Bloomberg to announce run for president on Feb 5th

[dugggy]

My opinion is he will hurt the repubs more than our candidate.
It will be Perot redux. Go Bloomberg...spend 3 Billion dollars on
your campaign. The economy can use some help.

http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2007/12/15/bloomberg-mayor-independent-oped-cx_daa_1215bloomberg.html

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

1. He's an arrogant,elitist ass and doesn't have a chance.

[dugggy]

2. Yes, and his run helps our nominee n/t

[bunnies]

64. Dont be so sure.

He could easily peel away more than a few Dem voters... not to mention Indies.

[BootinUp]

101. He is a definite threat to the Dem nominee

imho.

[Dread Pirate KR Read]

108. Yes,.. I would support Bloomberg.

However, it's conditional.

I want change, and I want someone with a sane head on his shoulders. However, should Bloomberg run together with Hagel, who has been heavily vetted as his potential VP, then he'd loose my support.

Although Hagel is strong on FP, which Bloomberg clearly lacks, Hagel sucks in supporting basic science and he's perhaps more anti-science given his opposition towards medical research which support embryonic stem cells. Also, as a potential "President of the Senate", he'll clearly pose a problem against a more progressive legislative agenda, particularly those supporting 'real science'. I admire Hagel for standing against Bush, but with him on the ticket,.. Bloomberg will not have my support.

Ideally, he should seek Wesley Clark, especially should HRC loose the DEM nomination. I doubt that Wes would go Independent, however. Too bad.

Therefore, I would support and/or vote for Bloomberg, ... conditionally.

[OHdem10]

40. Both Democrats and Republicans have been leaving the

party and actually changing the Voter Registration to Independent.


would these be his base?? Some Built in Voters??

[BestCenter]

61. "Independent" is not a party.

They could be voting for the Constitution Party or the Greens, for all we know.

[BestCenter]

63. Delete this

never mind

[RFKJrNews]

83. I'm no fan of Bloomburg, but...

the growing independent movement needs a candidate. So far, nobody else has made an announcement. Maybe they're all waiting for Lou Dobbs? ;)

(edited for spelling because I can't type for sh*t today!)

[OneBlueSky]

115. don't be so sure . . . the last two elections resulted in an arrogant, elitist ass . . .

occupying the White House and literally destroying our nation . . . yeah, he stole both of them -- but who's to say they won't do it again . . .

[K Gardner]

3. So, if this will split the Republicans, does that mean we can

actually vote for the Democratic candidate we WANT, instead of who everybody is telling us is "electable"?

[IndianaGreen]

4. Neither Michael Bloomberg nor Ron Paul are running for President as independents

and neither is Al Gore!

[dugggy]

7. How do you know for sure? I think Bloomberg as a big ego

since he made 12 Billion on Wall Street.

[IndianaGreen]

23. Bloomberg has said he isn't running for President

He may challenge Spitzer or he may try to run for Hillary's Senate seat.

[TwilightGardener]

24. Then why did he hire a former Clinton foreign policy expert to give

him a crash course on foreign policy?

[IndianaGreen]

30. I don't know, but you are reading too much into that.

Any candidate for federal office needs to know something about the world we live in. Like I said, Bloomberg is thinking of governor or senator.

OTOH, if the OP were correct, and if Hillary becomes the Dem nominee, a Bloomberg independent candidacy could be very viable.

[TwilightGardener]

36. He's stated that he would absolutely not ever run for Gov (saw this

in an interview with Andrea Mitchell). He was silent when she brought up a Prez run. So, I think he's at least seriously thinking about it.

[dugggy]

87. I hope you are right...we don't need a monkey wrench in November

n/t

[dugggy]

5. Anyone from New York City care to comment about Bloomberg?

I don't know much about his popularity in NYC as mayor.

[annie1]

18. He's awesome. 70-75% approval rating...

cool guy. hasn't done much to help us working class with the rent, but makes sure our schools are funded, is hell bent on greening our city, just starting the largest merit-based pay raise system for teachers, started a program to plant a million trees, started an incentive program for people to make sure their kids go to school and to the doctor. well, this is at least what i think, i don't know exactly how each program is going, but the village voice doesn't tend to rag on him much, so i think all is going well. not the fascist giuliani was. i like him a lot.

