Most ambassadors are indeed career diplomats (to my knowledge), but when you realize that the ambassadorships to ALL our most important allies in attractive capitals are ALWAYS filled with POTUSes’ buddies, fundraisers and lobbyists, then you have to ask why we need career diplomats in the first place? Because the likes of Caroline Kennedy would never take up the Burundi post?
Look what's happening with the egotistical boob Kerry. He has what he considers to be a reasonable approximation to "his own mind" and he is constantly stumbling trying to get Obama's message out.
Granted Obama's message is inherently inconsistent and murky, but Kerry is only making it worse ... if that is possible.