6 months ago I didn't want Michael Bloomberg to run for president. Now, with all the other Dems looking seriously flawed, I at least want him as a candidate. If Bloomberg wins the Democratic nomination, I'm in. He's wildly better than Trump (low bar). And I think he's likely to survive Trump's schoolyard bully routine...and win. If minorities and lefties don't en mass stay home on election day. Bloomberg wouldn't be embarrassing. He's not an isolationist idiot. He's great on the environment and guns. Did I mention he wouldn't be embarrassing? (!!!) I want him to run.
75
Well, trump vs Bloomberg would be interesting to say the least. I'm just not convinced that the result will be what is imagined. Here a things to consider:
1) many of trump's base liked the 'white man first' message that trump sells. How will somebody of jewish heritage be received by the Neo Nazi factions that comprise this base? Is it realistic to think that many of these voters will switch camps?
2) A major reason trump won the election, is that the electorate are fed up with rich white men in DC who are there to represent the very rich. Clearly trump lied to folks as he continues to represent the very rich. Nevertheless, since he won them over with his lies the first time 'round, I'm not sure that another rich white man will be able to sway those voters away.
Polls - can you please stop with the polls? Didn't you learn anything from the trump presidency about the unreliability and irrelevance of polls? Seems like the only thing that polls seem to be good for are to support various positions - fallaciously - that one supports.
9
"11 months in a contest against opponents with nicknames like “Sleepy Joe,” “Crazy Bernie,” or “Uber Left Elizabeth Warren”?
Bret, why is it necessary to repeat these child like nicknames by a man child WH occupant who taunts and bullies his opponents?
He is a con man and always will be. He'll always lie, cheat and steal to get what he wants, including name calling.
None of it is beneath him except high priced hookers.
34
just want the democrats need another rich elitist liberal who wants to get rid of the second amendment in preparation for the end of democracy as we know it.
Oh God. One Day Clinton. The next day Bloomberg.
The wet blanket coalition of Times columnist keep thinking because they they go crazy over saltless cottage cheese other people share their passion.
17
I for one would live to see Mike v Donnie. The real N Yorker v the poser. The billionaire v the paper billionaire!
Mike would cut Donnie at the knees before Donnie even knew it!! The sarcasm would go over Donnie’s prehistoric brain.
28
I can’t help but wonder if Bloomberg’s religion will work against him. Surely there is a group of Americans who will never vote for a Jew. Just as there was a group that wouldn’t vote for a black man or a woman.
7
Here's the best satire ever from Borowitz in the New Yorker.
"Bloomberg Offers Trump Ten Billion Dollars to Leave White House by End of Day" By Andy Borowitz"
(The Borowitz Report)—The former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg upended the 2020 Presidential race on Friday by offering Donald J. Trump ten billion dollars to leave the White House by the end of the day.
“I will deposit ten billion dollars into your account in Moscow, Riyadh, or wherever you do your banking these days,” Bloomberg announced. “All you have to do is go.”
In addition to the ten-billion-dollar offer, Bloomberg told Trump that he would cover the moving expenses of Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Kellyanne Conway, and any other associates “that you haven’t already gotten rid of.”
On Capitol Hill, congressional Democrats expressed sadness that Bloomberg’s offer, if successful, would eliminate the need for impeachment, which many of them had been looking forward to.
But Representative Adam Schiff of California struck a more philosophical note. “If ten billion dollars gets rid of Donald Trump, that’s a quid pro quo I’m okay with,” he said." Yup, the best quid pro quo---this for that---ever!
29
A run by Mike might succeed in breaking Trump’s death grip on America (a choke hold and what little consciousness remains is fading fast). The Republicans recognize the power of a far-right and moderate right coalition. The “moderates” just keep their mouths shut and life as we know it catapults rightward. If Donald Trump, a fake, a liar and a bona fide idiot, can work this idea for an eight year stint in the White House, why can’t the Democrats figure it out to stop him. If the left sees their role as rebuilding society after the complete collapse of government and the violent ousting of Czar Donald, then serious second thought is needed. History tells us things don’t go so well. A coalition of left and moderates may at least stop the catapult. Then the moderates, progressives and leftists can start the process of reversing course on all the issues through a rational discussion between people with more than a 4th grade grasp of language. My apologies to the 4th graders out there. I’m not optimistic. But...expect the worst and you can only be pleasantly surprised.
6
Guessing this message plays better in New York and New England. Elsewhere this guy is an unknown rich guy from New York. Does this strike you as great start?
As a Californian, over time came to appreciate the quality of work the New York Times - once I got past the odd New England viewpoint - and became a subscriber.
Listening to the "voice" of the New York Times ... you folk are all a bit odd. Really intent on framing and defining politics in terms of political parties ... in a time when the portion of non-partisan voters is steadily rising. Consider that rise means folk less locked into the black-or-white partisan mindset.
The reporting and opinion pieces in the Times seem of default fond of Biden, for no discernible rational reason. Guessing this somehow plays better in New England?
There are two "unelectable progressives" in the contest, at present, against whom Biden is doing poorly. If faced with one progressive, what logic has Biden doing better?
The map of donors has Biden clumped in New England. The last election was carried by folk outside New England. Hello?
In this frame, how is another rich guy from New England at all relevant or of meaning? Evaluate this message in the context of the rising "progressives" and non-partisan voters. Evaluate this outside the New England bubble.
The article is a "be afraid, vote conservative" message.
11
Most Americans just hate to see the facts that are staring them in the face. Please, Americans open your eyes.
Joe Biden whether you admit it or not is tending towards senility. Putin's puppet would swallow nice old Joe in one gulp during any televised debate. Warren and Sanders have both allowed themselves to be labeled as socialists and would in no time be called communists.... ending their run. Mayor Pete, probably the most intelligent of them all, is gay and, most unfortunately, America is not quite ready to elect a gay American President. Please Bloomberg, please run.
29
Bloomberg the benevolent billionaire? Give me a break! The guy stabbed this city's soul in the back and forked over its carcass to vulture capitalists.
23
Right-wing logic.
P.S. Only Republicans are impressed -- and swayed -- by Trump's puerile nicknames.
6
Hello, remember the impeachment inquiry?
4
Finally, a wealthy white male running for president.
249
Eye on the prize, please, readers. t must go. Mike can do it,
Go Mike!
31
Why can't we have a normal president?
22
Bloomberg should run as a Republican.
44
The elephant in the room is that he is a practicing Jew and whether that makes him unelectable.
7
You’re a Republican so why not run as a Republican. Oh right, you broke your party, so now you want to play with our party.
28
This column is a waste of space and effort. To write about Bloomberg vs Trump is like fantasy sports or pro-wrestling; pathetic.
15
Of course Bret Stephens wants a President Bloomberg. Because, of course.
35
Completely agree!
7
Don't you love it when conservative pundits deign to give advice to Democrats?
38
Why isn't he running as a Republican?
18
Agreed, and it is just about time!!!
3
A counry tht has enshined excess wealth as it's most sacred value deserves a Bloomberg preidency only a bit less than it deserved Blondie
2
Fine, go ahead and run, Mike Bloomberg! But you will have to do more than spend your billions, you will have to go into the inner cities, speak to the African-American ladies who support Joe Biden with an overwhelming majority! You will have to roll up your sleeves and visit every tiny hamlet and farm country to get the folks to vote for someone they do not know. And you will have to fire-up the Millennials who have a problem with another billionaire-grandpa running!
Mike, we must get the vote out! The Democratic nominee MUST be ready to FIRE-UP the base, get the Millennials to vote and court Independents and never-Trumpers to join us! Can YOU do this?
Go ahead and run, Mike, but know that you must appeal to everyone not just the likes of Bret Stephens!
PS. Bret, what about YOU speaking to our own party?! The Republican are totally lost, they have sold their souls to Putin’s puppet, spend some time talking to, advising and lecturing them in your columns!
11
I would like to believe that Bret knows what he's talking about.
3
"...he stands a much better chance of beating Donald Trump than anyone in the current Democratic field."
Mr. Stephens, you make this claim but support it without any data whatsoever. *Thinking* and/or *believing* this to be true does not make it so. You site other polls, where are the ones that backing this statement?
Editors: why do you allow unsubstantiated statements like this?
7
Nixon resigned when the evidence showed that he did what he was being accused of. Imagine if Nixon then had printed tee-shirts that said “listen to the tapes” and asserted that the tapes proved he did nothing wrong. Then imagine that every Republican congress member had to also state that the tapes proved Nixon did nothing wrong, even though all the evidence and testimony proved the opposite. What type of country would the USA be now?
Trump famously said "I could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and not lose any votes". That has now been replaced by "Trump could be caught handing America’s top military secrets to Russia and still not have any Republican votes for impeachment".
Whatever evidence exists, such evidence and proof could not be as powerful an indication of wrongdoing as the evidence in the public record that Bret Kavanaugh was lying in the senate hearings relating to his confirmation as a Supreme Court Justice.
Once Ford’s account included three people she said were there AND his calendar had them all at Tim Gaudette’s house on July 1, 1982, AND Ford’s description of the interior of Gaudette’s house in Rockville, MD exactly matches that of the actual house, which still exists: the only way that Kavanaugh was not lying is either: Ford somehow obtained access to his 1982 diary/calendar, or Ford has a time machine or Ford stalked Kavanaugh in 1982 and planned for this if he was nominated to the Supreme Court..."
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4216597
7
I think Bloomberg might make a wonderful president...but either nomination by his party or a win in the general election for an aging Jewish billionaire from New York? Sadly, I doubt it.
4
Dems...get with it.
You're not voting for Bloomberg, you're voting against Trump.
163
Mike needs to stop screwing around and stand on the apron of his helicopter and scream: "I am running for President as a Democrat and I want your vote." Then, climb into the cockpit and warmup the motor/rotor and fly into the sky all alone.
1
Brett well said.
As a establishment Republican and New York transplant who cannot stand Trump and his idiocy I do hope Bloomberg runs so I can cast my vote for president in 2020.
When he was mayor of New York Bloomberg cleaned up the city literally and figuratively. He was always clear and straightforward about his policies and did not vacillate like the current fool in the Oval Office.
Bloomberg is what the country currently needs a stable leader with a proven track record to undo to mess that has been created by Trump.
Bloomberg is a strong, reasoned centrist who we need to make America great again.
14
Yep.
I support Warren, but realize she's just the best of the would-be general election losers. She, Biden and Bernie would be mauled by Trump, along with all the rest of them.
At this point it's simply a matter of by how much Trump will win, and what slander of the American electorate the Democrats will choose as their excuse this time.
Job One: get rid of Trump.
That means to taking to heart Faulkner's advice to writers, "kill your darlings," and fall in love with the competence, moderation, decency and boringness of Bloomberg, and swoon at the prospect him sending Trump back to Mar-a-Lago "whimpering like a dog."
15
This is one of the rare times that I agree with Bret Stephens. Trump rode into office with many credulous voters thinking he was a successful businessman. They didn’t take into account his history of not paying workers, running casinos into bankruptcy, lying about his “charitable foundation”, and about everything else he mentioned.
Gullible Trumpists credit him with the rise of the economy, which started under Obama. People who revere businessmen, thinking only one of them can solve the gridlock that is Washington, can look to a really successful businessman this time, one who is not a pathological liar, who looks out for somebody other than himself, who cares about public health and gun safety: Mike Bloomberg.
12
So-called centrist Democrats like Bret Stephens have become downright Trumpian in their willingness to state falsehoods as truth. What we knew in 2016 and what we know now is that the Democrats' only hope is a progressive candidate. Hillary lost! We knew she would and the DNC used super-delegates to run her anyway. Polls show most of us want Bernie's platform. Plain and simple. If FDR were here still around, clearly, Mr. Stephens and most NYT columnists would ignore him as an unelectable extremist.
9
Centrist, moderate..bridge the 'partisan divide'.
All shorthand for business as usua--- what created the soil for Trump to grow. Who is defining what is centrist and moderate in our politics? Who benefits? But do the Republicans ever try to bridge the partisan divide?
Bloomie has donated more money than Trump? Really? This should favor him as president of the USA? The Battle of the Billionaires?
We've got better candidates.
We don't need big 'donors' and philanthropists.
We need politics and lawmaking that guarantees what America is supposed to stand for: That We the People have proper Representation For Our Taxation.
Isn't that what the American revolutionaries demanded from King George and his ruling aristocrats? Now, the super rich dominate our politics and call the shots legally after Citizens United---they're just not called dukes and earls today.
And after this racist president, the last candidate we need is the one who promoted Stop and Frisk in NYC, setting quotas for police to meet in minority N. Hoods, until the judge ruled in unconstitutional. And in most of the stops and searches, that insulted New Yorkers, no evidence of any crime was found.
11
I hate this line of thought that progressives will just vote for any democrat and we need to continuously bow down to centrist demands. Remember when we did that last time and millions voted instead for Jill Stein, costing us key votes in battle ground states? I fear Bloomberg, a billionaire, old, white, straight, man will just be too unpalatable for many on the party.
10
Bret seems to want to fashion the new Democratic Party after the old Republican Party. Bret and the corporate Democrats are not attending to the tectonic shift in American demographics: more young people and more people of color. They won't vote for dirty Democrats beholden to corporate interests.
11
What’s not to like about an intelligent, rational, well educated secularist who won’t pick your pockets and can balance and read a budget. Aren’t we all sick of tweet and reality TV leadership. Believe it or not middle is good and wealthy middle isn’t bad. If the boat isn’t rocking too badly those who are willing to swim can usually be boosted aboard.
11
We already have a moderate candidate who is extremely intelligent, who is a decent person of faith, who has been married to one person and doesn't cheat on their spouse, who is not a criminal, who served honorably in our military and fought in a war, who has good ideas for solving our problems and who has executive experience. His name is Pete Buttigieg.
5
We seem to be looking for a Lone Ranger type to beat Trump. Are Americans really stupid enough to re-elect him?
5
Bret Stephens thinks Bloomberg running for POTUS is a good idea. Translation: Bloomberg running for POTUS is a BAD idea.
8
At least he's a real billionaire. (Just what our raging inequality needs.)
And he'll still be 29 years (less one month) 'shy' of 100 years old -- and just 4 years older than trump -- when Inauguration Day 2021 rolls around.
"OK Pre-Boomer"?
s/70YO Boomer
# Run Sherrod Run #Run Stacey Run # And you may ask yourself, well … How did I get here?
Can you say Mario Cuomo? And what does it say aBout this vast country that if it is Mike v Don for two Prez elections we will have had only candidates from New York, and I do not mean Buffalo. I kind of like Warren . The debates would be more like a WWF cage fight.
1
Another 77 yr old male with good intensions is going to intrude in the field of younger, qualified women such as Amy Klobuchar or Kamala Harris. Mike Bloomberg would be terrific as a cabinet nominee, as would several dems running for president. But, the democrats need a fresh younger more current appeal. People in general like to feel that a leader cares about them, and their cicumstances, and a billionaire, even well intentioned cannot connect in the same way as someone who has run for office [a senator as example] and shown to be electable and connectable. PLEASE MIKE, use your money to back a life long dedicated Democrat, and after the election... become head of the EPA.
92
Bloomberg was a terrific mayor for wealthy white Manhattan residents, many of whom have made laudatory comments in this column.
For other New Yorkers, he was not so great. His insistence on ever-increasing stop-and-frisks, much of which were implemented by rookies from out of town who had no idea about probable cause, worsened relations between the police and minority communities. And his steadfast refusal to meet with minority legislators and community leaders to discuss their objections to their young people being roughed up for no reason led to yet another layer of oversight of the NYPD.
Further, when stop-and-frisks stopped almost entirely after a federal court declared the NYPD's program racially-driven and unconstitutional, crime continued its downward slide. That indicates that the up to 800,000 stops a year of young black and Latino men were unnecessary.
I note that one commenter praised his response to the first snowstorm of his first term. I guess he/she forgot the Christmas Day blizzard when the Mayor was out of town. The people he left in charge did not move fast enough, leading to a city that was paralyzed for days. When he got back, he pooh-poohed the whole issue and told snowbound Queens and Brooklyn residents to see a Broadway show.
When reporters asked him where he had been during the emergency (most likely his house in Bermuda), he got offended and ended the press conference.
Not the kind of attitude we need in a president.
7
The idea that the Democrats would nominate a 78 year old billionaire Wall Street magnate in the aftermath of the 2016 election is a bad joke. Talk about not learning your lesson. Bloomberg is getting in this race for one reason: to make Warren doesn't institute a capital tax and tax some financial transactions. That's it; that's all there is to this guy. Think about who Bloomberg was as mayor. He supported stop and frisk and sided with the real estate lobby every chance he got.
13
So pragmatism, and a extremely successful smart person is not pleasing to the left as a candidate? Bloomberg came from modest beginnings and made a lot of money, has given away more to good programs than most and he is not acceptable to the left?
I am an Independent and have voted that way all my life and I would,after learning more about Bloomberg be willing to vote for him. I loved Bill Clinton because of what he did after losing the House and Senate in 1994. He worked very hard to do things that were good for Americans.
Just give me an opportunity to vote for centrist Democrat.
8
What should be done to end the trump "presidency", assuming that he is not removed from office before the election. That is the only question. Save the country first, then worry about every thing else later. That is why electability is the only issue in the candidate selection process for the Democrats.
6
I'm personally glad to see Bloomberg running but I am hard pressed to think his timing is any good. If he had been in the trenches rom the start, I like to think the debates would have taken a different turn; focused better and sooner.
He has a lot to prove this late in the game and with at least ten people still running.
3
I’m liberal and I’m all in on Bloomberg. We don’t just need to replace Humpty Dumpty, the next administration will need to put everything back together again. Bloomberg is the real deal, everything Trump thinks or wishes he could be. Bloomberg could rebuild the necessary structures and set up the next government with a cabinet who actually believes in what government can achieve for us citizens (infrastructure anyone?). I’d like to see people like Pete Buttegieg working with him. I don’t want people to hold his wealth and success against him. Let’s put his talents and smarts to work for all of us.
11
I remember that being the .exact same. reasoning for voting for Trump. He really knows how to run a company. He will make sure the point zero percent of us stay wealthy. He’s so wealthy, he will be beyond corruption. Hahahaha! Do you hear yourselves? There is only one candidate who is beyond corruption, who knows how good governance works, not just for those already obscenely wealthy. Bernie.
