Bloomberg: I'm Not Running for President, but ...

[hyoomen]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/opinion/28mike.html?hp


I believe that an independent approach to these issues is essential to governing our nation — and that an independent can win the presidency. I listened carefully to those who encouraged me to run, but I am not — and will not be — a candidate for president. I have watched this campaign unfold, and I am hopeful that the current campaigns can rise to the challenge by offering truly independent leadership. The most productive role that I can serve is to push them forward, by using the means at my disposal to promote a real and honest debate.

In the weeks and months ahead, I will continue to work to steer the national conversation away from partisanship and toward unity; away from ideology and toward common sense; away from sound bites and toward substance. And while I have always said I am not running for president, the race is too important to sit on the sidelines, and so I have changed my mind in one area. If a candidate takes an independent, nonpartisan approach — and embraces practical solutions that challenge party orthodoxy — I’ll join others in helping that candidate win the White House.

The changes needed in this country are straightforward enough, but there are always partisan reasons to take an easy way out. There are always special interests that will fight against any challenge to the status quo. And there are always those who will worry more about their next election than the health of our country.

Sounds like he's practically begging Congressman Paul to go independent. I know there's an official policy against third party candidacy by Congressman Paul himself, but maybe he can be swayed? ;)


EDIT: So there's no more confusion from people coming into this thread and not reading through the rest before replying, I don't like Bloomberg, nor do I expect him to support Congressman Paul. I posted this in part because I thought it was relevant to the interminable issue of third party/independent presidential runs. If, apart from Bloomberg's statist approach to politics, you don't see the above excerpt as remind you of Congressman Paul's Hope For America, then perhaps I just overshot the mark.

[trey4sports]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/opinion/28mike.html?hp



Sounds like he's practically begging Congressman Paul to go independent. I know there's an official policy against third party candidacy by Congressman Paul himself, but maybe he can be swayed? ;)

bloomberg would toss rosie's salad before he endorsed the good doctor....

[slamhead]

Who the F is Bloomberg and why should any of us care if he runs or not. The way the MSM talks about him it reminds me of the way they talked about Rudy.

[hyoomen]

bloomberg would toss rosie's salad before he endorsed the good doctor....

Yes, I know. I was referring more to the exact language of the op-ed and less to Bloomberg's leftist approach towards politics. Nevertheless, it is good to hear 'movers and shakers' talking again about the need for progressing beyond partisanship.

[CGMike]

don't believe Bloomberg. He's just outgrowing his sandbox running NYC and is sizing up the next one he can buy outright.

[Liberty_is_NORML]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/opinion/28mike.html?hp



Sounds like he's practically begging Congressman Paul to go independent. I know there's an official policy against third party candidacy by Congressman Paul himself, but maybe he can be swayed? ;)

Wow...that is intriguing.

[revolutionary8]

God Help me for the hate I feel towards that Commie Bloomberg.
I guess a Bloomberg/Obama ticket is being floated in the chambers of hell?

Makes sense to me.

[Give me liberty]

Bloomberg used run a FEMA CAMP BACK IN 2004 well he was still mayor of new york city.

[Thomas Paine]

Somebody should tell that gross looking little midget aka Bloomberg should concentrate on being Mayor of New York. What a self absorbed little bastard he has turned out to be.

[kigol]

woah

[tangent4ronpaul]

Somebody should tell that gross looking little midget aka Bloomberg should concentrate on being Mayor of New York. What a self absorbed little bastard he has turned out to be.

Please don't scare off the billionaire when it looks like he just might consider underwriting us...

-n

[revolutionary8]

Bloomberg used run a FEMA CAMP BACK IN 2004 well he was still mayor of new york city.
YEP.
he on one hand proves that money doesn't necessarily buy a Presidency, however, this slimy rat bastard does prove that evil has no end.
He won't stop unless the people stop him- that is for certain.
That rat bastard is on a mission.
No other way to put it.

[revolutionary8]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/opinion/28mike.html?hp



Sounds like he's practically begging Congressman Paul to go independent. I know there's an official policy against third party candidacy by Congressman Paul himself, but maybe he can be swayed? ;)
^^^^
Most suspiciously insane post I have ever seen.
Perhaps the OP knows little to nothing about Bloombomb?
Lets hope so.
OP- take a closer look, before making a completely absurd and Ludacris (sic) claim that Bloomberg and RP are any thing other than EVIL VS. GOOD. k? Bloomberg would give RP the "help" to become President only if he would be the "next in line" after he hand a hand in his departure from office.
That about sums it up.
pssssttt.....
same goes for OBAMA.

