I'm reading "The Many Lives of Michael Bloomberg" by Eleanor Randolph

[Mike 03]

When I finish it, I'll probably post some things about it if they seem worth posting.

This book is much more interesting than I expected. The first few chapters are devoted to his family upbringing, his experience on Wall Street, and how he and four other people invented the "Bloomberg Terminal" and later "Bloomberg News," the two things that made him a billionaire. Bloomberg's crass style of speaking, which he has since tried to curb, developed when he was working at Solomon Brothers.

But the bulk of the book is devoted to his running for Mayor of New York and how he ran the city.

One area of confusion the book dispels without any question is that he never deceived the public about why he switched from Democrat to Republican. He grew up in a Democratic family. When he ran for mayor, there were many candidates running as Democrats, and Rudy Giuliani, a Republican, had been in office for two terms. Bloomberg switched to Republican to avoid the chaotic shark tank the Democratic primary had become, but whenever he was asked about his politics, he always said, "I am a liberal." He gave a memorable news conference where he was asked yet again about his politics, and his answer was this: "I am a Liberal. I am a Liberal. I am a Liberal. I AM A LIBERAL."

After he was elected and he was doing meet-and-greets with influential local politicians, his campaign chairman asked him, "Which Republicans do you want to meet with."

In response, Bloomberg used the fingers of one hand to make the number zero.

Soon thereafter he met with Al Sharpton and several other important Democratic leaders.

So I was relieved to learn he never deceived anybody. It was purely tactical.

Anyway, this book is fascinating. It discusses his failings (mostly which involve things that came out of his mouth) as well as his successes. I think, so far at least, it's an honest book.

[Tom Rinaldo]

1. Bloomberg is an honorable man. But there is nothing he can do to win my primary vote.

I wrote the below at the bottom of another OP, but I think I'll add it here also, because my quarrel isn't with Mike Bloomberg the man, who I think personally is quite impressive:

I think his personal integrity is strong, strong enough to keep his moral compass pointed in the right direction even though he inhabits the world of the super wealthy. I think his policies are overall positive, although they do not represent as strong a break from the status quo in America as I think these times call for.

Bloomberg loses points with me because of his prior recent support of Republicans running against Democrats. But that is not the main reason why he can not win my primary vote. Bloomberg can not win my primary vote because the path he is taking to win the nomination is exceptionally dangerous for our Democracy. It constitutes a perilous precedent. Bloomberg can hire an army of marketing experts at the drop of a hat. He can saturate the airwaves at a moment's notice. He can make sure that every voter in America is bombarded with whatever talking point he settles on and drive it deep into our collective unconscious, whether it may be true and noble, or deceptive and corrupt by intent.

Personally, I trust Bloomberg, the man, to spend his money with an honorable intent, but no man or woman should have that type of essentially unchecked power in a democracy. No one wallet should be capable of buying the presidency in America. If Bloomberg can do it, where does it stop? Who else will follow in his lead in future elections?

Perhaps had Bloomberg pledged not to use a penny of his own money during the primaries, reserving that instead for the General Election, I could have been tempted to support him in some hypothetical primary match-up. Then he would at least have had to earn the financial backing from hundreds of thousands if not millions of other citizens in order to be competitive. But as it stands, only the dictates of his own ego determine whether or not Bloomberg outspends the entire rest of the Democratic field of candidates by a factor of two, or ten, or a hundred to one. I can not be complicit in this precedent.

[Generic Brad]

2. I'm right there with you

Eloquently stated, Tom Rinaldo.

[Tom Rinaldo]

15. Stop pretending that you know me. You don't.

Not to mention that you are dead wrong.

[wyldwolf]

3. I think it's pretty well known in some circles Bloomberg ran as a Republican out of convenience

A LOT of people in GA run as Republicans but are actually Democrats. They're usually the ones who stay out of national issues and only serve their districts.

Case in point: Like Bloomberg, a certain former mayor of one booming city in the metro Atlanta area. Long-time mayor who'd entrenched himself in Republican circles ran for his office on a liberal platform. He was the son of a Democrat who served in the Carter administration. The current mayor told me a few years ago that ________ was such a liberal in private that people would be surprised. But a Democrat couldn't be elected in this town.