3
I don't care if Bloomberg runs or not. I know I will NOT vote for Donald Trump.
9
If Bloomberg sincerely wants to help America, and in the bargain trigger Trump, he should just buy Fox News.
12
Excellent suggestion! And he should also volunteer to fight for eighty percent taxes on billionaires.
4
Yep, Bret, thanks for waving that false flag so obviously we know not to follow it.
Moving right along with Liz or anyone other than another oligarch.
7
Oh Brett, so tired of the tar and feather 'progressive-lefty’ jargon label you’ve adopted from the GOP noise box.
Warren is a Democrat, and like most of the current crop of candidates, brings the historically successful, yet overlooked Democratic party dialog back to the table - long overdue after 30+ years of GOP's version of free market ‘patriotism’ and now world alienation. Unlike Republicans, NO democratic agenda wants or has the ability to take away your healthcare via Medicare for All or give away college for anyone - but they may just be able to secure long term care, mandate class size in K-12, make Israel SAFER and incentivize solutions for affordable housing, for example.
If you want to vote democrat because policies they've advocated and implemented since the New Deal have helped you and generations to prosper through worker protections, fairness, and educational opportunity you'd vote Democrat -not GOP or someone who can't make up their mind or do so at the last minute to 'rescue’ America.
3
All the other rationales aside Bret ... you forgot the biggest reason for your support of Bloomberg. Namely, Mike assuredly would be luke warm at the very least towards any legislative prescription confronting the pernicious wealth concentration that has depleted the purchasing power of most Americans.
Still, who wouldn't want to see a Bloomberg vs Trump debate. Pass the popcorn please!
4
That's right, let him run--as a Republican. That anybody would even consider letting him run as a Democrat tells you all you need to know about the cravenness of the corporate Democratic party--which would rather lose to a low-life crook like Trump than win with someone like Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren. As they showed us in 2016.
5
I very much dislike what Bret has to say, most of the time, and that is true for this one too. Bloomberg would be awful. The reason why some candidates are more to the left is because of rampant income inequality. That is exactly what Bloomberg did to NY, he made a once affordable city, unaffordable. He ruined nyc in a lot of ways! We do not need another wealthy billionaire as a president!!!
5
A Bloomberg-Trump contest would be one between an ersatz Democrat and an ersatz Republican. The benighted Republicans weren't smart enough to avoid Trump. I believe Democrats have enough brains and spinal column to resist a billionaire businessman. The never Trumpers, the people like Stephens who cannot admit they sired him, never tire of imploring Democrats to be cautious and elect someone who won't put a dent in their bank accounts. Bloomberg will go the way of John Lindsay and Bill de Blasio. To quote the master New York demagogue: "sad, very sad".
1
Your New York City centric bias is showing. In the rest of the country, where many of us are profoundly unimpressed by the arrogance of NYC, Bloomberg's experience as Mayor of NYC is not a positive anymore than Trump's experience as the head of a NYC based real estate crime family was.
2
If you picked a person from the street randomly, almost certainly he would be a better president then Trump, just by not doing anything.
5
I agree with George Conway. The most valuable thing Bloomberg can do is to buy Fox News and set that horrific institution onto the path of telling the truth.
6
Please God, yes - all I want for Christmas is a Bloombery candidacy. The current field will go down in flames before the Trump nast machine. Hopefully he would figure out some way to cancel out the Fox "News" propaganda machine.
6
I have always assumed that nicknames had an endearing quality. whereas the likes of Sleepy Joe et al are considered name-calling. Name-calling is often bullying, mean and offensive and is the true definition of what Trump does.
1
It disgusts me that people think that another billionaire will solve our problems. It won't, because it's a conflict of interest from the get go. We need someone who is NOT rich, someone who fully understands, AND FEELS, the pressures of the middle class, and the poor. Most of my friends are middle class and we all see a diminishing future of increasing health costs, increasing health insurance premiums,, reduced health insurance coverage, global warming, destruction/corruption of our democratic institutions, and we are frankly, terrified. With Bloomberg I see nothing but business as usual.
2
Anyone that has a good chance of defeating Trump has my vote. Be it Bloomberg or a Martian. Like some of Sanders and Warrens policies but believe they are unelectable in the States that matter in the electoral college.
6
Having spent time at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins, I will say his example is one to emulate. For a school long committed to helping the plight of brown people (provided they don't live in the US) because it provides rich Americans with a little neo-colonial adventure, Mayor Bloomberg shifted its mandate to addressing the myriad public health problems at home. See Bloomberg's American Health Initiative for more details.
While I love Elizabeth Warren her stance on an immediate rollout of Medicare for All makes her unelectable. Bloomberg may actually have a chance against the (sadly) unsinkable DJT.
5
My heart is with Bernie or Warren. My head is with Bloomberg.
Elizabeth could win if she was not quite as scolding (of billionaires + insurance); if she'd be giving people a choice (on health insurance). Nobody wants to be TOLD what to do - even if it is in their best interest. In my view, that is her achilles heel.
I CANNOT fathom the planet suffering another 4 years of Trump. So RUN, MIKE! ( with whom?... Liz?)
5
I have thought for a couple of months now that the Democrats are in deep trouble because of a weak field of presidential candidates. By weak, I mean unable to defeat Trump. The recent NYT study of 6 battleground states confirms that opinion.
I had my own thoughts on who should enter the race to save the day, and Bloomberg was not one of them. But Mr. Stephens makes a very persuasive case. I think we should give Michael Bloomberg serious consideration.
It's all about defeating Trump. We must defeat him for the sake of our nation.
5
So, "Bloomberg's money neutralizes Trump's fundraising advantage"? Aren't we Democrats trying to get money out of politics? This is exactly the opposite: the fear that it takes a billionaire to defeat one. No, thanks.
3
Bloomberg would have a great chance of beating Trump but it seems to me delusional to think he can win the Democratic nomination. He is basically a liberal Republican like Weld. Democrats who want a moderate will need to go with a Biden. If he falters maybe Bloomberg can step in to take his place if Trump is still strong enough in the states that matter to beat Warren who is the likely candidate. Bernie will likely drop out and support her as together they represent the majority of democratic primary voters.
This guy is only five months younger than Sanders. How come nobody says anything about his age, yet tons of people say Sanders is too old? I belong to those who think age should not be an issue, and in this respect Bloomberg's running helps Sanders.
It's ideas, leadership, and a record of dedication that matters, and that's why I'm for Sanders. He cares about poor and middle class Americans. I don't think being rich necessarily means that you don't care about the poor or middle class, but I am less trustful of those who have lived the high life. (Bernie may have made money on his book, but he's lived his whole life in connection with people in need.
Go Bernie, GO!
5
Perhaps the clearest indication that Mr. Bloomberg should let this idea pass is this endorsement.
5
Bret, you nailed it. Nothing further to add.
3
Agree with your article and thank you for it. You have said correctly that Warren and Sanders ignore the swing voters and Biden is weak. Our purpose must be to win, not simply to run. I hope the too many running will gracefully step aside. Bloomberg and Klobachar would be terrific!! I know a number of Republican who would vote for that ticket.
4
Amy Klobuchar, who seems to be a bit of a whiner (to go with her temper) may yet become the first woman president. Bloomberg wins the Democratic primary, picks "Minnesota nice" Senator Klobuchar as his Veep to appeal to the common person and Midwest moderates, 4 or 8 years later she becomes president. If Trump can win, anything could happen.
5
In this country, all Trump has to do is say that Mr. Bloomberg sometimes wears a funny hat on weekends, and then say that he didn't say that. Won't even have to invent a nickname. But what about Trump's daughter and son in law? Don't be silly. That's different.
2
Amen to everything you said. He will definitely have my vote.
Alas, he has no chance in the Democratic primaries dominated by the rabid wing of the party. Warren will be beaten badly in the general election.
Get ready for 4 more years of Trump.
3
Bloomberg is Biden, but with more money, polish and intelligence. I sure hope that's not the direction we take.
1
Run, Mike, Run -- BUT AS A REPUBLICAN! Now THAT's an idea! He wouldn't win, but he'd sure get under Trump's skin and set up Trump for making a whole pile of mistakes that would come back to haunt him. Run, Mike, Run -- but as a Republican!
1
Hey, what’s wrong with 77 years old, my new age? Meet me at the gym and I’ll show you who’s old, it ain’t me! But I do agree we need a heavy weight to turn this country around and Bloomberg could do this starting on day one! It’s also good to start feeling hopeful once again.
4
For a nation needing to move forward, these almost octogenarians will most assuredly take us backwards
2
A Bloomberg/Trump election would signify to the world that democracy has ended being supplanted by Oligarchy. The moneyed elites of the world have demonstrated their their first love is their wealth and have no patriotic bones in their body. America is failing and needs a government that begins to address these problems. We don’t need more art museums or another sports stadium or more glass clad buildings. Bloomberg has never demonstrated concern for the downtrodden. He’s a phoney just like trump. At least the media holds trump to account.
3
Funny how Democrats cheered when Bloomberg called Trump a Con at the Convention. Were so happy when he put a ton of his cash to support Democratic candidates and other liberal causes. Were so happy with his campaign on gun control and climate change.
But now some say “how dare he run in our primary?” Please spare us the hypocrisy.
3
@Vicki I'd say Mike will spare us the lame unelectable candidates we have now. At least Mike actually created something of value to earn his money. I don't think we'll find any money laundering there, and we might even see his tax returns.
1
Michael Bloomberg is the man who initiated the unconstitutional 'stop and frisk' program. A program which violated the rights of those the police searched. Isn't this reason enough not to elect this man president?
3
@L. Z.
Not at all. It lowered crime. If you made stop & frisk subject of a national plebiscite, it would win in a landslide.
3
@L. Z. Sorry L.Z., 'stop and frisk' is not enough , not anywhere near it. At that time, when NYC was overrun by crime, it looked like a good idea. Perhaps it still is.
2
What I wonder about is where the Democratic Party leadership is on Bloomberg (or any other candidate).
While the days party nominations by a few guys in a smoke filled room are gone, the Democratic Party leadership could make Mike Bloomberg a serious primary candidate in key states like Pennsylvania.
1
Just what American democracy needs: another New York billionaire in alliance with New York media. Where do the rest of us figure in?
If Mr. Stephens thinks Bernie and Liz and Pete and Joe will slink off quietly to make way for the Big Money guy, he's dead wrong. Nor will their true believers. The Bernie/Liz types don't just think they're right--but that those who disagree with the progressive cult are evil. Think they'll join the Mike camp? Not a chance. It was the Bernie believers who sat out the 2016 election and no doubt tipped some states to the Orange Menace. Rinse, repeat and you're looking at 2020.
Mayor Mike isn't playing for an outright win; what he smells is a deadlocked convention, with neither Bernie nor Liz nor Joe willing to make a deal on the second ballot. And then, like balloons from the ceiling, Mayor Mike will descend to save the party.
1
@richard cheverton Were do the rest of us figure in? We'd get the better of two billionaires. Wake up and smell the coffee.
1
@richard cheverton He's a DNC stalking horse for Hillary Clinton.
1
Is running for President the new plutocrat hobby now? Voting for one will not be mine.
6
The democrats have a crowded field that includes some great candidates already. The paradox of choice is taking hold, none of the new candidates are the next Obama, they just need to pick someone and then show up and vote.
@Alec Tell me again, who are the great candidates already?
2
Of course-- and Gates can buy the vp spot American Oligarchy
6
Almost any Democrat beats Trump in the national polls -- but no Democrat, except Joe Biden, beats Trump in the electoral college. The Presidency is decided by a handful of counties in the battleground states of the mid-west and Pennsylvania. Therefore, the question is very simply this: CAN Bloomberg or Warren or Sanders win in those counties? I doubt it. To win the presidency, it does not matter where "the energy" is in "the Party" -- as if mid-Western Democrats were not "the party." What matters is where "the energy " is in the ELECTORAL COLLEGE. This election is far too important to be about self expression and the purity of one's values. It must be about getting results. But what I see happening is that Biden is starved of cash at the same time that people complain that he is not running a "good campaign." Democrats are busy killing Biden with their moral purity instead of rallying to his support. What lessons have we learned from "the Ukraine phone conversation"? Democrats and Trump-Putin on the same side -- both trying to knock out the same guy! Think about it!
4
@reju lavtok Any chance we can abolish the electoral college before the next election?
Bloomberg would destroy trump. No doubt. Put him with Harris and you will have a slaughter of the republicans.
7
I agree. The argument that billionaires will act in their own interests doesn't apply to Mr Bloomberg. He's never done that.
6
Bloomberg destroyed public education in NYC. He ignored the outer boroughs’ issues and instituted a master plan that included urbanization and major development of particular areas , especially in the outer boroughs. We are now suffering in Bayside, Queens, choking with more traffic, local bike lanes dropped in without a traffic study, development, and constant criminalization of car drivers with red light cameras, low speed limits, and short parking meter times. This is Bloomberg’s legacy, and is being carried forward. DeBlasio is implementing this plan, don’t worry. He’s about as progressive as Nero was.
1
Any one of the current Democratic candidates is far superior to Trump in leadership qualities. What the Dems need is a simple strong, popular, unifying message that can empower voters to show up and vote. As we have seen, it is only a unified congress, in concert with a responsible Executive branch, that can effectively serve the interests of the electorate and take on vested interest group and corporations that exploit our divisions. Removing the unfair influence of money and media in political campaigns is essential to restoring trust in democracy. This must be part of what Dems stand up for. Can Bloomberg support this message???
1
Bret Stephens keeps trying to save Democrats from themselves. I'm not being sarcastic when I say this. It is ironic that conservatives see the Democratic quandary so much more clearly than Democrats themselves - especially New York Times Democrats. In the swing States, especially Michigan Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, there is no appetite for Warren or Sanders. Dear progressives, Stop kidding yourselves, you are looking at a decisive Trump electoral victory. As a psychologist who wanted very much to support Biden, I had to admit that he is in serious cognitive decline. To paraphrase Vince Lombardi, beating Trump isn't the important thing, it's the only thing. I will support Michael Bloomberg anyway I can.
9
Your first comment stopped me. Mike Bloomberg would be a terrible President of a Democracy. He has zero comprehension of what We the People, or Liberty, Justice and Freedom for all means. He thinks and acts like a corporate executive who tells people what to d from his self assumed superior knowledge. He lacks Wisdom. He does not understand what collaboration or cooperation means, and he would never get elected...Thank goodness!
2
The best way for republicans of conscience to be sure that trump doesnt get another 4 year is for Congress to remove him from office for his illegal extortion from a foreign government to benefit is his own personal interests. Do your job for our country, Repubs!
10
Are there any Republicans with a conscience? Only Lisa Murkowski, Romney and Collins are questionable.
1
@Lynn Exactly what personal interest are you talking about? Quid pro Joe?
I like Bloomberg, but let’s not whitewash him or whistle past his obvious weaknesses. To win in ‘20 we need record turnout among 18-30’s, and Blacks and Latinos. Bloomberg will depress this turnout. Hatred of Trump might help overcome his obvious weaknesses, but they exist.
3
Wow. The "libertarian" seer speaks again. Those on the right care nothing for the still growing income disparity in this country and a billionaire president would suit them fine. The more monied a man is the better, after all corporate greed had done so well so far in keeping the peons in their place. Gee, Grandpa, what big teeth you have.
6
We're full circle to 1776 with a mad King on the throne and patriots with big ideas readyy to restructure a more equitable America. You don't bring in Kissinger when you need RFK. Mayor Bloomberg is a statesman. He would be a brilliant secretary of state, a Democratic Kissinger under Warren or Bernie. Save me from a food fight between NYC billionaires. The Democrats are for the many, not the few. Mr. Mayor, you were the Mario Cuomo of 2016. you missed the bus.
2
@Maureen Secretary of State? Based on what experience?
The notion that a billionaire would make an effective president because "they'd run the government like a business" is foolish. Multitudes of tRump supporters naively believe this. But there is a growing distaste for the ultra-rich of all stripes. If Bloomberg jumps into the ring at this late date, he will certainly be seen as trying to buy his way to the nomination. He also will appear gutless for not participating in debates or campaigning up to this point. A lot of us Dems are interested in a middle-of-the-road candidate who can get things done, but a growing number of us also want someone with VISION and the guts to put forward bold plans on climate, healthcare, and education. Regardless, a lot of us would reject Bloomberg because we've grown weary of the plutocrats and their overtaking of our government and way of life.
3
One more reason to support a Bloomberg candidacy:
Because the US needs a leader who will work to unify the country.
Polarization is the oxygen feeding both Warren and Sanders.
Biden and Buttigieg would also bring unity, but may not be able to win the nomination (or beat Trump).
4
I'm sure a Bloomberg presidency makes everybody from the WSJ salivate, but I'm fairly certain that the rust belt swing states that Clinton lost last time aren't going to see Bloomberg as some sort of common sense, middle of the road business savior.
A Bloomberg Democratic nomination is a recipe for a Trump landslide. I'd rather go to war with Warren than a Billionaire New York technocrat. If you want to de-energize the Democratic base, nominating Bloomberg is the way to do it.
And permit me to address the elephant in the room, Bloomberg is Jewish, and in the current environment that is not exactly a net positive in the rust belt swing states that we need to win back.
Should his religion enter into this? Of course not, but it would become an issue, because the other side will make it one, you can count on that.
If you want to win, convince Michelle Obama or Oprah to run. Otherwise, we're going to have to take our chances with Biden or Warren, either of which don't exactly fill me with overconfidence.
1
Our single biggest problem today is Trump. No doubt. The second is probably a tie between our severely deficient health care system and our yawning, worsening inequality, both of which require--at least in part--additional resources from people like Mike. Bloomberg might well negate Trump, but then exacerbate the next most important problems since he doesn't want people like him to pay higher taxes.
1
I am an ultra liberal Democrat and even I admit, no way will Elizabeth Warren win the swing states. Sadly, many of us who live in our Blue Bubbles just don’t get it. Mayor Mike is the perfect combination of social progressive and business friendly. And for those crying out that rich people shouldn’t be POTUS, FYI our most generous and socially progressive Presidents have been wealthy (Teddy Roosevelt, FDR and JFK) all of whom came from wealth - never actually created it. I say go for it Mike, it pick a young VP who will carry the torch.
