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Bloomberg to spend $50 million to “outmuscle” the NRA
Hotair ^ | 04/16/2014 | Ed Morrissey

Posted on 04/16/2014 7:21:16 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Actually, it’s difficult to choose whether to start with the first paragraph or the last paragraph in this New York Times report on Michael Bloomberg’s latest project. The first paragraph covers Bloomberg’s ongoing efforts to pass gun-control legislation after the failure of his Mayors Against Illegal Guns to move the needle at all on his agenda. Besides, several of the mayors walked out after it became obvious that Bloomberg opposed a lot more than just illegal guns … which are, of course, already illegal.

This time Bloomberg wants to spend $50 million to set up a grassroots network to take on the National Rifle Association:

Michael R. Bloomberg, making his first major political investment since leaving office, plans to spend $50 million this year building a nationwide grass-roots network to motivate voters who feel strongly about curbing gun violence, an organization he hopes can eventually outmuscle the National Rifle Association.

Normally, that would be arrogant enough to fuel a few blog posts all on its own. That brings us to the last paragraph, in which Bloomberg mulled over his mortality with NYT reporter Jeremy Peters. And … well, this has to be read to be grasped:

But if he senses that he may not have as much time left as he would like, he has little doubt about what would await him at a Judgment Day. Pointing to his work on gun safety, obesity and smoking cessation, he said with a grin: “I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed. I am heading straight in. I have earned my place in heaven. It’s not even close.”

Ahem. According to Bloomberg, there may or may not be a God, but Bloomberg will tell Him what to do in the former case. I’m not an expert on Bloomberg’s Reform Judaism, but, ah … I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works. Or maybe Bloomberg just believes that heaven is the eternal nanny state. Hard to guess, really, from the data presented here, but from Bloomberg’s track record here on this side of the veil, I’d guess that Bloomberg figures to be on Big Gulp/Trans-Fat Watch for the rest of eternity. That may be heaven for Bloomberg, but how many of us dream of an afterlife with a self-important bureaucrat telling us and God how it’s going to be?

Speaking of which, here’s Bloomberg’s idea about how to win friends and influence people here on Earth:

Mr. Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York, said gun control advocates need to learn from the N.R.A. and punish those politicians who fail to support their agenda — even Democrats whose positions otherwise align with his own.

“They say, ‘We don’t care. We’re going to go after you,’ ” he said of the N.R.A. “ ‘If you don’t vote with us we’re going to go after your kids and your grandkids and your great-grandkids. And we’re never going to stop.’ ”

He added: “We’ve got to make them afraid of us.”

Well, it’s his money and he can do what he wants with it, but there are over 60 million lawful firearms owners in the US. He’s not even putting up a dollar against each of those. Fifty million samoleans might buy an election or two in New York, but spread out across the US for grassroots purposes, it’s not going to make as much of an impact as Bloomberg anticipates. It’s just a little over a fifth of the NRA’s annual budget, and they raise four times that much each year from their membership alone.

If Bloomberg thinks he can bully gun owners, he’s got another think coming. His arrogance really does know no bounds, and his Democratic allies had better rethink their relationship to him before political lightning strikes too close to them … or some other kind of lightning.

Update: Reform Judaism, not reform Judaism; it’s been corrected above.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bloomberg; guns; nra; searchnra
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1 posted on 04/16/2014 7:21:16 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

He must want to throw his money away....because that is what he is doing.


2 posted on 04/16/2014 7:22:16 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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To: SoFloFreeper

Yup. There are many many more gun owners than those who are members of the NRA and there are many other pro 2nd amendment groups.


3 posted on 04/16/2014 7:24:32 AM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: SeekAndFind

And the sheep were heard to chant...”Some billionaires good...others bad...Some billionaires good...others bad...”


4 posted on 04/16/2014 7:25:41 AM PDT by allendale
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To: SoFloFreeper
He seems to see the NRA as simply a powerful lobbying group. He doesn't understand that the NRA represents millions of people... a genuine grassroots movement.

You oppose that sort of thing at your own risk. Odds of his success are not good.

5 posted on 04/16/2014 7:25:56 AM PDT by Oberon (John 12:5-6)
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To: SeekAndFind

He can spend $50 TRILLION for all I care. Dumba$s libs never understand that people’s values and beliefs can’t be changed by legislation. 2A is not up for negotiation and won’t be infringed no matter WTF they do.


