Jeffrey Sachs for President!!!

Found that on Greg Mankiw's blog.

Apparently, there is a campaign to get Jeffrey Sachs (Columbia Uni star economist, director of the Earth Institute) to run for president in 2008.

Here is what Prof. Mankiw has to say about it:

"I don't know anything about the Jeff Sachs for President movement, but it's got a website, so it must be serious.

This gets me thinking about who might fill various roles during the administration. Bono for veep? Angelina Jolie for Secretary of State? Brad DeLong for Press Secretary? Bill Easterly for the loyal opposition?

One thing I'm sure of is that Jeff's wife, Sonia, would make a great first lady. ""

Hehehe. Funny. And there's a bit of a debate about the issue on the blogosphere, too.
My two cents: It wouldn't hurt to have a president that has a good idea about economics. At least, he would fulfill the promise taken by the US (and other developed countries) to dedicate 0.7% of the GDP to international dev assistance. But he might also see the world through the eye of economics - which, let's face it, is the way the world works.

The main criticism to JS is that he's too much of a dreamer (a 'planner', in Easterly's lingo: someone who puts a masterplan in advance and then tries - and fails - to achieve it, rather than a 'searcher' who works bit by bit).

Wouldn't that criticism simply fall if you put under his hands the resources of the richest country in the history of mankind? Criticise a man for looking beyond his means, I can understand that. But give him the means.

Come to think of it: I'd vote for the man. Surely not for Senator Clinton...