Anyone but Trump,end of story.
32
I would vote for a ham sandwich at this point. Anything but Trump
31
From Mr. Blow's Nov column closing line...If you support Bloomberg, I want nothing to do with you. Nothing!"
So, Charles, if Bloomberg is nominee do you sit out the election? And what do you think your relationship will be with readers who vote for Bloomberg/against Trump?
You really should address this question which has been posted by many readers in these comments.
21
You say "I don’t trust Bloomberg. When he had political power, he used it to harm. " ... He is a man who is willing to own his past .. apologize for the transgressions (However, conveniently...it is far more 'presidential' than TRUMP)...and move on to save the country from the would-be dictator TRUMP. Yes, he is a rogue and I disagree with you completely on that as well. Democrats who are terrible at nat'l elections and proven losers (even when they SHOULD win)... need someone who is as bombastic (potentially) as TRUMP.
I am a libertarian/now no party affiliation man who used to be a 'life long' republican. These days I am ashamed of what the republican party has become. A bunch of spineless blowhards doing a would-be dictator's bidding.
Time to elect a rogue democrat.
GO MIKE!
23
Three words:
Circular firing squad.
Please, just stop it. Now.
24
Charles, its shame you cant move forward- your are a one issue journalist - the more you push back on bloomberg, you the more the assure a trump victory...give a man a chance, learn to forgive, and pick the far lesser of 2 evils.
20
So incensed. Have at it, boys. Fox and the NYT are both leading Trump on to victory.
13
I think Mr. Blow would rather have four more years of Trump. For one thing, his standing and presence at the NYT has increased dramatically since the autocrat was elected.
14
Too me this is all a grand infantile farce. The "Democratic Party" doesn't even stand for equal votes for all in federal elections. Put a fork in the US, it is brain dead.
4
pundits ask what D can beat frumpy?
real Q is What D can't?
answer: bloomy
9
Charles, keep speaking truth to power. If you're a white person you just never spent much time around people of color in this city. That's the truth of the matter. Or you would know...
And yes, I'll say it again, let's once more say thank you for 1,000,000 trees. That's simply something that needs to happen in many cities around the world. He cannot will not buy my vote.
9
Are the rumors true that he’s considering Hillary as a running mate? That’s sure to sink him.
4
Mr. Blow I don’t know hot to convey my point to you. You have been working overtime to give Trump second term. Mark my word, the only reasonable choice who can beat Trump is Bloomberg.
14
Mr. Blow would clearly like Donald Trump re-elected. If he didn't, he wouldn't write such a foolish article.
Mike Bloomberg successfully ran NY for more than 12 years. Nobody else in the field of presidential hopefuls, except Joe Biden (who would lose), has a fraction of Bloomberg's track record.
He is a moderate, which Mr. Blow is obviously free to dislike.
He is tough on crime, which Mr. Blow seems to dislike even more.
No candidate is perfect. Mr. Bloomberg is no exception. But he is the only candidate that can unite most factions of the country, and he is the only candidate who can defeat Donald Trump.
Period.
22
If Bloomberg is the nominee, I will proudly stay at home. As a born and raised New Yorker who lived under his "leadership," I have no interest in him or the billions he's going to spend to win nominated nomination. I also think it's revealing that the NYT and other media outlets continue to foist a middle-of-the-road, anti-progress, plutocrat on us, who will, once again, continue with more of the same ole, same ole that continue to shaft lower- and middle-class folks. It's also preposterous that the NYT, without evidence, continues to perpetuate the belief that Middle America (so-called moderates) will reflexively reject a Sanders or Warren nomination. Tell us why, please. (Remember: this is the same paper that made Hillbilly Elegy out to be a mouthpiece for the Rust Belt region.)
14
To be an effective president and undo what the current childish resident of the WH has done, you need smarts, sense of purpose, managerial and leadership skills and know how to surround yourself with smart people. That is what Obama did and who he was (I did not vote for Obama but would do so now). Michael Bloomberg above all has a record of that. Mr. Blow, while you preach about second chances for some convicts in jail etc you’re not willing to give Bloomberg, a guy who has spent more of his own money in worthy causes than trump ever earned a second chance. No one has ever accused Bloomberg of intentionally making a bad decision. The truth hurts. Look in the mirror and decide if you would like to be judged by your weakest decisions? Starting with the one that lead to write this misguided opinion piece! Last, for those concerned about his wealth, at Morady he won’t be easily swayed or become indebted to crooked congress or lobbyists. Even Obama want immune to being indebted.
It’s time to vote with your intelligence and not your prejudices!
11
Charles. Charles. I love your column ! However you are dead wrong on this. There is one and only ONE issue in this campaign; and it is not about stop and frisk, it is not about one man's mistakes; it IS about defeating DJT. Please..Mr. Bloomberg is no saint, I am no saint. you are no saint. He made a big mistake...and he admits it. Obviously not enough for you. Well booo hooo. Get real. He ran a huge city with huge problems... is articulate and plain spoken and wlll destroy DJT in any one and one competition. Risking defeat by focusing on this is insane. You should know better.
20
Q: What is a Democrat?
A: A person who ears kale, drives a Prius, and mines history for fresh outrage.
Case in point is Blow who cannot forgive Bloomberg about Stop and Frisk even though the former Mayor of the Greatest City in the Universe have already apologized and changed his views — much like Obama who disapproved of gay marriage on his first term but changed his views during his second.
A circular firing squad is what Democrats are good at, not at winning elections or keeping tyranny at bay.
17
Then please tell us Mr. Blow, which Democrat can beat Trump in the swing states?
9
Bloomberg is a republican, no wait, democrat no wait independent..Honestly, you judge a person by what he does and Mr Bloomberg is a chameleon. Here, in this very paper that condemned his blatant usurpation of the term limits voted on by New Yorkers, we get a picture of arrogance and misbehavior.
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/26/nyregion/26trailer.html
Mr.Bloomberg is not likely to be the favored candidate of working class and middle class people in the "fly over " states for many reasons.
11
You think the other Democratic candidates can defeat Trump. but the Trump-Murdoch-Fox propaganda machine didn't start yet. They will target the final candidate and destroy his reputation:
Women: weak, hysterical
Sander: socialist, extreme left
Buttigieg: his sexual orientation
Biden: old, weak, Hunter Biden
Bloomberg will start his own propaganda. He doesn't need to take money from donors. Despite stop and frisk in NYC he wasn't as crazy as Trump. Far from that.
Elisabeth Warren could heal America. President Buttigieg could give America a new direction. But can they win the election?
What about a Bloomberg/Klobuchar ticket for the presidency?
But if Sanders or Buttigieg can win the election in November. Great!!!
Vote blue no matter who
13
Mr. Blow omits one inconvenient fact: as a result of Bloomberg's policies, crime in New York fell dramatically.
13
Not as dangerous as Trump/Barr ,I can understand the black community's apprehension about Bloomberg but he has given about 2 billion to progressive causes while Trump is not allowed to run a charity as he is known fraudster. Who would you pick if you had to or stay home and elect Trump,hold your nose and vote dem.
4
You mean a rogue like a man who isn’t even a member of the Democratic Party leading the Democratic Party?
7
I’m actually glad you are writing these lopsided hit pieces on Bloomberg right now. You are test driving the Republican smears to come once he is the nominee.
And they are FALLlNG FLAT!!!!!!
That gives me enormous hope.
Mike 2020.
15
Is the media electing Trump again? Is there any Democratic candidate who passes with you?
8
All these Columnists at NYT are going to give us Trump again...attacking Bloomberg - or anyone who is not far left. Remember how wrong the NYT was on the Hillary "landslide" about a week before the last election.
Bloomberg is not a criminal just because he was successful in business. He not a racist because he put resources where the crime statistics demonstrated the problems were. Whenever the NYT attacks one of these guys on an issue - they should have a section of the news article or opinion piece - which summarizes the actual relevant data - instead of being unsubstantiated character attack based on some stereotypical political correctness position. What are/were the actual demographics on violent crime in NYC? Not opinions or assignment of blame for history's injustices. What does the data show - and what is a reasonable response to this data.
Which is worse - spending a ton of your own money based on your willingness/obligation to serve your country....or begging strangers and special interests for funds ( no problem there ).
Given the small margin of the last election - it is not a stretch to give these NYT guys at least partial credit for our current President.
I think the NYT was more effective than the Russians.
9
Charles, since I imagine you do not live in a crime infested neighborhood you can stay on your high horse. How many mothers have not grieved for children who have not been stricken down because someone took away the bad guys guns. Is that worth some unnecessary frisks. Ask the mothers
10
Democrats are no different from MAGA people. There mere fact they'd consider a man like Bloomberg seals the deal for me. We cannot trust the decision-making skills of most White voters in 2020. They don't have skin in the game. Whites have nothing to lose, Black and Brown folks have everything to lose. They want to win.
White liberal voters haven't suffered in any way since Trump has been elected. Maybe their feelings were hurt because he's so dumb, but other than that, their kids are in cages, those with stocks are okay, no one is hunting them down.
White people will not make the right decision in 2020 because they don't ever understand (or care) about what's at risk for others until it's too late. I don't trust they'll make the right one this time. If White lib Dems make Bloomberg the nominee and force us Blacks to choose a racist for POTUS, I'm staying home. No one is going to ask me to pick a racist and try to make me feel guilty about it.
I'm tired of waiting on justice and equality. I'm tired of White people not understanding what racism is, what it's like, how it impacts, and tired of them excusing it. I'm not choosing evil to appease White fragility and unwarranted White fears. White people, listen. If Bloomberg is our choice, Trump will win. Watch!
7
At last a column from Charles that I can agree with. Democrats will be selling their souls if they nominate this guy.
9
I don’t know why Mr Blow doesn’t give him credit for those nice little concrete parks he built on the waterfront — Don't even mention his greatest achievement.
1
Don't know what Blow is thinking today. I guess he's looking for perfect, whatever that looks like. In the mean time, the Dems need a moderate to win in 2020. They need to reject the progressive stance, that over 10 years has turned into radical far left, where it's considered admirable to attack anyone that disagrees. Where antifa takes over the streets (Portland) and the police are attacked for enforcing laws and expecting respect. Where criminals are released from prison and given the addresses and names of the witnesses that will testify against them.
I am angry at the Democrat party. The NYTimes and opinion writers like Blow believe they can form and dictate how we should think about illegal immigration, racism, crime, and be ashamed because we believe in the rule of law, with all of its imperfections. Well, count me out. If the Dems cannot give us a Bloomberg or Klobuchar, then Trump will win. Again.
2
Hey Charles, I’m sure you remember the famous Herb Block cartoon where he decided to give Richard Nixon a fresh start.
You know as well as the rest of us the critical nature of the 2020 election.
So get ahold of yourself now and give Mike Bloomberg a close shave now.
https://ethicsalarms.com/2016/11/17/flashback-when-even-herb-block-was-gracious-to-the-president-elect-he-hated/
4
2020 is the year the Dems eat they're own ,as a republican its fun to watch the left hate everything and everyone !
3
The Democrats winning coalition was white working class and African Americans.
I have no clue who they are planning on attracting with a bunch of Ivy League Lawyers and Billionaire finance guys. None are African American and none have been middle class for a half a century, if ever.
4
Is that it? Are Democrats stuck with two78 year old white men with lots of baggage? Bernie or Bloomberg?
I'm not holding out for a hero, but I think we can do better.
8
Two things I have learned during my 80 years.
You don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good .… And you don’t bring a knife to a gunfight.
Vote Bloomberg!
19
"Stop and Frisk" joins up with "Super Predators". What could go wrong?
5
The false equivalency here is shocking. Bloomberg has been accused of joking about oral sex in the workplace. Trump has been accused of actual physical sexual assaults. Bloomberg wants to create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Trump wants to lock them up and throw them out. Trump enables and emboldens neo-Nazis and white supremacists. Bloomberg will not. Trump made his money preying on gambling addicts, defrauding students at a fake university, misappropriating donations to his charitable foundation, and using the bankruptcy laws to his advantage. Bloomberg did not do any of those things. Your columns really make me think you are being paid by the Trump campaign. You can certainly *criticize* Bloomberg, but when you tell people not to vote for him you are handing this country back to Donald Trump for four more years. Please stop.
21
Let's ask Andrew Yang to re-enter the race.
2
I will take any democratic candidate including Bloomberg over trump. I guess you prefer trump to Bloomberg and think trump has been so much better for blacks! stop and frisk saved minority lives. quoting "in other words, stop-and-frisk helped cut the city’s homicide rate in half, even as the NYPD lost some 15 percent of its manpower. Manhattan Institute policing expert Heather Mac Donald estimates it saved some 1,600 minority lives alone." and Bloomberg apologised for the policy. get over it Charles.
12
Tessa Majors would probably be alive if her killers had been stopped and frisked.
5
Thank you. PLEASE Democrats, don’t bring more old white arrogance, anger, hollering, arm waving, and unconscionable name calling into the White House. America won’t survive it for four more years. VOTE for decency, humour, collaborative leadership, and wisdom. Let’s help Bernie, Bloomberg, and Biden EXIT stage left. The sooner the better.
2
Blow is repeating the righteous indignation that begins the circular firing squad Obama warned of.
Bloomberg is no Obama but he is surely no Trump, stoking white nationalist militias and assaulting women as a desperate fame-hog loser playboy !
It is a false equivalence to critique Bloomberg as though he shares Trumpian sins.
Sometimes we must consider an imperfect solution to a democracy-threatening demagogue. There is no ideal Democratic candidate, alas...but one thing is for sure: turn by everyone is crucial to stop a 2nd term of mayhem. Sniping too broadly now is self-indulgent posturing.
13
Hear, hear, Mr. Blow. Bloomberg is as dangerous as DJT. He’s a megalomaniac who should not be allowed to buy the Democratic Party. I will never vote for him, period.
6
Wow, a lot of the commenters here really need to check their privilege!
Make Bloomberg the Democratic nominee and you'll all be left scratching your heads in November about why not enough African-Americans showed up to vote.
8
I think this articel by Mr. Blow is sour grapes, and not relevant to today. Mr. Bloomberg has shown himself to be a solid supporter of just about everything important at this moment (environmetnt, education, social justice, poverty, income equality, fiscal responsibility O to the tune of billions of his own hard earned money....money and wealth he made giving value to others who were glad to pay him for his goods and services....no grifting, no unpaid contractors, no bankruptcies....the way that this economy and society is suppossed to operate. He has proven himself to be a good manager...This country is going to have to be managed brilliantly to recover from the rape and looting of the current administration....and none of the democratic candidates seem to have the skill sets necessary to bring this country back to where it needs to be other than Mr. Bloomberg.
11
So tell us Mr. Blow ... If Bloomberg is nominated what would you do? Not vote, vote for Trump, vote for some obscure 3rd or 4th party candidate?
I think your readers deserve an answer.
18
Don't worry, Charles. A brokered convention. Michelle Obama on the third ballot.
Michelle probably has a thing or two she'd like to say to Trump on the debate stage about all the things he's been saying about her husband the last five years.
And Michelle can demand to see Melania's long-form birth certificate.
3
"I don’t trust Bloomberg. When he had political power, he used it to harm. I don’t ever want to see him with political power again, “ramming through” social programs that harm vulnerable people."
So your last two columns have been about how you just don't like Bloomberg. You don't really provide any evidence. Just a bunch of smears.
Most people who actually live here think NYC had fantastic years under Bloomberg. Which NYC did you and the other Bloomberg haters on the editorial page live in?
By the way, if you talked to people who don't share your personal prejudices (or maybe even read your own newspaper), you'd know that most Democratic voters don't think we have such a terrific set of "viable" candidates to choose from.
The good news is that most of these voters already don't listen to you. I'm starting not to.
7
If the election comes down to Trump vs. Bloomberg, will Charles Blow encourage African-Americans to stay home on election day? That will assure Trump's re-election.
10
Bloomberg, his candidacy, and his apologists should be titled:
Hillary Clinton 2016, the sequel.
Wake up people, Charles Blow is doing you a favor and pointing out another flawed candidate. Yet, just like Hillary, you are so blinded by Bloomberg’s manufactured image/ persona, and his shallow promises that you are being duped again.
It did not work then and it won’t work now.
Just like in 2016, not enough voters will be inspired by Bloomberg to turn out in sufficient numbers to beat Trump.
How can you possibly keep thinking that you can run the oligarch class against Trump and win?
Those days are over.
7
A quarrel had arisen between the Horse and the Stag, so the Horse came to a Hunter to ask his help to take revenge on the Stag. The Hunter agreed, but said: “If you desire to conquer the Stag, you must permit me to place this piece of iron between your jaws, so that I may guide you with these reins, and allow this saddle to be placed upon your back so that I may keep steady upon you as we follow after the enemy.”
The Horse agreed to the conditions, and the Hunter soon saddled and bridled him. Then with the aid of the Hunter the Horse soon overcame the Stag, and said to the Hunter: “Now, get off, and remove those things from my mouth and back.”
“Not so fast, friend,” said the Hunter. “I have now got you under bit and spur, and prefer to keep you as you are
3
Fine points ... but as Nichole Wallace says “I’d vote for Beto’s (campaign) Bus” against Trump.
3
So if you are the mayor of a city, and even though you know racism and economic discrimination is the root of the problem, knowing 93 percent of all suspects arrested for murder in 2019 were black or Hispanic, as were 86 percent of those arrested for rape, 92 percent for robbery, 85 percent for felonious assault, and 96 percent for shootings, what do you do in the short term to stop crimes? (most are intraracial). Agreed, stop and frisk was overly aggressive and should have been paired with a huge effort behind police/community relations? But I wonder how much of that has been tried before and failed? I read accusations of racism, but what I didn't find were short term and effective solutions that would have solved the crime problem? Racism is to be fought at all cost, short and long term. It must be a continuous project, but there is no short term magic wand. I wonder what Charles Blow would have done as mayor? Mr. Bloomberg apologized for having applied extreme anti-crime measures and he is not a conman like the current White House resident! Bernie is my first choice, but realizing that so many in Democratic, Republican circles and the media are AGAIN out to achieve his political assassination, it may be that Bloomberg will be the only option. After all, we do live in a country where the Supreme Court has institutionalized electoral corruption with Citizens United. Next election, the choice might be a Walton versus Jeff Bezos! Yeah, USA! USA! Number one! What a country!!
4
Bloomberg imposed racist laws in NYC.
Bloomberg supports the constant human rights abuse of the Palestinian people.
Bloomberg supported the attacks on the civilian population of Gaza, now being investigated as a war crime.
As I understand it, these are not the values embraced by the Democratic Party?
2
As perhaps the furthest left commentator at the NYT it's not surprising that Mr. Blow aims his grudges at a moderate who has a proven record of accomplishment. Socialists would rather surrender to the Trumpian takeover of our government than say "yes" to a winner who can bring them closer to their ultimate goals, just not on the "now" schedule they delude themselves into believing is possible.
5
Who does Blow want to run for the Democrats and I assume to beat Trump.Maybe he wants Trump to win again.
4
Charles,
You are also being misleading here. And if you are sick of blacks being lied to, then stop doing it yourself.
Bloomberg was a Democrat till 2001, when he decided to run for mayor as a republican. He then switched to independent in 2007. So about half of his time as mayor, he was registered independent. Bernie was an independent for much longer, and also switched his affiliation to run.
But of course you know all this. By his positions on a vast majority of issues, he is in line with the Democratic Party. And if people say he’s not, then Obama and Hilary are not either
4
If the unthinkable happens, and DJT wins re-election, you will be to Mr. Bloomberg what Ms. Dowd was to Mrs. Clinton. Look where that got Ms. Dowd. People are still talking about it on her posts. She never stopped bashing Hillary and most likely cost her votes. Maybe even consequential ones.
Please stop your continuous ranting. If Mr. Bloomberg gets the nomination you are doing great harm. If he doesn't, I hope the eventual nominee meets your criteria for perfection.
7
100% accurate on all counts. Thanks Charles. What saddens me is that your white op-ed counterparts at the Times, who also claim to be "liberal" (David Leonhardt, I"m looking at you) say things like "If Bloomberg — who’s second among black voters nationwide, according to the Quinnipiac Poll — hadn’t been scared away from South Carolina by Biden, Bloomberg might have made himself the clear moderate front-runner. He also could have reduced the perception that he was taking shortcuts." The onus shouldn't only be on black folks to point out the horrible racism (and sexism) of Bloomberg's career, but sadly, even at the Times, it appears that onus is in fact falling that way.
4
Hey Charles, I’m sure you remember the famous Herb Block cartoon where he decided to give Richard Nixon a fresh start.
You know as well as the rest of us the critical nature of the 2020 election.
So get ahold of yourself and give Mike Bloomberg a close shave now.
https://ethicsalarms.com/2016/11/17/flashback-when-even-herb-block-was-gracious-to-the-president-elect-he-hated/
1
Let's look at it this way. The current White House occupant is a billions-fueled (none of his, of course) raging forest fire obliterating the protections embodied in our Constitution. As such, he's the useful idiot the Republican Party needs to achieve their goal of, while demographics still make it possible, creating a society where the majority is permanently suppressed.
Meanwhile, given Citizens United, billion dollar forest fires can only be stopped by billion dollar counter fires. And that's why I support Michael Bloomberg. He's the only Democratic candidate, by virtue of his success, patriotism and, as NYC mayor, proven managerial brilliance, can extinguish that raging forest fire. Meanwhile, none of the other Democratic candidates have anywhere near the means to make this happen.
My dream is a Bloomberg-Warren ticket. Two brilliant progressives who know cold how things work and are dedicated to creating a society that works for most of us.
Then once the fire is extinguished, we can pursue constitutional amendments to overturn Citizens United and the like.
4
Ms Dowd bashed and trashed Hillary on the lead up to the 2016 election. She has been bashing Trump for the better part of the last three years.
Mr. Blow- You have bashed and trashed Trump the past three years. Now, you're doing Trump's dirty work. Do you really want to spend eight years of your life bashing Trump?
Despite his imperfect past, Bloomberg is polling ahead of Trump in recent surveys. AND TRENDING UP!!
I look forward to reading your Bloomberg bashings for the next four years. Maybe you will issue an apology the way Bloomberg has about his past imperfections.
4
Give it up Charles. We are dealing with a problem here that is much bigger than what your liberal sensibilities can appreciate.
6
Right on! We do not need Bloomberg — there are lots of good Democratic candidates. We do not need another racist president. We do not need another president who demeans women. We do not need another rich billionaire president who has no idea how regular people live. We do not need another selfish, entitled president who “solves” problems by bulldozing anyone and everyone in the way. I do not want the “Democratic” version of Trump. I do not want a candidate who feels free to bypass debates, primaries, and the usual scrutiny just because he is wealthy enough to spend huge amounts of his own personal money on TV ads. Enough is enough!!! Let’s pick Warren, Klobuchar, Sanders, Biden, or Buttigieg.
4
Biden was the right choice and the best hope, until Democrats and the main stream media lost control of their emotions and unwittingly threw him and Hunter under the bus with the shampeachment of Trump. What a colossal error!
1
"He has done some admirable work as a private citizen." You got that right, Charles.
5
For all you desperate Democrats supporting a Bloomberg candidacy, do you really believe he was sorry for his Stop & Frisk policing? No way.
Why would he? It worked. It worked because it applied appropriate pressure in crime ridden neighborhoods. The progressive trope that it oppressed men of color is the most absurd lie for any thinking person to swallow. Black New Yorkers were the greatest beneficiary of Stop & Frisk! It saved thousands of lives by removing thousands of hand guns from the streets. There is nothing racist about saving black lives.
3
Do you really think Democrats will choose a candidate who bought his way into the Presidency? Really?????
3
I don't get your math. Let's say at the beginning of Bloomberg's mayoralty the stop and frisk level was 100. A 605% increase in the first 10 years would bring the level up to 705. A 95% reduction at that point would bring it down to 705*(1-0.95)=30.25. Thus over his mayoralty the level would have gone from 100 to 30.25, a reduction of almost 70%, not an increase as the writer has claimed!!!
1
From the minute that Mr. Trump threw his hat in the ring in the last election Mr. Blow began his attack. How many anti-Trump columns has Mr. Blow written and this is not to say that he did not deserve it.
The ultimate result? Mr. Trump is still there with his numbers the highest they have ever been.
Now Mr. Blow has switched to attacking Mr. Bloomberg, with the occasional anti-Trump jab thrown in for good measure. One can assume that if Mr. Bloomberg gathers steam, Mr. Blow will continue to pound away.
Mr. Blow pounds away at someone and they get elected.
Keep up the good work, Mr. Blow.
3
Interestingly, when I first saw the headline on Mr Blow's article I thought he was referring to Bernie. Something that alarms me though is that I get the impression, perhaps in error, that Mr Blow will not vote for Bloomberg if he is nominated.
3
Purer than the driven snow, is our young Charles. Let the circular firing squad continue go fire with machine gun rapidity.
3
So let me get this straight, Br. Blow:
On Election Day 2020 if, by chance, Michael Bloomberg is the Democratic candidate running against Trump, you are going to do what? Stay home in protest?
6
" I’m already disgusted by Trump’s lies. Voters are tired of being lied to. Black voters in particular are tired of being lied to. Bloomberg knows that he is twisting the truth here. He just hopes you won’t notice. "
If all Blow knows of Trump's criminal malfeasance in office are his lies - Blow needs to read the Mueller Report, or watch re-runs of the senate impeachment proceeding.
4
I know Bloomberg has had many political personae during his career. I know black and brown citizens suffer inordinate economic, and thereby social and judicial disadvantages.
Consider this Mr Blow: Floridians like me have been represented for 10 years by Rick Scott Though technically unindicted, Sen “Scott-free” is a criminal who stole billions in taxpayers’ money from Medicare while earning outrageous pay from Hospital Corporation of America, resigning in timely fashion to buy his seats government (with the help of a smarmy and unctuous “made for TV” phony smile). Ugh.
Micheal Bloomberg is flawed. He chose to expose his naturally imperfect human tendencies when he decided to enter politics. And so he was expected to enact new laws in the face of party opposition.
This kind of compromise will be essential if a new President is to work with Senators like McConnell,
should SuperPac $$$, voter disenfranchisement techniques, media spin and general voter apathy see him re-elected.
Would Bloomberg ever support a “Stand Your Ground” law such as the NRA (with help from Clint Eastwood wanna-be Marian Hammer) passed in Florida ? His position on guns is the opposite, in a city where someone once paid NY city newspapers to say that the Central Park five deserved summary execution instead of a trial back in the ‘80s, and many New York voters sympathized.
But of course he ain’t perfect, Mr Blow. He’s a politician.
2
@Robert Roth,
Do you have ANY idea who Bloomberg has been partners with for the past 20 years?? She is just about as Democratic as they get. And, as successful as she is, she could (and probably would) toss him if he is 1/10th as racist, misogynistic and as callous as some of you are saying. Come on!
3
As a Black man I will never forgive Bloomberg for stop-and-frisk for to do so would be tantamount to forgiving Wallace for segregation. Stop-and-frisk is the modern day equivalent. The victims of stop-and frisk deserve better. Please stop dismissing African American’s continued suffering for your political expediency.
5
I ordinarily get behind Charles Blow, but not this time. I would love to support one of the non-Bloomberg candidates, but I have no confidence in any of them beating Trump...and, yes, for some strange reason, I don't trust the polls (!). Since the impeachment trial, Trump has shown how vicious he can get.
Charles seems to be saying: "If you don't like Trump, why would you like Bloomberg?" Answer: Bloomberg is not without his flaws (who is?), but when it comes to accusations of lying and sexual assault, Trump is waaaaaay out there by himself! And that's why we so badly want to fire him.
Michelle Obama famously said: "When they go low, we go high!" Sad-to-say, unless we go low and stay low, we're not going to take the White House back. Trump is a knife fighter, and Bloomberg knows Trump and how to fight this way. And he's the only one in the Democrat pack who does. And he's the only one whom Trump truly fears. Watch CNN. It's all Bloomberg now. Go Mike! You've got my vote!!
6
Throughout these establishment liberal NYT reader threads, there are several assumptions:
1) Bloomberg is electable;
2) Any criticism of Bloomberg gives aid and comfort to Trump; and
3) Bloomberg is the presumptive nominee.
But as a recent article puts it...
..."Why does anyone think Michael Bloomberg would beat Donald Trump?"
Other than perfunctorily squawked out, unexamined ideas of who swing voters actually are, this view of a narrow demographic is given no reason.
