It would seem NY State is significantly less corrupt now that Trump has switched his residence to Florida.
50
Bloomberg for President.
For his running mate: Eric Swalwell!
7
It is impossible to "earn" 50 billion dollars. You can inherit it or you can steal it, but working 24 hours / day every day for 100 years you could never earn it. We don't need more thieves in Washington and we don't need another spoiled brat.
We need someone honest enough to clean up their mess.
32
Maybe Bloomberg just going in to ruin any hope Biden had in winning the nomination and thus securing it for Warren
13
All these candidates on the Democratic side are espousing plans that are pie in the sky. They are going to be dealing with a bluer congress in both the House and the Senate.
As much as I despise Trump I don't believe that wholesale change in our tax and spend policies are going to make it into law. What Sanders and Warren are smoke and mirrors that would take decades to change.
To me they are not rational but I'd prefer them over the crazed lunatic that's in there now. I don't trust Pence either for different reasons. I think whatever Bloomberg comes up with will be pragmatic and thought out. If he flames out then vote him out in 2024. The important thing is to get rid of Trump either by impeachment, the 25th amendment or tagging him a LOSER.
20
I like Bloomberg but the only one Trump fears is Biden. That’s all we really need to know.
8
Jeff Bezos got on the phone and asked Mike Bloomberg to run because the what the country really needs in this crowded field of Democratic candidates is another coastal elite who won't roll back the GOP tax bill won't appoint effective regulators in any government agency. Meanwhile, I just scraped up another $50 for the Warren campaign.
22
I’m not voting for anyone over 65. That’s my age. A good number of the field is just too old. Options really limited. Nobody is leading under 70. Sheeeesh.
16
Not one democratic candidate is speaking about border control, and this is an issue still important to many dems and independents, as well as republicans...even those that don't like Trump. Why is there this silence about border control? The issue is still present in all our minds. even if unacknowledged by the candidates. To date, all I've heard is get rid of ICE, take away the criminality in illegal border crossings, and give illlegal immigrants free health care. Sounds to me like open borders. Few of us want that. The problem worsens because the Dems won't face it, fearing the loss of votes, and Trump has used this issue with force, he has actually done something, but the something is evil and cruel. Show us a compassionate and viable way to make immigration legally possible and sustainable without the chaos we see now.
15
So, it comes down to 'spending all the money it takes.' Why doesn't he spend his money to support one of the candidates already running, then?
24
trump v. Bloomberg would be a former Democrat turned Republican v. a former Republican turned Democrat.
While trump has no loyalties or logic other than the momentary state of his spleen, Bloomberg should challenge him on the turf of values he himself actually represents, with some concern for gun safety and the environment thrown in.
He would restore balancer to the political system by replacing the anarchist on the Republican side. Bloomberg would actually credibly represent what were once Republican values.
Then we would once again have an honest debate between the two parties rather than the current situation of one side trying to defend the rule of law and our system of checks and balances against a gang of self-interested and disingenuous toddlers.
And America would have an honest choice between who has the better idea (and whom does the candidate represent), rather than have that debate within the Democratic Party over who would win against trump.
6
In other words, Bloomberg should be challenging trump in the Republican primary.
21
Folks seem to think what matters most is finding the right candidate with the right policies ie.health care, taxes, climate change. Of course that would be ideal under normal circumstances, which these certainly are not.
Under these circumstances what matters most is winning. Sorry to say. Can Biden do it ? Possibly. Can the left wing, Sanders, Warren, get there? I think less likely. They will present large propaganda targets for the right wing machine not to mention the abomination himself. As we know the outcome will be determined by a handful of swing states,full of under-educated and desperate people, we can be sure that the dark arts and all the right wing media can be bring to bear-shall be brought to bear. Thus Warren and Sanders shall be very vulnerable-in those states.
Which leaves Biden. I think he can do it, but on various occasions he has looked tenuous.In fact he may be past his use by date. Maybe not. We have time to sort that out though.
In this context there is a real opening for a guy like Bloomberg.I think paired with a progressive he can win.
Of course there is a lot wrong with it but like I said these are not normal times and another Trump victory, stolen or not, would be a genuine catastrophe, of world historic proportions.
Folks really need to check their dreams at the door on this one and put on their hard headed hats.
Some say he should run as a R'- Trump would defeat him and we would back here again.
Good news is we have 8 months to decide.
11
Madam: They sound so much alike when denigrating supposed opponents. The difference is that Trump denigrates everyone, while Mr. Bloomberg has a touch of grace. Not that the said touch makes the perception of a con man automatic; Mr. Bloomberg rightly perceives the un-enigmatic rhetoric of the demagogue. To answer your question, since I know nothing of something called Mrs. Doubtfire, I must assume that both signify lots and lots of money, so, not being satisfied with what it will look like, I have to intimate that both would likely be controlled by moneyed think tanks and or organizations which specialize in trying to determine policy. (Trump already is) So as patience wears thin, the bottom line is: Does the U.S. really need or want plutocrats pulling strings and controlling things? As long as the answer to that is "no." then the chance for infrastructure being affected by variable capital for the good of the citizenry at least has somewhat favorable odds. Otherwise, it is continuing to be viewed as a lost cause.
Mr Bloomberg I would know that you were someone able to put the country first if you realized that it is Elizabeth Warren you should be supporting.
That you are not supporting Elizabeth Warren tells me that you do not understand the massive healthcare debt, bankruptcies and student loans people have, along with those who cannot afford housing.
Ms Warren understands our economy and where our first steps should be.
She is tough enough, has the integrity, and the mind to tackle the financial disparity.
Ms Warren is rare, she is well rounded, and has her feet firmly planted in reality and common sense.
22
Why do billionaires think they are qualified to lead the people in this country? How many homeless have they created shelter for? How many hungry have they fed? How many of the 35 million uninsured Americans have they arranged health insurance for?How many working people do they provide a living wage to? How many jobs have they outsourced to cheap labor countries? How many tax shelters have they created for themselves? How many politicians have they bought and paid for so they can have more and more money?
Why do we think money makes anyone a better leader?
34
Bloomberg is a losing bet, and will only serve to further muddy an already overcrowded field. He will not appeal to most young and/or progressive Democrats, many of whom will foolishly end up voting for an alternative candidate. He could lure in a meaningful number of Independents, but his nanny state policies combined with his push for gun control won't play well with disaffected Republicans who might otherwise be inclined to vote against trump.
There are only two candidates in the field who have the potential to both unite the disparate factions of the Democratic electorate, and bring in swing voters: Buttigieg and Klobuchar. Between the two, I think Buttigieg has a better chance. He's young, charismatic, articulate, somewhat, but not too, progressive, midwestern and has the added feather in his cap of military service. The fact that he's gay will be a turn off to some Conservatives, but he doesn't come off as gay, and I don't believe it has quite the stigma it used to. He does lack experience, but experience isn't necessary to win elections. He might not be my first choice, but right now, I think he's our best hope for defeating trump.
9
Why does anyone think Bloomberg can win the Rust Belt states? I thought those were the only states that count because of the EC?
8
The real democrats should never complain about Medicare for all. Stop with the negativity , stop listening about false comments like ...the money is not there, it’s a fantasy , this is absurd. ... and people will lose their health care. This is Not true,People can be so ignorant , they don’t know about other nations health system and how it function. They buy what Insurance companies and pharmaceutical Companies pay for negative adds and negative journalism, obviously disinformation. The reality is , We have plenty money to use in Health, Education and Housing . But our system is only for profit and feed the investors. Obviously they with destroy anyone like Bernie , Warren. Our system is very corrupt , just like other countries. The difference is Trump. The corruption is abundant .Nothing is wrong if we take money from the Military , and increase taxes for all corporations , financial institutions and wealthy folks. Bloomberg is smart , has money , has a commonsense about environment laws, very strong about guns restriction , but he is confusing the already confused people. The time is crucial, the Networks, MSNBC, CNN , NY TIMES WP... don’t stop bashing Bernie /Warren because their policies. The old people will Not decided the primaries. In 2020 it will be the young generation. We already saw it in 2018.
3
Spock:
I object to you.
I object to knowledge without intellect.
I object to power, without constructive purpose.
4
Please Mr. Bloomberg, do yourself and the rest of us a favor by not adding yourself as the newest ingredient to our Democratic stew. DJT does not think you have the magic (like he does) or the huge orange presence (like he does) to succeed. Please don't misunderstand; I would vote for you if you were our nominee. It's just that we need to let our stew simmer and not dilute it anymore. Our nominee will rise to the top and we can then remove the bay leaves and thank them for the wonderful flavor they added. And thus it will be time, at long last, to discard the huge magic orange that is actually decomposing more by the day. Rotten is as rotten does. Please, we need some Febreeze asap!
3
What happened to Joe Biden? Surely not the nonsense and propaganda from Trump.Or was it? Biden is a fine man who can on Day 1 try and get this country back together. Trump has and continues to destroy the America I grew up in.
My vote is for Joe Biden.
10
Given where both parties are today, I would vote for Bloomberg in a New York minute.
7
I think the only astute observation about a Bloomberg candidacy has come from Trump. He lacks magic!
2
We don’t need “saving” from someone who’s increased his fortune taking advantage of the system. It would be like allowing the Sacklers to save us from OxyContin addiction.
6
If Bloomberg really wants to help this country, he should buy FOX TV and shut it down. FOX TV has poisoned the minds of millions.
25
@Nina Dear Nina.
It got bought by Disney. Direct your criticism to Robert Iger.
6
Republican lawmakers have consigned themselves to diaper duty, don't you think?
I think Mike Bloomberg might make a decent POTUS.
But I'm voting for Pete Buttigieg in the California primary on Super Tuesday.
1
I think the suggestion Bloomberg should run as Republican opposing trump, is the best so far. The media rarely talks about Bill Weld or those running against Trump who hogs all print all air time. Now at least media can start talking about Republican Bloomberg opposing Republican trump.
6
Bloomberg only looks good in contrast to Trump, but who doesn't?
Bloomberg is a Republican who would scream about "deficits" as a prelude to ruin Social Security and Medicare.
7
At present I think Warren will likely be the nominee and in the swing states she could win handily if new voters and minorities get behind her. Bloomberg would win over moderates who went for Trump but I don’t see the Bernie Warren wing of the party accepting defeat and the supporting either Bloomberg or Biden. The keys seems to me to be Bernie. If he withdraws and backs Warren she seems a lock to win the nomination. If he stays till the end Biden could still take it unless Bloomberg decimates his already sinking campaign
If all 4 stay in it’s anyone’s race and like Trump in 2016 one can win the nomination with far less than majority support of the party
2
Bloomberg is only running because he and his fellow billionaires are afraid if a Progressive president takes over they will be forced to pay their fair share of taxes. We already had them weeping on CNBC about Warren's 2% plan. They have gotten so used to center right Democrats like Bill Clinton and Obama that they have become spoiled. They just want to add to their bank accounts, it does not matter to them if the country goes down the tubes, witness them pocketing Trump's $1.5 trillion tax breaks with borrowed money. Not a peep from them.
Please Mike Bloomberg, if you have to scratch the Presidential run itch, run as a spoiler from the right. Do a Ross Perot and not roil the waters in the Democratic primary, we have enough qualified people.
14
If the free press is a watchdog, who is supposed to control it?
Who is watching a watchdog?
Once again, why should “watching Pete climb” be of concern to anyone?? I’m so sick of seeing that comment with no explanation whatsoever. Is Bloomberg being homophobic? Or ageist? Or does he assume the country is homophobic or ageist? I personally take great comfort in the polls showing Iowa is a tight race between he and Ms. Warren.
3
@Mark T
I'm asking the same question Mark. What's this concern about Pete? I have been arguing that Pete is the best candidate on the Democratic side because of his ideas and how grounded he seems in reality.
Someone countered my argument by saying; "Mayor Pet is a relative kid."
The person went on to say; "[Mayor Pete] should return in 10-15 years looking for the Golden Ring again. He will be great after some seasoning! Now, he's hubris embodied!
I'm like you Mark. I am lost at the rhyme and reason I am getting from many who aren't supporting Pete.
I'm getting the feeling that, for many, this race comes down to olden beliefs like age versus ideas.
They keep forgetting Trump's age. A man who is in his 70s yet behaves like he is in high school. And, for many, that is just right.
Yeah Mark. This is one for the books.
6
@Mark T
I'm asking the same question Mark. What's this concern about Pete? I have been arguing that Pete is the best candidate on the Democratic side because of his ideas and how grounded he seems in reality.
Someone countered my argument by saying; "Mayor Pete is a relative kid."
The person went on to say; "[Mayor Pete] should return in 10-15 years looking for the Golden Ring again. He will be great after some seasoning! Now, he's hubris embodied!
I'm like you Mark. I am lost at the rhyme and reason I am getting from many who aren't supporting Pete.
I'm getting the feeling that, for many, this race comes down to olden beliefs like age versus ideas.
They keep forgetting Trump's age. A man who is in his 70s yet behaves like he is in high school. And, for many, that is just right.
Yeah Mark. This is one for the books.
1
Bloomberg vs Trump. Fifteen rounds at the Garden. Winner take all.
4
As the weeks pass, Miss Dowd's articles will get juicier and juicier...
It's interesting that so many people not from NY think Bloomberg is America's savior while those from NY are not-so-much in the Bloomberg is savior camp. The closer you are to him, the worse he looks.
4
@Jack be Quick - Not at all! We love him in NYC. Really - he's sane, brilliant, competent, able to say, "I don't know but I know who to ask," interested in hiring smart, capable staff, and on the right side of issues people care about. I would vote for Bloomberg in a heartbeat, and am thrilled he's considering joining the race.
14
With the top 1% owning almost as much wealth as the entire middle and upper middle classes combined, billionaires are NOT the ones to be running this government. Maybe in the distant future when billionaires are the middle class...but not in 2020!
6
Yesterday I heard thousands of Americans at an Alabama football game cheer Donald Trump like he was the second coming. It was very depressing. If Trump had given these people free health care I could understand, if he had given them free college I could understand , if he had set America on a path to better jobs , with a better infrastructure I could understand, but Trump hasn’t done anything for those people accept enhance their feeling of white superiority. How is an ethical, intelligent, honorable man like Bloomberg going to be able to deal with all that?
12
@Lonnie
Trump's reception at a Michigan State, Penn State, Ohio State, or University of Wisconsin football game would likely be very different. But we'll never know for sure. Because he'll never go to one.
5
Bloomberg is running not because he thinks Biden will lose to Trump.
Bloomberg is running because he thinks Warren or Bernie will win against Trump.
Seems to me that Wall street is getting nervous.
17
Too many people are discussing this as though Warren, Biden and Bernie are the only ones running. And the NYTimes is part of this problem.
Where are the articles about all the others running? Amy is running. Cover her. And Harris is running. Cover her. etc. The only articles are about the frontrunners and now this late entrant, Bloomberg. It's unfair and it's irreponsible as we need more info as citizens to make a good decision.
4
#MichaelBloomberg = reason and maturity. #DonaldTrump = spur of the moment emotion and immaturity. Yes, Maureen gets it. But will the Democratic voters reject Berny and AOC, and Elizabeth Warren, in the primaries? If not, hold the Trump inauguration now! Save us the time and expense of another year of bitter campaigning.
4
The NYT and Dowd have again shown their bias in the upcoming Democratic race.
Not a mention of, a leader in many polls, Bernie Sanders.
Sure, you mentioned Bloomberg, Warren, Biden and Mayor Pete but not a mention of Bernie. Maybe because NYT is a part of and supporters of the Wall Street Mafia that skims our wages with every transaction.
Shame, Maureen, for taking the same position the DNC does about "No Independents Allowed".
6
In light of the fact that a government is not a business I find it counterproductive to elect a candidate whose main focus is profit. A government functions as a nonprofit; it is the entity that serves to protect all citizens, not just powerful men with the money and arrogance to assume they are the saviors of America.
From Clinton neo-liberals to the muck of libertarian selfishness, we have fared poorly by ignoring and sweeping the social fabric of the US into a production line of degraded values, fungible promises, and congressional idiocy.
4
I have always chuckled when someone says “the government should be run like a business”. My reply is that they don’t understand the function of government. I recognize that there is a lot that the federal government could do better. Sometimes those attempts to cut costs are thwarted by lobbyists for big corporations, think Medicare and Medicaid being UNable to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower prices. But the goal of government is to keep its citizens safe, educated, and generally healthy, not cutting taxes, and thereby services that clip the safety network to the bone. There is a reason that we see few immigrants coming here from Scandinavian countries. Yes, they pay high taxes, but their lifestyle is enviable, at least to me.
5
To my amazement, Elizabeth Warren is doing everything she can to make Trump a two term president. Democrats who have been getting themselves elected to Congress and governorships haven't been proposing radical changes at all. Warren has great plans for new taxes and medical care, but she wouldn't stand a chance in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin,-- even if she were a man.
Bloomberg realizes this and that's the only reason he's talking about running. He's the last guy I would have expected to save the country, but he may be our only hope.
10
I think Bloomberg is running as a spoiler. No one has been better for the super rich than Trump and the Democratic candidates are all talking about making the tax code fair and making the rich pay their fair share.
And what would scare a Wall Street billionaire more that the radical idea of them paying their fair share?
4
@rabrophy: You obviously missed the Democratic Convention of 2016 where Bloomberg made mincemeat out of Trump. He paid more than his fair share in supporting worthwile causes, combating climate change and gun safety legislation most of all. America could do much worse than having Bloomberg for president.
13
There are fine people running for the Democratic nomination, but the 2020 election is a huge turning point for this country. Trump is desperate to be re-elected so he won't be indicted. Who knows what other foreign countries he's extorting to that end. Don't think the Russians are going to be still, either.
That's why I look forward to Bloomberg entering the race. There is no perfect candidate yet who can win unless Democrats and Independents -- young and old -- put aside differences, agree to save our system of government and coalesce around the nominee. No back-biting, no half-hearted endorsements. The point is to choose whoever can win and then vote.
I like the idea of creating task forces to focus on such areas as how to fund infrastructure rebuilding, offering a public option in Obamacare, examining the tax structure for options that don't punish the middle class.
As far as I can tell, Republicans don't value anything but themselves and money. Those ideas are tearing our country apart.
10
The six key states: Wisconsin Michigan Pennsylvania Florida Arizona North Carolina. Not NY.
And, consider the negative impact of Mr Stop-and-Frisk appearing at the Dem's convention in Milwaukee, the most racial-economic segregated large city in the US, where lack of African-American turnout in 2016 (not solely, but more than any other factor) prevented a HRC victory in WI.
Mr. Bloomberg's candidacy does not compute.
4
The Bloomberg announcement, along with reverent commentary from the Wall Street Journal and the former mayor's (mostly) metro New York supporters, proves how bad off we are as a country: Donald Trump could be reelected. The progressive Democratic candidates couldn't defeat Trump in states other than Massachusetts, Minnesota and Oregon. Biden has been weakened.
And who's our Knight in Shining Armor? Michael Bloomberg, like Trump another Russian-style oligarch who doesn't happen the speak Russian. Though Bloomberg probably wouldn't impose his imperial family on us the way Trump has (with a loudmouth prince and a glittering princess-confidante, in full Romanov mode), it's quite telling that a superrich entrepreneur must be our savior. America is well on its way to becoming a third world country, with better sanitation.
4
@Mason
Michael Bloomberg was an incredible mayor. The best in my lifetime. He professionalized city government and helped make NYC one of the best cities in the world to live in and visit. And, yes, I know he was not perfect. No government leader is.
4
@Mason -- better sanitation? How about the water in Flint?
2
Let’s face it there isn’t much difference between these two men but optics. Neither is comfortable with questions or dissent. Both see themselves as above the rules and protocols of the rest of us mere morals. We don’t need a billionaire in the White House!
4
@Justice Holmes: There isn't much difference between potatoes and tomatoes. Neither are cows. Both are edible but don't pair well with chocolate ice cream. Your argument makes no sense!
6
At this point, if I was an American, I’d vote for any Democrat if that meant getting rid of Trump and stopping the insane circus act going on right now. Bloomberg has one thing going for him: he’s a safe choice for centrists and Republicans who don’t like Trump. The more « progressive » Democrats will do everything in their power to block him, however, but I get the feeling that they’d rather lose the election than admit Warren and Sanders will lose to Trump.
6
Bloomberg is a Republican trying to pose a a Democrat...
He only represents the Corporate Billionaires who so desperately want to stop Sanders and Warren from taxing his wealth...
6
@Marek Edelman: Nope. Bloomberg cares a lot about climate change and has supported environmental initiatives with biliions, same with gun safety initiatives. He certainly does NOT represent the Kochs, Mercers, Waltons and Adelmans and others of their ilk who grew their wealth by destroying the environment and ripping off their workers. He is socially progressive and fiscally conservative. He doesn't suffer fools gladly, which can come in handy if he has to tame a Republican Senate as president - if the Republican manage to hold on to their seats that is.
5
Wow! Looks like everyone is giving up on Joe Biden. He's still ahead in the polls and it's a long time until November.
4
@ Chris
That’s because we all know Biden would be crushed by Trump... Sad but true.
4
If the polls are correct, more than a third of the electorate look at the Amoral Incompetent and see a Savior who is making America great again. What will they do if their Savior refuses to concede to the winning opposition? Civil war is possible. And the more exotic the opposition is, the more likely Trump and his followers refuse to accept defeat. Therefore, regretfully, I say nominate some old white guy. Just be sure the other half of the ticket is ready to be President.
I'd vote for Bloomberg in a nanosecond. He's smart, he's truly a self-made man, he ran his city very well, he knows that climate change is real and had to deal with the results of the disaster that happened to NY after Sandy hit so not only does he "know" it intellectually, he dealt with it physically. He's sane, he's a moderate, he's not a buffoon, he wouldn't make ashamed and terrified on a daily basis. He understands the reasons behind and the need for alliances with other democracies. He's not a swindler and a fraud. He's lived his life in a respectable manner and he's wealthier than Trump ever was on his best day and he didn't cheat reams of vendors, contractors, employees, bankers or investors get there nor is he "owned" by Russian oligarchs or Putin nor does he love every tinpot despot on the planet.
In other words -- he's the anti-Trump -- and I've admired him and his philanthropy for years.
12
He kept those five million dollar condos safe from grubby cigarette smoke. The man is a saint.
Seriously, the "good" New York billionaire will now vanquish the bad one, as the little people cheer "We're saved! We're saved!".
Why don't we just chuck this democracy thing and go straight to monarchy? We already have Barr and the Supremes working out the new Divine Rights of Kings.
3
@Duncan: Uhmmm, doesn't the USA have elections? Kings are not elected...
No candidate is perfect and Bloomberg has his political warts for sure. He is a perfect foil for phony baloney Trump however. I wonder if the millennials and younger voters who like Bernie would even bother to vote if a Bloomberg were to win the nomination. But Bloomberg knows how to count. And has built a big business without his racist father’s money.
4
Rich Liberals will love this - he buying back their power and influence in Washington, which to be honest is all that matters to them
Progressives would end up holding their noses and falling in line when push comes to shove.
The question is, does Bloomberg have what it takes, coming into this race as late as he has, there are requirements to be met re: donors etc, and will the DNC help push him across the line
1
@Hjb -- He has tons of money of his own that he is willing to spend. Money does not seem a problem in his case.
Get off it Maureen! Bloomberg could manage this country very well! Better than Warren and the others, and he’s not up for purchase by the highest bidder! I say, get behind him, and help him!
6
Bernie to Mike Bloomberg: "You ain't gonna buy this election."
Bloomberg to Bernie: "Oh yeah?"
2
Everybody knows none of the current Democrat candidates can beat Mr. Trump. Joe Biden is a boring old timeserver, Elizabeth Warren is a leftist wild-woman with an expensive 'plan for everything', and Bernie Sanders is a crypto-commie who in the 50's would have been put in jail. The enthusiasm with which Democrats are now greeting Mr. Bloomberg is proof-positive that they know none of their candidates has a chance. Maybe Mr. Trump is actually popular is some kind of sub rosa way that it's not fashionable to talk about and the left-leaning news media couldn't begin to admit. The arrival of Bloomberg makes things interesting and even hopeful for the Dems.
2
Another great piece by Mo... but we deserve better choices than these.