[TwilightGardener]

22. Yes, but...what has he actually DONE?

(just kidding!)

[annie1]

25. :D. Well, first thing he did is turn in Russell Harding, lol!! Giuliani's racist appointment for...

housing developing who was stealing 100,000's of dollars from ny. No one could get the financial records until Bloomberg became mayor, then off to jail went mr. harding. lol

[annie1]

29. his wiki entry is pretty good if you check out. Also, he ...

set up 311, our city hotline, which is great,
set up 'mayors against guns'
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/13/news/guns.php
here's his incentive program to get kids to go to school, doctor, get library card
http://media-newswire.com/printer_friendly_1058981.html
banned smoking in bars WOOHOO!!!
raised teachers salaries very soon after first coming into office
got the MTA to change many of the buses to clean air buses, and now he's changing them ALL
has an agressive plan right now to create affordable housing
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/10/nyregion/10housing.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
etc, etc

he's cool.

[dugggy]

88. Thank you for your info n/t

[Superman Returns]

38. he is so anti-gun

that some lunatic gun owners in Virginia had a Bloomberg day to give away free guns or something like that.

[Scriptor Ignotus]

73. I like him a lot

wouldn't cry too hard if he won the Presidency, to be perfectly honest. But I'm still going for the Dem candidate.

[dugggy]

90. I see where you coming from...Bloomy beats any repug

after reading the New Yorker's comments, I am beginning to like this guy.

[Me.]

121. Started Slow But Has Improved

Has gown with the job and learned to listen. Love his million trees initiative. Believe it or not NYC is one of the greenest cities, on parity with those in Ireland and Portugal. I think the idea of paying people to do what they should is a little odd but creative and perhaps it will create a generational change which will definitely be helpful. You certainly wouldn't see this admin or a republicon doing it, and I believe he's paying g for it out of his own pocket.

[Joe the Revelator]

6. I honestly might be able to vote for him over Hillary

Not stirring the pot, just being honest.

[dugggy]

8. What exactly do you like about his policies?

[Joe the Revelator]

12. I'm not sure, I'll have to look more closely. But I do understand that....

he is pretty socially liberal, and fiscally conservative. If thats true, then he's up my alley. It will come down to which side of stem cells he is on.

[Zueda]

31. Not sure where he's at on stem cell research...but

if i had to guess i would say he is for it.

[annie1]

33. 2nd.

[BadgerLaw2010]

118. Yeah, he's pro-research.

[Auntie Bush]

16. Or maybe just being stupid! No offense!

But any Dem that votes for a Rethug and forgets about the supreme court and wants politics like we have now with a Thug President to veto all our bills and a Damn Congress...nothing will be accomplished. Tell me how that's not a stupid decision and a traitor to all Dems in this country and those here on DU? :shrug:.

[Joe the Revelator]

20. I love my party too much to aid its distruction by voting for Hillary

and if you honestly think Hillary and her style of politics is what this country needs right now, then you love your party more then your ocuntry.

Bloomburg would not be running as a "rethug" and is too liberal to really fit into that mold.

[annie1]

35. Bloomberg is not a republican. he was a democrat his whole life until...

1999 he changed so that he could win the win the nom to be mayor of ny, then 2 years after he won his 2nd term he dropped being a republican. Raises taxes, spends money on his city, is socially liberal, is for gay marriage, believes in gun control, pro-choice, blah blah blah. has always voted democrat. :)

[dugggy]

91. Frankly I like social liberal, gun control, pro-choice but not

so sure about raising taxes. Taxes always end up on middle class. Corporations
do not pay taxes...they just pass it on to customers.

[annie1]

95. yeah. he said it was a necessary evil for him to do it when he first...

came into office. he hates taxes, but unfortunately was left with a huge deficit when he first came into office. party because of 9/11, partly b/c of giuliani's cuting of social programs that bloomberg had to put back into place, etc. he says he only does it if necessary. :)

[sniffa]

66. why do you hate America?

:eyes:

[Milo_Bloom]

55. I am currently planning to vote for him against any opponent.

I believe you will see Bloomberg/Hagel on the Unity08 Ticket.