Hard to think what's really at the root of it is a last, desperate resistance to coming to terms with a left liberal front runner establishment liberals will have to vote for to stop Trump...one of those lesser of two evils choices left liberals have made for, like, ever.
ttps://www.currentaffairs.org/2020/02/why-does-anyone-think-michael-bloomberg-would-beat-donald-trump/
3
The guy has a lot of common sense about getting things done, especially around the looming dragon of climate disaster.
And what's all this about tying someone's past so tightly to what they might do as a President with such a monstrous "new normal" to fight against? Doesn't everyone get another chance anymore, an opportunity to intelligently apply what they have learned. Cheezzz...we all crawled and tried to walk a hundred times, falling down at every turn...but that wasn't failure. No. That was livin' n learnin'. Remember?
I think that Bloomberg's creative management chops and his ability to gather a high-flying team that will find ways around the no-backbone Republican stymie....he sounds good to me even as a one-term pres....
After all, after Trump, this will be like turning around a cruise liner in a small harbor. It will take some careful, expert piloting. So dump the present captain who has no clue about turning the ship around and bring in a practiced pilot to get this thing docked and a bit stabilized. Of course!
5
OK, Mr. Blow, we understand that you don’t want Bloomberg for President, and you certainly don’t want Trump. So who do you support? You quote polls, but who do you support who you think can win the election?
6
Past is Prologue.
Dear Mr. Blow,
I was a registered Republican and recently changed to no party affiliation. Thank you Mitch McConnell!
These Democratic purity tests, especially by the media, have to stop or you can start reporting on the electoral victory of the present resident of the White House now and take your rightful share of the credit for making it happen.
To put Michael Bloomberg in the same bucket as Donald Trump should actually get you thrown off the Times Opinion page. This is so disingenuous it plays to the FAKE NEWS aimed at the press and deservedly so. Trump is accused of attacking women and rape. Bloomberg made comments and probably a hostile work environment. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE! I notice that in this article you didn't differentiate between the two, that was convenient... for you.
Grow up, get in the fight with truth not innuendo or take a sabbatical until this is over and let the adults in the room decide.
9
You know who’s cheering for you and thanking you right now, Charles?
Donald J. Trump, that’s who.
Keep up your campaign against Bloomberg and maybe you’ll get a spot in the next Trump White House because that’s what we’ll have.
5
Dear Mr. Blow,
I will vote blue, no matter who, on November 3.
Will you?
Apparently, if Bloomberg is the nominee, you will not.
Mr. Trump thanks you for your support.
9
I don't believe for a second that Michael Bloomberg is racist. No politician of consequence has a perfect record. To dismiss his candidacy based on things that took place 20 years ago and ignore who the man is today -- and all the good he has unselfishly done in the years since -- would be foolish.
91
Bloomberg will not win.
Too many people will stay home.
Please don't hold your breath waiting for republicans to save the Democratic Party by crossing over and voting for "our" guy. While democrats who have worked their butts off for the Democratic Party over the years stay home disgusted.
I ask you this -- Bloomberg is a republican. Why did he switch parties to run as a democrat? He opposed Obamacare. He was highly critical of Obama in general and accused him of the increase in racism during Obama's presidency. He's defended racist redlining. He's a fan of austerity measures like increasing the number of students in classes. He's spoken in favor or cuts of medicare and social security. He opposes increasing taxes on billionaires.
Why is he a democrat?
He claims to be concerned about climate while he promotes fracking which is a major cause of climate disruption.
Why is he a democrat?
What is a democrat?
What do we stand for? What are our ethics? Who do we represent?
Money won't beat Trump. People will.
3
There is absolutely no comparison between Bloomberg and Trump. Can we stop talking about stupid things he said and did in the past and move on to the policies he would enact in the future?
I already voted for Mr. Bloomberg in FL.
4
I will support Bernie and go with him to the ends of the Earth. Even if it kills me.
Mr. Blow, *I don't care.*
This race has become about something more important than this. It is now about saving democracy itself.
Donald Trump is taking this country down an authoritarian path. The Democratic candidates, including Michael Bloomberg, will not.
If we lose our democracy, none of this will matter.
The only thing that matters now is that we select the candidate most likely to defeat Donald Trump.
We can worry about the other things later -- as long as we have a democratic country in which we're free to.
4
Nominate Bloomberg and watch people stay home. He's not any more exciting to young voters than Hillary -- and antagonizes many other groups as well.
Seriously, how is a smart, highly directive gazillionaire any better for democracy than a dumb, inattentive gazillionaire?
1
I often agree with Mr Blow but not this time at all. Perhaps S&F has so completely taken over his mind that he simply cannot see straight where Bloomberg is concerned. I won't bother to list the many profound differences between Bloomberg and Trump that I assume Mr Blow would dismiss out of hand as immaterial.
2
This is the guy who endorsed Dick Cheney's favorite Democrat for the Senate: Joe Lieberman. So that is the measure of Bloomberg's political opinions.
Connecticut got rid of Lieberman, and America should say "heck no" to Bloomberg.
2
Maybe you are wrong? Maybe faced with a problem, Bloomberg made some draconian decisions. Maybe they disproportionately hit a segment of the population. Maybe the raw data showed that segment was responsible for most of the problem. Maybe it should have been handled differently - maybe targeting the reasons for the problems rather than the symptoms of the problems. I've told some blatantly crude sexist jokes in my life and laughed at many others. Maybe because I see humor in all sorts of dark subjects. Maybe I've made crude advances toward others - maybe because my pickup lines weren't so good. Maybe I meant no harm. Maybe you're being beyond the pale on all of this because you're overly sensitive (and maybe, just maybe, overly politically correct? Maybe you look at the true scope of each man you're comparing here. Trump IS a gross example of all that I hate about disgusting male chauvinists. Bloomberg hardly so. Maybe you're just wrong here?
2
Mr. Blow -- This all sounds fine in the abstract or in an ideal world. But we live in a world that is rigged for the Republicans (see, e.g., Electoral College) and by the Republicans (see., e.g., voter suppression). And with these advantages in their pocket, the Republicans play this game to win and to destroy their opponents, namely the rest of us, and they are playing that game very successfully. The Democrats seem to forget that beating Trump is the only goal that matters. Bloomberg may not meet the various litmus tests of different groups within the Democratic Party, but again, the only test is whether he will beat Trump. If he ends up being the best answer to that question, all Democrats must vote for him in November. If you do not, you may as well cast your ballot for Trump.
5
Wow, I wonder how much Bloomberg paid to get all these comments 'recommended'?
If the support for him in this comment section is genuine, I am truly terrified for the future of this country. If Bloomberg can purchase this level of support despite being a literal conservative, then there is nothing stopping anyone from buying our democracy.
Bloomberg will lose to Trump in a general election. If he somehow wins, we've elected a sexist, racist, paternalist who can continue the right wing undoing of our country except he will do so competently and quietly.
Bloomberg is a nightmare for America. Everyone here supporting him with their stop and frisk caveats should be ashamed of themselves.
2
Mr. Blow , as you are entitled to yours, here's mine.Mr. Bloomberg will make a fine and refined leader of our Country. You harp on pas t actions as 'bigotry'. At that time, years ago, every minority was profiled, labeled and dealt with according to the then 'norms'of the day. Attitudes in many areas have since changed. Mr. Bloomberg, being au courrant , flexible, and reasonable, while heading up a biggest news empire , is 'on the money', on target and beyond reproach family and social wise. He is kind, generous an can afford to be altruistic. All of these wonderuful attributes ,the loyalty of his extensive staff,his amazing generosity and strong mind and body make him a perfect, viable, trustworthy casndidate and he's likeable. Republicans have GOOD reason to change their stances, past blind loyalties, and even their affiliation. I Like MIKE
4
I agree with Blow. Bloomberg is totally, absolutely unacceptable. I mean, good grief! Who in their right minds would support such a man...especially New Yorkers.
2
The post mortem of the Democrat primaries will determine if 24 candidates are the right number. I want to know how the Democrats are going to explain a billionaire candidate and a twice failed former Senator, losing to the worst possible human being to walk the planet.
On the other hand, maybe Trump is what American voters want. And the Mike/Hillary 2020 was a stupid idea.
Bloomberg’s detractors are a broken record. Yes he’s rich, yes he’s made mistakes such as “stop & frisk”, and yes he’s been accused of allowing a climate of sexual insensitivity. Unlike Trump, he is a successful and effective business executive. He has moral fiber and a long history of proven and effective leadership. He’s not perfect but who among mortals is? Get over it!! He’s the ONLY viable candidate who can beat the clown currently occupying the White House.
3
Might Mr. Blow suggest another Democrat who can beat Trump as decisively as can Mr. Bloomberg?
A decisive defeat is imperative, for absent that. we will be looking at a constitutional crisis that will make Watergate and "Gorebushoff" look like Kindergarten.
2
Dirty Little Secret # 1:
Most New Yorkers appreciated "Stop & Frisk" but are afraid to say it in public.
Dirty Little Secret # 2:
Among African American voters, Bloomberg is a close second to Biden (it's only the black establishment that can't stand him).
Dirty Little Secret # 3:
Any candidate "pure" enough to satisfy Charles has absolutely NO chance of winning.
4
Here's the dilemma:
You're drowning and someone throws you a life preserver that's coated with corona virus...
Trump's moral failings spill into his official actions - like campaign finance crimes to cover up porn star affairs, deals with other countries to benefit him and his dumpster-fire children, overlooking murder of journalists, etc. Bloomberg may be a real jerk, but I believe he will respect most norms and the rule of law.
Remember which sides these men are on for the environment, reproductive choice, trade, renewable energy, healthcare NATO. Stop, stop, STOP implying these two are similar.
I'm willing to tolerate some of his personal flaws for one reason - judges. Let Trump bulldoze another Democrat who is pure of heart, and this country will resemble a Christian version of Iran in ten years.
And Bernie is not electable.
4
Glad to read this. Bloomberg's arrogance and record are a terrible fit for the presidency.
1
This might be the first time I have ever agreed with you Charles. It’s amazing how deprite things have become when we see Democrats abandoning “their values” just to win. What else is so noticeable is the lack of Democratic leadership to call this stuff out. Total crickets.
He hired his puppet candidates to run and win for him,so as to keep the current corrupt status that benefits him at the expense of the 99% of Americans. When he saw the messengers failing he dipped in his foot into the hot water himself. I guess in America an add worth 1/2 billion can wash away your indignation,corruption racism and cruelty away - at least according to the dishonestbcorporate pundits. Let's wait and see if the larger democratic public will elect a disgusting and despicable individual who sole quality is money will be the flag bearer.
1
As a lifelong Republican I would gladly vote for Mr. Bloomberg. I like the fact that the 12th richest man in the world as a Democrat could buy White House. What hypocrisy from the holier then thou gang. You guys should be ashamed of yourselves at least Senator Sanders is a sincere lunatic.
1
I've long hated his explanation for stop and frisk: I didn't realize it was harming the black community. I'm a old white lady who lives in Texas and I knew! From the beginning. If he'd said, "At the time, I felt I had to do this to bring down the crime rate. I'm sorry that it impacted so many"--well, that's an explanation. I still don't like it but he shouldn't be like Trump and believe we're stupid.
3
"We don't choose our presidents. They choose themselves." Trump is gonna get the fight of his life. We're finally going to see a Democrat who can throw a punch.
Sorry, Mr. Blow.
4
I think its too easy nowadays to call someone a racist. What evidence is there that Bloomberg viciously pursued black and brown people? From what I understood his policies were trying to break up the cycle of gang violence and recruitment. From that point of view he was trying to prevent people at risk from falling into a life of crime. And maybe this was not the way to do it. But trying to help is not equal to being a racist.
1
Unfortunately, Trump is about more than racism. He is slowly yet steadily moving this country towards fascism, to stay in power and abuse it. Bloomberg's issues just do not compare (and I am a Black man).
6
The comments section here highlights how little white DEMOCRATIC voters value black lives and voices.
That many black and brown lives were negatively impacted, sometimes irreparably so, by Bloomberg's racist policies doesn't matter to them in the least.
No, white New Yorkers smoked their pot without fear of being "thrown against walls and frisked" and felt safe in their non-redlined homes and made sure their kids felt safe too by making sure NYC schools remained segregated.
They're equally dismissing black votes with Bloomberg/Buttigieg or Bloomberg/Klobuchar dream tickets.
It's a shame and it may be time black voters reassess their loyalty to a party that thinks so little of them.
140
He's a good administrator and strategist. His problem is he speaks the truth about the sub prime crisis, but because it puts minorities in a negative light, we are not allowed to talk about it. His statistics about crime in NYC are also accurate, but again because it put minorities in a negative light he suffers by talking about it.
4
Stop making perfect the enemy of the good, Charles.
I'm a liberal and would love a President Sanders or a President Warren.
But the reality is that lots of Americans are not liberal and many of them would never vote for Sanders or Warren but would vote for Bloomberg.
This is a 50-state-Electoral College election, not a nationwide popular vote election.
I'm not happy about Bloomberg's stop-and-frisk debacle, but on Bloomberg's worst day, he's Mother Teresa compared to what currently occupies the White House high chair.
But Bloomberg is liberal enough.
Bloomberg's tax proposal includes a repeal of the GOP-Trump 2017 tax cuts for high earners; it proposes a new 5% surcharge on incomes above $5 million per year. It raises capital gains taxes for Americans earning more than $1 million a year.
Bloomberg's tax plan would partially repeal the reckless corporate income tax cuts for and raise their rate to 28% from 21%.
That's progressive.
Bloomberg enthusiastically supports gun control.
That's progressive.
Bloomberg supports science, reason, facts, discourse, diplomacy and whatever Democrat wins the nomination even if he loses it.
That's progressive.
Bloomberg might just help turn the Senate and the courts blue again.
That's progressive.
Swallow your pride and get pragmatic and progressive, Charles.
Trump and the GOP must go.
And Bloomberg is actually a successful businessman and an actual billionaire, as opposed to our current Presidential charlatan.
Bloomberg 2020
2394
@Socrates Good points. My fear is what Bloomberg would do with ICE considering what he did to young black/brown constituents in his own community.
87
@Socrates: Much depends on how many people think voting even matters.
47
Will he, however, timely release his tax returns and business records, in addition to pledging if elected to put his assets into an authentic blind trust or liquidate them? I wonder whether this billionaire has also traveled the familiar plutocratic route of offshore tax havens. After having to put up with the brazen Trump obstructions, the American public deserve complete financial transparency from your candidate.
147
One of Bloomberg's best tactics in his bid has been to completely avoid criticizing his Democratic rivals for the nomination, and to focus solely on Trump. You, Charles, would do well to take note of how well that is playing with Democrats of all stripes.
1454
@Pete No, it has been to avoid any criticism by staying out of the democratic party contests and debates up to now. Not an encouraging sign at all.
19
Not true. His campaign is using all possible means to stop Bernie. They’re all afraid of the people’s awakening. Go Bernie!
12
@Pete You, Pete, would do well not to talk down to Charles Blow. In addition to avoiding not criticizing his fellow candidates, he's also avoided debating any of them, of putting himself on the same stage with them, and letting us see how well he plays with others... or doesn't. His expensive, scripted ads will be for naught if he comes across as dull, lifeless, cold, and, dare I say it, condescending.
14
With all respect due to Mr. Blow, whom I have respect for, the only person reasonable citizens should attack is the candidate with the worst record.
Bloomberg isn’t perfect, but I believe he has the best chance of defeating the incumbent - the candidate with the worst record (pick your metric).
All that matters is defeating the incumbent and denying him the office of the President.
I’ll hitch my wagon to Bloomberg’s star because he has virtually unlimited funds to wage war in this campaign.
With all respect due to the Democratic Party, they’ve had 3 years to mount an offensive against the President, and what have they done to move the needle?
Bring on President Bloomberg.
1531
@Kevin Greene If Bloomberg did indeed beat Trump, likely by attracting Republicans who want a less extremist Republican to vote for, what would this actually gain the Democratic Party and, more importantly, democracy?
55
@Rita
For one: the end of Trump!
Competent foreign policy
Competent environment policy
Competent trade agreements
Competent health care
Competence!
410
@Rita I can think of what would happen if Trump were re-elected.....namely two more Federalist Society justices appointed to the Supreme Court, not to mention scores more to the lower benches. Once they're in place, you can pass all the well-intentioned legislation you want; it'll all be for naught as it's stuck down by justices imbued with GOP thoughts, such as they are. If you liked Citizens United, you ain't seen nothin' yet.
39
Bloomberg may not be perfect - certainly the rest of the political field also has its warts - but he has done more good, honest charitable work through his concerns than any other candidate.
Bernie is an idealist but face the reality that the "middle" in the American political spectrum is NOT going to vote for a self avowed socialist.
Face that reality. The only one capable of taking on Trump is going to be Bloomberg.
Stop the bashing. Tell me about his positives. I'm tired of the progressive wing continuing this political suicide of the Democratic chances.
1486
@Rob But at what point are his magnanimous charitable works actually buying influence? If these charities and municipalities fail to endorse him or get him the votes will his charitable giving continue?
25
@Rita In 2016, rather than contributing the rest of his campaign to the Democratic Party, as may candidates do, Bernie kept his. Perfectly his right, though not at all team play, which is Bernie's long time MO. However, compare that with Bloomberg who has promised millions for whomever is the nominee this time. He ain't perfect, but he's putting his money where his mouth is, which is more than we can say for any of the others.
214
@Rita
He wasn't running for President until it became clear that Joe Biden started failing as a candidate.
He's given away more than $6 billion dollars of his own money to causes he believes in over the last 10 years - long before he was running.
He is clear about his concerns about another 4 years of Trump, as all of us should be. He will not attack other Democrat candidates, and has vowed to contribute to the defeat of Trump whether he wins the nomination or not.
297
The irony is that Bloomberg is forced to apologize for telling the truth. Most of the criminals are minorities. Redlining prevented loans from going to borrowers who would default and eventually lead to a credit crisis. The real issue is that a candidate needs to teach lies as truth in order to be accepted by government, media, and polite society.
7
When liberal New Yorkers love a Republican mayor that tells you something. He was competent, generous, intelligent and fearless. We need someone who can take on Trump and win the swing states. The other Democrats simply can’t beat Trump, unless the economy tanks. Since Biden has face planted, we need someone who can actually win and go on to govern in a competent way. Competent governance will help heal our country, not more fighting and distancing one side of the country from the other.
1329
@Christine "The other Democrats simply can’t beat Trump..." Whoa. Says who? There seems to be a great deal of fearmongering being pushed lately. I think I've read that ALL the Dem candidates beat t in a head-to-head match-up. My choices at this point are Pete, Amy, and Liz. Buttigieg and Klobuchar would both attract moderates/independents, too.
51
Sorry but there a lot of liberal New Yorkers, particularly those that are concerned about inequality, gentrification, and civil liberties, who are definitely not praising Bloomberg.
78
@Christine: The "swing states" are all that seem to matter in the US. It's like "I'm fickle, lay money on me!" in them.
14
OMG. All the candidates are imperfect. And yes, Bloomberg’s “stop and frisk” policies, as well as the (denied) allegations, are worth weighing in the balance. Perhaps for some, including you, they are disqualifying. Fair enough. But to put him on the same level as Trump? Really?
4
Charles, I understand your point and agree. TBS, as an African-American, I prefer to use Stop & Frisk as a bargaining chip. Bloomberg knew then and knows now that it was wrong. So, if he gets the nomination, I'd like to know what he's going to do to make amends. It would be beneficial to us to collectively voice our demands. They used to be jobs, education, housing. Well, it's pretty much the same, but we need to enhance our demands to include economic development (which he should be good at) business opportunity, etc. To me, we stand to gain more by working with him than working against him saying "we will never vote for you". What do we stand to gain by that? I'll tell you - four more years of trump? F the polls, the polls told us Hillary had it in the bag, but she lost.
This election is not the same as the others, we have a mad man in the WH and he must be stopped at all cost. So do we want to join the winning forces and make our collective demands or do we want to lose so long as we make our point? I want to win and I want that clown out of the WH. Trump is an international embarrassment, a climate disaster and a national disgrace (not to mention a criminal con man and a white supremacist). This time around winning is everything. This is too important - democracy as we know it is at stake. Bloomberg has my vote b/c I believe he would be light years better than trump.
4
Brilliant article, Mr. Blow. Thank you.
The author in his angry candor can not accept that people can evolve, change their minds and admit that they made a mistake. That's the sign of a human being that's not stuck in the past, and we must be able to forgive and move on. Bloomberg has his flaws like we all do, but if I were interviewing him for the top job, and consider his past and qualifications versus his opponents, will hire him on the spot as the better and safer choice. In war one might not like the commanding officer or sargeant's, but his job is to lead you to victory, over an opponent that wants to destroy you.
This 2020 election is not about who is more likable, but who is the meanist and biggest......that will eject the criminal gang currently squatting in the White House
4
How about we ask columnists like Blow and Douthat to turn these same critical, take-down, why-never lens on each candidate and see what they can dig up? It’d be a useful exercise if done in an intellectually rigorous manner. Starting points can be found in the comments.
1
Mr. Blow is willing to blow the entire thing up if he doesn't get what he wants. I'm not.
5
I would like to know who Mr. Blow does support in the Democratic primary, and why.
5
If it’s Bloomberg money vs Koch/NRA/big pharma money, I’ll take Bloomberg any day.
2
Sorry Mr. Blow, I support your stance but these times are dire. #AnybodyBut2020. Trump is THE dangerous choice. What is worse than the bigot, sexist, crime boss in the White House? Your articles have not been convincing enough. In fact if anything, you are encouraging voters to stay home if Bloomberg is the nominee. The Republic CANNOT afford four more years. No candidate is perfect but at least Bloomberg would be held responsible and he can utter remorse. We have a man now who knows no wrong ever. The evildoer must go.
3
Charles Blow is absolutely correct in his point of view. Nonetheless, that point of view may cause a viable candidate, perhaps the only one who can outmatch trumpy, either to leave the field or cause Democratic Party and independent voters to walk away, stay away, or throw up their hands in frustration.
We cannot allow that to happen. Our country cannot afford for that to happen. To cede the field to a liar, swindler, fraud, and extortionist (whom the US Senate let go scot-free) because we don't like a viable candidate who has the opportunity to make trumpy go haywire and lose the election, is unthinkable. If we do that, we richly deserve every consequence that results.
3
I do not want Bloomberg to be our nominee. However, I am alarmed by all of the people who are saying they will not vote if he is our nominee. No one is worse than Trump. And no demoncrat should sit out this election because their preferred nominee did not make it. We can't let the [far from] perfect be the enemy of the good and the good in this case is clear: get rid of Trump.
2
No, not perfect....who is? Republican candidates in 2016 stood in line as they faced Trump's verbal firing squad and went down one at a time. Not one spoke up or challenged Trump . At least Bloomberg confronts this bully. Trump is America's first dictator and we are finding our ways to deal with him. We don't have the luxury to spend more time debating this among ourselves.
We will not survive 4 more years. And remember Charles there are more guns in the red states than the blue. And, Bloomberg can read.
6
Mob boss and dictator wannabe Donald Trump along with a GOP that has devolved into a political organized crime syndicate must be stopped at all costs.
I am firmly in the Bernie Sanders/Elizabeth Warren camp of ideology. But if somehow Michael Bloomberg should receive the Democratic nomination for president, I will throw my full support behind him.
It is a shame that it has come down to this. But come down to this it has.
4
I hope Bloomberg will not be the nominee, but there is only one issue that matters in 2020: recovering the republic, which is now fading quickly into the dustbin of history. Trump is pure poison in the lifeblood of democracy; Bloomberg, despite his "egregious" racism, would, at the least, maintain constitutional norms. These are sickening times and they may require sickening choices.
3
We get it, you don’t like Bloomberg, get over it. If you think Bernie or Warren’s message is going to sell beyond the ultraliberal of Democratic base your wrong. You will spend the next four years writing about the latest Trump transgression.
8
Democrats, don't wish for your own rogue. Everybody's a rogue to the pundits who can't seen to pin down a winner. Ever heard of Herbie Kleindeist? Neither did I. And Herbie beats Trump. The punditry class should not sweat the small things. Anyone will beat Trump, rogue or not. No need to worry.
On a scale of 1 to 100, each of the Democratic candidates is within a 10-point range. They all support the same positive vision of America, but have different ways to get there. And these are goals that the majority of Americans all support.
By contrast, with Donald Trump, this one goes to 11. He is the extremist in this election. He is a fascist and an autocrat. The Trump Republican Party has truly jumped the shark. They are out of control, and out of touch with the people of America. This includes Mitch McConnell and his Senate majority, and also the House Republicans.
The only thing the Trump Republicans will understand is complete and utter destruction at the polls in 2020. Let's give it to them.
Vote them all out of office. From president to senator to dog catcher. Every last one of them.
Volunteer. Donate. And VOTE!
4
We are witnessing yet again a Democratic Party circular firing squad. This country is facing an irreversible descent into corporate fascism under a Republican dictatorship with the ignorant, incompetent Trump as its leader. Democratic Party civility and unity is mandatory.
Given systematic Republican voter suppression tactics, Russian intervention and the weak and manipulable Electoral College voting system, the only way to restore competence and decency to our government and to protect our democracy is: Vote Blue No Matter Who.
Rampant character assassination during the Democratic primary is the path to Republican victory. It must stop or else!!
4
If Bloomberg gets the nomination he is nothing but a Republican in Democrat clothing.
I can't vote for him.
He'd just be another trump in the WH.
What he did,targeting people because of their skin color and religion, was unforgivable and he didn't really apologize for it. He is a racist.
He is and was a misogynist, perhaps with token women he promoted.
He will appoint more conservative judges.
He is not the answer.
I don't think he will get the nomination. I like Warren. A lot. But I will vote for anyone else in the running but Bloomberg, and of course 45.
2
Most of the comments here are about how Sanders is the only acceptable candidate and Bloomberg is totally unacceptable because of his personal wealth. Most Americans will not vote for Sanders. Whether Bloomberg is acceptable either is arguable. But to say that Bloomberg should even be measured on the same scale of perfidy as Trump is nonsense.
7
I don't like 'their' bully so lets get one of our own? Look for any time in history when that actually worked. If you replace one old white nasty billionaire with another, what do you gain? What is the difference? You think Bloomberg wont do tax cuts for the richest 1%? Same record on women for both men. This shows that people only hated Trump because he ran as a Republican. I will say that I do not think that any of the Democrats currently running for office can win, but they are better "people" than Bloomberg. You will not look as ridiculous loosing with one of the current candidates but if you choke and Bloomberg gets the nomination, you will not only loose the national election but you will loose your "soul" as a party just as the Republicans have with Trump.
2
I'll take Bloomberg over Trump any day. Warts an all. Dem's need to get over this purity test. It's what got us here in the first place.
9
Please, NO more comments from Bloomberg’s former constituents, unless you are persons of color, unwilling participants of “stop and frisk”, or women who have worked directly with him in the past. I have read enough of his remarks from court proceedings to know that electing him would be a huge mistake. White-“splaining” and Man-splaining and especially White-mansplaining are simply not relevant.
2
Stop and frisk was wrong. Period. At the same time, were a lot of innocent kids actually put in cages then as a result of that action? Or were they kids who had guns or drugs on them?
2
I understand that a "mea cupa" isn't enough but has Mr. Blow read the Greenwood Initiative by Bloomberg. It is 25 detailed pages of programs to directly help Afro-Americans. I have not seen anything like this from other candidate. Is it possible that his atonement leads to very positive results.
2
Mr. Blow. I look forward to your column if Bloomberg is the Democratic candidate and Trump is re-elected, in part because many African Americans and others chose to stay home on election day.
3
Today’s column presents three accusations: wealth, misogyny, and racism.
First point: How is it wrong to employ one’s wealth for common good? This isn’t fake Trump charities stiffing good causes. This is Bloomberg – who’s donated more than Trump’s “claimed” total worth to legitimate, progressive causes. For example, $20 million to the 2018 Democratic Senate race and $80 million to flip the House the same year; and $500,000 to Stacey Abrams’s 2018 campaign for Georgia governor. Not to mention his leadership in climate action.
Second point: Women. Definitely reprehensible – even if partly true. In the same league as Trump, Weinstein, et al? Really? Now consider the women Mayor Bloomberg placed in senior City positions; consider his company's 26-week family leave policy; consider the women he supported in gubernatorial, congressional, and senate races. Who can match that record?
Third point: Race. Stop and frisk was wrong. Is Bloomberg’s apology sincere? (Who can read his mind?) It was a mistake, aggravated by denial. But what about the other side of the ledger? How can an objective columnist ignore the City program – backed by $30 million of his own money – that Bloomberg initiated to give help young Black and Latino men? (See “Bloomberg to Use Own Funds in Plan to Aid Minority Youth” NYT Aug. 3, 2011).)