An incumbent narcissistic billionaire who doesn't care about democracy versus a well-meaning egotistical billionaire who perverted democracy/term limits to run for a third term as Mayor of NYC...
(And how long before clueless Hillary saddles up her white mare and rides in to "save us" from ourselves? I can see the "I'm STILL with HER" bumper stickers in my nightmares...)
Man, do I miss Ed Koch!
3
What I would enjoy is at debates between Bloomberg and Trump, Bloomberg show up with a big chart behind him on a tripod showing his net worth versus Trump's. That would so unnerve Trump he'd lose his train of thought (if possible) and not be able to get it out of his head. It would be a very beautiful thing as Trump might say about anything else.
5
@bill -- envisioning this made me laugh!
After very diligent and extensive underground investigation over the last quarter of century, I am ready to testify under the oath in front of the US Congress that the free press is just another kind of organized criminal enterprise, more like a contemporary cartel.
The only difference is that some criminal organizations prostitute the bodies of the innocent victims while the other prostitute their minds to the paying customers.
For example, in what other country in the world the college students are forced to sacrifice their bodies in an extremely cruel game and suffer gruesome brain injuries, broken backbones, injured limbs and ankles in order to entertain the spectators and corporate patrons?!
The really troubling part is that the aforementioned doesn’t happen in some dark back alleys of crime-ridden neighborhoods but in the middle of the most prestigious universities, and in front of the TV cameras for the entire country to witness.
Of course, this kind of carnage is occasionally interrupted by the disgusting ads inciting the youth to drink, smoke, vape, eat greasy food, consume sugary drinks or subdue own personal problems with the opioid drugs…
From this gruesome perspective, the traditional Mafia was the shining light of morality and family values.
However, the free press is open to discussing the lies in political ads…
If you think this comment will be chosen as “editorial pick”, you must be more gullible and naïve than Pinocchio…
3
Bloomberg is small. Trump is a fraud. But Trump is not a New Yorker -- not any more.
1
I’d love to see Bernie debate the two of them. The gloves will be off and we will see how pathetic billionaires big and little are.
2
@Corbin After you've had a good laugh while watching the debate, how do you feel about 5 more years of Trump?
3
I like Mike Bloomberg and I have a tangential reason to like him on a business/personal level (more on that in a moment). Wanted him to run last time around but, apparently, his feet were cold (as well as flat, which helped keep him out of the Vietnam draft).
He is a billionaire, in full, not in fake, and he has a thousand and one blind spots from having spent such a huge part of his life on that very wealthy perch. He would not likely make a great president because, me thinks, his mental state toward the real problems of real citizens has been too distorted for too long. BUT, compared the Orange man, he'd be great. He would most likely listen to people and to advice and perhaps he could be moved to channel his understanding toward a more humane approach. He's certainly got enough experience and background to be considered fully qualified.
As for the personal? I might have more or less accidentally helped him make a few hundred million of his billions back in the late 1980s when I called him, frequently, to share some information about new technologies. He didn't know me but he called me back, several times. His office was a bull pen set-up, not a closed off executive suite, and he actually listened to his voice mail, calling back whomever he pleased.
It is a smart person who knows he doesn't know everything. Smarter still is a person willing to go after the information he might need. Unlike the other guy who says he knows more about everything than anyone.
5
The battle of the New Yorkers!! "I love New York," well more now that the riff-raff moved to his failing Florida resort. I'll say it again, finally someone I can vote for. Let's make America normal again.
1
Bloomberg should run as a Republican.
4
@Jill: Not a chance. He's a progressive on climate change, gun control and right to choose. He's fiscally conservative and last but not least, Jewish. Not a chance in the world that the Trumpublican "base" will accept him.
1
I grew up around, and still have much affection for, New York.
That said: I don't think this is a time for anyone from New York to run for President. Values there -- money- and media-centric -- do not play in much of this country.
There's no need to illustrate what Trump -- a son of Queens, and as such an outsider of a kind himself (which explains his enormous insecurity, his need for adulation) -- has done as President, or why the idea of any continuation of this is anything short of ruinous.
But Bloomberg, with his sometimes smart, but often Draconian ways of making changes, will not be a good idea either.
Hey Maureen, I know you work for the Times, but notice you stick to D.C. Interesting... (Although, not very.)
I'm just trying to say: we don't need another over-entitled, bossy-pants New Yorker who thinks they know better. It's already been made quite clear that they do not.
1
@ADH3: We need smart and Draconian to cut through the corruption in Washington and Senate obstruction. I'd love to see Bloomberg cut down McConnell a notch or two. Warren and Sanders would be good too, but Bloomberg will have votes where it counts, in the swing states.
2
Ms. Dowd should understand how a Bloomberg presidency would be great for the country. Plus this would give her a new target (and outlet) for her boundless sarcasm. Let’s have three cheers for Mr. Bloomberg.
1
As a middle of the country Democrat, I do not want another old white man from the east coast. Bernie, Biden, Bloomberg should all just retire. Bloomberg has nothing in common with those who live in fly over country. He, and all those others should just retire to the porch. Bless their hearts, they just aren't the right kind of people.
@Pamela Trowbridge -- who, in your opinion are the "right kind of people"? Booker, Harris?
1
On with the show, this is IT!
1
Why doesn't he run as a Republican?
1
We would be lucky if Trump had turned the WH into his crib. By definition, an infant in a crib cannot commit crimes. As for Bloomberg I don't believe the best headline for him is another billionaire from NY. Especially an ex-mayor. Remember Rudy. He spent $60 million and couldn't win one delgate.
1
All presidents have something to offer. Mr. Bush, a champion monkey business. Mr. Obama, an American Psycho business card. Mr. Trump, a fine menu. Mr. Bloomberg, a knowing smirk. Or Mr. Sanders, healthcare for all. What we don’t have in this country is sanity, grace, or lawfulness, and I’m starting to think that only exists in minds.
Oh Mo!
Take it from this New Yorker, Bloomberg vs Trump will get the most fireworks, ratings and VOTES. Good for the Democratic Party’s chance to win. 🇺🇸
2
Gotta say Maureen you have the metaphor: Trump is a thrashing infant not yet toilet trained. He squats and soils on our values traditions and our national self respect.
The republicans cannot clean this up. They cannot teach this mad toddler right from wrong as they have no internal compass of their own.
5
Wow, Maureen, I love your way with words. Your vivid descriptions of Trump and Bloomberg were right on.
1
In the penultimate paragraph Ms. Dowd quotes Trump making a Tweetment that NY is corrupt. This is yet another of oh so many many times where Trump makes a declarative statement, but if one peels back the onion, in reality he is in actually talking about himself. The pungent odor gives him away every time.
An old cliche seems appropriate - when one points a finger at something, three fingers are actually pointing back at you (him).
1
Unbelievable. Democrats, having learned exactly nothing from the last campaign are again talking about who's Electable instead of who is the best candidate. They let the opposition choose their candidates. They let fear dictate to them how to fail. The candidate slightly less Republican than the president is the one who can "win" and the reasoning is anything is better than rump so let's elect the candidate Republicans like! That's the "safe" bet, Hillary, Biden, Bloomberg. The kind of candidate that generates 0% enthusiasm because we've had enough excitement? Man are Democrats stupid. Being Republican Lite is a public service announcement we're gutless and scared and can't stand by any principals at all.
2
@Paul Kiefer if you don't get elected yous ideas don't matter.
2
For the first time I am excited about a democratic candidate. He’s smart, experienced, and self-made. I liked Warren at first but there is no way she will get elected.
4
For whatever reason I could not submit my last post. I would like Bloomberg to run. He knows Trump inside and out. He knows where all the Trump skeletons are buries.
Since he has unlimited funds he can get his message out in any number of ways. He is a media man and I like that. He knows how to hit Trump with ads so Trump will feel the pain.
2
Bloomberg, Buttigieg, Warren, Sanders - I truly don’t care which. Just as long as they beat Trump. #AnybodyButTrump2020.
3
Desperate centrists call Warren an elitist scold who can't connect with flyover country and older minorities, now falling in line for a genuine elitist scold even less likely to connect with the same people -- and who wants to take their unhealthy soft drinks away from them because he says they're too stupid to stop drinking them on their own. Only in New York.
1
I would vote for a chihuahua over Donald Trump. But in reality I will support ANY of the Democratic
candidates, even Tulsi Gabard, over the derelict, pathological lying racist Donald Trump. I feel Warren’s and Sanders’s points of view to be necessary in the face of the inhumane economic inequality we’re experiencing. The status quo is immoral and not sustainable. But I do agree with the important fact that Donald Trump ABSOLUTELY must go.
4
What a demoralizing state of affairs. But if it takes Bloomberg to beat Trump, so be it. After all, Mission 1 is to dump crooked Trump (which in a sane country would be easy as pie, the man is so brazenly, ridiculously awful). But billionaires simply buying the presidency leaves a sour taste in democracy's mouth. However, Bloomberg could sweeten things if an inner FDR emerges from him and he becomes, as the wealthy accused FDR of being, "a traitor to his class."
2
And one more thing: I want a president who doesn't play golf!
So, there!
3
The country needs a better president. Bloomberg would be a much better president. Debates with sensible rules would show Bloomberg to be brilliant, honest, and knowledgable and would expose Trump as the crazy, senile, lying blowhard that he is.
1
Mike vs the Donald. A veritable subway series even if Trump, the germaphobe, wouldn't descend anywhere near New York's penultimate rat breeding ground. Oh wait !! I just remembered. Trump prefers his rats above ground, in towers and in his cabinet.
1
He could make mincemeat out of the “Big Fraud.”
1
Interesting picture; A small, weak, confused man in pain standing behind the big, strong, confident leader?
One wonders how long the picture editor searched for the perfect shot of MB looking totally clueless.
NYT; Already gas-lighting the Ds in favor of Trump yet again?
Note to billionaires; Go away. You will not save us. The last thing we need is another one in the WH. If you really want to help jump into the GOP primary or simply run as 3rd party conservative based on attacking Hillary and Obama and the Dems.
You read me right.
That would siphon off 'Never Trump' voters, undecideds, and people who are 'never Dems', but hate Trump.
Time for new thinking, people!
The old paradigm is dead.
1
The Bloomberg Iceberg could sink the Trump Titanic!
2
If you want to know what Bloomberg really thinks, read his commencement address at Harvard 5 years ago. https://www.mikebloomberg.com/news/mike-bloomberg-delivers-remarks-at-harvard-universitys-363rd-commencement-ceremony/
Much of it was a screed about how the biggest problem today is that most Ivy League professors are liberals and that conservatives are being censored. And in other news, most nuns are pacifists. It was one of the stupidest commencement speeches I ever had to sit through. More proof that genius at making money does not translate to civics or statecraft.
3
“Little Mike” is a typically uh...belittling designation which is the customary strategy of current Man in Office to dispose of his opponents with a virtual wave of his hand. It worked with Jeb Bush (low energy) Elizabeth Warren (Pocahontas) and many others. Here it is doubly effective, because cleverly hidden in the little phrase is a hint of something that cannot be spoken directly anymore, as it could in earlier centuries, including and most horribly the last: Jewishness.
The greatest obstacle Mr. Bloomberg faces is not the incumbent, but anti semitism. As Tom Lehrer observed, everybody hates the Jews. It is safe to guess that of all the minorities which give color to the American spectrum, the last to enter the Oval Office will be the Jews.
“The Little Jew” is a well-known term of disparagement used against Jewish people. “Little Mike” is a cleverly disguised reference to that iconic insult, and it won’t be missed by the Current Man’s base.
1
Maybe this is Mike's reaction to Brexit and what that's going to do to his shiny new HQ in London. Like, the lights might go off. Then what? Run for POTUS. Hey, bored old billionaires gotta' keep busy, eh?
1
“One is a real deal maker who cares about public policy and one is a fake deal maker who only cares about himself. One self-made billionaire who’s good at business would mock the so-called billionaire and bankruptcy king who needed a constant cash flow from daddy Fred. One is in the media business and one denounces the press as degenerates, lowlifes and enemies of the people. One is a genuine philanthropist and one was just ordered to pay $2 million in damages after admitting money raised by his charitable foundation was used in part for his presidential bid and to settle business debts. One is totally controlling and one is totally out of control. One rants about trans fats and one gorges on them.
Here is another example of how our columnists are detached from reality.
Maureen doesn’t grasp yet that her writing actually just depicts bipolarity of Trump…
Today, you truly know more about Mr. Bloomberg than most. I enjoyed your column. Just for the heck of it all, I would love to see Amy, Mayor Pete or Senator pull this nomination off. Joe and Bernie👎 Senator Warren, the school marm to Michael’s nanny.
Back in the days long before The New York Times got itself "contextualized," I looked forward to Maureen Dowd's rapier wit and "why didn't I think of that" insights.
No mas. She--and other Times pundits--long ago ran out of ways to hate the Donald; now we're in the spin-rinse-repeat cycle. And boredom is setting in--a word I would never have associated with Ms. Dowd.
One year to go and the Times's columnists are plainly exhausted: the invective grows ever more turgid, the hatred more baroque, the search for metaphor sputters out in the dead-end of repetition. I find myself reading the head-and-deck on the web page and don't click--why enter my one tiny vote in favor of lazy, clip-job journalism? C'mon pundits! Declare a one-week moratorium on Trump-bashing. Discover the world!
1
Is this rich guy just another loud mouth like Ross Perot? Where did that get us?
@Gert -- You can't compare the two.
Again, the NYT consistently acts as if Bernie Sanders does not exist. Not one mention in this article.
1
Maureen, Biden continues to lead all national polls, despite your attempts to put him out the door. Little Mike should stay home and spend his money
1
I am excited about Michael Bloomberg running and look forward to more information about him. Before you write him off and call him one of the 1% or .1% remember that FDR was one of our greatest presidents who showed great empathy for the people and who was also quite wealthy. Its time to stop branding people from where they came from and start looking at what they bring to the table. This country needs a pragmatist who doesn't carry a lot of political baggage and will do what's needed to solve the many problems we face.
1
Before Bloomberg entered the race I spoke independently to three Centrist relatives of mine and the one thing that we all agree on is that we definitely don't want to see Warren or Sanders as the Democratic candidate. Two of us like Mayor Pete and two Biden.
4
Is Bloomberg going to buy a seat in the WH? I certainly hope not. His view points, no matter how sanguine will be inappropriate. His realities are far different than the average American. Just look at Trump for reference.
1
@DENOTE REDMOND
Just look at FDR for reference. He had great wealth too, but he did great things for people.
3
If he wants to help the Democrats win against Trump, he should spend all of that .001 on Amy Klobuchar. She is not a Warren, or God forbid a Bernie. She is a level-headed centrist.
4
Would I love to get rid of private insurance companies and have Medicare for all? I would. Would I love to see a living wage law forcing employers to fairly pay their employees? I would. Would I love to see a much more progressive tax system that would make the rich pay their fair share? I would. Would I love to get rid of loose gun laws and have strong gun control regulations? I would. Would I love to see less military spending and more investment in our infrastructure and our schools? I would. Would I love to see the government recognize that climate change is the greatest threat to our way of life and enact strong and decisive regulations to control global warming? I would. Would I love to see a reversal of Citizens United and public financing of our elections? I would. I am a progressive through and through. But I am also a realist. It took forty years of bad policies by both Republican and Democratic administrations to get us to our sad state of affairs. No one can undo all this damage all at once. There are too many entrenched interests in the status quo, and no none can fight all of them at once. Give me a candidate that can BEGIN to reverse the trend by offering some immediate realistic improvements on healthcare, on taxes, on climate change, and on guns. And one that can stand up to Trump’s bullying and beat him. With all due respect to Mr. Biden, Ms. Warren, Mr. Sanders, or Mayor Pete, I can’t see them being able to. I would welcome Bloomberg in the race.
10
We're far away from any Bloomberg effect in the presidential campaign. The press keeps ignoring that the first seismic shift in the Democratic primaries will be when the voters and caucus goers make their choice of either Senators Sanders or Warren. That winner will then have to do battle with the center of the Democratic Party, and that's where Bloomberg might come into it. But he will face the same problems as Vice President Biden as being seen as aging and out of touch. So, forecasting a race between him and the President is a very big step too far.
4
What do we know of Bloomberg's recognition of economic inequality in this country? Does he have a viable and just solution to this problem? Can he convince his fellow one percenters to join in the effort to shrink the difference between CEO compensation and that of the middle and lower employees? I'd have to know the answers to these questions before I could vote for him.
4
We don't need another billionaire President. Not now, not ever. I will not vote for a member of the .001%.
5
@DaveD -- There is a saying that Republicans only need one thing to cast a vote for a candidate, whereas Democrats only need one thing not to vote for a candidate. That is, as long as there is an ‘R’ next to the name, conservatives will vote for the person regardless of who they are or what their policies are. Democrats, on the other hand, look for the perfect candidate and will not vote if they believe the candidate has faults. And so, Trump is our president.
You must vote for Bloomberg if he is the Democratic nominee, or Trump, also a member of the .001% will remain president. The point is to defeat and remove Trump from office, and if a vote for an imperfect candidate will do that then Democrats must vote. A perfect candidate is not in this race.
12
One fact about Bloomberg is as important as any other; he has been very worried and vocal about addressing climate change for years.
Long after everyone alive today has passed away, the consequences of climate crises will still be worsening unless the we and the rest of the world get serious about mitigating climate change.
11
Bloomberg sees what is happening a year before the election - us Democrats started with over 20 candidates but only 4 look serious (Warren, Biden, Pete, and Bernie) but all have major flaws. Biden and Bernie are too old, Pete is too young and being gay will turn off alot of voters, and Warren is already scaring off millions of voters to pay for healthcare and college for all. Trump will label her "tax & spend" which is a Republican criticism as old as Goldwater, but many voters will believe it. So here comes Bloomberg with his billions, intelligence, and 12 yrs. experience as NY mayor, but he's also old and has missed what amounts to the 1st quarter of the game. Trump must be loving this scenario unfolding.
2
The democrats along with those that want to see Trump defeated should be grateful that Bloomberg has entered the campaign. Bloomberg brings the character, real wealth, and credibility necessary to have what he says about Trump believed and not characterized as name calling. Trump's attacks on Bloomberg will be seen as jealousy, for reasons also including his panic that his tax returns be seen. While some may argue it's about another Billionaire's ego and buying an election. I argue that Bloomberg's achievements speak for themselves, that this affords each candidate with an opportunity to increase their stature in this campaign, and I believe that Bloomberg's motivation is less about him or his election than it is about the legacy of being a decisive force in the defeat of Trump and America's return to its principals.
7
The Democrats' dilemma: do we vote ideologically or do we vote strategically? As much as I'd like to see a progressive agenda and a female president, I have to ask myself, can Elizabeth Warren win the general election? If the answer is yes, then I'll vote ideologically. If the answer is no, then I have to vote strategically - for someone like Biden or Bloomberg.
Recent polls here in the NYT suggest an uphill road for Warren, but a likely win for Biden. It's axiomatic that the loser of the election won't get an opportunity to advance her agenda, so what is the liberal voter to do? Most of us would agree that getting rid of Trump is the overarching objective, so what is the liberal voter to do?
I would have no trouble voting for Mr. Bloomberg, but I'd still rather see Warren get the nomination. As much as it might discourage her base, I think she'll have to pivot toward the center, positioning issues like single-payer healthcare as long-term objectives, not immediate (and scary) goals. To win the general election, she'll have to craft an agenda that won't frighten swing voters - a group whose support will be necessary for a victory in November, 2020. Of course, she might be able to sell her ideas to a larger audience - if the political landscape undergoes a major upheaval - but I wouldn't count on it. Better to advance a progressive agenda incrementally than to lose the whole game, and wind up with another four years of Trump.
6
If Mr. Bloomberg is the Democratic nominee facing Mr. Trump as the Republican nominee, then the rest of us are reduced to becoming sidelined witnesses to what the rich are doing--as we have been for so long in real life.
Since when is our democracy nothing but a spectator sport?
8
A middle of the road Democrat has a much better shot winning the presidency in 2020 vs a left wing progressive who will do well for n SF, Seattle, LA and NYC. Outside the big city bubble . Not so good.
Most of America is not ready for progressive liberal politics as in Sanders or Warren .
Americans do care about education, crime , guns and most of all their personal pocket books , However, Americans also love convenience and freedom of choice . Some of those choices, such as. Medical insurance are under direct threat from Sanders and Warren.
If either Sanders, or Warren win the 2020 Democratic nomination Then I believe we get another 4 years of madness and the Trump brand.
Bloomberg or Biden wins the nomination ...then it’s lights out for the Donald.
As for Mayor Pete . He’s the dark horse in the race. Young and incredibly smart . A good VP choice .
8
@steve
We have become a geriatric country. Why is a 37 year old considered too young to be president whereas, 77 not too old?
If an 18 year old is old enough to serve, to work, to marry and be a parent, why is a person double his age too young?
We have to stop assuming that wisdom comes with age.
We need to allow millennials to participate and contribute with new ideas. We need their energy, their innocence,
their ingenuity and ambition.
The elderly are already set in their ways, their ambition has leveled, fatigue kicked in and change doesn’t come easy to them.
Ignoring Mayor Pete’s great qualifications and character, would be a loss for our country.
2
I think Jane Fonda, Graham Nash and many other seniors would disagree with your, ‘set in their ways’ statement. Wisdom comes with life experience . How can you compare the life experience of an 18 year old to that of someone who has lived 3 to 4 times longer? @Judy
Why doesn't MB run as a Republican and siphon votes from T?Perhaps by then(if T is not removed)a Dem will be closer to the center and in a better position to win. If Warren gets the nomination, it's likely T will win again.
A future where Trump is not blighting the presidency may have a lot of unknowns , but the current occupant of the White House and clown car he rode in on must go.
5
I do believe it is time for us to stop bashing billionaires just because they had the smarts, and drive and, yes, egos to get to where they are. Not all rich people are bad and not all poor people are good.
The fact is that Mike Bloomberg can and I hope will so overwhelm trump in any debate that trump will not hold up.
Mr. Bloomberg has good issues and a very good sense of what this nation needs. He is RATIONAL and focused.
The current Democratic field is simply not cutting it. The best of the lot for pure common sense is Mayor Pete. I would love a ticket of Mike and Pete! (And I am a Democratic woman who would have loved Hilary to be Pres.)
5
@SandraYou have expressed all of my thoughts. I volunteered on two of Bloomberg's Mayoral campaigns and he is smart, assured of himself and he is self made. Just an added attraction of why you might want to volunteer for him if he runs and wins is that he throws a great victory party.
2
I just hope that whichever Democrat goes against Trump will not stand silently, always taking the high road, and let Trump get away with his lies during debates. It will be so important for the Democratic nominee to appear strong and prepared and to counter Trump's claims. Millions of Trump supporters will be watching the debates, and it will be the best opportunity to call out Trump's lies in front of an audience that supports him. He has rarely had to face any opposition face to face, and I really hope that the Democratic nominee is up to the challenge. Can Bloomberg do it?
4
Michael Bloomberg cannot win the Democratic Party nomination except on a 4th ballot at the convention, which if he enters becomes more than less likely -- the 4th ballot, not that he will win on it.
3
Bernie, suppressing his laughter on the Jeff Bezos support for Bloomberg...'I'm impressed by that grassroots movement.' A situation comedy in the making?
2
Both are rich men interested in keeping the same nanny state for billionaires we have today which the GOP has created and expanded at every opportunity since 1980.
6
We just don’t need a out of touch billionaires elected to office . Wake up dems we’ve tried right and middle lets go left . In health insurance alone we need to get our act together. I just canceled my insurance because it’s $1,000 a month plus $500 in prescriptions. That alone has me on Warrens boat. Does anyone really think a billionaire can relate to that ? It’s less than pocket change to these people. I say tax them not elect them.
5
The presidency is in some ways the most democratic office we have, even with the electoral college.
Bloomberg can run, however, I wish he & others like him made it their philanthropic cause to spend billions undermining Trump &/or exposing Trump at every turn.
The democratic nature of the office is going to help Bernie win and the contrast between with the billionaires is only going to help the progressives advance.
