Billionaires are Not your friends....

[pbmus]

Link to tweet

[spooky3]

1. Bloomberg is not my friend but he helped Dems win VA in 2019.

Last edited Sun Nov 10, 2019, 01:25 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/06/mike-bloombergs-gun-control-outspends-nra-helps-democrats-win-virginia.html

[George II]

3. Michael Bloomberg has done a lot to help Democrats AND people in general.

Last year he gave away more than $5 billion dollars, about 10% of his net worth (probably more than 10% at the time he gave it away) that's a LOT more than any proposed wealth tax, and went straight to needy organizations, causes, and candidates. It didn't have to go through the shredder we call the Federal Treasury.

[melman]

4. "It didn't have to go through the shredder we call the Federal Treasury."

Good lord.

[George II]

10. So glad you approve...

[aidbo]

23. Yeah, that stood out to me as well. very reactionary

[George II]

65. Huh, reactionary, whatever do you mean?

[PhoenixDem]

45. Shredder is the key word. n/t

[melman]

48. No it's not

[PhoenixDem]

50. It most certainly is. n/t

[Humanist_Activist]

14. If you feel charity is so much more important than sustaining the welfare state...

or expanding it, why would you pretend to support the Democrats? You sound like a capital-L Libertarian, which is pretty much what Bloomberg is as well.

[melman]

16. +1 bazillion

[KPN]

19. Beat me to it.

[George II]

18. Bloomberg is a Democrat and has been a Democrat longer than some other candidates.

[ehrnst]

20. + 1 Bazillion. WAY, way longer than certain candidates running as Democrats.

[aidbo]

24. candidates plural huh? which ones?

[melman]

29. Yeah

Isn't that interesting?

[sheshe2]

42. Not really, melman.

melman
29. Yeah

Isn't that interesting?

BS is a registered Independent. He changes to D when he runs. Fact is he has signed up for two runs under two party lables.

My candidate of choice was in fact a Republican until 1996. I don't hold that against her at all. She made a clear choice and stuck with it. Warren is a Democrat and has not flipped once since 1996.

[melman]

52. Yes, she

it actually is quite interesting but you know what's even more interesting?


The way you never ever seem to have an issue with posters like that bashing your candidate.


Instead, you find some nitpicky thing to go after me on...me who never attacks your candidate.


That is very interesting indeed.

[sheshe2]

58. Well, melman.

That's interesting, because you use that word every time you respond to my posts..."interesting".

melman
52. Yes, she

it actually is quite interesting but you know what's even more interesting?


The way you never ever seem to have an issue with posters like that bashing your candidate.

"The way you never ever seem to have an issue with posters like that bashing your candidate."

What are you talking about?

I feel no need to defend my candidate, my Senator every moment. I do find it interesting that you are so interested in my responses. Interested enough to follow my posts so closely.

Instead, you find some nitpicky thing to go after me on...me who never attacks your candidate.

Ummm. You are the one that gave a high five to a poster that took exception to the plural of candidate.

[George II]

71. Now you're being lectured on who or what you should agree...

I guess you're not supposed to have your own opinion.

[sheshe2]

73. Apparently.

[ehrnst]

68. And we have "whataboutery"

https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/whataboutery

[George II]

30. He was a lifelong Democrat until he decided to run for Mayor in 2001....

...as a republican. Halfway through his second term he became an Independent, and became a Democrat again in 2018.

So, assuming he was a Democrat at 21 years old ("lifelong" ) when he first voted, was a non-Democrat for six years as Mayor, and is now 77 years old, ball parking it he's been a Democrat for about 40 years.

Yes, longer than some of our current candidates.

[ehrnst]

32. Senator Sanders, definitely.

Last edited Sun Nov 10, 2019, 08:34 AM - Edit history (1)

He is very admant about not identifying as a Democrat, unless he is running in a primary.

I believe the very first time he did was 2016, and he has never stopped identifying as an independent Senator, even while running on the Democratic ticket. You can call his office for verification on this.

Bloomberg, on the other hand:

A Democrat before seeking elective office, Bloomberg switched his party registration in 2001 to run for mayor as a Republican. He defeated opponent Mark J. Green in a close election held just weeks after the September 11 terrorist attacks. He won a second term in 2005, and left the Republican Party two years later.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Bloomberg

You're welcome.

