Three outside-the-box candidates for Treasury Secretary

Certainly, President-elect Obama has a number of highly-qualified executives who could fill the role of Secretary of the Treasury. However, in the interest of thinking 'outside the box' (that phrase always makes me think of cat-litter boxes, not wholly irrelevant), and reaching beyond the D.C. and Wall Street establishment, I thought I'd present a few candidates of my own.

1. Ed McMahon. Poor Ed really needs the work, according to Hollywood gossip. He has a great deal of experience in giving away huge sums of money thanks to his Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes gig. Can you imagine the glee on the faces of AIG executives when Ed shows up at their door with a presentation-sized check for $122 billion?

2. Willie Nelson. The country and western singer is already a large investor in the country's tax system, and probably knows more IRS personnel than Paul Volcker. And if the market keeps tanking, you can count on Willie to provide some help mellowing out nervous investors.

3. Bob Barker. Bob's out of work now, having turned over the reins of The Price is Right after 100 years. His expertise, obviously, would be in determining target prices for the market. If we reach the point that we have to choose which banks to bail out and which to allow to close, Bob (and Vanna, of course) could make the selection process much more enjoyable. "Citigroup- come on down!"

My advice? Choose what's behind curtain #1.