Not advocating it for others, just stating what I plan to do.

[eridani]

114. If Hagel is his running mate, I'm right out of here

No way. Don't know enough about him to say if I'd vote for him with a more acceptable running mate.

[cali]

111. stop. you're making my sides split from laughing.

all the talk about corporatism and you're willing to vote for the biggest corporatist out there??

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[kansasblue]

9. prepared to spend up to 20% of his $11 billion on the run

damn!

[dugggy]

11. That is $2.2 Billion which is more than all other candidates combined

There should be a law against buying the presidency.

[Kucinich4America]

68. But only when Bloomberg is doing it, right?,

When it was the corporatists buying it for Hillary, you were OK with that?. At least Bloomberg uses his own money. If I was forced to vote for a corporatist, the lesser of two (or three) evils would be the corporatist only loyal to himself, and not to various corporate donors.

[dugggy]

86. The record for campaign money is what $200 Million?

Bloomy will spend TEN TIMES that. So it is OK if the super rich can
buy their way into the White House?

[TwilightGardener]

92. You can't "buy" your way into the WH. You can advertise yourself

and have a big organization, but until you can directly buy votes, you can't buy your way in--money is just one of many factors. I think it's perfectly fair, and I don't fault him for his money.

[dugggy]

94. Hitler's propaganda minister said "repeat the lie often enough

and the people will believe as truth". There is power in repeated
and overwhelming TV advertisements, my friend.

[TwilightGardener]

98. It's not like all the other candidates aren't going to try it--

and again, if people ultimately don't want the man or his policies, he won't win. If money was all it took, we'd have had a President Perot.

[annie1]

99. i agree. it's a scary though, but i don't think someone could buy the whitehouse...

unless they paid someone to be everyones maid for a year or something. that might work. you listenin' bloomy! i need a maid, now!

[dugggy]

109. I will grant you money alone can't do it but you gotta concede it helps

a lot. Look at Dodd, Biden, Kucinich....they have miniscule campaign funds
compared to Hillary or Barack and they are not going anywhere.

Same thing on the other side...Tancredo & Hunter are going nowhere from lack
of funds.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

10. "right after" February 5 (Super Tuesday would be a bad day to announce. Crowded news cycle that day)

"And this time it is for real. Folks close to New York City's twice-elected mayor suggest that he's made up his mind to end one of the city's long-running rumors and become an Independent candidate for president.

The date of his announcement? Pencilled in for right after Super Tuesday--Feb. 5. By then Bloomberg would have a pretty good idea of just who would be lining up against his third-party, self-financed billion-dollar campaign. "

[AlCzervik]

13. i'll believe it when i hear it from him, until then it's speculation.

[Historic NY]

14. Bloomburg is no longer a Republican.............

he left the party some time back. He also switched from a Democrat so he could run for Mayor. If he runs, he runs as an insurgent, much like Perot so he can take votes from both Dems & Repuks. Perhaps he will try for the Independence line in NY, they have been courting people.

[Zueda]

15. He will win if Hillary is the nominee.

He will take almost all independents and a good chunk of Ds and Rs.

My guess is he won't run if Hillary does not get the nod.

[K Gardner]

17. Going to wholeheartedly agree with you on this.

[annie1]

19. If things go shakey for her i think he'll run.

[dugggy]

34. Bloomberg will run if Hillary is the nominee but

there is slim chance of him winning in GE. But the economy can use
a shot in the arm of $2+ Billion he intends to blow on the campaign.

[AndyTiedye]

85. Good Chance He'd Throw it to The Repiglies Though

[Hell Hath No Fury]

74. Yup, that's what I've thought as well.

I have felt that he would be one of the strongest candidates against any Dem, especially Hillary.

[Superman Returns]

21. Bloomberg is a big liberal

On all social issues he is well left of the Democrats. On economics he is moderate. On foreign issues, I would wager he is pragmatic; we obviously don't know at this point. I have a feeling if Huckabee is the nominee he will run since many moderate/business Republicans would be disenchanted.. If it's Giuliaini, then I don't think he would do well in the general considering his run would be a bit redundant. I also believe that if Obama is the Dem nominee he probably would be less inclined to run given Obama's message and the fact the two seem friendly.