Bloomberg deserves a fair hearing. So far, in my opinion, his positives far outweigh the negatives. Can we talk about the positives? For a change?
3
Mr. Blow, you prove Emerson correct: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines." You wield your hammer with unwavering consistency.
1
Mike Bloomberg has made racist and sexist statements. But not only has he appologized for them, he has quietly spent vast sums to aid minorities and women.
BUT.
He has not appologized for his very diligent and all too effective work to destroy the public school system in New York City.
There can be no excuse for his work to destroy the public school system that was the engine of upward mobility for so many different groups in our city. It liberated the Irish, the Italians, the Jews, the Poles, and the Blacks. It was never perfect, but it always aimed to be so, And, while it is certainly true that it disadvantaged African-Americans to some extent, at its worst it was far better than almost any other school system for every minority group who attended.
And Mike Bloomberg worked diligently to destroy the NYC public schools, appointing an array of incompetents with no knowledge whatsoever of education to run it.
I can forgive many of Mr. Bloomberg's faults. But not his destruction of our schools for a generation.
3
Mike Bloomberg = Trump Lite.
No thanks.
2
Mr. Blow, I've read your comments on a regular basis and I have a high regard for your thinking. Having said that, I find it hard to imaging Michael Bloomberg being a worse choice for President than than the current one,
1
Judging by the comment thread, "anybody but Trump" includes yet another racist, sexist authoritarian in the White House. Democrats just want the trains to run on time.
3
I will not vote for Bloomberg under any circumstances. Period.
I am not going to be guilt tripped into voting for a smoother more competent racist in order to get rid of a buffoonish one.
Bloomberg should be running as a Republican. If Bloomberg gets the Democratic nomination I will vote third party or stay home. And Democrats need to win my state to win the election.
Bloomberg has demonstrated again and again that he has nothing but contempt for Black people. Well back at you buddy.
1
Who does Blow want.Someone who Trump will beat easily.
2
Good luck beating Trump with any of the others
3
Dear Mr. Blow,
You are making the same unhelpful mistake that Maureen Dowd did in 2016 with her relentless carping on Hillary Clinton's many warts. Certainly the warts were there, Ms. Dowd was not fabricating anything nor are you. And by the way, I don't think Ms. Dowd cost Hillary Clinton the election but she certainly did not help and now we have Donald Trump.
My question is, do you think it wise to tear down a potentially effective opponent of Trump because he has some serious warts?
All of the Democratic candidates have some warts, but for the love of Mike, do you want to accentuate the negative for theoretical purity and risk 4 more years of Trump.
C'mon man!
8
When people show their true colors believe them. Bloomberg never cared about minorities, he cared about the rich and the white. His mentoring of black politicians was like the plantation owner telling you how to think. He lied to Ms. Quinn that he would support her when she ran for Mayor, she failed in her quest because she to had ignored the minority population.
White folks want Bloomberg they will get him but Mr. Blow knows who Bloomberg is as every person of color who lived and still lives in NYC we all lived the storm troopers experience. Bloomberg will get the vote and be the rich man he has always been. I see all the commercials and just don't have the memory of all the great things he did for people of color. however memory fades and fancy words play tricks with the reality.
4
How do we reconcile his excellent work as Mayor of NYC and his very successful media empire.
Are we to ignore the Results? I look at Bernie and Amy and the others and I wonder, what have they really accomplished in their lives? I mean, really accomplished.
Trump is an idiot who has left a debris field of failures behind him, still smoldering.
Isn’t it time we hired a really successful guy to run our country?
1
Mr Blow,
If you read the first several pages of "reader's picks" in the comments section of this column, you may notice that your opinion is not popular, nor have your previous Bloomberg bashing columns been.
We are all entitled to our opinions, your opinion as a mouthpiece for this widely read paper comes a a terrible price.
Bernie will lose against Trump, Pete and Amy can't get enough votes.
Bloomberg is becoming a viable choice. Hold your nose and your pen and try to see what this man has to offer and change your topic.
4
So have fun with Trump 2020
3
Mike is a republican in wolf's clothing.
4
Mr. Blow,
You'vr lost your way if you think Bloomberg is anywhere near as bad as Trump.
5
America's minorities will do so well with another 4 Trump years, right?
3
You have decided to keep us all under the terror of this current regime for years to come, ah?
3
Enough, already!
The Dems' are once again practicing the art of the circular firing squad... You need Mike's money wether you like it or not.
Thirty years ago Bloomberg made some highly tasteless remarks about women. He's also apologized.
Fourteen years ago Donald Trump had sex with a porn actress around the time his third wife was giving birth to his son.
I mean, pick your poison.
4
THANK YOU!
2
It is so very sad to me that white liberals are willing to overlook Bloomberg's bigotry and the impact of his policies on black and brown people. What better way to say you don't matter to us.
7
If Bloomberg manages to get the Democratic nomination, we will be asked to choose between an elderly, white, male, racist billionaire who switched from Republican to Democrat, and an elderly, white, male, racist billionaire who switched from Democrat to Republican.
But I am the crazy one for saying the major parties are virtually the same.
10
Mike Bloomberg is riding high right now but this will not last. As more negative reports come out about him (and they will) he will fall as quickly as a soufflé. His money may buy him endless amounts of ads but it will not buy him integrity. He succeeded in buying a mayoral third term but will not be so lucky in buying a presidential race. Fool me once shame on you; fool me twice shame on me. People need to open their eyes and see the real Mike Bloomberg, it will be ugly.
5
I am already weary of the effort to bash Bloomberg. He fact is he was a good and very popular mayor, and would be infinitely better than Trump. But while I was excited when he first announced, I am fearful now, for two reasons (which do not include his record):
1. Gens X and Y will determine this election. They outvoted boomers in 2016, and will do so by a wider margin this time. They tend to be more liberal than their parents, and most could care less if someone is gay, a woman, etc. Lots are excited by Sanders; not so much about Bloomberg.
2. The outcome will come down to turnout. Running two billionaire republicans is not going to drive Democrats to the polls. Low turnout = Trump wins.
We generally don’t get a lot of political ads in San Francisco. I saw almost none in 2016. I’m seeing a lot for Bloomberg ads right now. They are repetitive and boring. If that were all I knew about him I’d say he once knew Obama and had something to do with gun control, period. He might as well be shredding $1000 bills.
So now I fear Bloomberg’s contribution is negative because he is sucking the oxygen that candidates like Klobuchar and Buttigieg need to survive.
1
" In 2011, while promoting a new program, Bloomberg said that there was an "enormous cohort" of young black and Latino men that "don't know how to behave in the workplace where they have to work collaboratively and collectively.”"
Oh yeah I just can't wait to vote for this fellow...
3
If Bloomberg donates $1 Billion to the NAACP for his past racist policies then I might consider voting for him but not otherwise.
4
A benign dictator is trade for the very malignant one we have. Democracy will have to wait. Money is on the move.
I am feeling more optimistic that Bloomberg has a real chance now that you’ve deemed it necessary to devote successive columns attacking him!
#Bloomberg2020!!
5
Did I miss something? Have the white supremacists thrown away their MAGA hats and started wearing “I Like Mike” buttons? There is only one racist in this election - by far.
2
Mr. Blow. Please read and ponder Tom Friedman’s recent column supporting Mike Bloomberg. He concludes that Mr. Bloomberg has the best — and in my opinion perhaps the only — chance of defeating Mr. Trump. Your two recent columns criticizing Mr. Bloomberg are vitriolic, harsh,unforgiving and myopic. They only will serve to re-elect Mr. Trump. I urge you to reflect on what you are doing and reconsider your position. Even better, write a column stating you have changed your mind and apologize for your previous position just as Mr. Bloomberg apologized for stop and frisk.
4
THIS is exactly why voting isn't activism. TrumPutin has to be beside himself with exuberance over the complete incoherence of this "resistance." Just read these comments for clarification, then ask yourself, truly: in light of my impotence and complicity in allowing an Enemy of the Republic to subvert our Constitutional system for over 3 years, do I really think that voting another 9 months from now in an election that my incoherence and chronic 2nd guessing that will likely derail the intent of the vote matter? Will I feel cleansed after knowing an authoritarian fraud was just re-elected?
Get it together, people. See you in the streets? Right.
4
No matter how you feel about Bernie, you can’t deny he is a straight shooter. Lying and hiding behind ads is not what I am looking for.
8
Perhaps Mr. Blow should take to heart the words of Michael Bloomberg when he said about Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton: "There are times when I disagree with Hillary Clinton. But let me tell you, whatever our disagreements may be, I've come here to say: We must put them aside for the good of our country. And we must unite around the candidate who can defeat a dangerous demagogue," he said, referring to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
13
Democrats wish for rogue? Democrats eat rogue for lunch and complain about their digestion. I am running in a local election for Democrats but not the insider candidate who is less prepared but has played politics. It is very discouraging to say the least. You would think that Democrats would learn with all the second guessing, eating their own and suppression of exciting newcomers that can appeal to a broader audience. From my experience, there is a reason Democrats lose.
2
It is going to be really interesting to see how the African-American community at large (seen by many of us as the smartest and most realistic voting bloc) will lean on this. Bloomberg recently came second to Biden (who is fading fast) in the last Quinnapac poll in terms of African-American support among the candidates. He was substantially supported by African-Americans during his elections as mayor of NYC. African-American leaders are increasingly supporting him, including three today, one of the Gregory Meeks of NYC. The trend of support is the opposite of what Mr. Blow would have us suppose.
It may just be that African-Americans are more interested in a candidate like Bloomberg who can deliver and has delivered things like safer cities and neighborhoods than who is a good liberal and always says all the right things in the right way. We will see. I will throw my support behind whoever wins the black vote in South Carolina.
And the argument that Bloomberg is a danger to the US is a ridiculous one when he plainly is not (he left NYC a lot stronger and safer than he found it), and when we are going over a cliff if we do not get rid of Trump.
14
Everything Mr. Blow says about Bloomberg is absolutely correct and he is not my preferred Democratic nominee. He might even be a horrible president. He might even pass bills and laws that hurt me and my family. But he has one thing in his favor. By all estimates he comports with the rule of law and does not seem bent on eliminating it. By that standard alone he is far superior to the current occupant of the White House and the GOP senators. If somehow, and I hope he isn't, he is the Democrat's nominee I will vote for him. At bare minimum it tells the GOP they can't be wholly corrupt and stay in office.
Vote Blue No Matter Who. The future of the country depends on it.
12
The United States cannot survive four more years of Donald Trump.
If Trump is re-elected, we will fail Benjamin Franklin's test of "a republic, if you can keep it."
Thoughtful Republicans, I'm looking at you. You know I am right. Mr. Trump is a tyrant and an autocrat, in direct contradiction to the vision of our Founders. He's not even a real conservative.
If you can't bring yourself to vote for a Democrat, just leave it blank.
And Mr. Blow, I would enthusiastically vote for Michael Bloomberg as an alternative to Donald Trump. Would you?
- If not, Mr. Trump thanks you for your support.
7
Let the election choices of 2020 be a lesson to those ignorant people that didn’t vote in 2016.
No one wants to take any significant risks in a country that has 60 million of its voters supporting fascist authoritarian ethnic nationalism. This campaign is NOT about ideas. It’s about unseating Trump.
Whatever and whomever has the BEST chance to beat Trump should be the nominee. If having Billions is what it takes....so be it.
Once you get power back, pass campaign finance laws. Once you get power back, strengthen independence of the judiciary and justice departments from the executive branch. Pass laws to stop separating kids from their parents. And so on and so forth.
You can’t do ANYTHING without power. Few of us are willing to toil for another 50 to 100 years to get justice. You get justice by winning elections.
If Bloomberg is the best guy that can win in the country we got, then we can overlook some of his mistakes. He’s a decent enough man and I don’t think he would support white nationalist rallies or do midnight raids of immigrant workers. He stood up against guns and got a lot of democrats elected including women and minorities. He’s not the problem.
6
Charlie Blow has it exactly wrong. Mr. Blow 's view will bring us the unthinkable tragedy of four more years of Donald John Trump. We are at war politically speaking, against a clear and present danger to American democracy. When a nation is engaging in war, every resource and tool should be used to achieve decisive force against the enemy - also known as the Colin Powell doctrine. Mike Bloomberg can bring the level of financial firepower necessary to win the war and save American democracy. A Democrat majority House and Senate will ensure our Democratic progressive values. Let's not fall for the knee knocking Op Ed's that propose we follow the likely general election losers for the sake of political purity. In November, democracy wins - or it loses.
6
1. Charles Blow is correct. Stop-and-frisk was a violation of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It was a terrible policy, and should not be repeated. And Bloomberg has apologized for it.
2. Donald Trump wipes his feet upon the Constitution on a daily basis. He has appointed an Attorney General (Bill Barr) who believes that the president is above the law. Donald Trump is using the United States Department of Justice to settle his personal vendettas -- with the blessing of the Attorney General, and apparently with the blessing of the Republican majority of the U.S. Senate.
Which is a greater threat to America? Which is a greater threat to our civil liberties, and the Rule of Law? Which is a greater affront to the American Experiment itself, as espoused by our Founders?
===
Pick your battles.
If Bloomberg is the nominee, I'll vote for him any day over Donald John Trump.
9
Where are the anti-gun activists on this issue? Hundreds of guns were confiscated during stop and frisk. Yes, the very vast majority of those stopped were innocent, inconvenienced and embarrassed. But please, each year hundreds of guns were taken off the streets and destroyed.
I wonder how many lives were saved. The lunatic NRA was angered that the confiscated guns were not sold or auctioned back into society.
4
I have absolutely no doubt that Bloomberg would still be espousing his racist policies and implementation strategies if he felt that he could still win the nomination in doing so. The fact that he was defending them in 2015 is evidence to me that his "apologies" more recently are motivated by opportunism and not actual change of heart. He does not "get" why his policies were unethical and racist. In my opinion, they are equivalent to Trump's "travel ban" that targets people who are Muslim, close to equivalent to the Japanese internment camps during WW2.
When I have claimed in the past that I would vote for a rotten avocado over the current occupant, Bloomberg's apparent viability is giving me a true gut-check moment.
2
So democrats... do want to chose a nominee or a president? How much risk do you want to take?
Do you really want to trust the polls again? How did that work out?
3
Charles, check out "Bloomberg Philanthropies". Spend a few minutes hunting around that website and I believe you will find it hard to compare him with Trump ("Trump University", Trump Steaks", "Trump Foundation"). (By the way, particularly check out "Trump Foundation"--it's a good read re corruption and fraud) Unfortunately, you've drawn a line in the sand: "never vote for Bloomberg". With your influence, you may unfortunately be taking many of your readers to the same place. Clearly, you'd prefer a more liberal (and immaculate) Democratic nominee, but while fighting hard for your proposed nominee, it also makes sense to throw yourself whole-heartedly behind whoever the eventual Dem nominee happens to be. Seriously, would you prefer for your readership to stay home on Election Day and help Trump win?
5
Don't throw out the good for the perfect. Bloomberg has some strong negatives yes but DJT is a factor 100X worse with authoritarian tendencies. How much do we want to risk having a potential dictator (DJT) getting elected again? The other Democratic candidates don't seem to have the horsepower to win the election by losing the middle voters.
1
I watched in anger as members of my family supported Trump based on the issues they believed in (abortion), and disregarded his bigotry, hatefulness, and misogyny. As a woman who has been the victim of domestic violence I felt personally affronted by the hatred in his words and attitude. Why are democrats now willing to do the same?! Every single other candidate for the democratic nomination seems like a decent human being who has respect for other human beings. Please don't let the fever of the time reduce you to the level of your enemy. People on the ground are actually suffering based on the behavior of these leaders. I did march in Washington, and this is not what we marched for. Thank you for putting this so perfectly into words, Mr. Blow.
5
If I recall, most of the lawsuits by women did not specifically name Bloomberg, but focused on officials of Bloomberg LP. The direct accusations against Mike Bloomberg were primarily on sexist language. I believe that he has denied making the most offensive statements.
Is it possible that Bloomberg, the company workplace, has a sexist culture? Yes. Having worked on Wall Street, yes, I can believe that.
But, what is it that you want, Mr. Blow? A dictator in the White House, unleashed for a second term so he can destroy our democracy?
Does Mike Bloomberg need to account for Stop and Frisk? Yes, he needs to account for the damage done to many individuals and families. However, keep in mind that Mike Bloomberg became mayor at a time when crime was at unacceptable levels; the number of murders in the city was one of the highest in the country. Residents, many people of color, themselves were asking, demanding, that something be done so they could be safe.
4
I am not interested in going from one NYC billionaire to another NYC billionaire as our president. This choice obviously isn't working out too well for us right now!
2
Charles, you are wrong here. America does not need a 'liberal president'. You have your Bernie choice there (or try AOC).
What America needs is Competency. The simplest and strongest argument against Trump is he simply 'not qualified' to be a president or a leader. All of his past efforts are miserable failures, he has no leadership skills and no proven ability to execute complex policies.
All of Trump's transgressions - you got your impeachment; where did it go?
Bloomberg has owned his past mistakes. Show us one candidate who would pass all your 'liberal litmus' tests?
Don't get exasperated on - "but don't we have a lot better, more liberal candidates than Bloomberg?" Maybe, but what we need is a competent, proven leader who can replace Trump.
No one on the Democratic field has accomplished, proven as mush as like Bloomberg. (Not just money, if Stacy Abrams was in the field I would regard her accomplishments, intelligence and competency of the same level.)
BTW - what is wrong in being Republican in past? Don't have AOC or Bernie supporter thinking that that other side is 'out for treason'. You are enabling the very polarization you want to stop.
If Bernie is the candidate, a democratic voter like me will seriously think in backing Trump because Bernie wants to 'blow up American Capitalism' (and fiasco like Iowa Dem Caucus is guaranteed) which will make us Venezuela.
2
Remember, any candidate who is not perfect is exactly the same thing as Trump ...
Who are these "liberals" excusing Mike Bloomberg? No one I know. He's my absolute last, rock-bottom choice among the Democrats currently running for president. Still, he's clearly preferable to Trump in that he has at least shown some regret and self-awareness about his past racist and sexist statements and behavior, while Trump has gleefully doubled down on his. He'd appoint judges who, while perhaps more corporate-friendly than I'd like, aren't homophobic anti-choice religious extremists intent on overturning not only Obamacare but also Social Security. He knows how to act like an adult on the world stage (remember those days?) and we wouldn't have to worry that he'll withdraw us from the UN in a sudden fit of pique or give Alaska back to the Russians. He gets at least a few big issues right (e.g., guns, climate change).
Again, I emphatically do not want Bloomberg for president. His racist, sexist past and his undeniable authoritarian tendencies give me cause for extreme anxiety and besides, I'm still holding out hope for a female candidate (whether Warren or Klobuchar). But if he's the nominee I will reluctantly support him, and I hope and trust Charles will too.
3
Let's see Michael Bloomberg has the money and the powerhouse to be Pres. Donald Trump but one thing to at being added Trump hired a bunch of judges in the last year their sentencing to minorities will be very harsh to the crime your beating the drum about Michael stop – and- frisk policy. But let me explain with the judges that Pres. Donald Trump elected to office will be 100 times worse than Michael Bloomberg.
I believe Michael Bloomberg apologizes what Pres. Donald Trump and his judges will not blot add stiff penalties gel time for minorities is one thing I can add please take the beam out your eye and see what Pres. Donald Trump is up to.
Charles, the best thing for your career is the reelection of Donald Trump. Let's not kid ourselves about what you secretely and truly want.
3
There is no perfect candidate. Nominating Bernie too liberal (what has he accomplished in 30years) or Warren too liberal—-Will not defeat Trump. How about a VP nominee like Stacy Abrams to run with Bloomberg? Maybe that will easy your anxiety with Bloomberg. JB
1
Thank you for telling it like it is. A human being with the 9th richest wealth level in the entire planet does not deserve to wield this much power. Let him do good on his own dime entirely.
2
No I don't think Bloomberg is a close to being as racist or vile as trump but he is a billionaire and his policies have made him and other billionaires richer at the expense of everyone else.
I am done with the plutocracy in this country.
2
If Bloomberg is truly remorseful of his stop and frisk policy, he should use his billions to aid the many victims of this policy.
2
Agree there are no benevolent dictators. I appreciate your comment about as a private citizen.
2
The core of Mr. Blow's dissatisfaction is captured in this statement: "He agrees with liberals on some policies, but he is by no means a liberal. Not at all."
Do I care?
My first priority -- by an order of magnitude -- is to defeat Mr. Trump. I really don't care whether Mr. Bloomberg is a liberal. I care about whether he can beat Mr. Trump. Mr. Blow claims that Bernie Sanders is the man. His understanding of the American political scene and mine differ. If Mr. Sanders is the nominee, I will support him. But to claim now that Mr. Sanders has the best chance of beating Mr. Trump is wishful thinking.
Finally, Mr. Blow's assertion that Mr. Bloomberg is merely Mr. Trump in sheep's clothing is just silly. Yes, Mr. Bloomberg has warts, serious warts. But if I were only to vote for Democratic candidates with perfect records I would never vote. Mr. Trump would love to have progressives like Mr. Blow kill off Bloomberg's candidacy. Nothing would make him happier.
1
I agree 100% especially the point that "All the top Democrats beat Trump in head-to-head matchups, and Bernie Sanders beats him by the same margin as Bloomberg."
Moderate dems and media outlets including the Times are pushing this baseless logic. There is no reason to support Bloomberg the republican.
I guess the Alabama Black Caucus got the memo a bit late as they endorsed Bloomberg.
I guess an apology goes far if you are with the right party.
2
If Donald Trump get 4 more years we won't have a country left and minorities and those that disagree with him will be in danger from what will essentially be a dictator. The Repulican majority in the Senate has already shown they are a group of wimps that will not keep in check. They're scared to death of him. I truly believe Bloomberg is the only one that can go one on one with him and get rid of him. Although not my first choice I believe Bloomberg is my only choice. If Bloomberg gets in then we can deal with him or only give him one term. Trump has to go.
2
I know, Charles, and I don't necessarily disagree but, jeez, Bloomberg's got Trump's number doesn't he? Those ads are great. I don't want Bloomberg to stop. Clearly the people behind him have figured out Trump and know him. The traditional democrats are, as usual, not getting it and not attacking Trump in the way he needs to be. Bloomberg is right. Trump's a bully and needs to be dealt with as such.
1
Trump was not just accused of “sexual improprieties” - he was accused of sexual assault and rape. So far Bloomberg has been accused of rude and obnoxious statements to and about women. They are absolutely offensive but also made at a time and in a business where standards are much different than today. I have been a victim of both crude sexual comments at work and rape and it is appalling to suggest any equivalency between the two. If accusations of sexual assault come up against Bloomberg, I will not support him but your suggestion that at this point, it is hypocritical to support Bloomberg and criticize Trump is just wrong.
“Bloomberg was a Republican mayor. He agrees with liberals on some policies, but he is by no means a liberal. Not at all.” But isn’t that the point?
1
I'd make an analogy to Lyndon Baines Johnson, who supported and enacted racist policies as a Dixiecrat Senator, and then rammed through the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. LBJ's misogynistic and racist attitudes and behavior prior to 1963-64 did not dissuade him.
Moving to a hypothetical Bloomberg-#45* matchup: Let's beta test on one issue -- federal judiciary, which is where any progressive policy initiatives will be ultimately resolved under a Sanders or Warren or Klobuchar or Buttieig administration. Will a President Bloomberg appoint a federal judicary dominated by the checklist of the Federalist Society? Highly doubtful. Which judicial candidates do we think #45* will support? Does one even need to say? How about on the issue of emoluments? Bloomberg played it straight by the book as Mayor. Roe v. Wade and reproductive rights? Sure, Bloomberg said crass things, I have trouble with his union-besting during the 80s --- I am not looking for a saint. I am looking for someone who can run government rationally and who understands policy. On almost any issue Bloomberg will take a technocratic approach. In past years this argument wouldn't pass muster. In 2020, given the stakes, it seems to this Warren supporter that a non-vote for Bloomberg, should he be nominated, will be a classic example of biting off the nose to spite the face.
1
Bloomberg is buying the election. He is not doing it with a sandwich and a soda, but with big bucks. I guess that makes the whole corrupt business more respectable.
2
I like Bloomberg and plan to vote for him given the chance. I'm a 56 year-old African American male and I've heard a lot about "Stop-and-Frisk," (S.A.F.) I'd like to know much more about why such a policy was passed in the first place? I suspect all we've heard about the policy from people like Mr. Blow (whose column I admire) and others is not the entire story. The people affected by S.A.F., what were they doing when these incidents occurred? Were they with their wives and children? Were they walking home from Church with their mothers? What were they doing and why were those particular men/boys stopped by police at that moment? What was the official Police guidance on when to institute S.A.F. on the ground? For many years I heard NYC was crime-ridden and not a good place to live. Can Mr. Blow or someone like him please explain how a policy such as S.A.F. came into existence, including the crime data used to justify the policy.
There seems to be much more to this story than S.A.F. was bad and Michael Bloomberg was the principal advocate-in-chief for the policy.
1
I get it, you don't like Bloomberg. But do you prefer Trump? Because it looks Bloomberg might be the best situated at this point to beat Trump although I personally would prefer sen. Warren in the WH.
1
The fact that Michael Bloomberg is willing to do this and spend his own money to promote his campaign is a gift to Democrats. Please just accept the gift! Stop the purity tests. Evil forces now control United States government. They need to be tossed out. That needs to be the focus, and the only focus.
1
Charles Blow is the embodiment of the Democratic circular firing squad and purity tests.
We do not have that luxury this year.
The 2020 election is nothing less than a referendum on "a republic, if you can keep it."
Mike Bloomberg is not my first choice at the moment. But if he ends up as the Democratic nominee, I will enthusiastically support him. I fully support his policy positions on climate change and gun control. He is fine to good on most other issues.
A Bloomberg presidency would move our nation forward. Four more years of Donald Trump would be the end of our republic, to answer Benjamin Franklin's famous question from 1787.
Vote your conscience in the primary.
And then vote blue, no matter who, on November 3.
2
There is no such thing as a perfect candidate. Would someone please attempt to settle this to Mr. Blow's satisfaction?
The real rogue, with the real thugs behind him, is Sanders. I need only point you to the online threats passed along from criminally violent so-called Bernie Bro's to members of the Las Vegas Culinary Union, who fought to earn their own health care plan, thank you very much.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg continues to live rent-free in Trump's head, which is bound to fly away, into space, once your former mayor is nominated. I'd pay to see that. Not just any tyrant -- MY tyrant!
1
Sorry, but he's still a vast improvement over Trump, and may be the only candidate who can prevail in the handful of states that will decide the election. Pick your poison.
1
Mr Blow, I respect how your uncompromising principles. But how about combining pragmatism and idealism - support a less-than-perfect candidate who can actually beat Trump, and then spend the next four years holding a Mike Bloomberg to the standards you expect? Isn't that more likely to produce results than running a perfect _____________ (not sure who that is), and writing columns against Trump, knowing that they'll make absolutely no difference in the real world, even if they make you feel good about yourself?
1
No candidate comes without warts. Biden was anti-busing, paling around in the Senate with segregationists. Mayor Pete had his racial problems , inter alia, firing a black police chief. As CA AG, Kamala Harris was criticized for harsh sentences for drug crimes that disproportionately impacted minorities. And on and on. Bloomberg is a Quant. Concentrating police resources in the areas showing the highest number of murders and assaults is not racist. Racial profiling is. If you want to unseat this malignant, criminal President, you cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. This is not to excuse the injustices of the past but I am tired of these purity tests. Bloomberg will restore our democratic institutions, support carbon reduction, improve health care and education. We would regain the respect and trust of our allies rather than being a laughingstock. Restore the Constitution, and the concept of checks & balances among three co-equal branches of government. If Bloomberg is the most capable person to defeat Trump then the choice is a no brainers. Number 1 goal: defeat Trump and take back the Senate. McConnell is an evil Machavelian enabler that needs to go.
1
This is the endgame of the "Citizens United" decision that money is speech. Will all future elections be billionaire versus billionaire? Oligarch versus oligarch? Perhaps backed by foreign powers? Russia versus China? What a mess. Please keep in mind folks, this is the Roberts court, the republican court, that is killing a 244 year old democracy.
Mr. Blow
If you use polling results comparing Democratic candidates vs. Trump as your saving grace for putting Sanders and others above Bloomberg, you’d better be prepared to have 4 more years of silence in your opinion.
Simply put, we know now, Polls lie.
