Bloomberg: Obama Trip Great For NYC

[babylonsister]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06012009/news/regionalnews/bloomberg__obama_trip_great_for_nyc_172037.htm

BLOOMBERG: OBAMA TRIP GREAT FOR NYC
Last updated: 6:39 pm
June 1, 2009


Mayor Bloomberg came to the defense of President Obama today for taking his wife on a date to New York City over the weekend at government expense, saying Republican critics are "off-base."

"I don't even take it seriously," said the mayor, a one-time Republican turned independent.

Bloomberg -- in the middle of a re-election campaign in this overwhelmingly Democratic city-- said New Yorkers were "ecstatic" to have Obama and his wife, Michelle, drop in for dinner and a Broadway show.

"I can't think of anything that is a better advertisement for our tourism industry," said Bloomberg.

"The President doesn't get paid that much. He's on a budget, too."

In fact, the President's salary is $400,000.

Bloomberg conceded that the city incurred extra costs for security.

"The added value of having the President and the First Lady come here is worth many times over that," concluded the mayor.

Republican critics have charged that taxpayers shouldn't have picked up the tab for the Obamas' flight to the city.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Yes. Broadway has really been hurting these past couple of years.

I'd just feel better if they didn't announce where they were going and to which play ahead of time.

[Jackeens]

4. Although I read yesterday that Broadway is doing really well at the moment...

...much better than last year. Strange. I can understand people taking refuge in the arts/entertainment in the bad times, but where are they finding the money for tickets? Have they lowered prices/offer more cheap tickets??

[Captain Hilts]

6. There are probably various standards....

I know some folks that work for NYC Playbill.

Perhaps Northeasterners are staying in the Northeast for family vacations instead of heading to Myrtle Beach or Miami? Hitting town and spending less than they would in Florida?

I don't know.

[Sherman A1]

9. I suspect that some plays are doing well and others less so

just like most other times.

[Captain Hilts]

11. Broadway, in general, has had some rough spots lately.

Hence more of the low-risk productions of revivals instead of original work.

[Sherman A1]

13. Granted, revivals are easy with a name recognition.

That said, my daughter is in the entertainment business and several of her clients are doing very, very well with plays on the Broadway, both of which were original works.

[Cha]

2. I was talking about this at work today

and saying the very same that Bloomberg said. And, then I told them what the Gaggle Of Psychos were whining about.

And, Prez Obama "doesn't get paid that much" relatively to Bloomberg's Billions:)

[Jennicut]

3. Bloomburg's comments are reasonable and true, unlike the Rethugs

Now I know why he went independent.

[Cha]

5. If I remember correctly..

Bloomberg was a Democrat but went republican for the NYC Mayoral primaries to make it easier to win.

There were a ton of Dems in the primaries so there was Bloomberg over in the other column just waiting. He won against Mark Green after 9/11.

[Captain Hilts]

7. He's a Bostonian who is mayor of NYC! Go Sox!

I really like Bloomie.

He's right up there with Obama, Hillary, Barney Frank in my book.

[Cha]

8. Oh really..I thought he

just NYC through and through..but, I just learned something..

Born on Valentine's Day in 1942..he's an Aquarius. Wonder if rudy's jealous that he couldn't run for 3 terms?

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

[Captain Hilts]

10. Bloomberg just doesn't give a damn about a lot of things.

He's pumped millions of his own money into the school system.

When asked where he spent his weekend in the Caribbean, he usually responds, "none of your business."

Too short, too Jewish, and too sexually nebulous to be president.

Rudy's got to be kicking himself.

[Jennicut]

12. I like him, he does things his own way. I had no idea he was from Mass. We like him here in CT.