The news feeds are buzzing right before the holidays about the nomination of John Kerry as Secretary of State Hilary Clinton prepares to step down. The one-time presidential candidate will most likely face many questions from both the Democrat and Republican parties. What could this mean for Lao Americans who are interested in issues overseas in Southeast Asia, particularly Laos? While many might be disappointed that former US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice will not be Secretary of State, she also did not have an extensive history with Laos or Southeast Asian sociopolitics. That could have made an opportunity for us to be proactive in briefing her without a lot of baggage, but we could also argue that it could be a handicap. It’s often difficult to get traction without at least some prior relationship or network of personal contacts in Southeast Asia, especially Laos. If John Kerry should succeed Secretary of State Clinton, Lao Americans would have good reasons to watch closely. President Obama recently took a trip to Southeast Asia, but …