would an ambassador to the UN have to do?

Traditionally, ambassadorships are awarded to the most faithful of the party faithful. Shirley Temple Black was made an Ambassador to some country, as have been other party faithful members.

It's a froo-froo title. It's a goodwill position is all, is my understanding.

[malik flavors]

5. You're saying anybody can do it? No experience neccesary?

[Honeycombe8]

21. As long as the person is diplomatic. Sure. Why not? No math or science required.

Why would you think it would be hard?

[Hippo_Tron]

42. Ambassador to Jamaica is a frou-frou position, Ambassador to the UN is not

The varying amount of seriousness in an Ambassador position depends on what country. But UN Ambassador is a key part of the President's national security team and a more serious position than other Ambassadors. UN Ambassador is often a stepping stone to Secretary of State.

[RollWithIt]

46. I completely disagree with you... that's like Bush speak....

Our ambassador to the UN should be EXTREMELY qualified. Not just a pick based on politics.

[whistler162]

47. Actually Shirley Temple Black was....

"Temple went on to hold several diplomatic posts, serving as the U.S. delegate to many international conferences and summits. She was appointed a delegate to the United Nations by President Richard M. Nixon in 1969. She was appointed United States Ambassador to Ghana (1974–76). She became the first female Chief of Protocol of the United States in 1976, which put her in charge of all State Department ceremonies, visits, gifts to foreign leaders and co-ordination of protocol issues with all U.S. embassies and consulates. She was United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia (1989–92) and witnessed the Velvet Revolution. She commented, about her Ambassadorship, "That was the best job I ever had." She was designated the first Honorary Foreign Service Officer in U.S. history by then U.S. Secretary of State, George Shultz in 1987."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Temple

[NYCGirl]

3. Is this enough?

Kennedy is an attorney, editor, and writer and is a member of the New York and Washington, D.C. bars. She is one of the founders of the Profiles in Courage Award, given annually to a person who exemplifies the type of courage examined in her father's Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name. The award is generally given to elected officials who, acting in accord with their conscience, risk their careers by pursuing a larger vision of the national, state or local interest in opposition to popular opinion or powerful pressures from their constituents. In May 2002, she presented an unprecedented Profiles in Courage Award to representatives of the NYPD, the New York City Fire Department, and the military as representatives of all of the people who acted to save the lives of others during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.<3>

Kennedy is currently President of the Kennedy Library Foundation,<4> a director of both the Commission on Presidential Debates and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and Honorary Chairman of the American Ballet Theatre. She is also an adviser to the Harvard Institute of Politics, a living memorial to her father.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Kennedy

[Lancer]

7. True.

She'd also make a good AG if you ask me.

[kestrel91316]

25. True. Her book on the right to privacy demonstrates that.

She is sharp as a tack, IMHO. Just a very quiet, private person.

[truedelphi]

10. Also, I am thinking she could have had any political position she wanted - voters would

Have eaten it up.

But she wants to live to be retirement age.

[malik flavors]

11. That's all well and good, but how does that prepare to be ambassador to the UN?

Being and attorney, editor, and writer, really isn't all that accomplished. She's set up some awards and runs a library foundation, but that's not all that reassuring.

Once again, I love the lady, but it just seems like a huge favor.

[NYCGirl]

12. What kind of experience do you feel is appropriate? NT

[malik flavors]

15. I don't know, but I would think some sort of foreign policy could be helpful.

[WolverineDG]

36. "Isn't all that accomplished"

:spray:

what, in addition to that, would make her "accomplished" in your eyes? Brain surgeon/astronaut?

dg

[malik flavors]

38. Haha, it's accomplished.

I just didn't think those things had much to do with the position she's seeking, but apparently it's not a very big position anyway...so whatevs.

[WolverineDG]

40. true, she doesn't have "experience" as a diplomat

but all of the positions she has held makes use of the same skills set. Your argument was used in the 60s & 70s when housewives had to start working again to keep them out of good jobs. Allegedly they had no "experience," but when you looked at what housewives actually DO, they HAD the skills. All they were lacking was a fancy job title & paycheck.

dg

[Gormy Cuss]

14. Not to mention a lifetime of living in a highly political family.

I think she'd be a big improvement over the lacking-in-diplomacy clod representing us now.

[FLyellowdog]

26. Thanks. Good stuff.

[rockymountaindem]

27. Nothing in that post indicates international experience

or intimate knowledge of either the UN or international relations in general.

[thatsrightimirish]

43. because everyone knows

Ballet prepares you to deal with the genocide in Darfur

[zanne]

4. I think it would be inappropriate, too.

It would be such an obvious favor.

[ben_meyers]

6. Maybe because she is from Americas Royal family?

Aren't all Kennedys qualified to be our leaders, it's her birthright after all.

[JitterbugPerfume]

8. her intelligence and grace?

[malik flavors]

13. Haha, you could say that about anybody.

[truedelphi]

9. Google "John Bolton" and UN Ambassador and YouTube

Caroline Kennedy will make Bolton look like the dried grey matter political hack that he really was within 2 seconds of her appointment.

