Bloomberg surrounds himself with interesting people

[CGowen]

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But what is it that Bloomberg really stands for when it comes to the Middle East?

Among other things, we sent the panel members this http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5izinQos18ZF8h0q5LJjf0VpGmj5wD8U1814G0">news item dealing with the group Bloomberg is now associated with. "The forum included former Republican Sen. Bill Brock of Tennessee, former Defense Secretary William Cohen, former Democratic Sen. Bob Graham of Florida, former Democratic Sen. David Boren of Oklahoma, former Democratic Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia and former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman." It also included "Nebraska Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel, who is often mentioned as an ideal running mate for Bloomberg."
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http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=945829

Focus on Bloomberg at Bipartisan Summit

By SARA KUGLER – Jan 7, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg turned up the volume on a possible independent bid for president on Monday, arguing that partisanship is limiting the nation's progress at a summit of Republicans and Democrats that stole a bit of the spotlight from the candidates in New Hampshire.

Amid talk about Washington riven by partisanship, Bloomberg gathered with some current elected officials, others out of office for years to discuss bridging the divide between the two parties. The summit came on the eve of the first-in-the-nation primary.

"People have stopped working together, government is dysfunctional, there's no collaborating and congeniality," Bloomberg said to applause from the crowd. "America is being held back," he said.
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http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5izinQos18ZF8h0q5LJjf0VpGmj5wD8U1814G0