This was a good ad. Bloomberg is going to be in the debates. Trump hates his guts and Bloomberg gets under his skin. I think Bloomberg will be hard to rattle. He seems focused and serious in a way I’ve never seen him before. His policy proposals are moderate Democrat circa-2020 fare. A little too much job training fairy dust for my taste, but I also like that each of the proposals is simple, straightforward and jargon-free.
Prior to this campaign, he’s always struck me as a little bit of a poser, someone whose appeal was limited to a 50 mile radius of Manhattan. But now I’m thinking he might actually have a chance.
What say you?
Cermet
Any one but Sanders; otherwise, I’m not too concerned
PaulB
I have trouble believing that he can sit out the first four contests and still be viable. Giuliani tried that some time ago, and he was the front-runner. He ended up with just one delegate, if I recall correctly.
Spanky
Is it wrong that I thought “Michael Vick?
ETA: I’ll see myself out.
Mike in DC
I’m not really keen on replacing one autocrat with another. And I think the Sandersnistas are likely to be the most fiercely resistant to supporting Mayor Mike, of the options available.
That being said, he can’t be outspent. If he’s the nominee, the money will flow down ballot and to GOTV as well. If you want a candidate who can “work the media”, he might be the best possible choice in that regard.
Bruce K
Bloomberg’s ideal role in this election would be as an aggro-pulling tank, getting the junta to concentrate on him rather than better candidates.
Princess
My rep, Bobby Rush, has endorsed him after endorsing Harris. The mayor is evidently thinking about it and lots of mayors have done so. Wondering what he has promised them and what kind of weight that gives. I would not ignore him esp. if Biden underperforms in NH and IA.
Baud
I prefer party people to outsiders, all else being equal. But he does have some strengths that can’t be discounted.
CaseyL
At this point, I have no more favorites and only two rule-outs (whom I would still vote for in November, albeit gritting my teeth to flinders).
Woodrow/asim
The main thing I care about is Bloomberg’s promise to financially support the eventual candidate.
He’s otherwise hellofaprobelmatic. For example, I saw a Twitter report (which I can’t locate to link) that Bloomberg backed a GOP candidate last cycle who could have, if they lost, given us a Senate majority. That’s really not what we need, at this point, and if he gets on a debate stages he needs to get called out hard for that, and so much more.
Yet that underlines a key point. In general, 100% believe we’re all too focused on POTUS, a focus our media encourages. We need desperately, as Progressives/Liberals, to focus on all the other seats we need to fix American’s decline.
Shalimar
I would be willing to bet an entire field of demon sheep that money can’t buy a nomination anymore, if it ever could. Bloomberg isn’t terrible and I wouldn’t be horrified if he won, but I don’t see a path for him to get over 15% anywhere.
Bnad
I’m a big fan of Bloomberg–the worst thing about him was his stop & frisk policy, which he’s since seen the light on. He’s contributing staff and expertise to whomever the eventual nominee is through the November election and putting up tons of anti-Trump ads–when was the last time the Dems had an ad in the Super Bowl? But no, he isn’t going to be the nominee. Yes, the 50 mile radius still applies. Poll numbers can tell you that.
Probably Not an Asshole mistermix
@Woodrow/asim:
This is absolutely true observation that we need to remind ourselves about regularly.
Also, I agree that he’s played the field in prior years. He’s got a lot of faults. I initially reflexively wrote him off and I’m not doing that anymore.
Dupe1970
@PaulB: While true Giuliani did not have access to unlimited cash and as other people started gaining momentum his donors and supporters went elsewhere.
Mary G
Not a big fan, but he makes an excellent shiny object to distract Twitler from the real Democrats in the race. His spokeswoman said Twitler is fat with a bad fake tan and fake hair, and that’s going to stay under his skin.
Shalimar
@PaulB: IIRC, Bloomberg has spent a lot of money in South Carolina and Nevada, so he’s just sitting out the first 2 contests.
Josie
More power to him, if he can get it done. I care about defeating Trump and his minions at every level. If Bloomberg can make that happen, I’ll gladly support him.
rp
@Princess: I’m not a fan and think he’s mostly in this to troll Trump, but you’re right that it’s not hard to imagine a scenario where he swoops in and consolidates the moderates in the party if Biden underperforms and people start to get nervous.
Fair Economist
I think he has a chance – of splitting the moderate vote with Biden enough to give the nomination to Sanders.