[cali]

113. provide some evidence for that claim. I'm pretty familiar with him

and I don't see him as being "well to the left of the Democrats".
He's pretty much in line with them on social issues, not to the left of them.

[BadgerLaw2010]

117. Mostly very liberal socially, more conservative economically.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Bloomberg#Political_positions

Generally, his policies are pragmatic, not ideological. He's a bit of a grab bag. Most of his economoic conservatism is logical, not supply-side garbage.

[dweller]

26. I hope Cynthia McKinney kicks his ass

in percentage points.

dp

[CK_John]

27. As I have posted before he will run with Melinda Gates as his VP. n/t

[Superman Returns]

28. Melinda Gates?

When has she been on record for wanting to get into politics?

[CK_John]

32. As CEO of the Gates foundation and a billion dollars a year to give away makes her part of politics.

At that level of wealth you don't have to be on record or ask. You are politics.

[K Gardner]

37. LOL.. You Are Politics. I like that. :-)

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[luapnor]

39. Assassination planned for Repub Ron Paul? Who is this guy anyway?

hey duggy, is Bloomberg’s real motive to politically assassinate the Republicans and if that dosen’t work what else may be on the table?
Waz-up here? Have I been sleep walking all my life?

Author Daniel Estulin Says Elitists May Be Considering Assassinating Ron Paul
Article by P. Watson
Friday, December 14, 2007
Full story at: http://prisonplanet.com/articles/december2007/121407_assassinating_paul.htm



- Take the green pill if you dare and get out of the Matrix - http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2007/10/26/endgame-blueprint-for-global-enslavement-by-alex-jones-video/

or http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1070329053600562261&hl=en

[dugggy]

49. It is all about EGO which comes after Billions of $$$$$

n/t

[incapsulated]

41. I'm shocked

I really didn't think he would do this.

[BootinUp]

102. why?

:) please elaborate.

[annie1]

42. The only sad part would be that he would leave us when he said he wouldn't. :(.

he promised us he wouldn't run because he has too much to do here. :(. that would suck.

[snowbear]

43. SooOooo... what was the private breakfast with Obama about?

..

[CK_John]

45. He was just sizing him up. n/t

[TwilightGardener]

46. I'm hoping it was to let Obama know that he wouldn't run against him, and

maybe that he would support him, if Obama was the D nominee. I hope.

[CK_John]

47. More likely he concluded he was a pushover and had no chance. n/t

[K Gardner]

48. It wasn't really private, was it? If this is true, Bloomberg has had a strategy

all along. Certainly, if he & Obama had wanted to have a private meeting it could easily have been done. But meeting "in private but in public" fuels this type of speculation that they somehow have a "gentleman's agreement". I think HRC is they key - and I would imagine the point is that Bloomberg wants Hillary to know he'll run against her. But that he won't against Obama. That's my conspiracy theory anyway, and one I rather like :-)

[Adelante]

53. Not what you could call private

[bunnies]

59. ROFLMAO!!!

Now whats not private about that? :sarcasm:

[Adelante]

62. I know

I thought it was really funny in an NYC in your face kind of way :D

[K Gardner]

79. OMG... this is crackin me up ! How could they keep a straight face?? LOL

Bloomberg: OK, I'm going to make a hand signal and act like we're having a serious conversation.
Obama: You think these idiots with the cameras are getting good shots? Here,I'm gonna laugh like you just told a joke.. ready?

Sheesh.

[snowbear]

126. I meant .... private as in the conversation. I realize he chose a very public location..

And for some reason, was seeking media attention.

You have to admit.. there's been no leaks on what the talks were about -- only speculation.

Oh to be a fly on the wall..

[annie1]

127. i think they did say what it was about...

just touched on national issues, education/environment, that type of stuff. wasn't that deep. :)

[snowbear]

128. Ah c'mon...

Setting up the chit chat with a plate-glass window in their faces to ensure maximum media exposure...

I dunno.. you could be right -- but..

It sure seems like it was set up for a reason.

