NEWS: Hey, Bloomberg. Make Your Damn Mind Up.

POLITICS: Hey, Bloomberg. Make Your Damn Mind Up.

Back in July, FTR wrote an article titled Get Over Your Third Party Jerk Off Fantasy, in which he discussed NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg's choice to become an independent and the media hype of a new third party candidate. At the time, Bloomberg denied any claims that he desired to run.

Fast forward to January '08 and our buddy Mike himself is now having the same sort of Presidential masturbatory fantasy. Only he's still not sure if he wants to tell anyone about it yet. He's just dropping hints.

Oh, fun. Guessing games are great when it comes to the future of our country. Like we haven't had enough games in the last eight years. I love a man who right from the gate can't even come out and give a clear yes or no. And I'm sure everyone loves a candidate that cannot even decide to run or not.

The millionaire mayor has been polling to test his likability in 50 states and talking with the likes of Chuck Hagel about being a potential running mate. However, much like Fred Thompson and his back-and-forth last Summer, Bloomberg still has yet to speak up and say what his plans are.

It seems that some people are looking for an answer.

Oh really, you think so? Now, I don't live in NYC, but I would imagine that if my mayor was spending most of his time playing "I want to be President when I grow up," while my city sits in the back of the station wagon with warm grape juice and stale Triscuits, I would start wondering, too.

In year when change is a campaign buzzword, it is easy to see how everyone can get worked up over the potential of a third party candidate coming out front. That would be the ultimate change, wouldn't it?

Professor Alan J. Lichtman, of American University had this to say concerning the possibility of a third party winner:

For me, it comes down to this: throwing more hats into a ring that is already jammed packed with crazy this year is just going to end badly.

I wish the press would just let go of the notion, especially in such an important election. We all remember Ralph Nader, right?

_Margot_ voted for Nader in her very first election as a registered voter, so she is trying to improve her voting Karma with this commentary. Please register and vote in this election

Very well put.

'Cause that's working out so well for Fred's campaign.

For what it's worth (which may turn out to be nothing), inside chatter asserts that Bloomberg would be much likelier to run if Clinton and/or Huckabee turn out to be the nominees, as they're generally seen as the most divisive and alienating of the frontrunners.

Oh, and a very nicely-done piece, _Margot_.

I love that he's "testing for likability" ... and, from what I recall, he's been doing it for quite a while now.

If he does run and somehow gets elected, should we expect a Sally Field moment on Inauguration Day?

Shit or get off the pot, Mike.

Wow. Bloomberg ? Still ?
I hadn't realized he was still stringing this game along.
Isn't it getting a little late for him to throw in the hat ?
I think he's going to find it a lot easier to buy a mayorship than the Presidency at any stage of the race. Good luck to him with his polling and mind making-uping.

Great article _Margot_!

BAD ASS REPORT MARGOT. MAD PROBS.

A Bloomberg candidacy would be great for the Dems as it would dilute the moderate Republican vote. Are there any of those left anymore?

Stale Triscuits are horrible. They go all soft and... ugh. Not good.

I think to anyone who has been following this race, it seems really stupid to have Bloomberg want to join in so late in the game. I don't know if the majority of American voters feel the same way, though. Do most voters follow the primarys? I really don't know. I get the impression that a lot of people wait until you get the two candidates and THEN start paying attention.

damnit, now I want triscuits.

" I would imagine that if my mayor was spending most of his time playing "I want to be President when I grow up," while my city sits in the back of the station wagon with warm grape juice and stale Triscuits, I would start wondering, too."

^^^This is one of the many reasons why you are awesome.

I don't really like the idea of a third party candidate, unless they can really give the other two a run for their money. That being said, I'm not at all for Bloomberg running.

Another thing that comes to mind... I understand how the Dems can claim they are for change, but what the fuck are the Republicans gonna "change"? All those candidates are basically following in George II's footsteps. The only change as president I can imagine coming from them is that maybe they'll be able to string a sentence or two together without fucking it all up.

The Democrats are the party of more of the same with a sprinkling of socialism, Otherwise they are pretty much republicans.

Third party presidential bids are for the most part pointless, either the dems nor republicans would allow a third party pres to be successful, now if you started from the ground up and managed to have one or two important states run mostly by a third party, that then threw up a third party candidate. That would cause havoc and change because you could theoretically cause neither side to be able to get a clear majority in the electoral college.

I would very much like to see something like that happen.

I would like to see how/if that could work. It would be interesting.