Miss Bianca
I would vote for Bloomberg over Sanders. But I sure as fuck hope it doesn’t come down to that.
whomever
I am going to make a contrarian take, that will get me flamed, but as a NYC resident I actually thought he was a decent mayor. Yes, stop and frisk (but to be clear he inherited that and the NYC police unions are very powerful so it wasn’t totally clear he could end it). He accomplished a number of things that were impressive. The green cabs were a brilliant idea: For those who don’t know, pre-uber the yellow cab lobby was all powerful which meant good luck getting a cab outside lower manhattan (you learned to get in the cab and THEN say “Brooklyn” cos they legally couldn’t kick you out). Green cabs were a brilliant end run, which basically didn’t cut into the yellow cab mafia but meant you could, you know, actually get a cab (Uber made this all obsolete of course, and believe me, anyone of my age has zero sympathy for the whining of the cab lobby after decades of being sworn at for daring to not live in Manhattan). I’m a cyclist, the cyclists in NYC know exactly who Janette Sadik-Khan was and worship her (seriously, one bike store was selling “I <heart> JSK” tshirts and I was tempted to get one)…I mean the bicycling renaissance was amazing. The NYC 311 system he brought in is now widely copied everywhere. Basically, he was a very effective technocrat. Dunno if that translates to the national stage, but… Also, he was so rich as to be uncorrupt. Compare to De Blasio, who has done more than people credit him for (every single person with kids knows that free pre-k is a BIG deal) but is also in bed with the real estate industry (and has the charisma of a dead fish).
Adam Geffen
@Bruce K:
If Bloomberg is pulling aggro and tanking, who is on DPS? And who is on heals?
??
takebakawashi
I thought rumour had it that Bloomberg is mostly in it because there are spending limits that don’t apply to candidates and he wants to bring his fortune to bear on defeating Trump. (I mean, it’s hard to motivate people to work on your campaign if you’re obviously not trying to win and I don’t doubt that he’d accept the nomination if things went that way, but that’s the theory anyway.)
James E Powell
@Dupe1970:
Also too, Giuliani is not the kind of guy that the Republican base likes. He was always a creature of the press/media.
Formerly disgruntled in Oregon
@Bnad: Who the fuck is “Bnad”?
I’ll take Mike’s money (and his troll farms?), but he should NOT be the nominee.
Honestly, if Mike’s candidacy hands the nomination to Bernie (God forbid), it would be at least be sweet irony. …I’m gonna have a shitty day today, I can tell already.
ETA – apologies
MattF
I think we’re going to have to be positive towards ex-Republicans. Like, e.g., Joe Walsh. And Bloomberg. Bloomberg is not my fave, but I’d vote for him. With reservations, but so what?
rp
@whomever: Those are fair points, and, TBH, Bloomberg would probably be an excellent President.
Marcopolo
@PaulB:Well, when you are spending tens of millions of dollars nationally on advertising every damned week I think that gives you some leeway in terms of missing the kickoff states. It isn’t like the first four states reward all that many delegates, what candidates are looking to get from them is a win that elevates their campaign profile.
I was initially a little pissed at the DNC loosening donor rule to let Bloomberg on the debate stage. After thinking about it for about 5 minutes I realized that allowing him up there was actually being fair to the other candidates. Bloomberg can run circles around all the other D nominees in terms of blanketing the airwaves (yes, even Steyer) while at the same time he can dodge having to account for his record & positions by limiting his media access. At least having him on the debate stage will mean other candidates can engage him face to face now.
As for voting for him, Bloomberg is way down on my list of preferred candidates. I don’t know if it just comes with the reality of being a multi-billionaire constantly surrounded by folks who are beholden to you & thus always acting deferentially but he strikes me as having autocratic tendencies.
Just Chuck
He has no chance and he knows it. He’s angling for exposure, maybe for a 2024 run. Also too possibly he’s throwing money at problems he’s genuinely concerned about in a manner that gains more exposure than if he just funded interest ads alone. That or maybe he really is another egotistical billionaire, one of the rare ones actually on our side.
Barbara
@Marcopolo: Regarding allowing Bloomberg into the debates, this is exactly my take, especially once he started showing up in the polls. If Andrew Yang and Tom Steyer are on that stage, Bloomberg should be, even though I think like most people I hate that this is what the process has become.
Hoodie
@PaulB: Unlike Giuliani, Bloomberg isn’t a fuckup and, unlike Giuliani, he has the resources to make that strategy work. I’m all for him succeeding in that respect, because the Iowa/NH duopoly needs to end. Iowa should be a primary and they both should be demoted to play-in games for candidates with fewer resources and/or name recognition.