[Thomas Paine]

Please don't scare off the billionaire when it looks like he just might consider underwriting us...

-n

Bloomberg is a gutless little coward.

[angelatc]

http://snurl.com/20kio [video_google_com] - watch him address the World Bank, then explain in 1000 words or less how he is anything at all like Ron Paul.

Some author I heard was laughing at people who insist they want to put aside partisianship, and have unity, because those are always the people who are *never* willing to give up their ideology and embrace yours.

[hyoomen]

^^^^
Most suspiciously insane post I have ever seen.
Perhaps the OP knows little to nothing about Bloombomb?
Lets hope so.
OP- take a closer look, before making a completely absurd and Ludacris (sic) claim that Bloomberg and RP are any thing other than EVIL VS. GOOD. k? Bloomberg would give RP the "help" to become President only if he would be the "next in line" after he hand a hand in his departure from office.
That about sums it up.
pssssttt.....
same goes for OBAMA.
Follow up on other posts in the thread much? People's willingness to beleaguer their fellow Ron Paul supporters -- arguably brothers in Liberty -- is matched only by the intellectual depravity of the constant ad hominem attacks (ie Bloombomb, Obamallama, Billary, etc) on these forums. I wish we could meet up face to face more often to help reduce the number of knee jerk reactions.

I admit I didn't explain my post entirely in the very first message, but if you'd read further you'd see I noted Bloomberg's contrasting positions and records.

For the record, since I don't particularly believe in a universal good & evil -- especially applied to an individual as a whole, I would not claim that Bloomberg/Congressman Paul prime polars as such. Relative to my own value systems, Congressman Paul is certainly more supporting of ideas many ideas that will benefit me, but I don't think that comes down to something so simple as good/evil. Perhaps that's a discussion for another thread/forum/coffeehouse.

[obsolescence]

I don't think there's a chance Bloomberg would ever support Dr. Paul.

Bloomberg truly is one of the most statist politicians in America.

[Banana]

I have to say I truly despise Bloomberg's pliability.

[revolutionary8]

Follow up on other posts in the thread much? People's willingness to beleaguer their fellow Ron Paul supporters -- arguably brothers in Liberty -- is matched only by the intellectual depravity of the constant ad hominem attacks (ie Bloombomb, Obamallama, Billary, etc) on these forums. I wish we could meet up face to face more often to help reduce the number of knee jerk reactions.

I admit I didn't explain my post entirely in the very first message, but if you'd read further you'd see I noted Bloomberg's contrasting positions and records.

For the record, since I don't particularly believe in a universal good & evil -- especially applied to an individual as a whole, I would not claim that Bloomberg/Congressman Paul prime polars as such. Relative to my own value systems, Congressman Paul is certainly more supporting of ideas many ideas that will benefit me, but I don't think that comes down to something so simple as good/evil. Perhaps that's a discussion for another thread/forum/coffeehouse.

Oh give me a break stuffy.
You link to a NY times article, then "create an image" then say nothing and wait for others to react?
NOW you come out after consulting your king James bible and encyclopedia and probably dictionary.com and accuse ME of "jumping to conclusions" and "ruining the Revolution"?
PLEASE.
you are either willingly or UNwillingly being passed by.
thatz it. ;)

[hyoomen]

Oh give me a break stuffy.
You link to a NY times article, then "create an image" then say nothing and wait for others to react?
NOW you come out after consulting your king James bible and encyclopedia and probably dictionary.com and accuse ME of "jumping to conclusions" and "ruining the Revolution"?
PLEASE.
you are either willingly or UNwillingly being passed by.
thatz it. ;)
Easy, tiger.

No Bible. No lexicon. And I accused you of no such thing.

[revolutionary8]

Easy, tiger.

No Bible. No lexicon. And I accused you of no such thing.
Who is Lexicon?