It would take dedicated people and at least a few election cycles but in theory if you pulled a blue and a red state and turned them say Yellow that would greatly increase the importance of swing states, and it would show the states that are taken for granted that they in fact have the power to make themselves felt.

Sowing the seeds of chaos in 2012? Sounds good to me.

Plenty.
But I disagree with you. Bloomberg is fairly liberal. His natural constituency is Democratic leaning independents. Republicans and GOP-leaning independents, including moderates, wouldn't find much appeal in a Bloomberg candidacy, even with Chuck Hagel as his running mate.
His switch to the GOP in 2001 was an expedient means of getting himself elected mayor, because the Democratic machine had effectively shut him out, and he hoped to capitalize on the relative popularity (at the time) of Giuliani.

Yeah, I actually have to agree. He'd probably pull more votes from the Democrats than the Republicans nationally, and in this cycle.

Ok mind you I won't pretend that this is the be all end all of answers, this is just a theory I kicked around in my head and altho it sounds good I really dont have the time to look into it's feasability.

mHowever, think of it this way, picking one or two states to be the base for a new party and growing it slowly from the ground up is probably the best way to get some third party action. We have had independent politicians get into power so it's not without precedence, it's just that they are at the moment too few and too disorganized to be of any use. You need to create a third party based on IMO and yes this is where dissagreements will come in but here goes, Pro labor, Pro gun, anti illegal immigration, Pro LEGAL immigration, avoid religion and abortion as issues.

Ok the first is obvious if the working man thinks you will protect his job from moving overseas he is very likely to vote for you.

Pro Gun, I know it's a hard issue and it does not have to mean the party is going to hand out guns like candy but the average gun owner wants to know his rights will be protected, and gun owners are VERY motivated to vote on this very issue. Lock in the gun vote and you will go a long way towards achieving your goals.

Legal/illegal immigration. The issue has been muddied to death by both sides for their own political gain, what you need to do is get a message of Illegals are brought here to work as underpaid low wage labor and are exploited and it has to be stopped, were not against immigration were against exploitation. Hammer that message home and you will get much of the immigrant vote as well as the anti immigrant vote who will see you as trying to keep out the damn foreigners who sneak across the border.

Abortion is a wedge issue and should be avoided as best as possible always defer it back to the supreme court and point out that regardless of my political views I was elected to be the representative of the people and if their will is different from my own beliefs then I must carry out that will.

Same for religion.

Any of this make any sense or is the hunger making me sound crazy?

BTW I know this will come up, but I did not just put the pro gun part in there because I am pro gun, it's been stated that the 1994 Assault weapons ban cost the democrats 20 seats in the house of representatives. It's a set precedent Gun owners vote the issue very strongly.

I kind of live for this to actually happen . Kind of due to the fact that unless someone I feel really deserved the backing got involved , I wouldn't also get involved . But I'm sort of middle of the road on many prime typical topics that folks run on . I don't mind someone having a gun for personal protection , but do you really need a arsenal ? I'm for trade amongst the different countries , but I also see how it's affecting the job situation here in the states . On the other hand , I don't need government in my bedroom , period . I don't need anyone worrying about what I'm doing to someone else unless I'm causing bodily harm without their consent .
Needless to say , I'm drunk without a party to lean upon . So if anyone knows of a party who feels the way I do ( & if you say Ron Paul I'll climb through your monitor to throttle you ) , let me know .

Bloomberg isn't "liberal" by any real definition other than "compared to some other Republicans". He's a moderate on most issues, and his public image has benefited enormously for not being nearly as much of a douchebag as Rudy Giuliani was when he was mayor.

What irks me most about the whole "Unity '08" line is that it presents people like Chuck Hagel as being "moderate" when they're really not. I love hearing a meeting of a bunch of Republicans described as "bi-partisan", too.

Oh, excellent article, by the way. Mmm...triscuits.

Indeed , Margot on the news wires is a very nice thing . Makes me happy to be here

Dude, I was kidding.

Can you name many issues where Bloomberg isn't left of center?
I think there were some Dems involved with Unity '08, but most Dems aren't interested because they think they have a chance to win this year. It's a measure of how polarized the parties are that people like Hagel are called moderate - my congressman, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, is about as liberal as Hagel is conservative, and he gets called moderate too.

Are you secretly working for the Chinese?

Still it's a damn good idea that needs to happen. People want more choices, they should be given those choices to affect positive change.

No yellow was the only primary color left. Red, Blue, Yellow.

*he said while eating his chicken with pork fried rice and won ton soup*