I’ve warmed more to him with Harris and Booker out of the race and Klobuchar trailing because, as you say, he’s basically running as a centrist Dem circa 2020. He could be a viable alternative to Biden, who seems to have lost a step. I like Warren, but I think that she (and Bernie, of course) would be very vulnerable in the general. I don’t think suburban voters will be afraid Bloomberg will tank the economy and, if you buy into the idea that a businessman would be a good choice for president, maybe you should pick one who actually is successful and has serious experience as a government executive. He’s a bit of an arrogant asshole, but I guess he’s kind of earned it and maybe it takes an asshole to take down an asshole (Obama could be a bit of asshole when he chose to). He has mostly acceptable policy positions (guns, climate change). Another potential positive is that, if he continues to self-fund, that might free up resources for down-ballot candidates. My biggest concern is whether he can get the base of the party, i.e., African American women, to accept him.
germy
Interesting thread on Bloomberg:
Marcopolo
@takebakawashi:There are price differentials in buying TV air time between being a candidate/non-candidate. If you are a candidate you get somewhere from a 20-50% discount–let’s call it 33% for the sake of argument. If I’m Bloomberg & I’m committing to spending a billion on TV ads in 2020, running them as a candidate saves me $330 million–or allows me to run another third again as many ads. That ain’t chump change.
The downside to this, however, is that TV/Radio stations only set aside a portion of their airtime for purchase at these rates. I have read some reporting that Bloomberg’s spending in some areas is eating up all the available discounted campaign airtime & other down ballot candidates are getting shut out from being able to access it.
cleek
i’m pretty sure the world decided, over the weekend, that Sanders has it all wrapped up.
Jinchi
That was pretty damn bad and he saw the light about 2 months ago.
Gin & Tonic
@Just Chuck:
He’s too old now, he’ll be even older then.
I love how “heartland values” are being respected by having all the leading candidates (and the incumbent POTUS) from the Acela corridor.
Probably Not an Asshole mistermix
@Just Chuck:
At 81? I think he might run for bingo caller at the assisted living facility, but President is probably out of reach.
The rest of your comment makes sense.
Ghost of Joe Lieblings Dog
Bloomberg hired the biggest unreflective, uncaring, entitled, dim, wealthy prick I’d ever met and made him an important part of the Bloomberg organization as it grew. I have trouble trusting that his policies will be good for people like me, and I think it’s related to that. Not rational, necessarily – just a gut feeling.
Betty Cracker
Nominating Bloomberg would be tantamount to accepting a more benign plutocracy, so I hope the party doesn’t do it. We have better choices. That said, I hope Mr. Bloomberg follows through on his promise to keep his money and organization in the race to defeat Trump even if he doesn’t get the nomination. He probably will. He seems to understand and loathe Trump on a visceral level. Good.
zhena gogolia
@Cermet:
Yeah. If you told me this two years ago I would have laughed in your face. I’m all in for any of them but Sanders and Gabbard.
PaulB
@Shalimar: He’s definitely not on the ballot in Nevada, per multiple news sources. And, per news sources in December, he did not make the filing deadline for South Carolina, either. I’m pretty sure he’s skipping all four, regardless of where his advertising dollars are going
whomever
@James E Powell:
Yeah, funny thing about Giuliani is that he famously used to always get dressed up in drag for the Met (he loves opera). We in NYC of course thought this was awesome, but it’s not clear how that plays in Alabama, and it seems like the media is politely ignoring it.
Woodrow/asim
@germy: yeah, that’s the “Bloomberg supporting GOP candidate” bit I was failing to find when I posted above, so thanks!
Wasn’t last cycle, but 2016 — but even then, Michael should have seen the writing on the wall.
Marcopolo
Just throwing this out as a thought experiment: imagine if any of the top five non-billionaire candidates (Biden, Sanders, Warren, Buttigieg, or Klobuchar) had a billion dollars to spend on their campaign (and some reporting has said Bloomberg will actually commit up to $2B). They’d already be blanketing the airwaves with non-stop ads. They could hire any/all the staffers they wanted. They could already have opened up offices in all 50 states. Honestly, having those resources would make any one of them the immediate front runner.
So when I see Bloomberg’s poll numbers I always have to remind myself that the vast majority of Americans are dupes when it comes to advertising & propaganda.
Jinchi
de Blasio ended it so that statement is clearly wrong.
Bloomberg was a vocal supporter of “stop and frisk” until late last year, he was not forced into it and nothing prevented him from ending it when he had the chance. He was mayor for 12 years. He didn’t end it because he didn’t want to end it and he was contemptuous of the rights of black people. The only reason he renounced it was his decision to enter the presidential race. This was written on November 17, 2019
martha
My preference is Elizabeth Warren, given the current slate of candidates. But I have more faith that Bloomberg can take on T and win the general election over Biden or Wilmer. (I actually think EW could beat T…the contrast between them will be greater than against the old white guys.) I get all arguments about substituting a real billionaire for a fake one. But the number one goal is to overthrow the pretend-king. I am an eminently practical person, which gets me in trouble with the purity police a lot these days.
MJS
@germy: Okay, I previously thought it might not be a bad idea to have a billionaire run against Trump, but now I’m pissed. Katie McGinty would have made a damn good Senator. In addition to blocking Kavanaugh, she would have voted for witnesses. I really hope someone points that out at the next debate.
