David Ignatius: the case for John Kerry at State

[MBS]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/david-ignatius-john-kerry-as-secretary-of-state/2012/12/13/d155c436-4573-11e2-9648-a2c323a991d6_story.html

David Ignatius comes out again for JK. I dislike much of the column (I've omitted his multiple mentions of the old memes about JK being "awkward" and "patrician" and "stolid". .sigh) but here are the some of the better parts.

Three qualities make Kerry a good fit for this moment.
First, he recognizes that the world is a mess, starting with the chaotic Arab nations, and that it needs stronger American diplomatic leadership. . .Kerry, who has been traveling in the Middle East long enough to develop a genuine feel for the region, would be a good and steadying partner for the Arab transformation.
Second, Kerry appreciates the importance of quiet diplomacy, especially now. . .. Obama will need a confidential emissary. Kerry has played that role successfully for him already. . . He’s well-traveled enough that he could skip the get-acquainted tours.
Third. . . he’s surprisingly willing to challenge conventional wisdom, especially about engaging America’s adversaries. This unlikely contrarian streak would be an advantage, especially because it’s so well disguised. . .
Over the past several weeks, I have been asking foreign-policy experts and foreign diplomats whom they favor for State. With the exception of White House officials and a few diplomats, my straw poll showed Kerry as the overwhelming favorite. Partly this reflects trust in Kerry; partly it showed wariness about Rice, who’s less well-known and has made some enemies. These comments may have reflected hidden biases against Rice, but there’s also genuine confidence in Kerry.
. ..
Kerry may be that rare politician who is a late bloomer. . . . he has the advantage of having been disappointed in life, losing the presidential race, getting passed over for vice president and secretary of state in 2008. He wants to lead the State Department now, not just in the sense that an ambitious person wants another life trophy but because he thinks he could do the job well. He may seem a conventional choice for State, but he could be a very successful one.

My only other comment that anyone who thinks it "surprising" or "unlikely" that Sen. Kerry might challenge the conventional wisdom has not been paying attention to who this man is. But anyway, at least they're getting there, even if years or decades too late.