INDEPENDENT RUN WOULD DAMAGE THE DEMS WORSE (Bloomberg)

NY Post ^ | June 21, 2007 | CHARLES HURT

[neverdem]

Mayor Bloomberg has just given new meaning to the "D" after the names of White House hopefuls such as Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards. It usually stands for Democrat - but now might just as well mean disaster.

That's because all across Washington yesterday, Republican officials, consultants and candidates themselves were becoming increasingly convinced that:

A) Bloomberg may indeed jump into the 2008 race, and

B) If he does, the mayor is going to pull far more votes from the eventual Democratic nominee than the GOP standard-bearer.

Republican sources confidently dismissed earlier polls finding Bloomberg stealing votes roughly equally from each party nominee, or even taking more from the Republicans.

Today, they believe that what they call Bloomberg's extreme liberalism on social issues - outspokenly pro-gay marriage, proudly in favor of abortion, refusing to take a back seat to anyone when it comes to tougher gun control, an advocate for legalizing every illegal - can't help but cut into the Democrats' base, perhaps deeply.

One Democrat on Capitol Hill described Bloomberg's possible independent candidacy as a "nightmare" for the party - just at a time when Democrats believed everything was breaking their way.

There's an unpopular Republican war, a lame-duck president with some of the lowest approval ratings ever recorded, and a pervasive feeling that the country is heading in the wrong direction and it's time for a change - the most powerful force in electoral politics.

So if Bloomberg runs, "this is clearly going to hurt Democrats overall," moaned one Democrat.

"It will be an in-kind contribution to Republicans," crowed a GOP political operative.

One Republican strategist aligned with a presidential campaign compared a possible Bloomberg bid to the 1992 independent campaign that earned another billionaire, Ross Perot, nearly 19 percent of the popular vote...

[neverdem]

Okay. Let’s hear your theory. Why would somebody who has zero chance of ever winning a single electoral vote spend millions of his own dollars to jump into the Presidential race as a third-party candidate? Because he wants to raise awareness of gun control issues? Please.....

Because he has billions plus a very big ego, too say nothing of a very tin ear. Perot ran twice because he had money to burn. Why else did Bloomy become an independent and parlay with Chuck Hegel and Barak Hussein Osama Obama?

[Atlas Sneezed]

So, Rudy, Hillary and Bloomy split the lefty-RINO vote.

Hello President Paul!

;-)

(Preemptive: buzz off you Paul-haters, and lighten up a bit, OK?)

[expatpat]

I hope so. But will he survive if he does?

[expatpat]

I think you may be right. But if he doesn’t pull out, he may go visit Ft. Marcy Park....

[neverdem]

Hello President Paul!

See the link in comment# 13. Last I read, Paul has ruled out a third party bid.

[neverdem]

This story is a little old, but I'll be quite surprised if Bloomberg doesn't run for the White House next year.

Bloomberg Seeks To Question Candidates About Guns

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From time to time, I’ll ping on noteworthy articles about politics, foreign and military affairs. FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

FT by Bloomberg:

America must resist protectionism

********************EXCERPT*******************

The US economy has turned downward. People are feeling insecure. There are grave concerns about jobs moving overseas and about losing ground to Asian countries. Heavy pressures are mounting on the presidential candidates in both parties to pander to protectionist and even isolationist sentiments. The year, however, is 1992. Fortunately, the two parties’ candidates – Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush – refuse to cave in to the pressure. They resist the special interests and stand strong for the long-term health of the American economy – and the country begins one of the greatest economic expansions of our history.

Today, we would do well to remember this lesson. It is easy to say that times have changed and take a more protectionist viewpoint. In fact, times have changed. Dramatic advances in technology and increased global trade are creating enormous economic opportunities, but also challenges. If America is to remain the world’s economic superpower, it must capitalise on the opportunities and confront the challenges. Countries that run away from globalisation in the 21st century – as with those that ran away from capitalism in the 20th century – will pay a heavy price for decades to come.

[neverdem]

Nice catch!

[cobaltblu]

I find it odd that the only candidate running on the platform of less government is called a kook.

Why is following the Constitution deemed kooky these days?

[Rick.Donaldson]

First, don’t start insulting me, I’m tired of that and I’m going to start ripping people new asses for doing it, so back off with your smart assed koolaid jokes.

I don’t “drink” anyone’s koolaid.

I don’t CARE what a politician SAYS about not doing this or that until the iron is in the fire.

He can say WHATEVER he wants to say and I’ve read that before. (Let’s just say that there are currently several of these guys on both sides who’ve said “I will” or “I won’t” and then basically did those things anyway).

I’ll believe that crap when I see it.

Now, stick your koolaid where the sun doesn’t shine Jerk.

[syriacus]

~On Boss Bloomberg - during Chief Justice Roberts’ hearings~

Boss Bloomberg is saying, “Oh, Woe,
Judge Roberts might overturn Roe.”
New York’s Boston-born mayor
Is a nosey nay-sayer.
“Lord Poobah” likes running the show.

~~~~~~~

I’m glad to hear the Dems would be harmed if Bloomberg runs.
The guy loves to tell others how to behave.
I would hate to see him become President.

[saganite]

I don’t think he’ll run. He’s already said he won’t run just for the hell of it, he will only run if there’s a chance to win. Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows he can’t win. Oh—Wait, I think I just defeated my own argument!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks neverdem. Looks like more Hillary-speak, except that it probably comes from Howard Dean.

[Badeye]

I hope he does. His ego alone could use a good asskicking, which is what will happen if he does run.

Bloomberg is a liberal democrat who is in office because of his ego, and the stupidity inherent to anyone living in a large urban center.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Ron Paul is most LIKELY going to run as an Independent because he thinks he has a chance in hell of becoming President

How many times is this crap going to get posted here? Paul has stated dozens of times that he is not running as a 3rd party or independent candidate.

[GeronL]

He was a lifelong Dem before switching just because it would be an emptier primary. Its the same reason David Duke switched in Louisiana

[GeronL]

as well as the Libertarians/Anarchist mix that want to have NO government at ALL.

sweet bliss

[Born Conservative]

This twerp is running, IMHO.

With Chuckie Shumer as his running mate?

[shield]

Good. Thanks for the ping to this thread.