9
No offense, but if you really believe more people in the middle of the country are clamoring for Mike Bloomberg over the current frontrunners, then you really are in a bubble.
3
@Betti You know Teddy was a Republican, right?
1
@Betti LBJ was a poor southern boy who was far more progressive that JFK on the domestic front.
"his talent for appointing competent deputies"
Cathie Black was a pretty bad nominee
Also development in NYC is out of control and Bloomberg is on the hook for the rezoning (as I understand it)
That said he interests me as much or more than anyone.
2
Amen.
4
Perfect! Bam!
2
Run Mike!
5
Can Mike persuade Flyover Country?
2
you nailed it, between a maker and a faker
1
one more entitled white guy thinking he knows better than everyone else because of money. Sorry, dude, Meg Whitman could not buy the govorneurship of CA - at a certain level, money reflects only your own face, not who you are to the rest of the world.
3
Spot on.
1
Some Republicans seem obsessed with Democrats, convinced that we are all idiots shooting ourselves in the foot repeatedly because we are too progressive, not “centrist” enough for them Oh, they would love us to include their views and we would all be so much better off if only we listened to this Bret and many other media Republican apologists ashamed of their party but not able to see the advantages of progressive policies such as social security and Medicare, I guess. Well. It is tiresome. I cannot stand to listen to much of it. They think if only we’d be practical, reasonable, more Republican, then we would beat Trump. Why do we have to be so blind, and do you know what else? They really want us to be Republican Democrats. Anything but Democrats. And, please, you want to say, “No Progressive Democrats.”
Well, enough. Cease and desist. But wait, you cannot. You are a columnist and doing just this is your thing. My mistake is to read even your titles
3
Awwww. . . now you're talking Bret. Bloomberg, New Yorker, Businessman, someone that can go toe to toe with our man in the Oval Office. . .Hope your wish comes true.
2
All I have to say is: "Stop and Frisk"!!!
1
all I have to say...is stop and frisk WORKED!
3
All hail the plutocracy!!!
4
Bret Stephens can't see nor hear and doesn't understand nor care about the base of the Democratic Party.
The most loyal and long suffering base of the Democratic Party is black African American. In particular black African American Protestant females.
In the 2016 Presidential election Hillary Clinton won 92% of the black voting minority including 88% of black men and 95% of black women. But black turnout was down 11% from peak Obama in 2008 and 2012.
Black folks haven't forgotten nor forgiven the Clinton's role in their mass incarceration and mass welfare deformation.
Hillary Clinton won 42% of the white voting majority in 2016. Compared to Obama's 43% in 2008 and 41% in 2012.
Yet the 'lesson' the Democrats learned from their 2016 loss is to put three white Judeo-Christian 70+ year old's polling at the top of ticket. Mike Bloomberg's is more of the same.
Outside of Ankara, Beijing ,Cairo, Moscow, Pyongyang Riyadh and Tel Aviv there is no smiling and smirking clamor for two New York City billionaires to fight over occupation of the White House.
7
"Because his money instantly neutralizes the Trump campaign’s formidable fund-raising advantage..."
Sad that money is a factor at all. Another reason we need a progressive who will at least try to enact thorough campaign finance (and overall electoral) reform.
4
Mr. Bloomberg would have my vote for President of the United States of America. He is a decent per son who has done much good with his wealth. I suppose the Democrats are scared that he might just get the support to run. Go for it Mike. Let us get a new ball cap out: I LIKE MIKE.
2
Quick web search reveals that Bloomberg owns houses in: Manhattan (multiple), Bermuda, London, Southampton, Westchester County (multiple horse "farms"), Vail, and Wellington, Florida.
Oh yeah...and a jet...and a helicopter...and a propeller plane.
Sure,...he is looking out for *your* best interest.
6
@College Dad. And, what on earth do his possessions have to do with this article? Yes, he’s a very rich man who apparently made his money honestly and has been pretty philanthropic with his fortune. From what I’ve read, he’s a smart guy and was a competent mayor of NYC which is a pretty decent accomplishment, much more so than being mayor of South Bend. He has some rather irritating “nanny” tendencies but so do many politicians. I’m not overfond of Democrats these days but Bloomberg would be worth a look.
3
@Semper Liberi Montani
His possessions are the spoils of his vast wealth which make it unlikely that he would be anything but a lateral move from what's in the White House now. What you've heard about his tenure as mayor has nothing to do with this article either. I lived in Manhattan from 1967 until 2014 and saw how Bloomberg bulldozed the charm, character and soul of a once great city. Your feelings about Democrats are irrelevant as Bloomberg is neither Republican nor Democrat. He's a corporation.
3
So the party of diversity has to run a billionaire white male? Warren should be the perfect candidate: female, ultra liberal and younger than Mike.
3
Mr. Bloomberg seems to be an able and pragmatic centrist. Our democracy may not survive another four years of Trump. I cannot really understand why 40% of the population approves of Trump, but it is unlikely that all or even most Trumpians are sociopaths. We badly need someone who can work towards getting us past our tribal divisions. We also need someone who can demonstrate that government can work effectively and efficiently and who can help to restore trust in government.
3
go for it, Mike!
4
Not getting into the fray here, other than to say, defeating Trump is and should be our primary goal. If Bloomberg is the one to do that, so be it. If not, then whoever we nominate must be able to do that.
4
I am confused. The appellation "Crazy Bernie" is a crackpot slur. By circulating this slur and lending it legitimacy you are inflating Bloomberg. Then, you claim Bloomberg is more electable. Bloomberg is part of the status quo and the system. This status quo and system is what kept the deflation of estimates regarding the scope of climate threats going. You are asking people to vote for someone who has advanced modest measures to support climate change, when bold thinking is necessary. Bloomberg will take votes from Biden who was the strongest in the poll. So, your argument for Bloomberg can't be advancing the candidate who has been proven most electable. I listened carefully to the Daily and noted how many persons did not even respond to the poll and how different pollsters treated persons interviewed differently. That did not give me sufficient confidence in the poll. And what about Bloomberg's negatives, e.g. his filing late, etc. Also, Bloomberg is running because Warren in popular NOT because she's unpopular as we see in this article by Nathaniel Rakich:
"How Seriously Should We Take Michael Bloomberg’s Potential 2020 Run?" A non-populist wants to stop a populist and everything about the last election tells us populists win.
2
Bret,
I never thought I’d ever agree with you on anything! But here goes, I think you’re right! This from a New York, California liberal! This election is too important. Democracy is at stake!
4
I will take a complete pass on a billionaire running for president.
9
I prefer Mayor Pete. He checks off all the boxes for me. I would also be ok with Biden, Warren, Bernie or Booker. Down to earth people. Who are smart and want to help people. Why are the news outlets always bashing Democrats for not being "perfect". That is how democrats will lose. Give the candidates as much press as Trump. He gets way too much press. He is like a giant purple gorilla, the press can't, won't look away from him.
"The Democratic base will not sit out the election and squander its chances to oust Trump because Bloomberg's wealth offends them or because they won't vote for a candidate who doesn't embrace the Green New Deal."
If Bloomberg becomes the candidate you are probably right about Democrats turning out for him to defeat Trump but isn't that just a light version of, "whether you love me or hate me, you've got vote for me."
If the Dems don’t go with Bloomberg, they will lose, lose, lose.
I know PLENTY of Republicans who won’t vote for Trump (again) and will sit out voting all-together (again) if Warren or Sanders is the nominee, just as they did when Hillary was the choice against Trump. Bernie and Elizabeth are just too far left to defeat The Commander NOT in Chief”. There are many of us Independents who don’t want a far left candidate either, but will jump at the chance to vote for a moderate. Bloomberg would change that and the non-voters would return to the voting booths in droves. The whole purpose of this next election should be getting this present, totally incompetent leader of the free world out of office, before he inflicts more damage to our democracy. Spare me the inflated egos and pie in the sky promises of Sanders and Warren. Let’s get real and elect someone practical, who will actually ”right the ship”, before it totally sinks.
5
Not content with having destroyed their own party, pseudo moderate Republicans want to destroy the democracy.
3
Of course a never-Trumper like Bret would like another never-Trumper like Bloomberg. You all need to work to reform your own broken party instead of forcing your center-right conservative ideology onto the Democrats.
4
Election are won and lost by who votes. The Democrats need a candidate that will drive it's base to the polls. As a previous NYT article showed there are few persuadables and persuading is hard.
1
It's time for the billionaires to form their own party, and let the rest of America remedy the inequalities they have profited from.
5
Disgusting but predictable that Wall Street Stephens would rave over Billionaire Bloomberg joining the race
Of course all the elites are panicked over the potential of a progressive like Sanders or Warren becoming president. Oligarchs are like that-they don’t like to share
Bloomberg, like any centrist, has a good chance of losing to Trump. But even if a Dem centrist wins, we all lose: there will be no green new deal and the climate crisis will come faster and with a lot more suffering
4
Reading the comments here I can only assume that Bloomberg, too, is a boomer thing. Not sure there are quite enough of you. Count me out.
2
Uh, oh! Bret Stephens is enthusiastic about Michael Bloomberg as president. Buckle up, people!
1
Set a Billionaire to catch a Billionaire. Great!
Yes, run as a Republican! OR support Joe Biden.
1
From your northern neighbour I have been watching the craziness for a couple of years now...and the craziness might just get more crazier.
What's with America and 70 year old politicians? Your system of campaign spending is crazy too. American politics has become so nasty that kind, smart people generally don't want to get involved. For goodness sake.....
2
What Stephens overlooks is Bloomberg's less than magnetic attraction to the left-wing of the Democratic Party and to African-Americans. Without substantial ballot support from both these groups he's unlikely to win (ask Hillary about the lack of African-American enthusiasm). The fact that Bloomberg is Jewish is not necessarily going to help either. On the other hand, he's worlds better than Trump from any rational perspective.
1
This smacks of pure opportunism, not concern for the public interest.
Why didn't he run in 2016 when he would have been younger than Trump will be in 2020?
2
Well, that cinches it, if the NYT "moderate" columnists Leonhardt and Stephens both love Bloomberg, I'm sure he's great. We needed another 77-year-old white man to diversify the field, especially a billionaire with even more charm than Howard Schultz. Some will say he's only popular in New York, but I'm sure he will do every bit as well as Beto on a national scale.
2
Instead of worrying about Democrats "saving them from themselves", perhaps he should concentrate on his own party....you know the one that used to stand for something, but now is controlled by Donald Trump? Why Bret thinks any Democrat would care what he thinks or wants is beyond me. Worry about the Republican Party that embraced Trump and don't forget the role you played in putting that despicable man into the White House.
3
A Bloomberg/Steyer ticket would be a sure winner.
3
Bloomberg-Stacy Abrams would be cool!
I like Mike. He is smart and has been a good public servant. He has been very successful. He would likely face important issues like climate change and guns, but, would not mess up the economy with screwball, Socialist nonsense. He is quite old which is a detriment. So, bring it on. He would be a breath of fresh air. Honest and successful and practical vs. dishonest, dumb, and self serving would be an interesting race.
4
One more ultra-rich, 70+, white man enters the presidential race, and we should cheer? This is the Democrats shining hope to reach average Americans? What will the Bloomberg/Trump debates be called --Clash of the billionaires?
3
Yes exactly just to heavyweight fight between a maker & fakers. That’s not what this country needs. A ridiculous matchup of an election for the ages. What this country need is someone to lift all of us up. I want someone fighting for America not their egos! No thank you! What a ridiculous article New York Times
2
As could be predicted, the very first reason Bret gives for Bloomberg to run is the dough. Of course no Dem or informed voter gives a hoot who Brett, in the depths of his oligarchical musings, prefers as our new top executive place holder - I'll hold off using the term President 'till the day we actually get one back in office. Of course Brett if fine with yet another rich guy buying his way into the office. Bloomberg is not running because Biden is fading, but because Warren is surging. I take that as a good sign of what's about to hit these callow, craven money folks. Get ready for "trickle down" to actually get results as we, the people, finally take back this corrupt government and hold these weenies upside down by their heels and shake them until some of their obscene wealth "trickles down."
2
Bloomberg?! Really? You clearly have not been out of the bubble Bret. An over privileged billionaire with a nasally voice is not what Americans are looking for.
5
Trust a Con to advise Democrats on who to vote for. Sure fire win!
2
I'm from Texas - please run. We need a better choice.
5
To quote Boston Golbe columnist Larry Edelman
"I LIKE MIKE".
3
Great idea! Bloomberg could give every GOP senator and congressman a million dollars each for every gun control,healthcare,climate, regulation law they cast in favor of them! Problem solved.
Just another “rich guy” who figures he is smarter than all of the rest of us. Nah...........
1
Politically, Bloomberg is nothing more than Trump, but with better manners.
3
Anybody but a progressive...er, Trump.
2
Yes, please run—as a Republican.
2
Demographically, the nation is becoming more black & brown and Bret wants to see two aging white men lead the nation. Sorry folks, time for new, younger leadership...white men are not the only ones who are capable of leading this nation. Obama clearly demonstrated that fact.
3
Poor Bret. “Anybody but Warren,” huh? Republicans can’t stand the idea of women on top.
4
Bret Stephens hates Elizabeth Warren part 12. Yawn...
9
I would love to have Bloomberg run. I'd vote for him in a heartbeat.
But, I don't think he would play as well in flyover country because he's Jewish.
One thing that 45's tenure has shown us is that anti-semitism runs very deep in our country.
1
I'm a college English instructor, and I regularly use Bret Stephens' columns as examples of bad persuasive writing. Keep 'em coming, Bret!
And to the New York Times: you should require your opinion writers to focus on their areas of expertise. Stephens' expertise is, supposedly, foreign policy. Let him write about that every week. Don't ask him to chime in on gun control, or the midterm elections, or Bloomberg's election prospects. Don't let him write about bedbugs - ever.
5
We all know that Mr. Stephens is a fake Never-Trumper. This is his way of keeping his guy in the White House.
3
Once again the DNC in conjunction with Wall Street want to tell me who my candidate will be. I held my nose last time and it didn't work. My choice was denied me by my political party. It didn't work last time and it won't work this time. You can't force a candidate on the Dems because you promised it to her 8 years earlier and you can't force a republican billionaire on us this time and expect us to stay loyal to our party. As bad as trump is, at least the gop let their voters choose. It's why they're so loyal now. #fedupwithbothparties #nomorebillionairesinpolitics
1
Please run, Mike. You'll win.
2
Amen! (Can I say that?)
1
He’s 77.
One of the absolute best of NY elite against an elite NYC bullying misogynist who panders to America's worst right wing groups and runs our foriegn policy in complete deference to Moscow, gee, who will a layed off auto worker vote into office.
Run Mike Run! 100% support Bloomberg. He can beat Trump
2
Give us a break mike. DO NOT RUN!!
just what we need- another grumpy old man running for president
I won’t vote for Bloomberg
4
Another day, another screed from a Times Op-Ed Republican columnist advising Democrats. If it isn't Stephens, it's Brooks, or the aptly named Douthat, or center-right contributors, Bruni, Egan or Leonardt (who seems to have 3 opinion pieces daily, all referencing himself) planting doubt about the electability of Sanders and Warren, who themselves would be considered centrists in a civilized country, and present a great danger to the status quo in the land of the afraid. The sub-head of Stepens' offering today smells like school spirit crossed with kiddie matinee monster combos, KING KONG VS. GODZILLA, who ya gonna root for? These members of the forth estate are really fifth columnists for corporatists.
1
Things are shaping up for a Godzilla vs Mothra presidential battle. Grab your seat and extra big box of popcorn.
In a world where Republicans are loyal to their party and Democrats aren't, yes, we need a candidate that can cross party lines and Bloomberg can do this.
He is too old, granted, but beggars can't be choosers.
No one the Dems has can beat Trump.
Trump is the Teflon Don and that's the long and short of it.
Warren will get bogged down in details while Trump makes sport of her and Sanders will come off as an angry red faced old dude while Trump brands him and Warren both as communists.
Trump can't do anything to Bloomberg but blow hot air. He's not intimidated by Trump. In fact, Trump will look like a stupid boy in short pants next to Bloomberg's sane, rational behavior and ideas.
Trump will have bupkus.
1
I would vote for Bloomberg in a New York nanosecond.
4
Good for you. And good for the nation as long as he is the Republican nominee.
3
“...where is he going to be in 11 months in a contest against opponents with nicknames like “Sleepy Joe,” “Crazy Bernie,” or “Uber Left Elizabeth Warren”?”
An unfortunate sentence you wrote there, Bret!
Trump himself made up those childish nicknames to make his opponents look bad! He gives everybody who doesn’t fawn all over him silly nicknames. The way you wrote the comment makes it seem as though those were common nicknames for them rather than specific jabs from Trump
1
This man was not a public servant. He serves himself. He is in this race because he has enough money to buy it. And everyone talking about blah blah blah he isn't in tune to African Americans, he's Jewish, he's a better candidate than Warren, etc..I hope you realize one day that NONE of this matters. None of it. If Bloomberg wants to be president, he will. He will buy it, just like he bought his third term in NYC whether or not people wanted him. Remember that? So if you want someone who says "oh, who cares, I'm going to stay in office another 4 years even though the law says otherwise" in office, then by all means, vote him in. Your vote doesn't matter anyway. Wake up people.
1
@john
You're too forgiving of Bloomberg. He bought all 3 terms as mayor.
1
I cannot dispel this image of Micheal Bloomberg, martini in hand, sitting in his smoking jacket in front of the fireplace fuming on how a sleazy, lying, ignorant, self-promoting con man named Donald Trump made it all the way to the White House.
Ego is a powerful thing, and the thought of this orange-faced, bombastic and immoral criminal who is destroying a great country getting a second term in office just HAS to be grating on him.
When compared to Michael Bloomberg, Donald Trump is a selfish child that needs to be spanked, or an annoying germ-laden fly that deserves to be squashed.
Go Mike!
3
What are his plans th o address income and wealth inequality?
2
@Matt
His record as mayor make his plans to income and wealth inequality very clear. He will increase it even more effectively than Trump.