[George II]

35. Switching parties to run for office? Who does that?

[PhoenixDem]

47. Some candidates just want to use the Democratic machinery and funding sources

while giving lip service to the party and its ideals.

Bloomberg is not one of them.

[Cha]

62. Ouch!

[sheshe2]

43. See post 42

[PhoenixDem]

46. Precisely this. n/t

[zentrum]

21. +++++Exactly

[spooky3]

31. That's a very strange reaction to a factual post. Nt

[ehrnst]

33. When one needs to attack a straw man to defend one's position

perhaps one's position needs re-examining.

Just sayin.

[Salviati]

11. If he runs for the presidency, he may end up helping us lose that

There are a lot of better ways he can help than running an ego trip campaign.

[PhoenixDem]

49. There are many campaigns that are "ego trip" campaigns as you defined. n/t

[Salviati]

56. Yes. Yes, there are.

[StevieM]

12. He also helped George W. Bush and Dick Cheney win in 2004. (eom)

[George II]

2. "The Nation" seems to be waging an all-out attack on every Democratic candidate other than Sanders.

[myohmy2]

6. what's...

...wrong with that?

...

[Eko]

17. I mean,

someone used to rail against "millionaires and billionaires" until they became a millionaire and then changed it to just "billionaires". That was pretty telling.

[aidbo]

25. lol, still beating that tired drum huh?

[Eko]

63. That is your defense on that?

A non defense, just putting it back on the person? It the equivalent of yes that fish stinks but do you have to keep bringing it up? LOL.

[ehrnst]

69. lol, Whataboutery and ad hominem...

https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/american/whataboutery

Much easier actually addressing the uncomfortable fact that was presented, doesn't it?

[melman]

75. "Much easier actually addressing the uncomfortable fact that was presented, doesn't it?"

Does it? Does it really much easier?

[ehrnst]

81. The "I know you are but what am I?" reposte...

Does that work with other people?

[sheshe2]

67. Oh, Snap!

[ehrnst]

70. +1000. (nt)

[zentrum]

27. +++

Nation is true to its history.

[PhoenixDem]

51. What do you expect Sirota's buddies to do? n/t

[Eko]

5. That is stupid.

Its a textbook example of Hasty Generalization.

[USALiberal]

13. +1000! nt

[democratisphere]

7. Billionaires create millions of nillionaires.

I know. I are one.

[crazytown]

40. I are not.

[Karadeniz]

8. Insuring the status quo capitalism stays status quo.

[Beringia]

9. So what?, the republicans fumbled the ball and let trump in

now this billionaire is going to ride in on his horse and save all those other millionaire and billionaires.

Who got Bloomberg his billions anyway, I doubt they were solid bloc democrats. I think if you follow the money trail from the top of a billionaires tree to its root, you would find he makes money off of squeezing it out of people who can barely get by.

[Blue_true]

44. Bloomberg started a financial news organization from scratch.

I doubt that people that work for him are barely getting by. Most are people that have degrees in fields like Finance and Accounting.

[Beringia]

72. People that work for him in finance are part of the tree

I said look at the root. I would try looking it up, but I don't want to spend 4 hours on it.

Plus I read just in glancing, that he was a republican and then an independent.

[Blue_true]

78. He was a moderate democrat most of his life, a republican for about 12 years, an Independent for

a few years and now back to being a democrat. He has been a democrat far, far longer than Bernie, but so has Warren, who was a republican until around the mid nineties.

Honestly, I doubt that Bloomberg has a chance and I am glad of that. Despite what some here on DU claim (that we have drifted right), our party is squarely a progressive party at this point, not far left, but definitely progressive and forward looking. Some of our primary field skews more toward the middle that others, but even those closer to the center are progressives.

[Humanist_Activist]

15. No shit, they are in it for their own class interests, not for those of the working class...

who constitute the vast majority of our population.

[Tarheel_Dem]

22. I certainly don't support Bloomberg, but f**k The Nation. They think everyone should be as...

far left as they are.

[djacq]

26. Any Billionaire can write a Fat Check.

Mr. Stop and Frisk was a staunch proponent of the policy that targeted people of color that was founded to be unconstitutional;

[link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop-and-frisk_in_New_York_City?wprov=sfla1|

Why does he deserve to be nominated by the most diverse party in this country.

