Okay....time for a dumb question.
Is the Secretary of State in fact the head of the State Dept?
If so,why cant they appoint personnel that are in line with their way of thinking?
Because the State Department is really run by "career" employees. Some of these people are there, in govennment service for 30 years. Some ambassadors are appointed by the President, but not all of them. The people that run the "desks" (locale, countries, regions, etc. are not appointed but hired). I believe there is even a government service union that represents the "career" employees. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
The Secretary of State is appointed by the President and vetted by Congress. Just think of the present Bush administration. First there was Powell, the Ms. Rice. They are the public voice and face of State, but they are temps really.