3
@Matt
His record as mayor make his plans to address income and wealth inequality very clear. He will increase it even more effectively than Trump.
1
We’ll see.
I am so sick of white rich old men running things....
Where are some smart interesting young people?
We’ve seen a few in Congress....
Now need them on the White House!
(And I am 69 saying this!)
1
Yes! Run, Mike, run!
2
Bretbug uses the NYT as a platform to attack Democrats like Elizabeth Warren who would dare to ensure that ALL Americans are guaranteed healthcare through Medicare for All. Democrats are working hard to save all Americans from the Radical Right's obsequious devotion to predatory capitalism.
5
OK, billionaire.
3
I'm OK with the guy. I've been a never Trumper for about 30 years.
Didn't know Bloomberg was Jewish, but hey, that is so New York, New York.
1
We are not a country where rich wealthy people tell us what to do. Oh wait, we are exactly that country. Money is worshipped here.
That said, mike is originally from here, MA. Till his mom passed at a very ripe age, he would still come to visit her in MA. He is also Jewish and people in the media don’t mind his religion at all, but they do not have the same adoration for another old Jew Bernie because Bernie comes from a very modest low middle class family. This kind of bias is sadly built in, even though the media won’t admit it.
@petey tonei
Bloomberg comes from a very modest, middle class family as well. The difference is that Bloomberg, unlike Sanders, has actually accomplished something with his life, other than barking at rich people.
2
@petey tonei
The bias is economically based. The corporate media by definition must protect their economic interests. Why do you think Bloomberg Media for president is being hyped? He's a brother corporation. Bernie Sanders is perceived as a threat to their bottom line.
You are absolutely right. Bloomberg is the one that can beat the chump.
2
He was a fantastic mayor. He'll have trouble with black voters and unions. He definitely won't be telling us his pronouns.
2
Why is everyone so fascinated with Billionaires? El Trumpo and every thug dictator in the world has proven the point we all know, you do not have to be very smart to get rich or to even become a billionaire in this world.
Bloomberg is a republican he should not be allowed to run as a democrat.
1
Please run Mike, please! Save the Republic!!!
2
Ah Brett, I notice you just couldn't say what Trump would say 'Pocahontas Warren' but we know what you mean.
Buy, Mike,
Buy!
2
Go ahead, vote for Warren, Sanders, Biden, Buttigeig and get 8 to 12 more years of Private Bonespurs Hookerpee...
No. Just no.
2
As a 61 year old white male, all I can think is “OK, Bloomberg”.
2
Yes, please run ASAP!
2
Bloomberg and Biden 2020!
1
"save them from themselves"... this Bret L. Stephens is just too much!
1
Bloomberg/Warren?
1
No Mike, do not run. You are too little nationally and too late in the process. Yes someone like you would be a great candidate but the fact that you waited so long shows this is not really something that you want to do but something that you feel compelled to do based on the obvious weaknesses of the Dem candudates. Yeah I know but you shoulda been in it to win it.
1
This worshiping of billionaires disgusts me. When did the greedy sociopaths of the world become Gods?
2
I respect the NY Times; but apparently even the Times isn't immune from the influence of a billionaire. Bloomberg is a soulless man who stands for nothing, but the seas always part for people like him. It very curious that he's getting all of this positive press coverage
1
Exactly what Stephens wants...a contest between a respectable Republican and a deranged Republican...either way, Stephens can't lose.
2
Is it just me, or did this author just make a pretty convincing argument for Bloomberg
1
Not from New York, are we?
1
Uggh! Who wants to watch a contest between two NY Billionaires who happen to be old white men. It's 2019 for Pete's sake. Enough already.
America is desperate for a sane adult in the White House!!!
Joe Biden needs to grow a spine or play bridge with Hillary.
1
Oh good, another old, super-rich white guy joining the race.
Bloomberg has three black marks against him: Stop and Frisk, the most racist, institutional policing policy in my lifetime; his ignorant comments re #MeToo; and his theft of a third term as NYC mayor. This last was brazen and disturbingly autocratic. If Cheeto's insistence that he can do whatever he wants romances the dictator in you, you'll love Bloomberg.
He did a decent job as my mayor , if one turns a blind eye to the above. He gave developers free rein to build up the city and ignore affordable units for the non-1-percent. He's shown no understanding of the life experience of women and BIPOC. Time's up on racism, sexism and violence against vulnerable demographics, and Bloomberg does. not. get. that.
He's another too-old person. He doesn't play well with others, so I can't imagine him working well with the other branches of government. His judges won't satisfactorily offset Cheeto's disastrous nominations. In short, I can't wait not to vote for him.
1
Conservatives should spend their time and column space on their own disaster of a party.
3
So..... Bloomberg..... Democrat then Republican then independent.....oh now a demo-lican? It just smacks of when one tech billionaire bought a major league sports team and within a month 3 more tech billionaires bought one too....like they said "oh is that what we are doing this week?". So now u have a 3rd billionaire in the race.....what til Gates, Alllen, Bezos find out...they probably to jump in too.
1
Democrats need to remember that FDR was a very rich man who knew how to work the system for the benefit of us all.
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@Diane
"I want to save our system, the capitalist system... It may be necessary to throw to the wolves the forty-six men who are reported to have incomes in excess of one million dollars a year."
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
23
@Diane
If Bloomberg sincerely wants to help America, and in the bargain trigger Trump, he should buy Fox News.
42
@Diane There are lots of ways that Bloomberg could use his money to help defeat Trump. He doesn't have to actually run for President in an already crowded field to do that.
13
Bloomberg's candidacy is an exciting idea. But let's hear him out before we get completely carried away on fresh enthusiasm. I hope he will appear to be the candidate who can beat Trump. Maybe also he can come up with catchy derogatory nicknames--for example, there are many interesting words that rhyme with trump.
1
For 50 years we've judged candidates for office by personal qualities, ideas, how well they work with others, etc.
We've avoided class in choosing leaders, which is normal when we're not in a crisis.
Now we're in a Chile moment. The economy is supposedly sound, but for some reason no hope is seen for a stable life by many millions of young workers and middle class people. The word "inequality" has propelled two Democrat contenders to the front of the pack, which is unheard of.
Crisis awaits us, and has already struck Chile. The question is: will this ultra rich person allow his wealth to make America more equal? By reason of class, the answer is most probably no.
2
Well, with Bloomberg as the nominee for president, that would confirm the transformation of the Democratic Party into the Rockefeller Republicans, which I guess would finally give Bret, David Brooks, and the rest of the Never Trumpers the political home they have been looking for since 2016. But then we would have to found a new party for actual Democrats.
4
At least in a Rockefeller’s day, the tax receipts kept things a little more equal for the American people.
Thank you for the endorsement of Mike Bloomberg.
Mr. B. will return to the American voter democracy they can live with and be proud of. He is the only candidate who can defeat djt, so thanks again Mr. B for standing up for the people.
5
I await Bloomberg’s clarification of his position on wealth inequality and tax policies to remedy the problem. Will he act against his own personal interests?
2
Your statement "....his views on gun control, abortion and climate change fit squarely in the Democratic mainstream..." says it all. In fact, even more of Bloomberg's ideas fit the Democratic mainstream. What Democrats must keep in mind is this: If we don't win the "battleground" states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, Trump will probably win a second term, and Democrats won't be able to do ANYTHING. Running on many of the policies promoted by Warren and Sanders will not be acceptable in those battleground states.
4
Once again, a moderate right leaning pundit, preaches for the moderate candidate. Why not fight to get a moderate candidate for the GOP. This is the dems candidate. He will not even be voting in the Democratic Primary.
5
Some valid observations here by Stephens. One that seems misplaced is that the Democratic base as a whole would swallow hard and turn out for Bloomberg, given the need to vote Trump from office. You only have to read this comments section to realize that, for a significant percentage, they will not. Some of those that choose to not vote in 2020 will sit home, as they did in 2016, to pout. Some will in fact vote for Trump as a “better” choice to upend the current state of society, which they reject. This is the core Obama-Trump voter. And there is no shortage of far left progressives who will sit home in dire hope of the collapse of society that a second Trump term might produce. Their thought process is that maybe through this most extreme crisis, their vision of a “just” society will emerge. While I do not buy into this line of thought, it is definitely held by a significant portion of the political left. They do not fear Trump as much as Stephens has deluded himself. They simply see Trump as a more painful path to their preferred destination. And they see relatively moderate Democrats, such as myself, as enablers of an unjust society.
3
Should I be suspicious of Stephens' enthusiasm here? Suspicious, as in "Let's make another addition to the crowded race of Democratic Party candidates"? Anyone having contributed to the enabling of the Republican Party as it devolved into the Cult of Trump Personality would have me be highly suspicious of promoting a Democratic Party candidate. And any condemnation of Trump now by people like him (Brooks, Will, et al.)--Yeah, it's about time!--reminds me of those "Good Germans" after WWII who claimed never to have wanted what eventually happened after they supported that group of thugs at the start. The credibility here is nil.
3
No Mike !!!!!!No!!!
Go home Mike !
Run run to home number one or two or three or four or five ....,,,,,!!!!
The billionaires told Mike to run Warren and Bernie and Biden too ,out of town.
Run Liz , run Bernie , run Joe.
Mike the billionaire feels threatened by being only half as wealthy.
Capitalism like this only services trump world and Fox and friends.
And Mike knows it.
So does Bill Gates and the Zuck too.
If he ran as a repub. He knows trump would lose to Warren. Or we would still be entrenched and controlled by Mike and friends. Next they remove our social contract and keep sucking us dry with regressive taxes. Think ! 24 ounce soda , NYC !
Seem NYT loves Mike. Not good for my loved ones.
Weld look alive!!!!
1
The first word that comes to mind after reading this op-ed is ersatz. Everything about Trump is a artificial imitation of the real thing, from his fawning infatuation with the American flag, patriotism, creepy alignment with Christian Evangelicals with which he has nothing in common, fake interest in the common man, pretend trade war with China which will end just as it began with China unchanged & still exporting cheap goods to the USA, pretend work on bringing back "good paying jobs" to the Rust Belt, fake love of big trucks & assault weapons, affection for Duck Dynasty and everything about the trailer park South, etc.
His moniker should be "toilet paper Trump" because everything he tweets & confusedly shouts at his rallies is a bunch of crap. Teflon Donny throws childish insults at his opponents hoping they will stick with his imbecilic cult members. Not engaging in crass behavior doesn't mean Dems will be unsuccessful. Rather it means that Democratic voters are more serious and mature than the average GOP Trump loving base.
Billionaire Bloomberg just because he has multiple times more billions than Trump will not be successful as a counterpoint to Trump's appeal with the red state voters. Bloomberg has already attacked much of what these voters love, mainly guns & freedom to trash the environment.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/10/05/trump-toilet-paper-video-president-boards-air-force-one-with-what-appears-be-toilet-paper-stuck-shoe/
1
You’re kidding of course! Worse billionaire candidate since Ross Perot....and smaller. He’ll suck enough few votes away from any Dem who could win just like the other 23 candidates.
I LIKE MIKE!! I have lived in Pennsylvania, Missouri, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New York. Friends from Ohio and Florida have called to talk about Mike’s run. People understand the big picture and know that our democracy is at stake. Trump has done incredible damage in very short order. It is not an overstatement to say that Mike is our one and only hope. Lift your head up from the weeds. Stop what you doing and run to support him. We will iron the details later. And thanks Mike. You are a patriot. Thank you sir.
6
Few Americans vote on substance. Way too many vote 'on their gut.' Is no one else not concerned about Bloomberg's height? I know it's a ridiculous consideration but I'm concerned that the optics of Trump and Bloomberg standing together on a debate stage will be enough to sink Bloomberg. Sad to say, I know, but true?
1
A strong, even genius, organizer and administrator. Made the city a more beautiful, welcoming place. Put his money where his mouth is on gun control. Weak on income inequality. Tone deaf on public housing - and many suffered because of it last winter. Supported stop and frisk - a mistake. Never met a real estate developer he didn't like. Far superior to Trump, but so is anyone with a pulse. Will he move quickly enough on climate change? I need to consider it all.
3
Who is his base? The only liberal opinions he has is over guns, abortion and the environment. So do all Democrats running in varying degrees. It's going to be easy for other Democrats to smear him on his wealth, racist policies (debatable but not hard to get him defensive) and he is cold and unlikable. I think he honestly could attract some disenchanted Republicans in a general but even that gets dicey because of the few issues he is liberal on. Don't get me wrong in a generic way he is more then qualified but I think the majority of Democrats no less the country will care.
Bret Stephens never fails to disappoint readers looking for a fresh perspective from the right or the left. You don't make a case for Mike Bloomberg by trashing Democratic voters. Conservatives are the first to yell elitism at progressives but Stephens doesn't seem to discern his own smug attitude. Bloomberg's entry into the primary would hurt Joe Biden more than any and pave the way for a Warren or Sanders candidacy. I believe either could beat Trump but would rather take my chances on Joe Biden--at least for the next four years.
Stephens blithely waves off significant hurdles Bloomberg would have to overcome to win the nomination and the general election. Let Democrats pick their candidates and Bloomberg is not one I would choose.
I wonder if Tulsi Gabbard might be the perfect running mate for Bloomberg. Think: old/young; male/female; rich/gets by; stiff/eloquent; pragmatic/idealistic; never served/active military; sugar daddy/hula baby; Daddy Warbucks/surfer girl; beast/beauty.
Great political theater possibilities. Book 'em!
2
I for one welcome Michael Bloomberg's entry into the race, for all the reasons Bret Stephens has laid out. Bloomberg is not your usual billionaire, as his work on climate change and gun violence and his support of progressive candidates for Congress in 2018, as well as his millions of dollars in charitable donations, shows. The U.S. is in crisis mode. Re-election of Trump will threaten and most likely destroy our world as we know it. So dithering about Bloomberg's past party affiliations and his wealth, given the unelectable field of Democratic candidates, is nonsense. It is risky and destructive. Warren has shown herself to be tone deaf (and I was a supporter), Sanders (whom I supported in 2016 and still adore) will suffer the fate of all Socialists, Biden has stumbled too frequently, Buttigieg is too inexperienced and thin-skinned, and on it goes. Steve Bullock, who I believe is the best candidate the Dems have, has been ignored - in large part due to the machinations of the DNC. I believe Bloomberg would make a good and strong President, despite his shortcomings.
4
Oligarchs and despots once in power are reluctant to give it up, thus Michael Bloomberg representing all Wall Street looters who just want to continue looting tax payers, middle class be dammed. If that also means land grabbing, then even better. It’s about the U.K. elections and the potential win of the Labor party.
This hubristic attempt is well planned: It’s not just his idea, but the Ronald Lauders of this world. No wonder Stephens is so enthusiastic. It won’t work
1
I guess the billionaires are getting worried they’ll have fewer doubloons IF Warren becomes the nominee and beats Trump.
3
Here's the basic reality, notwithstanding the many tempting centrist illusions: Democrats have won everytime that they were able to mobilize the Afican American vote, and they have lost everytime they have failed to do so. Here's some evidence: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/05/12/black-voter-turnout-fell-in-2016-even-as-a-record-number-of-americans-cast-ballots
As it stands, Joe Biden has the strongest African American backing. If he selects Booker or Harris as his running mate, then he would be virtually unbeatable.
2
A very odd place we find ourselves.
Some are terrified a Democrat candidate with aggressively progressive views will have us cowering behind locked doors clutching AR's in paralyzing fear. Perhaps.
And yet we easily and fully accept that these same doors will be thrust wide open for a Republican candidate whose aggressively regressive views, behavior and policies would have Kevin Passmore tremble in fear.
The gerrymandered states, repressive voting laws, hordes of sympathetic Federal judges, commercialization of public entities, industry as law-makers, etc., etc., etc., are designed extend and expand the control of power by a single political/industrial party.
And as usually done, under the fallacious cloak of pious loyalty to the motherland. The birth of Fascism in Italy was at its core a profiteering agenda, with an ideology built around that profiteering purpose to protect itself in the present and to project itself into the future.
The June 12th, 2017 cabinet meeting should have been to all Americans a frightening warning of where we were headed, much more so than gender-ambiguous rest-rooms, but it wasn't.
With hindsight we could witness the slow erosion of the republic as it evolves into a plutocracy with with strong Fascist underpinnings. And yet, we're frightened of children at our borders.
If it's true people get the government they deserve, I suggest we return Libertas to its rightful home, and replace it with a gold-plated monument to Il Duce.
LOL. In an era of last-ditch capitalism, reinvigorated hatred towards minorites, immense wealth gaps, inadequate healthcare, democracy on the brink, etc...you want to bring another tepid moderate with more money than most of us into the field - and you expect him to win when Biden is slipping? He's gonna get roasted and he should. Please stop grasping at straws trying to take down the progressive wave. We will not be cowed into accepted another neo-liberal technocrat when what we want is real change. Please, get over yourself.
5
Outside of a few Northern states he’d be a total loser, Judge Judy notwithstanding. He certainly would have no appeal in the Rust Belt.
1
"Daring to try to do it or die (it's) gotta be ME!"
I spent dozens of hours formulating sentiments similar to that of Bret Stephan's. It covers some different points and is available on my blog at this link.
I'm now going to connect with a man who lived in Hong Kong for years, then went to the Harvard Kennedy School for post grad studies. He's an avid Trump supporter,. My goal is to gauge whether he and those with his sentiments would vote for Bloomberg.
https://alrodbell.blogspot.com/2019/11/michael-bloomberg-living-example-of.html
Mike Bloomberg's nomination, and victory, would transform the Democratic Party to the same degree that Trump has to his.
Some years ago Mr. Bloomberg joined a discussion panel at the UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA. Sadly the guy has no ''Elvis'' in his presentation. Trump will beat him like a drum in the debates. And, subsequently this terrible human being will regain the presidency in 2020.
d.s.
This technocrat billionaire former Republican is going to stir passion among a Democratic electorate coalition comprised of Latinos, Blacks, gays, union workers, the young, and progressive, college-educated whites? This is like exoecting the Dems to nominate Mitt Romney. Ain’t gonna happen.
2
A clash of the Billionaires... well, at least we can really find out if America can survive as an oligarchy run by idiots or technocrats...either way, choice is the important point for voters, right?