Amir Khalid
I have my doubts about Bloomberg’s strategy of winning through advertising. It does not strike me as an adequate substitute for retail politicking and grassroots organisation.
zhena gogolia
@MJS:
None of them is perfect. We have to beat Trump or it’s over. Over.
JoeyJoeJoe
@PaulB: I don’t even think he got one. Congressman Duncan Hunter sr. got one, technically, he beat Giuliani
McCormick47
As mayor, he relentlessly kissed up to high end real estate interests and ignored the needs of the poor. He insisted on continuing illegal “stop and frisk” policing even after various Criminal Justice experts told him it wasn’t working and a federal judge ruled it illegal. (Yeah, I know he’s sorry now.) it should be noted than when “stop and frisk” ended, the crime rate went down.” He’s that kind of guy.
Salvatore Napoli
JGabriel
@Mary G:
Unlike his tan.
Marcopolo
Gotta head off into the day but everyone keep in mind that whilst a few hundred thousand Iowans (171,000 Ds caucused in 2016 but they are expecting record turnout tonight) are off caucusing tonight, about 20 million primary ballots are being mailed out in CA starting today.
In terms of winning delegates I am pretty sure I know which contest is more important. The most recent polling averages in the Cali have Sanders @ 25%, Biden @ 21%, Warren @ 16% and no one else above 6%.
Have a nice day everyone.
germy
@Salvatore Napoli:
I agree 100%
WaterGirl
I certainly hope that Bloomberg DOES NOT have a chance. I would like an actual Democratic president, not another rich white republican-lite autocrat who can purchase the office. The idea of a “stop and frisk” president makes me sick to my stomach.
Chip Daniels
@Cermet:
Anyone but Trump.
FIFY
Omnes Omnibus
A more benign, undemocratic autocrat? No, thank you. At this point, merely better than Trump is not enough. Come talk to me if he wins the nomination; he won’t.
daveNYC
I hope that Bloomberg does at least somewhat well because that will get under both Trump and Giuliani’s skin.
MJS
@zhena gogolia: Understood, but I truly believe that Sanders cannot beat Trump, and whatever votes Bloomberg gets will be at Biden’s expense, opening the door for Sanders to possibly get the nomination.
Sturgeonmouth
It’s a sad state of affairs that we’re debating the merits of a 2004 keynote speaker at the Republican convention, a billionaire who endorsed George W. Bush, as a legitimate Democratic candidate.
In a sane world, which I barely remember, Bloomberg would be battling Romney, Kasich, and Weld to challenge Trump for the Republican nomination.
Jamey
I was at a meeting in November with Michael Steel (the former JEB! adviser and Hamilton Place Strategies analyst, not the former RNC head who looks like a Muppet). He said that Trump cannot win in 2020, but that the Democrats can lose. Easily. His opinion on the candidate with the best strategic approach and widespread appeal for securing the nom? Bloomy. If I have to get behind Mike to unseat Trump, then I gladly will.
Jamey
@Spanky: Go wait for me in the car; I thought that, too…
Jinchi
And right after Trump and the Republicans have established that the president can do whatever he wants without consequences. Bloomberg absolutely believes in that philosophy. He is trying to buy the presidency and the limits to his benevolence have yet to be seen.
germy
@Sturgeonmouth:
This is what happens when folks like Warren and Sanders talk about a wealth tax.
Bloomberg jumped into the race like a man jumping into a lake to save a drowning child.
Kay
If I were a centrist and not willing to offer a lot of change, I would focus on quality of life. Make our shitty, tattered, stingy social supports at least easier to use.
I’m listening to my daughter and son in law talk about the elaborate, insane maze they have to navigate to get 8 weeks of paid parental leave each and it just seems like centrists could at least fucking figure out how to deliver one of their grudging, ungenerous “benefits” easier.
These two are going to spend 2 weeks of an 8 week paid parental leave securing the benefit. Why do we have to make everything so miserable for people?
James E Powell
@germy:
I like that. She should start putting it in her speeches. We’re going to have rules and the rules are going to be enforced!
germy
@Kay: I appreciate the posts by the frontpager who specializes in health insurance, but my eyes always glaze over when I see what “healthcare consumers” are expected to understand.
I remember Krugman, a few weeks ago, admitting he couldn’t figure out which benefits package he was being offered was better. And neither could his expert.
JoeyJoeJoe
@MJS: if McGinty had won, the Senate would have been 50-50 after Jones won. Whether Kavanaugh would have made it depends on whether Murkowski would have been persuaded/threatened into voting for him, though it’s possible he wouldn’t have been nominated I suppose.
Kay
In this case, the paid parental leave is administered by a private company- we’re all strutting around bragging about our private sector but people hate insurance. They hate it because it’s terrible. Does it have to be so terrible? Is that a requirement?
