More World Bank Candidates (Bill Frist?)

New York Times ^ | May 24, 2007 | Mike Nizza

[West Coast Conservative]

The unofficial, unconfirmed list of Paul D. Wolfowitz successors got a little more interesting, with The Wall Street Journal putting a shiny star next to the name of Bill Frist, the former Senate majority leader.

Mr. Frist, who was mentioned as a candidate in The New York Times last week, is receiving “especially close scrutiny” from the White House, The Journal reported today.

Scrutinizing the scrutinizers are World Bank shareholders seeking a more transparent selection process, including representatives from Brazil, South Korea, China and Pakistan, Reuters reported.

Mr. Wolfowitz’s nomination was a surprise to several shareholders, and his swift hiring of two Bush administration staffers as senior aides caused immediate controversy within the bank. Mr. Frist’s ties to President Bush may also be seen as a drawback to them. When he stepped down from the Senate, The Times said that he was seen as “too tightly aligned with the White House.” Several recent accounts go out of their way to note his experience as a doctor traveling in Africa, presumably a plus as the United States tests names with other nations.

Another new addition to the list is Richard C. Levin, president of Yale, who appeared in the accounts by The Times and Journal. John C. Danforth, the former senator and peacemaker in southern Sudan, and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez were also mentioned in the Journal piece.

The Times has specific reasons for the two names sliding down the list. Paul A. Volcker, the former Federal Reserve chairman, was reportedly considered for an interim role that has been tossed. And the liberal positions on lending held by Stanley Fischer, the governor of the Bank of Israel, have become a sticking point.