6 posted on 04/16/2014 7:27:01 AM PDT by Mich Patriot (Pitch black is the new "tranparent.")
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To: SeekAndFind

Just like Sebelius, Bloomin Idiot just cant go away. Lookitmee Lookitmee Gimme Gimme Gimme


7 posted on 04/16/2014 7:27:52 AM PDT by A_Former_Democrat (Hey 2008, we told you so)
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To: SeekAndFind

“They say, ‘We don’t care. We’re going to go after you,’ ” he said of the N.R.A. “ ‘If you don’t vote with us we’re going to go after your kids and your grandkids and your great-grandkids. And we’re never going to stop.’ ”

Don’t think I’ve ever heard the NRA say that............weird.


8 posted on 04/16/2014 7:28:28 AM PDT by V_TWIN
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To: SeekAndFind

The aristocracy throughout all of world history has wanted the serfs disarmed so that their control and actions are unfettered by an armed populace. An aristocracy that owns the media is even more dangerous because it enables propaganda to be used to convince some of the serfs to disarm other serfs. The threat to our democratic rights and freedoms comes from those who have an obsession to turn citizens into serfs and overturn our Constitution with pocket change.


9 posted on 04/16/2014 7:34:34 AM PDT by apoliticalone
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To: SeekAndFind
This time Bloomberg wants to spend $50 million to set up a grassroots network...

Mikey evidently doesn't have a clue about what the word "grassroots" means.

10 posted on 04/16/2014 7:36:18 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("The best way to control opposition is to lead it ourselves." -- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin)
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To: SeekAndFind

Seems to me that what Bloomberg is saying is that when he gets to Heaven,he will be the new man in charge. Even less in charge than what you are here,sir.


11 posted on 04/16/2014 7:36:20 AM PDT by oldtech
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To: Mich Patriot

But values and beliefs can be changed with propaganda and contrived events.


12 posted on 04/16/2014 7:36:59 AM PDT by apoliticalone
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To: V_TWIN
Very weird.

Of course this is the guy who installed a window air conditioning unit in his limousine.


13 posted on 04/16/2014 7:38:26 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("The best way to control opposition is to lead it ourselves." -- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin)
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To: SeekAndFind

I’ll bet there are a lot of grass roots people here on FR who could make good use of Bloomberg money.

Everybody, contact him! Email email email and phone phone phone!

Offer volunteer time, support, offer to hold meetings...


14 posted on 04/16/2014 7:43:13 AM PDT by DBrow
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To: Oberon

Urbanization is a political theory that makes the people dependent sheep instead self reliant individuals. There is an element in America that has been attempting to politically urbanise America just as in China.. Urban people tend to be culturally different than rural and small towns and even suburbia.. Urbanites want us all to dance to their pied piper.


15 posted on 04/16/2014 7:44:00 AM PDT by apoliticalone
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To: SeekAndFind

I love it when idiots like this throw vast amounts of their money away.


16 posted on 04/16/2014 7:51:09 AM PDT by Old Grumpy
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To: SeekAndFind

Make him spend it all!


17 posted on 04/16/2014 7:59:49 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: SeekAndFind

Mr. Bloomberg,

I, a single party of one, resolute, and answerable only to myself, refuse to submit to any threats that you have made concerning refusing me my universal right to self-preservation, which would include my preserving myself from you and your minions, as well.

I, an individual American, stand ready to deliver against any and all threats upon my life or my property, in regards to any subversive actions enacted or endorsed by you, overtly or covertly, by legislation, by oral proposals, by proposals of organizations that you endorse, or by inference, thereof.

I, an individual American who is NOT a member of the National Rifle Association, do not agree, do not endorse, do not condone, and shall not accept, nor submit to, any infringement upon my Second Amendment rights, as called out in The Bill of Rights, which is within The U. S. Constitution, from the date of its inception.

Long Live The Republic!


18 posted on 04/16/2014 8:00:21 AM PDT by Terry L Smith
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To: DBrow
I have had an epiphany! I am a changed man and have repented of my evil gun loving ways! Send me a couple mil. so I can reach my fellow gun nuts and save their souls! Oh, and I need to cut up all my evil guns, so could you throw in a nice plasma cutter? Preferably a Miller.
19 posted on 04/16/2014 8:02:48 AM PDT by CrazyIvan (Obama phones= Bread and circuits.)
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To: SeekAndFind
Nanny Bloomers thinks he is going to Heaven.

If he does, wait until he sees the welcoming committee:


20 posted on 04/16/2014 8:21:55 AM PDT by Iron Munro (The future ain't what it use to be -- Yogi Berra)
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