Here comes Bloomberg

[Dionysos]

Look out for a Bloomberg/Hagel ticket in '08.

Full story here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070620/...mberg_politics

NEW YORK - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Tuesday switched his party status from Republican to unaffiliated, a stunning move certain to be seen as a prelude to an independent presidential bid that would upend the 2008 race.

The billionaire former CEO, who was a lifelong Democrat before he switched to the GOP for his first mayoral run, said the change in voter registration does not mean he is running for president.
"Although my plans for the future haven't changed, I believe this brings my affiliation into alignment with how I have led and will continue to lead our city," he said in a statement.
Despite his coyness about his aspirations, the mayor's decision to switch stokes speculation that he will pursue the White House, challenging the Democratic and Republican nominees with a legitimate and well-financed third-party bid.
Bloomberg has an estimated worth of more than $5 billion and easily could underwrite a White House run, much like Texas businessman Ross Perot in 1992. Bloomberg spent more than $155 million for his two mayoral campaigns, including $85 million when he won his second term in 2005.
The 65-year-old mayor has fueled the presidential buzz with increasing out-of-state travel, including New Hampshire last weekend; a greater focus on national issues and repeated criticism of the partisan politics that dominate Washington.

[PETA]

There are more conservatives than liberals. Many of them are fed up with the GOP. Some fairly and some not so. The Reagan democrats that have remained with the GOP are abandoning the ship.

Those shaken loose from the GOP coalition are splintered but important voting blocs.

The "centrists" are the prize and needed more by the Dems... but also by the GOP. Neither can win without them.

Does Bloomberg/Hagel hurt the GOP enough to tip the election to the DNC? Vice versa? Win outright?

Re: cash... Steve Forbes' cash has never even nudged a party plank when he's run.... habitually trying to impact tax policy.

Bloomber's rich... very rich... richer than Perot or Schwarzeneggar (he's fucking rich)... richer than Kerry.... (perot+schwarzeneggar=Bloomberg)

Romney's apparently worth about 1/10th of a Bloomberg... though I thought he was richer. $5B vs $500M

Still Romney's been using his Bain connections and the people he's made rich to build a deep national network.... many of whom are very well connected politically... Mormans are well intigrated into the political environment and so are the many wealthy beneficiaries of Romney's piloting of Bain Capital...

This could be a very interesting race from a "who spent what how" POV but what are Bloomberg's positions on the issues? I'm not Hillary and I'm not... McRomniani?

He's got to do better than "I'm not them." Though that's a great place to start. Probably the most intersting suggestion about a possible 3rd party path in a long time. Worth checking out - will they define themselves or simply get in it to win it by defaul though?

You know my general opinion about 3rd parties Jonny but this one (even though I can tell you already I'm unlikely to find them appealing) may have a real shot... it's got all the money it needs plus two deeply divided opponents fighting over a remote center. This could work.

[Dionysos]

Hagel will snag a *lot* of GOP voters as well as moderate Dems. Bloomberg, time will tell. But yea I think there's a legit shot of them making some noise. Forbes? Seriously? Bloomberg - for better or for worse - has some personality. Hell, he blinks, which is more than Forbes.

[PETA]

Originally Posted by Dionysos

Hagel will snag a *lot* of GOP voters as well as moderate Dems. Bloomberg, time will tell. But yea I think there's a legit shot of them making some noise. Forbes? Seriously? Bloomberg - for better or for worse - has some personality. Hell, he blinks, which is more than Forbes.

not so sure Hegel brings much to the table - Bloomberg has been a Dem with an R after his name for some time - but - we'll see - certainly should be interesting to follow - hell even I am interested

[Dionysos]

Originally Posted by xian

not so sure Hegel brings much to the table - Bloomberg has been a Dem with an R after his name for some time - but - we'll see - certainly should be interesting to follow - hell even I am interested

Hagel's got a lot of respect from the right-wing because he's a pretty traditional Pub. He's become a problem with the GOP the last couple years because of his willingness to voice displeasure with the Iraq war. Of course the guy's a Pub and has a Purple Heart from Vietnam, so the GOP can't throw him under the bus like they tried to do to Murtha. Iraq aside, he's a pretty traditional Pub.

[Ash]

nobody wants a rich jew president

[amigo7dfw]

i would if i could vote for an investor because I know he thinks with his Intellect. a woman thinks or reacts with her emotions...

unless you are married to william Clinton. but she still had a child so that connection will get in the way..

[PETA]

Originally Posted by Dionysos

Hagel's got a lot of respect from the right-wing because he's a pretty traditional Pub.

He's ruffled a few feathers on the right recently - in re Iraq primarily yes.

Originally Posted by Dionysos

He's become a problem with the GOP the last couple years because of his willingness to voice displeasure with the Iraq war. Of course the guy's a Pub and has a Purple Heart from Vietnam, so the GOP can't throw him under the bus like they tried to do to Murtha.

Murtha's a dem... its not for the GOP to throw a DNV cat under the bus. Also, he's done a fine job of discrediting himself on a number of issues including the bs about telling another house member that he can forget ever getting any earmarks etc etc.

Hagel's war service isn't at issue - his bone fides as a Republican are. His alignment with Bloomberg would be notive that he is no longer a Republican. Whether that would attract voters is debateable and would be interesting to see but he's not pulling voters from the right because he'd be standing with Bloomberg.

[Dionysos]

The first time the GOP voters that are frustrated with Bush's B.S. see Hagel's voting record, they'll be on his jock like crazy.

The point I was making with Murtha is that the GOP will throw a war hero under the bus over the war, no matter what his service record. Yea Murtha's a Dem, but he's a hawk for the military and he's got more military experience than the entire WH staff combined.

[PETA]

Originally Posted by Dionysos

The first time the GOP voters that are frustrated with Bush's B.S. see Hagel's voting record, they'll be on his jock like crazy.

The point I was making with Murtha is that the GOP will throw a war hero under the bus over the war, no matter what his service record. Yea Murtha's a Dem, but he's a hawk for the military and he's got more military experience than the entire WH staff combined.

not buying the Murtha rah-rah. He's a ass. A drunken ass as I understand it. Yes, his service is worthy of great respect. However, that doesn't mean his opinion on war issues must be. They are distinct issues. Yes, one buys the other credibility - but at the end of the day those opinions must stand or fall on their own. His slow bleed policy is, imo, chicken shit. If he really wants to troops out - then cut off funding for the war.


Hegal.... I'll wait and see. I did check out his voting record and think you're on point there but I suspect issues of personality and impressions of siding with a Bloomberg may cause him problems... like I said, will be interesting to watch.