May 20th 2007 | David Steven | More on Wolfowitz | Comments Off
If you’re still looking for a Wolfie obituary, this is one of the best…
May 19th 2007 | David Steven | More on The Process | Comments Off
The US government, it seems, has three options moving forward: (1) Punish the bank with another controversial and non-consensual choice; (2) Take charge, but behave like an adult, adopting the approach outlined by Voice of Reason; (3) Cede control to an open and transparent selection process.
Can we discount the first option? I’m not sure. People forget how taken aback everyone was by the Wolfowitz nomination. And the American right is now pissed off - with the Bank suddenly jumping into the bad-as-the-United-Nations box.
Three ‘punishment’ names have popped up on National Review’s blog - a clearing house for conservative thought in the US. John Bolton, Rick Santorum and… yes, Donald Rumsfeld. All are unlikely to get the job, but it’s worth remembering that some fingers are itching for the nuclear option.
May 18th 2007 | David Steven | More on World Bank President | Comments Off
Doyenne of the battier end of the right blogosphere, Pamela Geller, sees a conspiracy at the Bank, with George Soros (!) at its heart. Geller- who believes Soros is ‘the antichrist… the archetype self hating Jew’ - suspects Soros is positioning his new number 2, Mark Malloch Brown (’one of the top girls in the Soros stable of hos’) to take over. more…
May 18th 2007 | David Steven | More on The Process | Comments Off
Jeff wonders whether Hilary Benn is diluting his support for an open process to select a new Bank president. Possibly so. But what we’re probably seeing is realism on the Development Secretary’s behalf. He’ll only have limited influence over whether the Brits take a hard line or not.
Benn, and senior DFID officials, were reportedly incandescent when Wolfie was nominated by George Bush and were eager to oppose the appointment. No 10 was quick to overrule.
Who will call the shots this time around? I’d be asking what Shriti Vadera and other key advisers are whispering in Gordon Brown’s ear….
May 18th 2007 | David Steven | More on The Process | Comments Off
Slate has a roundup of blogger reaction to Wolfie’s long, slow demise…
