Now that his critics have Paul Wolfowitz's head on a platter, the buzz turns to his successor. Traditionally, the World Bank presidency is a US job while the IMF chief is an European. That might just change, as the rumor mill has Tony Blair being posited for the job.
Blair's critics have tended to call him overly American; having him get what's traditionally an American post would be rather fitting. He's a tad to the right by European standards and is in general sympathy with the Bush administration on the big picture issues, while being a bit more green and pro-big-government than US Republicans would be comfortable with.
Blair would split the difference between Wolfowitz's free-market idealism and the continental socialists. He's declared himself a lame duck as PM, as the Labour party is slated to name a replacement (likely Gordon Brown) late next month; being World Bank president would beat being a back-bench MP.
Crazy enough to work.
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