Bloomberg is just Trump with manners.
2
For-profit medical treatment legalized in1973 when Richard Nixon did a favor for a friend, has devolved into a disease maintenance system (see Escape Fire documentary). Nestle has purchased water rights all over the world and is sucking the world's ground water dry for pennies. Bayer/Monsanto is concentrated on cornering the market in food production with GMO seeds because our representatives, paid in campaign contributions, allowed patenting of seeds. It is inexcusable for insurance CEO's to have golden parachutes in the millions, derived from denying claims. We spend 32 million dollars every hour on National Security and have since 2001 (thanks to the Cheney Bush Regime) on corporate wars for profit when thousands of scientists and engineers all over the world say that we could right this very moment power the entire world with sustainable energy, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs if we would just do it . (see https://thesolutionsproject.org/). All efforts by the status quo are geared toward maintaining a corporate structure designed to support dying industries. All of Obama's jobs programs and the retrofitting of the rust belt for light rail, etc, were not even brought to the floor by McConnell for bigoted reasons. Regulation is quashed by a corrupt Congress and Executive Branch. This is the stranglehold that the majority of the people want to break - this profit for the few at the expense of the many.
Bloomberg should run as a Republican.
2
Let the battle of the billionaires begin!!
Here you go, Democrats! A Republican has chosen your candidate for you!
2
How about Bloomberg + Klobuchar? Or + Buttigieg?
2
Really, another white male who'd be over 80 before finishing even one term and an egotistical billionaire besides. Oh yes, that's the perfect Democratic candidate for president.
Too late.
Where were you in 2016?
Why not campaign as a republican?
2
One oligarch putting interest of wealthy and corporations before working people vs another one doing just the same just less racists. No thank you
All we need to know about Mike Bloomberg is that Republican Bret Stephens supports him.
5
look at Allan Lichtman 13 keys to the presidency. It doesn't matter who the Democrats run. If the sixth key probably a recession or social unrest kicks over the Democrats win. So we may as well get the most transformational president, which is Elizabeth Warren. Also Elizabeth Warren might click the Charisma key, which Michael Bloomberg and the other Democratic candidates will not click. So all of this analysis is a bit silly.
At first blush, Bloomberg's possible candidacy has some appeal. However, the likelihood that it would further weaken the Democrats' chance to defeat Trump is, I think, too great a risk to take and I hope Mike Bloomberg has second thoughts. In this strangest of times, we have to run to catch up with the deviousness and the no-holds-barred tactics of Trump and company. Trying to approach a presidential election as though these were normal times will get us into the weeds. We have all we can do to deal with the "how" of what Trump is doing. There is no doubt about the "why" that is vital.
1
To all the Bloomberg lovers: what tune would you play if he decided to run as an independent?
Bloomberg has watched the dems unfold and now proclaims that only he can save the day? Really? Try working from the start in 2024 instead of cutting in line.
1
Bloomberg is welcome to run as a Republican. Trump needs a primary challenger.
Us Democrats have our own primary.
201
@Corbin Good call.
6
@Corbin Just when Elizabeth Warren's candidacy was beginning to level off, Michael Bloomberg has stepped in to revive it. She is already fundraising off the rise of this billionaire. Any votes Bloomberg takes will come from Biden's base and that of centrist Mayor Pete. He is the best thing to happen to Elizabeth Warren in months! Because of his ego, he will get her nominated. Thanks, Mike! Run, run!
5
@Corbin
Just so long as he does not run as an independent in the general election. That would split the sane, humane, competent vote, and help only he who shall not be named.
7
Maybe Mike can switch parties real quick. That would help.
Could it be that Republican-Party-uber-alles Bret wants Bloomberg to win because he is a crypto-republican? And why is it that whenever a member of the Professional Republican Commentariat tells Democrats who they should nominate and how to win elections I smell the distinct odor of rat?
2
Bloomberg's slogan: 'VOTE FOR THE REAL BILLIONAIRE!'
Don't run Mike--don't run!
1
If Bret wants Bloomberg I don’t.
5
See your other op-ed: "Billionaires Getting Nervous".
All you need to know.
4
You pick an obscure poll – the only one I know off that doesn’t have Biden beating Trump – and use that as a, “better chance of beating Trump than the current field?” And with the, “competitive with, or ahead of,” proviso? This is just column desperation.
1
Loved this piece till you wrote “hopefully the recession arrives by easter”... unbelievable, wishing for the economic ruin of millions of people is okay as long as Trump is damaged?
Bloomberg is awful. Runs a white collar sweatshop and let Matt Winkler terrorize employees for decades. No way, no how on this mini man.
3
I’m with him!
2
Bloomberg brings nothing - he should stay at home.
1
Where do I send a donation?
1
OK Bret...
1
The Bloom is off the berg.
1
I'd vote for a bivalve if it means we can rid the country of 45 and his criminal cronies. However, the idea that Americans will elect a Jewish President is absurd. In Christian land? Good luck.
I'm no fan of Bloomberg, but he would certainly be a good leader. And anti-semitism?
I was traveling through North Carolina last month. At a truck stop I saw a woman with 3 kids and a baby struggling to get them out of her van safely as they headed for the rest rooms. I offered to hold the baby, gratefully she got the kids out and I introduced myself. Our relationship began, two women talking. When I told her that I was Jewish, she turned to her kids saying, "We've never met a Jew before!" I answered, "We're people like you with a different idea about god, we have one, you have two. That's it. You read the Bible? Well, we just read one, and you read two. Now, how do you manage with two kids in diapers?" Ah, if politics could be so easy, a couple of people helping each other out at a truck stop.
And what about those tax returns?
He lost me when he decided to seek a third term
1
Remember that this writer thought that a war with Iraq seemed like an ok idea too. As far as another billionaire white man telling me I should work two jobs for healthcare...no thanks.
2
maybe trump is right. this newspaper may be the FAILING NEW YORK TIMES. as a progressive, watching you keep pushing billionaires, wealthy centrists, and corporate elites over folks like Sanders and Warren helps me realize I need to cancel my subscription.
Why doesn't he run as a Republican?
2
of course this conservative White male author cheers on the candidacy of yet another White men.
3
Another column in which a Republican tells the Democrats who to choose. Sorry, Bret, but you're going to have to bite the bullet and vote for whoever the Democratic Party nominates. Or else help re-elect Trump. If you can't bring yourself to do that, don't call yourself a never-Trumper.
2
Initially I thought Bloomberg was threatening to run as an independent in the general election, and I was horrified. I can hardly think of a better way to facilitate Trump’s re-election than for someone like than the Democrat-cum-Republican-cum-Independent to self-fund a vanity campaign and siphon off 3-5% of the Democratic vote.
But then I realized he was planning to enter the Democratic primary, and now I’m all for it.
The thing is, Bret Stephens, you do realize that if your boy Micky B gets into the race, it’s only going to play to the advantage of your nemesis, Elizabeth Warren. To the degree that he garners any support at all, he’ll take it all from Biden, increasing the chances that Warren wins states with a plurality of the vote.
And in case you or anybody thinks a superannuated billionaire, ex-Republican has any chance of becoming the Democratic presidential nominee in 2020, I’ll just paraphrase the classic Australian comedy, “The Castle”: Mate, tell him he’s dreamin’.
1
I wish for a younger, in touch with reality, woman or man to lead us towards a society that cares about people, education, healthcare, the environment and our standing in the world.
But at this point, I will vote for a blue potato with a pulse that is not a billionaire - true or fake.
1
Dear Editor,
You have to print comments that disagree with your paid employees. You don't let my voice be heard even f it is civil and intelligent. I am critical of Bret Stephens and I believe he does not make sense or speaks for a huge majority of your readers. If we have to tolerate him, he and your management should tolerate us. We are paid subscribers. I have read your paper for over fifty years. Probably before Bret could read (not that it seems to have mattered).
3
I am about 3 Biden word salads away from jumping on the Bloomberg bandwagon. But precisely because he is the sort of man who appeals to someone of Bret Stephens' politics, I hesitate. If Bloomberg is in synch with Stephens' views on Israel, for instance, that will mean the continuing destruction of any possible two-state solution. If Bloomberg is pro-cop in the sense of bringing stop-and-frisk back, that is also bad. And being the mayor of NYC is not the same as being Vice President of the USA and having a like-the-back-of-your-hand knowledge of Congress.
On the other hand, Bloomberg's position on guns and climate, and the contrast between his business brilliance and philantrophy and Trump's charlatanism make him probably the best alternative to Biden.
1
Just what we need. Two member of the capitalist ruling class running for president.
https://righttohealth.ca/post/21308495650/income-inequality-public-health-and-how-i-met
2
Don't, Mike, Don't!
3
Who cares about the right's charge sheet?
2
He’s a DINO, a Democrat in name only. No thanks,
3
I think Bret's greater point, and one many American's are thinking seriously about now is, there are no perfect candidates as there are no perfect people. Trump has been so bad and evil that at this point, the primary goal must be to beat him and run him out of town on a rail.
We don't have the choice of a clear and present gift of a brilliant man or woman, who is smart, compassionate, middle of the road, can lead like a Kennedy or Roosevelt or even a Regan. That person doesn't exist at this moment and so, the more pressing challenge is to think incrementally and try to elect someone who can bring sanity back to our country. I saw a bumper sticker the other day that simply read: Anyone but Trump.
That's not quite true, but getting more viable every day. Once this country is "normalized" a bit more, people are calmed down and feeling far less anxiety, we can think about 2024 in a more rational way and hope that we find a true leader. Right now, I'm just looking to oust the evil dictator before we really implode in civil war. However, it won't take a civil war to cause insurmountable angst, anxiety, worry, distress and depression. It will only take another Trump term. "Almost anyone but Trump."
1
Bloomberg is everything Trump is not. He started out with very little money and built a business empire that employs many people. He should not be lumped together with other billionaires and castigated because he is one. Bloomberg was partly responsible for the Democratic 2018 midterm election successes through his generous donations. He has also donated generously to gun control and gave $1.5 billion to Johns Hopkins University, followed by an additional $1.8 billion to create a needs free admission process.
As mayor of NYC, Bloomberg instituted a no smoking ban in public places and also had calorie information posted for fast foods, thus helping improve the health of New Yorkers, and possibly reducing healthcare costs. He faced great resistance regarding the smoking ban, but his style of governing was one of executing and getting the job done, resulting in success. As a very successful mayor of NYC, he has the experience and intelligence to be an excellent president who will pursue realistic, attainable goals.
Potential caveats are his late entry into the primaries, possibly bypassing and therefore creating ill will in the four early states. Also, the question remains regarding his popularity outside of the NYC area, and his ability to attract voters who strongly support Biden. Nevertheless, I welcome him into the primary competition and look forward to hearing from him. Bloomberg would bring dignity and respect back to the White House.
4
Warren and Sanders have gone bonkers with their goofy, populist, Politics of Envy.
The Democrats do have a couple of potentially good candidates in the mix, but the Party has chosen to ignore them and the media have followed suit.
So let Bloomberg jump into the fray.
He can't hurt anything, and he might help.
1
Sounds like the perfect antidote to Daffy Donald.
3
I knew this would make you happy, Bret. You wanted a predatory capitalist all along, and Biden was too much of a chump.
4
Run mike run. Good luck getting any African Americans votes. Mike Bloomberg? Dream on Sir.
3
So this former republican billionaire from NYC is better our current former democrat billionaire from NYC. Both are old white guys in their 70s? I just saw a picture of Mike, Donald, Rudy and Bill Clinton golfing together. It’s kinda creepy.
3
NO.
4
I see Trump is already calling him “Little Mike”. Democrats get smart this is the guy who could really kid Trump’s butt!
5
Great Choice! All the white Jewish billionaires will surely vote for him.
He is done!
5
Had to read only because it wasn't obvious to me who BS thought was the 'maker' and who was the 'faker'.
Bloomberg is an old school moderate republican. Running in front of a parade isn’t leading. Challenging Trump in a republican primary would have been.
5
I don't find much fault with Mr. Stephens article. But one question haunts me: Since when did the American voting public - the so-called average or typical American - supposedly insist that our POTUS must be a billionaire, as alluded by Mr. Stephens?
Yes, we do tend to put our presidents on a pedestal, JFK being the best example of the "shining knight" syndrome. But I don't recall any stated demands that the president be insanely rich...part of the elite 1% (or .1% for the confused). I thought we were still the republic that sneered at such pretensions and classist elitism.
2
Yes, Mike, run like American lives depended on you. You'll have my support
6
The perfect is the enemy of the good. Nominate Bloomberg or destroy the country (by allowing 4 more years of Trump).
4
Yes Mike, for the sake of my sanity, PLEASE RUN.
3
He’s a Republican..... no, no, he’s a Democratic.... incorrect still- He’s a successful plutocrat and a very wealthy looser. It’s easy to be a kind and gentle philanthropist when you’ve got coin. Bloomberg is considering running because, he just likes to win. no different than the guys and gals who buy Professional teams, except he desires to steer the good ship USA( he wants to be a part of American history ( a library, road, or terminal is insufficient) I would not vote for Bloomberg if he is on the ticket against the sociopath. This Country needs a leader who has the capability to take a stick to the backside of congress, while remaining perfectly willing to work with them.
At last! A republican enough Democrat that Stephens can cheer for him! Just what the country needs. An aging white plutocrat from New York with ethical shadows in his past. Oh wait, we already have one of those.
2
Clearly the best candidate should be a white 55 year old Christian man who will say women instead of girls but not make too big deal about it and not stand for much of anything more than your standard center right/ center left Times columnist.
2
In a contest pitting sleazy rich guy versus upstanding rich guy, I’ll opt to stay home. Under no conditions can I vote for plutocracy, no matter how benign.
1
Michael Bloomberg is a brilliant, capable and very decent man. I prefer him to any other Democrat now in the race or to any Republican in the last forty years except Mitt
Romney, who is like Bloomberg in many ways. But there's an elephant in the room that no one is mentioning. He's Jewish (whether or not he practices Judaism doesn't matter). In this country that's the kiss of death.
2
@Richard Goodkin I don't doubt that Trump would try to exploit that, but they said a Catholic would never win, either.
Right on, Bret!
2
Stay home please this country does not need or desire another self entitled billionaire beholding to Wall Street and the status quo!
Should have run in 2016. I love Bloomberg, but his time has past now as with all the Neo liberals. Revolution is in the air.
(67 yr old white college educated female in Arizona.)
@Judy Petersen Then you should understand that, come election day, all that will matter is who can win the swing states
2
Ugh. Sorry Mayor Bloomberg. You're on a fool's errand.
Don't do it.
1
Just because some one has money
Doesn't mean they will make things sunny
Socrates said no businessman to lead
Its only money they bleed
Congress is full of rich men
How much and when
The people voted for daddy Warbucks
He raided the Treasure of their bucks
Adam Smith warned never trust a businessman
He'll not protect you from the capitalist plan
The rich tell you they know whats best
Past performances is the test
Wow. The "libertarian" seer speaks again. To those on the right like Stephens, the outrageous and still growing income inequality means nothing. The more monied the better because that's worked so well so far keeping the peons in their place Gee, granddad what big teeth you have.
Bloomberg would be perfect.
3
Mayor Michael Bloomberg should run as a Republican.
Sometimes I wonder who self-proclaimed progressives think the real enemy is.
2
Are you kidding me? Bloomberg will struggle to get over 5%. He is a fake. He was a Republican mayor then independent and now claims to be a democrat for political expediency.
How out of touch is this opinion writer? Do you really think we have an appetite for another billionaire megalomaniac?
What is going to be his main platform- Keeping millionaires safe from taxes and banning plastic straws!!!
2
Only a couple of things mitigate this otherwise thoughtful column. First, it doesn't matter who Bloomberg actually is or what he stands for; the Fox-Breitbart lie machine will spew any innuendo, slur, or lie it wants to, invent a fake conspiracy, and the Cult will swallow it. Trump has already started taunting him; Trumpland is a reality show, not a parser of data. Oh and a Jewish choice for president is almost as bad for Rapture as a Gay president.
So Brett's argument is upside down. The fresh slurs Donald coins against the unknown Bloomberg will stick for a short but critical period; while the stale Donaldisms for Biden & Warren are silly frat-house fodder, staler by the week.
Godspeed, Michael Bloomberg...
3
watch what you wish for Bret, I hear Bloomburg was pretty tough on bedbugs, when he was Mayor.
1
America needs another unprincipled, egomaniacal, billionaire, plutocrat from New York, like we need another hole in our head.
1
From your pen to God's ears.
1
On a side note - I'm pretty sure Trump is not going to drop "Pocahontas" for Elizabeth Warren.
One has to wonder if the NYT pundits are gas lighting us with
all their supposed 'help' to Democrats and trying to save us from Bernie or Warren.
Oh yes, Billionaires will save us. Young people will want to vote for a poster child for inequality.
And a New York City mayor is as acceptable to middle America cultural warriors as one from San Francisco.
Young people and progressives will not be excited by another billionaire and continuing rule by the donor class.
The New York Times pundit class, desperate for a corporate, status quo, loyalist seems to have settled on their 'Dream Team', Bloomberg and Buttigieg.
Bloomberg and Buttigieg, both proudly supported by the 1%, both with insufficient support that they need the support of the big money to even get on the ballot.
Bloomberg and Buttigieg, both mayors who had no control over their police departments.
The Billionaire and the Gay Guy, just perfect to both alienate the battleground white male working class voters and progressives.
Thanks for the 'help'.
glad he's thinking of running. it will be fun to see him loose millions (billions) and loose the candidacy.
1
"He stands a much better chance of beating Donald Trump than anyone in the current Democratic field."
Sorry, I have absolutely nothing against Bloomberg, but this sentence is absolute proof you have no understanding at all of modern politics.
1
Please don't run. It's pretty clear from our current President and former "America's Mayor" that NYC is the swamp that needs draining.