I think if HRC wins the nomination, we will see Bloomberg and several other Independents immediately jumping into the race. Like LIKITY SPLIT.

[dugggy]

50. Beats the shit out of me

:wtf:

[annie1]

51. He does a lot of things to interject himself into national politics and...

he was also just being a good host who likes attention. god bless him.

[polichick]

52. Anybody know where he stands on foreign relations...

Especially the mess in the Middle East??

[TwilightGardener]

56. I think he is semi-against the war (kind of squishy on it, hard to tell) and

in his Newsweek article he apparently is not keen to bomb Iran, but is willing to deal. That's about all I know.

[polichick]

57. Thanks! nt

[polichick]

84. Just read the Nov. 12 Newsweek article...

Here's an excerpt ~ a lot of it sounds pretty good, but I wonder if he's too close to Lieberman for comfort:


If his potential opponents' fears come true and Bloomberg runs, he would campaign, predictably, as an outsider. What is less predictable is the impact nearly a billion dollars of TV and Internet advertising might have. The possible theme of such advertising, and of such a campaign, is becoming clearer by the day. In speeches Bloomberg has begun to be more explicitly critical of the capital culture. "The people at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue and on both sides of the aisle just aren't facing up to the problems that need facing," he says, and has taken to referring to Washington as a "swamp of dysfunction." He is pro-choice, pro-gun control and pro-gay rights. He has become a devoted campaigner against global warming. He raised property taxes in New York, but could legitimately claim to be the biggest fiscal hawk and an unabashed supporter of free trade. Who could be a bigger believer in the power of markets than the inventor of the Bloomberg Terminal?

At the moment, he is enjoying the benefits of a classic American political phenomenon: he seems a great candidate in part because he is not a candidate. He tries, but fails, to stay clear of commenting on foreign policy: he really cannot help himself if asked. "The current situation is intolerable in Iraq," he says. "The public doesn't understand why we are there, and part of leadership is explaining, bringing people along." On Iran: "You've got to stop nuclear proliferation, but I don't see any rational case for invasion or bombing. I've always thought that you should talk to everybody. Now I am not saying that the president of the United States should be talking to the president of Iran, but there ought to be back channels, ways of engaging."

<http://www.newsweek.com/id/68113/page/1>

[dugggy]

110. That sounds eerily same as what Lou Dobbs said on his TV show

wonder if Dobba has inside track to Bloomberg.

[progressoid]

75. been receiving foreign policy briefings from Nancy Soderberg

"that the mayor has been receiving foreign policy briefings from Nancy Soderberg, a Clinton administration official who was U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/11/21/bloomberg-crams-on-foreig_n_73776.html

don't know what that means though. I have no idea what her views are.

[polichick]

78. Thanks - I wonder where Bloomberg and Soderberg are in reference to...

...Lieberman's agenda ~ I know that Bloomberg was a supporter of his.

[Renew Deal]

54. I think Lou Dobbs knew he was running.

Dobbs was ranting about the great independent hope. I think he knew Bloomy was running all along.

[dugggy]

77. I hear that too from Lou Dobbs many times...

and Dobbs sounded pretty confident about it. Wonder if Dobbs will be the VP.
But then two New Yorkers on a ticket don't make sense at all. It will be Hagel for Veep.

[Superman Returns]

81. Bloomberg is pro-amnesty

he even testified to congress about it and how important immigration is to New York's economy. I don't think that will go over too well with Dobbs.

[Renew Deal]

119. I didn't know that about Bloomy.

That would make Dobbs head explode. I wonder what's more important to Dobbs, indpendence or amnesty. :think:

[annie1]

125. here's him on the senate floor asking for increased visas...

more opportunity for people who are here to obtain legal status

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DlIb1zavOsw

[2hip]

58. If he runs, it will be with Hagel

They met some months ago and there was speculation that they'd throw their hats in the ring. That possibility looms large again.

[annie1]

60. HuffPost just posted a few minutes ago ...

this story that they've been holding regular talks...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/20/bloomberg-and-hagel-holdi_n_77734.html

[BestCenter]

65. Hillary vs. Rudy vs. Bloomberg!

I don't even care about any of them, I just want to see it happen. And then the rest of the country can have the real election afterwards.