I mean, if you’re proudly pro-private sector and want everything administered privately could you at least make it NOT an infuriating nightmare? Why are out private sector standards so low? Is it a requirement that they treat their customers like shit and invest NOTHING in making their lives easier? It ALL has to go to CEO bonuses?
Van Buren
@Bnad: If you believe that he would put labor interests ahead of capital, then you are sadly mistaken.
A leopard can’t change its spots.
JPL
@Fair Economist: same
Johannes
Bloomberg is autocratic, anti-union (when his mayoralty ended, not a single NYC union had a current contract), and tone deaf. And I’m pretty sure his stop and frisk apology is a reluctant concession to political reality.
Better than trump or Wilmer, sure, but give me Warren or Biden over him any day.
Exregis
Mayor Pete is considered a “plausible” candidate. Yet Mayor Mike has far more impressive political credentials (but not youth). Bloomberg ran a city larger than a majority of states for three four-year terms, the last one exempted from term limits by the city council. He ran it well, with some negatives — though fewer negatives than one finds in Biden’s past, for example. He ran as a Republican initially because it was easier to win (dominate?) the Republican primary than the Democratic primary. He has put his money to good use for many years, especially with respect to gun violence, a problem he encountered while mAyor. He supported Democratic candidates financially (in my state, which is not New York).
He is no lightweight.
Kay
@germy:
She works for a large health care company and she had to meet with an employee prior to the birth to plan. Okay, the employee who helped with this plan was great “she made a chart”. No charts! If we’re in chart territory it’s already too complicated. There’s a STATE leave law that is more generous than the FEDERAL leave law and then there’s the contract, because the employer hired a company to administer the benefit. The whole point of the thing is they’re supposed to be caring for a newborn and instead they’re sending me contracts and snippets of the NY Code.
You shouldn’t need a lawyer to access your benefit. Can we agree on that? If you do need one, it’s bad. The contractor needs to fix their horrible product.
germy
@Amir Khalid:
This might actually be shrewd, hiding behind advertisements. To meet Bloomberg in person is to be left cold.
Van Buren
@rp: I freely grant that on social issues he is acceptable. But he is a plutocrat and will always take their side. JFC, he was a Republican until 5 minutes ago. Are we really believing that THIS TIME electing a businessman will work?
Gin & Tonic
Interesting how nobody has even mentioned Bloomberg’s Putin-esque end-run around term limits.
germy
@Kay:
I agree, it’s hideous.
Also… I’m old now and it terrifies me to think of my wife dealing with the logistics of long term care if I fall into a coma or something.
I tried asking Mayhew once about longterm care insurance and he basically shrugged and said the whole system is a mess.
Kay
@Gin & Tonic:
Good point. I get an awful authoritarian vibe. Sorry but I’m sick of rich assholes issuing orders. I’m sick of the hugely cynical cleverness – the corner-cutting- and their “biggest dick wins” ethos. I think they admire bad things and bad people. They don’t share my values.
Bnad
@germy: A fact that’s not a fact. It would have been 50-50, with Pence the deciding vote.
Jinchi
This does not exist. Rich people only demand bigger bribes. Take a look at the Saudi aristocracy if you think you can be too rich to be corrupted.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
By about 17% of mostly white Democrats in a smallish state. Outside of Iowa… not so much
I had that same thought watching last night’s ad, he does best when his only appearance in his own ads is, “I’m Mike Bloomberg…”
Is it too late for him to get on state ballots as an indy? That’s when I’ll trust he won’t run against Sanders.
Shalimar
@PaulB: Very interesting. So that means he spent a huge amount of money just to get the poll numbers to get into the debates, even though no one in those states can vote for him. It’s almost like a billion dollars is meaningless when you have that much.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Gin & Tonic: I wasn’t sure of the details, but didn’t he do what Giuliani couldn’t pull off, even in aftermath of 9/11?
Barbara
@Exregis: Well, I don’t especially consider Mayor Pete to be a plausible candidate. I do think Bloomberg is much more plausible as a candidate.
geg6
@Miss Bianca:
Come sit by me.
Amir Khalid
@germy:
At some point, though, people are going to wonder why he never comes out to meet voters unlike the other candidates, why there isn’t a campaign office in their town with volunteers talking to people.
Brachiator
I’ve heard Bloomberg ads on the radio. He doesn’t do anything for me. One ad talks about how he holds himself accountable for getting things done. This is not the same thing as being accountable to the people.
I guess he is this generation’s Ross Perot, but without the crazy.
