If Obama's the nominee, should he pick Bloomberg as VP?

[PresidentObama]

That seems to be the buzz according to the media...

Senator Obama's campaign talks a lot about bringing the country together. Bloomberg was the Republican mayor of New York City, though he's not a Republican anymore. He was the last hope of the independents in this country who were tired of the Democratic and Republican parties. And with McCain and Obama BOTH appealing to independents, Bloomberg could help tip them Obama's way.

So in that respect, it could be a good idea. BUT...

There are many other good options that I think Obama could run a better ticket with. Like Wes Clark, John Kerry, John Edwards or even Hillary Clinton. I don't know how well he'd rally the base if he picked an independent that at one time was a Republican office holder.

Thoughts?

[bicentennial_baby]

1. Nope

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. No. There are plenty of real Democrats to choose from.

[Colobo]

3. I like it.

[Lucinda]

30. Why?

No snark...just curious...

[graywarrior]

4. Hell, no!

[cloudythescribbler]

24. You took the words right out of my mouth: HELL NO!!!!!!

there is a wonderful song about Mike Bloomberg (to the tune of Mac the Knife) entitled "Mike the Knife" -- that Bob Fass played on his program at WBAI. I would almost rather have HRC to vote for than to have to swallow the bitter pill of voting for a ticket with BLOOMBERG on it.

I strongly feel Obama, if and when the nominee, would be well advised to pick a woman (one with LITTLE OR NO NEGATIVES, not Hillary). Barbara Boxer is one excellent choice.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

5. b b but I thought Obama's platform was to get Wall Streets influence OUT of the guberment?!?!

[cali]

6. No. And he won't.

Obama is a partisan dem. Anyone actually looking and knowledgable about him, is aware of that.

[AllyCat]

7. No!!!!

[babylonsister]

8. No, especially not after this I read this a.m.:

Bloomberg Steps In to Help G.O.P. in Albany Fight
By RAYMOND HERNANDEZ


While declaring his commitment to nonpartisanship, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is quietly injecting himself — and his money — into one of the most explosive partisan battles in decades in New York.

Several weeks ago, the mayor wrote a $500,000 check to help keep the dwindling and increasingly imperiled State Senate Republicans from losing their grip on power, according to an official with direct knowledge of the donation.

The Democrats are seeking to gain control of the Senate for the first time in 40 years, and the race is growing personal and bitter.

Moreover, Mr. Bloomberg has made clear to the Republicans that he is willing to personally campaign for G.O.P. senators.

The mayor’s efforts to buttress the party stand in sharp contrast to his message as he traveled the country flirting with a presidential bid during the past year. Mr. Bloomberg has promoted his independence, denouncing party politics and dramatically announcing his resignation from the Republican Party.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/01/nyregion/01bloomberg.html?_r=2&ei=5088&en=6f70396bd071281e&ex=1362114000&oref=slogin&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin

[thoughtcrime1984]

9. I sure hope not

Bloomberg is very free market, and will not excite the Dem base much at all.

[Thurston Howell III]

10. I guess McCain can't do it this year.

:sarcasm:

[Milo_Bloom]

11. I like Bloomberg a lot... BUT

Bloomberg wouldn't help shore up his foreign policy appeal.

He needs someone with strong foreign policy credentials on the ticket.


Wes Clark is probably the best choice on that front.

If he wanted to go a little more "fusion" I would consider Richard Clarke a good choice as well.

He absolutely needs to avoid a Senator (as you don't want 2 senators on the ticket), and/or an IWR voter... so Kerry, Edwards, Clinton should all be eliminated from consideration.

[Deja Q]

35. Well said.

:thumbsup:

[AllyCat]

48. I'll second Wes Clark. n/t

[JPZenger]

12. Obama Needs Foreign Policy Experience

Obama's greatest vulnerability will be attacks about a lack of foreign policy and national security experience. He needs a VP who will offset that, and who can be marketed as Barack's right hand man on those issues. I like Bill Richardson. Wesley Clark is another alternative, regardless of his support for Hillary.

[Mz Pip]

13. No advantage

He'll win NY and I don't see where Bloomberg would even want the job.

[onehandle]

14. I'm a Democrat and so is Obama. I don't trust Bloomberg. nt

[ellisonz]

15. No.

[Orangepeel]

16. No. He should pick somebody with strong foreign policy or national security cred

I don't see what Bloomberg would add to the ticket. He might help with Jewish voters, but there would be better people to do that if the campaign thinks it is an issue.

[Thurston Howell III]

17. Has Obama actually said that or is it just the media?

[ronnykmarshall]

29. THURSTON!!

How's "Lovey"?

