I have a theory about Mike Bloomberg

[scheming daemons]

I don't think he actually cares if he gets the nomination.

Running for President allows him to exploit a loophole. It allows him to spend as much money as he wants attacking Trump for the next 10 months, without having to funnel money through a PAC.

During the primaries, when our other candidates have limited funds and have to be careful how they spend... he can unload millions in attack ads on Trump.

Have you noticed that Bloomberg's ads NEVER attack any of the other Dems? They are almost all directed at Trump.

Even when it becomes clear that Bloomberg won't win the nomination, he will keep his staff churning out ads attacking Trump.

I think all the nominee will have to give him in return is a prominent speaking slot at the convention... he doesn't actually want the job.


Bloomberg hates Trump. He is trying to take Trump out. And he is going to be the Dem nominee's "sugar daddy by proxy" in the fall.

[madaboutharry]

1. I agree 100%.

Bloomberg despises Trump. He said he is going to spend a billion dollars to defeat Trump. Spending a billion dollars makes not one bit of difference in Bloomberg’s life. And the icing on the cake is that he gets to rub Trump’s nose in the fact that he (Bloomberg) actually has the billion dollars to spend.

I also believe that Bloomberg genuinely is frightened for the country.

[spooky3]

3. I think he is too. Why else would someone his age

spend his time and money this way? In 2015-6 his criticisms or Trump were razor sharp. I appreciate what he and Steyer are doing, though I hate how our system disadvantages the less wealthy candidates.

[True Blue American]

31. I agree!

Bloomberg made it clear from the beginning,win or lose he was going to expose Trump and help Democrats win Congress.

What is not to like about Bloomberg? If he wins the Primary I will gladly vote for that self made real billlionaire!

[The Valley Below]

2. I think this is precisely the case.

Which is why I wish him well as long as this is his strategy.

[Upthevibe]

4. I absolutely agree...

In fact, I saw an ad tonight and that's the first thing that crossed my mind.

I think this could help us. The candidates who are in it for real can use their resources in more effective ways;

[Cha]

5. KR for your theory.

Lucky us

[betsuni]

6. I agree.

[applegrove]

7. I think he seriously wants Trump to lose. If it is him or not he is fine

with that either way. He was talking about running years ago. Then he didn't. Then he didn't like the field and so he jumped in. We are lucky to have him on our side.

[The empressof all]

8. Yes, I think we can be Thankful to him

He is spending his money exposing Trump and getting the Democratic Platform messaging out there.

[R B Garr]

9. I think you're right. It looks like he's seeing the Dems

being attacked about purity donors and billionaires getting constantly insulted and he’s said Eff It, he’s going to take things on his back and straighten things out.

We’ve liked his ads and noticed he doesn’t attack other Dems. That is much appreciated. He’s our second choice at this point. I’m so glad the billionaire is providing some much needed perspective into this ridiculous insult-fest primary. An unnecessary repeat of last time.

[MissouriLibrul]

17. Amen, amen, amen!!

[betsuni]

22. +1

[herding cats]

10. I think I agree. Maybe?

I've seen his 'look at what I did in NY!' ADs. But, there's an argument to be made he may be trying to be relevant to stay in the race. I'm not convinced yet, though.

However, I'm open to the speculation.

On edit: I forgot to mention; I appreciate him attacking Trump with his money greatly. If he's exploiting the loophole he found (which is real) more power to him!

[Still Sensible]

11. The nominee and the rest of what I hope

will be a UNITED Democratic Party should appreciate his contribution. I think the ads he is running are increasingly pointed and effective. It is not out of the question that Bloomberg could get enough traction to stick around a while. I suspect he is hoping that Iowa and New Hampshire starts winnowing the field. .

[2naSalit]

12. That's what I've been hoping

for the past few weeks.

[judeling]

13. Some of that but some of the chance to really win.

You have to remember when he got in. at the time Buttigieg looked good and Bernie was recovering his mojo.
It really looks like he got in with at least some ide that Biden was not safe and he could pick up the pieces.

[argyl]

14. I agree.

[MissouriLibrul]

15. I think you're right.

Mike Bloomberg is providing cover for the Dem candidates. Bloomberg’s ads will goad Trump into a Twitter pissing contest, only Trump will be the only one pissing. Bloomberg can pull the “rope-a-dope” and wear Trump out while the Dem candidates actually talk to voters.