[revolutionary8]

Who is Lexicon?
nm,
hooey is to snoofey to answer. :rolleyes: I'll answer myself-
Lexicon is JARGON.
ie, collectivist BABBLE vocabularized and placed on the heirachy as "elitist language" and "more informed"
I got a werd..
Killuminati.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbaW1g21uy0&feature=related
;)

[Dary]

It’ bizarre how Bloomberg’s not running for president IS news and how Ron Paul’s running isn’t.

Newsflash – I’m not running for president.:rolleyes:

[gilliganscorner]

It’ bizarre how Bloomberg’s not running for president IS news and how Ron Paul’s running isn’t.

Newsflash – I’m not running for president.:rolleyes:

Well said. It is blatantly obvious.

Right up there with Wolf Blitzer admitting MSM decides how much air time a candidate will get:

h ttp://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/25/blitzer-how-much-time-should-nader-get/



I would be interested in getting your thoughts on the question I posed at the top – how much air time should we give him in the course of this upcoming general campaign? How seriously should we take his candidacy? Will he be a credible third party candidate along the lines of Ross Perot back in 1992 or will he simply be a marginal candidate with no real chance of winning?

[RollOn2day]

Who is Lexicon?:D

You know....Lexi-Con!

Lex Luther's cousin!

This forum may not be as active as it was in recent months but it is still better than SNL sometimes.

[Steve_New_Jersey]

It’ bizarre how Bloomberg’s not running for president IS news and how Ron Paul’s running isn’t.

Newsflash – I’m not running for president.:rolleyes:

Its more PC to report what a billionair had on his bagle for breakfast that real politics.

[Revolution9]

Who is Lexicon?

That is I..:D

HTH
Randy

[Revolution9]

nm,
hooey is to snoofey to answer. :rolleyes: I'll answer myself-
Lexicon is JARGON.
ie, collectivist BABBLE vocabularized and placed on the heirachy as "elitist language" and "more informed"
I got a werd..
Killuminati.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbaW1g21uy0&feature=related
;)

Here is one to match it. Monotheodious.

Best
Randy

[Scribbles]

Bloomberg would support Nader before he would support Paul. But I don't think he'd support ether, actually.

Honestly I think this is just Bloomberg and the MSM blowing smoke, nothing else.

[Highland]

Maybe Bloomberg is speaking of NADER and taking from the Dems!

[rockandrollsouls]

The best way to find out is for the Paul campaign to contact Bloomberg. Why wonder about it? Ask straight up if bloomberg would consider paul...I mean, we all know they aren't in step on every issue, but Paul's economic policy is a big deal. If bloomberg put some muscle behind Ron as an independent, this would be HUGE people.

The Paul campaign SHOULD get in touch with Bloomberg over this article, ask what he thinks of Paul, and if things don't pan out at the convention, this COULD be a possible alterative if Paul thinks Bloombergs muscle could help. Hey, you might not like the guy, but I figure it's worth a shot. Giving up the country to mccain and hillary or thinking up alternative solutions. Well for me, a ton of famous issues were solved with unorthodox solutions.

[Mordan]

Follow up on other posts in the thread much? People's willingness to beleaguer their fellow Ron Paul supporters -- arguably brothers in Liberty -- is matched only by the intellectual depravity of the constant ad hominem attacks (ie Bloombomb, Obamallama, Billary, etc) on these forums. I wish we could meet up face to face more often to help reduce the number of knee jerk reactions.



+1. people should stop. we lose all credibility.

[slamhead]

The best way to find out is for the Paul campaign to contact Bloomberg. Why wonder about it? Ask straight up if bloomberg would consider paul...I mean, we all know they aren't in step on every issue, but Paul's economic policy is a big deal. If bloomberg put some muscle behind Ron as an independent, this would be HUGE people.

The Paul campaign SHOULD get in touch with Bloomberg over this article, ask what he thinks of Paul, and if things don't pan out at the convention, this COULD be a possible alterative if Paul thinks Bloombergs muscle could help. Hey, you might not like the guy, but I figure it's worth a shot. Giving up the country to mccain and hillary or thinking up alternative solutions. Well for me, a ton of famous issues were solved with unorthodox solutions.

Bloomberg is a socialist. Why would Ron Paul want to buddy up with him?

[Grandson of Liberty]

bloomberg would toss rosie's salad before he endorsed the good doctor....