The good news for Billionaires, while their cause threatens the very existence of the ethical middle class, the middle class cause does not threaten the Billionaires existence, merely moderates it which in the long run allows them to continue to exist if only less grotesquely rich.
2
I believe comparing Mr Trump to any other president is a fallacy.
Mr. Trump is unlike any other president.
He is our first non-American president. Ironical because he accused Mr. Obama of not being American.
Mr. Trump lacks ties to America. He is beholden to Russian interests and will do what is best for Mr. Putin every time. He puts Russia first. Russia complements Mr. Trumps efforts with a very sleek disinformation and propaganda campaign.
9
Reports already this morning that Bloomberg, may not run. See Axios. A trial balloon. So far not huge enthusiasm in early polls. What's interesting is that the mention of a possible run caused as many ripples as it did, indicating that voters are not feeling confident about these Democratic candidates, So Bloomy, on the brink, may yet decide not to jump.
4
The photograph shows Mike listening to Donald go on about some nonsense, and puts his hands over his eyes hoping that when he removes them Donald will be gone. Now is the time for Mike to open his eyes and speak up about why Donald needs to go.
5
No to Bloomberg and no to 4 more years of catastrophic 45.
12
The reality is that Michael Bloomberg will never be president.
8
People outside of New York have barely heard of Michael Bloomberg. Should he get the Democratic nomination, the lunch-bucket guys in Youngstown, Ohio would scratch their heads in puzzlement.
On the other hand, he's not insane, like Elizabeth Warren....
6
@Kathleen880
NOR is BIDEN.
We already have a strong and honest and EXPERIENCED candidate
Vote Joe
Bloomberg, a Democrat, a Republican, an Independent and now a Democrat again WHEW! Try spending your Billions primarying Trump, that would be fun to see, then I'll consider voting for you!
3
"whom Bloomberg thought had a shot as recently as the fall"
Who, not whom. The pronoun is not the object of "thought"; it is the subject of "had."
4
Another NY billionaire — I am having serious vertigo. American Plutocracy light goes nuclear.
And Biden imploded and to think that I missed the melt down that was after all inevitable. Essentially Joe was selling a demure variation of Trump’s MAGA — amazing grace.
Dollars to doughnuts it will be Warren verses Trump with Bloomberg skulking in the wings hoping for the VP nod from I’ve Got a Plan for Everything Lizzy.
1
We had it great with Obama (and I'm a Republican!).
Bloomberg-Buttigieg.
America is headed for a period of political moderation.
4
@Thomas Penn in Seattle Nope, been there, done that an lost bigly with moderate sell out Hillary
1
@Thomas Penn in Seattle
Thank you a ton! Loved this!
He's good on guns, good on the environment, good enough on women's issues, plus he's sane - I'd vote for him.
5
@DesertFlowerLV
SO is BIDEN without the Bloomberg baggage
@DesertFlowerLV Against the Me Too movement is not good for women's issues and a patriarch to boot.
Finally, I can now vote for somebody. Won’t have to pay a cent — completely sit back & hands-off . Thanks M. Dowd, you have just reaffirmed that for me!
2
Bloomberg's sudden candidacy is a cri de coeur from Wall Street.
3
"Trump was hot under the Brioni collar?
Now hold on. In my experience, Brioni suits fit.
Donald is the most unbespoke character we've seen since... Steve Bannon.
7
"...But then, Trump hasn’t been too friendly to New York lately. He changed his primary residency to Palm Beach..."
We don't want him!!!
2
As The Times’s Michael Grynbaum tweeted, slyly summing up the Gotham derby: “How many New York City personalities can one country handle?”
Amen to that. Give us a break New York.
5
@Prodigal Son
Glady I don't want him either.
Indeed, Trump knows what corruption entails, as he is a shrewd veteran in mafia affairs; otherwise, he wouldn't emerge ever richer after each of his multiple bankruptcies. As they say, it takes a crook to know one. And, within arrogant Trump's deep ignorance, he remains a superb con man. And further, bereft of any ideas of his own, he must resort to insulting others to make a point. And the point is, all the stupid things he regurgitates are the very iniquities he himself is so well endowed with. So, "his little Michael" is a giant in business and in the Media, contributing to society...instead of cheating us 'a la Trump'.
4
Bloomberg is who you wish Trump were. Bloomberg Spanish Communication is actually Speaking Spanish not handcuffs and cages
5
Maybe as democracy fades and dies the benign plutocrat is better than the emperor with no clothes.
4
Bloomberg compared to Trump is light to darkness.
7
@Daniel Korb
In the country of the blind the one-eyed man is king.
"New York is a corrupt state."
The flimflam man was caught stealing people's contributions to actual charities-in-need for his fiascos including impersonating the funding-my-own-campaign presidential candidate, pretending to be a philanthropist for paying a court-ordered restitution, and posing as the God of Golf Resorts.
He lies, cheats, and lies some more.
Donald Trump is a corrupt mind.
3
“New York is a corrupt state.”
And he should know.
Were truer words ever written?
5
Love the photo.
Allergies or did Trump say something?
3
By taking on President Don
Little Mike can go after the Con.
Stay tuned until June
When Trump loses his bloom
Because Bloomberg's a ticking time bomb.
3
What we don't need in this country is another billionaire running things. Even as Bloomberg has been on the forefront of many good initiatives his first concern will always be taking care of his empire.
What we need in a president is someone who really has the interests of the entire nation at heart. How can a billionaire really connect with the average working guy? Notice how they refuse to even pay a few percent more in taxes so that all Americans can have decent housing and health care? Too expensive they say. Ask them to pay a few percent more in taxes and they go off the rails accusing you of trying to take all their money and being a socialist.
The concentration of wealth in this country is increasing and we don't need another guy in the White House who can rig the system further in his favor.
6
I've always suspected that the Times reader base is out of touch with the rest of the country, both demographically and otherwise, and the positive reactions to a hypergentrifying billionaire Republican mayor as a serious contender for the Democratic nomination simply confirms it.
Mike Bloomberg has about as much chance of being the Democratic nominee as Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders have of replacing Donald Trump at the top of the Republican ticket. And for very good reason: He's a Republican, not a Democrat.
It'll be interesting to see what our latest white horse savior does if Warren gets the nomination. Will he then support her and help drive Trump out of office, or will he be the conservative version of a Jill Stein/Ralph Nader spoiler candidate who gets another Republican elected? Since his chances of getting the Democratic nomination are less than zero, that question is the only relevant one that people should be asking.
7
Back in the 1980s the NYC mediascape was often dominated by big-ego loudmouths (ask your father), like Mayor Koch, George Steinbrenner and yes, Donald Trump. With Bloomberg in the Koch role to some extent, we could have a replay nationally. But Bloomberg is no prize in some ways: his private company was often an airtight vessel, with not a contrary word ever allowed (at one point, accessing the Internet, as opposed to the Bloomberg terminal, was a penalized offence). Staff goodbye parties did not exist: once you were out, you were gone. So yes, the guy is controlling, but might be the antidote that voters want to a government seen as out of control. The more candidates the merrier, bring him on.
1
I will vote for Mike. I have been waiting for him to jump into the race. He was a good mayor. Sure he had some bumps along the way, but you can never please everyone in NY. However, when he left after 3 terms, the city was clean, and it was safe to walk on the streets and ride the trains. Yes, it certainly has been a tale of two cities because with De Blasio we are back to the bad old days.
Yes, he is billionaire and a self made man. Yes, he is arrogant.
However, he is extremely generous. For example, he has donated millions to the Breast Cancer Research, among many other charities he has supported. He is a patron of the arts.
As a pragmatist he will do a better job working with both parties.
After all, if you can work with the city council,the borough presidents, and the state government I pretty sure he can handle Congress. Running New York City is not a small task. It’s like running a country. He was always around compared to the current mayor. Sure, he took heat if he left the city to fly to one of his vacation homes . Lots of snickers about that. He took a lot of heat about banning big gulp sodas. Diabetes is a health crisis. He labeled a “nanny”for his concern!
However,I never felt his heart was not in the city compared to the a present mayor. This is home and he keeps close to his heart.
I believe he will get the votes. We need a steady ship. Bloomberg can be that type of President.
3
@On the Ferry
We are electing Prez of US. NOT NYC
@kathyinct
You are missing the point. Running NYC is like running a country.You have to deal with terrorism, foreign governments, multiple domestic issues, housing, diverse political interests, health care, etc.
Plus, he is a pragmatist. I think he has more experience than the politicians who are running. Most have been career politicians with little to add except slogans.
2
This is the kind of shallow, vapid, personality media that's posing our politics.
Please desist - and we surely don't need more power to the billionaire class.
4
Good grief. Is that what America has come down to? Two crass billionaires insulting each other for the presidency. I would hope the Democrats lock in behind Biden before this potential disaster unfolds in a blizzard of gonzo soundbites.
4
What about unlocking behind someone who hasn’t tried and failed to be president multiple times?
Pete Buttigeig seems like the perfect unifier.
1
@Pascale Luse
If only he could poll above a nickel.
NONE of the Democrat Party president wannabe's have any appeal. Trump is doing a bang up job; he should continue until 2024.
3
A curse to both of them, let them play Monopoly by themselves in their towers of wealth, and let the people govern.
1
Bloomberg has nothing to offer, he is too old, wants to buy his way in at the last minute without doing the real work. Trump would eat him alive. His billions have blinded him to what this country needs right now.
3
Bloomberg shouldn’t run, but the greatest thing that Bloomberg could do for democracy & the soul of the country is to buy Fox News.
11
If we elected Hillary what would we be discussing now? I guess they’d still be attacking her over the emails. And the inveterate Clinton haters would continue to find fault with the fact that she’s still drawing breath. But none of this would have compared to the corruption and incompetence of the Trump administration. A Clinton second term would have been a no brainer
6
A super billionaire looking out for the Constitution and the Common Good. Yeah....
1
OMG...a potential candidate with both government and corporate executive experience! A candidate who collects data and reads and make decisions based on fact not egotistical fantasy.
I am sick of hyperbolic progressive candidates who are as intolerant as the republicans they demonize.
Run, Mike, run!
4
@Ikebana62 The Opposite of Progressive is REGRESSIVE
1
Here is the simple question. Who would be a better President-Bloomberg or Trump? That is the only question you need to answer. But everything else aside knowing what you know about Trump and what you know about Bloomberg-who would make a better President.
A. Trump
B. Bloomberg.
Pick one
@Den Hardly a difficult question. A tree stump would make a better president than Trump.
1
I'll be very surprised if Bloomberg runs. He seems to enjoy having the political consiglieri talk about him every other election but he never pulls the trigger.
2
Bloomberg and Trump are more similar than you spin them to be. Both are authoritarians. Bloomberg wasn't far behind Trump in coming down on the powerless and non-white with a heavy hand. Remember stop-and-frisk? Over 5 million innocent New Yorkers, 83% black and brown, and a scary percentage of them young children too, were stopped and intimidated by Bloomberg's police during his three terms as mayor. See https://www.nyclu.org/en/stop-and-frisk-data. Just nominate Bloomberg and watch the numbers of those who stay home on election day explode.
4
I lived in nyc through Bloomy’s tenure as mayor, and despite the corporatization of the city, his deplorable continuation of stop-and-frisk and many more Giuliani fascisms, and even the fact that the mayor’s personal nypd goons manhandled me twice for no good reason, Bloomy was a really solid mayor.
He was competent, honest, and kept the city moving. The indelible memory I have of Bloomberg is seeing him on the nightly news during a snowstorm, wearing that blue parka of his, telling us all when the trains would come back on, to call 311 if we were in trouble, to stay safe, and that he and his crew were on top of it.
And they were, they really were.
Yes bloomy is an old billionaire. But did Cory booker do a better job as mayor of Newark than him? Could Amy koublucher run New York? Joe Biden?
2
I like Mayor Mike and Mayor Pete. At this point I like just about anyone not named Trump. And I think they’d make a good team. But we know the African American vote will be key to this election. We can’t afford to have folks stay home because they perceive these two white men don’t represent their interests. Stop and Frisk will rear its ugly head. And Pete’s problem with the African American community, whether deserved or not, could be a liability. Just sayin.
3
"the former mayor of New York jumps in, he will spend “whatever it takes” to defeat Trump."
Money does not translate into votes.
You need votes to win, not maga bank account.
Obama won and I doubt he had 100k in his back account on the day he was elected president.Bloomy have the money. But he never had Obama's intelligent nor charisma.
I have a better chance becoming the next Pope than Bloomy getting Dems nomination. And I ain't even catholic.
3
At this point I would support anybody electable that the majority of the Democratic Party would get behind.
Little Mike gets my vote over Fat Donnie. Money Mike beats The Orange Insolvent.
1
Bloomberg? Hoo boy. The last thing we need is a Republican, stop and frisk supporting billionaire carrying the Democratic colors. Hey Mike, thanks but no thanks.
4
Sorry, Elizabeth, we love our billionaires — could Elon Musk save us?
1
Michael Bloomberg would be a very good president, if he ran in 2016 . I just don't think he stands a chance in 2020. His great wealth and status combined with his race, gender and age will not deliver enough votes despite being the best candidate.
Rather than fracturing the Democrats even further , I feel his money and expertise would be better served by getting behind Elizabeth Warren and then be her running mate. A Warren /Bloomberg ticket would provide a balance that people so desperately want and need.
@PeeR I can’t see a Warren/Bloomberg ticket. They are from different planets altogether: Warren is all about wealth inequality and Bloomberg is a billionaire. But I could see a Warren/Buttigieg ticket. I don’t even know if Warren would accept Bloomberg’s money since she’s all about small donations.
1
@JA Good points, especially about the financial support. He could support her indirectly through by providing money and resources downstream.
However I don't believe that she is anti- wealth any more than Bloomberg is anti- middle class. She is against a system that allows such disproportionate wealth and power to accumulate in the hands of so few. I think we can all agree that the current system is not sustainable.
To reduce Bloomberg to just a billionaire is to deny all of his accomplishments and all of the issues that he advocates for . I strongly feel it will take intelligent ideas and experience from across the spectrum. I think the majority of democrats are realists and Bloomberg would slow Warren's roll . Just like in many relationships , opposites often do attract :-)
1
Or focus on the Republican, change to Independent, change to Democrat state of Bloomberg's politics. Another ego trip. Whereas Mrs. Doubtfire was taking care of the household, Bloomberg was taking care of the already affluent. We don't need another old guy running. If he truly gives a hoot about the U.S. and the people, he can share some of that wealth accumulated. Nobody gets that rich without taking undue advantage of others. And nobody that rich can truly understand 90% of the U.S. citizenry.
It's a different mindset. It's a different reality.
2
Bloomberg is obviously very accomplished. But, there is another fact about both men that you missed, Mrs. Dowd: under Bloomberg’s governance, NYC’s middle class all but disappeared; under Trump’s governance, the country’s middle class is doing better - economically & statistically - than it was under Obama. As much as I personally detest Trump, this is a fact.
Bloomberg will have to explain (in detail) how he will govern in a different way than he did in NYC.
3
So much of this election cycle feels like very wealthy, older, white men being petrified about what will happen to their ability to control our country and their wealth.
The majority of the Democratic field seems pretty diverse. Ironically, I think almost any of them would make a great choice -- especially with a second of them as VP and compliment to balance whatever deficiencies the former might have. We need two of them NOW.
We also need fundamental change: a team that can really ameliorate the lies of the vast majority of Americans and who can unite the divergent parts of our population. I fear we are losing our sense of community and country in this 21st-century world, and the result is a kind of Everyman for himself attitude, which frequently benefits a few at the expense of the many.
We need leaders who view the majority of the population as something more than mere Canon fodder. Duct tape will not save us in this situation any more than it could have a decade ago.
We need serious candidates who are really concerned about all Americans, not just the wealth of the 1%.
2
Let Bloomberg be a Republican again, as he was when he was Mayor of NYC, and for the same reason.
Let Republicans fix their own party, in a primary fight.
It isn't up to Democrats to be the better Republicans. It is up to Democrats to make a better America than Republicans would.
7
@Mark Thomason: Even if "Mayor Mike" stayed on as a Republican, he's still only one man;he alone could never fix the largely self-inflicted damage the GOP has done to itself.
For that, it will take the constituents of those sullied congressmen and senators to vote them out of office.
And, in some cases, I wouldn't hold my breath on that.
2
You seem to forget that almost half of the voters voted for Trump for his stand on guns, environment, immigration, tax cuts and America first policies.
He was not elected on his personality.
There is a lesson to be learned!
2
@Marika You forgot his newly found abhorrence of abortion.
We don’t need another New Yorker as President, but a President Trump or a President Bloomberg is Preferable over the “I have a Plan for everything but don’t know how to Pay for any of them” warren.
1
The mind boggling fact to remember is that 62 million people voted for the gangster- in -chief in 2016. We cannot afford any chance of a repeat of that national travesty and the Democratic Party cant afford to lose purple states or independents due to any risky progressive proposals. We must have a centrist candidate who can flush Trump out of the Write House and from that point on we will have at least 8 years to right the ship of state and rebuild Americand democracy and focus on the issues we all care most about like Health Care and Climate Change. We cannot do anything to risk the destruction of the Republic that a second Trump presidency could bring. Its just good risk management. You do not risk everything to float a proposal that will not be an easy sell to the entire nation, a nation that is composed almost 50% of voters who are too incompetent to be certain to vote in their own interest in support of the rule of law and the most basic principles upon which the nation was founded. Bloomberg would suit that need just fine and better than the struggling Biden. A female running mate or person of color would be a good balance to assuage the vast majority of the new Democratic Party.
Yes, Bloomberg/ Pete ticket! Then fill cabinet positions with Warren, Sanders, Harris... And while the new administration begins the process of bringing our country together for the common good(not tRumps) let prosecutors put the tRump clan and GOP enablers behind bars.
4
No mention of senator Sanders. The paper's calculated marginalizing of the populist favorite continues unchecked.
11
Sorry. I'm just not desperate for entertainment to see a showdown between two egomaniacal behemoths who have no interest in anything other than reigning in a contest of wills.
And I most definitely don't see Mike Bloomberg as an answer to Democrat's prayers for someone who can effectively take Trump out of the White House.
In fact, if it ever came down to that, we'd only be exchanging one autocrat for the next one.
In short. I don't want the baby.
And I don't need the nanny.
I want a President who will finally act like one.
4
I hope I am completely wrong about this. I do not want to see it. I fear there is the possibility that if ANY progressive is elected there are radical people in this country, members of militias and others in sympathy with them, who could seek to reject a progressive president with violence. And there are many who, though not in support of doing actual violence themselves, would by their own cowardice in standing against them, or by their complacency, would still encourage such people. We'd better have a moderate candidate at this time. We are a broken country.
1
@mouseone I doubt that having a moderate candidate would make any difference to that violent fringe. According to them (and Trump) anyone to the left of Sean Hannity is a "radical socialist".
1
I like the idea of letting the folks in California and Texas have a real say, I’m tired of Iowa and New Hampshire having such an outsize influence.
4
I'm not a Bloomberg fan. I remember being ticketed to death. I remember the cost of a crummy house being so high that it made it unaffordable to live in the 5 boroughs. I remember the traffic making a 2 minute drive take 40. Yes, crime stayed down, but that's continued even under an incompetent like de Blasio.
2
This is still a free country. No one can force me to allow Michael Bloomberg to spend a billion of his own dollars to make Donald Trump go away.
Bloomberg has come way too late to the dance; the dance cards have been filled; now he wants to cut into the line. I suppose he feels that his age and money gives him the privilege to do so. But sorry, Mike we've had enough of the plutocrats and their sense of entitlement.
4
Go ahead and nominate Bloomberg and let him lose to the dumpster fire that is Trump, so we can finally put to rest this notion that Democrats need to cater to billionaires and corporations in order to win elections.
2
From the article:
"the 77-year-old plutocrat is casting himself as the savior of the party"
Once again, the Times finds it impossible to use the the word "oligarch" to describe any American. Bloomberg made his fortune by monopolizing Bond pricing data - an illegal monopoly to be sure, and one that could not been achieved without some sort of governmental malfeasance. Certainly, that gives him the right to the oligarch label.
3
Are voters in the upper midwest really going to go for a 77 year old, Jewish, former NYC mayor, pseudo Democrat? I'm guessing not. Can't see it. Bloomberg will not be the nominee.
But having him as a voice during the primary race could be really useful.He will go directly and forcefully against Trump, while the others are busy roughing each other up. And that means some strategic focus where it must be: applying a wrecking ball to Trump, not to the other candidates.
3
What if Bloomberg’s desired endgame isn’t the Oval? He could single handedly neutralize Trump and the RNC’s cash advantage—at negligible expense to his personal (and self-made) fortune. Carpet bombing swing states with ads would really dirty up Trump. In doing so, he provides air cover to democratic candidates while they’re sorted out by voters.
Disclosing his taxes would infuriate Trump. You, know, since Trump turned a $1 million loan from his father into $10 billion (smiley face).
You're giving the egomaniac way too much intellectual savvy.
Don
I’ll release my tax returns for the past ten years if you release yours.
Michael
4
Blloomberg is the perfect candidate to win the White house in 2020.
All objections like wealth, color, ages etc. are just bad excuses that you can bring forward - in other ways - towards any candidate out there.
1
Uncle Joe will win Iowa. Sanders and warren will then carve each other up in New Hampshire, and in the process will mortally wound Biden. Feckless Pete will still be hanging around. South Carolina will be a disaster for the dems, with Biden, sanders, warren, and Pete all coming out beaten and battered. Support dramatically shifts to Bloomberg, who wins the remaining primaries.
1
Joe Biden will be lucky to finish 4th on Iowa.
1
OK; has anyone thought of what a Bloomberg Cabinet would look like. If anything it would resemble that which he assembled in NYC; the best and brightest! Warren @ Consumer Protection, Biden at Defense or State, Harris @AG, Sanders @ Environmental Protection, etc. So I'm not deluding myself into thinking that they all would agree to these offerings but past history suggests he is not, like Lincoln, unwilling to enlist his strongest rivals, the best and brightest, for the sake of our country. Contrast that with what we currently have! My God, just think!
1
No President would make the mistake of appointing warren to a cabinet post. Same with booker.
I will vote for the Democratic candidate, not matter who he or she is. But Michael Bloomberg is far from my first choice. I don't want a man of almost 80 with a long history of misogyny and sexist comments. I don't want a man who gave $2 million to a candidate in Colorado, who was unable to raise even half that amount within the state. Money buys many privileges, but Bloomberg should stick to issues and not try to buy election in states he has probably only visited occasionally.
6
Every presidential election cycle, the candidates peddle their reforms - reforms, which, after 4-5 cycles, begin to sound hauntingly familiar, as do the issues they are intended to redress. Every cycle, we put our collective faith in the office to steer the ship of state and deliver the promised reforms. And every cycle, we get another dose of the status quo. It is an outcome that is almost as assured as the economic inequality our system is rigged to preserve.
A President is not a messiah. Without a like-minded Congress, none of the Democratic presidential candidates would be able to implement even the least controversial of their proposals. So, it’s almost a waste of time and ink to dwell on the presidential race. Since the appeal of a presidential candidate doesn’t automatically ripple down ballot, it would be prudent to talk about breaking the GOP stranglehold on the Senate and reversing some bad procedural rules - like the one that allowed a SCOTUS nominee to be confirmed by a 50-48 vote.
4
Apparently, Bloomberg doesn't think he can win over the voters in a Republican primary, so he will try to hijack the Democratic party.
Democrats who prefer him to the candidates in their own party should explain more clearly why they want a moderate Republican to run for their party's nomination, and why they aren't encouraging Mr Bloomberg to run in the Republican primary.
8
Bloomberg would certainly be a better billionaire than the present billionaire, but do we need another billionaire in the White House?
He should have thrown his hat in the ring 6 months ago, but now I seriously doubt Bloomberg will gain any traction. I'll give him credit for running as a Democrat and not an independent, since that would practically guarantee another 4 mind-numbing years of Donald Trump.
5
Great just what the country needs, a septuagenarian "centrist Democrat" whose fiscal policies are to the right of Reagan and Eisenhower. I'm sure the 2-thousand-dollar-a-plate attendees all love Mr. Bloomberg, and he may poach some Republican voters from the suburbs. But all the signs since 2016 point to Dems finally deciding they're done waiting for the lord of the manor to offer "drippings to the poor."