The former mayor in question DID sign Bloomberg's "Mayors Against Illegal Guns" letter.

[denem]

18. And some Republicans, like Henry Cuellar ...

[Pachamama]

4. I respect Bloomberg and think he is a decent person and while I may be more liberal than him, I

....think he would be a good and fair minded President for all the people and citizens in this Nation. I don’t think he owes any favors to anyone and he isn’t “owned” by anyone and if his money went tomorrow it wouldn’t change who he is or how he treats people. He is not perfect, but he is a “Mensch” and if Biden drops out before the CA Primary, he is who I will be voting for.

[jimfields33]

5. A neighbor asked me if Bloomberg got on all of the primary ballots in all states

I couldn’t answer one way or the other. We’re in Florida and I’m not even sure here if he’s on the primary ballot. He began so late which is why the question came up.

[Chemisse]

6. Thanks for this info. I would never vote for him in the primary

Because he took a shortcut via his money.

But I do like his ads, I have liked some of his comments in the past, about wealth and taxes, and I especially like that he promised to do everything to ensure Trump loses, even if he doesn't get the nomination himself.

If he does wind up becoming the nominee, I want to be enthusiastic.

[whathehell]

7. Bloomberg's had about 40 Sexual Harrassement & Discrimination Suits filed

against him by current and former female employees....The 'pass' he's getting on it in this #MeToo era is astounding, and can only be attributed, I'd guess, to the influence of his enormous wealth.

The allegations of his creating a hostile, degrading work environment for women go back decades.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bloombergs-sexist-remarks-fostered-company-culture-degraded-women/story?id=67744180

[Mike 03]

9. This is in the book.

In fairness, most of those suits were filed against the company, but the famous "kill it" suit was against Bloomberg personally.

So far, that is by far the ugliest thing in the book. It was disgusting. He left a voice mail for her saying, "I didn't mean it" but he wasn't able to give the kind of apology this deserved.

Mike Bloomberg, personally, had a policy of not fraternizing with any of his employees.

The atmosphere at the Bloomberg companies has a lot to do with the mindset of people who formerly worked on Wall Street. That culture was profane and misogynistic. There's no getting around that fact.

Do you know how much money those people were making? Between two and four hundred thousand dollars a year. He demanded that employees put work first, period. It was not what we would call an evolved philosophy. There was no such thing as a work/life balance if you worked for one of his companies.

It's true, though, he made them work incredibly long hours and the women were encouraged to wear short skirts, and the atmosphere was grotesque by today's standards. In fact, the descriptions remind me a lot of "The Wolf of Wall Street".

Bloomberg (the company) completely rewrote its policies.

But yes, it's a black stain.

(EDITED numerous times)

[whathehell]

11. What it needs is more Air Time..

because he comes off as hostile and crudely sexist as Trump.

When (and if) it all comes out, he won't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting the Nomination. He's a bully, a hater, and an all around POS in my opinion.

No wonder Bernie has said that if he secures the nomination, he'll refuse his money.

[UniteFightBack]

14. Oh noes...he's not perfect??!??! Damn it another one crossed off the list.nt

[whathehell]

16. Oh, Riiiight..He's just "not perfect", just like Trump's "not perfect".

Silly me....Imagine expecting a Democratic Presidential Candidate to NOT have Forty Sex Harrassment and Discrimination suits filed against him!..I must be one of those political "purists".

I hate to break it to you, bro, but women just happen to make up a MAJORITY of the Democratic Party -- If you think we'll vote for anyone with Bloomberg's record, you've clearly NOT been paying attention.

[denem]

19. Having worked in investment banking in the 80's/90's

I would say the difference between Wall Street and 'The Wolf of Wall Street' is one of degree. Only my first day, as a young woman walked by, an executive said before a mixed group, "God I'd love to grab those tits".

[Zorro]

8. I saw a Bloomberg 2020 yard sign yesterday in rural Florida

He's making an impression here.

[patricia92243]

10. I've been reading "Bloomberg on Bloomberg." It is 90% business

stuff - not too interesting. So, I'll certainly get the book you mentioned.

[Doremus]

12. Did he love on George Bush because he thought he was a Democrat?

And Elizabeth Warren's repuke opponent in 2012? And all the repukes he gave money to in 2017?

Tactical? Sure. Honorable? Never.