A Stern Warning For Michael Bloomberg

[scottie55]

Imagine what might happen to your empire if you try to get in the way of the people taking their country back from you, your billionaire friends, and the politicians they own.

There is not one single person who would believe you would run for president to make our country a better place FOR ALL AMERICANS.

Not a one.

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/06/the-pitchforks-are-coming-for-us-plutocrats-108014

The people haven't spoken yet.

They will, rest assured.

[karynnj]

1. I think Sanders put it well in characterizing a Trump/Bloomberg/Sanders race

as being him against two billionaires. ( I think he is right - especially as both are using their own billions to BUY their election.)

[scottie55]

4. I Just Watched Bernie On MTP

Which is what gave me the idea for this OP.

I think almost all Democrats would vote for their party's nominee. Many independents and struggling Americans would support Bernie too. They understand what is at stake for them, and their families.

The Republicans could split their vote between Trump and Bloomberg.

I can just imagine Bernie's campaign ads. Me versus 2 billionaires. That sounds like a winner to me.

[karynnj]

8. That's what I was quoting - read the transcript because I missed the show

Last edited Sun Jan 24, 2016, 05:50 PM - Edit history (1)

Here's the link for others that missed it. http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meet-press-january-24-2016-n503241

(Both HRC and Bernie were on - separately)

[Hortensis]

28. Bernie - Bloomberg - Trump. Seriously,

if Bernie somehow got enough money to snow them both with negative ads about man of the people between two bloated plutocrats -- perhaps he just might win in this climate of dissatisfaction with bloated plutocrats. What two billionaires who can literally fund their own campaigns as they wish would be doing to him, though, would not be pretty.

Even more important, though, is that Bernie's supporters VASTLY underestimate the numbers of liberals and of moderates of all stripes who don't want to experiment with their government, who specifically want a competent, proven, dependable, and stable shift to the left that continues until it's just about where they want it, and no farther.

Bloomberg is sorta liberal socially, conservative economically, and like our O'Malley offers hands-on experience. Speculation is that he'd run IF his competition was from the extremes on both sides, giving him a path to the presidency right up the middle. Supposedly, Hillary is too mainstream liberal and strong for an independent to defeat coming in this late.

The Bloomberg scenario is really something to worry about. I think we can all agree we really do not want a conservative billionaire for president.

[restorefreedom]

32. there was one poll today

had bernie and trump neck and neck (bernie 35/trump 34)

bloomberg was decidedly third at something like 27

but it is something to watch.

i tend to think though, that he is too lib for conservstives and too righty for progressives. centrists seem to be in low supply this cycle with all the antiestablishment vibes

i thhink it would come down to bernie v trump. what would happen with the ec votes i shudder to think.

[Hortensis]

36. "centrists seem to be in low supply this cycle

with all the antiestablishment vibes" This is going to be a very interesting dynamic to watch play out -- how much, who will actually vote, etc. It could be that the increased agitation on both wings for strong change may reinforce a more centrist approach to measured change... Or not. Just how fed up are we?

Bernie showed us that desire on the left, and even right, for strong leftward change is much larger than had been believed; but, as is typical, not a lot of mature voters are heading out to join his crowds or responding to polling to they can be counted. Are more interested in strong change than can be measured? And who would they choose to implement it?

It must be a fun year to be a political scientist -- for those whose careers don't depend on prognostication.

[restorefreedom]

37. great analysis....

i think only on vote days will we know how po'd people really are and what they want to do about it. we could be shocked in either direction. i am trying to be prepared for anything. honestly, i could see trump going all the way, but i don't think another gop-er has a shot in a ge.

its great fun being an amateur poli sci watcher...and thankfully, my career is not political at all!

[Hortensis]

38. "I am trying to be prepared for anything."

Definitely. Bring on life! We are tough. We can take it.

[restorefreedom]

39. even trump! ok, not gonna get crazy, but yes we can! :)

agree gonna need lots of this

[Hortensis]

40. Gardening. It's like yoga but with pictures you

don't rush to tear up.

[restorefreedom]

41. flower gardens! happy thoughts........ nt

[Egnever]

2. Clearly there are some people who believe in him

He has already won elections.

[scottie55]

6. Is Spending $174 Per Vote Really Winning?

This simple fact writes Bernie's campaign ad all by itself.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/28/nyregion/28spending.html?_r=0

Democracy not for sale any more.

EOM

[Egnever]

11. Absolutely

Winning is winning. The loser didn't win no matter how much his opponent spent.

Over a billion will be spent this election, if you think most people care how much money each candidate spends you haven't been paying attention to elections.

The amount of money spent has very little impact on voters decisions. You can find winners and losers on both sides of the money game. Romney spent more than Obama in 2012 for example.

I would bet the $174 per vote was a bargain when it comes to influence gained for that money. contracts awarded, land deals made etc.

[scottie55]

12. Election Or Auction

What would most Americans prefer?

[Egnever]

13. Most americans don't care

Sadly most Americans go for whatever shiney is put in front of them.

[scottie55]

14. Imagine If A Candidate Could Put Their Face

On a beer can!

[joeybee12]

24. Rahm Emmanuel is a shining example

of how much money you can spend and win.