We want a champion to lead this country toward fair play, to real reform and where needed, revolution. We don't want to return to normal we want an awakening, a recognition that billionaires like Bloomberg can never see the forest for the trees. The lopsided power of capital over labor, the racial disparities in our legal system, etc. the list is long. Biden, Bloomberg, too many others on the debate stage can't begin to solve what they can't even see.
The only thing worse than a true billionaire leading the country is the phony billionaire we have now. In many ways that are important to Dems it's a distinction without an appreciable difference.
5
Mr. Bloomberg is terrified of paying taxes. The only way he can think of to avoid that apocalypse is to run for president. I didn't know Ms. Warren was that terrifying.
12
It’s not fear of paying taxes, it’s greed.
3
Most people seem to understand that we need to get money out of politics. Bloomberg is part of the problem, not the solution. His likely entry into the race is not to confront Trump, but to ward off the popular and populist assault on the ultra-wealthy, a.k.a. billionaires. He may garner support among the 749 wealthiest people in the country and the coastal elite but the vast majority of voters are fully aware of the personal dangers of egregious inequality of wealth and income.
12
So to be clear, some Democrats think a) We should put a halt to Warren's growing popularity and surging momentum, both among Democrats and independents, and b) the one to do that is a billionaire oligarch Republican convert?
These are the same people who still think Hillary was a great candidate in 2016.
11
@Joe Arena
Like most in the Warren camp, you seem to think that unless Democrats are with the progressive agenda, they should be simply tossed aside.
Too bad you don't realize it's exactly that kind of thinking that allows someone like Bloomberg to find a way to insert himself in the race.
@N. Smith Do you think inserting a billionaire Republican convert is going to stop Warren's momentum?
We Democrats seem fatally focused on proving not only that every one of our candidates has feet of clay but also that the clay travels neck-ward the more we know about him or her. Eventually, we discover so many flaws that we invariably swear we won’t vote for Candidate X, Y, or Z if he or she is the nominee. By Election Day, we are so fragmented and torn that many of us have resolved to stay home, vote third party, or—in a true fit of spite—vote for trump.
Enough! We need to remember—tattoo it on our two hands if necessary—that the most fatally flawed, broken, and aberrant candidate won his party’s nomination and then the White House in 2016 because Republicans fell in line. We also need to remember that all the Democrats currently running for President are as far superior to trump as the Hope diamond is superior to a glass chip. Perhaps most important, all of them would fill the next Supreme Court vacancy with a fair-minded Justice like Merrick Garland and not a partisan hack like Kavanaugh.
6
@Drusilla Hawke
Your comment reminds me of the expression:
Democrats fall in love, Republicans fall in line.
2
It makes me crazy that there are two people already running that the Democratic "base" refuses to consider...Sen. Michael Bennet and Gov. Steve Bullock...both filling the bill as progressive/centrists and both appearing to be capable of winning critical battleground states. I happen to think Bloomberg would make a great president, but I think Bennet or Bullock are more electable, and both of those men would provide far less fodder for Bernie and Warren.
7
@Madeline Hayes
Thank you!
The New York Times is a New York City paper, but its influence is far greater, and I wish the editors understood that.
2
If he can win then I am for him. If he causes the Dems to lose then he is doing no one any favors.No way to know of course.
The critical question is Biden sharp enough, does he have the sheer stamina to pull off the grind it will take and with a small war chest to boot.
Many, including me, assume the prospect of either Warren or Sanders will open a door that should be shut to Trump to swing open, especially in the states that matter. End the electoral collage by the way !
I have been feeling that there might be someone else that could come forward, especially since it is very unlikely that there will be a clear winner going into the convention next summer.
The fact that he is a billionaire and would be essentially buying in late in the game because of it is a problem, but nothing resembling the problem of seeing another inaugural address from the betrayer in chief.
Many Dems have been demanding fundamental change in American politics, but perhaps we make that move in 2022-2024.
Bloomberg and Mayor Pete? Klobachar? Could work...Whether it is fair or not is reasonable to ask but of small importance to the need to avoid that second inaugural nightmare.
4
there is a large youth progressive vote following Sanders, and a large progressive, equality seeking, healthcare advocates and anti-corruption vote following Warren not to mention the women's vote who will come out for her. Are all these supporters going to come out for Bloomberg? or say 'same ole, same ole, ok boomers. the spoils yet again go to the elite richest so i'm staying home. That does not leave enough never Trumpers and 1%ers to place out Trump.
4
@Greg Metz
Correction to my comment: Bloomberg is *not* a baby boomer. Baby boomer nanny, I guess, to continue the icky metaphor.
@Greg Metz
Bloomberg is even a boomer—he’s too old!
Barack Obama is a baby boomer. Kamala Harris is a baby boomer.
And no mention whatsoever of the targets of Bloomberg's stop-and-frisk policing when he was mayor of New York, nor of voters who empathize with the targets of stop-and-frisk. They're all supposed to just be quiet and pick a side in the latest clash of New York titans.
7
I have a different view of Bloomberg. A family member was a fireman who survived 9/11. A few years later, he was at a fire which was not his primary responsibility but responded because he was a fireman who loved his job. He collapsed at the fire & died. Bloomberg was the Mayor & came to the funeral. A year later, he also came to an anniversary service at the engine company. I watched Bloomberg deliver 2 moving eulogies & break down when he talked about the death of his Dad. I wrote to Bloomberg when he left office & actually received a note signed by him.
He had to pick up the pieces after 9/11 as he became Mayor just a few months later & was Mayor for 12 years. He was concerned about our health. Hence. the Nanny label. He tried to make the City more livable. He is one of the biggest charitable contributors in the Country - as opposed to a President who had to admit wrongdoing and give $2 million from his shutdown charity. He paid for renovations and upkeep of the Mayor's residence even though he never lived there. He paid for Mayors from around the country of both parties to come to NYC to help with the problems in their cities. He is so well respected around the world that he hosts a conference when the UN opens. At the last conference about 60 heads of state accepted his invitation and about 200 CEOs, etc. He is on the right side of climate change and gun control. He is a totally self-made billionaire.
Was he a perfect Mayor! Please! This is NYC!
16
What comes to mind currently is the addiction of septuagenarians
especially male and wealthy, to try to cap their life with the Presidency, or as in the case of Pete Sessions (age 72) to try to get back in the race in the do-nothing Senate.
Term Limits and Age Limits sound better all the time.
As an 86 year old my vote is for Pete Buttigieg.
13
why do we hold it against anyone that they change their party. are we supposed to sign up with one side and stick with it for life? isn't it possible we don't like the candidate or we don't like the platform. did we all take the grover norquist pledge. elections are all about choice. i am sure there are republicans leaving the party of trump in droves. let's not be so cynical that we turn on bloomberg for choosing with which party to run . he's a good candidate. that should suffice.
10
If Bloomberg is the nominee (as with Biden and Sanders) who he picks as running mate will matter a great deal. None of these three may live to see the end of their term, should they be elected. This is not being morbid. It is just a fact and one that needs to be considered by the voters.
I also hope that whoever goes against Trump will not stand silently, always taking that high road that Democrats love so much, and let Trump get away with his lies during debates. It will be so important for the Democratic nominee to appear strong and to counter Trump's claims. Millions of Trump supporters will be watching the debates, and it will be the best opportunity to call out Trump's lies in front of an audience that supports him. He has rarely had to face any opposition face to face, and I really hope that the Democratic nominee is up to the challenge.
14
I have had these exact same thoughts. Presidents must be at least 35 to run- why no age limit?
These old guys- (I love Bernie but he is too old) imagine if a 75 year old WOMAN ran?
4
@Kate H.
warren is over 70 and she is a leading candidate
1
@Kate H. You want a young person and a woman. How about Tulsi Gabbard ? Is she too sane for the democrats?
Bloomberg has the resources; financial, media, and organization to compete with the Republican money machine. He was mayor of a city that has more population the 40 states, which is much more complicated than owning a golf course. He is not compromised by foreign money because he is actually very wealthy. He does not live his life in a perpetual stream of lawsuits. He wakes up early, goes to work and works all day until late at night and he is not a twitter addict. The only similarity between Trump and Bloomberg is they are from New York. If he had a personality, he might be viable. Americans have decided the Presidency is a personality contest, they don’t care about qualifications, Oprah is our only hope.
4
It's easy to criticize Mayor Bloomberg for suggesting that he might run for president. But when, in 2016 and 2020, we've had a plethora of no-name presidential candidates from both major parties, with little public recognition and unknown achievements running for the office, it begs a question: why all the fuss?
Why are people so exercised about Bloomberg when the shifting sands of political fortune have already demonstrated that achieving poll results of more than one or two percent while raising a paltry amount of campaign contributions hasn't propelled most of them to greatness, let alone the Oval Office?
Yes, it could and would be an interesting race if Trump and Bloomberg end up facing off against one another. Call it a battle of the Titans, if you wish. But the objective, not seen as clearly by some as by others, is to gain the nomination, win the presidency, and truly cleanse the White House and federal government of the scourge unleashed by the Trump Administration.
Dismissing Bloomberg out of hand, while tilting at litmus test perfection, would be a mistake. No candidate is perfect, and few voters would likely agree with each and every policy proposal floated by any candidate.
Bloomberg won three terms as mayor of America's largest and arguably most complex city. Unlike Trump, he conceived, built and ran one of America's most successful companies. He's proven himself to be a real philanthropist. His policy chops are legit.
We could do worse: Trump.
7
Outside of the media bubble nobody cares that Mr. Bloomberg has hinted to tentatively throw what might be his hat in the ring. Democrats are quite content with the number and caliber of candidates they have running (remember with Liddle Marco, Flaky Rand, Lyin' Ted and the rest of the ignoble pack from 2016 on the other side?)
Every election cycle has some big media lies - Hillary's inevitability was one in 2016. This notion that Elizabeth Warren is going to turn our economy upside down is one of the major lies of this cycle. Obamacare was the bugaboo in 2008, with Hillary sneering about how it did not happen in 1993 and it could thus never happen. And who has forgotten the ranting on Foxnews and the Wall Street know-it-alls, including the now familiar Mr. Cooperman, who wrote a disrespectful letter to President Obama in 2009 accusing him of all sorts of rubbish?
Elizabeth Warren, like her or not, has spent the last three of decades looking into the issues affecting the American economy, particularly the middle class. She has a good understanding of how Finance has become a racket and is prioritized over production and creation in our corrupted economy. All you have to do is look at her work in creating the CFPB to see what a competent and rational person she is, and what a bunch of creeps and crooks are lined up in opposition to her work. Mulvaney has been undoing the CFPB and no one is talking about it. But myths about Medicare for All busting our economy abound. Sheesh!
97
Hear! Hear! Could not be better stated. I love how the fabulous work Ms. Warren did for the creation of the CFPB, which saved average Americans tons of money from scams, bad businesses, etc., is rarely ever mentioned.
16
Bloomberg has my vote.
6
I grow more and more weary each day as opinion writers slice and dice each candidates' strengths and weaknesses. What reverberates underneath it all is the question "Can he or she BEAT Trump? Frankly, I don't care if it's a woman, gay guy, socialist or rich guy. I just want someone to dump Trump. And, fortunately, there's lots of very smart and good Democrats running who can do that. They may have their flaws...we all do...but God help us, the current occupier of the presidency is a cumulative disaster!
13
@Ann Unfortunately, Ann, there are many millions who think -- openly or secretly -- that Trump is America's saviour. Hence we can take NO chances with the person who runs against him. We need a safe bet!
1
@Mark Crozier who do you think that is....at least at this point in the primary race?
1
The knee jerk reaction is why billionaires. But America got off the mark with patricians. And more recently, there were the Roosevelts , Kennedy and the Bushes. Americans profess disgust at oligarchs and the 1%. But when push comes to shove, they turn to them in difficult times. Why? Because they make their own rules, they promise what sells and they leave the details to someone else. And somehow they convince us they are one of us, give or take billions and billions. Vote for someone who tells you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.
1
Now that Trump is leaving N.Y. he keeps returning- first for a fight and now a parade? I bet he has the shredders running!
2
Did not think much of Mr. Bloomberg’s chances until the Democratic candidates did not take long to attempt to decapitate him. Funny, here I thought campaigns were an exchange of ideas that would welcome all comers, apparently not.
2
No offense, but it’s nearly an insult for another NYC billionaire to enter the race, unless, of course, he has a good heart and can divide the vote and deliver a progressive, like Bernie or Elizabeth. I hate to sound like Miriam in the old Moses movie, but our people are not perfumed and oiled, and we’ve been told by the pharaohs in Washington for far too long to make bricks without straw, while those like Mr. Bloomberg keep his machine well oiled. No more.
7
@rebecca1048
Bloomberg was by far the best mayor NYC has had since john Lindsay was mayor in 1966-1973 which is as far back as my memory serves.
He is a better candidate than any other candidate running right now. Hands down. He understands how business and the economy work, unlike our socialist candidates who are pie in the sky or, "I'll just take money away from you and give it to someone else". That is the definition of stealing as far as I'm concerned.
2
Vertiginous? Probably not the adjective I would have chosen for his "reign" (or is it rain?), Maureen.
But at least you made me look it up! :)
Funny, this is the first time I've read Ms Dowd even mention Pete Buttigieg. Did she read his book I wonder? He's the real deal.
Anyhow, welcome Bloomberg. As a frequent crime victim, well educated and employed Latina, I well approved of Stop and Frisk 100%... you choose to look like danger to your community? Pay the price! And I am a staunch Mayor Pete supporter who also volunteered for Bernie in 2016 for 8 months in NYC. Times have changed. Si, si. Warren is an absolute unreality start to finish. She lost me at Native American. Run Mike Run!
5
If Mr. Bloomberg wants to save us, he might 'spend anything it takes' to buy Fox news.
18
That is the best idea I've heard in a while. Would rather have Bloomberg go toe to toe with Murdoch. Battle of the Media Billionaires!
4
This is the best idea I’ve seen in years. Brilliant! Let the brainwashing and fear mongering cease.
4
It's a circus, Maureen. Who is the clown; who is the lion tamer, and who is the lion? Then there is the trapeze artist with no net below. This may not make total sense, even to me. But that is what I am seeing now....a show of shows for entertainment only with absolutely no rational sense. We no sooner rid ourselves of one more Democratic nominee to make our choice easier, and another one pops up thinking that only he can save this farce of a republic and wavering democracy. And Bloomberg is old, too! I like Biden and Sanders; but, my heavens, S B and now B2 will be octogenarians shortly after they sit or lay in their made-to-order recliners in the Oval Office's assisted living. I do not know about anyone else, but I am staying focused on my first, second, and third choices. All this other stuff is extra noise. If my choices do not make the cut, then yes I will fully support our nominee. But, geez....
1
Trump was elected president but never WAS a president.
5
Biden trashed Anita Hill. period. He will never get my support.
Bring it Mike!
1
Women want a woman to become our next president.
We are rejecting the gilded age.
Billionaires are out.
Self made millionaires are in as long as the next presidential candidate to confront Putin’s lap dog is a woman.
Any of them are better at confronting trump and righting the “ ship of state”.
Our Washington cabal together have done nothing for our infrastructure or environment or health or education or homeless housing and new mental health initiatives building new mental health hospital campuses up again.
We need to lock up those that are mentally ill and violent killers. And we need rehabilitative prisons for petty crimes and changes in bonding structures and fines and fees for poor parolees.
We will not move forward with American progress and respect in Western Europe if we elect any candidate in 2020 that isn’t a woman ;then Washington and the elites took our election away again.
If trump wins or Bloomberg imho we will have civil unrest by the voters and minorities left behind. Women will not continue to tolerate the behavior toward our candidates by men in media and in politics .
Tired of my little state of Ct. being used and abused by New York and New Jersey. I hate our “ tri state “concept that allows the big states to dictate policy for my region.
Ct. We are Klobuchar country. Or Weld country. Not trump / Bloomberg country.
Let’s be clear. Liz you rose too quickly !!!
Now men are afraid. Really afraid.
So we get another glitch candidate !
4
Bloomberg. Oligarch. Does anyone need to say anymore? Apparently. Clever is not intelligent. Being a ‘good’ businessman doesn’t mean you have a civic heart. Even if you were Mayor of New York part time.
Why is he inning, not Donald Trump. HEALTH CARE COSTS, CUTTING OUT THE MANY MIDDLE MEN.
You can spend 20 trillion in ten years on War but you can’t spend it on your own people’s health care.
That’s why he’s running, to save the oligarch pennies.
Mans a lovely liar. And he lives in a country where a sucker is born every minute.
6
Where is the candidate in the Democratic Race with charisma? Who can excite people, show something different? Who can harness rage, fear, and hope like:
Woodrow Wilson
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Harry S Truman
John F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
James Earl Carter
William Jefferson Clinton
Barack Hussein Obama?
There just isn't anyone like that. And having $57 billion doesn't give Michael Bloomberg it, either.
4
Dowd missed her calling.
She would be happiest in Nero’s Rome.
I have never seen a sign the United States of America matters to her other than as the source of the players she gossips about for a good living.
Snide about Trump and Bloomberg. How exciting!
8
@In deed She lives in the elite bubble, they are mystified by anyone who is not part of that in crowd and kinda wishes we would just shut up and let them enjoy their Vanity Fair.
3
"...One is totally controlling and one is totally out of control. One rants about trans fats and one gorges on them...."
Thank you, Ms. Dowd - I was waiting to hear your take on little Michael.
This quote sums it best.
I also thought of that New Yorker cover from a few decades back.
That was about how New Yorkers view America. Their view is it's all empty out there beyond the Fifth Avenue till you hit the Pacific.
Well, little Michael may just have to spend a nite in a Holiday Inn in Alabama to retreat back to the Fifth Avenue.
Bloomy is in this to save Wall Street and the tax cuts for the billionaires and near billionaires. He could care less about us useless eaters. He knows he will never win the primary. So Bloomy will lose and then become an independent saying he has no choice because the people demand it. (only the rich, but he won't say that part) And he did his best to support the Democratic party ha ha. And his billionaire buddies will throw enough money around so that Bloomy gets one percent or more of the votes, enough to give the election to Trump. And status quo for the wealthy reigns again. You think I am kidding. No one outside the elite is voting for another rich white man who is doesn't like the Me Too movement and insisted on frisk and search for minorities and wrecked the school systems here and supported Bush and Cheney and the Iraq war.
The corporate and corrupt Dems do not care, they still get their bribe checks. Do we really want to go on supporting such creepy self serving people? Americans want to take the nation back from the oligarchs, that is why Warren and the much demeaned Bernie are at the top. They both have policies that will help average Americans, the heart of who America really is. Even some die hard Trump fans want that. We are all sick of the self serving politicians on both sides who have sold us out for lucre, doubloons, moola. Thank god for the Justice Democrats and Warren and Bernie who fight for us. Gotta love em!
5
Separate and Jail vs. Stop and Frisk. Same church, only different pews!
1
While Bloomberg and Trump have a long list of differences and only one commonalty that being on their feet … with the first having flat feet while the other had, ahem, “bone spurs” … which kept them out of Vietnam, there is one omitted big difference in this article.
While Bloomberg developed, operated and ran a successful business and was Mayor of New York three times, the Denier in Chief inherited a fortune from his father, incurred $1.17 billion in business losses over a decade and went bankrupt four times !!!
1
@Gerry O'Brien He paid off the city council or some organization to get that third term and he wrecked our schools and created even more wealth disparity and racial discrimination. But hey he gives to the opera and things he likes.
2
Pair Bloomberg, (a man who has made many real accomplishments) with Klobuchar, (a highly intelligent female) and away we go!
Bye, bye, Trumples!
4
@Texan HA HA! She polls at what? 4%? Only the elite want her because she makes it clear she will do nothing for the American people but oh maybe raise Pel grants a few bucks. Pel grants are useless because they do not even begin to partially cover the outrageous cost of college and even if someone gets one they do not have the remaining huge amount so they don't go to college. But darn it she is going to make those students who took out loans and are struggling just to survive pay every penny cause her banker friends like it, Too bad for the housing market or the next generation because these poor debt ridden former students, thanks to Biden cannot discharge their debts even if they go bankrupt from an illness that their insurance company says they have capped out of treatment and are on their own. I think the only option is suicide really. And these people cannot dare to think of having kids either, how would they pay for them and how would they like their children to go through student debt, no better to never buy a home, live with their aging parents and have no life. That is what Amy offers. And Bloomy has no time for the riffraff. Keep the tax cuts for the rich is his priority and police the rest of us, nation wide stop and frisk, And pooh on the ME TOO movement too. White men rule!
3
@Doug Keller
Do you really think that Michael Bloomberg intends to spend the amount of money hinted at in this article to save himself the additional two cents on everything he makes over $50 million?
Say what you want about Mayor Bloomberg, but to imply that he is that financially stupid is just going too far.
2
I’m admittedly only in the second paragraph, but Republicans have not been “consigned” to a single thing.
Bernie, Warren benefit from a rich man out of touch white men in the race. Let us cultivate our manners to be once again on his level Bloomberg does have better manners, a command of the language and is not a day in and day out crook as Trump.
Trump a man of insanity who is one step from the people who have the white coats to take him away for good..
2
Trump has started the short insults already (against Bloomberg, that is; many others --Schiff, Scaramucci, etc. --have been subjected to this jr high school garbage already).
Just another group of humans who don't meet DT's standards.
Trump supporters, to my eyes, are hardly Adonises: do they hate themselves?
And why can't billionaires just relax and spend some of that lucre. Take a money bath or something. Build a solid gold house. Remember John Beresford Tipton?
I mean, what they heck do they want? "More," I guess. Or to be God?
6
I think it's despicable for journalists to write casually that Joe Biden is "imploding." Nothing of the kind is happening. Biden still consistently leads in national primary polls as well as polls in a dozen key state primaries and in matchups with Trump is the only candidate who beats him, including in the same swing states. Yes, Warren, Sanders, Buttegieg and Biden are bunched together -- within a few points of eachother -- in Iowa, a small overwhelmingly white state Trump is virtually certain to win where Democratic caucus goers lean sharply left.
It's ironic that Biden's supposed "lagging" in Iowa and New Hampshire is a factor impelling Bloomberg to run, but then if he gets in, Bloomie plans to skip all four of the earliest contests.
Stay home, Mike, and spend that $500 million you promised to the effort to send Trump packing to Mar A Lago.
6
Ain't going to happen. Bloomberg won't get the nomination so all this is just white noise. It will be Warren vs Don the Con.
7
Why does the chattering class keep insisting that Biden is imploding?
This very same paper two days ago reported that “Democrats in the country’s most pivotal general election battlegrounds prefer a moderate presidential nominee who would seek common ground with Republicans rather than pursue an ambitious, progressive agenda, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll of primary voters across six states.”
Biden led among core voters in Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Arizona and Florida; Warren had a slim lead (within the MOE) in Wisconsin.
Please stop supporting Trump by purveying this false narrative. Nobody wants Bloomberg to jump in. He’d give the nomination to Warren, and the election to Trump. God help us.
1
I want to hear Bloomberg's thoughts on trump, putin, mbs and erdogan, in that order. Otherwise, pass.
4
Come on Mayor Mike. Put your money into getting
Elizabeth Warren elected. Then maybe she will reward
you with a fabulous secretarial job like Treasury, maybe or
whatever you want.
6
Ridiculous candidate. Billionaire, running and winning the Dem nomination. This is a true pipe dream. That party, especially in the nomination process, is basically a European socialist base with a heavy dose of identity/race voters. Only wishful thinkers would give him a chance.
1
Dear Maureen,
“Opposite,” means to be opposed. Sorry, but I see only sameness here: two billionaires who think that their wealth entitles them to rule, on behalf of their class.
And speaking of which, you forgot to mention the candidate who actually recognizes this and who is going to beat both of these clowns, Bernie Sanders: I mention him by name only because your entire newspaper seems to have adopted the policy of officially ignoring him in the hopes he goes away. But he’s not going anywhere, and neither are his voters.
6
After your softball treatment of Trump and scathing treatment of HRC in the 2016 election, I am skeptical of your articles in the 2020 election.
7
Bloomberg is going to make mincemeat out of Trump. Watch and learn.