Bret, I did a canvas of about 10 people including my son and his wife 32 and 33. When I shared the Bloomberg candidacy with my son he responded, “Thank G-d”. My son has at times been depressed at the future for his kids with the climate crisis. My daughter in law is happy.It should be noted that she is a strong supporter of Israel and many in her Russian community have been avid “Trumpers”.A retiree who was a big “Trumper” told me to support Mike because “he shoots straight”. What Mike needs are people like the Hon Hakeem Jeffries from Brooklyn and Al Gore to stand with him. Mike can get a sweep of the Northeast and Florida for sure. I plan on going to New Hampshire in December, if asked.
2
Absolutely agree.
2
An elderly Jewish man from the Northeast cannot win a national election, and that includes Sen. Sanders.
Bloomberg will hand the election to Trump on a platter, along with Biden’s head. God help us.
The only way to oust this malevolent, grifting, immoral, pernicious administration is to unite behind Joe.
Bloomberg’s money is far better spent on Biden. He may poll well in NY but not here in PA. And not in my former home, GA.
What a disaster for our country.
Oh, boy, he's got the never-Trumper vote but mainstream Republicans will stick with their guy. This is starting to smell like Hillary II.
So how's he going to do turning out the African-American vote in Milwaukee? Motivate the hipsters in Grand Rapids? Gonna wear a Steelers jersey in Monongahela country? Doesn't matter if he merely solidifies already-Dem majorities in the northeast.
I do not support Bloomberg because he's an entitled wealthy man. I remember New York then. He shut down protesting at the Democratic convention. It's how cavalier rich people do things. I am also interested in the 'problems' to which Trump referred. He knows things. What problems??? Andrew Cuomo is a much better choice. One gutter fighting liberal against 'Roy Cohn'. I bet on Andrew. I'll take his baggage any day.
Nice turn out of MB’s troops here. Suddenly the Democrats need their own Billionaire hustler.
He should run because we need another know it all mega rich New York guy in the race. He might beat Mom “I got a plan for that” Warren, or Bernie “I’m so mad that people can’t tell the difference between socialism and communism” Sanders, or Joesph “what do you mean, my shoe will not fit in my mouth” Biden. I’m not discussing the other wannabes as a waste of time. Sure, Mike, run so we can see how adroit you are when people are allowed to ask real questions. And, oh by the way, leave your bodyguards guns with the hat check check girl at the door when entering so we can’t see them when you start to wail about same.
Love for him to run. Vote for him without reservation. But, he's un-electable Bret. Yes, America has proven it will vote for a billionaire from NYC, but a Jewish one - not in our lifetimes.
Mr. Stephens writes: "The right’s charge-sheet against today’s Democrats is that they hate capitalism, hate Israel, hate the cops, think of America as a land of iniquity, and never met a tax or regulation they didn’t love. Against Bloomberg it all falls flat."
One comment and one question:
Comment: Mr. Stephens is himself of "the right", so the charge-sheet is as much of his making as it is of others'.
Question: If Mr. Stephens holds that the Democrats "hate Israel", what does he (Stephens) know about Bloomberg's views on the Middle East?
2
probably one of the most ridiculous columns I have read in some time. Bloomberg will drive voters away in droves. You really think after stop and frisk that people of color will vote for him? You really think that young people will vote for him? We need large numbers of voters to show up to the polls. Prediction - Bloomberg can't even get two percent in a Democratic primary. Could the Times please show Bret Stephens the door? Bring back some real columnists and not this meaningless blather. Thank you.
1
No Mike, don't!
Do not run.
We're talking about electing another billionaire? Unbelievable. This country deserves another 4 years of racist, ignorant, irresponsible hypocrisy. The current president accurately represents the citizens of the United States of America.
In this day and age you need to electrify people as a campaigner. That is the sole area where Obama and Trump are identical. Bloomberg may be highly capable, but, can he campaign exhilarating voters with his persona? No. That is the edge that is needed to get voters to the polls and to get them to "mark your square on the ballot." You may have noticed that school kids still recite those immortal words spoken so beautifully over 150 years ago at Gettysburg. In our again highly divisive nation, just as when Lincoln spoke, stirring oratory is a basic requirement for victory. Those who underestimate it's power were deeply hurt and surprised by Trump's victory over an admittedly poor speaker.
1
The issue of utmost importance to the survival of our Republic is the defeat of Donald Trump in the 2020 election. I strongly like Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders. However, I do not believe they can win against Trump. My original hope was that VP Biden would slay Trump in a debate. I do not believe that is the case now. Senators Sanders and Warren have ideas that are extremely important to the health and well-being of our citizenry and the planet. However, the American public has often showed that it works against it's own best interests. I do not think a majority will support either candidates. Pete Buttigieg is smart, rarely stumped, and could go toe-to-toe with Trump in a debate. Many voters find his views highly palatable. Yet his age, and being Gay, work against him winning the race for the Presidency (at this moment in time).
Mike Bloomberg is a New Yorker, like Trump. He is an extremely successful entrepreneur, former Mayor of NYC (i.e. politician), tough, generous, educated, smart, articulate and has had the inside scoop on Donald Trump for years. I believe he could take on Trump in a debate and make mince meat out of him, proving to the American people that the emperor has no clothes. At least that is my hope.
I welcome his entry in the Democratic primary race. And I look forward with 'hope' to his performance during upcoming debates with the other Democrat candidates.
3
Of course Brett Stephens likes Bloomberg. He's basucaia Republican with liberal social views.
Stephens is right on many things, but wrong on others. Crucially, is whether Bloomberg can appeal to African-Americans, who are the most reliable and important Democratic voters. Inequality flourished in NYC under Bloomberg. This is a top issue for Democrats.
Finally, many pundits claim to know will happen in the election. Be wary of such prognostications. No one expected Trump to win. No one knows what will happen in 2020. (Unfortunately that won't stop those who guessed right from saying I told you so.)
Warren/Buttigieg 2020.
2
It has been said that should Trump lose in 2020, he would not voluntarily vacate the White House. Keep in mind that Bloomberg did not leave the mayoralty after his term-limited tenure; rather he gamed the system to be eligible to serve a third term.
2
Nobody thought that Trump would win. His rhetoric was so extreme. For most of us, he represents the ugly part of Human nature. And yet, he had one thing going for him: he advocated for those of us that see things getting worse.
And yes, even though I voted for HRC, I use the word "us" intentionally. Things have gotten worse for most of us. HRC didn't connect with enough of us in the States that mattered. I doubt that Bloomberg has the experience to empathize with us.
My first thoughts, when I heard that Mayor Bloomberg was running was: "Well, that's the end of Mayor Pete." But, no. I bet that Mayor Pete has had infinitely more conversations with the voters that matter. Voters who have to deal with scarcity. Scarcity of opportunity. Scarcity of real choices. Mayor of Small Town has the bona fides. He knows how it feels to be one of us. Mayor of Wall Street does not.
I have a hard time believing that midwestern Democrats will support a New York billionaire who acts like their stereotype of one. Writing off Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa? Not a good strategy.
1
Is this the Michael Bloomberg who used his freedom of speech rights to spend $100 per vote (4x more than his Democratic opponent) in 2001, promoted private airplane flights over Manhattan post 9/11 and having the Olympics in NYC, doubled public tennis permit prices to $200, tried to charge outer-borough residents to drive in Manhattan and ticketed double-parking only in less-wealthy neighborhoods, and did little to encourage subway maintenance for 12 years – leaving a mess for his successor?
In other words, the politician whose policies were predictable -- do what is best for the wealthy by spending tax dollars to make NYC a personal playground for himself and his friends. Perhaps other readers will add other examples concerning civil liberties…. Is this the Mike who felt entitled to a third mayoral term although he was term-limited -- because he is above the law?
So why would we now believe that he is one of us?
4
That Stephens thinks Bloomberg would be a great president tells you all you need to know: he's not a Democrat.
2
As a neoconservative Brett is in no position to advise the Democratic Party. Seriously, get off the East Coast and visit the rest of the country. Mike Bloomberg is not a winning candidate with those of us in what is often called “fly over” country. He has zero appeal. I can see why conservatives might want to see him in office. But the rest of us, not so much.
3
Hence why we "guys & dolls" need Trump's promised TAX RETURNS.
If he's a faker (i.e., unlawfully not paying), Mike's our guy.
If he's a maker (yet legally evades taxes), Elizabeth's our gal.
1
Rural America is in a state of collapse.
It’s also the mother load of Trump votes.
Democrats need to explain how they plan to fix this problem.
@Dan
Start paying attention to Bernie Sanders, he has a great plan laid out.
3
Good bye Biden.
Hello Bernie and/or Liz.
Thanks Mike. You are doing a great service to the nation.
4
Run Mike Run
As a Republican, not a Democrat.
3
No. No. No.
We don't need another Pretend King.
Join another billionaire club, Bloomberg.
2
Remember, no modern-day mayor of NYC ever rose to higher elective office.
2
Bloomberg would make a great presidential nominee... on the Republican ticket. Go find your own primary Bret.
4
"Sneer at it at your peril." I would never sneer at anyone. However, as an avid conspiracy theorist, I would state that his candidacy has a peculiar smell to it.
It smells a lot like money, and it ain't mine.
1
Bloomberg is far and away the smartest person since Obama to consider running for president. Go, Mike!
3
I would be happy to see two older white men of privilege running against each other to be the next president.
1
These two-year election cycles are just another TV show to entertain the masses. And now Bloomberg is a new character brought in mid-season to goose up the ratings. Ho-hum.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
1
Wow! Now that truly was an opinion -- backed by absolutely no facts. Bloomberg for President??? Sure, why not? Gotta love his plans (none). Gotta love his youth (not). Gotta love his what......money? Oh I know. Gotta love his former NY Mayoral power (can you say Giuliani -- yeah, we need another one of those)
MIke is not a panacea to the Dem's woes. Only a cohesive Dem strategy (which they do not have) with achievable goals that resonate with "on the fence" voters, and a grass roots effort to get out the vote will work to unseat Trump. IMO.
Let's quick looking for miracles and start working towards a victory.
Look who's telling a Republican to run as a candidate for the presidency along with 15 or 16 democrats and a independent. It's the conservative republican Bret Stephens. Another conservative republican columnist with the paper, David Brooks, has devoted a lot of space with his nightmares about a Elizabeth Warren presidency. This Opinion calls attention to wasting precious space in best newspaper in the USA. Stephens' and Brooks' relationship to democrats is nil, and they're perfect representatives of Opinion makers with nothing to say in too many words. Are they too ashamed to write about the republicans?
Bloomberg is hyper-authoritarian. I would rather the crazy guy over a tyrant.
Oh, please! Not another g-d billionaire. How about a climate scientist, or a gun control activist, or renewable energy expert, or a teacher, or an animal rights activist, a humanitarian, or yes maybe even a socialist? Why not? Because that’s not how we do it in America, the land of the rich, by the rich and for the rich.
It’s not the rich, but the system that breeds them that needs to change if we’re ever to have a future as a country, a civilization, or even a species.
2
A Trump Bloomberg runoff would almost certainly end up with Trump winning. Referring back to my previous comments about anti-gun democrats, this is simple arithmetics.
Bloomberg strikes me a just another Trump minus most of the crazy.
A Bloomberg terminal in every home.
The perfect ticket: Bloomberg - Winfrey.
Groucho Marx - Richard Pryor.
Both gone but it ain’t matter :-)
And at least Bloomberg supports the media.
Bloomberg is Clinton 2.0.
No way.
I agree, Run, Mike, Run! Just solved the progs' problem of two progs in the race. Now we'll have yet another "centrist" (rightwing) Democrat to split that vote so Bernie or Liz can get through.
I love billionaire hubris...sometimes.
Replace any of our Republican presidents since Ike with Bloomberg and I would be a happy bunny.
But as a Democrat? Why bother voting Democrat if you get a Rockefeller Republican?
Bloomberg is a decent human being, smart, has a moral compass, and is a real patriot who wants to make life better for Americans. All good and all better than all those Republicans.
But he is a billionaire who does not recognize the poison that extreme wealth and inequality has injected into our body politic, including the problem that some idiot of a rich guy can decide to run for president and win. He supported stop and frisk, a clear violation of the Constitution, and kept at it until forced to stop. He is completely out of touch with average people.
For someone like me, the best part of a Bloomberg candidacy is that it will damage Biden even more than he has been damaging himself, leaving Sanders and Warren as the clear frontrunners and the obvious choices for the party.
We all know, based upon polls, that Sanders would have beaten Trump last time around. I have no doubt that Sanders would dismember Trump on the campaign trail.
As for Bloomberg, if he is nominated, let Republicans vote for him. I won’t.
2
Mr. Stephens, if you, personally, prefer Bloomberg's politics to the current front-runners in the Democratic primary, why don't you just write a column about that? Why play this bizarre game where you pretend the issue is just practical politics, and your own rightwing views have nothing to do with anything?
This is a rhetorical question; the answer is obviously "Because phrasing it as really being about practicality is deliberately infuriating, so it baits people to click on the column, thus generating advertising revenue." But does he have to be so insulting obvious about it?
You don't think he's going to be able to come up with a nickname for Bloomberg?
1
Go Mike! Where can we donate to your campaign?
1
So now we know why Epstein went missing ... Did he have enough dirt to keep Bloomberg out of the race ?
... and, golly, Bret ... when Mike wins maybe he can reinstate that wonderful old policy of "trickle-down" economics that was so effective because who but a 1% of the 1% could truly understand a thing about economics and the pressures on the middle and lower economic classes ... certainly not us misguided voters. I may be Democratic in spirit but I, too, am tired of effete elites such as yourself and your backhanded admonishments. Spare me your patronizing, Pauline.
Yes, that's the dream of the never-Trumper establishment Republicans - to essentially put one of their kin into the WH - like the freshly minted "Democrat" Bloomberg.
I have little sympathy for Republicans who have destroyed their own party and now want Democrats to nominate a Republican for them.
Physician, heal thyself!
The best thing about Bloomberg is that he is a strong confident person who will not be ruffled by anything DT has to say about him. I just hope this doesn't give Hillary any ideas but that it leads to a more Centrist candidate.
3
There needs to be a wake up call to Democrats and Michael Bloomberg can be the one to deliver it.
Yes, we all know that Bernie, Elizabeth and radical progressivism might just be what this ailing democracy needs, but can we at least take a breather and think about the need to add ballast before we attempt to build up and out?
Removing Trump from power should be the first and only priority at this tenuous moment in our history.
2
These times do not call for another aging white billionaire, and they also do not call from more political "wisdom" from one of the longtime Republicans who helped get us here.
1
Mikey? Ah yes, the chummy photos of Mike and Bibi, the 5'2" mezzo soprano with a horrid accent, one of, if not, the most clueless urban billionaire, he who has absolutely no grasp of the US, and one of the closest pals of the most parasitic and predatory financial class that has ever existed in the history of mankind, is this really what we need to to get rid of Trump? Seriously? Why not run Mnuchin? He already is living in DC.
We all know Stephens carries water for his handlers and paymasters, but this is so far off the charts stupid it boggles the mind. Are the so-called "elites" really so panicked by Warren and Sanders that they would even entertain this? Sure BBerg has the money to make a run, but unless he was getting some serious encouragement from folks other than paid lackeys he would not expose himself to the sure embarrassment to come. Anyone reading this will be struck by the sheer idiocy of Stephens' article and the notion of a Bloomberg campaign. Let's hope few read this, and Bloomberg does blow a bill or two while losing the primaries. The country needs more wholesome entertainment.
The Maker vs the Faker.
Perfect.
Go for it Michael Bloomberg!
We beg you to restore honor, dignity and sanity in this White House.
1
Rich wall-street ganger disguised as a Democrat? If he ends up running and the Dems force him in and rig their own primary like they did for Hillary vs Sanders, Trump will be re-elected. People are tired of profits being first and people second. He's just the Biden backup plan. And liberal Dems will either write in Sanders or Warren or not vote at all and give democratic middle fingers again. Straight up.
All the money saved by a nationwide ban on Diet Coke could pay for all the new programs.
Trump is insane, Sanders is insane, Warren is insane, Biden is, well, Biden.
I'd give Bloomberg a look.
4
Bloomberg is another stinking business billionaire. So why should we bother with him. Business people should be satisfied to stay in their corrupt little businesses rather than aspiring to public service.
The only reason Trump has not gone full dictator is that our system is still strong enough to thwart him. Give him another 5 years and the system will break, particularly in light of the fact that cowardly Republicans in Congress will only continue to aid and abet him
Dems must win and win big to save the country. What we need more than anything is sanity, competence, integrity and respect for rule of law and institutions (flawed as they are). These characteristics supersede “Medicare for all”, “free education” and other more extreme positions that non ideologues (who’s votes we desperately need) will not buy into right now.
I will accept Mr Bloomberg. He meets all those f the criteria above. This is an existential crisis.
3
Sad very sad that we rely on a pocket of Americans so limited in judgment that we would end up with another "rich white guy" in office and not move forward on issues that has plagued our country for years; inequality, health care, education, the environment.
Oh please. The Democratic Party, to which I have belonged for a lifetime of nearly seven decades, nominate a Rockefeller Republican? Never gonna happen. The man who presided over an unconstitutional stop and frisk program as our party’s nominee? Preposterous! He’s running for one reason. The only kind of reason his ilk ever do anything. He is an elitist of the worst kind and has no place in our party let alone as our nominee. Go back to Bermuda Mike. We don’t want you.
Thank god! At last a Democrat I think can win.
2
Ross Perot 2.0 or Ralph Nader 2.0 ?
Ross Perot.
1
Once again Bret Stephens suggest that the Democrats nominate a Republican to run against Trump. Frankly, I don't see a New York, Jewish billionaire appealing to minority or youth voters who are essential for beating Trump.
Hey Brett: We'd like the rich to stop sucking the life being out of the 99% struggling in the dreck of a society that they are "making" by hoarding as much wealth as they possibly can.
Soak the rich indeed...the rich have used the system to legally tilt the playing field so far in their direction that everyone else is barely clinging to it by their fingernails.
It's gratifying to see the media outlets of the rich, Forbes, WSJ, the NYT, Bloomberg News (Hah!), ad nauseum filling my google feed with dire warnings about Elizabeth Warren. It more than confirms that she's right on target and has identified the issues and at least some tangible actions that actually can be taken to start reversing the tilt of the field.
Never Trumper Republicans simply want the Democratic Party to remain "Republican Lite" and neuter it by doing so. The plunder of the oligarchs could then continue to your delight.