He hated Trump and at least is a real billionaire. But this is not enough for me
Jinchi
Okay I’m going to stop you right there. Is this really the guy you’re going to listen to for advice on the Democratic primary? What place did Jeb! come in again?
germy
@Bnad:
I’m not a big fan.
laura
I’d be nice to limit the Democratic Party candidates to actual Democrats. Also, what germy said – his candidacy boils down to “dont touch my stuff” with a sprinkling of stuff that bugs trump.
Probably Not an Asshole mistermix
@Jinchi: In addition to your good points, I’ve met some Republicans around here who think Bloomberg walks on water, with no apparent evidence given. One guy (moderate NY flavor Republican) told me that he was going to swoop in and rescue the Republicans from Trump a little before Trump clinched the primary.
Steeplejack (phone)
@germy:
Very interesting thread. Thanks.
Betty Cracker
@Jinchi: Truth! Trump claimed he was too rich to be bought, which was a big fat lie on two levels.
Jager
@germy:
A friend of mine is a retired hospital administrator who has been going through serious health issues, He told me he has trouble figuring out the billing he is getting from the insurance companies.
Jamey
@Jinchi: Kind of a strawman argument. Google his record as a political analyst.
germy
@Jager: They don’t want us to understand.
MazeDancer
@Mike in DC:
Have a good friend who is a long-time Dem in NYC. And she was invited to a “Women for Mike” event. Since she had known all the organizers for a long time, she couldn’t really say no to at least dropping by to say hi.
And as she noted, “At least I know no one is going to ask me for money.”
Bill Arnold
@Bnad:
Or any individual Senator. 50/50 split means that any one vote against one’s own party (i don’t like the word “defection”) is a deciding vote.
Jinchi
@Jamey: Ok.
First thing that comes up is this, written in October 2016:
That didn’t age very well.
I’m not surprised that a never-Trump Republican would like to elect a never-Trump former Republican like Bloomberg president. Doubly so if he can convince the Democrats to do it for him. It would spare the Republicans from having to face any consequences of their decision in 2016.
But this guy doesn’t even seem to understand his own party and I’m not interested in his opinion of the best candidate for Democrats.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
A passionate desire to see Trump out office is a positive point in Bloomberg’s favor.
Bloomberg is also safety rich, white and male so the “economically anxious” won’t fling poo all over the place.
Califlander
@germy: Is that actually true? After Doug Jones’ win, the Senate was divided 51R-49D (including independents). Award Toomey’s seat to team D and you still wind up with a 50-50 split and VP Pence casting the tie-breaker, yes
ETA: I see that lots of other folks remember their history, too. Makes me wonder about the folks trying to blame Kavanaugh on Bloomberg.
catclub
How about $2B worth of free coverage that Trump got?
Bloomberg declared his candidacy and then stupidly declared that the Bloomberg organization would be scrupulously neutral toward him. I think that is a huge mistake. He should have said that it would back Bloomberg no less that the Trump organization backs Trump. – and possibly more, since it is much bigger and more powerful.
The Moar You Know
I will vote for anybody whose last name is not “Trump”. That’s what this election is going to boil down to.
J R in WV
@rp:
Bloomberg would be a great president for uber-wealthy folks. Not so much for people who need tuition relief, child care assistance, equality of treatment from public services, protection from RWNJ bullies, etc.
@Just Chuck:
If you really believe Mike Bloomberg is actually on our side,, perhaps you should seek emergency medical care? He is on his side, and the side of his fellow billionaires and mega-millionaires, and not on the side of people who expect to survive on Social Security and a part-time job at Walmart as a greeter. Look for him to do more great tax cuts to rescue the economy, which will as usual not work at all.
On the other hand, will almost certainly vote for the Democratic nominee. Would be a huge pill to swallow to vote for not-a-Democrat ass Sanders, so praying he won’t be the nomination winner… I won’t go down with the nominally-socialist ship if I can help it.
Ohio Mom
It’s been a busy morning for me and I’m jumping to the end of the thread. Forgive me if this has already been addressed:
ONLY if Bloomberg agrees to a blind trust. No more emoluments funny stuff!
GoBlue72
He’s not a real Democrat. But I fully expect the Republican bootlickers of BJ to lubricate Bloomberg from stern to nut. Anyone but not a real Democrat Sanders, amiright?
Ksmiami
@Mike in DC: I like the fact he actually has more political experience than Buttiegieg- I mean he built a very successful business and mayor of NYC is a bigger job than all of the red state governor positions so…
Ascap_scab
I say no. We don’t need another old rich white guy to run this country for his own personal gain.
Some say “stop and frisk” was the worst thing about him, but I point to where he just appointed himself to a third term as Mayor, bypassing the rules and claiming to turn “Independent” after being both a Democrat and a Republican. He got away with it because he could buy the votes to do it.
Screw this space alien reptile.