[zentrum]

28. An FDR who welcomes

..the hatred of his own class, Bloomberg certainly is not.

He's made of hubris.

[CentralMass]

34. No thank you to Bloomberg.

[CentralMass]

36. A billionaire enters the race 4 months before the Iowa caucus and he is being defended by

what would seem to be mostly Biden supporters ?

What possible role could he have other the that of a spoiler and why do some Biden supporters seem to down with it ?

[Beringia]

37. What is he trying to spoil?

Who does he want to give a bump to?

Do you think he is just trying to spoil it for Biden.

[CentralMass]

38. I've read differeng opinions on this.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/14/bloomberg-signals-he-would-run-for-president-if-biden-struggles-against-warren.html

Bloomberg himself has said..
"Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York, has indicated to associates in recent weeks that Joe Biden's recent struggles against Sen. Elizabeth Warren are making him rethink his decision to stay out of the 2020 Democratic primary. That's according to people familiar with the discussions who spoke on condition of anonymity because the conversations were deemed private."

Other have suggested that he might draw votes away for Buttigieg who is rising in the polls, thus aiding biden.

Other feel that he will draw votes fro Biden assuring Warren a win. I'll note that Sanders is being ignored at this point and that he is stll a very strong contender.

Myself, i think Bloomberg and anyone else should stay the hell ouf if the race at this stage.

[Beringia]

39. Thanks

[PhoenixDem]

54. He has every right to be a candidate

He has been a Democrat for 40+ years of his life unlike some other candidates who have been Democrats only for a year.

He is a successful entrepreneur who made his billions by EARNING them by working hard, coming up with ideas, building a team and executing the plan to create a very successful financial information clearing house.

He had humble beginnings and serves as a role model for many who aspire to be successful in the American way, following the American dream.

Any problem with that?

[Joe941]

41. Agreed. And they should be taxed until they are not millionaires.

[PhoenixDem]

57. I thought the American Dream was to work hard, play by the rules

innovate and become rich.

I guess I was wrong.

[Joe941]

66. I can guarantee you millionaires dont play by the rules.

And did not obtain wealth by moral means.

[sheshe2]

74. Joe.

Joe941 (2,440 posts)
66. I can guarantee you millionaires dont play by the rules.

And did not obtain wealth by moral means.

Did you mean to say billionaire and not millionaire here? I am asking because Bernie, your candidate of choice, is a millionaire too. He got to where he is today by writing some bestselling books and making smart investments. There is nothing immoral about that, nothing at all. I am confident he, like many other millionaires, played by the rules.

[Hoyt]

53. We need lots of millionaires/billionaires to pay for everything we want/need.

[PhoenixDem]

59. And we don't have enough

Even if we taxed 50% of their wealth, there won't be even 10% of the money needed for unicorn programs like MFA.

[Hoyt]

60. Agree completely. MFA is not necessarily a pipe dream, if we start with a

Public Option.

But we have to be reasonable on how we pay for these things. Some increased taxes on wealthy is warranted, but the cost has to be shared further down the totem pole. We have to look at this long-term, rather than how we get pass the next 5 years.

And most importantly, we have to win 2020 election, including House if we can’t win Senate.

[TDale313]

55. Most are acting out of self interest

Which... fine. Most people are. The problem is decades of trickle down economics has convinced too many in the lower and middle class that what is good for billionaires is always good for society as a whole. Which is pretty demonstrably not the case.

[evertonfc]

61. Stop this bullshit

The idea that all wealthy people are inherently bad is ridiculous and is the image many have of us due to this shit. Some are. Some are not. It all depends on how they use thier wealth. Some of this is simply class envy disguised as populism. Mike isn't my choice but has done extraordinary work in VA and fighting against the NRA. Let's focus on Trump and not people we may need next year.

[pbmus]

64. Mike as you call him, could buy Fox and really do some good with his billions...

And really stop some BULLSHIT.

[spooky3]

76. The big money behind Fox would simply create another Fox, in that case.

We have to fight them in other ways.

[pbmus]

79. Not only me...😱

Link to tweet

[spooky3]

80. :-)

[Gothmog]

77. Does Warren Buffet know that he is evil?

I have met Buffett and he is a very nice man.