N.Y. Mayor Is Eyeing '08, Observers Say

[LiberalFighter]

Source: Washington Post

New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, a self-made billionaire, has told friends more than once that his definition of good financial planning is making sure the check to the undertaker bounces when it's finally time to go.

So how does a billionaire spend all his money before he dies? In Bloomberg's case, he just might drop a cool half-billion on a long-shot bid to become the nation's first modern president from outside the two major political parties.

As fellow New Yorkers Rudolph W. Giuliani (R) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) campaign vigorously across the country to become their parties' nominees and prepare for what would be an electric general-election clash, Bloomberg is governing the "ungovernable city" -- and patiently waiting in the wings.

Publicly, the Democrat-turned-Republican professes no interest in the top job at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. But the founder of the Bloomberg financial news empire has dropped enough hints and has had enough tantalizing discussions with potential supporters that people who observe the city's politics for a living are convinced he is at least thinking about it.

Read more: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/25/AR2007032501334.html

---

Can you believe this?

[soothsayer]

1. uck, good luck!

[renaissanceguy]

5. That gives me the shivers!

eom


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues

[rurallib]

2. Bloomberg wants to buy the presidency he can probably do it

and the gutless media will probably sit by and watch.

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. Creating a buzz. Nothing more. Media BS. nt

[natrat]

4. take him over swillary or giuliani

[jmowreader]

6. I can think of HUNDREDS of Repukes who would be worse

He wouldn't be the greatest president we've ever had, but he'd be a damn sight better than anyone named Bush.

Positive attributes:
* it's not possible to buy a man who's richer than you are, and the list of people who are richer than Michael Bloomberg would fit on an index card.
* Mayor of New York City is a very powerful position, and his administration is reasonably scandal-free.
* pro-choice, pro-gun-control, pro-healthcare and pro-civil-rights.

Negative attributes:
* sexual harassment allegations in his past
* donated to John McCain and Richard Shelby
* 2004 Republican National Convention
* sent NYC police to spy on liberal groups nationwide before 2004 RNC
* ran on two different tickets, Republican and Independence Party

If he could get on the ticket he'd be a formidable contender because he looks a lot like a conservative Democrat, he's only modestly corrupt and he has a shitload of money. The problem for him is, he'd run as a Republican and they wouldn't like him at all, so he wouldn't get past the primaries.

[flaminbats]

12. if he donated to Richard Shelby, he isn't pro-healthcare reform

I still remember this, and it shocked me because he was still a Democrat. Richard Shelby opposed Clinton's tax increase that balanced the budget in the late 90's. Then he made a speech on the Senate floor in favor of filibustering any kind of healthcare reform, even a compromise, because "insurance companies should always have the right to deny coverage or even employment based on pre-existing conditions!"

many Democrats didn't support Clinton's plan in 93 and 94, but Shelby was the only one I heard who opposed it because "it was unfair to insurance companies."

After the Republicans took control of Congress in 1995 it didn't shock me at all when Shelby switched parties. It does surprise me that Bloomberg would donate to the campaign of such a rat!

[Bake]

7. If he runs as an indy, he'll siphon off Repub votes

And that only helps US. Just a guess ...

Bake

[Renew Deal]

9. I don't think so.

He'd probabyl hurt dems more. He's pro-choice, anti-gun, jewish. All 3 are base dems.

[Renew Deal]

8. I hope he runs.

I think he would make a great independent candidate. The downside is that he would likely pull votes from the Democratic candidate.

[adigal]

10. This is the guy who went along with sending cops to spy

on anti-war protestors all over the country.

Good luck, Bloomberg! Pompous fool.

[cosmicdot]

14. yep ...

a major corporate media empire billionaire CEO-Republican politician authorizing secret police --> not by cuppa tea

March 25, 2007

City Police Spied Broadly Before G.O.P. Convention

By JIM DWYER

For at least a year before the 2004 Republican National Convention,
teams of undercover New York City police officers traveled to cities
across the country, Canada and Europe to conduct covert observations
of people who planned to protest at the convention, according to
police records and interviews.

From Albuquerque to Montreal, San Francisco to Miami, undercover New
York police officers attended meetings of political groups, posing as
sympathizers or fellow activists, the records show.

~snip~

In February 2003, the Police Department, with Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg's support, was given broad new authority by Judge Haight to
conduct such monitoring.

~snip~

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/25/nyregion/25infiltrate.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin


"There are days when you wake up and you read the newspapers and you want to shoot yourself. I'm always fascinated to find out where I was yesterday and what I said." -Michael Bloomberg


N.Y. Police Spied Broadly Before G.O.P. Convention
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3180259
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=503495
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=495687
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=498059
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=500515

Why the NYPD's Abuses Matter to You and Us
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=271200

City Asks Court Not to Unseal Police Spy Files
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=502569

[David Dunham]

11. Bloomberg's running would ensure the Repuke candidate wins

Bloomberg would siphon off the votes of moderates and independents who would otherwise go for the Democratic candidate.

[AlinPA]

13. He would never make it. They would nominate a flat-earther, creationist,

gay-hating, intolerant, gun-nut bible thumper if they could. Closest thing they have is Huckabee and Brownback. His being from New York City would drive the right-wingers nuts.

[Chovexani]

15. LOL

:rofl:

It's nice to want things.

[VegasWolf]

16. Fantastic, let him run, it will just draw votes away from Reptillians. nt