Salvatore Napoli
Replacing a vulgar, moronic, alleged billionaire with a benevolent actual billionaire is not what we need. I want the billionaire class to have nightmares for at least eight years. I want a smart woman in charge. Elizabeth W. Capitalism with rules.
Ruckus
I think that Bloomberg will fulfill the duties OK if he won. Not great but OK.
I don’t think he wants to lose, I think he knows how much trump stinks, probably better than a lot of us and he wants him out more than anything else. He does it, one of the other real democrats does it, I don’t think he really cares. IOW I think he’s running to beat trump and beat him badly. After that he’s wide open.
We could do worse.
I think he’s spending his money – and of course he has an unlimited supply for all intents, wisely. He’s laying the democratic carpet in places that it’s needed, getting attention up, not being a knock em down candidate but being positive about democrats, vote for better, whomever it is.
I haven’t heard of him badmouthing any of the other candidates and that is a good part of why I say the above. He’s in it to insure a democratic win, if it’s him he’ll do his duty, even if he’s not our first choice. But he’s about taking back the country, first and foremost. This country has made him a very wealthy man, and I think he understands that. A lot of wealthy men think it’s all them, fuck the country. I think he understands that’s bullshit and he has an anti-role model to prove it.
Ohio Mom
Now that I’ve had a moment to read all the comments and watch the Bloomberg video, I’m struck that both Trump and Bloomberg chose to feature Black people in their big, Super Bowl ads, not blond-heartlanders.
Wondering why they took this approach. I’m very suspicious of both of their’s new found concern for African-Americans. It can’t be well-intentioned.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@GoBlue72: yes, Dwight, we actually prefer a nominee who can win the general election
crazy, I know
Lymie
Bloomberg could do a lot for our country if he bought Fox News……
Ruckus
Have now read a bit of the comments.
Please understand me, I don’t want Bloomberg, I just don’t think he’d be the worst we could do. I won’t name names but there are/have been some running for the democratic win who should never be president, they aren’t capable, they aren’t even democrats or have enough experience to be the dog catcher’s net mender.
I’m not giving out my current choice, I seem to be on the bad luck side of preferred candidate picking so I’m shutting up and voting but Bloomberg is not my first choice. But I could get behind him with very little self loathing if necessary. And he’s not my last choice.
Let’s be real here, we have to win and at almost any cost. We have some vanity candidates that should please just go home, but the worst of them is better than the shit head in the WH. Hell I’d be far better than the shit head in the WH. And you don’t want me. We have to win and we have to get behind whomever the candidate is and demand that she/he do the actual job of president, for every one.
cckids
@rp:
Agreed, especially with the “not a fan”. But he seems intelligent and competent, so that’s a win-win. Also, he’s not a stooge, Russian or otherwise. I’d take him over Sanders or Gabbard. Easily.
the Conster
It seems personal to Bloomberg to get Trump out- like all of us, he’s seen enough.
He also knows that he needs to deal with the Independent old fraud’s bullshit first. Bloomberg doesn’t have to hide his money in sketchy likely ruble funded 501(c)(4) PACs that exist to support the old fraud’s grifting empire of family, insiders, paid toadies, true believers and internet trolls.
I’m fine with using him for his money, and unlike the old fraud, he’s committed to the Party’s nominee.
Ohio Mom
I answer my own question. Both Trump’s and Bloomberg’s ads show a Black woman subserviently grateful to a powerful white man for throwing her a crumb.
In other words, Don’t worry, this candidate will make sure The Proper Order of Things will Be Maintained (I’ll make sure they stay in their place).
Now I can get on with the rest of my day without that gnawing at me. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll broken glass vote for Bloomberg but he’s still as racist as ever.
Mnemosyne
Fun fact: Bloomberg was the mayor of a city that has a population more than 10 times larger than the entire state of Vermont:
Population of Vermont: 626,299
Population of NYC: 8,623,000
I don’t want Bloomberg to win, but if the second-worst happens, he could probably do the job, unlike the clown currently squatting in the Oval Office with zero government experience.
mrmoshpotato
@Just Chuck: Chuck, Bloomberg will be closing in on 83 when inauguration day 2025 rolls around. He’s 6 or 7 months younger than Shouty the Fingerwagger.
Kay
@the Conster:
Yeah, sure he is. The man who ignored term limits and switched parties to stay in power will stick to that promise.
“When you’re famous they let you do anything”
When will he release his employees from the NDA’s so we can see the discrimination claims? Before or after Trump releases his tax returns, do you think?
MCA1
I’d be fine with Bloomberg as the Dem nominee, personally, though I don’t prefer him over 3 or 4 of the other contenders.