[Thurston Howell III]

31. Fabulous!

[iilana X]

18. Can't really see this happening. n/t

[RainDog]

19. not just no. fuck no

democrats have not fumed at their party for doing nothing to stop Bush only to have a republican on the ticket. this is the worst idea I have ever heard. If this happens, Obama is no longer the democratic nominee, he's an independent, and he would then be working to split the democratic party and insure another republican victory.

the DLC, etc. better get it through their little pin heads that if this is the case, you will have Nader voters who would have NEVER voted for him under any other circumstance.

[Thurston Howell III]

20. That's right. I think the campaign would be finished. Obama better say

whether or not the rumor is true!

[AndyTiedye]

21. No. What Part of "Democratic Ticket" Don't You Understand?

[WinkyDink]

22. The Democratic Party is in the business of nominating Democrats. It really isn't a difficult concept

[MaineDem]

23. Bloomberg is a freakin' Republican for pete's sake

He will NOT be the VP nominee. Not in a million years.

Why is this ever brought up here?

[RainDog]

25. it's bait

however, I think Bloomberg would be a great choice for McCain's v.p. The republican party needs to make their extreme right shut up. The republican party needs to remember the difference b/t a republican and a theocrat. They have alienated their own over these 8 years...the republicans are now sort of The Beverly Hillbillies on born-again crack.

The party is bankrupt, as their own will admit. They are not going to win this election, so they should use it to become republicans... what is now called a moderate democrat is the same thing as a conservative was 30 years ago. The extremist in society at this point are in the right wing... the extremists that can do real damage to our democracy.

[Deja Q]

36. Last I heard, and maybe incorrectly, he's an Independent?

[Fox Mulder]

26. Absolutely not.

[ecstatic]

27. Not just no but HELL NO! Bloomberg is a media creation

nobody outside of the media and NY knows or cares about him. Also, no repugs on the ticket. It is OUR turn. Period.

[Pathwalker]

28. Nononononononononono!

IOW - NO!

[Eric J in MN]

32. No, he should choose a Democrat...

...which Democrats would be proud to have as their president.

VPs often become presidents.

[Thurston Howell III]

33. If you want to piss off the Repubs, get the X-Repuke Lincoln Chaffee!

[Milo_Bloom]

39. Oh.. I wish. He is more a dem than a lot of the Dems

[Deja Q]

34. Yes. Bloomberg is a doer. After all,

he initiated NYC's plan to get the taxi service fitted with hybrids.

Not Hillary. See, I have this funky tinfoil hat theory: He gets killed, she steps in. :tinfoilhat:

[ctaylors6]

37. I don't understand. why would Obama want a republican VP or key cabinet member?

where are the democrats?

[hedgehog]

38. No. Bloomberg is just a millionaire who bought himself a city to play with. nt

Does anyone know how much Bloomberg spent to self finance his campaign vs. what Steinbrenner spent to buy the Yankees?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

40. And out she comes...

[Nickster]

41. Oh God no. Bloomberg is not as important as he thinks he is.

[JoFerret]

42. How sick would that be?

VERY sick.
Just yesterday the NYTimes is reporting how Bloomberg is funding republicans for the NY senate.

If Obama does that then EVERY shred of democratic concern re his campaign will have been proven true to the Nth degree.


Say it ain't so!

[Blondiegrrl]

43. Obama needs a war vet on the ticket.

That IMO is the best way to counter McCain's attacks in the GE.

[Radical Activist]

44. I haven't seen that anywhere in the media

and I don't think its a good idea.

[axordil]

45. Not necessary.

So no.

[saltpoint]

46. Well, I'd much prefer he choose a current Democrat for that job.

Especially a Democrat who can usher key legislation through the Senate and who might have a reasonably competitive shot at holding the White House for a long time after the next 8 years.

I don't hate Michael Bloomberg but simply prefer that we build the ticket with current Democrats.

[Perky]

47. The more I look at the race, the more I think it pivots on three places

Ohio, Pennsylvania ans Iraq.

McCain is going to run a Nixon campaign. Stong National defense/Moderate economic policy. He has to figure out a way to enthuse the social conservatives without pissing on the moderates.


Obams will win the argument on Iraq if his VP trumps the hard egde approach to Radical Islamic fundamentalism.


But we really need a sompelling approach on rcoonomic expansion for everyone that does not include something that can easily be tagges as "soak the rich". I am not opposed to
soaking the rich.....I just think we gain little electorally if that is what we get tagged with thatclass warfare argument.


On that basis, I do not think Bloomberg gains us much with reagn Democrats.

We need a Roman Catholic with Foreign Policy gravitas that helps us in PA, OH and MI to get back the Reagan Dems.

If Dan Murtha did not have some baggage he would not be a bad choice.