2
Bloody is like Howard Schultz - minus the great political savvy.
1
Dowdy loves nicknames . Who does that remind readers of ?
Unlike Trump, Mr Bloomberg is a extremely successful self- made business man
Unlike Trump , he has given vast amounts of his wealth to charity
Unlike Trump , while one might not agree with all his policies , he was a successful Mayor of New York
Unlike Trump , we have not heard of scandals , either personal or financial
Mr Bloomberg is eminently qualified to run for President and deserves proper consideration , not ridicule from an " over-rated " op-ed writer
2
Several women will make a video where they discuss how their boy friends were stripped searched by NYPD. An older man will make a video where he talks of being arrested for urinating in a bush because there were no public restrooms around. Hundreds of older folk will make video's of their eviction so landlords could jack up the rent. Mr. Bloomberg was a mayor and mayors often have to do nasty things that the public never forgets. He will be ruined by countless stories about life in New York City.
3
Bloomberg v Trump = Dems take WH. Not even up for discussion. The number of money-only Republicans who would vote for Bloomberg is astronomical. Trump v every other candidate is debatable. Obviously the numbers change among them. THE PRIORITY HAS TO BE GETTING RID OF TRUMP!!!!!!!
2
Uh. we're not really looking for the "money only Republican" votes.
3
How is this column helpful to a nation in crisis? Where is the insights for readers on the contrast between these two New Yorkers in their political stances? What a waste.
2
It's unfortunate that the faux Billionairhead has turned soo many against the real reasons people become wealthy(discounting inheritance). There simply is no comparison. Mike REALLY built an Empire, administered the largest city in the western world, is educated, strategy-wise , gives billions to worthwhile causes., speaks in thoughtful, courteous English...need I really need to go on?
Bloomberg/Buttigeg. They have the smarts and OK, the $$$..which unfortunately is a necessity Plus, .I'm a New Yorker, and was always proud when HE opened his mouth
1
@Norma: Trump alone did not turn us off of billionaires. They did that all by themselves, with their arrogant behavior. I don't care about empire builders. They are inherently authoritarians who rule from the top down and believe that they are born to dictate to others. I want candidates who understand that running a democractic government is not the same thing as building a business empire. People who know the cost of living these days, who pay the bills every month but have nothing ledt to save or invest, people who who even do their own shopping and cooking. Heaven forfend that a billionaire should be burdened with such mundane tasks, but the vast majority of people are faced with these things every day and anyone who does not understand the financial pressures on the middle and lower classes is not qualified to govern us. Non-wealthy people deserve not only a seat at the table, but a voice in the debate, as well. Right now, we're being drowned out by loud money doing all of the talking.
2
@Allison Appreciate your well written reply..obviously you are educated..perhaps you can identify how Billionaires are" born". Is that a gene, or zodiac sign. Have you checked the wealth of the candidates. Okay, with 2 exceptions, they are all millionaires..and mostly self-made, as is Bloomberg. I'm a New Yorker, hardly even a millionaire, however I can mange to live in NY, comfortably., and pay my own health insurance. Gee maybe it's because I'm a Leo?
"“Little Michael,” as Trump calls Bloomberg"
Actually, Trump is the little one.
cf.:
Full Disclosure Hardcover by Stormy Daniels. St. Martin's Press, 2018.
5
Geez. I needed a good laugh. So true and sad at the same time. Who would have ever thought this great country would be witnessing a perpetual freak show for the past few years? Actually I did, but didn't think it would be this bad. Trump needs to be in prison with his lawyer a.k.a fixer. his campaign manager and jacks of all trades. As far as a Bloomberg Administration, he's going to need his money to chase down all the shadow governments Trump has started around his favorite fascist countries. Until then I'm staying in bed with all my Amazon snacks and bottles of cheap wine from my "packy." A.k.a package store for non New Englanders.
2
"It’s not a good sign for Democrats — or flagging Joe Biden — that the 77-year-old plutocrat is casting himself as the savior of the party." I can't wait till Sumner Redstone throws his Depends in the ring.
As a solid, not going to change, Trump voter, may I off my plan?
All of the Democrats just stop and go home. Instead of all of those people giving them money, stop, just keep it.
In exchange, the news media can go back to the "Trump-as-trophe" of the week. Here's why.
After 3 years, nothing has moved the needle on Trump. Any premise, no matter it's believably, doesn't phase his supporters. "What if Trump shot somebody on 5th Avenue?" His weakest supporters answered, "Depends who or why." My answer is, "Mr. President, do you need more ammo?"
The Dem primary has been a 1 year "stupid idea-a-thon". Only 8 of the original 24 have dropped out. There are a couple that are MIA. The top 5 have caused caused Hillary to threaten her return. Warren has put Wall street on notice. Bernie wants everybody to come to America and get everything for free.
With the impeachment ready to go 24/7 what have we heard every patriotic Democrat say? "The Republican Senators must put country over party." And, the very next sentence out of their pie hole, "I'm voting for anybody but Trump." OK, maybe Democrats aren't too choosy, but, they do like old, White and rich.
Don’t the Democrats have anyone undeter sixty who can be a viable opponent to Trump?
No. No. No Bloomberg. No billionaires. No New Yorkers. No Republican-lite Democrats. No more ruling elites. No Wall Street oligarchs.
Bloomberg will lose because he will put enough Obama-Trump voters off with his New York airs, plus blacks and hispanics will stay home and hand Trump the electoral college. It will be ugly.
9
Love the accompanying photo. If I was playing golf with Trump, I too would have a splitting headache.
5
Why is the New York Times doing what amounts to opinion polls, market research, and what appears to be preliminary campaign research for Michael Bloomberg? What I’ve seen in theses pages over the last few days appears to be a great deal more than reporting the story. It’s troubling.
5
Bloomberg certainly not President Obama. For that matter he is not even Hillary Clinton. Besides who needs another billionaire dictator even though they are polar opposites.
4
"Obama painted cautiously in gray tones, so enter the kaleidoscopic Donald Trump."
You're blaming Obama for America's getting Trump? Are you kidding, Maureen?
How about you take responsibility for your personal role in giving us Trump by soft-peddling that candidate, while savaging Hillary Clinton?
Start there. Enough with the blame of the blameless Obama.
10
Trump: boorringgg. Bloomberg: interesting.
1
Rather than run for President, Bloomberg should just buy Fox "News".
4
The Democrats are in a real bind, Not only do they need someone who will bring in the Independents and disaffected Republicans, they need someone who will unite all the disparate factions in their own party. To do the latter, the candidate will have to appeal to youths and progressives (in some cases the same), many of whom will foolishly vote for an alternative candidate if they don't like the party nominee. If the nominee is too far to the left, however, it will alienate the swing voters.
Bloomberg is a losing bet. He will not appeal to young and/or progressive Democrats, nor will he appeal to most Republicans, who are generally opposed to Nanny State policy, and even more opposed to gun control. Biden has appeal outside the party, but he will also alienate the youth/progressive wing. Sanders, despite his age, has the potential to unite the party, and the fire to go toe-to-toe with trump, but is simply too far out on the left to appeal to swing voters. Similarly for Warren, not to mention she's a bore. The one candidate who seems to triangulate things the best is Buttegieg. Young, charismatic, articulate, midwestern, somewhat progressive, with military service. The fact that he's gay might turn off some conservatives, but he doesn't come off as gay, and these days, .
1
@jr
... and these days, it's just not that radical anymore. His experience may be limited, but you don't need experience to win elections. He wouldn't be my first choice, but I believe he's our best hope for getting trump out.
1
Good column! The old Maureen hitting the nail on the head.
As a Progressive Democrat, I have been rooting for Elizabeth Warren, but lately have been concerned about how far into the weeds she is getting with healthcare, losing herself and many supporters in the process.
Michael Bloomberg is an interesting character -- the richest of the rich, but one who still has a social conscience and is a strong advocate for gun control and attention to climate change. He is perhaps the thinking man's billionaire, as opposed to the Trumps or Kochs of this world.
Because of his age, he (along with Biden and Sanders) will almost certainly be a one-term president. But as long as he can beat Trump, that's fine. I would vote for something like a Bloomberg/Klobuchar ticket.
4
@Jill: Getting into the weeds with healthcare is losing supporters? What do y'all want? First, we have the media howling about how universal healthcare is impractical, because of the "how are you going to pay for it" question. So she complies in getting the information demanded, hires some healthcare experts, and comes up with a detailed plan on how to pay for it, and coming up with an answer is somehow the wrong thing to do? She has done us a huge favor and shown us how difficult it is going to be to change the system. That doesn't mean it can't be done. It just means more work. I want a president who works for everyone who is not part of the few hundred men who control Wall Street and Silicon Valley. That would be Warren. Or Sanders.
3
Bloomberg would be better than Trump, no argument there. But his presidency keeps us in the 1%ers world. An economy where all the money is locked up in a few bank accounts has little velocity to its money turnover. To get back to the kind of growth that promotes broad based economic security ( I don't dare hope for wide prosperity), money has to be in the hands that will turn it over again and again. That's not the 1%ers. Warren's plans will not make paupers of the billionaires and the growing economy will give back a chunk of what they are taxed in increased earnings of the companies they own. What it will do is give the bottom 50% breathing room to build a life, not just hang on to existence.
5
The "gray tones" of Obama versus the "kaleidoscopic Donald Trump"? Let's not lose perspective.
223
Rather than the colorful pleasantries of a kaleidoscope, I think a blinding interrogation lamp in the face is a more apt description.
34
@Ahf
There are few metaphors involving light that can be used to describe Trump. Perhaps Milton's description of the realm of Chaos, of "No light, but rather darkness visible" might do.
58
@Alan J. Shaw
I agree with you! A much better comparison would be: "The steady and reasoned calm of President Obama vs. the Category 5 hurricane disaster that is Donald Trump."
54
I like the idea of Bloomberg as a transition President. I like the idea of a trump opponent with nothing to lose. How does Bloomberg do with minority voters?
2
@Transition Pres Pelosi will be a for transition President! Bring on the impeachment, pronto!
2
The great irony is that the greatest threat to democracy here, and anywhere in the world, is the rise of the billionaire class and extreme wealth inequity. The Bloomberg Billionaires are anti-democratic and really do not want the people to decide what to do with the money they took from us. They do not even try to hide this ugly truth. This has nothing to do with Trump or Biden. It is blatantly obvious that Bloomberg is representing the donor class out of fear of the Warren/Sanders surging interest to voters. But I had no idea what a chauvinist Bloomberg is. He talks about women as if we were assorted chocolates for him to choose from and bite into. I'm sure that even the surviving women of his age are individuals. But if his candidacy highlights the class struggle that Warren and Sanders are engaged in, then bring it on. People need to know more about this billionaire class, because when they do, they'll want to rein them in. Democracy depends on it.
13
If it takes Micheal Bloomberg to keep Trump from having another go at the presidency, so be it. He can throw his hat into the ring tomorrow, as far as I'm concerned. Bring it.
8
I am unable to be liberated from the bone-chilling, stark-naked fear that the Dems are not putting up electable candidates and that Trump will have four more years in the Oval Office playpen to wreak havoc on what remains of our republic. If Warren runs, centrist Democrats will hold their noses and vote for her, but most of the country will not. Bloomberg is not the answer.
A younger Biden-esque and experienced centrist candidate is the answer. The country is not ready for sweeping change and Warren frightens them. Rural areas have outsized influence in the electoral college. If Biden is electable, that is the best case scenario to see Trump evacuate the White House and hopefully face jail time in NY for campaign finance violations. It’s not a perfect world.
5
@Patricia Caiozzo
'A younger Biden-esque and experienced centrist candidate is the answer.' Where is this person, please tell me? Do you see them on the ballot? Wishing it so does not make it so! Democrats need to wake up fast or face another 4 years of Trump.
1
He’s too old. They’re all too old, except for the one who’s too young.
Anyone over 65 is too old; I’ve been those ages, it’s too old.
6
@Charlierf
37 + 77 = 114. Split that and you have the perfect age for a president, and a ticket I'd go for.
This is confusing. Isn't Bloomberg a Republican? Or is this just confirmation that there is very little light between the Democrats and the Republicans?
3
@anand: I'd say the latter. The controlling arm of the Democratic party is run by so-called centrists. They are basically Republicans who are socially a little more liberal than your average far right-wing Republican. See the Clinton presidency as an example. They have helped take the country further and further to the radical right, and are terrified that ordinary Americans might rise up and demand a bigger share of the economic pie.
1
Bloomberg is a republican in democrat robes.
America always elects the more inspirational candidate. Always. Bloomberg is about as inspirational as a roll of paper towels. Compared to him, Joe Biden sounds like a combination of FDR and Winston Churchill.
5
Another billionaire oligarch is not the solution to America’s challenges.
10
So Donnie says ‘there’s no one more I’d like to run against than ‘little Mike’.
In the blue corner - ‘(Little Mike’) Bloomberg; self-made billionaire worth over $50 billion; three-times Mayor of one of the largest economies in the world; environment champion.
In the red corner - (‘Fat Donnie’) Trump; inherited a fortune from his daddy; billionaire worth $3 billion (supposedly); champion of four Chapter 11 bankruptcies, a catastrophic public company collapse together with more than a dozen business failures; climate change denier and environment destroyer.
Yeah, sure Don.
9
Bloomberg was my mayor, I could not be happier that he is running. Here is the thing, the great majority of America is not progressive, they don’t care about the identity politics or the pie in the sky policies of Warren or Bernie. They care about jobs, they care about drug prices, they don’t want a bloated government, nor do they want to be on Medicare. On paying college debt - I know no one other than a couple of people who went to Barnard for women’s studies who are now in big debt bc alas one does not make 100k/year being an assistant professor of women’s studies, one does make 100k/year repairing AC’s or plumbing, I don’t see why my tax money should be used to pay their debt for their poor choices. But I digress, most of us the “center” want someone reasonable - be it Bloomberg , Pete, Amy, Biden, Bennett, Bullock, Romney, Kasich. People don’t want to vote for Trump but they also don’t want to vote for the socialists. Enough with the woke extremes and the angry Trumpspters. You got Kentucky with moderate guy, Doug Jones in Alabama, the same. Writing is on the wall, Warren is McGovern to the nth degree, listen to the wokes and the squad and this is what you will get.
5
BTW, that photo of Michael Bloomberg with Donald J. Trump reminds me of my often stated original qup: There are three famous or infamous celebrity figures most unlikely to grace the covers of the likes of Golf Magazine and Golf Digest. The first is Danny Quayle, as illustrated in that classic Washington Post editorial cartoon by the Late Herbert Block showing him at the blackboard being with his golf club bag leaning against the blackboard chalk rail while being chastised for not knowing how to properly spell the plural of potato (potatoes), the second, O.J. Simpson, for using his presence at the golf links as an alibi, and finally, Donald Trump, the knowledge of his golf handicap is more closely guarded than vital national state secrets!
3
Let's agree, there is no perfect Democratic candidate. And, let's all agree that Trump is a perfectly corrupt president kept out of jail by a perfectly corrupt Republican party. The worst candidate is better than Trump and the worst Democrat is better than the best Republican. Bloomberg Democrat/Republican/Independent/Democrat is not the answer. Eliminating private insurance is not the answer. A precocious small town mayor is not the answer. If the Democratic candidate isn't a moderate like Biden ot Klobuchar, it's going to be deja vu 1972 all over again.
5
Bernie Sanders is going to win the Democratic nomination. The establishment can stick their heads in the sand or their fingers in their ears while yelling no, no, no, over and over but there is a groundswell of Americans that cross party lines and ideological beliefs that have one thing in common that unites them: The corrupt system, supported by both political parties has stolen their lives and their futures and they are going to reclaim it. Business as usual is over Ms. Dowd.
5
Bernie is already on the ground with Not Me. Us. canvassing and 10 meet n greet events next week in CA, IA, NH, SC, NV, DC. A reinvigorated Bernie could very well prove our Christmas surprise frontrunner going into 2020. Look for the big Mo, as H W noted.
2
I will vote for anyone, the dog catcher is necessary to get rid of Trump. I really fear 4 more years of Trump. I do not think my head or heart could stand it.
5
That photo accompanying the article is perfect.
Is Bloomberg reacting to news that he has to ride in the same golf cart as Trump?
Or maybe he is reacting to Trump’s cheating?
6
We all need to go to Alabama and have conversations with people about what exactly makes them think Trump is on their side, why they are willing to go to the mats for him. Really listen to what they are saying, because I don't think any of us here in NY or out in San Francisco or in Chicago or anyplace similar understands what is going on. Why have Trump's supporters decided that this awful, immoral, phony, lying, cheating New Yorker is their god? What have we all missed? Someone will reply that it is his willingness to engage racism and racists, but I don't think that explains the whole thing.
4
I fear on the not-so-rare occasions when the Tweeter in Chief goes off the rails, a person ready to get down in the mud with him is required. Otherwise the Orange One, who learned from Roy Cohn and the WWE, will believe his own claims, and worse, the GOP will play along while the MAGA-hatted throngs cheer on witlessly.
Bloomberg, a reasonable man, is not that guy.
3
God forbid a man should enjoy beautiful women!
2
New York has given us Trump, Guiliani, De Blasio and now Bloomberg. Please New York, stop giving the rest of the world all these great people. The world just can't handle all the greatness out of New York.
1
"gazillion-dollar Medicare-for-all plan of Warren" ? Way to cute! Like your stuff but this reference is disappointing and inexcusable...
2
That 50 gazillion dollar Medicare for all plan does make one shudder until you consider (as Ms. Dowd apparently has not) the 70 gazillion dollars we will be spending under the status quo.
My guess is that Dowd doesn't spend much time worrying about her premiums, co-pays, and deductibles.
7
If Bloomberg gets into the race the first thing he must do is clear up his stop and frisk policy and present a detailed and reformed approach to the criminal justice system, rehabilitation, mental health, and living conditions of the disenfranchised. Look at Norway and other Scandinavian countries. Our country is a disgrace and destroys so many lives everyday. Do it Mr. Bloomberg and you will win.
2
Bloomberg is a guy who actually runs stuff well and gets things done. Public sector. Private Sector. A truly successful self-made billionaire. And a great mayor whom we in NYC miss so much.
He can spend his own bucks. No need for fundraisers. Beholden to neither K Street nor Wall Street. He is bipartisan as his party affiliation-history proves. That's a good thing. Not an idealogue. A pragmatist.
But. Would middle America vote for a short billionaire Jew from New York?! They should.
2
A Bloomberg-DJT debate might be entertaining ("I'm rich" vs "I assuredly have 540% more than you do, SNAP!"), but I'm thoroughly sick of politics being a spectator sport or, worse, a reality show, "Real White House Candidates: New York."
So, I submit a Democratic candidate recipe:
Mix a splash of Teddy Roosevelt's charisma with a chunk of George Washington's political integrity, add some of Obama's intellectualism and restraint, blend with Gandhi humility, season with Churchill's determination, and top all with generous coating of Mr. Rogers's compassion.
Until this candidate surfaces, I'll vote for whoever seems most likely to beat djt.
2
I think a Bloomberg - Buttigieg ticket is the answer for 2020, and sets up Mayor Pete for a good shot at 2024. They both have baggage stemming from their mayoral stints. But isn't their experience dealing with 'real' problems and making hard decisions exactly what the voters have been calling for?
Michael—what about people of color—where do they fit into that ticket??
So if Bloomberg actually becomes a candidate and Biden continues to fade away, we'd have an open socialist vs a dedicated central planner vs nanny state Michael. Someone tell me where the "center" is in this mess?
1
You have to look for humor to survive in our present real life horror show, and having a dumpy, orange and yellow slob like Trump insult the trim, impeccably-groomed Bloomberg's appearance certainly provides it. But Trump has to push the superficial because it's all he's got.
If it comes down to a choice between these two, I'm taking the man over the child. Heck, I'll take almost anyone over Trump. When you've hit rock bottom, the only way is up.
2
another billionaire.
another media mogul
another autocrat
another party switcher (remember, Trump was a dem once)
omg.
5
Not even remotely funny. "Nanny" in Chief? "Federally funded nursery?"
Millions worldwide are feeling the consequences of Dubya's and Trump's ill-advised decisions.
Obama did not paint in "gray tones." He inherited the mess that Bush created--real estate, auto industry, foreign policy meltdowns--and righted the ship with a little help from his friends.
Trump is anything but "kaleidoscopic." The man is a monochromatic portrait of narcissism. Obama was Presidential. Trump is the antithesis of Presidential, especially in his licentious speech acts.
Stop giving Trump free air time by quoting him. Your habit of reproducing Trump's foul-mouthed jibes in your text suggests that you find him entertaining at some level.
Bloomberg's participation in the Democratic primary will not significantly alter the political landscape. He will attract the votes of a few neocons--like Dowd's colleague Stephens, and probably Brooks--but not enough to seriously affect the outcome. Bloomberg's wealth will work against him in an election, just as in the case of Schultz and Steyer.
Dowd's real preoccupation? Does "'Little Michael'" find her attractive?
3
Frankly, they are all too old. I had no idea as to how tired one could be at 75, despite sufficient sleep, good food, fun activities, and according to some endless time. I also know that mentally, the brain works more slowly, and memory loss is real but there is that sense of history -- supposedly the brain does best in people around 60 -- or is that vocabulary?
Many of the comments reveal a truly faulty sense of history-- Guess what Virginia, you know the one about dipping one's toes in the river? nothing stays the same... well some things do often referred to as virtues and vices esp. the later.
IMO Warren barely makes the cut-off for age. Bernie, Biden, Bloomberg -- the three B's == have aged out. (In some places in the world, persons over 75 are not allowed to rent a car.)
But also IMO Trump will win the election unless he manages to do something truly heinous, more than ripping off the stupid American public esp. the 70K whose votes made the difference. Daily I am shocked by what people do not know and how people don't ever want to change an opinion - therin is the problema.
The photo is priceless. The big bad puffed up bully next to his hapless prey who can't even bear to open his eyes to face him. Not a good sign for a possible showdown between the two.
3
Trump is the ultimate successful failure. Bloomberg is pure class. It's as simple as that...
Biden isn't "imploding", He leads Warren and all other candidates by double digits in Florida, Arizona, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Remember the Electoral College, the only votes that matter? He is also the only ones who handily outpolls Trump in those states. He will also get more of the African American vote and turnout in those states than Warren or Sanders. Dowd is back to her weird pastime of snarking on Democrats and then bemoaning what happens.
3
I fear the presidency is turning into the Billionaire Boys Club.
4
I didn’t read much of it... but some. I hope you didn’t say much bad about Bloomberg.
As we all know, you said plenty enough of bad stuff about Hillary, in 2016.
It was so obvious that she was going to win, so why be nice to her ?
You seem like a fine enough woman, but let’s hope that you decide to sit this next election cycle out. Your track record on these issues is not good.
2
Bloomberg... a civic minded, honest fellow without a clue of how regular people live.
A man enamored of himself, with the “only I can fix it” delusion- remember that third term?
An arrogant technocrat who believes that rich people can do anything, that wealth is a sign of virtue and competence.
Remember his disastrous school chancellor pick? I met her before her appointment. She knew nothing about how NYC or even the US government works. She was a caricature of rich woman cluelessness, and yet, because Mike knew her from the cocktail party circuit, she was his pick.
When people complained that NY was getting too expensive, Mike said NYC is a luxury product, not a cut rate one. Too bad for the lower middle class, then the middle-class, and now even the upper middle-class. Where should he ship the poor if the whole US becomes a luxury product? Nassau county can only fit so many.
Bloomberg has his virtues, including noblesse oblige, but he’s just another rich guy wanting to improve the world, just as long as it doesn’t hit him in the wallet.
Maureen, you do seem to like the rich folks... did Bloomie offer you fine chocolates like Nancy? Are there Manolo Blahniks for men? I have so many poor person questions!
4
I do not and will not be a part of it, not now not ever. Two chumps, hustling their way through life and the disposal of others lives. Bloomberg is not capable of living in the truth, which is what we do not need in the Oval Office again. Take a hike man.
2
Funny how everyone said Trump had no chance to win with ideas like a wall and a Muslim ban and now the chochoms(smart people) all think Warren has no chance because she proposes Medicare For All. Voters don't use logic or reason when deciding whom to vote for!