NOT the image I wanted to start my day with! :eek:

[rockandrollsouls]

I didn't say he had to "buddy up" with him. Bloomberg said nothing about socialist policies. The article said real solutions to problems. Ron Paul has real solutions that are non partisan. He believe's it's best. What's wrong with that.

"Hey, Bloomberg, I mean what I say and truly believe it with all my heart. All of my efforts are for the American people. Can I get your support?"

What's wrong with that? No harm in asking. If bloomberg is dead set against his stances then it's a no go...but I would try it if all else fails.

[slamhead]

I didn't say he had to "buddy up" with him. Bloomberg said nothing about socialist policies. The article said real solutions to problems. Ron Paul has real solutions that are non partisan. He believe's it's best. What's wrong with that.

"Hey, Bloomberg, I mean what I say and truly believe it with all my heart. All of my efforts are for the American people. Can I get your support?"

What's wrong with that? No harm in asking. If bloomberg is dead set against his stances then it's a no go...but I would try it if all else fails.

This is what I picked up from the article.


They must know we can’t fix our economy and create jobs by isolating America from global trade.

He supports managed trade deals.


They must know that we can’t fix our immigration problems with border security alone.

Perhaps NY's sanctuary policy is his idea of fixing illegal immigration.


They must know that we can’t fix our schools without holding teachers, principals and parents accountable for results.

Sounds like he wants a bigger Dept. of Education.


They must know that fighting global warming is not a costless challenge.

Wants to continue to fleece taxpayers by following junk science.



And they must know that we can’t keep illegal guns out of the hands of criminals unless we crack down on the black market for them.

They believe "black markets" are gun shows.

I just think that Bloomberg and Paul would not see eye to eye.

[CGMike]

We are talking about the same Bloomberg right? The one who feels that the Second Amendment should not exist? The one who tries to set up out of state gun dealers and sue them in New York City courts? Ask the Gun Owners of America whether Bloomberg is a friend of Liberty. Still not convinced? Then read this (http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/5/22/204735.shtml)

Bloomberg is NOT your friend, NOT Dr. Paul's friend and NOT a friend of the Constitution

[mello]

Even if Bloomberg supported Congressman Paul, wouldn't he only be able to contribute $2300 max to his campaign like every other individual?

[hyoomen]

mello: contributions directly to the PCC are one thing, but infomercials and general power of the press (especially w/ his media/financial corporation) are another. Technically the CEO of a company can also send out a letter suggesting all/some employees donate to a specific campaign to help meet the goals fo the company.

I don't think anybody believes this would happen from Bloomberg to Congressman Paul, but the op/ed I posted does give an opportunity for Paul supporters to have some talking points w/ Bloomberg if he progresses his initiative at all.

"You say you would support somebody seeking a radical departure from partisan politics, how about a man who supports a perspective of the nation held by our founding fathers before partisan politics had begun to erode checks and balances of the Federal Govt? You say you want a new direction that supports all Americans? Isn't Liberty the only direction that can offer opportunity to everybody?"

He's unlikely to agree, but he dealt the cards for people to play.

[lastnymleft]

Even if Bloomberg supported Congressman Paul, wouldn't he only be able to contribute $2300 max to his campaign like every other individual?

No. The $2,300 limit is for donations to the Official Campaign (the one with the $6M ticker). Like Llepard, whom spent ~$150,000 on advertizing in USA Today, anyone can make unlimited "independent expenditures" to support a candidate. He must not have any liaison with the official campaign over the expenditure, and he would need to submit appropriate forms to the FEC. Grassroots expenditures, such as most of the chip-ins, come under the "independent expenditures" ruling, but are typically below the reportable threshold.

[Flash]

I don't see why Ron Paul should run as an Independent. Why risk his congressional seat? You know he can't win as a third party, if he can't become the REpublican nomination then its game over.

[sratiug]

I don't see why Ron Paul should run as an Independent. Why risk his congressional seat? You know he can't win as a third party, if he can't become the REpublican nomination then its game over.

No, I don't "know" that. Whenever the people are allowed to "know" that all the other "mainstream" candidates want to continue giving our nations wealth and sovereignty away to the banking elites through the federal reserve and the new world order and hear Dr. Paul's full message without ridicule they will be very likely to vote him into office. With the dollar falling like a stone anything can happen.