Summary
Talk about America's decline is usually wrong. But how else would you describe a country that, in a world of exploding tensions, is unable to confirm dozens of ambassadors to foreign posts because of partisan political squabbling?
The State Department says it has 65 nominees awaiting confirmation.
The average wait time for nominees who managed to clear the Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate floor is 237 days.
Consider the case of Guatemala: Senators give windy speeches about stopping that country's migration of undocumented children. Yet for 86 days, they have stalled the nomination for a new ambassador to Guatemala, who could deliver the message in person.
The Obama administration is all but pleading for action. Officials have signaled they would support a plan to allow the 40 career diplomats to be confirmed as a group, the way military promotions are, and save the partisan rancor for the political appointees.
Once the list is pared to nominees who are clearly qualified to represent America, this issue should be a no-brainer.
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