2
Pick. Pick. Pick. Run Mike.Run.
He’s the real deal and a stable genius to boot.
Mo, you can't just gloss over Bloomy's several political affiliations of convenience, judging from his "Mazel Tov" congrats to Boris Johnson upon his election as Mayor of London, as well as his several addresses to the Conservative Party in Britain, where Bloomberg's European H.Q. has been erected, as the Times reports:
https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/nyregion/bloomberg-builds-an-empire-in-london.html
In the U.S., what the Dem party needs in a candidate is not someone who has the makers/takers, 57%/43% ethic that Romney espoused in 2012, backed up by Bloomberg's claim as he evicted the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators in 2011 that they were "trying to destroy jobs."
The Dem billionaire candidate we need is in the mold of Nick Hanauer; who wisely makes the point that so-called "makers" haven't been moving to under developed parts of the globe and 'making' a society/environment they need/want - they cluster in places which already have created an infrastructure and educational system/work force to support development.
The whole makers vs. takers meme is poppycock, as identified by Brooke Astor, whose NYTimes obituary asserted the basic economic principle forgotten in these Forbes 400 decades:
"Money is like manure, it's not worth a thing unless it's spread around."
https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/nyregion/bloomberg-builds-an-empire-in-london.html
quoting Thornton Wilder's play The Matchmaker.
4
Having worked for Bloomberg I can assure you his ego is very much as large as Donald's although not as malevolent. Mike does see himself as a font of the best ideas and likes to have his way (See NYC mayor pays to void term limits to hold office for 3rd term). He was a Democrat until it was inconvenient to run in the Dem primary for mayor, so he became a "Republican," and of course, now he's back to being a "Democrat."
Black & Hispanic support? Just think "stop & frisk."
His sexism - well, at best it's old school, no bragging of grabbing private parts - but he used to tell young women employees not to get pregnant, make other offensive remarks out loud, including saying "I'd do her" about some women.
The common touch, Mike doesn't have it, his middle-class upbringing left behind in the exhaust trail of his private jet(s?) & all the privileges $billions can buy.
He's pro-choice, anti-gun - among other positions - making it unlikely to get Trump-leaning blue-collar men to turn around. Women? See above.
Wall Street may cheer him on, but Main Street not so much.
4
It is high time a true philanthropist throws his hat in the ring. The current political process wastes billions of taxpayer dollars just to play. They are nickel and dime-ing us to death.
And a matchup between a media mogul and a media frankenstein could be just what America needs right now.
I say, 'play ball!'...I mean, 'Fore!'
1
Yes, a debate or two between a faker like Trump, and a maker like Bloomberg could be amusing, but would that change any minds? Trump Repubs are by and large voting for him no matter what.
I am admittedly concerned that some of the top tier Dem candidates have traits that independent middle America may not be able to hold their collective noses and vote for. But I doubt Bloomberg is the answer. Will a New York Wall Street billionaire be palatable to the working class? If they were looking for intelligence, they never would have voted for Trump. And there is a reason Trump is attacking Biden the most. That is what the impeachment is all about. No, Biden is no brainiac, so what.
And hello Dems running the impeachment inquiry, why in the devil are you not putting out a subpoena for Bolton? He doesn't like the Trump players, and looks ready to let loose a scorcher of a review of their pathetic anti American performance. Bolton could actually change some of seemingly unchangeable Fox news obsessed minds.
If you’re looking to vote for an elderly, Jewish man with lots of experience, Bernie Sanders is the obvious choice. The reason he isn’t considered; he is misunderstood. The press could help clarify his stance as an FDR/Democrat, but that would upset the donor class, their minions and the religious fanatics.
3
I’ll vote for Biden, Bloomberg, or Bootyjudge... but I’ll stay home if it’s Warren or Sanders.
2
Take a deep breath and give Bloomberg a chance. Go on a first date. Watch him on Chris Matthews or Rachel Maddow.
I’d even watch him on Hannity. He’d tear that blowhard up and spit him out.
If you like what you see, vote for him.
You owe it to yourself to listen carefully, and in the end, follow your gut. It’s served you well up to this point. It will again.
2
Maureen, it really doesn't matter at this point who or what comes out of the Democratic primary, and I say this as a Democrat myself. The Democrats could nominate Jesus Christ, and the election will still be all about Trump. Bloomberg, Schmoomberg, Baboomberg, whatever, really, does it really matter?
If the Dems nominate a box of rocks, as god as my witness, I will canvas for box of rocks, donate to box of rocks and have a sign on my front lawn "Box Of Rocks - 2020!"
2
Bloomberg and Trump are more similar than you spin them to be. Both are authoritarians. Bloomberg wasn't far behind Trump in coming down on the powerless and non-white with a heavy hand. Remember stop-and-frisk? Over 5 million innocent New Yorkers, 83% black and brown, and a scary percentage of them young children too, were stopped and intimidated by Bloomberg's police during his three terms as mayor. See https://www.nyclu.org/en/stop-and-frisk-data. Just nominate Bloomberg and refresh the voting public's mind about his reign of terror in the name of phony crime statistics and watch the numbers of those who stay home on election day explode.
2
Electability schemectabiity, let's just get behind whoever wins the nomination.
Well, if money is the yard stick by which the Trump measures his success; he's going to come up a wee bit short against Boomberg.
He'll crack by the comparisons.
Maureen, you better hope Bloomberg DOES run. You will have so much more material to use, like today's column that harkens back to your days of Pulitzer writing. and not snarking.
Little Michael and the yellow Trump balloon floating over the nation. And Bloomberg is not really a New Yorker by birth anyway. He's from Boston, no?
So, even if it's Warren and Trump, we will have a post-Pevolutionary War election where the easterners try to woo the wheat and timber crowd.
Looking forward to the fun. Because face it, if ESPN is a sports channel whose first initial stands for entertainment, then a U.S. presidential election can't be any less.
Hi Maureen,
I want to suggest that you refrain from speaking about Trump like a baby -- this time in his "crib".
I think that this minimizes the danger of Trump.
Trump is in cognitive decline, he is probably an untreated ADD boy grown up (and with vast psychological problems due to being punished by his authoritarian father) , he is malicious and cruel. Trump has no concentration, no intellectual ability for this job, and is a pathological liar.
How can you compare Trump to a baby?
4
I have long admired Bloomberg as an "out of the box" creative problem solver, who puts his money where his mouth is. He's helped many causes that are near and dear to me. However, if he doesn't release his taxes and address his "women" issues, I wouldn't vote for him in the primary. In the general I'd vote for a doorknob ahead of the world's biggest, dumbest, craziest grifter in the White House.
2
"It’s not a good sign for Democrats — or flagging Joe Biden — that the 77-year-old plutocrat is casting himself as the savior of the party".
Not all voters are party-affiliated to begin with, and want a viable, fit and capable President. Michael Bloomberg has been an 'Independent' soul these last few years.
He does have a dislike for corruption, and he shows a low-tolerance for White Supremacists and other rabble-raisers.
Another handicap to be pointed out is that he knows far more about The Middle East than Mr. Trump, and is able to assimilate what he reads on the above.
Fastidious he is, when it comes to Law & Order, and a better than fair judge of character, he knows how to treat our Police Force and Finest, with low tolerance for sloppy work while on duty.
Never having seen our president standing beside Mr. Putin, (they are to be viewed seated in meetings), Mr. Trump has the decorum not to call the Russian Leader 'Little Putin', leaving us to hope that Mr. Bloomberg would show the same respect.
He might resist wearing a MAGA hat, refuse to throw entertaining rallies and be boringly 'Presidential'; when facing the corruption in our States, he is going to stand strong on 'Responsibility', without much of a florid tan or a fluffy mob of gold puff on his crown, and we will have to place our popcorn aside, while sitting straight again in our chairs, and not slumping in a state of gawking.
The party will be over, and our Nation will have to work again.
What confuses me is the fact that Biden hasn't imploded. He's stumbled, he's gaffed, he's blundered, but he is not out for the count. A Bloomberg candidacy is predicated on the very thing that has not happened: a Biden implosion. Bloomberg could do far more good by financing Biden's campaign. Of course, that wouldn't stoke his ego in quite the same way and, alas, that's what this is about.
4
I wonder if the donor class is more terrified that Warren would lose or that she might win? The last time the donor class got their preferred candidate we ended up with Trump. Lets try something different please,
1
A picture is worth a thousand ‘oy vays’.
14
"Republican lawmakers have been consigned to diaper duty."
I hope those same lawmakers can't unsee themselves in that delightful image.
Bloomberg and Buttigieg for 2020
Trump won’t stand a chance!
3
Bloomberg? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Too much excitement. He's anti working class and anti union. He hates school teachers and nurses. He also does not care about people of color. The color he likes is green, for him.
I will not vote for him.
7
We don't need another geriatric candidate, a business man and someone who thinks is a savior.
5
There’s one thing though. Bloomberg for whatever his faults may be isn’t a barking lunatic.
1
I would take your comparison of Bloomberg vs. Trump one step further. Begin NOW running a series of comparative ads. Don't even Bloomberg or Trump’s name. Just ask a series of rhetorical questions...."would rather have a President that has done "a".....or one that has done "b":
• Favorability rating while in office.
• Charity contributions vs. charity scams
• Record on global warming.
• Record on reasonable gun control.
• Success in business.
• History of bankruptcy
• Start-up story
• Outstanding claims for fraud.
• Outstanding claims for sex assault.
• Nepotism while in office.
• Support for Jewish organizations.
• Income by year.
• Self-seeking publicity hound.
Start the campaign right now as a way of introducing yourself. Stay away from getting into the "my plan is better than your plan" mosh pit. I would not use names…..just pose hypothetical questions.
2
One item never discussed yet, Trump who attacked Obama for trips from what I can see never is in the White House. He has spent the last weeks flying on our dime here and there to campaign attend sporting events (the recent two did not go well so lets go to Alabama where he will be warmly greeted. I am a long ago grad of the school and love how students have been warmed not to boo otherwise no more football games for you. I know someone will comment that was withdrawn, but it is out there like a fake apology from politicians or business persons or entertainers. All behold the King.) When is there going to be an investigation of all this campaigning on public money. The settlement of his fake charity should show everyone he never uses his money he cheats someone else out of theirs. Being raised in NYC myself he is ultimate mob boss dishing out favors commit a murder while in the military here is a pardon, tell everyone else don't worry if you are convicted I will pardon you. I do love Sessions who I thought had some honor drawling over him this after Trump called him stupid, dum and not a very good attorney general like Barr who spends $40,000 in my hotel. Amazing and disgusting to see what passes for the Leader of US. In passing I did notice that the pardons for the servicemen has been pushed by that great American congressman from San Diego Hunter who by the way is charged with stealing from the military charity he set up. Jim Trautman
2
Oh, c'mon Maureen. It's like you're not looking forward to Bloom'$ Nationwide Stop and Frisk program!!! Think of how it will improve relations between the people and the police.
1
"New York is a corrupt state." He's spent his whole life there, defrauding clients, being delinquent in paying debts, denying apartments to black people, greasing palms, breaking laws, dodging taxes and drafts. Now that he's leaving town, he thinks he can treat us like an ex wife. I don't pretend to know how corrupt New York state is but I'm sure it lessened with his exit.
1
Based upon what little I know of Bloomberg, I'd say the label "Big Mike" is more fitting. As for Donald, why he hasn't picked up the moniker "little donald" yet is beyond me. He is little in so many ways and probably more so than we care to know about.
If nothing else, Bloomberg will probably stir the Democratic pot, a thing that needs doing, and he'll surely drive little donald nuts, if he isn't there yet.
All we need now is to have Robert De Niro enter the race and challenge little donald to a smack down on the White House lawn.
Bloomberg would not be my first, second or even fifth choice. But I’ll support anyone — from Joe Walsh on the right to Bernie on the left — over the corrupt narcissistic orange authoritarian clown and his foreign mobligarch handlers.
2
So in a country this big we have to rely on NYC to provide us our presidential choices? I don't think so. It's Big Apple narcissism that Maureen Dowd (writing for the NY Times) would even think of this as an idea for her column. We've had enough of NY's trash the past three years. No disrespect toward Mr. Bloomberg but Democrats can find a nominee from a different city.
1
Let’s not replace the old rich white guy candidate with another one.
3
Since we are talking here about Bloomberg’s chances, I’m surprised nobody has mentioned this yet (unless I missed it.) Bloomberg is Jewish. With the dramatic rise in anti Jewish occurrences in the USA (actually the world) lately, can a Jew win the White House?
I’m Jewish, and I wonder how much anti Semitic mindsets on a countrywide basis would affect Bloomberg’s chance even if he were the greatest thing to come along since sliced bread.
I know I’d vote for him in a heartbeat, no matter what religion, or no religion, he subscribed to!
What do you think!
Wickedly funny column today Maureen. At least Bloomberg could give as much as he got from a blowhard like Trump. No backing down with this New York guy.
So, now the Presidency is just a sport for billionaires?
They have too much money.
Too much time on their hands.
Too much ego to think about a posthumous legacy — they want all the fame and power they can get — now — so they can enjoy it?
Does it all then, just come down to money?
Was Jesus a sham, a hoax?
Is Christianity, as another billionaire, Ted Turner, said, “for losers”?
Does this explain why globalization hit middle America the hardest? China, India, Saudi Arabia, Russia — all these non-Christian countries laughing at us — they know only power matters, only greed, cash.
That’s why our plans for health care keep getting thwarted — helping the sick, the poor, the weak — so quaint. So “Christian” — nobody really believes that old-fashioned stuff anymore, not even the doctors, (but the nurses do). Good Samaritan? Yeah, how much is your co-pay— I’ll take all of it.
“Whatsoever you do to the least of these, you do unto me.”
“That men are created equal, with inalienable rights...that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their powers from the consent of the governed.”
Not anymore.
It was all a hoax.
Only power, lies, greed, brutality, ruthlessness rule the world.
Get over it.
1
Re "Mrs. Doubtfire and Mr. Mendacity", Maureen Dowd: I think chances that "Little Mike" and "I am the Chosen One" (The Orange Catastrophe) will run for the presidency next year are slim to none.
Baby and nanny...and Republicans wiping spit-up and washing diapers. LOL!!
This moment of chaos has been terrible, hugely funny too—if you believe we will survive it. Thanks for your so clever and amusing painting.
I'm optimistic. The leader of pack is a very smart, strong and good, person who will be embraced by the others in the race soon. That she is the target now of the really big vested interests is perhaps the best news.
The real significance of Bloomberg's entry? Another wheel knocked off of Biden's wagon. The back end is now a sled. He might as well just park it and turn his horses loose.
1
The point, Maureen, is not the nomination, but the presidency; Ms Warren, with her $50 trillion medicare-for-all would be roadkill against IQ45, good idea though it might be. It's about saving this country, not spiritual purity.
As your colleague Mr. Stephens points out, the race would be between 'the faker and the maker'. Easy choice.
And, as far as anyone knows, you still have not apologized to America and the World for helping, with your endless sniping at HRC, to get the Orange One elected.
Crickets - - - -
Your DC tunnel vision fits you like a monocle.
If you had eye glasses and therefore depth perception, you would know — instead of visiting occasionally — the real NYC and comprehend what Bloomberg did for us here He could do the same for this great country.
Yeah, NY is a corrupt state because of miserable corrupt, petty characters like little baby donald.
1
I am a ABT voter
Anyone But Trump
1
There is a difference between flat feet and bone spurs.
Flat feet (Bloomberg) don’t go around denigrating genuine heroes like John McCain, Lt. Col. Vindman and FBI and CIA agents who risk their lives on behalf of the country; or the Muslim family of a slain U.S. Soldier
Bone spurs and cowards (Trump) do.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/31/us/politics/donald-trump-khizr-khan-wife-ghazala.html
https://www.justsecurity.org/66035/the-pattern-and-practice-of-trumps-assaults-on-the-intelligence-community/
4
My new bumper sticker says
Any Sane Person 2020
3
" Republican lawmakers have been consigned to diaper duty. "
Is that the reason why every time they open their mouth only smelly hot air comes out?
And I always thought that the stoic sphinx, Melania, has to change his bloomers several times a day.
2
For Gods sake, stop doing what Democrats always do, which is form a circular firing squad and shoot. We need someone who can beat Trump. That's it.
2
A short, nasal voiced Jewish rich bachelor from New York becoming President?
When I was polled about this a few years ago, I said “no way,never”
I’m voting for him as Vice President to President Warren. Wait, was that a dream?
2
Good; Very Dowdish.
1
Bloomberg? Why not? Fine with me! Just pick someone ok? Enough of this horserace! Enough of Tump! Anyone got a time machine? Let's get past all of this nonsense.
Two narcissists but only one con man.
1
Maureen. Why don’t you keep reminding us the Trump held a fundraiser for vets and stole the money.
1
Politics is a circus to keep us knuckleheads confused while the Oz is behind the curtain leaving with the loot.
1
Oh come on. Us a photo of the whole gang.
https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/GTY_golf_classic_ml_160412_12x5_992.jpg
2
Is Trump our Commodus?
1
Of course the Democratic base has just been waiting for a white 77 year old billionaire from NYC. LOL Bloomberg.
2
"Republican lawmakers have been consigned to diaper duty."
Hilarious!
Maureen,
Good, witty, biting writing as is common from you.
But, your caustic ripping on Trump still rings hollow to me.
I still remember your 2016 puff pieces on Trump early in his candidacy, and, your (well justified) ripping on Hillary.
I think you should partly own the Trump Presidency, because, you really don't know how many votes you managed to get for Trump with your puff writing.
He only need a few hundred here and there.
Maybe you were the swing? You will never know, and, certainly never believe that your writing was the tipping point for Trump,
but, your caustic ripping now, in light of those puff pieces in 2016?
Your rip pieces now leave me a little bit sick at my stomach.
Because, I never felt anything but stomach sick that Trump was in the race.
I knew how bad he was, and, I think you did too.
1
Bloomy should help the Dems throw a hail Mary and deck his money and weight behind Buttigieg. Never underestimate a McKinsey consultant; rather, put your trust in them.
"Cautiously in gray tones?" Obamacare? You lost me there.
If you enjoy reading about the small talk that Maureen Dowd has with her rich and famous friends, this is the Opinion for you. After thanksgiving, Maureen will share the deep thoughts of brother Kevin or Kenneth. I cannot remember his name.
Knowing that Ms. Dowd is now consistently making uninformed snarky comments about Warren is helping cement my belief in Warren's candidacy. Dowd seemed entirely unable to see Trump's incompetence and narcissism prior to his election, so while her articles are sometimes amusing in their cattiness her political wisdom seems almost entirely lacking.
For Bloomberg to have a chance he must appeal to Trump supporters. Those who've attached themselves to Trump feel disrespected and marginalized. No doubt. But they've been sucked in by a malevolent con man - Big Fraud - who appeals to the most base aspects of human nature. Bloomberg must show there is a better way; one that aligns with our country's values and just plain human decency. Our country is tired of living in Trump's crib. Bloomberg doesn't need "magic". Wisdom, honesty and probity will do.
I am a suburbanite and a Democrat, I cant attest to the fact that should Michael Bloomberg run I and an awful lot of people I know Democrats Independents and even Republicans would cast a ballot for him in a 'New York Minute'. I could care less about his wealth, in fact I am happy that he is willing to spend it on ridding us of Trump.
Yes I want Universal Healthcare, and Free College for all Americans and a progressive preferably female President.
But what I want more is to wake up in the morning without a sense of dread as to what the day will bring,courtesy of Donald Trump.
I want to be able to travel abroad without having to explain that the majority of Americans are rational people,who believe in the legitimacy of things like Climate Change, and the importance of supporting institutions like the UN, and the World Bank.
I want to be assured that our President will have the common sense and decency to acknowledge that Neo Nazis taking over our city streets yelling 'Jews Will Not Replace Us' are not good people .
I want our President to protect a woman's right to determine if she does or does not want to bring a child into the world. Who furthermore will not disparage women by name calling, body shaming, or generally behaving like a sexist pig.
I want a President who has proven himself willing to stand up to the NRA and support sensible gun control measures .
Enough of my wants for all our sake I want a President who will just quit tearing the place apart.
1083
@Britl
Well said. So let us hope that if Mr. Bloomberg were to win the Democratic nomination, seventy million other Americans will think the same as you and vote - knowing that Warren's liberal progressive policies won't be on the ballot, but vote to restore to our world the sanity we once took for granted.
64
@Britl I would have to if he was the nominee but I'd do it pinching my nose.
16
@Britl - Exactly right!!
21
Bloomberg is just what we need: another way-too-old billionaire. But if he's the nominee, I will vote for him. If Mayor Pete is the nominee, I'll vote for him. If Sen. Klobuchar or Warren or Booker or Bennett are nominated, I'll vote for them just as I'll vote for Yang or Steyer.
In short, anybody but Trump.
But god help us if we don't nominate someone - anyone - who can beat Trump.
3
It's time for the Democrats, "the party of facts and science" to face reality: at this point, it's not a question of if Trump will win reelection, but by how much.
The bulk of the electorate is ready for populist economic reforms, but find the current progressive candidates wanting to move too far, too fast. And Americans absolutely detest political correctness, identity politics and (effectively) open borders.
Politically engaged liberals have been busy turning the Democrats into a boutique party when they should be turning it into the Wal-mart of parties. It may make them feel good about themselves, above the unwashed masses, but they are guaranteeing another noble loss at the exact time when America cannot afford another one.
If we're not seriously considering Bloomberg because he's "too rich" or boring, or corporate, or anyone beyond the current front runners who are doomed to fail we are not serious about winning.
44
@Livonian
I don't think 'facts' means what you think it does, when it comes to vouchsafing something that hasn't happened yet.
Let’s caption that photo from 2007:
“So, I’m thinking of running for President sometime soon. How hard could it be? What do you think, Mike? . . . Mike?”
1
Interesting contrast between two rich New Yorkers, but wishful thinking in saying “Elizabeth Warren may run away with the nomination” and failing to mention the potential beneficial impact a Bloomberg candidacy would have on Bernie Sanders, who leads the field in total amount of money raised and number of donors. Ms. Dowd’s incisive commentary is blunted by her narrow vision of what is really happening on the campaign trail.
1
My only regret is that Mr. Bloomberg is arriving on the scene so late. His input in the first few debates would have added a lot. Whether he can enter this late and do so successfully is up in the air.
I think he would make a very good president. He would return to a cabinet of thinking people (which is badly needed), and begin the huge job of repairing our broken country. "Begin" is the proper word here.
If he joins in, we should listen carefully. He has much to offer.
6
It's been reported that Michael Bloomberg's charitable contributions are in the range of $6 billion.
Surely admirable, and in stark contrast Trump.
In order to become President however, Mr Bloomberg must be prepared to "donate" several billion more dollars to campaign spending to overcome Trump's $2 plus billion war chest.
By almost any measure of ability - competence, honesty, integrity, ethics, morals, leadership, results, intellect, etc, etc - the mayor would be in the top 10% of our politicians, while the third grader in the White House would be in the lowest 10% if not dead last. Unfortunately the corrupt guy wins the only category that matters in America these days - the ability to manipulate the media. Roy Cohn is chuckling while Walter Cronkite is rolling over in his grave. God help us.
3
I can't see how the blacks would vote for him; he had a stop and frist procedure in place when he was mayor.
He was against the Central Park Five getting any money.
I can't see the Rust belt states voting for him. Can't understand why he can't see this.
It's all ego.
4
Vote Blue No Matter Who
9
Excited to hear Bloomberg announcement just wonder if he has ‘legs’ west of the Mississippi?
"Nanny in Chief"? Really Ms. Dowd, with this comment you become no better than Donald Trump. This is a highly qualified man and just what we need to oust Trump. Didn't you do enough damage to Mrs. Clinton with you snarky comments? Just stop trying to be so smart and write something serious.
8
Mo was an early trump enabler and stayed loyal until he dumped her. Maybe Mo should write about a subject she knows....?
4
South Bend is tougher.
And you dismiss smart Warren in one mention (no mention of Bernie by you is taken for granted). Nothing learned (by you, that is) since your Hillary bashing, I guess, Maureen. A rich man will get your thumbs up every time. I can see the whole predictable path of the descent of your whole campaign for billionaire mike right now. Pretty dumb. Your script is old and boring, and destined to ruin. But you just keep on and don't get it. You're on woman-hating autopilot, as usual, when the chips are down.
