Bloomberg as VP for Dems???

[jcrew2001]

I had thought that Bloomberg would be an ideal Rep VP if Fred Thompson were to win the nomination.

However, i suspected that he would eventually need to come back home to the Democratic party if he really wanted to run for Gov, Senator, or President on his own.

If he doesn't stake out for the Presidency, he should be on the short list for any Democrat as VP. I do believe that he will get disenchanted Republicans who don't want to vote for a Dem. He will appeal to the Male Swing voter just like Gen Clark.

If he isn't on the presidential ticket - his alternative will be to run for Senator if Hillary wins.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Oh, God, no.

Bloomberg is no liberal, not a bit.

[kenny blankenship]

2. I doubt Bloomberg is interested in being 2nd banana to anybody

[jcrew2001]

7. I agree

that it would be a stretch for him to be VP - his only asset will be his money, which will help any Dem win the election. Hillary can't nominate him. Obama needs Clark as his VP. Edwards could pick Bloomberg for his wealth, but Edwards should go with Bayh.

[Totally Committed]

3. No, no, no, no, no!

We need DEMOCRATS on our ticket -- real ones.

TC

[jcrew2001]

6. So you're saying you don't want to see a

Bloomberg/Lieberman (I) ticket???? Hahaha.

[TwilightGardener]

4. I see it differently--he switched to Indy, so he's NOT going to be on any

party's ticket--that would be a ridiculous choice, when there are plenty of qualified D's and R's to choose from. The whole reason he's running is because of Thompson. If Rudy were still the frontrunner, there wouldn't be much difference between Rudy and Mike, and I think Mike wouldn't want to run against Rudy anyway. However, with Thompson running HARD to the right (with all of Cheney's neocon people behind him), this leaves Mikey a "centrist" opening that Rudy would not have afforded him.

[ulysses]

5. how about Bloomberg as VP of my ass?

That'll work.

[Catchawave]

8. Why didn't he just switch to Dem then ?

I thought his next step would be Gov or Senator, but he's a very successful NYC mayor, and if you can run a city like NYC, you can run this country. No? Yes?

If he wanted to be a serious GOP VP, why did he change to unaffiliated? If he wanted to be a serious Dem VP, why didn't he change to Democratic?

This man wants to be President or nothing. Just my opinion, I could be wrong :evilgrin:

[jcrew2001]

9. He's rich enough where he can run for anything as an Independent

now that he has already won election twice - he doesn't need the backing of a political party to vet his candidacy.

I do think he has a better chance at Governor or Senator. But its his money - so why not go big or go home.

[Hippo_Tron]

19. Bloomberg is the single greatest threat to the two party system in the country

And I'm sure that he knows it. Hell I'd even give Bloomberg's candidacy a look if he were to touch issues like normalizing relations with Cuba and reforming the war on drugs that both parties have stayed the hell away from. If he's not willing to touch issues like those, however, then I'd say that his credentials as a reformer are bullshit. I'd rather vote for the Democratic establishment candidate than the "Independent" establishment candidate because the Democrat will likely be better on economic issues. Joe Lieberman as his VP would also be a deal breaker. Same if his position on ending the Iraq War is even slightly closer to the Bush Administration than the Democratic Nominee's position (ending the war is my number one issue). In all likelihood I won't vote for Bloomberg, but again I'd at least look at him and for someone as staunchly Democratic as I am, that's saying something.

As far as Governor or Senator goes, the thing is that he's 65 and if he were to spend a few years as Governor or Senator, he would be too old to run for President. 2008 is an ideal year because many Republicans will be dissatisfied with their party and because there is no incumbent.

[Forkboy]

10. Yeah,an ex Repub is JUST what we need.

Didn't take long to get this idea floated.

[jcrew2001]

12. Bloomberg is a lifelong Democrat

he only switched to run for mayor.

[Forkboy]

13. great..that makes me feel better.

[ulysses]

15. which says what about him?

He's an opportunist?
He has no values of note?
He's the ultimate centrist?

[jcrew2001]

16. opportunistic centrist IMO - besides New Yorkers are all the same

even the republicans are democrats - Pataki even cares about the environment.

[illinoisprogressive]

11. he use to be a dem. became a repuke only because none were running

[TeamJordan23]

14. I rather have Clark as VP. nt

[saltpoint]

17. Just a hunch, but I bet that Michael Bloomberg has the top job

in mind.

He is likely accustomed to being in charge. It just doesn't seem as if the vice presidency would interest him.

[Hippo_Tron]

18. Bloomberg's looking for an independent candidacy, which may be very interesting

He can certainly finance his own run and he's a much more skilled politician that Ross Perot was. Perot polled higher than both Clinton and Bush at one point, before people figured out that he was nuts.

The big thing about Bloomberg's candidacy is that I believe this is one of the few instances where his VP pick will matter. IMO, it makes sense to pick a Democrat because Independents and Republicans are already dissatisfied with the GOP over Iraq. But he probably wants to pick someone who is out of politics, especially out of elected office, because any current political figure will just be called a traitor by the Dems if they go to an independent ticket. That includes Wes Clark, IMO. Even if he were willing to sever his ties to the Democratic Party (which I don't think he would), he's too much of a figure in the party.

David Boren (former Senator from Oklahoma) is often mentioned and I'd say that this is an ideal choice except that I think he's been out of politics for too long and he's not well known. Bob Kerrey would be good if he didn't have baggage and people didn't confuse him with John Kerry. Gary Hart would be good, but I don't think he'd leave the party.

[Jim Warren]

20. Sure

VP for Rudy Giuliani.....they could call their campaign NY,NY.

[RestoreGore]

21. I guess even Democrats put money first

I would NEVER support ANY ticket this man is on and I can't believe people are fawning over him just because he is rich and more than likely could BUY any position he wants. It truly makes me sick to think that the more I think things will change they stay the same. Reason is lost in this country for sure.

[MaineDem]

22. I doubt this greatly

No Dem would take an Unenrolled as a running mate.