1
How shallow and disgusting to refer to the candidates as "opponents with nicknames" --- shame on Bret Stephens.
Aren’t we preaching to the choir when NYT readers debate this? Most people in the rust belt and swing states don’t read the NYT and have no clue who Bloomberg is. It would be very challenging to gain momentum where it matters.
This piece really glosses over red America's view of Bloomberg. Accurate or not, he's the poster of the "nanny state" to many Americans, from sodas to condoms. But we'll see what kind of splash he makes.
Government of the People, by Billionaires, for Billionaires, must perish from the Earth.
Not another billionaire...
Please run Mike. I don’t think I can take another 4 years of the chaos President.
2
Bloomberg moves folks like me who gave up their Republican registration because of Trump and his toadies in Congress from the vote-against-Trump column to the vote-for-someone column.
2
Amen, Brother Bret. Big stage bona fides (stabilized NewYork’s finances when nobody said he could, took on the public unions and won) with a sense of social awareness (stood up as best man at his gay deputy commissioner’s wedding) that’s in stark contrast to the red meat dog whistles coming from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on a daily basis.
Fiscally responsible and right center, socially aware and left center, tough enough to stand strong and firm against pressure from both ends. A centrist’s dream.
Sure, you’ll hear the usual excuses about “exciting the base”. Baloney. Warren and Sanders (and those mathematically impossible policy proposals) are the best thing that’s ever happened to the Trump campaign. And you’ll hear the usual garbage from the NRA about how he’s coming for your guns. Garbage.
And just in case you didn’t notice, this “great economy” that Trump and Trump alone created [sic] is right back at the GDP and hiring levels Barry O. left for him.
Count me in. In a heartbeat.
1
I must confess. I do not like Mike Bloomberg and never have. He is an opportunist and people will soon see his true self. He spouts off about climate change while traveling from New York to his Bermuda home in his private jet. We do not need a Mike Bloomberg.
Brett’s analysis is spot on. In order to restore sanity and forward thinking to environmental, energy, foreign policy, education, etc. we need a proven, effective, and independent leader who can (and has) get actual policies implemented. The overly progressive wing of the Democratic Party (e.g. Sanders, Warren) have some valid concerns about health care, income inequality but their solutions/cures have no possible chance of implementation in the current political environment. (Not to mention that their plans may cause more harm than good, see overall benefit/issues with socialized medicine in UK, Canada & some other regions in terms of quality of care and access to quality care and the rise of private health care in these environments.) I would like to see the bi-partisan “Problem Solvers Caucus” in Congress show some backbone and endorse some of the positions/approaches which will be articulated by Bloomberg.
It’s difficult to see how there will ever be any bridging of the partisan divide. During the Obama administration, and after, Republicans made it perfectly clear that their only interest is in widening the partisan divide. They have already decided that facts and truth are inconveniences they can dispense with and any tactic is acceptable in their quest for total and permanent power.
Until Bloomberg announced, I was certain we were going back to 1972. It was obvious then that Nixon was abusing his office, but giving him McGovern was nothing short of a present. I live in Kentucky. People here are unable to see that Trump, just like Nixon, has no respect for the Constitution. Without a strong moderate candidate like Bloomberg, deja vu all over again.
4
Although I didn't take Bloomberg as a serious candidate at first, I now view him favorably. The present roster of Demos is pathetic and incapable to defeating Trump!
2
What massively unequal USA doesn't need, in my humble opinion, is another right wing billionaire 'running things'. And if he wants to do that anyway shouldn't it be in the Republican party, which has shown itself only too happy with the bullying and bribery of mega- rich narcissists.
1
This column perpetuates the delusion that democrats can win if they just find a candidate who is impervious to all the charges from the right. It doesn’t matter who the candidate is, the right will construct a false narrative designed to take them down. War hero’s get swift boated. Veteran amputees branded as traitors. For pete’s sake, let’s stop trying to fit Democratic candidates and policies into narratives defined by the right in the hopes of hitting an ever right-shifting “moderate” target, and just stand up and fight for what is right.
3
Mike stayed away from the fray for valid reasons. He now realizes that the current nominees are going to have difficulty in facing Trump and their polls are all over the place. Not a good sign. Mike is coming forward to save the country. Not the Democrats or anybody else for that matter. And who better to stand up against Trump? Mike knows Trump's weaknesses and has a lot of inside info on him to blow him out of the water. Even if the impeachment does not blow Trump out of the water. Democrat or not, Mike is your best chance to save the Democrats from themselves. Swallow your pride and get Mike in to save yourselves.
2
No. Just no.
We’ve had 40 years of neoliberal rule of Republican and triangulating Democrats, and enough is enough. We’ve achieved stunning wealth disparity with the .5% luxuriating in obscene indulgence while the common person has seen no wage growth despite growth in efficiencies. The poor are literally dying from lack of health care, the shrinking middle class are the dumb mules stuck between debt of elder care and child education while a rapidly decaying environment assures massive disruption in our lifetimes.
What we need is a public works program to bring the common persons life to something beyond Hobbesian scratching. What we don’t need is another white billionaire man who delays change.
Aside from that, I saw him speak at one of my kid’s graduations; he’s an appalling elitist who can’t possibly make it as a Democrat. The game is probably to run as an independent, split the vote, and give us 4 more years for the wealthy and the mouth breathers.
5
Bloomberg is a hands down choice for the democratic nomination.
His integrity as a three term mayor of New York makes Trump look like the pathetic grifter that he is.
Bloomberg can deliver us from a fate worse than we can imagine with a second term of Trump during which he will continue to dismantle the structure of our republic.
Please join me in removing all obstacles to a Bloomberg candidacy and make every effort to get him in the White House!
2
Bloomberg was a fairly good mayor who did not connect with the working class
Doesn’t have a clue what challenges the majority of the people face every day. And he did nothing to better their lives in NY while he was mayor remember the subway. We’re only going to clean what’s necessary. Take your trash with you. It’s too expensive to clean it. That’s only the beginning
Making ends meet. Minimum wage Healthcare social security education etc. he didn’t address any of that. He was much removed from reality a reality bl that doesn’t affect him
If Bloomberg wants to make a real
difference to finally help the majority of the people n this country fine. Will he eliminate the tax trump gave the billionaires. Will regular people be able to put their children to college and have a better future? What does he stand for? Does he have empathy for the working class of Americans? Will he pay policemen a decent salary to protect the people. Will cops get better training. Will criminals get rehabilitated in jails and better their lives?
Make this country a better place for everyone
And let’s not forget the forever wars in the Middle East. Wagered does he stand on that??
Trump is indeed a faker. When he says FAKE NEWS as an explanation of all his failures and crimes, it is really an unwitting admission of the confabulator and charlatan who he actually is. It is the NEWS of a FAKE. Bloomberg could spend all his time campaigning and not a second raising money. If nominated he would win easily.
4
A lot of rich folks hate Trump but voted for him because of $. I think Bloomberg has a good chance of peeling off those voters. I would prefer a progressive candidate, but I would love to see anyone, including Bloomberg, beat Trump. I think Bloomberg's financial and intellectual superiority could really humiliate Trump. Hooray! Bring it on!
4
I’m for Warren but will vote for anyone or anything nominated to run against trump. It is sad that these billionaires think they can come down from Olympus on their own timeline and save the poor dumb middle class people or maybe just rip them off some more. So arrogant. It’s precisely what’s wrong with politics and politicians.
Why doesn’t he run as a republican which is what Bloomberg is? That’s my main question.
2
Would he make a good president? Probably. Can he win? No. He has no natural constituency--no minorities, no progressives, and probably not a lot of middle America. But can he cannibalize the Democratic vote and hand trump a second term? Very possibly.
2
Mr Bloomberg is not a popular person. In 2001 he ran against Mark Green. In 2005 he ran against Fernando Ferrer. In 2009 he ran against Bill Thompson. Nobodies. He's been a disloyal Democrat, a disloyal Republican and an agnostic Independent. His most consistent political philosophy is Opportunism. He bribed Ronald Lauder, a vanguard in establishing term limits for NYC Mayor, with a seat on an influential city board to not contest Bloomberg 'extending the city's term limit laws.' Bloomberg might say it was a timing coincidence, awarding a seat on a city board at the same time Lauder decided to remain silent when Bloomberg ran for a third term. Whatever saves me a lawsuit I'll accept. Res ipsa loquitur. What if he should decide to do that as President Bloomberg? He's got enough money to go around to get him several terms. But he'd have to switch back to Republican sometime before the second term ends. Republicans seem susceptible to roll over and fawn over any odious President as long as he's one of them. And it should be no problem for Bloomberg, as changing parties comes as easy as changing underwear.
Yes please! I’ve asked friends from New York if there are any skeletons in his closet because it baffles me that he did not jump in sooner and to the person - nothing. Sure, the point on large sodas raised by Bret (but he had a point with that!) and arm-twisting for a third term might be perceived as authoritative over-reaching, but that is better than threatening to take your employer-based insurance and acting like an autocrat! As N. Pelosi said Bloomberg is synonymous with excellence. And his stance on guns/women’s rights/climate change? I mean, a perfect storm. Please run, Mr. Mayor!
1
Great article Brett. Trump will beat the current crop like a drum. Bloomberg has long odds but he would be a great President !
1
Somehow I doubt Bloomberg is going to appeal to voters in those flyover states that wield disproportionate power in the Electoral College any more than Hillary Clinton did.
Mike Bloomberg will be useful if he brings more voters out, doesn't win and then endorses the Democratic nominee.
Warren has to run left to win the nomination. That's where the activists are. She can't go center now. Don't get hung up on her lane. And don't expect to love every position she takes. But she is the smartest of the bunch. The Bernie vote and the Warren vote add up to a lot. Bloomberg may overtake the mayor of South Bend and a few others, but he's not going to the top. Therse are not Establishment Democrat times.
Trump has been a problem for three years but all of the sudden the billionaires are freaking out? See, the next financial collapse is going to be ugly and it’s going to happen soon. Warren wants equality, under Warren people like Lloyd Blankfein formerly of Goldman Sachs would have been in prison for life for the shenanigans they pulled during the collapse of 2008 How many times have I seen banks like Jamie Dimon’s JP Morgan chase get fined millions of dollars for fraud only after they made billions from that very fraud. Wells Fargo anyone? The billionaires are scare because they lie, cheat and steal their way to the top. If you had a true surprise audit of Goldman Sachs they would be shut down immediately.
Warren, AOC, Bernie etc are about equality, we need more kids getting educations, we need more money in more people’s hands but most importantly we need people like Jamie Dimon and Lloyd Blankfein in jail!
1
Here's what I'm hearing from the liberals in the upper left coast: "we don't want another businessman/billionaire/new yorker", never mind that Trump has never grown a business -- only bankrupted them. To win the primary, Bloomberg needs to go out and do what he does best: work-the-crowd and press the flesh. Come visit, Mike!
1
I love New York and New Yorkers, but spare us any more New York Presidential wannabes, please. We don't need to replace a large rich stupid out of touch NY twerp with an even richer short, smart annoying out of touch NY twerp.
For those doubting current candidates, just a reminder that Woodrow Wilson, FDR, JFK, LBJ, Carter, Clinton and Obama were all the cause of great worry to the Democratic leadership at the time of their initial nomination.
1
You're giving way too much credit to the American voter. Trump will be hosting Wrestlemania while Bloomberg will be hosting a foreign film festival. Who is going to get more attention? Never underestimate the spectacular stupidity of the American public.
A former NYC police commissioner became President so I wouldn’t get too hung up on a mayor not making it. Ever hear of Teddy Roosevelt? Besides, Joe, Bernie and Elizabeth are not going to make it. Zuck already deemed one an existential threat. Do you think he’ll jeopardize FB and his billions? President would be a power step down for Zuck. Go Mike Go!
2
Oh great. Here comes the Bloombomb Campaign. Another rich old man who won't release his tax returns? Just what the country needs. It's sad that Bret Stephens is squandering whatever credibility he has left by pushing the Bloomer just because -- as we all know -- Bret loathes the left, particularly those uppity women of any hue, and wants to go back to the politics of his youth, rather then accepting that the country and population have changed, and that voters really want representatives who care about basic economic justice and fairness, and about the environment.
Blooper should put his money into backing whoever the Democrat candidate turns out to be, and then go back to his penthouse(s).
1
Bloomberg is a dream come true for non-Trumpy Republicans. He's a big flotation device for their Republican party life raft. Well, we don't want their party castoffs. Republicans soiled their own nest, and now they want to creep in and corrupt Democrats in the same way? No way. Beat it.
Only a Democrat from the Democratic wing of the Democratic party will do.
Elizabeth Warren for president.
2
Brilliant title! Maker and a faker!
Bloomberg a man who can read, a man who can lead!
Bloomberg is a man who actually created his wealth, Bloomberg is the head of a media empire, and the former Mayor of New York city!
Trump is an ignorant corrupt fraud who faked his back story, He continues to lie because he assumes his base are gullible chumps.
2
JUST what we need; a battle of the billionaires to see who runs our country. I'll play only if the stakes include death to the loser.
4
If the Dems won’t/can’t unite and put together a 2020 ticket with something for everyone, I will vote for Bloomberg.
1
Bloomberg might be better positioned to beat Trump, but do we really have to have to sacrifice respect for women to get a good president?
Bloomberg would be one month shy of his 78th birthday upon taking office.
It is not likely that Americans will want a president who will be pushing 82 as his term in office ends. Would he seek re election.
I am 69 and in great physical shape. But I am an old man, and the years and wear and tear have taken their toll.
Call it ageism discrimination but I say America is better off without another old New Yorker in the White House.
1
The last thing this country needs is a pro-corporate, pro-free trade establishment president like Bloomberg would be. He would kowtow to Beijing and the US would go back to the accommodative policies of the past.
Say what you will about Bloomberg's age, or his wealth, or even his zig-zagging alliances with this political party or that. He's still a successful, accomplished individual who knows how to build things and run things. He's proven himself in both the private and public sectors, and did a more than credible job successfully leading the nation's largest city as mayor.
The left of center purists may howl, and primary voters, generally more activist than those in general elections, may yelp at his relatively late, nascent candidacy after so many Democrats have long since entered and, in some cases, exited the race.
What's most important, however, is finding and supporting a candidate who can beat Donald Trump in the general election. We won't know until election night, as demonstrated fatefully by Donald Trump, who can or can't win in that context, primaries notwithstanding.
The litmus tests of policy purists aren't the answer, and it's too soon to know whether Michael Bloomberg can attract enough of the party faithful to secure the Democratic nomination. But he deserves the chance to try, and to demonstrate whether a sufficient number of Democratic voters believe that he is up to the challenge.
The most important thing is to remain focused on the ultimate objective: defeating Donald Trump. That is job one and nothing else matters as much. Bloomberg deserves the opportunity to find out if he has what it takes, and Americans deserve the chance to make that decision.
5
For years I have been hoping that Bloomberg would run as an independent. To some extent, I still feel that way. But I welcome a Bloomberg candidacy because I think he would be a great president and I think he is eminently electable. I understand the reluctance to put another rich guy in the White House, but, as has been said before: We're not electing a saint, we're electing the chief executive officer of the nation. In that regard, Bloomberg has an admirable track record.
2
Will the ultra-left of the Democratic Party allow Bloomberg to win the Primary? Even if they know that Bloomberg may be the only candidate who can beat Trump? I doubt it. Sometimes I think the Democratic Party has a death wish.
5
Things that are totally predictable:
1) Grass that's green
2) Sky that's blue
3) Bret Stephens endorsing a moderate Republican for a Democratic POTUS spot.
11
Please get out of your bubble Bret. There are three major issues (Climate Change, Health Care costs, and personal debt) that have to be addressed now. Bloomberg merely represents a "way we were " sentiment that addresses none of these problems. Trump happened because of "establishment" candidates like Bloomberg. Therefore, dismissing the core of the Democratic Party will make Trumps re-election more likely. I know you have a pristine view of your perfect little world of privilege. However, running two billionaires from Gotham will profoundly exacerbate the the current divide to dangerous, and potentially violent, levels.
5
Trump and Co. have swung the poltical and social pendulum to one side bigly. The "right" side. So here's a driving-my-car analogy for the next election. This administration is speeding down a wrong and dangerous road. We, the citizenry, are being taken for a terrifying ride. The car must now be shifted into neutral (represented by Bloomberg, Buttigieg, Biden in this election cycle) before shifting into reverse (reversing the damage of Repubs, represented by Warren, Sanders, Yang) in 2024. Can't "strip the gears" in the turnaround to a better road. Some candidates will have aged out, but a cooling off period with moderation and steadiness at the helm will unifying many sectors of the country into tolerance for one another. Maybe......
3
No no no no. The last thing in the world the Democratic party needs is another old man with a big ego who loosely attaches himself to the party when it's convenient. If Bloomberg wants to run, he should run as a Republican - now THAT would be fun.
But for the record - I'll vote for the Democratic nominee for president whoever it is. My cat would be a great choice!
7
Finally, Mr. Stephens makes sense.
Bloomberg should run as a Republican. To pretend he belongs in the race for the Democrat nomination is to reveal himself as an opportunist. Sen. Warren can win the nomination. She can beat trump. The same polling that showed Biden as a big winner now says Warren trails in some key states. That's why we have primaries. Medicare for all over 65 works quite well, thanks. It should be expanded. The manner in which we shift to Medicare for all will ease or eliminate the profiteering of big pharma and medical insurers, lowering costs for all. I trust Warren to ease fears and reignite citizens' belief that we are better than this; that we can tackle the serious problems facing the nation. trump is a fraud. He is unethical, unprincipled, and unfit for office. Warren is the best candidate in the field. After she defeats Sanders and Biden in a few primaries we can revisit those polls.
3
He has my vote. I would like to see a Bloomberg/Klobuchar ticket.
6
Democrats who believe any of the far left candidates can win are as delusional as republicans who believe trump is a good president. Amid this calculus, Bloomberg is a gift from God for any voter who wants to avoid supporting a fringe candidate.
5
Mr. Stephens writes that Bloomberg can win "Because his money instantly neutralizes the Trump campaign’s formidable fund-raising advantage….”