[Kucinich4America]

70. Yeah, let the three of them run for Mayor of NYC

and leave the rest of the country out of it.

[dugggy]

93. Nope, it will be Hillary vs Huckster vs Bloomy

[annie1]

96. agree. i think huck with be the pug nominee

[zulchzulu]

67. He should be worth 20 billion more bucks by then from interest

Blow your money Bloomberg.

Wait! Gimme some! I'll run your campaign.

[Onlooker]

69. That makes an Obama or Edwards nomination more important

Hillary and Bloomberg are not that far apart. They would hurt each other. But, Obama and Edwards are more liberal and anti-corporate, and in that case I think a Bloomberg candidacy would hurt the Republicans more.

[Kucinich4America]

72. Nominate Dennis Kucinich!

If liberal and anti-corporate is what you're looking for, he's the Real Deal.

[Onlooker]

76. Yeah, but unfortunately he doesn't have a chance n/t

[Kucinich4America]

80. He does if you vote for him.

Don't buy into the corporate media horseshit. Nobody's voted yet. There are NO front runners, and the right wing polls are based on nothing.

The "electability" con left us stuck with the weakest possible candidate in 2004. Are we going to let that happen again?

[progressoid]

82. Yep. It's also interesting that Bloomberg would wait until Super Tuesday to announce.

Wonder what effect it will have. :shrug:

[ChiciB1]

71. One Thing For Sure.... He HAS The Money & With MONEY You Can

do ANYTHING!! I don't know much about Bloomberg other than what I hear, but I bet he has LOTS & LOTS of influence in HIGH places!

What will he do for the "little" guy, or even the middle class? AND NO, I'm NOT being snide, but with ALL that money and Gate's wife to boot... I just wonder. I suppose I should check "wiki" myself.

[TwilightGardener]

89. The Gates story is not true. It's a theory pushed here by one particular DUer--

no truth to it.

[sniffa]

97. don't be fooled

his run could be a death nail for the Dems.

[TwilightGardener]

100. You mean death "knell"? I don't know--polls from last summer

showed that he took mostly from GOPers, not Dems. Dems are hungry to win this time, and with a weak Repub pro-war field, he'll get some GOPer support from the moderates.

[sniffa]

103. thank you for the correction

i disagree, obviously. i think his stances endear him more to likely Dem voters than likely Rep voters.

[BootinUp]

104. There are a lot more "moderates"

than some here care to believe. They don't follow politics much because they are sick and tired of the back and forth fighting. I estimate that Bloomberg would do better than Perot in '92 and our candidate would have to kick ass like the Big Dawg to win.

[tblue37]

105. I think he could just as easily hurt us--especially if he

has Hagel as his running mate. They could draw the antiwar independents.

[tblue37]

106. Wasn't he responsible for the rounding up of protesters and bystanders during the Republican

National Convention in 2004 and keeping them locked up in intolerable conditions for days, violating all sorts of civil rights, giving the city a very black eye and leaving it liable for all sorts of lawsuits?

[annie1]

107. something about that and a war protest in early 2003 didn't go so well. yeah...

i don't know the deets, but i think he was pretty well hated for his behavior during all that.

[Didereaux]

112. If Biden were not the nominee, I would very seriously consider Bloomberg. but not if...

it were at the expense of letting a Repugnant slip in the back door. Under NO circumstances can we allow a Republican to win in the general!

[wiley]

116. Bloomberg or Clinton or Huckabee?

Clinton no problem
Romney or Biden or Bloomberg
Biden no problem
Obama or Huckabee or Bloomberg
Uh, big problem
Is that subtle enough?

[dugggy]

123. Sorry I lost you there!

Are you saying Obama would have the least problem with Bloomy in the race?

[wiley]

124. Obama would have the biggest problem with Bloomberg in the race

as would Huckabee or Romney.

[Fried Bread]

120. I'll believe it when I see it.

I don't think he is running.

[dugggy]

122. When you have that much money, the ego propels you

towards more name recognition. That is the only thing lacking in Bloomberg's life.
He has everything else money can buy. I think he is going to run, depending who gets
nominated from dems & repugs.