2
To select Bloomberg would be a surrender to the Trumpian ethos, as he's merely a Democratic version of Trump. The way to defeat Trump is not by putting up another (more wealthy) version of Trump, with the same sort of character issues as Trump. The way to beat Trump also isn't to attack the economy (especially if offering socialist-style alternatives). It is to field a candidate who can call Americans to a higher level of character and restore national values eroded by Trumpism. Bloomberg simply can't do that as his personal values are a Democratic mirror of Trump's.
3
I’m surprised by the attacks on Bloomberg recently. He seemed to be an effective mayor in a hard-to-govern city, which performed well economically during his tenure and had maintained a decent fiscal situation.
This is a far better record than where I’m from, Chicago. Sure, stop-and-frisk definitely was an issue, but the Chicago approach of doing nothing was far worse. Nowadays, Chicago is far more dangerous than NYC.
And that’s to say nothing of the budget. Chicago’s one rating above junk while New York is in reasonable standing. Chicago today is where New York was in 1975, dysfunctional and waiting until the last minute to confront problems.
Not to mention many areas of Chicago are absolutely destitute, while NYC has done ok. Sure, not everyone prospered under Bloomberg, but he’s done about as reasonably well as could be expected, given the competitive nature of city politics.
2
o all who say "we need to capture Republican votes," you have to acknowledge that if he wins the nomination, a meaningful percentage of campaign and general supporters of Sanders, Warren, Buttigeig or Klobuchar, not to mention 2016 voters who voted Trump as a way to vote "against Hillary," would all be disgusted, or at best unenthusiastic, about their choice being between two NYC billionaires -- they will not be interested beyond that, and certainly if interested, not excited. And as to those four other candidates' supporters in particular, all their grass-roots efforts and faith in the process will seem to them to have been for nothing in the face of a candidate who spent and marketed his way to the nomination (which, whether or not that were the case, would be how many otherwise enthusiastic voters would see it). Given that certainty, the Democrat's voter turnout in November (which everyone agrees is essential to defeat Trump), not to mention the Democratic party's future will suffer.
3
@Sachi G
Meh! And I write this as someone whose heart is with Sanders, and who voted for him in the 2016 primary.
Anyone who cannot see the difference between Bloomberg and Trump is a fool.
I will vote blue, no matter who.
Will you?
1
I feel really uncomfortable every time I see Bloomberg's ad where President Obama is saying nice things about him. It is "twisting the truth," because it looks like an endorsement, which it is not. This would comport with Mr. Blow's article---and I am tired of lies as well. My dream ticket...(at least today) Amy Klobuchar, President and Deval Patrick, VP. It will be so refreshing to have talented, brilliant, ethical, polite people leading the US. They would be a strong team!
@Gene Nelson
Obama is not endorsing Bloomberg at this time.
But Obama was legitimately endorsing Bloomberg's efforts at the time he made the statements on video in Bloomberg's ads. Think about that.
2
I, for one, would not reject the imperfect Bloomberg (should he successfully buy the nomination) for the terminally broken Trump.
4
We should all agree: Bloomberg has a lot to answer for. His brief apologies aren’t (yet) nearly commensurate with 20 years of insisting his policies were effective, despite credible evidence to the contrary. Bloomberg’s stubbornness when he should have listened to counsel is as alarming prospectively as ‘stop and frisk’ has been retrospectively for black and brown New Yorkers.
It’s not credible to claim that only Bloomberg is well positioned to beat Trump. Let the primaries play out: they’ve surprised us so far. Yes, Bloomberg has lots of money; a fortune is no substitute for the hard work of campaigning and connecting at the retail level with voters.
I’m also astonished to see rapid forgiveness for Bloomberg’s harmful racial policies. Why don’t we see the same forbearance for the less punitive policies of Buttigieg and Klobuchar? Is it because Bloomberg can buy forgiveness?
If Bloomberg is the eventual nominee, I’ll be the first to vote for him; the alternative is unthinkable. That said, he has a lot to answer for.
1
@Dane D
Bloomberg "has a lot to answer for."
- Sure, so what. (And he isn't even my first choice.)
And Trump doesn't have an infinitely larger amount of things to answer for?
Please quit making campaign ads for Trump.
Vote blue, no matter who.
1
Going to throw this out as a possibility. Dem convention has to be brokered. Bloomberg says he will use his money to run as independent if he doesn't get the nomination. If he gets it, or doesn't and then runs independent, then what? End of Democratic party IMO.
Yes, yes, he said he would support the dem nominee no matter what.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
1
During WWII we allied with the USSR to defeat Hitler. What if people had said, oh no, we dont like those gulags hes running over there in Siberia? We cant work with him.
This is no time for moralizing. We need to take down the real devil.
5
Come on, NYT editorial board.
A single issue voter does not a decent columnist make.
12
Yeah—& Democrats shouldn’t nominate a Republican where there were 26other candidates to choose from. Lie to yourselves all you want—just like the GOP do—but if Democrats go through with this they will have sold their souls just as sure as Republicans did. When the people lose all faith in both parties and all institutions they will tear them down—that’s where this road takes us all.
3
Would you prefer fascism or a democrat in office - any democrat. That's the choice. I hope people consider that and vote for whoever takes the ticket.
8
@JHarvey He is not a legitimate Dem. and it’s not like he is the only candidate!
1
Yeah - that's all fine and dandy. Aaaaand.....
*Anyone but Trump*!
6
Amen!
Here is a conspiracy theory for those who enjoy them. Two New York billionaires get together and decide to create a plutocratic dictatorship. The first one goes into office and divides the country and creates chaos by destroying social norms and conventions about politics. The second one uses his money to swoop in as the savior of the country, the only one who can defeat the first billionaire and restore the country to stability. Once he is in power, he uses the undermined social norms and political conventions combined with the relief of the people to have an effective leader again in order to complete the transition to authoritarianism. Obviously, I don’t believe that this was planned out as such. I am not a conspiracy theorist. But the idea of it still worries me. The end goal could still be the same thing. And Bloomberg is the only person I worry about in the field opposing Trump who might have such an end goal.
8
Most New Yorkers supported Bloomberg as mayor for 3 terms. In the beginning, it was the NY black neighborhoods that felt they were not getting enough police protection in comparison to other neighborhoods. Initially, 'stop and frisk' worked and crime went down but then, the program started back firing. It was a big mistake that 'stop and frisk' continued for as long as it did and hopefully, we've all learned a good lesson. Bloomberg has publicly admitted "he owns it" and has apologized.
Bloomberg or any of our other candidates are a far better choice than DJT. Somehow, we MUST unite forces to OUST Trump!
And what if, Stacey Abrams was his VP choice?
8
How can anyone argue about the shallowness of Bloomberg's apologies? it looks to me like the old school attitude towards minority voters, that is, taking them for granted on the assumption that they won't have a better choice than whoever the Democratic nominee is.
But the point, now, is that they do have a choice.
Look at the energy, for example, between Rashida Tlaib and Sanders, and then picture substituting Bloomberg into that picture. It just doesn't work. Minority voters can see and feel the energy or lack thereof, and they have the option to act on that feeling. And the polls are supporting them in that. So why wouldn't they? Because... the DNC says, No?
Bloomberg seems like an even keel with some progressive interests, but he's not an igniter. He's an extinguisher. I don't think that's really the recipe of the day. Maybe it shouldn't be so, but he's going to look bo-ring on the debate stage, he's going to pull in numbers a little above or below Klobuchar, and then fade away like a memory of Forbes.
Meanwhile, nothing could be more helpful in conferring the air robustness on the potential of the Sanders campaign than Bloomberg coming to the rescue.
7
Anyone willingly sitting out this election and allowing Trump to get re-elected deserves whatever pain and suffering the GOP dishes out in a would be 2nd term.
There can be no good reason not to vote for any of the democrats over Trump.
It really is that simple, especially if you have a lot to lose with a Trump re-election.
11
If stop and frisk is the deal breaker, then it’s about something a lot bigger than an attempt to reduce violent crime and racially disparate effects resulting. It’s about racially correlated inequities and a failure to explain them with sound reasonable efforts. Instead, the feeling of being unjustly treated and the emotional reactions which follow are totally controlling the consideration of the issue. Whether there really is more violent crime and less respect for the legal system and more anarchy in some minority communities than in most other communities or not, somehow race is playing a part in it. Emotionally, that points to what? Do not enforce laws disproportionally so that race is correlated to it. That means don’t look at behaviors look at quotas when enforcing laws.
The fact is that the disparities of race in crime, and wealth, and a lot of important social concerns are real despite all efforts made to make race no longer a systematic factor in our public civil society, but it remains. It’s beyond the reach of our laws to correct.
No politician can fix it. It’s the result of little opportunity for all but the rich to improve themselves for forty years. It’s the result of imposing legal constraints but not social resolutions regarding the falsehoods about race.
1
Dear Democrats,
I would enthusiastically support any candidate from Sanders to Bloomberg, and anywhere in between, as an alternative to Mr. Trump.
I will vote my conscience in the primary.
And then vote blue, no matter who, on November 3.
Will you?
9
No, I’m not sure that I will vote for Bloomberg. I will vote for any other candidate. But voting for someone who is outright trying to buy the election is a step too far for me. He is the only candidate whom I genuinely think could be possibly be worse than Trump. He already rigged the system to give himself a third term as mayor. He has vast personal resources and a media empire. It seems to me that Bloomberg might make a much more “successful” dictator than Trump could ever be.
7
@Ben
I lived in Manhattan when Bloomberg bought his third term as mayor. I did not like that. But he would still be far superior to Trump.
13
Here's the problem, Charles. The DNC has happily accepted Bloomberg's money and are more than willing to throw Bernie Sanders under the bus for a second time. I'd like to see Sanders as the party's nominee but I fear that the DNC is not going to let that happen.
5
How does a president who polls less than fifty percent win reelection? He does it by unifying and energizing his supporters and distracting, dividing, and demoralizing his opponents. Looks like that is working at the moment for The Donald.
The Donald does not know or care diddly about many things including government. But he is a master at celebrity PR and politics. He was great on The Apprentice and now we have The Apprentice Presidency.
I support Bloomberg for President because I think that he could beat The Donald and if he won, he would have the intelligence and organization to actually conduct government. With The Donald as president, most of the government is just running on automatic pilot. It is basically government depending on what The Donald thinks will help his reelection.
But whoever is the democratic nominee will have a hard campaign. The Donald, Fox, Rush, Hannity, Coulter, and company will be running propaganda and smear 24/7.
All of the democratic nominees are nice people but most of them could not "stay in the ring" with The Donald, Fox, etc. when the going gets tough. And it will get tough.
I hate to say it, but I am expected four more years of The Donald in the WH, and a republican Senate. Four more years of Federalist Society judges going on the federal bench. Can Ms. Ginsberg last four more years? We might get another right wing justice on the Supremes.
Best wishes.
6
Bloomberg is a multibillionaire and lifelong conservative, especially on economic matters and criminal justice. I’m not sure that I will like the judges he appoints. I trust every other Democratic candidate a lot more when it comes to appointing judges.
7
My preferred Democratic presidential candidate would have been Mitch Landrieu (mayor of New Orleans, and brother of a former U.S. senator). But he chose not to run. And that did not happen.
That said, I will vote blue, no matter who.
I will vote my conscience in the Democratic primary, as I hope you will.
But I will enthusiastically support the eventual Democratic nominee, be it Sanders or Bloomberg, or anyone in between, on November 3.
The United States cannot survive four more years of Donald Trump.
11
With "stop and frisk", NYC traded the relationship and the trust that the Community had with the police, (along with any security of feeling unduly harassed and terribly affected), for the appearance of a safe and secure city, meant to attract mostly white wealthy residents.
Now we are being asked to trade a path to imperative change for a path to the appearance of a safe and secure election, meant to attract mostly white wealthy voters.
When does it end?
Many Bloomberg supporters are just plain afraid of Sanders, and use the convenient excuse that Bloomberg is the only one who can beat trump. Will they even vote for Sanders if he is the candidate?
I support Warren, but I will vote for whoever is the Dem candidate. Super Tuesday will give us all a better overview, but I sure hope it doesn't come down to a brokered convention eventually because Bloomberg may super delegate it out of the park and there will be resentment. So yeah, a bit dangerous. Will GOP-Bloomberg voters make up for it all?
5
Bloomberg and Sanders fit this mode. Neither will be good for the country. We don't need a democratic version of Trump which is what we will get with Sanders and Bloomberg.
@JustaVET
You might want to inform yourself about Sanders. He is not as presented by the DNC and its media allies. Read yesterday's WaPo article (The Sanders foreign policy you don’t know about) concerning his foreign policy for a start and see if he is as scary as you have been encouraged to believe.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/the-sanders-foreign-policy-you-dont-know-about/2020/02/16/aa777f6c-4e7b-11ea-b721-9f4cdc90bc1c_story.html
2
@JustaVET
As Mick Jagger said, "You can't always get what you want."
But if we vote blue, no matter who ...
Perhaps we can "get what we need."
1
@JustaVET Big difference. While Sanders can sure come across as autocratic, he's really a practical person who sees people as human beings, and is true to his intent that everyone have a part of the good things America has to offer. Bloomberg is self-serving, a bully, a misogynist and probably a racist deep down who isn't above thinking all of us are so stupid we will fall for his "now I'm a reformed Democrat" act. Never trust those who switch parties -- those who do reveal their true selves.
1
So many people seem to resort to the argument that “no matter what, Bloomberg will be better than Trump.” Where is the evidence for that assertion? Bloomberg hasn’t participated in any town hall events or public debates. He has tried to buy his way into the conversation without earning it. I’m not from New York, so I don’t know much about his mayorship other than stop and frisk, soda bans, and rigging the rules to give himself a third term. None of that gives me confidence. He is the eighth richest man in the US, he is older than Trump, he has shown the same authoritarian impulses as Trump, and unlike Trump, he refuses to even participate in the actual process other than to throw his money around. I despise Trump. I have no faith that Bloomberg would be an improvement. He might even be worse for all I know. I have enough imagination to imagine such a scenario.
11
@Ben
Let’s not get make this too complicated. Bloomberg will not be a Donald Trump. Period. He’s not uncouth, hateful, ignorant or dangerous as Trump.
If you are a progressive, so be it. If you hate big money, so be it.
Let’s not muddy up the discourse making straw man arguments when we have a clear and present danger in the White House that must be voted out.
Everything that Charles Blow said about Bloomberg could be said about Sanders. It's wrong to stop and frisk people just because they have dark skin and wear a hoodie in the name of fighting crime. It's just as wrong to take away medical insurance from 150 million people and replace it with vaporware of unknown quality and cost in the name of universal health coverage.
Enough people disliked Clinton's character more than they supported her reasonable policies. It gave us Trump. Don't let repeat this grave mistake again.
9
@VK
Not quite, Sanders has worked for racial equity ever since he was a member of the Congress for Racial Equality back in college.
As for M4A, which "takes away" their present insurance, replaces it with public insurance without premiums, co-pays, and deductibles. There are no restrictions on where you get your care, unlike HMOS.
The Lancet recently published research done at Yale School of Public Health showing that Medicare for All would reduce cost by $450 billion per year and save the lives of 68,000 people per year.
The public option offered by Buttigieg and others would not achieve cost reduction and would leave many people without access to care because they can't afford it.
Health insurance, which is what is really what is being discussed, is rising at a rate of 5.5-6% per year. At over 17% of GDP, it is unsustainable. What is your plan?
4
@VK
What?
Sanders doesn't have 64 women filing sexual harassment lawsuits against him. Sanders didn't settle anything out of court for undisclosed amounts, and then force NDA's upon the victims. Sanders doesn't have over 70+women filing job discrimination lawsuits against him and his corp. He has never told one of his pregnant female employees who was asking for maternity leave to "kill it~!"
Sanders doesn't have off-shore bank accounts, who's accountant is now being investigated by the Feds. He's never amassed $60 billion dollars and suddenly in his dotage figured out America has a wealth inequality problem. Sanders doesn't have 5 different phone numbers in Jeffrey Epstein's little black book. Sanders has never paled around with the Trumps, the Clintons, and Epstein's of the world.
That's just one small subset of the evils Bloomberg has dallied in and with.
Only in a fevered mind could someone equate a Sanders with a Bloomberg.
So...flesh your comment out more VK. In what ways on this earth is Bloomberg alike with Sanders?
Sure, I guess my dog is like my cat in that they both have four legs, two ears and live under my roof (well the cat is kinda just a part time resident...).
As for medical insurance, nobody is losing insurance, everyone is gaining universal coverage. Something worlds better than our current guaranteed corp. profit Insur. scam system. How is this like tossing black and brown citizens against a wall daily?
3
While I would have preferred if someone like Senator Mark Warner had been a candidate for the Democratic nomination, he chose not to run in perhaps the most important presidential election in this nation's history.
I have not been 'pushed' into supporting Michael Bloomberg by 'propaganda and influence mercenaries.' No, my power of reason tells me that the former Mayor is the most likely person in the field to defeat the monster Trump.
Perhaps Mr. Blow should take a reality check and realize the unthinkable damage that will be done if say, Bernie Sanders, is nominated and takes the whole party down with him.
16
Wow; the comments here sure do prove MLK's words in his letter from Birmingham:
"I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate."
Well, seeing as Charles Blow pushed the candidacy of HRC over Bernie Sanders in 2016 I guess a Mike Bloomberg candidacy would be a rather fitting retribution were it not for the fact that everything he says in this excellent column is true and frightening.
I get it that people are worried about Trump being reelected; I'm sorry they are all (including "Socrates") throwing their values overboard in their rush to defeat him. That's not the way to win, period.
11
The details of Stop & Frisk are gruesome. Terrible not just for the folks who were targeted, but also for the NYPD. The policy taught rookies & veterans alike all the wrong lessons.
8
Everyone knows that Giuliani and Bloomberg wanted to make NYC appear attractive and safe to the (mostly white) wealthy who they hoped would become residents. A part of that was the charade of "stop and frisk", a sorry game that was at the expense of the Community and the Community's relationships with the police.
Now we seem to be in a similar situation---we are being told that Bloomberg is the "secure" candidate, but this is yet again something to "game" us into a presidency that is more attractive and safer to the (mostly white) wealthy, who happen to be Democrats. (and to the "political machine", maybe some supplemented Republicans) This will be at the expense of what the media keeps telling us requires "immediacy"---to make big changes in our economic template that could benefit the earth and provide health to all of us aka "progressive action".
I sure hope that if Bernie is the candidate, these Bloomberg supporters will vote for him. (and vise versa) There are 2 sides of the bitter pill, and both have to be prepared to be swallowed.
Super Tuesday will tell us more, but if the convention in July ends up being brokered, Bloomberg's insider super delegates may determine it all. I have wanted Warren all along, but I will vote BNMW.
5
I do not share Mr Blow’s optimism that “any candidate can beat Mr Trump”. In Feb 2016 polls indicated that Ms. Clinton would handily defeat DT by a greater margin than some of the current candidates. Furthermore, the country is even more divided and hysterical than we were back in those quaint 2016 days. Blow says Bloomberg is not a true liberal, to which I reply “thank God”. I fear this country will just implode with another 4 years of a divisive head of state - whether it be DT or Sanders. Each faction is SO hated by the other and there is such mistrust, nothing will get done regardless. Please let it be a healing candidate that reflects some middle ground. Klobuchar and Buttigieg are appealing, but I do think Mike will have an easier time “getting it done” as he says, than either of those two.
8
Given how trump got into office and the wreckage of the last 3 years, please lets stop the Democratic circular firing squad. There are no perfect candidates. With Bloomberg we get an experienced, competent, self made manager plus tax returns.
7
@Kat Perkins
These last two comments are scary. People there is no assurance Bloomberg is going to be much different than Trump. He's autocratic, is loathe to admit when he makes a mistake -- except when it helps him achieve a specific goal, he is extremely conservative and started out as a Republican then changed parties when it helped him to do so. Take care what you wish for. You might just get it.
2
@Kat Perkins
Please, show me Bloomberg's 10 yrs. of taxes.
He's filed for another extension. He MIGHT show them after the primary.
https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2020-01-17/michael-bloomberg-financial-disclosure-delayed
Currently his accountant, who ran his offshore accounts is under criminal investigation.
Experienced and competent at being a racist, sexist oligarch. Anyone with 5 different phone numbers in Jeffery Epstein's little black book isn't presidential material. Especially someone with over 100 sexual harassment and job discrimination lawsuits from women, all settled out of court for undisclosed sums and forced NDA's by the victims.
A big fat...NO~!
2
I just saw a Bloomberg TV ad. Mile will do this. Mike will do that. We the people were not mentioned.
The Bloomberg campaign is spending $1Million per day on Facebook ads, or so I read. In other words one billionaire is giving another billionaire a million dollars a day to parachute himself into office. Why bother to vote? Just turn a team of CPAs loose on the candidates' financial records and then send up white smoke. Are all the commenters here really sure that this is a less dangerous alternative to Trump?
8
It is simply disingenuous to highlight current polls as if they predict anything. Polls in February of an election year never predict the result in November. And you know it. Stop using that argument. It's misleading.
The Democrat with the best chance of reaching 270 electoral votes will get my vote in the primary. Reaching 270 means winning in conservative-leaning areas of the country. It most certainly does not mean nominating a candidate who labels HIMSELF a "socialist." Nominating a far-left candidate will put Democrats on the road to ruin, and will ensure Trump's re-election. That's why Republicans are giddy over the fact that Sanders is the front-runner. They are praying that Democrats commit electoral suicide by nominating a socialist.
8
Mr. Blow makes some important points about Bloomberg -- but I'm thinking I know exactly who he'll vote for in November if Bloomberg is the Democratic candidate.
2
Independents like me and some Republicans might vote for Bloomberg but never for Sanders (too extreme) or the rest of them. I don't like Bloomberg's position on immigration and I don't like Trump's position on abortion (anti-choice)/women's rights. So I would choose between the two of them. If Bloomberg is not nominated, then I will vote for Trump. The rest of the Democrats are horrors!
4
@Carol anyone who would vote for Trump should not be listened to.
2
Trading one jerk for another will solve nothing. Wealth is corrupting and distances one from what the struggle to make ends meet is really all about. Affluence brings with it its own poverty, That is, the poverty of empathy, compassion, and understanding that the not so well off need from their elected officials. It is all too common for elected representatives not to remember that they work for the people as a whole to promote the general welfare and provide for the common defense. Sadly, self enrichment and protecting one’s status, both in terms of class and power, is the overarching goal of those in power. Humility dies in such a milieu. That’s why fresh faces and ideas are so important. Not to say that some experience isn’t necessary. All one need do to remember that is to look at the mess created by trump, an absolute rookie with no knowledge of real governance or for history’s lessons.
3
@Blueinred/mjm6064 I hope, then, you will reject all candidates who are themselves multi-millionaires (most of them), or who take money from the wealthy (most of them). That will leave you with...Casper the Friendly Ghost!
The danger of a Bloomberg presidency is that he is so much more polished and socailly acceptable than the current occupant of the White House. At present he checks a lot of boxes that tickle the ears of the cosmopolitan liberal. Make no mistake - an authoritarian is an authoritarian. Bllomberg is sophisticated enough to damage our democracy far worse than Trump. Trump's biases and dictatorial mindset is blatant on his Twitter feed; Bloomberg is much more dangerous to democracy because of his polished demeanor, (not to mention hs owns one of the larget media companies in the world), and would be able to subvert our constitutional form of government under the radar.
8
I just made a similar point! Thank you for pointing out what others are ignoring.
4
The Democrats need someone new to head the DNC. So far the Democrats looks disorganized and like amateurs and that’s not good when the future of our Democracy is at stake.
Maybe Stacey Abrams or someone else could galvanize the Democrats.
5
Mr. Blow is entitled to his free speech. But telling readers to turn away from Bloomberg only serves Trump's cause. I think, Bloomberg alone can take on Trump. He certainly has the money to fight back!
Sanders...not so much--too far left. What happened in Iowa and New Hampshire doesn't change my opinion of Bernie's chances.
To get Trump out of the White House, people who vote Democrat, need to get behind the Democratic nominee 1000%.
So, yes, if he's chosen, I'm all in for Bloomberg, severe warts and all.
3
Unfortunately this election will come down to which Democratic candidate will win the votes of disillusioned Republicans in key counties in suburban Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.
I don't like that reality: blame the Constitution. But it's the sea we are swimming in.
My sense is those key voters will go for Bloomberg. Or Biden. Not clear to me they'll vote for the others, and Biden is fading. Thus I support Bloomberg.
5
The future of American democracy and of our planet is at stake in this election. Trump can only be defeated by a candidate who can play his kind of hard ball. Bloomberg is the only one whose record proves he's capable. Let him run with Kamala Harris or Cory Booker or Stacey Abrams and you'll have a very powerful ticket that will help neutralize the questions Mr. Blow raises. It would beat Trump easily.
I worked very hard for George McGovern in 1972. So far this election is a repeat performance. Democrats don't seem to have learned the lesson of that debacle or the lesson of a similar recent debacle in the United Kingdom. Or the more positive lesson of the recent elections in Kentucky and Louisiana which shows that the centrists of their party can carry some very red states. If Democrats are going to defeat Trump they'll have to embrace Realpolitik.
5
If you think Bloomberg is as bad as you claim, just wait until Donald Trump is voted in for a second term.
I'm voting for whomever I think can beat Trump, and if that turns out to be Bloomberg, so be it.
11
That said, it's common sense that law and order needs to be intensified where law and order is most broken down. Why on earth would law and order predominantly make sense to be focused anywhere else? Crucially, core reasons for the disparity must be seriously addressed—high unemployment, run down buildings and landscape, poor schools, high school truancy and dropout rates, low wages, high drug use—to reduce the attraction of crime as a mean of providing income. Large sums of federal money along with innovative incentives are needed to temp businesses to move into and expand into such areas. Similarly, schools and quality teachers need to be similarly sensitized.
Only then will folks turn away from crime as a livelihood.
3
It's disheartening in the extreme that so many Democrats think the only thing that can beat Trump is more money.
5
Be very wary who you're letting into the White House.
With Bloomberg, you'd be merely trading one autocratic billionaire for another one and this one, Bloomberg, is smarter, richer, and has ENTIRE NEWS OUTLETS bearing his name ready to do his propaganda.
The very way he's buying his way to the nomination is only the beginning.
Bloomberg is only running as a Democrat because it suits his purposes. He's a Republican and will have no problem aligning with them time and time again.
Again, be very careful you're voting in...
7
As the Madoffian brilliant business people of the country began their ascent - Michael Bloomberg - Matt Zuckerberg - our political institutions began to decline exponentially and in tandem to the meritocratic rise, to the point where we, as the most powerful country in the world, and wealthiest and presumably democratic rank below emerging economies in freedom, education, equality, democratic freedom, transparency.
Bloomberg blamed poor people for the mortgage meltdown and Alan Dershowitz argued for Trump’s right to commit crimes and absolution, sort of what they’re arguing for Bernie Madoff
5
@Ted: Bloomberg did not blame poor people as such for the mortgage meltdown, but predatory lending to poor people that was made easier by outlawing “redlining”. Bad faith (e.g., discriminatory) practices like redlining can have unintended beneficial outcomes, whereas well-intentioned practices such as social promotion in schools can have unintended negative consequences. Things are often not as clear cut in practice as they seem in theory.
2
Michael Bloomberg is not my first choice as the Democratic nominee for president.
But he is right on the most important issues. He is right on climate change. He is right on gun control. And his positions on other major issues are good.
If Bloomberg ends up as the Democratic nominee for president, I will enthusiastically support him. (As I will do for any of the other candidates.)
The United States will be a better place under a Democratic administration starting in 2021, including a Bloomberg administration.
Vote your conscience in the primary.
And then vote blue, no matter who, on November 3.
10
After 3 years of Trump, I am exhausted. The non-stop drama, the daily nastiness, the constant whiplash of changing policies, the intense polarization between citizens.....I am SO tired of having to worry about all of this.
So when somebody tells me the solution is Bernie Sanders and his "revolution," my answer is a resounding NO! I don't want to scrap major government programs and start over, I don't want to hear daily demonization of other Americans (even rich ones), I don't want to be shouted down by Bernie's "passionate" supporters when they don't get their way, and frankly I don't want a president who only has two modes: angry and angrier.
I want a competent, stable government, guided by a steady, moderate leader, that I don't have to stress about 24/7. And that's why Bloomberg strongly appeals to me, irregardless of a policy he may have supported in the past.