The biggest reason I don’t want to see him win isn’t policy- or age-related, however, or because I just can’t live without one of the other remaining candidates. It’s that I’m petty and small, and I don’t want to give the embarrassed Republicans in my life the easy out of voting for him. Every Republican who voted for Gary Johnson or sat it out in 2016, because although they knew full well what trash Drumpf is, they just couldn’t lower themselves to actually vote for a Democrat, and has now spent 3 years witnessing the results, needs to have their nose rubbed in the shit they made on the carpet. That includes the supposed humiliation of voting for an actual Democrat, not Mike Bloomberg, as well as the experience of 4-8 years of an actual Democrat in the White House. President Bloomberg is not enough apology to me, and is not an actual rebuke and shaming. I know this because of how enthusiastically “polite” Republicans seem to be pining for him as the Democratic nominee, claiming they’d be happy to vote for that Democrat for President.
No, you guys don’t get to tell Democrats who to nominate. If you can’t get behind whoever they nominate to replace the mad king, because your personal income tax rate is the only thing you actually care about, or you so desperately want to believe in Both Sides that you actually fall for it in the age of Trump, then you’re part of the problem.
Mnemosyne
@Kay:
The one thing I believe about Bloomberg is that he wants to bring Trump down to ignominious defeat and grind his fat orange face in it. He really seems to hate the guy on a visceral level. Given that, I’m willing to take his dirty money to elect someone else.
Brachiator
@Mnemosyne:
Another fun fact. New York mayors have never been successful presidential candidates, nor have mayors in general. Grover Cleveland had been mayor of Buffalo, but also governor of New York.
ETA. Bloomberg reminds me a bit of former Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan, a well-heeled businessman who decides to run for public office.
chopper
@whomever:
plus his spanish is top-notch!
Mnemosyne
@Brachiator:
He’s, like, third from the bottom on my candidate list — I’d rather have him than Bernie or Tulsi, but every other candidate is more acceptable, including Mayor Pete.
I could live with Bloomberg if necessary because I think he’s capable of the actual work, but I am by no means enthused.
chopper
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
hey now, dwight is 48 going on 28, he’s got the fresh thinking of the kids these days(tm). you should listen to him.
chopper
@GoBlue72:
yeah, you nailed us all right. in spite of the fact that we don’t like the old white new yorker who’s been a democrat for five minutes, we’re all gonna jump to get behind the other old white new yorker who’s been a democrat for five minutes.
the Conster
@Kay:
He wants to beat Trump and he’s got all the money in the world to do it. I think it’s personal for him. I’ll use him for his money. I don’t want him for president.
Mnemosyne
@chopper:
It’s pretty amazing how Dwight inevitably interprets meh, it’s better than a sharp stick in the eye as wild enthusiasm. Makes one wonder about his home life. ?
germy
Bloomberg: A Call To Action!
WaterGirl
@mrmoshpotato: Proof positive that we don’t have to get rid of all the old white guys. :-) Just the awful ones!
WaterGirl
@chopper: I thought for a second I had pied you by mistake, but before I could rush to fix my error, I realized you were cheesecake because you had replied to someone else.
tam1MI
If Bloomberg manages to break the back of the Iowa-New Hampshire shitopoly he will be my FUCKING HERO.
Leumas
If he is not Trump and is the nominee of the Democratic party, I will vote for him.
Another Scott
Dead thread, but ICYMI – LOLGOP at Eclectablog:
I hope the real, serious Democratic candidates are paying attention to him and gaming out what to do.
Cheers,
Scott.
celiadexter
I was a lawyer in Bloomberg’s administration for 12 years and although I didn’t agree with some of his policies, I have no doubt that he cares about the public interest rather than his own ego, he’s been extremely effective about environmental issues and gun control, he’s a highly competent administrator and his heart is in the right place. He also has no tolerance for bullshit. I doubt he’ll be my first choice in the primary, depending on what choices are available to me, but I’ll bust my tail to help if if he gets the nomination.
low-tech cyclist
@Califlander: The part about the $12M to re-elect Toomey was true (actually $11.7M per the NYT) but obviously with Pence as VP, Dems would still have needed one more seat for control even after Doug Jones’ win.
The thing that pisses me off is that if McGinty had beaten Toomey, her term would go through 2022, and we’d be one seat closer to Senate control in January, needing 3 seats instead of 4 – a LOT more likely in this environment – to control the Senate if we win the WH but Doug Jones loses.
I was ready to throw things, I was so mad, when I found out he’d helped Toomey hang on. Damn his rotten rich ass.
smintheus
Sell your party to the highest bidding billionaire, and how do you ever get it back again?
Tehanu
As a yellow-dog Democrat I’ll vote for whoever the party nominates (and gladly kick any idiot who votes for a vanity / 3rd party candidate). Having said that, I’m not real enthused about voting for another goddam billionaire. In fact, I’m beginning to think we should amend the Constitution to make billionaires — and jerks who claim to be billionaires and aren’t, and you know who I mean — ineligible for the presidency.