This is NOT from the Onion

I had to click on this link three times, read it twice, and then read three other bloggers' comments on it before I realized that this story was not a hoax.

Bono for president of World Bank

That's right. The editorial board of the Los Angelas Times is making a serious proposal that U2 singer Bono be named the next president of the World Bank.

Bono, the U2 rock star, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, and he is a credible candidate. But we have a better idea on how best to recognize his effective lobbying on behalf of African development — Bono should be named the next president of the World Bank.

Don't be fooled by the wraparound sunglasses and the excess hipness. Bono is deeply versed in the issues afflicting the least-developed nations of the world, as former Treasury Secretary Paul H. O'Neill learned when he traveled the continent with the musician.

O'Neill, an uber-wonk, came back singing Bono's praises. Bono even brought ultra-conservative Sen. Jesse Helms to tears by relating poverty in Africa to passages in the Bible.

Now, Bono was nominated for the Nobel PeacePrize, and I say good for him. His work in Africa on behalf of millions of starving, AIDS infected citizens has been tireless and very effective. But president of the World Bank? I like U2 as much as the next guy, but don't you really need some sort of solid background in economics for a position like that?