Sure, you can find specific examples (though I'm not sure how Fletcher fits in, since it is a top international affairs program and one of Tufts' top programs in general). However, it looks like all of those examples that you listed were people that were hired 15+ years ago or are adjuncts. My general impression is that hiring at selective LACs has shifted to focus more on the top schools. At my top 10 program, many of grad students want to teach at LACs. By virtue of being small colleges, there aren't a lot of positions that open up -- a LAC only needs so many people teaching Asian politics! Therefore, competition is pretty prime. At the SLAC I attended, not all profs were hired from top 10 programs, but everyone who has been hired in the past 10 years or so is definitely from a top 25 program.
My impression is that the OP's point was basically that it gets really, really hard if you are not in a top 25 program. You shouldn't assume that you are going to change the mold and be the top student that your famous advisors have ever had. It's not to say that this won't happen, but it's risky to bank on it.
If you are not happy with your current options, taking a year and doing a lot of stats and econ training would definitely improve your application.