12
I lived here for all three of his terms and I never voted for him once. I thought it was outrageous that he forced a third term. I was disgusted that this paper and the local TV news all made it seem like he was a shoe in against Bill Thompson and thus suppressed the vote. I voted for Thompson and was furious when the margin was paper thin. That said, I'd rather have Bloomy than Bernie or trump.
3
Stubbornness is not only a trait of Bloomberg. Both Warren and even more so Bernie, are obstinately sticking to their programs, and would "push them through" if allowed by Congress and the Constitution. I started out as a Warren fan (and In 2016, a Bernie fan until he wore me out), but Amy would be my choice if she gains traction with a more diverse demographic. But to charge Bloomberg with being stubborn while ignoring all the baggage carried by the other candidates is a bit like wearing blinders.
3
@David B Amen!
This column says Bloomberg has a "horrible" record in regard to the treatment of women. What is that record? More importantly, what is on the record that merits the word horrible? The bar on use of that discription has been raised very high by a guy named Trump.
From what I have read, "not good", in need of change and improvement would easily apply. It seems Bloomberg has a typical male attitude toward women of a bygone err, not to be unexpected for a man of his age.
Top male business executives often talk in inapproriate ways around people they work with. We need to make up our minds whether such past conduct is disqualifying, a hanging offense. Compared to Trump, Bloomberg looks like a boy scout.
6
Mr. Blow, a lot of what you write is true, but not pertinent. Yes, Bloomberg is flawed, but his policies brought down crime in the worst afflicted neighborhoods, which helped a lot of people of color. Plus he's the only one, who could effectively stand up to Trump. Medicare for all, forget about it. Free College tuition across the board, forget about it. These are pie in the sky plans with no effective way to implement them. I have a Warren bumper sticker, because she shook things up. It will soon be replaced by a Bloomberg sticker.
7
I was a Bernie supporter in 2016. I always have been for all his policy positions - and sill am. But now the issue is: How do we get rid of Trump.
There's is only one answer: Bloomberg. He has what none of the other candidates have: The funds; the smarts; the inside knowledge of Trump's NY world; the street fighting ability to knock Trump into oblivion.
6
I am a registered republican. I will not vote for Trump for the obvious reasons, but I will not vote for Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren because they are ideologues who, if elected, will fight with republicans in congress for 4 years never passing meaningful legislation and unlikely to get anything meaningful done. Plus I am not a fan of socialism, having read a little bit of history. No one is perfect, certainly not Mayor Bloomberg, or many op-ed page columnists, but if we don't recognize when our political leaders correct past mistakes then we become the demagogues.
6
My heart is with Bernie. But I could vote for Michael Bloomberg.
Each of the major Democratic hopefuls has things to say that I strongly support. I will enthusiastically support whomever becomes the eventual Democratic nominee for president.
I will vote my conscience in the primary.
And then vote blue, no matter who, on November 3.
Will you?
8
I agree with Mr. Blow that Mike Bloomberg has a lot to answer for in his past actions and comments. All of the other Democrats do as well, depending on the particular purity test that is applied. It would be expected that these litmus tests be applied- in a normal election cycle.
This isn't a normal election.
If we end up with Bloomberg running against Trump, which one is more likely to be a steady hand on the tiller?
Which one is likely to do something really impulsively dangerous?
It's a shame that we keep getting choices between bad and worse, but this is between bad and terrifying.
We don't have the luxury saying 'I just won't vote because I don't like any of them'.
7
Besides all Bloomberg's negatives, I will not vote for a billionaire coming in late, changing the rules to buy an election, nor will the majority of Americans. This is unprecedented and openly corrupt. Bloomberg will not win and he will decrease the Democrats chances of winning if we end up with a contested contentious convention. We don't know if anyone or everyone can beat Trump in 2020, a lot depends on Trump's popularity come November. Bernie beats Trump, 51-43 in the latest Quinnipiac poll. We need to let the popular candidate chosen by the people win this time. That's what Republicans did, and they won with Trump, despite everyone being sure he would lose.
3
@Leah Sirkin: What is openly corrupt about how Bloomberg runs his campaign? Does he accept foreign monetary support or welcome other foreign support to get him an advantage in the elections? Does he ask foreign heads of state to find dirt on his political competitors and opponents in exchange for a visit or military aid?
2
Geez, it’s way past time for more than two main parties. The tent is already way too big for republicans when it includes evangelical voters and Trump. How does that reflect an ideology? And, it’s almost there (some might even say it’s already there) for Democrats if they are seriously considering Bloomberg.
2
There is talk of which candidate can beat Trump. We are told to go with Bloomberg because he's the one.
Many can beat Trump. Whether by 8 points or 10 points, they win.
Which can *best* beat him?
There is no such things as a better or worse win. Either win or don't win. A narrower win is a win, with Trump as living proof.
Is there really a risk of losing, if we don't run Bloomberg, or Biden, or whoever lays claim to "best?"
No. Sanders can beat Trump. He beat Hillary in many of the same states where Trump later beat Hillary, including my state of Michigan.
So can many others beat Trump. Warren can beat him. She may be number 3 in a primary election, but in the general election as the Democrat she could beat Trump.
It isn't as if any of our leading candidates is so weak he'd lose to Trump.
We don't have to go dumpster diving to find the most-Republican candidate just to win at all.
7
@ Mark Thmpson
As the last election so starkly proves the best D winner is the one that will win the most electoral votes.
It's not how many total votes you get, but what states the D nominee will win.
3
@Mark Thomason Sanders and Warren are the candidates least likely to beat Trump. It's unfortunate that many ideologues have convinced themselves otherwise, but that is a delusion and will lead to Trump's re-election.
6
@Mark Thomason It's a pity the candidates aren't more "Republican" than they are, as that would rectify most of the problematic policies within their platforms. But I'm sure the good people at Dissent and CounterPunch disagree. Almost all of the non-corporate media is pretty terrible on economics. They talk about the economy like nine-year-olds, which is perhaps why so many intellectuals are so taken with democratic socialism: It's emotionally fulfilling.
Some of the problems in America can be rectified by more liberal-ish policies, yes; but some are GENERATED thereby. Bad as the GOP is, many conservative intellectuals' policy prescriptions are rather more appealing than ill-conceived, centralized approaches advocated by the Left. But this is a matter of framing, conceptualization, anthropological fundamentals, and personal preference.
We can have a softer, gentler capitalism in America. But it'll be less dynamic, and the future will suffer at the expense of the present. What we don't want to lose is the ability of this country to generate, over and over again, world-leading companies and next-gen technology. The why's and wherefore's of this seem to elude leftists' eyes. There's a reason Denmark doesn't propel increases in the world's living standards. The formula we've built that enkindles this will be destroyed by force-feeding America a preconceived distribution scheme and putting private companies on the tightest of leashes.
What many commenters fail to understand is that past performance indicates future direction. We tried to tell people about trump and they didn’t listen. Let’s not go down that road again.
4
If Sanders wins, our mad national spiral down the drain of polarization only gets worse. Bloomberg is far from perfect, but he has the best chance to keep Fox quiet and do some good while leading us back to sanity.
America is hobbled. Let's learn to walk again. Then we can run.
15
@Fruma: Sanders will never be found guilty of having class. Maybe that is a plus for him.
4
When I look at the Democrat’s field of candidates I see people who have not led major organizations nor actually accomplished much. Bloomberg is the exception. Inevitably accomplishing things tick off some people and involves real mistakes. Can Democrats understand that?
Bloomberg did not invent Stop and Frisk. That came from experts in crime and policing data. He authorized trying the idea, as did many other mayors. The idea had real merit applied properly but created backlash when tried too broadly. New York and Bloomberg learned and changed course. That’s how the world works. What ideas have the other’s tested. Sanders and Warren have lots of untested grand ideas that they want to test on a national scale. That’s scary. Total amateurs.
Did men in the 70’s and 80’s and 90’s say sexist things. Sure they did. Society is still full of it. But has Bloomberg learned and changed. Sure he did.
But Mr. Blow and others would rather lose the election, would encourage blacks and women and students not to vote for the only candidate that has even the remotest chance, and it is remote, to beat Trump. Dumb self righteousness
17
@John Morton wanting to be treated fairly and with respect is not dumb self righteousness. How a person perceives other human beings matters because s/he will create policies on based on those perceptions.
2
He may a rogue with a past but he's our rogue with a past. Someone who will know what to do when Trump loses the election and refuses to leave the office.
8
Exactly my thought. Bloomberg is someone who could shut down Wall Street just by turning off his financial data network. Who do you think the powers that be in Washington will listen to?
2
Trump will likely win reelection. The Democrats have a tendency to 'eat their own' in a self destructive pattern. This primary election system is inherently flawed. The survivor at the end is thoroughly undermined and battered. How is this absurd process helpful? If the Democrats lose again in November they need to completely overhaul this process.
3
Sorry Mr. Blow, it will be Bloomberg, or you're stuck with Trump. I think even you, who doesn't forgive or forget, can live with him if it assures that Trump doesn't have four more years. Maybe the Democrats take the Senate on Bloomberg's coattails. Remember perfect is the enemy of good. Right now, I will settle for good.
Bernie is not going to defeat Trump. Too many people in this country don't understand the socialism he stands for and he certainly doesn't take great pains to explain it or tell them that he is not a socialist as in Venezuela. I shudder to think of 4 more years of Trump and that's what we'll have if Bernie runs against him. I hope Biden can turn things around but I'm doubtful of that. I just don't see a path for Amy Klobuchar to make it to the top, unless Buttigieg drops out. The country will not vote for a gay man to be President. There are too many religious fanatics for that. Warren is finished as long as Bernie is in the race. So, if I had a crystal ball, I would say that if its Bloomberg that comes out on top, I'll vote for him, or anyone else for that matter to defeat Trump. I'm sure if we look hard enough, we can find some dirt on anyone. So please, let's stop this circular firing squad and let us be united in defeating Trump.
12
Mr. Blow, you write that ``All the top Democrats beat Trump in head-to-head matchups, and Bernie Sanders beats him by the same margin as Bloomberg.'' These are national polls, which mean very little -- because of the Electoral College, we need individual state polls and there aren't many at this point; Clinton did beat Trump, but look what we ended up with, and why. Also, these national polls are taken before there's been one bit of advertising targeting any Democratic candidate. Just watch the polls change, especially those state polls, once the advertising onslaught begins.
3
I have huge respect for Mr. Blow and generally agree with his views. Instead of tearing down Bloomberg for his past sins (despite the fact that he supports many progressive causes that benefit people of color), I wish Mr. Blow would identify who he thinks can beat Trump. Although I am a progressive Democrat, I can tell you for a fact that Sanders (if he doesn’t have a second heart attack) cannot beat Trump in key midwestern Electoral College states. All it will take is one Trump ad showing AOC dancing around on the stage of the Sanders rally for people to stay at home and not vote. We can’t lose this election. If we do, in the next four years look forward to a disastrous change in the Supreme Court, cuts in safety nets like Social Security, environmental devastation, and more and more appeals to white nationalism. Bloomberg can take on Trump financially, won’t be intimidated, and can go toe to toe with Trump, showing him to be the “con” he is.
6
I am a person of Color and worked for the City of NY for 6 yrs when Bloomberg was the mayor. I will vote for Bloomberg as I feel he is the only moderate democratic leader among the current ones who can defeat Trump. For me, the two most important issues are Gun Control and Climate change. Bloomberg spent millions of his own money and thanks to his contributions Dems won the house in 2018 . If you continue to crucify Bloomberg over Stop& Frisk brace yourself for Trump version 2.0.
16
I want a candidate that can win in November. I will vote for 'a dangerous choice' over the present occupant of the White House.
6
@MA Harry ...I would vote for my cat over the present occupant of the White House.
The wealthy already run this country, and electing a billionaire with a closet full of apologies will not change that.
All of the current Democrat candidates can beat Trump. Don't let someone who can buy an election convince you otherwise because it is a lie.
The only thing that Bloomberg has which the other Democrat candidates lack is billions of dollars with which to buy the election. How is he buying the election? By sending messages of fear, doubt, and the implication that only he can defeat Trump. This fear mongering of falsehoods is more consistent with the messages of the Republican party than any Democrat candidate. He is a Democrat in name only.
This November will be a referendum not only on Trump, but on the criminally complicit Republican party as well. This won't happen by electing a Republican apologist who will give GOP senators a slap on the wrist and ultimately, a way to save face and a path back to regain the power they are going to lose in November.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but Bloomberg hasn't exactly been very vocal about holding corrupt officials responsible for their misdeeds, much less championing the systemic change necessary to both undo the damage caused by Trump and his GOP and to prevent it from happening again. We need change now. A vote for Bloomberg is a vote for the wealthy elite to continue running our government. We need to take the money out of our politics, not kick the can down the road.
3
@OneAnon: The Democratic Party doesn't even have a coherent policy and/or vision that unites its own candidates.
1
@Steve Bolger
Agreed. We need a strong leader to achieve that and it won't be through a Republican apologist.
@OneAnon Given your bias against those who are well-to-do, I hope you will also dismiss Sanders, Warren, Biden and Klobuchar, all of whom are multi-millionaires.
Anyone but Trump!
And that includes Bloomberg, if the majority of Democratic primary supporters choose him.
9
I almost always agree with Charles Blow. His rigor and insight are valuable assets and I feel that listening to him can only educate one. But, although there are other candidates who, at the moment, interest me more than Bloomberg, I would vote for him if he is the nominee and I fear that this kind of criticism of Bloomberg, should he be the nominee, is counterproductive. We cannot have another four years of Trump. I would prefer to continue to live in this country, at my advanced age, than to be forced to move to another. Even if it means compromise.
10
@Harvey Perr: The US has two very tough humps to get over. The first is its delusions of divinity. The second is the institutional ruins of slavery barring democratic progress to the future.
Well said, but I seriously doubt Democrats will lean toward Bloomberg.
3
It has shocked me to see just how easily so many Democrats have been swayed to Bloomberg's side just by virtue of watching some TV commercials he put out. Are these peoples ideology so weak that all it takes to win them over is a 30 second ad? Have some self respect, people.
8
@Greg: Please don't accuse a Democratic Party that fails to press for democracy at the federal level "ideological". I call it clueless.
Thank you. Mr Blow always points me in the right direction, by doing the opposite of whatever message he is preaching.
2
Blow's short sighted litmus-issue perspective is another example of throwing out the baby with the bath water. There is no candidate with which all will agree on every policy. Pick the best, or at least the one with the fewest disagreeable issues. After a rational analysis Bloomberg deserves consideration as a presidential candidate.
12
No billionaire's wealth is "self-made." They do not make it - they take it. Their wealth accumulates off the backs of folks who have work earnestly in a system where wages adjusted inflation have remained flat for decades. Billionaires do not work thousands of times harded or more smart than a teacher or other public servant like me. Both trump and bloomberg are beneficiaries of our systemically inequitable economic system, and electing either one of these thieves amounts to leaving the fox to guard the henhouse.
3
@Mark ...You are exactly correct. Unless someone is an inventor or a very astute entrepreneur, there is no possible way they can earn a billion dollars in a lifetime. To gather that kind of money they have to take a good part of it from those to whom it rightfully belongs.
2
@Mark I hope then you will try to convince Democratic candidates to refuse donations from people like Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Tom Steyer, and Jeff Bezos, who obviously made their fortunes in the same corrupt way.
1
@Mark: Modern billionaires are made by hoarding founder's stock in start-ups that hit jackpots.
3
Bloomberg is as much of a truth eliding fraud as Mayor Cheat. I'm aghast at how many of these credulous readers are buying his line he's electable when Sanders is winning primaries, just buying into the meme that Americans are "moderate centrists" who won't vote for a "socialist" or that Bernie angrily "screams" about justice too much.
All I can tell you people is when Bernie has a plurality of delegates and the convention moves to the "brokered" state, you won't deny him the nomination this time for such a flawed candidate as Bloomberg and that if Bernie prevails like Trump did in 2016 despite your doubts, you will vote blue for the "socialist".
3
I think the polling data you refer to may be misleading. As our last election demonstrated, the issue is not the predicted margins of victory of Sanders and Bloomberg over Trump nationally. The issue is rather how much they beat him by, if at all, in the battleground states that swung the 2016 election to Trump. Personally, I don't care if Sanders beats Trump in California by more than Bloomberg beats him. Tell me about Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan and the like. Moreover, there is no equivalence between Bloomberg and Trump, as you try to imply, or even assert. Nobody in the race is equivalent to Trump. He is a historically horrible President. Bloomberg is not my first choice by any means. But when the option is Trump, you do a disservice by alienating Democrats from him with false claims of equivalence.
5
Charles, Just curious...What do CompStat records show about the reduction of black-on-black crime associated with "broken windows" and "stop, question & frisk" in high-crime communities? Did the policy help protect minority residents in targeted communities? Is it racist for the Police Department to augment policing in communities with high crime statistics? (The above questions are not meant in any way to excuse improper or excessive treatment, and the number of reported stops of innocents is certainly out-of-line.)
8
I have to say that I'm a bit perplexed that many believe that the answer to Trump is the far left candidate. I've never voted for a republican in my life. I even plugged my nose and voted for Hillary in 2016 knowing she poisoned the well on Sanders. I'm 42 years old and I don't see much on the Democratic side that I agree with anymore but Bloomberg makes sense to me. He is a moderate in a field of folks fighting for the far left which is further from my ideals than a moderate Republican. if the Democratic party doesn't fix this crazy ultra liberal trend, Trump and those similar are here to stay.
7
I am very concerned that he made negative comments about the Affordable Care Act. In these articles, I would like to hear more about his position specifically on health care.
I haven't read more than a few of these comments, but they seem to focus on the stop and frisk issue and the perceived ability to beat Trump. If Bloomberg's interactions with women approach Trump's, those alone should eliminate him as presidential material.
3
I will vote for anyone who the dems nominate to take on Trump. Defeating Trump may literally be the most important thing our country can do towards guaranteeing a future. If that means voting for Bloomberg, sure I'll do it. If it means voting for Bernie, I hate it but I would do that too. I'm getting pretty disgusted with the Bernie folk trying to advance torpedo viable options toward achieving the ultimate goal.
5
Charles
You are one of the Dems who will let perfect be the enemy of good! Our circular firing squad only helps DJT – who now knows no boundaries.
The old days in banking and trading were tough for women
At my 1st job women were explicitly paid less than men (after all, they would get married, get pregnant and quit)
Sexism was rampant, particularly in trading
We have made a lot of progress even if unfinished
Bloomberg moved past that and has a record of accomplishment and success and incredible philanthropy – that should count for something!
If we judge all men by their behavior in the 70s & 80s (and even 90s) none of us is fit.
Too many of us said many things in college & beyond that we now regret.
NYC was very lucky to have Mike as mayor after the reign of Rudy who certainly could not have steered the city through the financial crisis.
Biden, likely sensing the ship is sinking, has been on the attack. You and the WaPost now focuss on long past issues.
Trump will have his campaign lines written for him by the Dems
If he is reelected our democracy will be in very real peril – and the Dems who helped him (much like those who voted for Bernie & Jill in 2016) will wonder why.
7
I hope that Bloomberg can make it to a debate soon— not because I like him, but because he deserves to get put in comparison with the other candidates at a live event. Every single other candidate there will wipe the floor with Bloomberg.
3
A flawed mayor and human being --for sure. However, with Trump in the White House, the voting public cannot afford to cut off its nose to spite its face. I understand your strong criticisms, but if Bloomberg becomes the Democratic candidate, we all need to support him, whatever reservations we might have. The future of our democracy may depend on it.
4
For me, the idea behind “vote blue no matter who” is harm reduction. If I can’t have my favored candidate, you can count on most dem candidates to at least make things slightly better for the people who have been harmed most by Trump. So you do your duty and do the sensible thing.
This logic doesn’t hold for Bloomberg. He is just as likely to go on brutalizing the same people Trump has. He can’t be trusted. If the dems nominate him, I will stay home, and so will a lot of other dems. The choice will be between two billionaires who really love the police state. It is really disgusting to watch the media fall head over heels for this former Republican who is also a natural authoritarian.
2
@Andrew
You are wrong. Bloomberg is not my first choice as the Democratic presidential nominee. But he would be a far better president than Trump.
Wake up. If you cannot see this, then Mr. Trump thanks you for your support.
1
Michael Bloomberg is dead last on my list of potential candidates who will get my primary vote. Sorry, I just don't trust him. If he is the nominee. I'll hold my nose and cast my ballot for him in the general, but I won't be thrilled about it.
2
All that matters to me is beating trump. No - Bloomberg isn't perfect, but I will certainly take him as the nominee over Sanders because I think trump will wipe the floor with Sanders and the fears that he will turn the US into a socialist economy. I know that's not true, but trump's supporters will believe every word out of his mouth. Bloomberg is the only one who can take down trump and he can do it with class. No one cares for his stop and frisk policies, but perhaps he really has had an epiphany and realized those policies were wrong. And Bloomberg is the only candidate so far (other than perhaps Steyer) who appears to remember that we need to beat trump and who hasn't taken aim at all the other Democratic candidates. I usually agree with Charles Blow, but not this time.
5
51% of senior citizens lived in extreme poverty before that other socialist enacted Social Security.
5
If Bloomberg can win back the White House and it appears no one else has the resources to do that, then Bloomberg it is. His drawbacks are in the past. Leave them there. He's the only one who can pay enough to win. Don't be naive.
7
I wonder why are so many people willing to believe that Mr.Bloomberg is the only one that can beat Donald Trump having such a list of decent, smart candidates all of which can easily put a good fight or defeat him. Buttigied: brave enough to have gone to the army when our commander in chief cowardly eluded the draft. Bernie: consistent, honest over the years. The candidate of the young and the poor. Amy: sharp, hard working, able to, coming from humble origins, advance in society based on her values and hard work. Why woulden't they able to beat Trump? Unfortunately, Hillary had a couple of stuff on her resume that the press amplified a lot and hurt her at the end. None of this guys brings any baggage with them. So, what is it with Bloomberg? His money? If it is, I find it sad that we are going from billionaire to billionaire to lead this country. We should respect the democratic process and not being afraid or we are only going to go form bad to worse. .
2
Bloomberg has flaws but not as great as electability issues for Sanders or Warren
This column makes Mike Boomberg look every bit as bad as Donald Trump! That is a vast overstatement; Mr. Blow knows that. Stop and frisk was a very bad policy that some think -- like DJT -- works. It doesn't and Bloomberg found that out.
But consider Bernie Sanders and his healthcare for all. It the best solution for healthcare. BUT it will not pass Congress, not for years. Americans want their private healthcare. Free college, a great idea, but not soon. Bernie has awesome ideas and stunning presentation and has collected a cult of followers that swoon in his presence. But what will voters do when Trump yells "socialist" in debates. Bernie will lose.
But Bernie is effectively a liar -- or a fool, which I don't believe -- in implying that his social programs can be brought to practical and cost effective fruition any time soon.
People easily forget that the ACA -- Obamacare -- came into existence only after at least a year of public hearings and discussion with citizens, healthcare providers, and insurance companies to develop a set of compromises that were workable and many could work with. It is a flawed but operating system
Implementing such programs is hard.
So let's not crucify Bloomberg quite so easily when the options may include a world view through idealistic rose colored glasses.
I'd pick Sen. Klobuchar, myself, but she may not be able to beat Trump.
2
amen!
bloomberg is less likely to defeat trump because his candidacy will drive down democratic turnout, up and down the ballot. who rationally wants to see two elderly egocentric billionaires in an election?
sure, let bloomberg run his ads attacking trump. but support him for president? are you kidding? has everyone forgotten his support for bush policies? does the democratic electorate need an elaborate dope slap?
or is it the corporate party leaders, including at least one of your columnists, who are pushing bloomberg?
i'm not particularly a bernie fan, but if it comes down to bernie vs. bloomberg, there's no question i'd support bernie. let's focus more on true democrats, like klobuchar and warren. i hope the press, including the times, doesn't blow this for all of us.
2
Other Democrats may be willing to overlook Bloomberg's history of racism and sexism. Not me. I can't speak for how I'll feel in November, but as of right now, I can't see myself filling in the circle next to Bloomberg's name.
4
To me, as a native New Yorker, Mayor Bloomberg was not perfect
but he put his money where his mouth is; he brought life back to the streets, banned smoking in restaurants, etc. etc.
He is the pragmatic choice for president. Bloomberg has the brains, experience, and the resources, including strategic plans, to beat #45.
That's the bottom line.
6
I want a competent moderate president. The last thing we need is to go from the far right to the far left. That will not right this ship. It risks either breaking it or allowing a venal incompetent to further debase this country. Blommberg's not perfect- who is? But he has shown excellence in both the public and private sectors and has done much for the public good.
7
I was recently leaning toward Bloomberg. However, it turns out that he has insulted women, gays, African-Americans, fat people (40% of Americans are obese and 30% overweight), teacher's unions, and civil libertarians. He has also proposed a sweeping gun control plan which will put Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio solidly in Trump's column. The Democrats need a big turnout to win in November. Bloomberg's insults will turn off traditional Democratic voters. I'm back to Biden or Klobuchar. Sanders and Warren may even have a better chance than Bloomberg.
2
Yep.
I agree with you, Charles.
Bloomberg is not the right choice.
3
I keep wondering why it is that Democrats are so afraid of Bernie Sanders, who has been winning elections since 1981 and served as mayor, congressman and senator for multiple terms. What's more, he's leading in the primaries. Why would people default to a billionaire who pops up? I have great respect for Michael Bloomberg -- I think his role in paying US dues at the UN, and in preserving the climate change initiative in this country make him a superhero. But that doesn't mean that he is electable as President -- a good man, a rich man, and a man who wants to replace Trump, certainly. But are we really at the point where the only person qualified to beat Trump is someone richer than he is? That would make the rest of us unfit for office -- including everyone else who's running. I hope Bloomberg endorses whomever wins the Democratic nomination, and I hope that this is not simply a contest about who can spend the most.
3
I guess it all comes down to whether you believe Clinton lost because she failed to go to Wisconsin and Comey’s investigation, or because she was too liberal for our current set of swing states. Since OH & WI appear to have shifted even more to the right since, it does take some flight of fancy to think that someone to her left can win this time around, as much as I would like to. Heck, we are only saying Bernie is leading because he’s managed to keep his 25% share of the Democratic party with him.
Two things are sure, it would be hard for the GOP to label Bloomberg a socialist, and his money could potentially shame Trump into either admitting he is not really a billionaire or releasing his taxes to prove otherwise.
3
It's easy to dismiss ruining the lives of black and brown young men as collateral damage if you don't know or care about black and brown young men, but these are real people, some of whom are still suffering the aftereffects of these discriminatory policies.
Some children and teens were afraid to go to school for fear of being harassed and brutalized by the cops. Some young adults missed out on jobs because they couldn't get to the interviews on time. Some lost jobs for being late.
One of lasting effects is dislike and distrust of the police. This affects everyone because who would want to call the cops or cooperate with them if you were more likely to be victimized by the cops than the criminals.
Bloomberg has a lot to answer for. He may be sincere in his apology, but saying 'sorry' isn't nearly enough. He needs to recognize that an apology is only the beginning of making amends. He needs to do a lot more if he wants to be believed and trusted by the people that he hurt!
176
@bhaines123 To blame the entire system on Bloomberg is a stretch. No doubt it exists, but if you're looking for an easy solution by preventing Bloomberg from being the nominee, you're lost already. Don't give Trump another term just because you disagree with some of a nominee's record. Bloomberg's record is rather exemplary, not perfect. Even his policies in NYC yielded positive results which you are refusing to see. Time to put away smaller differences to beat Trump.
9
@Michael It says quite a bit about a lot of Democrats and liberals that they see the wholesale civil rights violations of nonwhite people as "snaller differences."
Bloomberg's candidacy will ultimately serve to strip the mask off a lot of Democrats. It's not just Republicans who see nonwhite Americans as second-class citizens whose rights can be trampled without a second thoughts. After all, it's just "small differences."
22
@bhaines123 It's beyond question that by the early 1990s, African American citizens wanted a response to the crime & violence in their communities. It was out of control. That's never been disputed by anyone. Young black men were being murdered at an alarming rate. The dead are the tip of the iceberg. Those who were maimed, beaten, robbed, fled their homes or lived in fear reach into the millions. Cries for police action were unanimous. The 1994 crime bill, stop & frisk were a response to these calls. It wasn't perfect. We overreached. Mistakes were made. We know that 25 years later. That's hindsight. Having said that something had to be done. The statistics reinforce what crime numbers have shown for decades: that POC in NYC were disproportionately the victims of violent crime. Their assailants were disproportionally POC. Stopping someone who is acting suspicious or resembles a person who the police suspect of committing a crime is not racist. The targeted neighborhoods were the ones with high crime rates & are minority so more minority searches would be a given. Police stopped more POC than white or Asians relative to their share of the city population. But not relative to their share of criminal suspects. This columnist has rarely if ever publishes an editorial lamenting the loss of those innocent lives, about the out of control violent crime in NYC city’s minority neighborhoods. I find it very disingenuous for him to not tell the other side of this complicated story.