[Bernblu]

19. He ran against terrible candidates for Mayor

Bloomberg has zero charisma who will not get 10% of the vote. He will only appeal to upper class establishment voters who are social liberals like David Brooks and Thomas Friedman. He would probably end up helping Bernie by taking more votes from Trump.

[Egnever]

21. 10% Is enough to swing an election

Obama won by 4% in one of the biggest blowouts of recent times.

The danger isn't in him winning.

[LiberalElite]

3. He thinks it's just the "revolutionaries and crazies"

who will have the pitchforks. I don't think so.

[randr]

5. The man is not too smart

A glimpse of the political environment would indicate that the PC oriented "establishment" is on the ropes. MS must be sharing delusions of grandeur along with Trump to think his Billions can win him the WH.

[libdem4life]

7. It's the "in" thing to do, you know. Win an election from your home office....just

writing checks and sending emails and texts. Oh, maybe the phone, too.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. Being a rich fuck is not hurting Trump so far

so I don't think America is really at the pitchfork stage yet.

[scottie55]

10. How Many Democrats Would Vote For Trump?

A better question.

[muriel_volestrangler]

15. Yes, I agree that's a better question

I wouldn't think Bloomberg has much of a chance of winning. I'd like to know what the personal relationship between Trump and Bloomberg is - if it's bad, perhaps Bloomberg is thinking of running purely to make sure Trump doesn't win. I can see a rich man doing that, for personal satisfaction, or even because he thinks Trump would be a disaster for the USA, and thus his personal fortune.

[kelly1mm]

16. Funny haw Blomberg was peachy keen here on DU when he was attacking parts of the Bill of Rights

or limiting the beverage choices of consumers 'for their own good- natch'.

Bloomberg is and always has been an elitist authoritarian statist and NEVER worthy of support.

[beevul]

18. Funny, that.

Even funnier, is that those who are just fine with Bloomberg seem to be avoiding this thread like the plague.

Coincidence, I'm sure.

[Art_from_Ark]

22. When was Bloomberg "peachy keen" here by attacking the Bill of Rights?

[kelly1mm]

23. The Bill of Rights is the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. There is one particular

Amendment the Bloomburg is strident against. That is why I said 'part' of the Bill of Rights.

If you recall, Bloomburg was also not a fan of the 4th Amendment either although his stop and frisk program did get pushback here on DU I will admit.

[Art_from_Ark]

30. My question was actually, who in this forum supported Bloomberg's position?

[kelly1mm]

31. Wait, you don't think DU as a whole supported Bloomberg in his position on the 2nd Amendment?

I really can't help you then.

A simple google site search for soda ban NYC will get you pages of DU entries supporting the soda ban.

[Art_from_Ark]

33. You made the following claim (do you not remember?):

" Funny haw Blomberg was peachy keen here on DU when he was attacking parts of the Bill of Rights"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027558881#post16

Sounds to me like you are claiming that DU as a whole supported his "attacking parts of the Bill of Rights"

[kelly1mm]

34. Last I checked the 2nd Amendment is part of the Bill of Rights, no? nt

[PyaarRevolution]

25. Spot on.

A friend of mine called him a Benevolent Dictator and I think he was spot on.

Oh and you forgot about Occupy with him kicking the protesters out of Zucatti Park. Then there's the fact he insisted on the NYC Marathon going through despite the aftermath of the Hurricane and the need to keep the streets clear to help distribute aid to people. He backed down but that shows where Bloombergs loyalty ultimately lies, with his money, screw the people.

[ronnie624]

17. The belief that capitalism can be ultimately reformed, is foolish.

It isn't just the middle class that is the source of American prosperity. The ability to exploit resources on the cheap from poor countries, including labor, at the expense of the indigenous populations, played a major role in building the US economy. This is an injustice that will have to end, sooner or later. Capitalists will have no choice, but to eventually give up their system of exploitation.

[PyaarRevolution]

27. I disagree in a sense.

I think we can be just as prosperous if we went off that exploitation model you list and shifted to more Worker Owned Cooperatives.

In turn, pushing a strong decentralized economic model for factories based on environmental sustainability(this especially applies to agriculture) will drive investment in infrastructure like never before. For fresh food it should follow this path, coming at best a distance of a day or two away by rail(NOT HS) instead of from distant, GIANT corporate farms. The latter are not sensible, you can argue about sustainability or not. I mean how much food ends up rotting and has to be thrown out because of the great distance it travels?

[ronnie624]

29. Capitalism

has too many logical and ethical flaws, and too many false underlying assumptions about human behavior, to ever be a viable economic system for an advanced civilization, especially considering the implications of environmental degradation and dwindling resources.

The biggest problem with mainstream economic theory, is the claim to be able to create wealth, which is at odds with the Law of Conservation. Any time energy is converted, the thermodynamic system sustains a net loss, so it isn't possible to create anything.

One of the most morally flawed of the foundational premises for capitalism, is the belief that the earth's resources belong to an elite class of human society for the purpose of self-enrichment. This view is so inherently unjust, it should be glaringly obvious to anyone, even if they don't understand the fundamentals of science.

[CommonSenseDemocrat]

20. You can afford a Bloomberg terminal?

Bloomberg's empire is not threatened.

[Renew Deal]

26. Threats and intimidation?

[dlwickham]

35. Who's putting the guillotine together

make sure that blade is nice and sharp