And at least she believes in the UN!

[peace13]

16. Ye gads...

Look at her qualifications and then tell me what makes her unqualified! She's not black so it must be that she is a woman. This really stinks. Every job given to every black or female is gratuitous and, well, just looks bad. I believe that Palin has set women back many years!

[malik flavors]

18. What the hell are you talking about?

This has nothing to do with gender. I think you might need a little counseling, if you're going to jump to that conclusion.

I'm not familiar with her ever playing a role in the government. I'm not familiar with her having any foreign policy credentials. I'm not familiar with her resume at all, other than a few things that were mentioned above. Which is why I ASKED what makes her qualified? Just as I would have ASKED if he had suggested making JFK Jr. (were he still around), or Michelle Obama's brother an ambassador to the UN, or any other man that I didn't know a lot about.

Throwing the gender card out there is really pathetic on your part, and you should be ashamed. Why assume it has ANYTHING to do with that? Oh, I get it, we're no longer allowed to ask if a person is qualified, if that have a vagina. We should just accept that they are, and ask no questions. Get a grip.

If you know why she's qualified, then tell me. If you don't, maybe you should be asking the same questions that I am.

[peace13]

23. Read post # three and then ask yourself the question again!

Government? Politicians? What we need are thinking people to lead us out of this mess. I think that you are out of line with your response to me but in the spirit of the day I will forgive and ignore you.

[malik flavors]

24. I think you were out of line for suggesting that I'm sexist, when I asked a perfectly fair question.

And obviously, I recieved repsonse #3 AFTER I asked my question.

It was a RESPONSE to my question. If I had known that before, I wouldn't have needed to ask the question.

[riderinthestorm]

17. Caroline Kennedy (aside from her professional qualifications) is a global citizen

if you get my drift - she's known, respected, and fairly liked - by a large swath of the world. She's been a person who transcends personal politics and all her life has positioned herself and her work towards larger, loftier human goals.

I can't think of a better representative of the US to the UN. She'll have the name recognition, clout and diplomatic skills necessary to begin healing the large global rifts the Bush Mal-Admin has wrought.

Can you imagine the leader of any country turning down an opportunity to sit down and chat with Caroline Kennedy? (especially following John Bolton who was universally hated?)

[malik flavors]

20. Those are all good points, and it was well thought out. Thank you. I can see value in that.

[saltpoint]

19. I think the answer is another question: "What does NOT qualify

John Bolton for the position?"

Rather than grocery-list all the things I love about CKS, it's an easier answer to revile the traits Bolton brought to the job. Bolton was as spectacuarly inappropriate and cynical a choice for that position as CKS would be an apt and collaborative choice.

President Obama will be doing some serious community building on a global scale. Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg would be a worthy ally in that effort.

[rasputin1952]

22. She's smarter and more diplomatic than Bolton...n/t

[FrenchieCat]

28. She is qualified.

Why would you question that she isn't?

[malik flavors]

29. Why would you question whether anyone is qualified for anything?

Because you don't know much about them.

That's why a buisness asks potential employees for a resume.

[FrenchieCat]

30. I know that she is qualified......

But I thought you were saying that she wasn't.

I was asking you how is it that she isn't qualified?
That was a question.

[malik flavors]

33. I didn't know if she was, or wasn't. That was why I created the thread.

I didn't know of anything in her past that clearly qualified her for the position, so I wanted to know what it was that makes her a great candidate.

Honestly, i'm still not positive she's the greatest pick. I think someone with foreign policy/international relations experience would be a better choice. She's doesn't seem like a bad pick, but i'm pretty positive there are better ones out there. I supppose she's earned it by supporting Obama though, and that's the way things work in Washington.

[curse of greyface]

31. Compared to others.... she is reasonably qualified. And she has the right temperament.

[regnaD kciN]

32. Well, she's a lot more qualified than Richard Nixon's appointment to the same post...

...Shirley Temple. (And, no, I'm not making that up.)

[Hippo_Tron]

44. Nixon appointed Shirley Temple to be a delegate to the UN, not UN Ambassador

[dailykoff]

34. She picked Joe and for that decision alone she's qualified.

But she's also manifestly qualified for all the reasons brought up above (legal acumen, political experience, etc.).

BTW how many amabassadors to anywhere are "qualified"? It's a political plum. In any case, she's more than qualified.

[malik flavors]

35. Well, if anybody can do it and it's no experience neccessary then there's no worries.

I thought maybe it was an important post, but apparently it isn't all that big of a deal.

[dailykoff]

37. Not what I said. (n/t)

[malik flavors]

39. Well, that's how i interpret "polical plum."

[thatsrightimirish]

41. I asked the question on a thread a few days ago

And people were pretty angry. People responded by saying because "she is a Kennedy" and "She lived in Greece" And is our standard for the job really John Bolton?

[malik flavors]

45. Haha, yea. You always risk getting shit thrown at you when you break from the flock.

[Odin2005]

48. I'd rather have Bill Clinton as the UN ambassador.

Everyone loves Big Dog!