19
Mr. Blow, I share your concerns about the character of Bloomberg. Unfortunately, my wife and daughter have bought into the new, improved, politically born again Bloomberg — his ads work.
However, for me, Bloomberg can be likened to a political Marlboro man, filtered poison for the people. On the other hand, Trump can be likened to a political Joe Camel, unfiltered poison for the people. Therefore, being taken in by smoke from either of these people will not improve the health of our democracy.
That said, my hopes are with Warren, but no matter who, I'm voting blue.
3
The continuing barrage of negative columns regarding Bloomberg reminds me of Maureen Dowd's Hillary Clinton derangement with serial colums trashing her. How did that turn out for us, Charles?
8
Terrible column. Look at the big picture.
7
Charles
What you don’t get is White liberals can deal with another four years of Trump… It’s not the end of the world for white liberals...You act like Bloomberg is beyond the pale....Jeez you don’t get it at all...Bloomberg might be able to beat trump... that’s all that should matter to you… You can’t dictate who gets the democratic nomination… When push comes to shove white liberals can deal with another four years of Trump that’s the bottom line... Black and brown Americans must accept whatever white liberal Democrats think is best ...sorry to say
1
@Corn fed City Boy
Speaking as a while liberal, I cannot accept four more years of Trump.
That is exactly why I am willing to accept (and enthusiastically support) Bloomberg, if he happens to be the choice of Democratic primary voters.
Vote your conscience in the primary.
And then vote blue, no matter who, on November 3.
2
Mr. Blow
Please read your colleague Thomas Friedman’s recent excellent and rational column supporting Mike Bloomberg. Whether you realize it or not, you, Charles Blow, are contributing to the re-election of the worst and most dangerous president in US hIstory. Your columns criticizing Mr Bloomberg are unduly harsh, unforgiving and extremely myopic. Please wake up, get a grip, and stop it before you do more damage.
7
@Robert Dale; I too concur with your thought regarding Tom Friedman's recent column.
While after Hillary's defeat in '16, the credibility of polls must be suspect, but several give Bloomberg the widest margin, 9%, to defeat Trump.
We cannot have an indecisive General election such as 2K Gore-Bush, for the constitutional crisis arising from such will make that one look like Kindergarten.
5
@Robert Dale: Everybody knows it will come down to pick one or the other one way or another. I doubt Mike Bloomberg wants to do it himself, but Joe Biden can't do it for him.
Speak on it, Charles!! Bloomberg is a racist authoritarian and has no place in our party.
6
@Casey S: An active parliamentary democracy like Germany's gives voters a choice of five political parties. Here in the US, we have only Northron or Southron.
2
It’s interesting and upsetting that Bloomberg can get away with pandering to the black community in S.C. with his “Bloomberg for black America” signs and an apology about stop and frisk. Pete Buttigieg, on the other hand, has spent months being raked over the coals for HIS police problem in South Bend. My takeaway? Voters don’t care what kind of a thug you are if you have money. God have mercy on our souls.
5
Thank you, Charles Blow.
Please let the DNC and its compadres hear you.
2
A huge number of people of color have always supported Mike, one reason being the great fall in crimes against people of color
when Mike was Mayor for 12 years in NYC. Mike is just so much more impressive than the other candidates in terms of demeanor
and Mike's life history of accomplishment. If the alternative to Mike is Bernie, Mike would be a much more impressive candidate for the general electorate in November. Since the general electorate is unlikely to choose Bernie over Trump, Charles Blow is really speaking to the reelection of Trump. Ironic.
6
@David: It has to be difficult to live under a legacy of slavery that is believed to be a divine revelation. If push comes to shove, I think Charles Blow will vote for Bloomberg over Trump.
Stop-and-frisk and having been sued by 64 women for harassment ain't Michael Bloomberg's sole liabilities.
He has also proclaimed he would fix schools by cutting teacher staffing in half and doubling class sizes. Hey, I can think of an even better approach there: why not cut the teachers themselves in half? That will fix schools. Meanwhile, his kids went to private schools with a class size of 6 and befriended billionaires got rich from his facilitating and promoting and advantaging a grand, prestigious, glib, vapid and shiny skyscraper economy focused on shareholder and executive and consultancy pay-offs from things like outsourcing and downsizing and an entirely unproductive or even damaging shadow economy of naked speculation sans conscience, and endless mergers and acquisitions to gobble up market competitition so the moguls and their conglomerate monstrosities coming out on top are freed to blackmail the consumer. He is the antagonistic force of regulating or breaking things up to stimulate or reinstall competition.
He is an exhibit A of mean policies and ruthless profit greed throwing stakeholders under a boom or bust bus.
Nevermind he has given profusely to Republican campaigns, under more to the one that won Rick Snyder his governorship, implicating Bloomberg in the Flint scandal.
How bad can it get?
I'd never thought I'd say this, but: give me Hillary Clinton back as the establishment candidate, pulleaze. Not Biden, not Buttigieg, and absolutely no no Bloomberg.
4
What’s fascinating now is the focus on stop and frisk now rather than then.
I was never comfortable with the extent of it, and wish it’d been dramatically curtailed. But I nonetheless understood the arguments for it... it was seen as bringing crime down dramatically and helping mothers in poorer neighborhoods sleep easier knowing that there were fewer guns on the street, many people in the affected communities were for it, and I don’t remember the NYT or others complaining much until near the end of Bloomberg’s term.
What is missing is the context of time. It’s tough to superimpose today’s values and knowledge against those of a decade or more ago, as Things look different over time.
No candidate has a perfect record... Bernie supported guns and Sandinistas, Biden could have done better with Anita hill, etc. AND no candidate should be judged only by their mistakes. What matters most is how candidates are today... what they believe, say and do. On that score, Bloomberg is just as strong as the other candidates.
6
@Dsr: Every police-citizen interaction carries some degree of risk for both sides of the situation. Many police officers don't want to be forced to look for trouble.
1
So what happens if Bloomberg gets the nomination? Do we sit it out or hold our noses and vote for him?
That said, I do think Bloomberg would be more effective not as the candidate but as the very sharp thorn in the side of the trump campaign, and with few barriers to prevent him from playing this role well.
2
There is no doubt in my mind that Bloomberg, (not my first choice,) has the money, tenacity, smarts, and support on Wall Street to defeat Trump. That is the only task for 2020. I also think he will prove to be a good choice for those of us who are disturbed by some of his historical mistakes.
3
To be fair, Bloomberg isn’t the only politician to be caught in the trap of believing in the myth of runaway crime in the 90’s. Biden (and Obama by extension) also believed in a ground-level approach of capture and punish. In this view, Bloomberg is pragmatically correct that to stop crime a government must react where the crime exists.
Yet a view that makes an effort to look towards a bigger scale suggests that there are more complex and nuanced explanations for social issues, explanations that would lead to more systemic and effective solutions. Street level crime, after all, is perpetrated largely by individuals who are effectively powerless within the context of formal economic and political power structures. Capable, energetic, and motivated individuals who are effectively frozen out of the prevailing social and economic power structures often see no other recourse than crime to attain some sort of efficacy. This further suggests that rising economic inequality is a much more consequential issue than street level crime and even its cause.
Sharing wealth across a larger and more inclusive cross section of society is a dicier game for politicians, requiring thoughtful policies with longer timelines and less splashy or headline-worthy announcements. Economic inequality solutions must address the accumulation of wealth at disproportionate scales, and clearly those who have already acquired that advantage are not eager to lose it. That is a gigantic ask for a politician.
1
@Marshall Doris Drug dealers were the wealthy ones in their neighborhoods. They didn’t have to go to college or work particularly hard to get their money. The only downside was potential incarceration.
Charles, if only we were in the America where we could rationally contemplate the behavior and policies of the Democratic candidates and dismiss those who clearly have significant failings. But alas, that's not where we are. Nope, our choice is between a president (and his Administration) that is right out of a North Korean casting call and anything but that. If our choice for the next president were between Trump and a ham sandwich, our only question would be, "Can I get that on rye?" (And we'd take it even if the answer were no.)
4
You are assuming that our President needs to be an icon: no skeletons in the closet, or out of the closet. Of course, let's not look back on former Presidents...what we now know about their moral character or lack thereof would make us cringe. But look at their leadership, at how they steered our country during crises. Were they bad Presidents? Perhaps they checked the moral and ethical boxes but were weak and listened to the wrong advice. Not bad men, but bad Presidents...It is so easy to continue to ignore that Congress makes the laws, Congress funds the programs, Congress sets the agenda...and who has funded Congressional candidates for the past years? Bloomberg. Who has maintained the President is an administrator who enacts what Congress passes? Bloomberg. Who waited to enter the race until it was obvious the party was in trouble? And who has pledged to financially support the eventual candidate? Bloomberg. Since leaving office Bloomberg has put his money and expertise into supporting important causes that align with the Democratic party. I am looking at what a candidate will do now, with integrity, to protect and defend our country.
6
"The polls simply do not bear that out. All the top Democrats beat Trump in head-to-head matchups, and Bernie Sanders beats him by the same margin as Bloomberg."
wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. These general polls, the same one Hillary was winning, are not polls of the electoral swing states, and you know it Charles. This has nothing to do with Bloomberg or Bernie, but you are being disingenuous making your readers believe Trump is trailing. He's not. He's currently head to head or ahead in the swing states where the race will be decided. Betting sites have Trump way out in front.
8
Literally nowhere in this article or anywhere in the comments that support Mr. Blow's position does anyone say "Don't vote for Bloomberg if he wins the nomination". And yet, this is the sole argument being pushed by all these comments warning that we can't be choosy if we want to beat Trump. That argument shouldn't even exist until the Primaries are over and we have a single nominee to vote for. If you fear the "Bernie Bros" mentality, don't create more of them by refusing the legitimacy of their having a choice during a process where having a choice is literally the entire point.
4
Considering the progressive move to the left, thanks to Bernie Sanders's tireless efforts and the supportive response from voters and Bernie's poll numbers, it is truly beyond incomprehensible and shocking Democrats would actually even contemplate for a second anointing a Republican as their candidate to run against Trump . A Republican billionaire, to boot. 12 years of Bloomberg's insufferable arrogance and imperious style should have taught us to never consider him electing for office again. Bernie 2020.
6
@La Rana: Bernie is definitely the Republican's first choice to run against.
@La Rana Democrats are contemplating Bernie as a candidate even though he isn’t a Democrat.
I couldn't agree with you more Mr. Blow.
The divide is growing within our party and this is very troubling.
We have Dems being way to vocal about their Bernie fears and then Bloomberg is really more republican to me. I understand the need to beat Trump but why do democrats have to choose another business man obsessed with the stock market because that is not what democrats are or at least I didn't think so.
5
@Allie Cat: The Democratic Party is a mirage. It does not even advocate democracy.
None of us knows who has the best chance of beating Trump. But so many of us believes they do. It's maddening. In the primaries, vote for whom you believe in.
4
I see from the comments below that many New York City residents have a positive evaluation of Mr. Bloomberg. That makes sense; he was elected Mayor three times. What I do not understand is how people can conclude from that experience that he would make a good President. He is a very successful finance capitalist, but being President of the United States is a much bigger and more diversified job that that. Finance capitalism is probably New York City's largest economic force, but it isn't so for the USA. What does he know about the rest of the US, with its diverse regional populations and economies? What does he know of the the country's labor force? Is he anti-union? His history with African-Americans and women is suspect, to say the least.
There is indeed a struggle ongoing for the heart and direction of the Democratic party, and this is as important as the struggle for the Presidency. Mr. Bloomberg seems an unlikely choice for resolving either of these issues.
That said, of course he should run, since he wants to do so. He has a great financial advantage over nearly all of the other candidates, but he doesn't have the base of support that some of them do. And that matters. I suspect his financial, geographic and class isolation will ultimately be a drawback against Trump. If he does win the nomination, I will surely vote for him rather than the abomination that will be his opponent. But I am not at all certain he can beat Trump. Indeed, I think he cannot.
2
@Harvey Green: Control of international banking is very much a base of US power.
3
My heart says vote for Sanders in the primary.
My head says vote for Bloomberg in the primary.
I like them both in different ways. I have about a month to decide in my state (March 24 primary in GA). I like a lot of things about all of the major Democratic presidential hopefuls.
Vote your conscience in the primary.
Vote blue, no matter who, on November 3.
6
I have at least some idea how you feel. What happened to a whole bunch of young men can't be undone, and the lasting effects are more profound than most of us comprehend.
Personally, I'd like to see Bloomberg's money and his support go to one of the present candidates. With that kind of reinforcement, one of the "regular" candidates could beat the knucklehead that's now in office.
Right-wing money went into changing the whole playing field of US politics. It was crafty to go for state legislatures and thus get the system gerrymandered up. The judicial system is politicized. And the Senate is always theirs, pretty much by design.
She minority really does now rule. "Let the people decide," after the Senate trial meant these people, not us.
Why were these Republicans able to take control of, first, their own party, and secondly, the nation. I see two fundamental reasons, the usual:: fear and greed.
The fear of a minority that's always considered itself a majority coming to the realization that it's not: white men. Everything from women and black people becoming president to you can pretty much name it. So for guns, anti-abortion, anti-gays, and to a large degree, anit-intellectual.
But behind all that, the fundamental cause of power is greed. A vast grab of money. I truly don't understand people like that. In this environment, we need people with huge money who, unlike Trump's friends, have values. We need Bloomberg, if not as president, at least as an ally.
1
Agreed, Mr. Blow. Mr. Bloomberg has media and money and that's why people have heard of him. But he and President Trump could easily have traded places -- Bloomberg could have run in the GOP against Clinton and Donald Trump, in the Democratic party, could have run against Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio or Chris Christie. Neither Bloomberg or Trump respects people who are in politics as a career. Both are certain that their money speaks volumes about their capability and that money makes them smarter at retail politics. Both are authoritarian in nature -- with the NDAs to match.
5
We’re voting for an executive, Charles. Except for Bloomberg, none of the Democrat candidates have an executive skill set and the executive experience needed to run this country effectively. Not one.
5
@Linda
"We’re voting for an executive"
That is a great point. Bloomberg clearly has executive experience, as Mayor of New York City, and in his own company.
But some other candidate do have some executive (as opposed to legislative, experience.
- Mayor Pete
- Sanders (was mayor of Burlington, VT)
- Steyer
- Yang
That said, it would be fair that Bloomberg has the strongest resume with executive experience. But he is not the only candidate who has been an executive.
Meanwhile, Mr. Trump only had executive experience as the head of a closely-held family firm, accountable to no one. And look where that got us.
8
While polls are notoriously unreliable, nevertheless I definitely recall Sanders polling better against Trump than HRC in the run-up to the 2016 election. Yet the powers that be, the mainstream media and the the DNC, foisted HRC off on us – and she lost. This time we must not let those same forces foist another losing candidate off on us. That said, we all know the sad political fates of Eugene V Debs, Henry Wallace and George McGovern and others 'who flew to close to the sun'.
Bernie Sanders' program may seem unrealistically radical considering Republican right wing greed-based intransigence but Obama's moderate conciliatory approach met the same implacable wall. However the real question is can whoever prevails be beat Trump? It's a gamble. But then we live in perilous times – especially in regard to the Climate Crisis. It must be confronted robustly and immediately. I will vote for Sanders because he represents a real chance for change. We need to start with a a forceful alternative not Obama redux. Yet if a a centrist candidate prevails such as Michael Bloomberg regardless of his racist inclinations, I will certainly vote for that person. I just hope ALL sensible people in will do the same. Donald Trump is a political aberration and an existential threat to the entire planet and must be driven from from office.
5
Bloomberg needs to be useful by using his billions to support an actual Democratic candidate, not his own ego-driven campaign. Period.
5
We should have a vigorous debate and vote for our best candidate.
There are reasons to vote for or against them:
Sanders: Takes on the corporate/billionaire class. Fights for workers. Has won popular vote in IA and NH. Inspires progressives and young people. Is a self-declared democratic socialist who will turn off moderates/Independents. Policy programs are impractical/will not be implemented. Will hurt down-ballot candidates.
Buttigieg: Smart, young, Veteran, gay. Excellent debater. Leads delegate count so far. Inspired older progressives and moderates. Slick, inexperienced, corporate/billionaire owned, gay. Has never won in red districts. Minority votes?
Klobuchar: Smart, tough, funny, a fighter, has won in red districts. Poor showing in IA. After surge, 3rd in NH. A practical moderate. Excellent debater. Does she have the resources?
Warren: Smart, sincere, detailed policy plans. Right of Sanders - still a capitalist - but left of moderates - more willing to take on corporations and billionaires. Poor results in IA and NH. Is the tough/dirty enough?
Biden: Still popular with minority voters - has to win SC, needs near top finish in NV. Could do well in swing states. Terrible results in IA and NH. Past sell by date?
Bloomberg: Popular Mayor of NYC. Fights for progressive issues. A real billionaire, a real businessman who is tough/dirty/cheating enough to take down Trump. Is buying the nomination. Had some racist policies as Mayor.
All are infinitely better than Trump.
3
The US is so self-destructively fractured that the Senate just effectively neutralized the House. So much for that level of democratic representation in Washington.
4
The single goal of this election is to remove Donald Trump. The thought of what he could do if allowed another term is terrifying.
It begins with the effective destruction of the ability of Congress to check the presidency and ends with the effective nullifying of the Constitution itself.
Bloomberg is said to have verbally demeaned women. Trump has been accused, effectively of rape. Bloomberg is said to have issued a false apology regarding 'stop and frisk'. Bernie is selling a pie-in-the-sky free health care and college tuition utopia which any concious being, Bernie in particular, knows cannot happen in this country at this time or at any time in the foreseeable future.
If we are looking for someone who can withstand Trumps endless well lit and shiny dog and pony show. It might be Bloomberg. Trump bases everything on money. Trump sees himself as so powerful in no small part because he views himself as so incredibly wealthy. But Bloomberg really is extremely wealthy. Bloomberg is actually a successful self made man. Bloomberg actually has 12 years under his belt running New York City which is not an insignificant task. Stop and frisk is a dark spot in history but it is not Bloombergs alone. It is far more likely that Trump would re-institute a similar policy than would Bloomberg.
I don't dismiss the basis of the disparaging remarks, rather caution that the results are potentially existential. Do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
8
@PG: The Senate already flushed the Congress to oblivion.
I respectfully disagree with Mr. Blow, and will support Mr. Bloomberg for nomination as the Democratic candidate for Presidency. Equating Mr. Bllomberg and Trump in their attitude to race is absurd, just as it is absurd to equate separating children from parents at the border with incarcerating young men of color in NY. Mr. Bloomberg has shown personal commitment to the major issues of the day, climate change, separation of church and state, reinstitution of the rule of law in this country, gun control and choice. We know that some progressives would rather see Trump win reelection than support a ticket without Mr. Sanders in it. I just hope they are few and far between. I also have to express my admiration for the African American voters who seem to have a much clearer and clear eyed approach to candidate selection. It is interesting that Mayor Buttigeig as well as Senator Klobucher have fallen behind Mayor Bloomberg in African American support.
11
Okay, I think I’ve just figured this out. For decades the Democratic Party has been stealthily shifting to the right where the Republicans were fifty years ago. Bloomberg is that Republican from fifty years ago now normalized as the current Democrat. When now finally faced with the most outrageous of anti-democratic (small d on purpose) forces, Don the Trump, we, the original Democrats, will choose Bloomberg as though he was the natural liberal choice creating the new oxymoronic truth, a conservative Democrat. Is this what Einstein meant by Special Relativity?!
6
I've read both of Charles Blow's back to back articles strongly condemning Michael Bloomberg, and I have read all the comments submitted by New York Times readers. I have respected Mr. Blow's ideas on other subjects, but I would estimate that 90-95% of readers disagreed with Mr. Blow's views on Mr. Bloomberg. Like many of them, I recognize that he has had some issues where he could have performed better in the past, but overall, over many years including three successful terms as mayor of New York, he has consistently tried to make the world a better place, which I believe he would do as president. I therefore support his candidacy, and today voted for him in the California primary election.
11
I rather doubt that the educated voters of Atlanta, Georgia, or Detroit, Michigan, the physicians, the teachers, the professors, the dentists, the business people, the clergy, would care for Mr. Bloomberg. He lacks a certain compassion and respect for all Americans that is urgently necessary in this upcoming election and for the future of this land. Raucous New York is not the USA.
As it is now, the people of the EU and Canada outlive us; one out of at least eight, if not seven people in this land is improperly nourished. Health issues go unaddressed.
How can an extremely wealthy man begin to contemplate or have compassion on the average US citizen? Mr. Sanders has much more in common with the average American and can relate to him or her much better. With his age has come wisdom.
Two books worth studying before the next election for those out there with time and concern: Arthur Simon's well-researched SILENCE CAN KILL about making the US economy work for everybody, and that equally-detailed classic by Howard Zinn, A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
We as a people carry our war-affected problems, economic, health, employment, environmental, agricultural, and political from decade to decade and even century to century without much forward movement. Families and individual citizens suffer deeply, but we are not as powerless as we might think. The best presidential candidate will consistently demonstrate deep respect for others, here and abroad.
7
@Cheesecake: The US has never even established equal democratic representation at the federal level. It is still the nation it was when slavery was practiced at the state level.
4
@Cheesecake Sanders is a multi-millionaire, and has had only 5 months more than Bloomberg to gather wisdom. Most of what he's done to improve the situation of the American people is to give loud speeches, rather than taking any meaningful action.
Try again.
2
Vote your conscience in the primary.
And then vote blue, no matter who, on November 3.
I find a lot to like about each of the major Democratic presidential candidates. Mike Bloomberg is not my first choice at the moment, but I will enthusiastically support him if he is the nominee. I may even vote for him in my primary, about a month from now, depending on what I see over the coming weeks. (My current top personal choices are Buttigieg and then Sanders, but I like many things that each of candidates has to offer -- including Bloomberg, Klobuchar, Warren, Biden, and Steyer.)
Bloomberg's policies are excellent on climate change and gun control. And he is fine to good on most other issues. A Bloomberg presidency would move our country forward in the right direction.
7
@MidtownATL
"Vote your conscience in the primary.
And then vote blue, no matter who, on November 3."
This is critical advice at a critical time - well put.
Thank you.
7
My opinion about candidates like Mike Bloomberg can be summed up in three words: No More Billionaires
When President Obama tried to warn voters about Trump in 2016, they obviously didn't listen. What do you really believe a billionaire is going to do for the average American? Good question; we have the answer. No More Billionaires.
2
I truly don’t understand this. There are very conservative billionaires (Koch), very liberal billionaires (Soros), and everything in between. Why is the fact that someone is a billionaire the number 1 consideration?
2
@Paula "What do you really believe a billionaire is going to do for the average American?"
Replace Donald Trump - that would be an excellent start.
@Paula: Who listened to New Yorkers about Trump?
Where do I begin? His inappropriate use of Obama in his ads?
His "Why bother to debate the other candidates attitude?" The manner in which he inserted himself as a "write in" in NH? A history of inappropriate comments to women? Hudson Yards, which could have been developed to benefit all classes of New Yorkers and is instead a playground for the wealthy? I'm a born and raised New Yorker and I can't stand Bloomberg. There are other candidates that have already proven that they understand the connection to humanity that needs to go hand in hand with politics. Let's choose one of them take Trump on.
9
"It’s not as if Democrats don’t have viable candidates to choose from, none of whom even come close to the scale of Bloomberg’s transgressions." Who are those candidates? I don't mean candidates who appeal to lifelong Democratic voters and Millennials, but those who can pull in enough Republicans and independents to get them to overcome their own economic interests to do what's right for the country. Bernie or Elizabeth Warren? Forget it -- centrist and independent voters won't take a chance with their own finances or the nation's economy. Biden is done unless a miracle happens on Super Tuesday. Mayor Pete -- nice guy but he has failed so far to appeal to many of the core Democratic supporters and won't be taken seriously in a national election. Amy Klobuchar is the best of the rest and appeals to a broad range of voters, but her organization and finances may not take her beyond Super Tuesday. Bloomberg has many flaws in his record, but he has the money, the business credentials, and the political chops to beat Trump. At the end of the day, if he is nominated, he is clearly the better choice.
8
So far Bloomberg has stood up to Trump better than anyone else. I think the future of our country is at stake and whoever wins the Democratic primary should get everyone’s support.
Hilary Clinton had her faults but too many people didn’t vote in 2016 or even voted for Trump because they didn’t like her. If the same thing happens in 2020 to whoever the candidate is our Democracy will likely not survive.
8
@Javaforce: James Comey's stunt with Anthony Weiner's computer the week before the 2016 balloting elected Trump. Without that she would have cleared the Electoral College.
1
First, let's not panic yet. Bloomberg has not won any delegates. He has run extremely effective ads. I hope we can have the best of both worlds his megaphone but not him. If he does get nomination that will get us Trump again. Voters of color will not vote. I doubt even a Stacey Abrams, Kamala VP could overcome that. If, and big if, he could even pick up such a VP.
1
Bloomberg has the best chance of winning in Nov. He is manifestly not crazy and it inarguable that he has done some really good things, with his management and his legally(yeah) made fortune. The democrats have always shown a gift, a virtual genius for self-sabotage. Nominating Sanders would be right in line with that.
Your views on Trump has been clear and farsighted. By running against Bloomberg, you are supporting Trump. Keep up the good work.
8
Thank you so much Mr. Blow for telling all of us how to vote. We need your advice. I am myself not impressed with Bernie as the president of the United States and commander in chief.
6
No one can beat Trump except Trump. The Democratic nominee does not matter even if it is Bloomberg or Sanders or Mayor Pete, or Klobuchar.
The only choice on the ballot this November for ALL voters is: Trump or Not Trump. It does not matter who the Democratic nominee is.
3
The more democratic people won't win. Bloomberg is the right choice. Instead of being upset about comments made over the years, the democrats should endorse them as indications that he can be as tough as Trump.
10
It's my understanding that black women were also frisked for no apparent reason. I may be wrong about that, but I think I am correct in thinking that this tactic was, in the end, "unreasonable search and seizure." Machiavellian tactics (the end justifies the means) doesn't cut it.
7
i'm for whoever can beat trump. if that's bloomberg, he'll get my vote. he's not perfect, i oppose stop and frisk, but he's good on most issues and has the financial power to defeat the republican propaganda machine. the current polls showing all the democrats leading trump are hopeful signs, but will those leads hold up when the real campaign begins? frankly and unfortunately, probably not without a lot of money to counter a GOP unbound by things like truth and common sense.
7
Sometimes I think the Democrats just don’t want to win. The path forward seems so clear and assured. Bloomberg and Amy Klobachar as VP. Moderates can win this election and should. Clearly that’s what all of the results have shown. I am now a Democrat after leaving the republican party of which I have been a member for 40+ years. You half to get the large majority of voters in the middle. There can be no remedy without power. And there is no power unless you win an election. I hate the ruthlessness of the Republican Party, but the Democrats need to pay attention to how Republicans have seized every lever of government. They have the power —they call the shots. It might not be how you want to play the game, but you have to play the game in order to WIN! Figure everything else out once Trump is gone.
17
Thank You. I was wondering if anyone was going to put some light on this huge con operation. You said " I don’t trust Bloomberg".
On the other hand I do trust that this billionaire will do everything he possibly can to maintain the present delusion of faux democracy.
We simply must avoid that.
12
Trump has made 10,000 more damaging moves than Bloomberg. And, at least Bloomberg is competent, smart, informed, and can be counted on to appoint intelligent and competent people to reinstate the government's fractured departments. He is beholden to no one. It doesn't matter right now what the Democrat's policies are if we don't win. I think Bloomberg can win, right the ship, and then we can work on policies.
22
@Virginia Mann
Many voters are disturbed that the two major political parties may pit a wacky divisive Republican candidate against a crazy economic agenda proposed by Bernie -- simply hard to believe. Trump and Sanders do not pass the minimum bar standard as to being worthy to be President for many of us who are not ideologues.
I always thought that Bloomberg or some other sane experienced individual would run as a 3rd party candidate -- hopefully get on a debate stage and then point to Trump or Sanders/Warren and ask the question "Is this what you really want?" Bloomberg could have also avoided all the litmus tests imposed upon candidates by the Progressive Wing of the party.