We don’t need Bruce Wayne without the mask to come to our rescue. Another billionaire spending his vanity money to run for office is not democracy.
We live by the falsehoods that corporations are people and money is speech. Real people lose when their voices and votes are turned into the equivalent of CDOs and other financial derivatives to be accumulated, cut up, and sold off for their component value.
Stop, Mike, stop!
5
I remember that being the .same. reasoning for voting for Trump. He’s so wealthy, he will be beyond corruption. Hahahaha! Do you hear yourselves? There is only one candidate who is beyond corruption. Bernie.
2
Agree! Voted for Mike Bloomberg (write-in) in 2016. Couldn't vote for either Hillary or Trump. This time choices are equally uninspiring. Joe weak. Elizabeth can't win. The others. Meh.
So Run. Mike. Run.
2
It would be a contest between the greedy and the greedier!
Are the billionaires getting nervous?
Give them a Valium, raise their taxes, cut out the loop holes and tell them to go to fly a kite!
Nervousness among billionaires is probably the reason billionaire Michael Bloomberg is threatening to run for president on the Democratic ticket. All Bloomberg’s candidacy might do is help elect the Russian Asset. Bloomberg wants to stop progressives like Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic Party from addressing the major economic problem in America today: income and wealth inequality and corporate power and wealth so huge that corporations have replaced our democracy with a corporate oligarchy. Corporations and the super-rich now control absolutely everything.
Corporate attorneys now not only write most of our federal and state laws, corporations dictate which laws will pass and which laws will not.
Republicans afflict the afflicted and comfort the comfortable. Bloomberg showed his allegiances during Occupy Wall St.
Corporations know that their campaign contributions to Trump will be returned to them many times over – just look at the windfall they got from the Republican Tax debacle.
Corporations have even gotten the increasingly-fascist Supreme Court to say that “corporations are people”, entitled to the same rights under the Constitution as natural-born citizens. It’s absurd and it’s a total obscenity.
5
Anyone who thinks a Bloomberg candidacy is a good thing needs to read Charlie Pierce.
“... More important, though, is that Bloomberg’s appearance is unquestionably the most vivid manifestation of the fact that the rise of Elizabeth Warren and the resilience of Bernie Sanders—between them, they represent over 40 percent of the Democratic primary electorate, according to most polls—has put the fear of equality deep in the heart of the money power. Sanders is, to an extent, a known quantity, having run a strong race in 2016. But Warren’s sudden surge has wrong-footed them badly. Her wealth tax is an enormously popular idea, and even the how-will-you-pay-for-it? schoolmarm attacks on her healthcare proposal ring hollow against her consistent assaults on corporate brigandage and monopoly control. Suddenly, all the guns of privilege in society have opened up on her campaign. Suddenly, Michael Bloomberg decides he wants to be president, because the terrifying alternative is that the next president might cost him two cents on everything he makes over $50 million.”
https://link.esquire.com/view/5bda03a47e555430683e8dbdb1y52.524/04efde64
7
He’s here, he’s there, he’s everywhere. He’s been a Republican. He’s been a Democrat. He’s run on the cultish Independence Party line. He put city workers in their place refusing to re-negotiate contracts during his last term. He wouldn’t allow new hires for Riker’s Island, not even a commissioner of correction. He upended the NYC school system but accomplished nothing. He ordered the demolition of a building in the path of the World Trade Center under dangerous safety and environmental conditions resulting in the deaths of two firefighters. Even though term limited he bought himself a third term as mayor. Now he can get to work explaining that the rich need to be protected and the rest of we ingrates need to give up public services for our own good.
4
There is no groundswell for a so-called centrist. Every Democratic candidate pretended, for awhile, to be like Sanders because voters want Medicare for All and other desperately needed paid benefits for their tax dollars. We’re sick to death of politicians stealing our tax dollars to enrich themselves.
2
Bret, of course, hates the Democratic field and the more they lean left the more he hates them, let's start with that. I like Bloomberg but I'm wary of another billionaire in the political mix, even if this one, thank God, might actually be a "stable genius" with actual political experience. I'm for anyone who can beat Trump, and anyone who cares about the Rule of Law and survival of democracy should be as well. But my fear is he'll just muddy up primary waters that were just starting to clear. The crowded process is getting old and boring. It's time to narrow the field and focus on beating Trump, not one another. The huge field is testing voters' patience in an age of TicToc attention spans.
3
Trump said that all Bloomberg would do is hurt Biden. I agree completely. I think this is the first time I have agreed with Trump about anything. If Bloomberg wants to beat Trump, and believes only a moderate can do that, he should be donating to Biden's campaign - not running himself.
I'm a 74 gay man married, and my husband and I have been together 45 years. We are mayor Pete supporters 100% but realize he can't win without the black vote. We both have said in the past that if Bloomberg ran, we would support him. Well, we got our wish. Pete will end up with a major cabinet position, and, eventually be president. We do believe Bloomberg the only one to beat Trump.
3
Stephens support for Bloomberg is predictable. Maybe the Bloomberg campaign can be called “the revenge of the oligarchs.” The only reason Bloomberg is running is to protect his fellow billionaires from paying their fair share of taxes.
And the only reason this columnist supports his candidacy is because those that support our American oligarchs get paid very well themselves. As for the rest of us, we are still waiting for their investments and prosperity to trickle down from the lofty heights of the super rich, who now have tax rates lower than their staff.
It’s sometimes said in criticism of Bernie that he his stirring up class warfare. There is a class war going on but it’s being waged against us, not by us.
4
Why shouldn't Bloomberg run for president? The Democratic Party is desperately in need of another seventysomething candidate and a billionaire at that. I think that as a Democratic candidate for president Bloomberg is right up along with Sanders and Warren as people guaranteed to get Trump reelected because one or another HUGE segment of the Democratic electorate will not vote for any of them.
Only Bret Stephens could be excited about Mike Bloomberg mulling yet another run for the presidency, considering he just decided against it last March. This may set a new record in indecision for a presidential candidate -- three scrapped candidacies within just two election cycles!
It's too late for him to enter the first four primaries, so his plan is to jump in on Super Tuesday, where he'll probably lose the southern states to Biden, Massachusetts to Warren and California to either her or Bernie?
He'll decided against running soon enough but unfortunately he may already have unintentionally weakened Biden.
I like Bloomberg as a more-than-competent, rational and thoughtful leader.
BUT will he really get out the vote?
1. Will the African- American community roll out to vote for him, especially as the memory of stop-and-frisk is not too distant?
2. Will the younger voters feel energized or letdown by a wealthy (albeit philanthropic) older white guy?
3. Does this increase the chance of a progressive, third party run (think Nader).
4. What does he bring to the table that plays to the blue-collar, non-elites in the swing states? People who would, for once, like someone who really hears them and has their interests at heart...
5. For all of his qualities, how does a NYC mayor play in Peoria? (And, as hateful as it is to have to say it, how much would latent or overt anti-semitism hurt?)
6. Is this really a blocking move - designed to draw the party more center when Biden seems weaker and faltering and the Warren/ Sanders wing seems to be pulling more enthusiasm? And if so, who would he end up supporting?
Just some thoughts.
4
Mayor Bloomberg will obviously have to overcome being an elite, wealthy 77-year-old, East Coast media mogul and convince the tens of millions of Americans who are not that he can understand and relate to our needs and desires. Perhaps he can.
And he's going to lose big too. Blacks folks would not vote for this joker. and you know that a good Black voter turnout is a plus for the Democrats.
GO ELIZABETH GO! Cheers to freaking out the billionaires
1
Well said Bret, but being a moderate and passionate Democrat all my life, you’d better learn the refrain about us: “Republicans fall in line, Democrats fall in love”. Playing for this team is like going to the World Series every four years with your kids’ little league team versus the Nats or the Astros. People who think from the left, especially the far left, eschew pragmatism, and probably find law enforcement or the military threatening because so many liberals, though by no means all, are not punctual,or early risers. We have a very large and awfully diverse membership, with many interested non-members in the present era notwithstanding. We have a lot of dreamers Bret, and many daydreamers in our party. Too many, and too much fas inaction with identity politics that are the polar opposite of the Donald.
Most of the Democratic field is not acceptable to the majority of the electorate. Most of the candidates are also horribly lackluster and inexperienced. Finally, not one of them has said a darn thing about national security or how they plan to restore trust in alliances that trump has nearly broken. Bloomberg comes with baggage too. In a strange way he reminds me of the late Arlan Spector of Pennsylvania. He is also quite old too to be taking on such a roll at 77, and we’d have to see how the daily grind affects him too. I wouldn’t count him out. I just think the far left is bringing the little leaguers Lizzy and Bernie to next fall’s World Series come hell or high water.
So it comes to this: Parties make no difference. The wishes of tens of millions of Democrats make no difference. Let's become an official oligarchy, where only the hyper-rich can run. It's pathetic and absurd.
357
@larry bennett
Well. You can vote for one of the millionaires like Sanders, Warren, Harris, Booker, Klobuchar, Biden. Or a billionaire like Steyer or Bloomberg. Or you can vote for one of the ones who are neither: Castro, Inslee (gone), Gabbard, Gillibrand (gone), Yang, Buttigieg, Williamson. Something (including the polling data) tells me you aren't planning to vote for anybody in the last group.
larry wrote:
"So it comes to this: Parties make no difference. The wishes of tens of millions of Democrats make no difference. Let's become an official oligarchy, where only the hyper-rich can run. It's pathetic and absurd."
7
@larry bennett Bloomberg won Independent, Republic and Dem. voters. I think he can bring the "finances" to the mid-west and present the best case for voting for him.
11
@larry bennett
Unfortunately, because of the Electoral College which isn't going away anytime soon, "the wishes of tens of millions of Democrats" in fact makes no difference, as long as they are in CA, NY, MA, and VT.
The Democrats in PA, WI, MI, and FL, on the other hand, make all the difference in who becomes president.
Mathematically, Trump could lose the popular vote by 5 million and still be "elected" president.
15
Mr Bloomberg should run against Trump as a Republican- which is what he is.
Pounding Trump through the entire primary season with ads and appearances will do more good than losing in the Democratic primary.
Mr. Bloomberg, who wants to take away your zero calorie Diet Coke and decided term limits were for little people, is nobody I would take seriously and I am a college educated Independent voter.
3
Jeepers. Someone who acts relatively normally running for President? Something's wrong with this picture.
If age is not a disqualifier for Bernie or Bloomberg, then bring on the only person who would actually excite me as a candidate..
Nancy Pelosi.....
3
Personally I am deeply worried. We are in parallel, stunningly, with McGovern v Nixon 1968. Charisma trumps intelligence in this topsy turvy world time and time again.
Barack Obama captured the imagination and hopes of African Americans and people of color around the world. His voice was that of a white man, but his soul understood -like only a black man can understand- the sufferings of prejudice and a deeply racist country.
And Barack was charismatic. Over the top charismatic.
Being tall helps. Being handsome helps. Being famous also helps.
All these superficial qualities trump intelligence and, as we see, fully trump decency, or any sense of empathy or moral verisimilitude.
Trump, like the unnamed former dictator of Germany between 1933 and 1945, appeals to a rabid base, to (most of) his ultra rich compatriots, and to a cognitively dissonant Evangelical block, who in irony of ironies has confounded this conman with God.
Whatever twist of fate has allowed for a Republican Senate in the face of this assault on the very foundations of Democracy, has also seen to the fact that, no- Bloomberg ain't gonna cut it.
Rather - I believe we will survive even 8 years of Mr. Trump. He will strengthen the resolve of all of us to combat climate disaster, to fight for a more equitable country, to protect women's rights, and on an on. Our country can survive this man. That's the test.
I don't think Bloomberg is strong enough though. We still don't have a candidate.
In a country where 27% of adults don't have $400.00 to cover an emergency, the descriptive term "centrist" is worse than meaningless rubbish. It's a craven plea for maintaining inequality and adding the sheen of upper-class politesse.
Back in your bubble, Stephens.
4
ok. america, I get it. You are not ready for a woman, a gay man, or progressive policies. I'm just a little peeved that Mayor B. waited until now. My support goes to Mayor Pete until I see if Mayor B is serious.
"Bloomberg-Trump" should be the Republican's primary contest. Not R v D nationally.
B is more R and D.
1
No. Just no. Under Bloomberg we watched the worst ideas for public education flourish in NYC. The rest of the state is paying for it by being punished for a failing system. Now he'll be able to spread it throughout the nation.
We'll end up with an electorate even dumber and (if this is possible) more ignorant than it already is.
Let me start by saying I like a Mike Bloomberg and think he’d be a great President. But Bloomberg is making a big mistake. No one east of the Hudson will will get excited about his candidacy. A 77 year old Jewish New York billionaire is simply not going to appeal to the vast majority of American voters. He should put his money and efforts behind the next President, Mayor Pete Buttigieg!
2
Can you please explain why Mayor Buttigieg, of a college town with huge racial problems he could not even begin to solve is your candidate for President if the United States?
Buttigieg is a guy who volunteered to fight in Afghanistan, an idiotic imperialistic war if there ever was one, just to pad his resume.
No one in his right mind would vote for a nobody like that. There are plenty of Harvard honor graduates who would do just as well if not better in his age group. You also know who his supporting buddy is, correct? Mark Zuckerberg, a despicable human being who would sell his own mother for an additional billion.
1
Mike Bloomberg is not a Democrat and was a Liberal Party candidate when he ran for mayor. He does not share political interests with Democrats. Together with the Hoefeller thumb drives showing gerrymandering , McConnell ruling the Senate like a dictator, and stealing the 2016 election and stacking the courts, we Democrats are being marginalized even in our own party.
All good points, but I worry. I like to evaluate every candidate based on how they might do in Wisconsin. Biden is shaky but looks okay for now. Warren is a disaster. Sander is somewhere between Warren and Biden. Buttigieg would be good if he can get the nomination. I don't see Bloomberg doing well here.
1
Sorry, but he's the consummate elitist who thinks he should have the authority to micro-manage people's lives. The gun issue alone will knock him out of the box throughout rural America. No, thanks.
1
In a race between the "maker and the faker" the faker Trump would win hands down. Is that what you want? Probably.
Bret, would you vote for Bloomberg in the general election, or are you jut generally saying that D voters (not you) would vote for him?
A suspect endorsement from a Republican propagandist. Bloomberg is unknown outside NY. He has lots of money. Who will vote for him?
It’s painfully obvious the establishment donors betting on both horses need an establishment candidate to beat Bernie Sanders when this old, rich horse enters the race.
Bloomberg? This late in the race? And he’s not even going to Iowa or New Hampshire? That’s like 20 horses starting at the gunshot and half way some door opens off the sideline ahead of the race for some jock in a breasted suit trotting towards the finish line.
No.
I wanted Bloomberg - Mullen last time. The VP choice will be interesting as he might be a one term President, for age reasons. I have loved my independent status for years and years and Bloomberg is an independent. He is just picking the Democratic ticket to execute, so I will join him and register for the Primary. #Bloomberg2020
1
Don’t trust oligarchs to be your political saviors! Bloomberg was the same person who got the NYC laws changed so he could run for a third term and then had it revert back!
Beating Trump is NOT the be-all and end-all!!!
Two rich guys jousting for the presidency does not sound good for "We the People".
From what I can understand Mr, Bloomberg is running because he does not think that either Senator's Warren or Sanders* can beat Trump. Both have solid well throughout policies and are polling well-showing that their ideas jive well with the American voters.
We know nothing of Mr. Bloomberg's policies, yet Mr. Stephens writes a puff piece.
Bloomberg's tenure in NYC is not without black marks. More importantly, will he be good for all of "We the People" not just the 1%.
*No mention of Mr. Biden as he will shorty flame out due to a lack of policies and therefore funding.
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I see Bloomberg as a “one and done” president. Same with Biden. We don’t need a Messiah, just a round of sober leadership.
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Now Bret, what percentage of the African-American vote, particularly women, do you think Bloomberg will get? I think he will smash the record: of course, it will be a record low!
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My first choice is Warren. My second choice is Trump. If the Dems don't give a real alternative to Trump, I'm just not interested. For me Bloomberg is just another out of touch billionaire without the orange clown suit. It's just lipstick on a pig. (ok, slight exaggeration, I'd settle for Bernie too, but no one else)
I live in a Republican district. Not one person I have talked to is voting for Trump.
This election is not about identity, it is about ridding this nation of abhorrent inequality, a healthcare system that is killing us and a presidency on the brink of becoming fascist.
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Mayor Bloomberg, you've got my absentee ballot!
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I say Warren for president
Bloomberg for Vice President.
Or is that too embarrassing for an old white man, a secondary role behind a female?
If Bloomberg could help the Dems win, how about he do it as VP and let Warren do what she will do as president, moderate her views to be as effective as possible in making America fair,
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You are missing the point. The fact that Bloomberg does not belong in that ticket has nothing to do with his gender but his ideology. Stop sticking feminism in every hole you see.
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If the Democrats nominate another another New York billionaire, the party will lose the Midwest and the South again. We don’t want another candidate buying the nomination through money and his television presence and we don’t want another New Yorker who knows little to nothing about working families and their needs. Mr. Stephens, you need to get out more. Your elitist liberal arrogance works against bringing working people back to the Democratic Party fold.
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An old white billionaire from NY... stop and frisk enthusiast, charter school advocate, CEO president? Adios black vote, rural communities, Midwest. And he doesn’t plan to meet and talk with voters? Just buy tons of advertising? No thank you. I’m going with the young, sharp, brilliant man/veteran with integrity and honor and an honest fire to serve.
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True New Yorkers will never forget how former Mayor Bloomberg did not show up to stop the closing of St. Vincent's Hospital which served the Greenwich Village community and was the hospital that helped people with AIDS. The hospital was closed and big real estate took over with overpriced housing. https://www.change.org/p/mayor-of-new-york-city-stop-the-rudin-luxury-condo-conversion-plan
Michael Bloomberg also ran for a third term and won although there were term limits of only serving two terms. Many New Yorkers had fatigue from his not disclosing where he traveled on weekends and was unavailable. More on former Mayor Bloomberg here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayoralty_of_Michael_Bloomberg - We need a younger, energetic candidate to beat Trump plus statistics show no NYC mayor has ever gone on to become President of the Uniited States
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