follow the money abroad

A law professor and judge has compiled a revealing chart showing the correlations between campaign contributions and ambassadorial appointments. Not surprisingly, most non-career ambassadors go to countries where the quality of life is pretty high -- and often the local language is English.

Thus far, the Obama administration is tracking on the high side of the historical band of political appointees, at about 37% rather than 33% and sometimes less. Many have done fine jobs, as historically has been the case. But there always are clunkers.