Dem voters and party have the opportunity to be smart but I am not sure that they will seize upon it. If they do not, the ideologues will then blame the voters.
We can only hope that they think thru their decision.
4
It would be helpful now if President Obama would come forward to ask that no one run ads like those of Bloomberg that falsely imply he has given his endorsement to that candidate.
It would be very much helpful if President Obama asked Bloomberg to take down that add and acknowledge that it bends the truth in its implication.
That Bloomberg is willing and intent to use his vast wealth to tip the scales of the election and history in his favor is reason enough to decry his candidacy and beware of his nomination and possible presidency.
It is as arrogant and both un-democratic and un-Democratic ploy as every played in American politics, even more than Joseph Kennedy's purchase of the presidency for his son.
6
I would like to see projected electoral college results for democratic candidates against Trump. As we know Trump did lose the popular vote and won the electoral college vote.
3
Has anyone asked WHY Bloomberg is running? Does he (who bought himself an otherwise illegal third term as mayor) really believe he is not above the law? Or is he really all about preventing a Warren or Sanders presidency?
9
Do I think stop and frisk is Constitutional? First, it depends on whether it was targeted based on race vs. neighborhoods with high crime.
If it was disproportionately targeted on neighborhoods with high crime, then it seems more likely to be Constitutional as a rational, albeit extreme, policy. I still think body search pat downs absent any other suspicious activity is probably Unconstitutional.
But do I think it's some kind of horrific human rights abuse? Well, no.
Your naked body is literally scanned and viewed by strangers every time you take a flight. Your phone calls are recorded by the NSA and your whereabouts are tracked by governments and private companies.
So on the whole, it's one of many privacy abuses and I can't say it's disqualifying for public office given the greater context of contemporary society.
He apologized. It was rescinded. It's done and over and time to move on.
15
@Mmm: The ubiquity of cameras and cell phones deters crimes now.
Spot on. Thank you for continuing to lead on this topic, Mr. Blow. Bloomberg's dollars should not allow for diminution of his responsibility for past racist policy. Should we forgive Bloomberg? Perhaps. However, we cannot absolve. Stop-and frisk was a decade plus act, akin to domestic terrorism, committed against NYC's minority community with impunity. How do the progressives amongst us simply say, "no big deal, he said he was sorry. Plus, it was really safe during his self-extended three terms..." I've said it before and I'll say it again, for anyone else, with less money to spread around, this policy would (and should) be disqualifying. However, it seems we should never underestimate the power of the dollar, which makes it easier to forgive racist policy than empathize with a victimized community. Finally, acknowledging overt racism is not a purity test, it's a responsibility for anyone who wants a better path forward for everyone, including the forgotten victims of stop-and-frisk.
9
I can only imagine how Bloomberg supporters, so willing to ignore his record on harming vulnerable people, will cry the loudest if and when he comes after them.
10
@Gabrielle: At the rate Trump is going, more brazenly emboldened than ever, he has worked on those either generally disloyal to him; or spoke out against him during the pre-impeachnent investigations. His AG appears to be insulating him even more. At the rate he's going, who's to say the media won't be in his crosshairs, sooner or later?
Whether Bloomberg is seen as equally as bad; the lesser of two evils; or the one man who is the most capable of beating Trump at his own game; anything has to be night-and-day better than four more years of the crook; fraud and failure that is. Trump. I'll take my chances with Mike, thank you.
1
He is only in it to stop Bernie and Liz. He doesn't care about Trump. It was when Bernie and Liz showed strength in polls for that he decided it was time.
8
The campaign has already gone on forever and the primaries have just started. At this point we're already tired of seeing all of those Democratic candidates and their endless back-and-forth about Medicare for all, etc. Bloomberg is a fresh face. We'll soon be tired of the commercials.
How about a one-year limit on the campaign? No formal declarations, no exploratory committees, no fundraising until exactly one year before the election. A three-month run-up to the primaries, starting with California, would be more than enough.
4
@John: The next campaign begins the day after election day in the US.
He has done some admirable work as a private citizen. A private citizen is what he should remain.
Yes, but continue to spend big time on the attack ads against Trump. The ads don't have to be vicious, just factual.
2
Like it or not, Bloomberg perfectly describes the make up of American society: Republican, with some liberal tendencies. What you get is a moderate, regardless of party.
5
If Blow is going to chastise Bloomberg for making "misleading statements," he probably shouldn't write things like "All the top Democrats beat Trump in head-to-head matchups."
That might be true if we were allowed to ignore the inconvenient truth that is the Electoral College. Democrats may indeed lead in national polls, but when we break the numbers down by state, we find Trump winning in virtually every state he carried in 2016.
It's almost a given that Democrats will win the popular vote, thanks to the vehement opposition to Trump we find in the most populous states. But unless they manage to flip 3-4 swing states that went for Trump last time, they will once again lose in the Electoral College.
Right now, the Democratic frontrunners do not fare well in the swing states. And many of us are wondering: is it wise to nominate an avowed socialist at a time when satisfaction with the economy is at its highest point in decades? Will people really flock to a candidate who wants to open the borders and offer free healthcare to undocumented immigrants? Can a woman, or a gay man, win over moderate Republicans in Pennsylvania and Ohio?
These are legitimate questions. Bloomberg may not be the answer. But if I were presented with the choice of either Bloomberg or four more years of Trump, that is no choice at all.
20
I am going to vote for whomever the Democratic nominee is. I'm not sure who I'm going to vote for in the primary yet. But, make no mistake, whatever sins Bloomberg has committed absolutely pale in comparison with the current white house occupant. Plus, he would hire decent and competent people. If he is the nominee, I will enthusiastically vote for him. We have to get beyond the whole "ideal" candidate thing. Keep looking at the big picture.
15
Bloomberg's billions will have the most dramatic impact on low-information voters who rely upon superficial knowledge of the candidates. Indeed, Bloomberg and Trump have a lot in common that way. Bloomberg will attack Sanders just like Trump will in appealing to these voters. If Sanders can fend off Bloomberg and the other Republican wannabes in the Democratic Party, he will thump Trump.
9
@Peter Sacks: Mike will never out-macho Trump.
Three big differences between 45 and Bloomberg:
(1) Bloomberg made his own money; he did not inherit that sense of self-importance;
(2) Bloomberg, unlike 45, has governmental experience;
(and this is the big one:
(3) If the unthinkable should happen and Bloomberg becomes 45 Redux, I have no doubt Democrats would impeach him and kick him out pronto! Unlike the Republicans in Congress, I have faith the Democrats WOULD choose country over party.
7
Now is the time to vote for the best candidate. Because all of the registered Democrats, and many independents, and some Republicans, seem to agree that one should vote for whomever is nominated by the Democratic party.
NOW is the time to have the conversation about who is the best candidate for the country, for all people in this country, not just the top 30% of privileged folks. Now is the time to scrutinize all the candidates. If there are reasons not to vote for certain candidates, let's hear them now.
The issues matter; Trump was elected because both Democrats and Republicans have failed to adequately address poverty, poor education opportunities, racial injustice, climate change, and a host of other pressing problems veiled by the lopsided nature of the economic "growth" of the moment, and ignored by the comfortable and the powerful.
If everyone who wants Trump out is going to vote for the Democratic nominee, then yes, by all means, let's have a thorough and rigorous debate about who that will be NOW.
4
@LLS : My family is far from being in the top 30%. But seriously, who is it that's addressing the needs of the "top 30%"?
If you're not in the top 1%, you're really not benefiting from Trump's policies or those of his predecessors.
When I look at the conversation around healthcare, only Sanders, Warren, and Bloomberg have policies that are going to help everyone.
I think Bloomberg is a litmus test for Dems. Each Needs to decide are you going to basically go the full Republican Lite, Corporatist way and support Bloomberg? Or do you reject that, and fight for the workers like the Dems used to do before it became the party of the "enlightened rich" whose policies destroy and make them rich, but they convince themselves they are doing good in the world (when they are not).
7
Who can beat Trump?
Nobody knows. Nobody ever has known. Nobody ever will know.
There will be an election this coming November, and the odds are that Trump will be defeated.
By whom? Nobody knows just yet, but whomever the nominee might be, that person will likely defeat Trump.
My guess is that nobody will win enough delegates to win the Democratic nomination on the first ballot this summer in Milwaukee.
That leads me to my next guess that Joe Biden will win the Democratic nomination on the second ballot.
I would rather see Elizabeth Warren win the nomination because she's the best candidate we've got.
However, my guess is what my guess is.
Either one would defeat Donald Trump in November.
5
The president** has demonstrated by word and deed over his life including his campaign and administration that it is time to elect a woman to the office of the President of the United States.
A woman would bring a change of perspective that would benefit not only women and children but will be able to restore our Republic from the damage caused over the past three years.
Mr Bloomberg is too much like the president** and is not credible.
Senator Sanders and VP Biden do not bring the understanding and life experience that would allow them to deal with today's social issues.
We’re getting way too desperate as Democrats. First, we put all our hopes in Robert Mueller to take down DJT. When that failed, we put all our hopes in Adam Schiff to convict DJT in the Senate impeachment hearing. Of course that also failed (and in the process Joe Biden tanked in the polls), so now we’re willing to hitch our wagon to a so-called reformed, recovering Republican oligarch. Does that make any rational sense? And do we really think the result will be any different? It won’t. Our only real hope for victory against DJT (and a major course correction in America) is Senator Sanders. So, please “Feel the Bern” before it’s too late.
11
Say what you will about Bloomberg - and I agree with much of this column - but the reality is that in so many elections voters are faced with a "lesser of two evils" choice. So if it comes down to Bloomberg or Trump, hold your nose and vote accordingly.
6
@Art MacPherson
Gee that’s inspiring. Thus the problem.
I'll take this article as another of the appeals to purity that have whipsawed Democrats and made it impossible for them to get behind a unified message, and which time and again, has proven to pay no dividends against Republican hardball tactics in the era of Trump.
This election is about getting Trump out of office before he does even more damage to our country and democracy, and completely undoes America's leadership in the world, the many advantages of which we have come to take for granted.
Policy differences between candidates are more about strategy than substance, the outlier being Bernie Sanders, who wants to bet it all on red 22. The two primary results show a divided Democrat electorate trending moderate, with no strong leader to date, the "winners" leading by 1% of 25% of votes cast. In this situation, Mike Bloomberg sees an obvious opening, as do many Democratic voters who sense weakness in the field.
Let's not forget, as rogues go, there is a LOT of daylight between Mike Bloomberg and Donald Trump. Granted: Mike Bloomberg is not the candidate most empathetic to the average guy. He ignored the racial profiling and inherent fallacy of Stop and Frisk. And yes, he is using his money to bypass the usual campaign process. He's also using it to attack Trump, while the other candidates are attacking each other.
Bloomberg's past action and comments may ultimately undermine his bid to be the nominee, but if in the end it's between him or Trump, I'll take my chances.
15
So true! We are seeking divine beings to run for office when what we really need are evolving humans who have enough experience to learn from their mistakes.
10
@RD
It's not about purity. No one running is pure.
It is about how many principles Democrats are willing to throw out in order to win.
Many (white) Democrats are just as racist as white Republicans so they don't care about Bloomberg's creepy endorsement of throwing Black men and boys against the wall. In fact, judging by comments, for many whites, such statements are a turn on.
If however, Bloomberg were say "pro-life" and was promising to appoint pro-life judges at every level in the federal courts, some how I think that people who have no problem with his actions against Black people would be LOUDLY stating that under no circumstances can Bloomberg be the Democratic nominee.
It all depends on whose ox is being gored.
There is no circumstance under which I would vote for Bloomberg. One bigoted NY oligarch is no better than another bigoted NY oligarch.
1
And what will you do if Mr. Bloomberg ends up being the Democratic candidate seems to be the looming question here?
8
It’s sad to watch so many centrist Democrats, yet again, choose expediency and a perceived electability over principle, honestly, and decency.
Bloomberg is no more a Democrat than Sanders, yet Sanders brings the possibility of building a new Democratic party, one that once again represents working class and middle class men and women of all races.
The party Bloomberg would create, were he given the chance, would be something like the Republican Party of 1984.... an improvement over the current troglodytes of the Republican Party, but nothing to be proud of, and nothing anything that would motivate this voter.
Centrists need to start standing for something other than limp-wristed moderation. Supporting an oligarchic authoritarian who has serious problems vis a vis race and gender is a pretty awful way to start.
10
@Serrated Thoughts
I agree with your comments wholeheartedly. Except for one. You wrote, "Bloomberg is no more a Democrat than Sanders,.."
Labels are one thing. Substance is another. The important point about Bloomberg is not that he changed his labels. It's that he never changed his substance--opposition to social security and raising the minimum wage. Funding republicans. Defending Wall Street billionaires who tanked the global economy.
Sanders is running as a democrat because there is no viable way to do it as an independent. But when we say, "he's not a democrat," let's also ask ourselves, are ANY of his programs NOT the priorities of "democrats?"
With regard to priorities, Sanders is more "democratic" than many who have been registered democrats their entire lives.
5
The Democrats don’t have a viable candidate to chose from. That is why Bloomberg is making so much headway. And he will continue too do so until the primaries prove otherwise.
6
I wish everyone supporting Bloomberg would watch Trevor Noah's explication of stop and frisk, and the far-reaching effects it had on its victims. Imagine having an adolescent son who was liable to being thrown against a wall and searched by police every time he left the house. If that policy is an example of Bloomberg's judgment, include me out. Let him rail against the hotelier, but on behalf of another worthy candidate like Eliz Warren.
10
Bloomberg could, conceivably, be a good tag team member for the Dems. He seems willing to "go low" and take on Trump as Trump. It might serve the party well for a while to take down Trump to his own depraved level. Then, when Bloomberg has accomplished his task, support one of the many other candidates who espouse the ideals, morality, and policies of the Democratic party.
3
I understand Mr. Blow's position and his criticisms are spot on. However, IF he were the nominee and elected, there's no way Bloomberg could revive stop-and-frisk with the spotlight on him. Trump has advocated for national stop-and-frisk programs -- and as horrendous as his policies are in nearly every quarter, we have not seen this transpire. (Not that it couldn't.)
My point is that Bloomberg's past failures -- like all the other candidates -- are now under the microscope. As others point out, let the primary season winnow out a nominee. The eventual nominee will be stronger for having been vetted. If that happens to be Bloomberg, vote blue no matter who.
8
I’m so glad to see so many of my fellow readers taking issue with Charles’ smear campaign against Bloomberg and his false comparisons of him with Trump. And I’m getting very tired of hearing the same from Joy Reed, whom I admire and generally enjoy listening to. Trump is cynically using their arguments against Bloomberg, (mainly stop and frisk), as a way to split democratic votes and suppress African American voter enthusiasm.
Whereas Bloomberg is trying to atone for past mistakes and has ambitious policy goals that would significantly help the African American community, Trump, if successfully re-elected, will continue his direct and indirect assault on them.
Is that what you really want? Maybe. Some people prefer to be martyrs than winners.
14
With the exception of Sanders, the toxic status quo is all we’ll get from any of the current candidates of either party. I used to be for Warren, but not sure anymore.
8
I agree with Charles Blow’s observation that Bloomberg’s apology isn’t heartfelt—the necessary humility and compassion are precisely what is missing. And it may never come. This man just may not have the emotional context to relate. However, he won’t do anything like what he did to black and Latino kids again. He is capable of understanding a problem and seeing solutions. At the end of this brutal contest, he may be what we got. Money in politics has to go but it is not going anywhere anytime soon and it works against principle often. If Bloomberg is what we got, then he’s my man. I also think it is incredibly crude to compare him to the sociopath in the White House now. There is no comparison and it is cheap to go there.
12
Trump has to go. It is THAT simple. People are looking for that person who can get the job done. This is not complicated. It seems more apparent every day that Bloomberg is that person. He can fight fire with fire and restore sanity to our government. And with Trump banking huge sums of money Bloomberg can overcome the urgent problem of the cost of this campaign and erase Trumps money advantage. I think people across the spectrum of race, age and economic status get this, which is why Bloomberg is catching fire at exactly the same time as Biden collapses.
9
Great piece again by Charles!
It is so gratifying to hear a Black voice of authority say these things that are so often missed by the parade of Black politicians lined up by Bloomberg on MSNBC and CNN.
I get why they are worried, even terrified, by the prospect of another four years of Trump. But c'mon man, Bloomberg is as bad as Trump in many ways. Swallowing a political party whole after being mostly a Democrat was the first thing Trump did after his big chance.
Former Republican mayor Bloomberg has the Democratic Party about half-way down his gorge now.
Joe Biden is flawed, no doubt about it. But he is Obama's vice president and a prominent Senator for 37 years. More importantly, he is a decent and compassionate man who, in contrast with Trump, wins the eyeball test hands down.
Klobuchar and Warren are thoughtful, poised and kindly as well. But if Biden would simply limit himself to one-term, he is our best bet.
Whoever our nominee, that champion must bring the party together, even before the convention in July if possible. That means giving Black, Latino, and Asian Americans more chips in the game, as VP, and as cabinet officers in the new administration.
Let's see a new Biden, with Obama's help, mentoring Abrams as VP, or Corey Booker, Susan Rice (State), Kamala Harris (AG), the Castro brothers, Andrew Yang (Commerce), Pete Buttigieg (DOD) and others, as they develop new programs to serve the American people, all the people, in the next administration.
3
Mr. Blow can complain about how Democrats need to take the higher ground of family values and good character but it isn't going to work.
Trump will not be beat by claiming we are more moral than he is. That all ready was done and Hillary lost and here we are.
As far as I am concerned, none of the Democrat candidates are appealing except Bloomberg. I think most Democrats do not want the most liberal candidate, they can get.
I realize from the African-American perspective, Bloomberg is less than ideal. But if he becomes the candidate of choice. Mr. Blow had better vote for him.
The horrible vision of 4 more years of Trump should put to rest any desire of traveling the "high road".
12
Republicans embodied "the horrible vision of 4 more years of Trump" when their leaders repeated the Trump lie: "Pre-existing conditions are covered".
Of course, Republicans counter with everyone lies. They find a way-out of thinking like a Democrat / Independent (who want to retain / improve Obamacare). But, they never give-up on telling Democrats how to think.
Republican Bloomberg rides-in with HIS billions, his talkative conservatives SELLING their mass conversion, AND Democrats / Independents are ridiculed for not embracing the 2nd Coming of Republican Billionaire Savior.
My favorite part of life-long Republicans' second-childhood logic is that Democrats / Independents will be to blame for "the horrible vision of 4 more years of Trump".
Uh, no. First, take a nap, then remember who actually votes for Trump and for those who destroy Obamacare. Try correcting / blaming them.
1
Mr. Blow,
I have always marveled at your passion, your keen eye for unfolding events and your unique perspective and this column and the previous one dealing with Mr. Bloomberg are no exception. I appreciate you spotlighting the weakness’s in Mike Bloomberg’s past and this is the perfect time to do that.
If I were you though, I’d have to consider wether devoting too many more column inches to the exact same subject is serving your purpose. Because it appears to me that the majority of responses to be found here are from folks who are willing to jump right on board with Mr. Bloomberg in spite of his ‘stop and frisk’ policies of the past and in spite of your exhortations to do otherwise.
The failure of S&F was because of inherent racism (racial profiling) and extremely poor execution, that’s pretty well understood. However it’s implementation did take many weapons off of the street. It should also be understood there is a very fine line between vigilance and the vigilante mentality. The streets and parks are much safer than they were say, 40 years ago but they are not safe. The recent murder of Barnard student Tessa Majors provides us with the awful truth of that.
You know the old saying Charles, be careful what you wish for. We are at the cusp and there is no turning back
15
@jonbrady: Money talks and nobody walks.
When did progressive incrementalism become such as terrible thing?
No matter what words Bernie Sanders chooses to articulate his vision, the results that he can get through Congress and have implemented in a way that the public will accept are going to be 99% similar to Bloomberg or Buttigieg or Biden or even Obama.
7
@JSD: There is nothing new under the sun in US politics.
Bloomberg is not Trump or even close. I’ll just address the issue of sexism from the perspective of a woman. Bloomberg’s crude language and casual sexism in the corporate culture were wrong, but pale in comparison to the multiple credible sexual assault allegations against Trump, and the Hollywood Access tape. Sorry, there is just no contest here. I’m not willing to rule out someone who just might be able to save us from the catastrophe of another Trump term because of it.
18
@Michele: Wall Street demands a sort of macho pretense on trading floors to keep traders hyped. It is difficult to buck.
@Michele
So when Trump talks about women in crude terms it's horrible and disqualifying.
But when Bloomberg does it , well it's not as bad as Trump..because you dislike Trump.
Well alright then... Got it.
Let’s be real here. Bloomberg is no angel by any means. Anyone who has fought his way to the top in New York has skeletons. But the author is implying he is little better than Trump, the corrupt immoral con artist. This is a false equivalence. If job number one is to save our democracy, we need a street fighter and the Democrats have no one better.
19
The centrists' reaction to Bernie's surge and their determination to maintain the party status quo against all the evidence that it simply is not working is now reaching the level of mass hysteria. They are laser-focused on Trump and on getting him out to the exclusion of any other consideration -- they don't care how they do it, what policies or Faustian bargains they have to sign onto to do it, what precedents however ill-advised they have to set to do it, or how many souls they have to sell to do it. That anyone would think the way to fight Trump is to nominate an arrogant plutocrat just like him in Bloomberg . . . well, it's "ends justifies the means" on steroids.
The $60 billion fortune alone disqualifies Bloomberg, never mind all the #MeToo problems and "Stop and Frisk" racial profiling problems and his disturning tendencies towards authoritarian dictat, however "benevolent" or well-intentioned they might be. The polarization of our society, the breakdown of norms, the election of Trump are all due to our historic wealth gap which dwarfs that of the Gilded Age. "Government by the consent of the governed" and democracy are impossible under such a gap, and indeed what we have today is mostly the forms of democracy without the substance. An election between two plutocrats would offer no more of a choice than an election for a seat on the Russian Politburo and would only drive the final nail into democracy's coffin.
9
@Boris Jones
great, well informed comment. Thank you.
1
I am NOT a particular Bloomberg fan and never voted for him when he ran for mayor, nor did I agree with many of his policies. But if he's the best person to beat the Trumpster, then so be it. Plus, Mr. Blow, enough already! We know where you stand on Mayor Mike. Let's move on and discuss something else.
16
It is appalling that significant numbers of comments both to Mr. Blow's and Mr. Douthat's column (who I almost never agree with) are suddenly arguing that only Bloomberg can beat Trump, and that therefore we are doomed, unless we pit one misogynist racist (actual) billionaire against another misogynist racist (phony) billionaire).
I lived here during the Bloomberg years and was horrified at the blatant racism which he engendered, the effects of which are still being felt in our city. And his vicious treatment of women is equally disqualifying.
Bloomberg is not only obscenely wealthy, he is (unlike Trump) smart and shrewd. He has invested heavily in the Democratic party in the past five or so years and it's payback time. To watch black politicians, and groups like Emily's List, suddenly supporting him, despite his record of being against everything they should stand for, just because they owe him, is disgusting.
He has already bought his way into the debates. But If we allow this man to buy his way into the Democratic nomination, the transformation of America into an oligarchy is complete.
8
Charles -- I've read a number of the reader comments and have broad and deep agreement both with you and with those who disagree with you. I hope you continue your superb political/social commentary - which you do well and justly. Still I'm with the group that says Bloomberg is "an Ace over a deuce" when compared with Donald. He can LEARN, Donald cannot. He admitted mistakes and errors in judgment, not Don. His wealth is genuine, not faux. He has not laundered dirty oligarch dollars, has not had illegal loans nor spent his career cheating the public -- if he 's the nominee I happily vote for him.
10
It is enough to drive us to despair: is America now so degenerate that the Democrats are unable to put forward a presidential candidate whose intellectual and moral standing will reassure voters that this will be the right person to beat Trump, the right person to guide the US back to its place as the moral leader of the "free" world? I cannot believe that Barack Obama was a "one-off", the only politician ever whose intelligence was matched by his integrity. When I was a kid my mother had a few useful adages to hand, and one was "Honesty is the best policy". That hardly seems to be Mt Bloomberg's credo ...
1
What? A politician with a lying past! I’m shocked! Shocked I say! When Trump pulled down truth telling did you think they’d magically return one day?
3
Very well said Mr. Blow. You crystallize the issues very well. We do not need a Democratic Trump....it would be sheer hypocrisy for our party to nominate him.
7
So many people so confident they know The Truth Beyond That Of Voters. For Blow and the others Trump only matters as an excuse to spout off about exactly what they were soouting off about before Trump.
A miracle!
Or they are just clueless hacks hacking away. And they will see earth end before they will grow up.
1
It would seem, unfortunately, that the Times is intent on ensuring another 4 years of Trump. Much as they did in 2016 with the coverage of the race for the White House: the absolute certainty of a Clinton win was a near constant drumbeat.
Now, Blow, Douthat, and other Op Ed folks are unleashing nearly daily attacks on Bloomberg in the pages of the Times.
I will vote for for whichever nominee comes out of the Dem convention.
But Sanders can't beat Trump. Bloomberg can.
Please, Charles, stop.
11
@SD
Totally disagree.
I cannot believe that Democrats are so afraid of their own base that they want to make the same stupid mistake they've been making over and over for decades. They still seem determined to "appoint" a nominee that's acceptable to Wall Street while kicking their most enthusiastic potential supporters in the gut.
They take it as an article of faith that Bloomberg is more "electable" than other candidates, but I think they are terribly wrong - especially if they nominate Bloomberg in an undemocratic process purposely intended to exclude progressives. And then they will turn around and blame progressives if Trump is re-elected. This is insanity. Thank you, Charles Blow.
8
Remember that woman, Rosie something, who "won" the marathon by skipping whole chunks of the race?
That's Bloomberg.
It's shameful and frightening that so many commenters here are pretending that our only choice is between this entitled cheater or the other entitled cheater.
Bernie is the people's choice.
If the DNC and the dinosaurs here and on TV steal the nomination from him AGAIN, there really is no difference btw Repubs and Dems, and our republic will truly be lost.
7
There's a terrible lack of logic here. You state that we should not be like the religious right and hold our noses and vote for Bloomberg. Yet, the religious right got exactly what they wanted--lots of conservative judges and an anti-abortion president. So, you would like to be morally pure. This means 4 more years of Trump. Sorry but neither Sanders nor Buttigieg has a chance against Trump.
6
There is nothing wrong with stop and frisk.
There is a ton of crime in Bronx and Harlem compared to the rest of NYC so obviously that’s where the police should be.
They should be stopping sketchy kids like the one who stabbed and killed Teresa Majors and stripping them of knifes and guns and putting them in jail.
6
@Jay Peters
The Fourth Amendment says that police can't just stop people based on membership in a racial group. There must be some _individual_ reasonable suspicion or probable cause.
Virtually every study and survey indicates that White Americans use more drugs than Black Americans do. The current opiate epidemic is driven by whites, not Blacks.
Even the NYC stop and frisk stats showed that whites were more likely to have guns and drugs.
When we read about people molesting their daughters or nieces, it's disproportionately white people doing such activities. Most guns in the nation are owned by whites, not Blacks.
Yet somehow people who think that innocent Black children and men should accept regular violations of their constitutional rights NEVER argue for whites to be subject to the same scrutiny.
So there is a lot wrong with stop and frisk which is why a federal judge found it unconstitutional.
Because although you and Bloomberg apparently disagree, Black people have constitutional rights.
Trump is the king of projection, for every negative accusation he hurls at his opponents, Trump does in spades: fake news, drain the swamp; deep state, crooked Hillary, etc. Part of the appeal of the demagogue, is that there is an element of truth in j’accuse. If Bloomberg is the nominee, the sub text becomes text. So for many marginalized communities, the choice becomes racist or racist lite, sexist or sexist adjacent. Trump only needs to depress a small fraction of these voters to stay home for him to win re election.
3
Excellent op-ed, reminding everybody of Bloomberg racist worldview.
My fellow readers who prefer « centrists » candidates have a blind spot here. Bloomberg is not the stronger candidate against Trump. On the contrary he will prove to be the weakest with the greatest amount of bagage. He will drive down turn out among blacks, Latinos and progressive and I, for one, will not condone such a man and his racist and authoritarian views. I will follow my conscience and stay home.
The people who thought Hillary would win easily have it all wrong again. And they are so sure of themselves. This election will not be won in the « centre », whatever that means. It will be won on populist ideas and turn-out.
And right now, the better opponent against Trump in any poll, match-up, in any so-called swing states, is Sanders.
