2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumIf the town hall doesn't sink Bernie, Bloomberg's run will.
Well most of us who support Bernie have thought the town hall coming on Monday will be the attempt to ply a Dean scream out of him, to get some soundbite that he can't rebut because it's not a debate.
It looks like the Plan B is to see Bloomberg run independent and act as a spoiler or to see a Corporatist win between Bernie, Trump and Sanders if that is was the general election looks like. NPR was talking about his popularity among voters of all stripes including Bernie supporters.
I know most of my fellow Bernie supporters are informed but let me be clear to anyone who has a rosy outlook towards Michael Bloomberg, the adage "Ignorance is bliss" very much applies in this situation. They called him a moderate and I call him a Corporatist above because of two issues(but I'm sure there are more). I'm sure most of us remember Occupy and Zuccati(?) Park and eventually being pushed out by the police under Bloomberg's rule. Another situation was when the hurricane hit New York City and they had to make sure supplies were being received by people around the five Burroughs. Bloomberg was the man insisting on running the NYC Marathon despite the fact streets needed to be clear to help distribute aid. He backed down after tremendous pressure. His reason for running it was that he wanted NYC back up and running. I'd say he wanted it back in business.
I believe the reason Bloomberg wanted NYC running was that he was losing money every day NYC was closed, so to speak. Bloomberg has been the richest man in NY state unless things have changed recently.
I remember hearing something about him doling out government contracts to friends when he got elected.
Bottom line. Look at the record and you'll see most of what you like from him was designed to ruffle as few feathers as possible.
retrowire
(10,345 posts)PyaarRevolution
(814 posts)But I think the average person doesn't know enough about his record unless they're a New Yorker. I'm not one but finding out about those things I listed was enough to turn me away from the man utterly disgusted.
zazen
(2,978 posts)stillwaiting
(3,795 posts)His decision to run will be immediately transparent.
Bernie could be running against 2 billionaires.
I like his chances to be honest.
still_one
(92,060 posts)representatives, which is under republican control, and they would choose Ryan.
Republicans can't stand Bloomberg, and most Democrats will vote for Sanders', but the independents will split, and the result will be not enough electoral college votes for anyone to become president, and thus it will go to the house.
draa
(975 posts)If he can win then those are the breaks. But he won't beat Bernie. If Clinton can't do it then no one can. And no one can.
still_one
(92,060 posts)top three candidates will be voted on by the house, which has a republican majority.
The premise doesn't even include Clinton. The premise is that Bloomberg would run as an independent in the GE if Trump and Bernie are the parties nominees. If it went to the republican controlled house, Trump would win. The VP would be determined by similar rules in the Senate. If the house is frozen on the decision, the VP choose by the Senate would be the President, until the house deadlock is resolved.
Unfortunately, the situation in this case would favor Trump
But let's say it does get to that point. That's still Democracy and unless we change the rules that govern situations like that, and we never will, it's just the way it is.
We can talk about it as long as we want but until it happens it's all "what if." Not worth worrying about, especially since we can't change it.
KingCharlemagne
(7,908 posts)have to win a few states to pull this off. What states could Bloomberg possibly win????
matt819
(10,749 posts)EndElectoral
(4,213 posts)still_one
(92,060 posts)electoral votes needed, and the republican controlled house will elect a republican. Trump in this case.
It would be a disaster.
demwing
(16,916 posts)I don't see any evidence of that happening.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)That is my impression in California.
How do African-Americans relate to Bloomberg?
saltpoint
(50,986 posts)word going out is that he is "frustrated" over both parties' possibly nominating "extremists," by which I suppose he means Trump and Sanders, forgetting that if any candidate of any stripe wins a primary, then several primaries, then enough to win a party's nomination, that candidate's nomination represents the voice of the people.
Maybe Michael Bloomberg does things differently in his closed-door board room negotiations, but those meetings are not democratic.
He's welcome to run if he wants. He has the big bucks in his back pocket. But he has no national profile and to date no national support.
PyaarRevolution
(814 posts)This is part of my concern. I DON'T want this man being able to write a false narrative about how he behaved as the mayor of NYC. Look at how much undeserved support Rudy Giulliani got just because he was mayor of NYC at the time of the 9/11 attacks, let's not forget the treatment of police towards Black people at that time.
saltpoint
(50,986 posts)mobster. I read all the previous year how he was on the path to the presidency, and then screamed with delight when his campaign plopped in the mudgutter, ending once and for all in Florida.
It was a great day for America.
The national mood right now is kind of a mess. I think you are right that Bloomberg would try to write a "champion's narrative" of his time as NYC mayor. But I don't think it is going to persuade people in Cheyenne and Chicago to vote for him.
