So what does the Obama/Bloomberg 'sitdown' mean?

[Blackhatjack]

I saw a brief story over the weekend stating that they met in a restaurant and the content of the discussion was unknown. There was a brief video clip with no sound, just voice over.

So what is that all about?

Could Obama be 'feeling out Bloomberg's intentions?'

Bloomberg also met with Chuck Hagel over dinner last week.

[TwilightGardener]

1. Bloomberg invited Obama. My guess is, he told Obama that he wouldn't

run if Obama was the nominee. Otherwise, if that's not the case, he was getting publicity for himself, and Obama was tweaking Hillary. Bloomberg and Obama are pretty similar in both being pragmatic, non-ideological politicians, so I can see the two having similar goals.

[Inuca]

18. Interesting speculation

that's my gut feeling as well, meaning that Bloomberg will not get into it if Obama is the nominee. Can't argue it very well, beyond the "gut feeling" thing though :-)

[TwilightGardener]

21. I just think if Obama's the nominee, there would be no room for Bloomberg, because

Obama would be pretty damn popular, with a lot of crossover appeal. He'd pull in Indies and Repubs, whereas Hillary wouldn't (or at least not as well).

[Horse with no Name]

2. My guess is that it has something to do with Unity 08.

I can actually see Obama going Independent as the Unity 08 candidate if he didn't get the Democratic nomination.
http://www.unity08.com/
Obama/Hagel??

[MADem]

4. That would be one hell of a bridge burning!!!!

The DNC would never speak to Obama again. He'd have to leave his party.

And he'd have to hope he would win, because it could get ugly in the Senate if he didn't. Bloomberg would have to give him a nest egg or something...

You think he'd consider that?

[TwilightGardener]

5. I agree--I can't see him going Indie. He has no reason to. If he loses, he'll

have very high stock in the Dem party. If he goes with Bloomberg, he'd probably lose AND his Dem political career will be over. He's a Dem through and through, and I won't vote for him if he turns traitor on the party.

[MADem]

6. If he lost, he would probably be on a short list as VP, and that would make him

heir in eight years time. He'd still be young and vigorous...and a shoe in.

But he might win this time. He's gaining momentum.

[Horse with no Name]

9. Not for Hillary

I don't believe that Obama and Hillary are cut from the same cloth.
Hillary would pick someone more corporate.

[MADem]

13. Neither were JFK and LBJ. And they weren't friends, either.

But hey, star power is star power.

[Horse with no Name]

14. I get what you are saying

But I do believe that those types of alliances are a thing of the past.
I believe that you will see candidates picking running mates that are closer to THEIR idealogy than ever before.

[MADem]

17. Look at Kerry-Edwards. They weren't friends either.

And I will bet Al Gore has little to say to Holy Joe these days...

You still need that demographic punch. It might not be as state-specific as it used to be, like north-south, or east coast west coast (look at Bush-Cheney--two assholes from TX, one ran to his summer home in his former state of residence to get around the rules).

With Bush/Cheney, the idea was Front Man With Connections/Creepy Experienced Asshole to Back Up the Punk.

It's hard to guess how they'll split it, and of course, it depends on who wins. Around this time last go-round, Dean had the "Big Mo."

[TwilightGardener]

10. Yep, I agree. He's too smart to squander all his chips on '08.

[Horse with no Name]

7. I don't believe politics is about loyalty anymore

Obama has a certain message he wants to get out.
I honestly don't think it would matter to Obama supporters if he did it as an Indie or as a Democrat.
And honestly, the current state of the Democratic Party and their splinter groups (DLC/Blue Dogs), I wouldn't blame ANY good candidate for bailing on it.
But...take a minute and think about this.
The financial power of Bloomberg and Oprah??
All I can say is WOW!

[MADem]

15. I do. But politics is also about money. And MB has money.

It's a big risk, though. I don't know about your assertion that people would just follow merrily along if he left the party. I think he'd lose a lot of supporters.

The DLC/Blue Dogs are NOT a splinter group. They are a wing, like the far left is. Like the Black caucus is. And they all come together under a BIG Tent.

[Horse with no Name]

16. Disagree.

Most of the time--the SPLINTER groups (DLC-Blue Dogs) sneak over to the republican tent.

[MADem]

19. Well, we'll see the GOP moderates moving our way, if there are any left.

Linc Chaffee actually quit the GOP. He's an Indy now. Too late, though...

But the Sue Collins, Olympia Snowe types, they aren't like the rest of those mean ass Republicans. With a Democrat in the WH it will be easier for them to move over our way.

There are actually three parties in the House and Senate. There's the lefties, the righties, and the Big Mushy Middle. And the third party there does cross over. One wing or the other owns the agenda, but that Big Mushy Middle made up of D's and R's can call the shots.

[Dhalgren]

3. An Obama/Bloomberg ticket? An Obama/Hagel ticket?

Speculators want to know! Bloomberg/Hagel has been the open secret ticket for the "Unity Movement". Sam Waterston was on Lerher a few months back talking about this "movement".

What other possibilities are you thinking?

:popcorn:

[Bitwit1234]

8. It would certainy mean a lot of people NOW question that Obama

is becoming one of the same type as the bush doggs.

[TwilightGardener]

11. No way--Bloomberg isn't even a Republican. Associating with him

does NOT mean anything "Bushlike".

[MADem]

20. Hell no--MB was a Democrat who became GOP just to run in an election without having to deal with the

primary. Now he's an INDY.

He's not a Bushie at all.

[CorpGovActivist]

12. If You Really Must Know...

... call up Mark Penn - Clinton's "chief campaign strategerist" - and ask him to plant a question for Obama about it at the next debate or major Obama event.

- Dave

[Blackhatjack]

22. Actually I think Bloomberg and Obama are not aligned....

If I had to guess, they both gathered information from the other regarding intentions and positions. I don't think Obama will leave the Demcratic Party willingly, and I don't see Bloomberg joining the Democratic Party at this stage of his career.

So what could they be discussing?

It is not unheard of for rivals to meet and discuss their respective plans.