I’m giddy just thinking about the possibilities!

(Does Trump have a pet name for Bloomberg yet)?

[randr]

28. Trump calls him mini Mike

Pure projection as he has always lived under the cloud of self doubt by not ever being seen as an equal to Bloomberg and NYC upper crust.
Mike has him by the short hairs, so to speak.

[True Blue American]

33. I call him

Mini, Mighty Mike!

[safeinOhio]

25. I agree.

Almost sounds like you speak for me.

[AlexSFCA]

18. I thought that way from the very beginning

What he is doing is true philanthropy and I am thankful for it. It is a perfect, if not noble, way to campaign against trump. And he is also raising money from other billionaires to help with the cause. I have no doubt he is prepared to outspend whatever trump team does 10:1. The guy has 60B and growing.

[C Moon]

19. Great insight!

[dalton99a]

20. Whatever it takes to kick that garbage to the curb.

[fierywoman]

21. I agree completely -- thought so from about a week after he announced. You put it so well!

[More_Cowbell]

23. I think you're right

Especially since Facebook isn't screening "candidate" ad buys.

[erlewyne]

24. Thank you - Thank you very much!

I have been feeling guilty because I like him, and I felt I should not.
Oh, I am not going to vote for him*, I just could not understand why
I liked him. *If he gets the nomination, of course I will vote for him.

You, scheming daemons, lifted a burden.

Thank you - Thank you very much!

[randr]

26. I think he has figured out how to unseat Trump

His attacks of Trump are taking his campaign to place the other candidates have yet to reach. By not competing in the primary against other Dems he has taken the battle into the Presidential arena.
My guess is that following the Super Bowl ad war there will be two people running in the minds of many Americans. The battle between a wanna be billionaire and a real billionaire will be a spectacle.

[True Blue American]

34. Trump is doing an interview with

Hannity during Super Bowl.

Who would you suggest for Mini, Mighty Mike?

DeNiro?

[randr]

36. I hope his team comes up with an ad people will talk about for years

[True Blue American]

37. They just use Trumps

Own words!

[grantcart]

27. In addition I think he also wants to serve as a safety valve

Let's say that the presumptive nominee has a health issue, a can step in.

Until then he wants to attack and distract Trump.

[Mopar151]

29. Vice President

Quite a good one, I think.
Better than many we've had!

[nitpicker]

30. A shot of cold water...

If he is so anti-Trump, then why does his organization's radio broadcast:

Cover Trump's "chopper pressers"?
And all the other podium pronouncements?
And have analysts on claiming that Trump is unbeatable?

Maybe it's just to keep his advertisers happy.
But maybe he's trying to straddle the fence, to have his cake and eat it too.

[druidity33]

32. Also note...

he won't be in any of the debates because he's self funded. So all people get to see of him are the carefully crafted commercials his team has decided to run (after equally careful focus grouping and beta testing)...

[Mike 03]

35. Almost perfect, but Bloomberg doesn't "hate" Trump.

That would be giving Trump exactly what he wants. Trump's fuel is hate. He loves having enemies, but Bloomberg is actually looking down on Trump from a higher level. They aren't equals and Trump will have trouble accepting this.

The story Bloomberg tells about not caring enough to even write down the new president's personal phone number is the key to understanding the Trump/Bloomberg dynamic. That's way more offensive to Trump than "hating" him.

(that story is here: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287443033 )

When there are mice in the garage, you don't waste time and energy "hating" the mice. You buy traps. Bloomberg's approach is very cllinical and calculated, because he knows who Trump is. He's seen a million guys like this over his lifetime.

The hate is from Trump's side and will intensify over time. But it's really more than hate. It's like when you're 13 years old and your father gets incredibly angry at you. It's not really hate, it's visceral fear and self-doubt. Trump's guts are churning, his adrenaline pours out when he thinks of Bloomberg.

That's why I believe Michael Bloomberg is an existential threat to Donald Trump, regardless of whether or not he wins the nomination. (https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287420520)

[jimlup]

38. I hope so

I'm not interested in voting for another billionaire

[UniteFightBack]

39. I'm with you and I thought the same thing. He will help kill the beast by a thousand cuts. nt