PyaarRevolution
(814 posts)No kidding, they're two peas in a pod but Bloomberg is slicker. Jeez, Hillary and the rest. Am I the only one reminded of Kafka's Metamorphosis? I wish their masks would come clean off.
saltpoint
(50,986 posts)and influence as achievable goals, duly achieved, but revealed as hollow victories when one wakes up as an insect.
restorefreedom
(12,655 posts)which one remains to be seen
still_one
(92,060 posts)restorefreedom
(12,655 posts)brooklynite
(94,302 posts)Did you worry that the one-on-one's with Rachel Maddow were a plot to "get some soundbite that he can't rebut"?
PyaarRevolution
(814 posts)Like the saying goes "Timing is everything". If either event were at some other time I'd be less skeptical.
edit: Forgot to add the fact that the Town Hall seems spontaneous as well unless I'm missing something and you can correct me.
murielm99
(30,712 posts)He might say something unfortunate and hurt his chances? Interesting OP.
libdem4life
(13,877 posts)Surely you can't be serious. As opposed to the one who went from, what 80 to under 50 now? Yes, indeed he may say something...but it may surprise as to whom it would be unfortunate?
redstateblues
(10,565 posts)Must maintain the outrage
kristopher
(29,798 posts)70% of the voters agree with Bernie's policies and it is those policies his integrity is selling.
Let him run. It provide a strong affirmation that the election really, undeniably Is about a more fair economic system and that can only serve to bring the disaffected to Bernie's tent.
mmonk
(52,589 posts)the whole premise of the Sanders campaign. Who would win would be determined by how many voters get it.
brooklynite
(94,302 posts)...because if he wasn't, Bloomberg wouldn't have an opportunity to beat him in any otherwise Democratic State.
Right?
PyaarRevolution
(814 posts)People's ignorance of Bloomberg outside of NYC allows him to possibly construct a bs narrative that I believe the MSM would run.
This is why I posted topic originally, to have anyone who knows someone who isn't clear about Bloomberg's record to read up on it.
sadoldgirl
(3,431 posts)to run even as an independent?
I heard during the early Trump run threats of
running as an independent, but that he would have
had to make his decision by December.
Does any one know the rules for this?
Raine1967
(11,589 posts)I'd like to know it as well.
emulatorloo
(44,057 posts)The more people are exposed to Bernie, the better.
farleftlib
(2,125 posts)He is going to walk away with this like he always does.
Kalidurga
(14,177 posts)Hillary supporters.
Arugula Latte
(50,566 posts)Yeah, he might pull a percent here or there, but it will probably be a wash. Not many people will vote for that guy for president.
HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)Besides most democrats support the idea that any Dem candidate is better than the -other- options? RIght?????
And then there is the -practical- math. Bloomberg would split the republicans
Against solidarity among Democrats and left-leaning Independents...that looks like a win for D's.
It's gonna be a helluva year.
Cubs are gonna make it to the National League Series and the New Dems are gonna get benched in the Big Show!
Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)FloriDem
(18 posts)Neither will sink Bernie.
Jenny_92808
(1,342 posts)of how many people who would still be alive or not have suffered if Nador was not a spoiler which allowed the supreme court to give the election to the candidate that actually lost the election.
MisterP
(23,730 posts)The fix was in before the first vote was cast.
MisterP
(23,730 posts)this brazen lie has only survived 16 years because it serves some very powerful (Lieberman- and Bloomberg-endorsing) factions
GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)They are becoming more and more bold about their "insiders only" scam.
Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)That alone makes a Democratic win near impossible
in_cog_ni_to
(41,600 posts)Unless there's more 1%ers there than 99%ers and I don't think that's the case.
PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE
Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)Raine1967
(11,589 posts)This is a bigger problem than NY. Bloomberg is a problem WRT moderates.
book_worm
(15,951 posts)and that it's some evil plan to derail him? What idiocy.
libdem4life
(13,877 posts)in_cog_ni_to
(41,600 posts)Trump's votes. No one now planning to vote for Bernie, the populist, would even dream of voting for 1% BILLIONAIRE Bloomberg! Not going to happen. Bloomberg gets in, BERNIE WINS, hands down.
PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE
appalachiablue
(41,102 posts)and outrun any other GOP candidate.
JRLeft
(7,010 posts)Ferd Berfel
(3,687 posts)GO dooffas go
Karma13612
(4,538 posts)Is not going to appeal to Bernie supporters. He will attract those not convinced about Hillary.
tularetom
(23,664 posts)Bloomberg will not take one vote from Bernie. That's just ludicrous.