Bono May Make Short List for World Bank

[wildflower]

Bono May Make Short List for World Bank

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.

more

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2005/03/06/ap/business/d88lk1a00.txt

ON EDIT: Snow was apparently on "This Week" today.

[tjdee]

1. He's not a real consideration, Snow is just kissing his ass.

Bono has no qualifications for that job, and everyone knows it.
Just like a Republican, trying to give himself cool points.

And I love Bono.

[wildflower]

2. Was Snow the one who was really impressed when he met Bono?

Or am I thinking of someone else? I heard it discussed once on Al Franken's show.

BTW, I really like your sig line.

-wildflower

[brentspeak]

3. It might have been John O'Neill, Snow's predecessor (n/t)

[Toby109]

4. Former Treas Sec Paul O'Neill

took a trip to Africa with Bono in 2002. Came away very impressed.

[tjdee]

13. Well, they're all impressed, LOL.

:loveya:

They go into it thinking he's some dummy because he's a singer, but turns out he is tremendously informed on these issues. Was just watching him at a summit (the name escapes me)--it was Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, the presidents of Kenya and Liberia (I think, I feel badly not knowing), and Bono. And he sounded extremely coherent and had a number of good ideas.

But I do think the others are right, that it was O'Neill.

My sig is cool...I first became aware of it a short time ago, someone had it posted on sorryeverybody.com . I hadn't heard that before, it *is* nice, isn't it.

[Occulus]

6. From what I understand

Bono has a better idea of what the World Bank needs to be about than any head of the organization thus far.

He is qualified, but in different and potentially better ways than the past holders of the position. It would be a very good thing if he were put into it. The World Bank very well may realize its true potential were that to happen.

[tjdee]

12. You are right.

I should have said "traditional" qualifications...
I don't think he is being seriously considered.

I think he would be pretty good, actually.

[JerseygirlCT]

27. Exactly right... this is a sop

either to Bono, or to fans... GOP trying to make themselves look cool.

It will never happen.

[many a good man]

5. ...and Dennis Kucinich for head of the IMF

I'm sure that joke brought a few chuckles in the mahogany-paneled boardrooms along 5th Avenue.

[meganmonkey]

7. Exactly. Why do they even say things like this?

Do they think we have no idea what the World Bank is really about?

How absurd.

[woosh]

8. Bono kissed Dubya's ass pretty good

during the republican convention.

[meganmonkey]

9. He did?

I just tried to Google it for some info, but I just found basic info that he was there to talk about AIDS in Africa. He was at the Dem Convention too, right?

That was pre-DU for me, and I don't have TV, so I miss a lot of details...

[tjdee]

14. You are right.

Every now and then someone slags Bono just for the hell of it.

Bono is on record as saying he'd have lunch with the devil himself if it led to help for Africans that are dying in horrific numbers because of AIDS and other issues.

[tjdee]

11. Excuse me?

"The singer was at the Democratic convention, which ended July 29, and said he planned to attend the Republican convention, which begins Aug. 30.

He wants to raise draw attention to the damage AIDS is doing in poorer countries, and encourage the U.S. to do more to fight it.

"When I last looked, I couldn’t find the biggest global challenge, AIDS and the extreme poverty in which it thrives, on the schedules," he said in an essay on the U2 website."

http://www.u2world.com/news/article.php3?id_article=20429

Bono has a very narrow interest in AIDS, debt relief, and African issues. He talks to both Dems and Republicans about it. He is hardly, HARDLY kissing Bush's ass.

[woosh]

15. Bono was on Fox's O'Reilly

I think on the Zell Miller night, maybe not, can't remember. O'Reilly was firing off really pro-Bush questions, and Bono was obliging with kind words. Yes he did this from the perspective of bettering aides awareness, but the mix really drove the compassionate conservative message home, right at a key time in favor of Bush.

[Voltaire99]

17. Bono's a pathetic tool

A fool gladly used by the right wing.

[Cocoa]

10. I think Snow ruled him out

I saw that program, and it was pretty clear Snow was not considering the Bono suggestion seriously.

He ended by saying the person appointed would be an American, for one thing.

[MAlibdem]

16. By tradition, the head of the World Bank is from the US

While the IMF is from another country.

It won't be Bono.

[Radio-Active]

18. satire here:

http://benquirer.blogspot.com/2005/03/bono-stipe-compete-to-lead-world-bank.html

[Tweed]

19. World Bank boss: Bono?

http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=71934

Treasury Secretary John Snow said yesterday that he 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.

[coloradodem2005]

20. I posted this earlier today.

I really don't know how to feel about it.

[alittlelark]

21. Heard this on AAR earlier.... I LIKE the idea....alot

too bad 80% of the $$$ nations will not like it.

[Tweed]

22. Yeah, I think it's just 'talk'

I'd eat my hat if anything serious came of this.

[alittlelark]

23. Same here, but w/ mustard, saurkraut, and horseradish

I could eat about anything... including my hat!

[donheld]

24. I'd much rather Bono get it than Paul Wolfowitz

[2diagnosis]

25. And Michael Moore for Head of the U.N. ! nt

[Tweed]

26. hahahaha