Mike Bloomberg Will Never Become President

[babylonsister]

Yes, from October.

https://prospect.org/power/mike-bloomberg-will-never-become-president/


Mike Bloomberg Will Never Become President
But his fifth flirtation with a run may be the most offensive yet.
by David Dayen
October 15, 2019


Michael Bloomberg has had the functionaries on his payroll not-so-discreetly float his candidacy for president for 11 years now. It began in 2008, when he attended a meeting in January of that year that I called Wankstock, a gathering of old white male politicians-turned-lobbyists for three days of peace, love, and bipartisanship. Touting an agenda of deficit reduction and “renouncing partisan bickering”— something for everyone from random senior fellows in Washington think tanks to people on his own payroll—Bloomberg soon realized that he failed to gain any traction and almost immediately declared he wouldn’t run.

Bloomberg also flirted with running in 2012, and 2016, and earlier in this 2020 cycle, after changing his registration from independent to Democrat. Each time he declined, after realizing that the appeal for a socially liberal, fiscally conservative billionaire doesn’t exist outside of Tom Friedman columns.

But now he’s back for the fifth time, as moderates see their dream of a do-nothing presidency slipping away from them. On Monday, friends of Bloomberg leaked to reporters that Joe Biden’s inability to lock down the Democratic primary has the multi-billionaire rethinking his decision to bow out of the race. If Biden drops out, he’s dropping in, according to unnamed sources.

That Bloomberg, solely by virtue of his indescribably obscene store of wealth, can generate this kind of publicity for his Hamlet act insults our collective intelligence. “I think it’s something he wants,” said one of his staff members paid to float this nonsense to CNBC. Notice that the wants of the public never show up in this analysis.

snip//

There’s a certain arrogance in anyone who sees a president staring back at them in the mirror. But Bloomberg’s decade-plus dalliance with an impossible candidacy is downright offensive. We are barely getting through someone with serious rich-guy syndrome in the Oval Office. We don’t need someone else mistaking the ability to make a bunch of money with the ability to lead.

[boomer_wv]

1. He can't get black support.

His legacy, despite anything else, is stop and frisk. He can't get black support and that means he can't be the democratic nominee. His support of gun control means he can't be the republican nominee. He is an independent candidate in a world where 80% of the population are partisans.

[evertonfc]

2. true

but neither will 7 of those on our debate stage. That said, let's not disparage Mike. He spent a fortune in VA and KY. He's not our enemy.

[SWBTATTReg]

3. Mr. Dayen seems to be anti-$billionaire, which is fine. But in my humble opinion, not all...

billionaires are the same, e.g., rump (very doubtful he is a $billionaire) vs. Bloomberg. I trust Bloomberg, Gates, others far far more than rump.

[spooky3]

5. I agree. They are as entitled as everyone else to be

Judged on their actions.

And he despises Trump and articulates why very clearly. I like that about him.

[WheelWalker]

4. "Joe Biden's inability to lock down the Democratic Primary"? How does one "lock down"

before a single primary ballot is cast or caucus held? Unless, of course, you're a friend of Putin or similar malicious intruder.

[crazytown]

10. Clear 40% in the polls.

[WheelWalker]

14. Polls don't "lock down" anything.

[crazytown]

15. It's the best guide we have eom.

[dchill]

6. Bloomberg would rather have Trump than...

... anyone in the Democratic field. Running is his way of achieving that.

[Doodley]

7. I would support him. He would be a billion times better than Trump and attract Republican votes.

[OnDoutside]

8. As long as he runs under the Democrats, I'm fine with it.

[crazytown]

9. To squee or not to squee

that is the Beatles.

[Qutzupalotl]

11. I think his candidacy is to warn us not to nominate Warren

or Sanders, because that would be bad for billionaires. He would stay in the race as a spoiler if we do.

My sense is that if Joe looks like he will be the nominee, Bloomberg will drop out. Right now, Joe is far out in front, so Bloomberg’s candidacy could be quite short.

[LuvNewcastle]

12. If he's going to run, he needs to go ahead and get in the race.

Go to Iowa and NH and compete with the other Democratic candidates. If he comes out the winner, that's fine, but I sure as hell hope that he doesn't use his money and power to screw up our process somehow. But I think that's what he might do.

[BeckyDem]

13. Good OP

He thinks he is going to save America from Warren or Bernie policies. He can fuck off. He should never have been invited to speak at our convention. He is a Republican billionaire, period.