New York mayor (Bloomberg) to bid for White House

[T_i_B]

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1833332,00.html

He has a national profile, a record as a man who gets things done and practically unlimited campaign money. In short, New York's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, could be the perfect presidential candidate for 2008.

But the rumours flying about a possible Bloomberg bid have both Republicans and Democrats running scared - for Bloomberg is believed by many to be considering a run for the White House as an independent. In New York, the rumours have the political classes chattering wildly. In Washington, there is a definite nervousness as opinion polls show that voters are disillusioned with both the established parties.

Bloomberg publicly denies that he plans to stand, but often does so with a joke and a smile that leave the matter slightly open. In private, things are a little more murky. He recently attended a closed-door fund-raising dinner for a Connecticut Republican and was asked about his White House intentions: 'Absolutely not,' he responded. 'And anybody's who's running will say exactly that.'

That has helped fuel speculation, and Bloomberg's repeated denials are routinely ignored in favour of analysis of his actions and agenda. A strong case can be made that Bloomberg is testing the waters for a wider political role. The mayor has shifted his main focus from purely New York issues over the past year and spoken out on a wide range of national topics, from immigration to gun crime. He has carved out a centrist position on topics such as stem cell research, immigration and global warming.

[C_U_L8R]

1. He's done nothing in New York

we may as well be without a Mayor...
He's like the invisible man

[mcscajun]

8. That's what I thought....

...as a born and bred NY'er, living in exile in NJ for these last 17 years, I was Certain he would not be re-elected.

Glad to hear from a NYer who has better perspective than I.

Still, this puts a new light on his abuse of Sen. Clinton for showing up in Queens. Unless he had higher ambitions, what NY Mayor would disavow assistance from their home Senator? Now it makes Sense, doesn't it?

[soothsayer]

2. I'm thinking folks won't be up for a Jewish president right now.

He *might* have had a shot in the last election, but with this whole Israel/Lebanon nightmare going on, I don't think folks will cotton to him.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. What is about living in New York that makes one prone to seek

the presidency? Here's the list so far:

1. Hillary Rodham Clinton (senator)
2. George Pataki (soon to be ex-governor)
3. Rudolph Giuliani (ex-mayor of NYC)
4. Michael Bloomberg (present mayor of NYC)

[malachibk]

4. The agencies here (NYC) are 2nd in size only to the National Gov

I work for the NYC Dep of Health and Mental Hygiene. We have over 7000 employees. If you want a "vertical" move, the only place to go is national.

[HamdenRice]

5. Good question. Answer: the media is here

New York politicians represent the media capital of the world. Every time one of them farts it's on the front page of several newspapers, and on the local and national tv news. It creates delusions of grandeur that politicians in other cities don't suffer from.

[mcscajun]

10. Well, there is some history to it...

Four Presidents born in NYS:

Martin Van Buren
Millard Fillmore
Theodore Roosevelt
Franklin Roosevelt

The Roosevelts in particular have NYC and NYS political service history; Theodore was a New York State assemblyman, Police Commissioner of New York City, and he was elected Governor of New York State in 1898; Franklin served as Governor of New York State as well. They were two of the greatest Presidents in our history.

No reason New Yorkers can't have the same Presidential ambitions as anyone else.

[Glorfindel]

6. He's a worthless whore. I hope he does run & gets humiliated.

n/t

[w4rma]

7. He owns his own media outlet. (nt)

[Toots]

9. He is quite obviously an opportunist

First he was a Democrat and then when Republicans were in favor he became a Republican and now that Republicans have showed just how incompetent they truly are he becomes an Independent. Maybe he could pick Lieberman as his running mate....It appears neither of them have any core values..

[mcscajun]

11. Ooooh...the "Nightmare Ticket"

I like it. :) I wouldn't VOTE for it, but I like the sound of it crashing and burning, and the reek of it as it goes down in flames. :)