4
It’s quite pathetic that Trump calls others “Little”.
If you look closely at the article photo you can distinguish just who is the big, fat slob.
Enuf said.
3
Maybe if you hadn't had a nonsensical vendetta against Hillary for the last 20 years, we wouldn't be in this pickle.
8
Will Mr. Bloomberg and the media be voting for him. Why are they all behaving as if the electorates were asking and pining for him.
He as no relationship with the black community and nothing to bribe them with on like EW with college debt write off and free every thing.
Mr Bloomberg is in lala land and is just being made into the big entry in the race by the media check the little man on the ground and see how they feel
1
How Convenient for Ms.Dowd to just write about,What ifs ? stuff...
Setting on the side , The Multiples ,Razor Sharp ,State Issues,Abuses Committed,
By her accommodative Lines, to just have her view scenario lines free of any
Wrong Interpretation,from any Winner, According to Vox-Populi-
Do not Go into the Kitchen cause you may burn, this Column deserves,
A simple, Well , You Can do better.
1
"But a Bloomberg bid could open the door for Elizabeth Warren to run away with the nomination"
That could be the most ridiculous statement I've read so far with regards to the Dem primary.
And, since the entire NYT staff is in the tank for Warren, why would you complain about a strategy that supposedly would enable her?
This newspaper has lost all bearings.
It's chaos at the NYT.
My vote goes to the up from the mighty mean poor streets of Leningrad nka as St. Petersburg Russian Czar wannabe bantamweight hobbit Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin to rip, shred and bury these two pompous preening parading effete elite foppish caricature clown jester bloviating buffoons.
Make official what is already true.
Vladimir Putin is already the effective President of Russia and the United States.
Nothing but collusion!
Make America and Russia one great nation under the big bad bear!
1
Tire
d of serious political analysis?
Mo' to the rescue with dish, dish, dish.
And, surprise, surprise, she shows up in the first person multiple times.
Wow! Is that gal ever connected!
Well, at least she hasn't gotten catty about Elizabeth Warren - yet.
Ans she didn't bash Hillary even once in the column!
1
Seeing the photo at the top of this piece, it seems to me that Times editors chose one that confirms Trump's characterization. It's "little Michael."
Striking photograph of tubby trump! I am left to wonder why Bloomberg is standing next to him, if he has as much disdain for trump as the Big Fraud nickname indicates? Surely he already knew who trump was even in 2007.
3
There are some distinct pros to a Mike Candidacy -- He's A moderate Democrat (in spite of that switcheroo thing he pulled to win NYC); was a pretty effective mayor (despite trying to prevent us from drinking soda); he's a good leader -- his company has done well, it's grown YUGELY over the years; the people who worked for him in government, running NYC were smart, and experienced; he's sincere in his beliefs and understands the issues; his education is legitimate and impeccable -- those Harvard and Hopkins degrees are truly his -- not paid for by dad
The cons of a Mike Candidacy are not non-existent, to wit: The switcheroo thing he pulled to run for mayor and that he got the city council to allow him to run for a third term; he's far removed the working people and is a total "my way or the highway" kind of guy; his #metoo history; as another New Yorker it could be a problem, plus, completely devoid of charisma.
I am no fan of Mike's, but I will support him, and if it comes down to it, campaign for him. He and my late husband were friends at Salomon Bros. and I was an employee at Bloomberg LP.
This has all the earmarks of a good race. If Mike pulls it off, great.
1
Honestly we’ve had enough of New Yorkers and their thug politicians. Keep your billions and sail your yachts to your favorite golf clubs and leave the rest of us alone.
4
Bloomberg should not run. He is another rich, white billionaire whose entire reason for running seems to be to save the ultra-rich in the US from ever having to pay their fair share of taxes and support to the rest of society. If he is nominated, he is certain to completely alienate a huge chunk of the Democratic Party, the same chunk that either could not bring itself to vote for Clinton or who (Sanders' supporters) actually voted for Trump rather than voting for an "establishment" candidate. And no one is more establishment than Bloomberg, whose fortune was made by providing business news to Wall St. Yeah, I don't see this guy reining in the obscene excesses of the financial thugs and parasites who have sucked the world economy like "vampire squids". One other point: I've seen others say that the US is a "centrist" country. No, it's not. Its political spectrum has been pushed so far to the political right that what Americans call "centrists" would be "right wing" in every other Western democracy. It's important to understand exactly how much of an aberration and distortion the US is from the norm. Elizabeth Warren is not "far left" - everywhere else, she is "center left" at most. Most of what she proposes would be considered common sense or well within acceptable and legitimate parameters in every other Western state. Americans need to regain their sense of what true "moderation" really is and stop mistaking the hard right for the "center."
8
@Shaun Narine
Thank you. Excellent comment.
1
Already the Democratic Circular Firing Squad has its weapons on automatic mode.
AOC and Bernie were having a mutual admiration campaign rally and making fun of Bloomberg’s billions and thus his inability to govern...? Glad they weren’t around when Franklin Delano and Eleanor Roosevelt occupied the White House--a LOT of old money from all the Roosevelts and Delanos.
Then immediately here come the “woke" complaining that Bloomberg’s “Stop and Frisk” should erase all chance for running for POTUS.
Hey America! A soup sandwich would be better than this grifter family occupying the West Wing!
I look at the “Squad” (How ridiculous!) and how they’re lining up to back Bernie! WHAT ARE YOU DOING??
The election is less than one year away! The caucuses and primaries are coming quickly and Bernie Backers are saying (Once again) that they’ll vote for Trump if their candidate Bernie isn’t nominated! As we say here in Hawai’i--AUWE! (pronounced Oh-vay!)
Stop it!! Our founding fathers had never conceived that the USA would EVER put such a complete moron in our highest executive office! The US Constitution means as much to Trump as a business contract...meaning nothing.
Come on Dems...get off Twitter and grow up! Medicare for all, free college tuition, and more porous borders are NOT what most Americans want! We want stability!
We want a POTUS who knows how to read and who can understand intelligence briefs on Domestic and Foreign Policy.
November 3, 2020! Circle it in red!
2
My checklist for President in 2020:
Is the candidate named Donald Trump: ___ (yes); ___(no) [check one].
All this chatter about Bloomberg switching parties.
Churchill did it several times and he didn't fare too badly, did he?
Bloomberg isn't Churchillbut it surely isn't the kiss of death and the only people who will care aren't rolling the ball.
Churchill was extremely unpopular many times in his political life and rose to Prime Minister. The same can be said of Bloomberg and the presidency.
As far as Democrats go, they aren't party loyal like Republicans and they don't seem to give a tinker's dam which party a candidate belongs to if they want to vote for him/her.
“This is no longer about finding the ideal leader of the country. It's about preventing the complete and total annihilation of it.”
Thank you for saying this, gemli/BOSTON!
I am horrified that Trump could or even might be re-elected. Note where we are now, then fast-forward to a 2nd term president who has absolutely no constraints including keeping his own base happy. You can kiss our democracy goodbye at that point, because our lazy prez will just be lining his pockets while allowing the world’s demagogues to feed him his marching orders. Never forget that this is ALL ABOUT HIM. Americans be damned.
2
It is a caricature scenario, only because our Republic is turning into a caricature in which only billionaires have sway.
2
Bloomberg may be the nanny but he is absolutely better than any of the other Bolsheviks already running. He’s a serious businessman who understands that expropriation of wealth combined with increased class division is utterly the wrong approach. Anyone who has achieved a modicum of success in life is beyond weary of hearing the socialist candidates loathe & condemn them. I voted for Trump but I’d have to give Bloomberg a serious look.
2
Bloomberg’s intelligence is greedily needed. Bloomberg is very detailed oriented and will come up with well thought out plans to create new high tech new-age jobs for the rust belt states. And his take on the environment and health care will be well thought out and backed by statistics.
Bloomberg is the anti- Trump in every way , almost as if the hand of fate wanted to place a mirror up to Trump and show where he is lacking.
3
Both had their feet to thank for keeping them out of Vietnam? Bloomberg was told by the US Army his feet were bad enough to classify him 1-Y. Trump's feet had nothing to do with him staying out. He had a doctor who rented commercial space (that's not rent-stabilized) from his father write a note for him. That's what kept him out. If he had taken the draft physical and got told he was unacceptable you could say his feet kept him out.
4
Mike Bloomberg is being underestimated. Polls today won't tell the story. By his third debate, Bloomberg will have completely altered the focus of conversation in the primary. That's because when he puts his mind to it, gets that tunnel vision of victory, Michael Bloomberg is neither little nor cheesy nor pandering -- he's as authentic as Sanders, only authentically capitalist. Even if he doesn't win, Bloomberg is light years better than Biden as an unapologetic representative of the plutocratic democracy. The Biden family seems to have some difficulty keeping business and public service separate. Mike has no such problem. Go for it, Mike.
3
Should have written this piece early in the 2016 election cycle.
Would have been nice to see and maybe might have saved us from that Electoral College only win.
3
everything - essentially has been said.
Except maybe: what's the real appeal of Michael Bloomberg? He says what he has to say, delegates work to the appropriate people and STOPS talking. Sometimes his actions aren't what I or others would want.
But his appeal is the lack of hysterics, and the pragmatic, even plodding, attention to the work at hand. Yes, plodding, odd word for a billionaire, but yes, he works relentlessly. And he's rather do that than retire to some remote island.
In the environment we've been under, with a new crisis every couple of hours, un-presidential ranting, and the din of opposition voices fighting to be heard, plus all of the media analysts,
someone who doesn't scream, curse, overanalyze publicly or talk too much looks like a quiet haven in a storm.
Whereas Trump is a guy who had a toxic father, and no strong relationship to his mother, Bloomberg's mother was a source of inspiration in his life.
Trump "likes" attractive women as arm candy, provided they have no independent voice; Bloomberg actually likes women. He's reportedly friends with his (only) ex-wife.
Trump wheedled a degree from Penn; Bloomberg's undergrad degree was in Electrical Engineering from Johns Hopkins, and he had no help getting in - or graduating.
Note: he is quintessential New York -- in part because he made it here after moving from elsewhere.
1
Why does anyone think Bloomberg the Democrat is a good idea?
He would galvanize the far left, one of which —Warren—might then win the nomination. Or, he would create a straight path for Buttegeig. Any bets? In the first case, Dems would surely lose the election. In the second they might win.
Still, Far better he run as Republican. He could save the party from the Radical Right. He might win if the Donald is impeached, and he would be a decent enough president. At the very least, he would educate the civics know-nothings to the fact that political parties are supposed to have platforms that ride on values.
3
All things considered, I would like to see Bloomberg enter the race for Democratic Nominee for 2020.
He has a chance - so far 0% of the Democratic Party Delegate votes have been awarded to any candidate. He is no better off, or worse off than any other candidate. He has a lot of name recognition.
While "real (members of the Party)" Democrats are behind Biden, they have not been quick to send money for his campaign, or very vocal in promoting him. Perhaps they believe there should be another choice - like Bloomberg?
Maybe Bloomberg is the answer to making Democrats either get behind and support Biden, or at least turn Democrats' attention away from the Socialist Utopian Candidates who want us to live in a huge commune, each one sharing equally in the wealth they take from the wealthy in this country.
Besides, Bloomberg running would drive Trump even crazier than he is. Bloomberg will help beat off the progressive movement by replacing the Left Wing Socialist attempts to take over the Democratic Party with a far more interesting race based on issues, and not pie in the sky blather.
1
There's about 38% who would vote for Trump if the Democrats nominated Jesus. There's probably 42% who would vote blue if the Democrats fielded a sofa. Anyone who hasn't already decided is someone who isn't paying attention.
Which brings me to the point of this comment. The election isn't going to be decided by the zealots , it's going to be decided by the uncommitted and the disinterested. The candidate who can motivate otherwise non-voters will make all the difference.
I am a committed zealot, but I can easily see how those who don't live and breathe politics will have a hard time distinguishing between two old, white, male billionaire New Yorkers who have each been both Republican and Democrat in their gilded past.
If Bloomberg truly wants to help the Democrats he should throw his weight behind a candidate who will motivate the unmotivated.
9
I'm a librarian. Research is my thing; I love it. I research candidates and issues to the nth degree before I vote. But there are times when I am truly undecided. When that occurs I look to see which candidate or which side of the issue the Chamber of Commerce supports, whether that's the local Chamber or national. And then I vote the other way because if the Chamber of Commerce supports it you can bet it's bad for regular people. And I am a regular, average, working person.
The Chamber of Commerce would love Bloomberg. I'm sticking with Warren.
11
Hard to portray yourself as an opposite when Bloomberg is simply everything Trump said he was but isn't. You're voting for a different version of the same man. There's not a lot of daylight between the two. Bloomberg properly belongs in the Republican primary.
Assume for a moment Bloomberg enters the race and wins the nomination. He's going to act like a gigantic drogue on the Democratic aspirations. Dampening the likelihood of a Democratic Senate wave. And casting doubts on any major Democratic legislation. The only people cheering are Republicans who don't like Trump and billionaires. That's not exactly a ringing endorsement.
Best case scenario, Bloomberg splits the moderate Democrats and either Warren or Sanders skate through the primary stronger for Bloomberg's entrance. If Bloomberg meant to do that, he's a true patriot,
5
While attending a Mayor Bloomberg press conference at the unveiling of Tatzu Nishi's "Discovering Columbus" conceptual work, I was shocked by his arrogance and dismissive attitude toward the media when challenged and confronted by criticism over his decision to approve the controversial art project. Moreover, let's not forget Bloomberg as mayor displayed some similar autocratic impulses as Trump does when he sought reelection for a third term by extending term limits.
3
@La Rana: Good. Exactly what we need against Republican obstruction of environmental regulation and gun safety legislation, in case the Senate remains majority Republican.
1
A column about a billionaire written by a columnist, neither of whom know what it's like to live in the real world. Bloomberg has nothing to offer but leave it to Dowd to make him seem important.
5
Seriously?
1
“Little Michael” ?
Yes inded if one looks at the picture, if trump gains any more weight Melania will not allow him into her suite .
Mr. Bloomberg was a successful Mayor in the most diverse State New York, he is exponentially wealthy, trump no one knows .
Mean people say, he does not have much and that is the only reason he never releases his tax returns.
I say welcome Mr. Bloomberg, show trump the door telling him not to let it hurt his enormous physique on his way out. .
2
“Little Michael” ?
Yes inded if one looks at the picture, if trump gains any more weight Melania will not allow him into her suite .
Mr. Bloomberg was a successful Mayor in the most diverse State New York, he is exponentially wealthy, trump no one knows .
Mean people say, he does not have much and that is the only reason he never releases his tax returns.
I say welcome Mr. Bloomberg, show trump the door telling him not to let itt hurt his enormous physique on his way out. .
2
As I discussed Mke Bloomberg with my wife I hit upon something another gent from BC brought up. Mike Bloomberg is a 50's era Eisenhower Republican. He should be taking on Donny in the GOP primaries. I would give the Repubs a choice between Repub 1 or Repub 2, a real business man or a fake one, a smart guy or a dumb guy, a gent who tends to think before he speaks or a perpetual motor mouth blow hard. I will leave it to you to figure our who is 1 or who is 2.
9
@Paul
Although, in no way does Bloomberg exemplify or approve of Eisenhower era taxation levels, which helped to build so much infrastructure and was hugely beneficial for most Americans. Bloomberg is the antithesis of this, has benefitted greatly from corporate welfare and wants to protect his billions from taxation. But if he's intent on running, I agree, it should be in the Republican primary vs Trump. Bloomberg is no Democrat.
1
Nobody can write a column better than you when the subject is about an irreverent person.
Bloomberg is so philanthropic that at the height of the recession, in 2011, he mandated fingerprinting of food stamp applicants, punishing people who'd already been punished enough.
He even had his own Betsy DeVos in the form of plutocratic crony Cathie Black, whom he named chancellor of the largest public school system in the country despite her lack of credentials and the fact that neither she nor or children had ever attended public school. Then there was her reaction to overcrowding in schools: "Can't we get some birth control around here?"
Unlike DeVos, though, her tenure ended when it emerged that Bloomberg had hired another person to actually do her job for her.The godzillionaire mayor was very miffed when he was finally forced to throw his pal under the limousine after only three months.
He had better luck with his odious Stop and Frisk program of racial profiling, in which statistically, every minority man in the city was rousted by cops at least once before a federal judge finally put a stop to the program.
It's so hilarious that Bloomberg is selling himself as the anti-Trump savior when these fellows are so joined at the sadistic hip. It's really a match made in hell, and it reminds regular people in no uncertain terms that we live not in a democracy, but under a neo-feudal oligarchy.
So yeah, bring him on. He's the best reminder yet that only a new New Deal will protect us from obscenely rich people with the conceit to call themselves "thought leaders."
10
"So yeah, bring him on. He's the best reminder yet that only a new New Deal will protect us from obscenely rich people with the conceit to call themselves "thought leaders.""
Karen,
So long as there are critical thinkers like you around, willing to be heard, I still have hope for our future.
2
Bloomberg should've splintered the Republican Party(he has been Republican before). Trump is really Tea Party-ish---there is no Traditional Republican Candidate a la George Will. He could've plugged this gapping hole and provide a Moderate Alternative to the Wackiness that Rules.........
5
Too late Mo. Your hatchet jobs on Hill created this
2
Let me put it this way: I didn't read your column this week, Mo, and it is the most irrelevant piece you have ever written.
Of course, Ms. Dowd doesn’t like Bloomberg so she uses the usual puerile neologisms to feign seriousness and plant some opinion.
What a bore, if only she knew......
1
There actually is no other choice.
We need a centrist choice, enough with all these wackos at the fringes.
Trump is clearly broken, an embarrassment to our nation.
Biden can't bring it, sadly.
Warren wants socialism, fiscal reality be damned.
Bernie has gotten stale, same ol' same ol'.
Romney lacks the courage and the chutzpah, sorry.
Ergo, really there is only one choice: Bloomberg.
4
It's hilarious to watch as the billionaire class, Republicans and the Republican-Lite Pelosi Schumer democrats, become more terrified daily at the likelihood of a Sanders or Warren win.
Their knees are knocking together in fear, as they thrash about in search of anything and everything to stop this possibility from becoming the nightmare they live in constant fear of.
Bloomberg hasn't got a snowballs chance in hell of getting the nomination; if anything his running will cause a massive shift to Sanders or Warren, as people become wildly disgusted at this latest attempt by another billionaire to use and abuse them.
Amazing how these presumptuous charlatans always fail to understand that people, sooner or later, always wake up
6
Trump is afraid of people who genuinely became rich without lying and cheating others and I am in favor of anyone who puts a thorn in his bone-spurred head.
Give him hell, Michael.
2
How many NY billionaires does it take to screw in a light bulb? I guess we're about to find out. My money is on Bloomberg. He sees this as his moral duty and that's a good place to start. And, Trump doesn't know a moral from a duty. The latter accurately defining his presidency to date.
1
I love how the well monied people poo poo the gazillion dollar healthcare plan like we don't already pay that.
6
BOOM ... drop the mic 🎤
Just the thought of Bloomberg saying, "Of course I'll show my tax returns, I have nothing to hide" in a debate with Trump, will be priceless.
Bloomberg can say, over and over, "What are you hiding?".
3
The one thing that Bloomberg could do with his fortune is promote ranked choice voting. Right now, our “democracy” has been perverted by the duopoly of the D and R parties, with the fringes controlling. RCV would allow for the growth of minor parties (Green, etc) and result in a greater consensus around winners, rather than polarizing plurality candidates. The duopoly and fringes will oppose it but it is a needed reform for a bankrupt and corrupt system and country.
Because of the wristwatch being worn on the right wrist, I assume Bloomberg is left-handed. There have been a more than an average number of presidents who were left handed. It can be suspected that this will propel him toward the presidency. By the way, what is the hand dominance of all those running for president?
5
I would never vote for a man who dumped the Dems to become a Republican for 12 years. At least he will siphon votes from moderates like Biden and Pete and hand the primaries to Warren.
6
@SF What a misguided comment. Party should not come before anything! If the man can run the country efficiently and with compassion and intelligence, you would let his changing his mind about a political party affiliation stand in the way of voting for him over Trump?
If Bloomberg can beat Trump, great! But the biggest problem this country faces after climate change is income inequality, in particular the excessive influence of the very rich, and Bloomberg will do nothing to remedy that.
5
@Zeno
Exactly. In fact, it appears quite apparent that Bloomberg's flirting with running primarily to prevent us from attempting any remedies to the vast - and growing - inequalities in both income and wealth.
3
Yet another billionaire willing to tweak the system in his favor. He hates Warren's policies and this is the only reason he wants to run. But it will backfire.
4
I thought the nanny was going to be Elizabeth Warren. Name calling on either side doesn't do much for me.
The real problem is that they are two billionares. One of them pretends to be a nice guy and the other pretends to be a jerk. OK. Maybe Trump really is a jerk, but its an act that has served him well.
Bloomberg divides the working class by promoting identity politics on the left and Trump divides the working class by promoting identify politics on the right. In reality they are two friends from the same class, each representing their special interests in their very special ways.
And this is why there should be free media time in elections, but only from candiates who can get a minimum number of signatures and a minimum number of contributions under $200. All contributions above $200 should be prohibited. Other support should be limited to a list of endorsements.
This would be a step toward a real democracy instead of our current plutocracy. I am also open to other ideas how to take the money out of poltitics.
3
What is frustrating, is any of the Democrats, I mean, any, would make a better President than what we have now. The 2020 race should be a no brainer, with whoever is on the ballot versus Trump, wins. But then there are all those fans at the Alabama game yesterday cheer our very own Il Duce lite president. I'm not sure who do blame anymore--the public schools, social media, a bread and circus culture, reality TV---something has gone very wrong in a culture where mob like behavior is both applauded, and becomes a formidable political movement.
5
Everyone needs to take a closer look at Klobuchar. She is the best bet we have. Moderate, gov’t experience, sane voice, no real scandal, popular in Midwest. It’s too bad she isn’t getting enough press.
11
@matt agreed. Love Amy. She flies in middle America and will be traction with all republicans who can’t stand trump.
In our current, strange political times, the problem for a candidate like Bloomberg is his obvious intelligence. The trend these days, in many countries, but especially America, is for anyone who is smart to be disdained and rejected as an elitist, looking down on the regular folk. This craziness is a direct result of political correctness, which has pervaded society for more than thirty years now. It makes the average person feel disrespected and they reached peak annoyance with the election of an ignorant (and proud of it), oaf like Trump.
The only person I felt would have romped home with the nomination, Gavin Newsom, has been stymied by Trump Junior having grabbed hold of his ex-wife. Coincidence?
1
The counter to Trump isn’t a guy with more money or a woman with better economic policies. The counter to Trump is one word – humanity. The Dems need a candidate who can talk about her/his love of family, the joys and sadness of the people they meet while campaigning, and the everyday connections with friends and workers they make. Someone who can sing a song, recite a poem, milk a cow, talk about the excitement of a new scientific discovery. Trump and the rest of the GOP can’t do humanity. We’re (Dems, Independents, and even some Rs) tired of the hate, the lies, the spin, the ego. Humanity. It’s that simple. We just want someone who doesn’t make us wretch.
7
@JoeG No, it's not that simply. We need someone who understands, respects, and loves our constitution and our civic institutions, our history of free and civilized elections, and also our history of racial problems and progress. We need someone who understands how policy is shaped and passed through congress, and who respects the entire citizenry enough to understand that the executive branch is not a stand alone, but a representative of we the people. It's not about tear jerking campaign stories, it's about being a thinker, a doer, a listener, and an advocate for sound, humanitarian, fiscally responsible and responsive government.
5
@RE ALL the Dems understand the Constitution. ALL the Dems respect the citizenry. Summarizing it as tear-jerking misses all the other human elements I mentioned.
I know several Republicans will vote for him in an instant. I also know many Democrats who have wanted him in the race all along. Billionaire, poof. He is a self made one, coming from very modest means, and ran a hugely complex city for twelve years, with missteps to be sure but overall did a remarkable job. He is smart and at this point, what matters more?
