BERNIE SANDERS HAS FOUND HIS FOIL IN MIKE BLOOMBERG

[Uncle Joe]

Bernie Sanders unloaded on Michael Bloomberg Monday, telling reporters a day after the billionaire entered the 2020 race that Bloomberg is “undermining” democracy. “What he believes—and this is the arrogance of billionaires: ‘Hey, I can run for president because I’m worth $55 billion, and maybe I’ll take $1 billion out of that $55 billion’—not a lot, when you’re worth that much—and…start running a massive amount of TV ads in California and, in fact, all over this country,” he said after meeting with union members in New Hampshire Monday. “People of this country do not want to see a billionaire buy an election,” Sanders added, “and that is precisely what Mr. Bloomberg is trying to do.”

Bloomberg’s late entry into the 2020 race has been met with eye rolls from a sizable chunk of the Democratic electorate, particularly on the left, which wasn’t exactly holding its breath for an even older, even richer, white former Republican to come in and rescue the party. Bloomberg’s candidacy has inspired heavy backlash from progressives, who point to signature policies like stop and frisk (for which Bloomberg recently repented) as evidence he’s out of touch. “He’s just an entitled billionaire who thinks that gives him the credibility to run for president,” New York housing advocate Cea Weaver told Politico, “and that’s ridiculous.”

Of course, that makes Bloomberg a perfect foil for Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, the two leading progressives in the 2020 field. They’ve railed against Donald Trump, the wealthy, out-of-touch asshole currently in the Oval Office, but opposition to the president doesn’t really distinguish them from their Democratic rivals. Bloomberg, on the other hand, is a symbol of the wealth inequality that both parties have contributed to, and that has necessitated their calls for systemic change. After all, Sanders and Warren aren’t just running against Trump, but also against a political system that many on the left regard as out of touch itself. “Michael Bloomberg is making a bet about democracy in 2020—he doesn't need people, he only needs bags and bags of money,” Warren said in Iowa on Monday. “I think Michael Bloomberg is wrong and that's what we need to prove in this election.” Sanders in particular may find a welcome foil in Bloomberg. Warren has distinguished herself for fighting with billionaires, notably driving one to tears on CNBC—a phenomenon that’s only energized her supporters. Sanders, by contrast, has been less combatant, his tweets at Amazon founder Jeff Bezos having hit their stride over the summer.

That, of course, has not deterred Bloomberg. He’s leaned into benevolent rich guy persona, describing how he’s used his wealth to deliver pragmatic political victories. “For years, I’ve been using my resources for the things that matter to me,” he said during his campaign kickoff event at a diner in Virginia on Monday. To be sure, some of those issues also matter to voters across the Democratic spectrum, from climate change to gun control. Whether Bloomberg’s support on those fronts can outstrip his record as mayor remains to be seen. “The rich got richer here, and the poor got poorer,” Public Advocate Jumaane Williams told Politico of Bloomberg’s Mayoral accomplishments. “The question is not whether his policies were successful. Who were they successful for?”

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/11/bernie-sanders-has-found-his-foil-in-mike-bloomberg

[JoeOtterbein]

1. K n R ! Thanks for posting!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I'd rather see Bernie and the others concentrate their ire on Trump.

Bloomberg is a Democrat. I don't like him much either, and I don't like it that a rich guy is trying to buy his way to the nomination. But I don't see Bloomberg doing well among PoC, young people or anybody who is tired of old, rich white guys. There's no benefit to trashing other Democrats, though. Trump is the enemy.

[Uncle Joe]

4. Bernie has and will continue to concentrate his ire on Trump

at every speech he has given.

Having said that I and Bernie believe that Trump is just a symptom of the long festering disease of massive, dysfunctional income and wealth inequality, three people own more wealth than the bottom half of the American Nation.

That dynamic is unsustainable for the good health of any democratic nation.

[helpisontheway]

5. Bernie is not a Democrat. He has said that over and over again..

Yes, he runs for president as a Democrat. However, if he loses he will go right back to his a Independent status. I guess the only reread on the party allows it is so he won’t run third party.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. Well, there's that.

Maybe I should have said I didn't think he should be trashing Democrats.

[Uncle Joe]

8. Bernie isn't trashing Democrats, he is criticizing Bloomberg's actions

and our dysfunctional system; that empowers the mega-wealthy; to ignore and attempt to supercede the hard campaign work done by all our Democratic candidates in actually reaching out to the voters in a cynical attempt to saturate the air waves and only able to do so because of their extreme wealth.

[vsrazdem]

12. I've seen a lot of people trashing Democratic candidate Tulsi Gabbard on this board, so

I guess we should get a list of the acceptable Democracts to trash and not trash.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Tulsi's bona fides as a Democrat are pretty shaky.

Standing around in a garage doesn't make me a car; calling myself a Democrat is at least questionable if I pal around with Assad, hang out on Fox News and receive the enthusiastic support of RT. Whatever trashing she has received is well-deserved. At least Bloomberg doesn't pull that kind of crap.

[vsrazdem]

21. Just like saying your a Democrat while giving loads of money to and supporting

republican policies does not make Bloomberg one either.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

22. Bloomberg was a GOPer when he ran for mayor the first two times.

He was an independent when he ran the third time. Now that he's running for President he's a Democrat.

[helpisontheway]

16. True! Trash Gabbard and nothing happens. Say one thing about Sanders

and your post is deleted.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. While I'm not a big fan of Sanders I wouldn't put him in the same category as Gabbard.

Some of his campaign staff, on the other hand...

[helpisontheway]

20. Of course not. I'm just saying that technically she is running as a Democrat..

Supposedly we are not allowed to say anything negative about any of the Democrats in the race. Yet, I could bash Gabbard all day and nothing would happen. If I say Boo about Bernie and the post is removed.

[vsrazdem]

10. I'll take Bernie's not being a Democrat over Bloomberg's being a Democrat ANY DAY.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

18. For your viewing pleasure. Here's Barack Obama campaigning to get Bernie elected to The Senate.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

3. Thanks Uncle Joe!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[rocktivity]

7. Bloomberg? Absolutely not.

He's Trump with slightly better manners.


rocktivity

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. I don't think he'll go very far no matter how much money he spends.

I don't agree that he's Trump with better manners - he supports some good causes - but he's not likely to attract the voters needed to beat Trump, especially PoC. That stop-and-frisk business dooms him with those voters, even though he now (conveniently) has repudiated it. He also has about as much charisma as a bowl of cold oatmeal.

Money can't buy you love, Mike.

[rocktivity]

19. "Money can't buy you love, Mike."

Though it might bought him an extra term as governor.


rocktivity

[lapucelle]

9. It will be interesting when the topic turns to guns, especially the carve out of special immunity

for gun manufacturers.

[LanternWaste]

14. Bloomberg's an easy target. If Sanders is unable to connect his attacks to a even a small polling bu

Bloomberg's an easy target. It's hitting a barn door with a baseball from only seven feet away.

If Sanders is unable to connect his attacks to a even a small polling bump in the nationals, it's all on him.

[Uncle Joe]

15. If Bloomberg is successful with his advertising blitz, the moderate candidates

will bear the brunt of it.

Bernie is more concerned about the process than his own political fortunes.