Posted on 03/06/2005 9:28:08 AM PST by nypokerface
WASHINGTON - Treasury Secretary John Snow on Sunday would not rule out the idea of Irish singer Bono, an activist on debt relief and AIDS, making the short list of potential candidates to lead the World Bank even though an American is expected to get the job.
"He's somebody I admire. He does a lot of good in this world of economic development," Snow said.
"Most people know him as a rock star. He's in a way a rock star of the development world, too. He understands the give-and-take of development. He's a very pragmatic, effective and idealistic person," Snow said.
Snow is part of the Bush administration team working on finding a successor to James Wolfensohn, who is stepping down as head of the development bank on June 1.
Asked whether the Irish singer would make the short list of candidates that Snow is preparing for President Bush, the secretary said: "I am not going to review here all the candidates that are on the list. But I will attest to my admiration for Bono."
Bono toured Africa with Snow's predecessor, Paul O'Neill, who focused a lot of attention during his time at the Treasury on poverty and diseases such as AIDS in Africa.
Bono has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for international social justice efforts that include trying to persuade rich nations to relieve the debt of poor nations.
Another candidate who has surfaced is Carly Fiorina, the recently ousted chief executive of Hewlett-Packard Co.
"She's also a friend and somebody I think well of," Snow told ABC's "This Week." But, he added, "I think we're going to have to wait to reveal that next president of the World Bank for a little while."
The administration began the search for Wolfensohn's successor in early January and said it would talk to other countries that belong to the 184-nation World Bank. The administration wants to name a replacement before Wolfensohn's term ends.
The United States is the World Bank's largest member nation. The bank traditionally has had an American president.
"I fully expect that to be the case, yes, and so do the G-7 (Group of Seven) finance ministers and all of the participants in the process," Snow said. "I've had any number of calls from finance ministers from around the world saying they want it to be an American."
The bank's sister institution, the International Monetary Fund, traditionally has been headed by a European.
Other names floated for the World Bank job include: John Taylor, the Treasury Department's undersecretary for international affairs; Peter McPherson, the former head of Michigan State University who served as Bush's point man on rebuilding Iraq's financial system; Randall Tobias, Bush's global AIDS coordinator; and Christine Todd Whitman, the former head of the Environmental Protection Agency.
How many members of U2 does it take to change a light bulb?
Just one. Bono holds up the bulb, and the world revolves around him! ;-)
At least that job would keep him out of recording studios.
My best friend actually got to know the band fairly well in the 80's. According to her Bono and the Edge are absolute pricks, the other two are fairly nice guys(probably due to the fact that they never acheived the same level of fame).
is this from the ap division of the onion?
Well since they're being this open regarding applications, perhaps I should apply for the job. If appointed, I promise to foreclose on Syria's and Iran's debts and bring up their assets for public auction. Am I bid $50 for Assad's palace?
Regards, Ivan
I think I'm going to be sick.
I'm with you. I would be ecstatic if the World Bank could be undermined through the election of a nitwit rock star as its leader.
3. Are his sunglasses soldered to his head?
"I don't think I could live with the pay cut or moving to a smaller house."
Bono in 1990 about being a politician
Get rid of Snow quickly!
Although I admire some of Bush's qualities, I care not for his cabinet members.
Not insane, more dangerous.
BONO is SOROS puppet and AQ spokesperson during civil war in Bosnia.
Soros and Al Qaeda Goldenchain? Makes sense. Only drugs, weapons and money laundering for terrorist client can provinde 30% of R.O.I. years in a row.
Sounds like John Snow has a "boner for Bono"(?)
Why not put the lead singer of a crappy pop band in charge of a bank? We all know that in this day and age, "caring" is far more important than being effing qualified to do a job.
Me, too. Not only should it be laughed at, it should be ridiculed, mocked, harped upon, and bandied about as the foolish load of crap it truly is.
Bono's no fool, the people who are disparaging him have probably never talked to the man, and probably not even listened or read much about him.
Like Michael Savage? Or did he? I do not listen much anymore as he has really been rather........strange lately.
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