Personally I prefer Mayor Pete though I worry that his sexual orientation will turn off many. He is also smart. Don't we need a smart person to turn this country around?
11
Bloomberg was a Republican, then an Independent, and now, supposedly, a Democrat or is he just Republican-light gaslighting everyone as a Democrat.
1
It is simply ludicrous and socially indicative that we are now discussing a rivalry between two Television industry people trying to get rich quick with the predictable daily name recognition of making a farcical fool of themselves. Basically people are clueless and easily duped. But if Bloomberg is a Republican as well as Trump, why did he choose to run as a Democrat? Perhaps the fix is in for a Republican to win the nominations of both parties to assure a continuous place in power of the wealthy class. Would you really be surprised were that the case?
3
Yes, Mo, this is your best sardonic and your most perceptive.
New York City Mayor is a dead end job. The only recent mayor who has made an impact at the federal level is Giuliani, and we won’t go there. Lots of New Yorkers liked Bloomberg. But lots liked Giuliani.
They’re attacking Pete for lack of relevant experience. Bloomberg too. The notion that he can get elected calls to mind those silly maps which shows the country through New Yorkers’ eyes and end at the George Washington Bridge. It also calls to mind Frank Sinatra singing you know what. But making it there does not translate into making it anywhere.
The people of LA and Chicago do not thrust their ex-mayors upon us. Bloomberg in the heartland is a fish out of water. No way. No how.
2
I think Mr. Bloomberg should choose General Russel Honore' of Louisiana as his running mate.
For those who are unfamiliar with him he took over when FEMA was floundering with the after effects of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans. Got things going with a gruff attitude toward governmental red tape.
Please ask and answer the question. THE QUESTION!
"How well would Bloomberg do against Trump in Wisconsin or Pennsylvania?"
A half dozen swing states and the Electoral College gave Trump the job - despite Hillary's overwhelming victory in terms of the popular vote.
I don't care who the Democratic nominee is - as long as he or she can poll very well in the states that matter. It's a pathetic system. But it is real and we ignore it at our planetary peril.
It's not about policies or experience or anything else "important" that fills the media. It's about delegates!
Get real, folks. This is do or die for a nation. Four more years of this insanity is unsustainable.
4
Trump is undeniably infantile in so many ways and your comparison, strictly speaking, is entertainingly correct.
Nonetheless, it is inherently dangerous to continuously label him in that manner as it tends to undermine our ability to honestly assess his unbridled malevolence and the power he has to unleash it with impunity at any target he chooses.
Babies don't get to do what he does, and clever barbs are nothing more than momentary whistling past the graveyard salves.
And Bloomberg's apparent late date entrance does the opposite of clarifying what is proving to be an incredibly vexing nominating riddle for the Democrats.
He is months late and many dollars short, despite his billions, and threatens to make an incredibly consequential and difficult decision even harder by creating an unnecessary sideshow and making us waste our time.
If he was truly serious, he should have jumped in a year ago, not now. This has the feel of a vanity candidacy, and that's the last thing we need right now.
4
I wonder how many commenters would still be bashing billionaire candidates if Oprah were running.
7
@M. Casey all the misogynist white guys who don’t like the idea of a successful black woman :(
MD's column is good but the accompanying picture is just magnificent. The expression on the stable genius's face is the same as when he said not many people knew Lincoln was a Republican or when he discussed the airports during the Revolutionary War. Mike just looks like he developed a wicked headache, probably when he realized they would be playing 18 holes.
1
In the 2009 Mayoral election Bloomberg spent a mere $102 Million, or about $174 per vote -- and almost lost.
In 2016, HRC got nearly 65 million votes and lost. So, at NY rates, Boomberg would need to shell out $12 Billion. Good luck with that.
Or how about putting a few Billion into turning a few Red Senate seats Blue -- as a repeat of Virginia. BTW, thanks for that.
Brilliant, Ms. Dowd as usual. Right on the mark! Actually, many of us will vote Democratic no matter who the candidate is. I split my ticket my whole life, but will not now!!! But, keep analyzing--so much more pleasant to read than the name-calling, (A small man's pleasure.)
Mr. Bloomberg will NEVER be President, so don't worry about it.
He has about as much a chance of being taken seriously, let alone winning, as Kim Kardashian has of becoming a lawyer and partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.
None.
1
@Raven Clearly, you don't understand how and why partners are hired laterally at big law firms. It's all about how much business they can generate and KK has access to POTUS.
Now if you had said "becoming an associate" i.e. someone who does the actual lawyers work, I'd have agreed with you.
@Raven
I remember in 2015 and up to the day of the election in 2016 the entire United States thought the same of Trump. Yet, here we are.
Billionaire ownership of the government as measured by Bloomberg feeling the need to step in to make sure Elizabeth Warren isn't the chief executive is the precise reason we need a wealth tax. If it wasn't for the solidity of this country these parasites wouldn't be able to amass their vast sums, and they owe us all for providing that environment for them.
2
I wonder if Ms. Dowd can back up her claim that Biden imploded.
He still has a substantial lead in national polls. And at a time when foreign policy IS domestic policy, he is the only one on the stage with any of it.
And the Democrats had a "Wall Street guy" remember? they called her "Hillary."
Why not go all in:
Bloomberg/Steyer.
As I have said before, my son and his wife ages 33 and 32 are excited about a Bloomberg candidacy. They live in South Brooklyn with their kids and felt the wrath of Superstorm Sandy and they know that sea levels are rising. They also know that Mayor Mike has been at the forefront of fighting climate change.He has comitted 500 million to the elimination of coal. For years, he has been attacking the scourge of gun violence, unabashedly. He is now taking on the medical emergency of teen vaping. I work in a high school. I have grand kids. I say, “ Mike is right”. Being an alleged “ know it all” is okay when you are on target.
1
Bloomberg will be a disaster. He will siphon off voters from Biden and probably Buttigieg, and will give a tremendous push to Warren, who, if the year out published here this week is accurate, cannot win.
Bloomberg in the presidential race in whatever form guarantees the re-election of Donald Trump. His considering running shows how out of touch the "progressive" billionaires are. We want our country back. We don't want a "good" billionaire (includes you Steyer and Benioff) to take care of us and tell us what we need. If you are really serious about showing your goodwill, immediately donate the bulk of your money (keep $100 million say, enough for anyone and their progeny for at least a couple of generations) to directly house as many of the thousands of homeless Americans as possible. Do that and I'll take you seriously. Otherwise, you are just fronting for America's 607 billionaires (thanks EW for the stat) who control this country. And for all of those nervous establishment types who see Bloomie as their savior, wake up! America is not stupid and they will pick Trump over a Bloomie any day of the week.
Elizabeth Warren grasps that at the end of the day this is going to be a mud wrestling contest. One is not so sure that Bloomberg understands this.
Bloomberg and the donor class don't want a fight; they want a coronation of a neoliberal pretender. But the Democratic party is moving on; that message hasn't reached the cocktail parties in Manhattan yet.
A look at the polls shows that the preponderance of the Democratic party is shopping for change, not the best neoliberal candidate. When Biden's poll numbers go down, most of those voters are migrating towards change, not another neoliberal. Migration is going on, not switching.
The Democrats are putting the children in the back of the covered wagon, hitching up the team, and lighting out for the new territory. Exciting. Very American.
Elizabeth Warren understands this is a fight--the animating emotion of a movement--and that a large proportion of the Democratic party is looking for a fighter. Time for primary colors.
I don't support single payer or Medicare for All but I would not be surprised if Elizabeth Warren turns health care into a killing ground for Republicans. She's going to hang every defect in the current system around their ears.
And I'll let you in on a secret: Trump's not smart enough to be a fighter. This dude does not float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.
1
Bloomberg v Warren would be interesting. She’s woefully ignorant about business and finance but hopefully he would make it easy for people to understand she’s wrong that business only cares about that evil, deplorable “bottom line”. She thinks rich people are wicked enemies of the middle class. She wants to immediately initiate low cost healthcare and education for all. Bloomberg by his personal example will show she’s wrong. Unless it backfires. He was a fantastic mayor of NYC and I think he’d be a great president.
1
Biden has imploded, that is not what the polls show but who cares about the polls when you have someone like Maureen, who did her all to get Trump elected, say otherwise?
Joe can still beat everyone else when it comes to votes in the flyover states.
We NEED a win and Joe is our best shot (and he is a decent human being....no small thing)
Mike B. would be an excellent Secretary of the Treasury.
Past and present New Yorkers will recall that Mayor Bloomberg NEVER released his income tax returns. He had his accounting firm put letters into the lines of the form and the letters (A)(B)(C), etc. meant "Greater than $100K" "Greater than $500K." He will do the same if he runs for president.
As noted by the NY Times in 2013
https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/24/nyregion/bloomberg-allows-one-last-peek-at-his-tax-returns.html?searchResultPosition=1
1
It will not be long. After a few defeats he will call it quits. He has insulted all women by insinuating that he needs to step in.
1
The last thing we need is another poorly thought-out, vanity campaign from an arrogant, narcissistic, celebrity billionaire businessman from New York.
2
At best Bloomberg offers Americans a more compassionate plutocracy. However appealing in some ways (no more babies in cages, useless trade wars, and abandonment of faithful allies, etc) it might also be useful for voters to imagine POTUS type power in the hands of someone intelligent enough to make fullest use of the opportunity. There goes oversight altogether! The middle class American above all needs a person of the people to represent his or her interests, not another minor deity magnanimously descended from Mr Olympus.
2
Michael Bloomberg was a decent mayor and I voted for him 3 times. I am voting again for Trump for President
2
Ideal scenario... Bloomberg enters race, spends millions proving to MAGAs how bad trump is, loses primary to Warren, who then picks him as her running mate.
PERFECT!
If Democrats want to tank voter turnout, they should nominate Bloomberg. Even I--super civic-minded Trump-despiser--would barely be able to drag myself to the polls if Bloomberg were the nominee. Just the thought of it makes me faint and nauseous--truly!
1
With little Michael, the left progressives , Bernie/Warren voters are going to stretch to the end.
Where is the center, where exactly are the so called moderates? According to the Republicans, it's always somewhere way far to the right of where ever the Democratic party is. The Democrats have already tried going for the center and Mitch McConnell played them like fools. What we thought was the center quickly shifted way to the right. In fact, that is the only reason Bloomberg would even be considering running as a Democrat. I have zero interest in a Bloomberg candidacy.
Don't you already have a NY Mayor running the State Department?
With Bloomberg's threat to enter the Ozymandias Olympics, the NYT Op-Ed contributors have yet another opportunity to exaggerate the cost of M4A, or any other healthcare proposals put forth by Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. The baby talk of the ever-snarky Dowd ("the gazillion-dollar Medicare-for-all plan of Warren") is today's example. Yesterday it was her colleague and fellow basher Bret Stephen's turn. The day before, Timothy Egan and his sister were at bat.
The United States is the richest country the world has ever known. It is drowning in money, but prefers to squander its treasure on socialism for the military and the ruling class, resolutely refusing to use any of its vast resources for the strong social safety net that every civilized country provides its citizens. What greater proof can there be than the fact that several one-man corporations believe they are presidential timber? They've seen one of their own become president, so why not elect another more competent oligarch to lead America toward its inevitable destruction?
3
I think it's lovely that all these 70, nearly 80 year olds are so spry (and rich) they can run for President. Oh what a wonderful white, (mostly) male gerontocracy we live in.
1
Very curious what polling Bloomberg has seen that's bringing him in. They clearly have been doing their own. Really disappointing this idea that you just have to be a rich white man and you can jump into the presidential race.
Time for Oprah.
1
I want to hear Mike Bloomberg clearly articulate his positions on social security, minimum wage and labor first, then I’ll decide if he’s worthy of paying attention to.
4
No doubt the plutocrat beats the kleptocrat, but nonetheless it would be a sad commentary on the state of US polity if the choice came down to this.
2
First of all do you really think the enthusiam of progressives and younger people who fully support either Bernie or Warren are going to sit quietly by and elect a billionaire independent white guy. His "stop and frisk " policy should really rally the minority vote. Middle America loves NY city politics. Are you crazy. Keep this up and you will help hand the election to Trump like Ms. Dowd did last time. I was at the Democratic convention and so many people were so upset at the silencing of the progressive wing and the treatment of Bernie that i can't image the division if it was Bloomberg. Just like Trump he thinks he can ride in at the last moment and save the world. Mrs. Doubtfire . please.
264
@Mike kelly Bloomberg would have a difficult time winning the Dem nomination IMO. The Dem primary voting base is much more progressive than the Dem general election voting base (especially in many of the larger states). However, if Bloomberg were to win the nomination, as unhappy with Bloomberg as progressives may be, they will still hold their noses and vote for Bloomberg after experiencing four years of Trump.
30
@Mike kelly We saw the results of the progressive wing not being willing to compromise their principles and vote for Hillary Clinton. We are now seeing the fallacy of the progressive wing's claim that there is no difference between the moderate Dems and the GOP. Yes, Michael Bloomberg is an old, white billionaire. He is also not donald trump. If Boomberg is the nominee, it will be because he's won the most votes. The progressive wing needs to look at the big picture and lose their dismissal of anyone not as ideologically pure as they would prefer.
60
@TRKapner
in my opinion he will be further back than mayor pete. who would draw more enthusiam than bloomberg
6
The presidency, each day is a barrage of problems. And as Rahm Emmanuel said, the campaign and its headaches are nothing compared to holding the office of presidency, which is why trump only visits the Oval Office for ceremonial purposes. The rest is executive time, like TV poaching and twittering.
Imagine, well, you don’t have to imagine, the United States of America hasn’t had a functioning administration in three years.
Ben Carson comes to mind.
5
Biden (and likely Bloomberg) both have better records (because they actually have records) and would thus be much stronger general election candidates. This is because they have actually gotten things done, which does require compromise except in totalitarian states. However, D primary voters want Warren and she will get the nomination. This will cost the Ds momentum in the suburbs, where her policies poll poorly, and D seats in the House. And Trump will do what he does, pick weaknesses and magnify them to the point of outright distortion. Warren has plenty of them, including reaping millions as a Senator (not surprisingly, her eight figure fortune would be exempt from her wealth tax). Harvard alone paid her millions while a full time Senator, accentuating the point of why college costs so much. We will likely get another term of Trump and the Ds will argue about yet another failure. The left will say that Warren was not left enough (though free everything being paid by someone else is pretty left). And politicians with actual records will continue to be shunted by those with ever more preposterous claims and promises, both on the left and right. And we will continue our trend towards Venezuela, as Bloomberg has stated. There is one lesson to glean from this. Rational, competency and an actual record
of achievement does not sell in the era of Trump....whether on the far left or right...
1
Here we go again courting the narrow sliver of moderate GOP supporters who are never Trump but largely agree with his political agenda .
I hate to break it to the liberal intelligentsia but there are about 10 of them and they all have shows on MSNBC.
Good luck winning an election with that electoral behemoth .
And as usual thanks NY Times for pretending Bernie Sanders doesn’t exist . Elizabeth Warren is fine but the anti-Bloomberg ( and the candidate capable of inspiring legions of non voters to participate) is Bernie Sanders.
I suppose I’ll have to keep hammering this point home until he wins the nomination at which point class interests should pose an interesting quandary for Liberals who despise Trump -almost as much as they do Bernie Sanders .
Think I’m kidding ? Just peruse the corporate media coverage of the Sanders campaign-when they deign to do so . Their contempt is palpable.
8
I'd support Bloomberg, as I would most of the voters who flipped the House in 2018, the Virginia legislature in 2019, and the Kentucky governorship, also in 2019 - I suspect.
Yet, Warren and Sanders are polling at a combined 37%.
I'm starting to doubt the veracity of these polls or I'm thinking that there is a silent majority (including me) that would welcome a Bloomberg into the race, for all the reasons that Dowd has insinuated.
If we're going to have change, we have to first stop the chaos, the incompetence, the cruelty that Trump has brought upon us.
17
20yo write the spin on Bernie and Warren. You talk to anyone older than 25 and the picture gets very different. Specially in the suburbs or union blue collar guys with great insurance.
Now that the press has presented tons of inadmissible evidence to the voters regarding Universal Health, and have sullied their minds with false beliefs, who is going to be the Democratic Party's centrist golden child?
Who will super delegate it out of the park, Bloomberg? Will he buy the park to get them?
I don't trust this one bit---running as a Democrat.
The MSM wants to garner support for centrist candidates, this has already become apparent. The question remains---what is happening behind closed doors? I want Warren, but I am distressed at how she is being locked out, big time. Maybe this country isn't ready to remove themselves from themselves. Yes, getting rid of *him* is important, but so is letting go of what we have established as being our own personal footprint of truth, so I guess all the footprints that end up all over our faces don't matter anymore. People will get used to anything it seems.
11
Why do you feel the need to imply that Medicare For All is Warren’s idea? Bernie is the Medicare for All person. Good reporting should recognize that. Unnecessary slight Maureen.
11
@Gordon Hastings And they both get coined as "far left". I support Warren, but I do think that Sanders can get some trump votes. But will he get as many votes from Warren supporters, as Warren may get from Bernie supporters? How do these people figure these things out? I guess they don't.
1
The BIG question. Who can beat Trump and the remnants of the GOP? Bloomberg is too smart to run as a 3rd party loser, but as a D instead. So, we need balance in the field.
Right now it runs from Warren to Tulsi, kind of like letting Ed and his brother-in-law run for POTUS under the D's banner. On the other hand, Bloomberg and Warren would bring true balance to the ticket, a 1% and a true 99% from the middle class, and would be able to form a very fine government. And, Bloomberg could easily help overcome the advantage of the GOP as far as money goes.
Currently the D's are working hard to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Give it a rest. It will be a hard road as it is so having enough time to overcome the effects of Trump and his enablers, along with Fox Opinion is critical.
3
Ok, so now we've got three billionaires running on the Democratic side. I will grant that at least Bloomberg has some experience in governance but the other two seem to think that making a lot of money imparts to them some sort of imperial wisdom that is not borne of experience. The current occupant of the White House disproves that idea. If the rich guys want to demonstrate that they have good ideas, can rally other people to their point of view and can pull the party together, then more power to them. Absent the latter, they are just rich people who mistake money for talent.
7
Look, we can be as high minded as we like. The fact is unless we can turn around the Senate majority no progressive proposals are going to become reality. Gridlock will remain as it did in the last six years of the Obama administration.
Let Bloomberg self finance, pick a woman VP as a successor (I like Klobuchar) and marshall any and all resources into retaining the house and winning the senate. Even if Warren or Sanders could win, which I doubt, they will be ineffectual with Moscow Mitch at the helm of the senate.
15
@Noel Mountain
Bloomberg, or Biden, or Buttgieg, or any other D who might manage to win the General Election will be just as ineffectual. A GOP Senate will oppose any of their agendas, and work to slow and/or defeat their appointments, etc. Moreover, given that none of those candidates will generate any positive momentum or deep passions among the electorate (as opposed to their fundamental, negative, "I'm not Trump" message and appeal), it's quite likely that they will carry no coattails. If the Democrats are going to flip the Senate, they're desperately going to need a candidate who is For something, not merely Against someone.
3
We do not seek a reality show much less a strengthening or an affirmation of corporate power. If we are serious about not handing another 4 years to the most criminally corrupt administration in our history the media must stop pushing unpopular neoliberal center-right candidate like Buttigieg Bloomberg Harris and Biden. Should the actual voters be ignored and progressive candidates again pushed aside we will see a replay of 2016.
8
The political Bosses in Washington will never permit Bloomberg to secure the Democratic nomination. He should run as a 3rd party candidate for President.
2
@Common Ground Our electoral college system does not allow a third party a realistic chance at POTUS. Even Teddy Roosevelt could not win as the third party candidate. Bloomie running as a third would assure the Dishonest Don would get season two of the reality president show.
7
Biden’s campaign ‘flagging’ or ‘imploding’ is pretty dubious language, as much as I appreciate Ms. Dowd’s way with words.
Just look at the numbers. They’ve held remarkably steady at the top of the pack, slipping about only one percent over the year.
Yes: his fund raising numbers, his cash-on-hand, his mediocre debate performances, the daily Hunter Biden bad press, etc., all look like bad news for his campaign. Yet, despite all this, his numbers do not budge. He still leads the pack, and he still does the best in a head-to-head with Trump among all the Democrats. That in itself seems to point to a strong candidate.
Well-crafted writing is much appreciated; let’s just take as much care with the accuracy of the words.
16
“'Little Michael,' as Trump calls Bloomberg..."
Please, could the press stop reinforcing Trump's derogatory names for opponents? Why do they insist on the repetition? This only helps embed these negative portrayals in the minds of readers regardless of the context.
86
Bloomberg is sane. Trump is not. Both have a lot to lose if Warren wins the nomination.
16
As far as the economy goes, Bloomy is a Republican to the core. His other ideas will keep Trump in office if he is nominated. Therefore, Trump wins again.
4
Pretty sure that it’s not that simplistic.
Why would anyone in the Democrat party support a person who has never done anything but oppose their policies?
Bernie is bad enough as a scold who just screams how he's right and the rest of the world is wrong. Now Bloomberg? Isn't he the autocrat who got the law changed so he could run NYC for a 3rd term?
Sounds like Trump and Xi Jinping all rolled up into one. Oy.
Not a good look for the Democrats.
5
@Almighty Dollar
It's the "Democratic" party. And Bernie, far from "screaming" how he's right and the rest wrong, is nothing but dignified.
1
@caljn Bernie was never a Democrat. Never raised money to elect Democrats. Was so ashamed of them he was never a member of the party. He was as singular crank on a soap box insisting he and only he had the answers. Why vote for someone when they want to join the party to assuage their ego?
His hard core supporters are hardly better. How many didn't vote and cast their lot with Jill Stein?
It doesn't surprise that the ideologues like AOC support him, while threatening to primary other Democrats.
This crew think it's a college paper and one creates the world on a blank canvas as they think it should be. Sorry, that is neither dignified, sensible or reality based. It's just the flip side of Trumpism, and is personality cult driven.
@Almighty Dollar
Angry much? Nothing wrong with idealism. It is certainly preferable to the dark cloud that has descended over the country since 1/21/17.
I’m totally fine with this, as long as Bloomberg, halfway through the last Dem debate, listens intently to Elizabeth Warren’s answer and then replies, “You know what, Elizabeth’s right! We should all vote for Elizabeth!”
Otherwise, I worry hat Bloomberg’s bid will damage his Everytown for Gun Safety/Moms Demand Action initiative, which is just now poised to make a real difference.
6
Bloomberg’s entry into the race is more about Warren than Trump. Even if he doesn’t make it to the convention, Bloomberg’s campaign is a subtle shot across the bow toward Warren’s full tilt left. The billionaire class is getting edgy and they now have one of their own to moderate the conversation.
10
It's a sad thing that out of 327 million people, these are the sort of politicians that we settle on.
21
President Trump was forced by the courts to pay two million to charity because of his misdeeds.
Mr. Bloomberg gave 18 billion to his alma mater, Johns Hopkins.
There's the difference between the two men.
22
If Bloomberg really cared about his country, he would pick the best candidate from the current crop and spend his billions on helping him or her.
24
@ssissifus
Exactly right. Mike , why don’t you give some money to Biden? His poll numbers are not tanking, and if he had some more cash from you, his numbers would be better. Don’t see Bloomberg shaking hands and traveling the key electoral states , so he can say “I am a rich New Yorker” vote for me !
Not just anti-Trump, the antithesis of him. Morally. Intellectually.
Psychologically. Experientially. A highly stable genius.
But, in less than a year, can he make a compelling enough case to convince a majority of numbed, angry, desperate and victimized Americans that the best is still yet to come?
Doubtful. And if he can't do it, then who can?
7
If it comes to this, news reporters will go on holiday and gossip columnists will cover the campaign. Ad agencies will be flooded with so much money that poet laureates and Nobel Prize winning authors will be hired to write jingles. Those who attend rallies will go home with a parting gift. The insults will fly. Democrats will vote against Trump. Republicans will vote for Trump. Everyone else will stay home. After all, if you’re undecided before the campaign, you’re disgusted after it. And besides, those in the middle didn’t get any parting gifts.
4