4 more years of Trump is better than the death of the Democratic Party and it’s évolution into the party of the globalist and racist elite.
4
I keep chanelling an old song by The Who. Let's hope we can learn from the failures of the last 40 years and not, in our desire to be rid of Trump, listen to the pundits instead of doing what is right and buying another arrogant, corrut center-right oligarch.
5
Charles, we get it. Bloomberg sinned. He is not the president we wish for.
But he is not, and never will be, another Trump. If it is him or Trump, the choice is a no brainer. As it would be if the Democrats were to nominate a yellow dog.
7
Enough Already!
I am tired of Democrats “eating their own”.
If Bloomberg can beat Trump, then he is my candidate.
If you are worried about the possible future Democratic President making misleading statements, what do you think is in the White House now.
This is the same type of criticism that cost Hilary Clinton the election in 2016.
10
Fortunately and unfortunately, we have found that politicians personal worst moments do not predict their behaviors in office. LBJ was one of the greatest scoundrels, exposing himself regularly, a competitive womanizer, bully, sexists, had a direct line to his financial advisors to make money while in the WH (Sound familiar?). Lest we forget that he was perhaps the greatest Progressive (far greater than Obama or Kennedy) President. Under Johnson, the Voting Rights Act, the Immigration and Nationality Act (which among things stopped nearly 80 years of discrimination against Chinese), Federal Funding for K12 education, War on Poverty (Head start, food stamps and work study), and of course Medicare.
Trump is everything we know on his personal side but one of the most reliable Conservative Presidents of all time.
Obama is a great person but he intentinoally held back equal treatment for gays until Joe Biden publicly shamed him into action.
Clinton was a womanizing monster and potential rapist . He was also a reliable, compelling centrist policy maker and friend of women's rights.
Blow and his ilk need to stop the campaign against Bloomberg and grow up. He is an imperfect person. But he is a person of conviction. I know him well enough to know that if he takes national office, he will be good to his work on the campaign and he has the drive, backbone and means to take on Trump. He is a capitalist, centrist who will focus on matters equity for all not the 1%
8
What people like Charles and others liberals fail to mention .. There were thousands of minority community members who were happy with STOP and Frisk because they saw their neighborhoods become safer and the quality of life outside improved. Unfortunately they were too afraid to admit it for fear of the social repercussions from BLM and other street gangs.
I'm all in for Mike. He'd be an outstanding President. He is a different kind of billionaire.. Unlike Trump who would take a $10 million dollar bribe in a New York second.. Bloomberg would laugh at it..
Yes Mike is a little quirky, but he's a good man at heart and has helped thousands of people through his charities and foundations.
Bernie is too old and radical, Warren and Amy are women and Mayor Pete is too gay...
The only logical candidate [remaining] is Mike.
7
There’s an unearthed video blowing up on Twitter right now where Bloomberg insults farmers and machinists, basically saying they’re all dumb and lack “grey matter.” I imagine if nominated this clip will appear in ads across the agricultural/industrial Midwest (i.e. the states the dems absolutely must win to take back the White House) until Election Day.
Add this to all the baggage pointed out by here.
5
Worse than Cornel West’s whoohas, and given that back in the 1990s I admired him?
I doubt it.
Even odds he ends up a Republican or worse.
I have enjoyed your columns, Charles, and agreed with you on column after column.
Not this time. We cannot cherry pick reasons why we won't vote for any candidate who is better than the reptile we have in the White House now. I do not believe Bloomberg is the sociopath Trump is.
Bloomberg, for all his past idiotic political policies, will help America return to rule of law and democracy. I believe he will reverse the current appointment of seriously flawed federal judges.
If Bloomberg gains the democrat nomination, I will vote for Michael Bloomberg.
7
I agree Mr. Blow, and Bloomberg’s policies on education went hand in glove with stop and frisk to limit the success of black and brown kids. He viewed children as criminals who needed to be tested over and over again, deleting art, music, and play from the curriculum. These schools were meant to be joyless four walls, where older kids were bounced off of just as on the streets. Remember Cathie Black? Bloomberg had in mind to corporatize education and hired a clueless magazine editor to run the schools in the highest position as Chancellor. She lasted a few months, and left after ignoring and demeaning parents of color. Make no mistake, kids of color were terrorized in school and on the streets by Bloomberg. They didn’t need to be asylum seekers to be put in Bloomberg’s cages. He is a bad guy and no Democrat should vote for him.
4
Bloomberg is easily the worst Democratic candidate from an uninspiring bunch. But if he wins the nomination, there is a moral imperative to vote for him. There is a dangerously unhinged man currently occupying the White House; he poses an existential threat to the US and the planet, and it could not be more critical that he is removed from office as soon as possible.
1
I will quote Trump. " What have you got to lose." Can't be any worse.
2
The centrist candidate pool is impressive. Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Steyer. I refuse to include Biden, he has by staying on truly lessened my regard for him. Bloomberg.....he seemed great till those nasty little snippets of his attitude to women have now popped up. Now I am filled with sadness. Does it not define who he really is? Your article is exactly right. Why would we want to vote for another Trumpian character? But these are strange times. Our world which was held steady by the constitution has been upended by Trump and the theocratic right wing republicans. And their focused, illiterate, foolish and greed filled base. So who can we have as a powerful antidote to this poison? Bloomberg. So he was a racist and a misogynist. But his actions have been positive with time. Perhaps we are meeting for the first time a rich person who has embraced change. I so desperately want to believe in the goodness of someone who is so powerful and rich that he
2
There is no doubt that Stop and frisk had negative consequences. It also kept crime down.
Mr. Blow has recently published two articles critical of Mr. Bloomberg. Neither article
Refutes the fact that Stop and Frisk worked.
4
@Phil No it didn't work.
Additionally it was unconstitutional. Police states may "work" but theoretically we don't want them because they violate other legal imperatives.
What is clear from the various comments in support of Bloomberg is that many white liberals and conservatives agree that constitutional rights for Black citizens are debatable. Such rights can be negotiated away for higher purposes like stopping crime or defeating Trump.
Not surprising I guess. Racism knows no political party.
Unfortunately, Black American voters remain far too polarized on issues and candidates to put any of them into a real squeeze position. As president, Bloomberg would be a train wreck. Unlike Trump, who uses a chainsaw to destroy the social safety net... Bloomberg would use a candle to burn it away slowly - while masquerading that he's not doing it.
1
Blow writes of Bloomberg as if he had been arrested in a Klan rally in Queens in 1928. I heard the complete interviews Bloomberg did at Oxford (England) and Vanity Fair. He sounded like a thorough and articulate person, someone that other Democratic candidates could hope to sound like, and someone that Trump and Sanders with their blowhard demagogic styles could never even come close to in thoughtfulness and articulation. There is a reason Bloomberg has garnered more African American support than any other candidate. He is someone that makes sense, learns for his mistakes, and can defeat Trump. If the latte sipping liberals could show the same common sense Bloomberg would get the nomination, and win the general election in a landslide.
1
I normally respect Mr. Blow's opinions whether I agree or not. But this "false equivalency" between trump and Bloomberg is lazy & disingenuous. I believe racial animous & bias (understandable bias from experience) is clouding his judgment.
I dispise the "stop & frisk" thing, and am guessing that after carefull objective consideration Bloom would as well.
Trying to equally compare Bloomberg with the maniac in the WH is typical and indicative of the circular firing squad and impossible purity test of the Dems.
4
@J Darby
No it's no purity test. I just want a candidate who doesn't brag about throwing black men and boys against the wall or claim that redlining is a good thing.
That's a pretty low bar.
So many comments here sound just like the rationalizations white middle class people made for voting for Trump. "I like his positions on X, Y, and Z, and if he's racist, sexist and classist, well, nobody's perfect." Remember how "we" condemned those deplorable people? Look in the mirror! Women, people that aren't European-Americans and the 90% class make up a majority of this country's population. No way are we signing off on this bigot.
4
I can only conclude that it is Mr. Blow’s wish to retain Donald Trump in the White House that leads him to continue his attacks on the one person with perhaps the best chance to win for the Democrats. Or maybe he is just running out of ideas for columns and so must keep returning to his not-entirely unjustified dislike of Mike Bloomberg. Whatever the case, he is making himself look foolish and should stop.
6
Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire.
4
The Dems do not have anyone. Bloomberg is too old. Biden is too old. Bernie is too old.
@David Binko They have Warren and Klobuchar - both excellent choices.
As a Park Sloper, I did vote for Mike once for mayor.
Sorry, fellow slopers
I recently saw a tv sport in which Mayor Mike boasted about created 'millions' of clean energy jobs as President.
Millions??? C;mon Mike
2
Sorry Charles but the only way the Dems can win is if they run a Republican nominee which is essentially what MB is.
Otherwise they have no chance.
I wonder if you are on Trump’s payroll given how much you are helping week after week with the same tired rant.
5
Time to get off your high horse Charles and focus on the one and only thing that matters: beating Trump. And if Bloomberg is the best option to do that, then so be it. We can refocus on idealism later. For now, let’s stick with reality. #BloombergKlobuchar2020
6
Charles - several years ago, we attended a wedding in Harlem for the marriage of Calvin Butz IV to his beautiful bride, Tiffany, and were treated to a fabulous performance of the Abyssinian Baptist Church followed by a four-hour dinner/dance reception afterward, at which Mayor Michael Bloomberg was a featured speaker and had taken a table on the dais next to Reverend Butz. Mike stayed the whole four hours and I noticed the obvious personal warmth between him and Rev. Butz as they spent the evening together. I know politics is always a factor in these things, but it was clear to me that Rev. Butz saw Mike as an ally and friend of his family.
Yes, Mike was 'anti-crime' as were all New Yorkers in those days of out-of-control crime on city streets. But it is unfair of you to keep calling him a 'racist' and simplify the complex issue pf 'stop-and-frisk' as proof. He was Maypr of all New Yorkers. I keep hoping you will stop vilifying him on this issue and give him a fair chance to make his case that he would be a President who would work to make the lives of all Americans better.
5
Using confusion tactics like the “electability”, comparing democratic socialism to communism , age factor etc are stale factors which the Bernie Sanders supporters are used to.
2
Stop with the purity tests. Each democratic candidate has an issue. But we need the most capable person to defeat the demonic don. Mike is the most able one running and can easily stand up to the worst president in history. PB
4
Dear Americans, let me put this as plainly as I possibly can. There is exactly ONE dangerous choice for president. It’s the one you made in 2016. Stop whining about other choices and realize this fact that is painfully obvious to everyone else in the world.
Signed,
Everyone else in the world
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@Everyman
Make that "everyone else in the world, minus one." Or, perhaps, minus several billion.
All American presidents are dangerous. They can't be otherwise. They preside over a country armed to the teeth with weapons both nuclear and "conventional," willing to go to war at the drop of a hat and convinced that the Invisible Hand of the marketplace is the hand of God. Even Bernie Sanders would find it difficult -- probably impossible -- to resist the imperial delusions that have driven the United States since its founding. Still, Sanders is the only plausibly human creature currently in the running. His motive, I think, is less to win the presidency or even the nomination than to enlarge and encourage the progressive movement in the country. I also think he's mistaken to try: the US can't be redeemed from the top down; only from the bottom up.
Still, Sanders really is the only game in town. All of his rivals for the nomination radiate an unedifying mix of mediocrity and vast hunger for the right to believe that he or she is the most important person in the world. But Sanders may actually mean it when he says, "not me, us."
I would not vote for Mike Bloomberg If I was a Democrat which I am not. If he was the only candidate running, I would not vote for him. He infuriated many New Yorkers when he bought his third term. I was glad when he left office. He should stick with what he does know and that is make billions. That is what he does best. Mike Bloomberg was in Richmond, Virginia yesterday attending a rally and he was so uninspiring. He was dull and boring. He would make a terrible President.
2
Part of the just say anything crowd I see.
As a Black man, stop and frisk was wrong - way wrong. Sicking the police on Black and Brown people was an atrocious policy. However so was slavery, and the United States still hasn't apologized for that - and that lasted centuries. Charles Blow doesn't believe the Bloomberg apology - so according to him, we shouldn't vote for Bloomberg. But what if the apology was sincere? What if Bloomberg actually plans to make amends? Divergently processing, also a consideration... Right? At the crux of the ponderance, is exactly what's transpiring in the Kobe debate - how much weight is placed on an social ill - when evaluating a person's life span and legacy? Does an egregious incident or policy in this case, completely destroy their remembrance or how we evaluate their life? If said person apologizes, accepts full responsibility, demonstrates change through apology and growth - how far do we go in admonishing their legacy? I'm directing these questions to you Charles Blow? This election is too important - find the balance Sir, as everyone has done with Kobe. And let's move forward
4
You are showing your true colors. A candidate too rich, too intelligent and too mindful of middle-class values. Don't inveigh against this potential candidate as you did with Hillary Clinton.
4
"Among all the candidates, the person who I believe could stand toe-to-toe, strongest and longest with Donald Trump is Mike Bloomberg."
-Henry Louis Gates Jr.
6
Bloomberg has done more in practical terms for progressive causes (guns, women's health, climate change, et al) than Blow has ever done.
5
I agree with Charles. We do not need another highly opinionated, old and inflexible billionaire president. I find it interesting that Friedman and Blow are on opposite sides of a Bloomberg for president campaign. I’d like to see them debate Bloomberg’s pros and cons in a single editorial.
4
@Eric Holzman
"highly opinionated, old and inflexible" sounds like Bernie to me.
Agree with you Mr. Blow. Identity and identity politics are our markers in this time. Bernie is NOT a Dem and neither is Bloomberg. At least Bernie is honest enough to say he's not. In a time of liars and bought people threatening our democracy, the last thing we need is another lying NY con man in the White House.
3
None of the current cadre of candidates stand a chance of beating Trump whose policies and future make stop and frisk look like a cub scout campfire. Get real. Charles Blow doesn't like Bloomberg and uses stop and frisk as an excuse to vent his animus. The fact is New York City was undergoing a major murder and crime wave. The victims were mainly black residents who were being murdered on the streets and who wanted it stopped. If people were locked up it's because they were carrying guns with which they intended no good. Mr. Blow feels good in 2020 to object to the harsh tactics of 20 or 30 years ago because crime and murder are now no where near what it was when Bloomberg was mayor. I believe the term is "sunshine patriot." Now Mr. Blow sits back comfortable in easy chair blowing smoke to cover his dislike for Bloomberg and cites stop and frisk as an excuse. Bloomberg's no angel. He's done some stupid and unpleasant things in his life. But so have I and so has the reader of this column. The mission is to find a candidate that can beat Trump and who has a record of accomplishment that suggests they will push for solutions that move us forward. We're looking to pick a president not the savior or the messiah. Grow up people, politics and business are rough, tense games and it takes rough, tense people to win. There's too much at stake to indulge in the fantasies of purity.
5
@Golem18
"fantasies of purity"???
What an interesting and yet empty phrase.
If a politician who was pro-life was running for the Democratic nomination, do you think that feminists would be lining up to vote for him?
If Farrakhan were running for the Democratic nomination and Black people claimed he was the only one who could beat Trump, would you chastise Jewish voters who expressed dismay at Farrakhan's history?
Maybe you would.
Or MAYBE you'd understand in those cases that those segments of the Democratic party would be justly upset and worried about a possible Democratic nominee who is anathema to them and opposed to their most important issues.
Hyperbole born of a mind that's either oxygen starved or unable to see past one issue.
"That doesn’t sound like the kind of leader liberals should want."
You might want to check the history books, Charles. Democrats have nominated plenty of liberals for president. Arguably not a single one has won. Polls showing all the 'top Democrats' winning against Trump....if only that were true. It's people like you that were dismissive of Trump and over reliant on biased polls that help to foist this national tragedy on the nation.
Bloomberg as bad, or worse, than Trump? Take a deep breath and find a new job.
3
He may well have issues regarding women and race but most American have worse issues regarding women and race, far worse. Most Americans feel #metoo is a distraction and #blacklivesmatter a racist meme. I’m a liberal, for longer than you, but I doubt I’d survive a purity test, I doubt anyone would do if you looked hard enough. So please dont tell me and other liberals what we should or should not overlook. Trump out is all that matters, focus on that.
2
@David
The people who think that #blacklivesmatter is a racist meme are mostly racist republicans. Or maybe they just haven't realized it yet. In any event the Republican party is a much more natural place for them.
In any event someone who thinks that redlining is a good thing and Black men and boys don't have 4th Amendment rights should not and will not be the Democratic nominee.
Bottom line: Whom do you vote for-- Trump, Bloomberg, no one, or write in.
2
Let us, as “the People”, stop “Chasing our Tails”.
1
We, presently, have a Sociopathic Personality Disorder for “President”. We do not have any
“Need” for a “President” who is in the process of “Purchasing” that cherished Oval Office.
New Yorkers vote for, then despise their mayors. Every. Single. One.
1
Absolutely, Charles! This election should be about character. And, it's clear that Michael Bloomberg like Donald Trump is totally lacking in that regard with his racist "stop-and-frisk" policy as New York City Mayor, his authoritarianism by ramming through what should have been an illegal third term in office, and his creation of an atmosphere of sexual harassment and intimidation in his company. We do not need to trade one misogynist, racist, old white male, New York billionaire and bully for another. It's time to restore human decency and dignity to The White House, the nation and the world.
2
Dear Mr. Blow,
Yesterday I wrote the quoted commentary below in response to the recent hit job by your conservative colleague Mr. Douthat. I find it interesting that your current left wing smear of Bloomberg is equally off the mark, but from the other political pole. Fortunately the NYTs best Op-Ed writer, Mr. Friedman, disagrees with you two and thinks highly of Mr. Bloomberg’s candidacy. In regard to stop and frisk in NYC, Bloomberg was trying to save lives- you should care about that but it seems like you care more about liberal ideological purity. What a pity.
“I think this construct of Bloomberg is a big miss and perhaps even absurd. At this stage of his life, and all things considered, Bloomberg is the most sincere candidate running in regard to wanting to do good vs wanting power. This is particularly so in regard to a desire to put the Trump existential threat -both to America and the planet- permanently out on the street. Why else on earth would a 70 something year old guy who is the 12th richest human on earth put himself through this? In contrast, I would wager that Ross has a socially conservative agenda in mind with this anti-Bloomberg hit piece. The question remains- do Democrats want to win and give Trump the boot by electing Mike or would they rather lose in a landslide with Bernie or some other lesser candidate? I personally prefer Bloomberg by a New York mile.”
4
Mr. Blow, do you really think that anyone of the current top five Democratic candidates can defeat Trump? Do you really believe that they can raise the money to outshout Trump? Do you really believe that Trump is better than Bloomberg? If you do, then good luck with your believes. But don't blame others when Trump's stormtroopers come after you.
4
I'm guessing that many of the commenters who support Bloomberg are white. One even calls Bloomberg's campaign "courageous." Give me a break. Many said the same of Trump's 2016 campaign. If you buy what Bloomberg is selling then you are 1) lying about your concern for the country and wallowing in your privilege 2) incredibly naive or 3) dumb as a box of rocks.
3
Mr Blow, we get the point; you don’t like Bloomberg.
Many of us don’t like the trumpian qualities of Sanders and won’t vote for him.
5
Charles, you are on the wrong side of history on this one.
We are dealing with a monster who has destroyed all that is good and decent.
He needs to be taken down.
There is only one person who can do that.
He is a street fighter from NYC who knows how to deal with bullies and con men.
Mike Bloomberg will do it and do it right.
Count on it.
7
Finally an article with common sense.
3
Mr Blow you have many reasons to be unhappy with Bloomberg given his prior record of stop and frisk, the New York Times seems to have everyone from Douthat to Stephens to you and Krugman having apoplexy over Bloomberg running as a Democrat. Fair enough we are not New Yorkers although we do know one New Yorker very well, his name is Donald Trump.
Seems to me that Trump was a pro choice Democrat at one time, wasn’t he? He sure made a 180 and guess what he delivered for the GOP. It’s no wonder McDonnell loves him. Trump for the base is better than Reagan.
Don’t prejudge very political calculation, people do have epiphanies, and not sure Bloomberg hasn’t had one as he is spending a lot of his own money right now.
Also, nobody mentions the future of the Supreme Court if the Democrats don’t win back the White House. Almost certainlyBloomberg will be a better selector of judges for the bench
Finally, the guy talks about real issues affecting our lives and our future: gun control, obesity, affordable health care, tax fairness, Infrastructure, R and D, climate change, and re establishing our alliances.
Don’t be so sanctimonious Mr Blow.mPolitics is not romance. For once Dems must fall in line not in love if Bloomberg were to be nominated. Our democracy is depending on it.
5
Charles Blow has railed against Trump in just about every one of his columns for the past three years. One would assume that he understands the danger he poses to the country and the world as well as anyone. So to see him compare Bloomberg to Trump (absurd) and to condemn possibly the one man who can take Trump down makes no sense at all.
4
I worked as a high school teacher in the Bronx from 2000-2012, and Bloomberg came to our school for a photo op with students. Once the cameras were off, he couldn’t be bothered with our kids, going as far as to sneer at and ignore them. One thing radiated from him towards these poor Black and Latino kids- contempt.
4
Mr Blow,
Please continue and keep the pressure on Dictator Bloomberg.
Its very simple he’s actually a white supremest and a dyed in the wool Republican - his comments on Redlining and Minorities are right out of the Conservative Handbook.
Finally I’m still living the nightmare of his Stop and Frisk and Rezoning Neighborhood Genocide policies
Regards
3
The media hasn't touched Bloomberg's foreign policy views. Why is that? Why no discussion of his strong opposition to JCPOA? What's the agenda here?
1
I'm sorry but need to take this with a grain of salt. Clearly Bloomberg isn't in this for the money (like Trump is); he isn't a total dog whistle for the KKK (like Trump is); he isn't going to make being a bully a national ideal for school children and their white underclass underserved parents; he isn't going to undermine the crucial need to save the planet---- he's been on the right side of many things and doesn't hold a candle to Trump's racism. Neoliberalism hasn't been kind to blacks or poor people. I'm hoping Bloomberg is willing to spend as much money on any dem candidate as he would have spent on his own campaign. And, Trump's man, Giuliani, was the one who brought stop and frisk. It was wrong to extend it but Bloomberg has done a lot of good things, too. I can't condemn him totally. I am just praying that Trump loses by a landslide and, frankly, I don't care how that happens. the degree of evil Trump brings to the government is beyond our wildest imaginations.
Robert Reich stated the same thing. Why do the "moderate" Democrats want to throw in with an oligarch. They don't feel safe without a billionaire out front. Blow is much more critical, the Democrat establishment want their own rogue. They have lost their confidence with the failure of the Mueller investigation and the impeachment trial to get rid of this clearly unhinged narcissist at the helm. The worst part is they are following the same game plan as 2016. A neo con corporatist elitist to go out and win one for democracy over the plutocrat's populist. Sanders has every right to think he is the man of the hour.
2
"Bloomberg ... agrees with liberals on some policies, but he is by no means a liberal. Not at all."
Oh for God's sake. Who cares? If the Dems nominate a ham sandwich to oppose Trump, I'm voting for the sandwich.
Mr. Blow, this is a national emergency. E-M-E-R-G-E-N-C-Y. Do I have your attention now? Each day Trump and his lackeys are in power is another day democracy dies.
2
Blow has an agenda. Probably some resentment. Republicans will accept anyone they think will win. Democrats have a purity test hoping for the best pure candidate based upon vague standards. Who is becoming more and more dominate in this country? You get one answer, please.
Biden’s no saint either who has had his share of accusations of inappropriateness with women as well as his abject failure as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee for the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings.
"A private citizen is what he should remain."
I agree, he should remain a private citizen. Otherwise what we're seeing is another rich white man running for a position he doesn't need and shouldn't have. If he wants to challenge Trump, Bloomberg ought to be running as a Republican. He was affiliated with the GOP when he was mayor.
The other thing that annoys me is the apologies. Stop and frisk was aimed at African Americans because of their skin color. Not because they are inherently more dangerous. The suburbs have their own form of stop and frisk. I see it when black men and women and children are shadowed in stores while whites are not. I see it when, at our pool, the black children are automatically treated like troublemakers or reprimanded for doing the same things white children do (and those white children get away with it).
Would Bloomberg (and others like him) be different if he spent some "quality time" with African Americans who are living in poverty? Would he know how to listen to them and understand what they are asking for? Being president is about more than winning the election. It's about working for all Americans, not just the ones you like or who are like you.
2/16/2020 9:53pm first submit
3
Your columns all point to one conclusion: Trump will be back for four more years. Why don't you light into the racist president we now suffer through rather than spouting your thoughts about a mistake Bloomberg, one of the most popular NY City mayors of all time made and apologized for. Has Trump apologized for any of his outright racism going back decades and continuing today? Has Bernie apologized for promoting a gun culture in his state? Let's win in November and we can do that by stopping with the miserable comments one can find with any of the candidates. Be positive, for once!
3
I heard the phrase, "democratic circular firing squad" some time ago and now it's here in earnest. No one will be woke enough or pass all the purity tests. Everyone's past will be fodder for accusations of behavior so repugnant, that they will be deemed not fit for office. Meanwhile, the man currently occupying the oval office, is most likely rubbing his palms together in glee, giddily watching the firing squad create chaos and uncertainty. Well done, progressives.
1
If you can guarantee that Bernie will beat Trump, then I’m all in. I suspect you cannot so I will keep my options open. I am a progressive but there was a time that a reasonable argument could be made to place more police presence where most of the crime was. And to the extent guns weee part of the problem, then maybe stop and frisk was a good try. Maybe Bloomberg was stubborn and continued it for way too long but I suspect it was because he thought he knew better rather than a hatred of blacks. Trump hates people of color - there is no comparison...... Bloomberg ain’t perfect but neither is Bernie. I will let it play out and support the nominee. But you seem to be a one issue guy so that’s you.
The underlying assumption of this piece is that Democrats want a certain kind of liberal as their nominee. The writer states: “He agrees with liberals on some policies, but he is by no means a liberal. Not at all.” We may not want a liberal as the Democratic nominee. The writer’s argument is similar to the ones that mainstream Republicans made (e.g., Romney, Jeb Bush, etc) made about Donald Trump.
Mainstream, moderate Republicans and also Independent voters do not have a party that espouses their views. Bloomberg’s candidacy is a symptom of that problem just as Trump’s takeover of the Republican party was a symptom that millions felt ignored and not represented by a party. The writer harshly blames Bloomberg just as many blame Trump. But that’s like blaming a fever for an illness instead of the virus or bacteria that caused it.
Democrats need an even bugger tent to win. Not a smaller one. Bloomberg is aiming at creating a home for the other forgotten half of the country and, to do that, needs to tilt the Democratic Party to the middle in order to balance tilt of the Republican Party to something many of us are not comfortable with: fiscal irresponsibility and deficit growing, destruction of international alliances and lack of decency.
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I'll vote for Bloomberg.
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It is really quite simple. Blow has said in previous columns that under no circumstances would he support Bloomberg. That makes him, at the very least, a Trump enabler, no ifs, ands, or buts.
I am tempted to ask in what universe Blow thinks Trump would do more for Black Americans, especially young Black males, than would Bloomberg. But Blow is not stupid, meaning he knows precisely what he is doing and the implications of what he writes.
This leaves two alternatives. He could actually be an active Trump supporter trying to destroy Trump's opposition. Or, as an online columnist whose salary effectively, if not literally, depends on the number of eyeballs he attracts, not on the quality of what he writes, he may simply be trying to produce good clickbait, which this piece is. Look at the number of comments and recommends here. That's a lot of eyeballs. And here we all are, clicking on the bait.
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Good reporting Mr Blow! It would be truly cruel to offer voters a choice between who put fewer human beings in cages. I've stated elsewhere that many Americans don't want a contest between a repentant Republican billionaire and a repentant Democrat billionaire. I wholeheartedly agree with your statement: "I don’t trust Bloomberg. When he had political power, he used it to harm."
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It's hypocritical to see my liberal/Democrat friends excusing all of Bloomberg's actions and words all because they hate Trump so much.
Seeing Black elected officials and so-called "Black leaders" bowing to him is even more troubling.
Bloomberg showed real actionable racism and sexism. No apology can forgive that.
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Disagree.
Trump has 20 allegations of some form of sexual abuse and or rape. I am not aware of any sexual allegations of rape against Bloomberg although I would agree he has made some unsavory comments about women and the topic of rape in the past. The obvious difference between the two - Bloomberg made some poor remarks and Trump allegedly forced himself on women in the actual action of rape. One has exercised poor judgment, the other has allegedly committed numerous felony crimes.
Anyone who doesn’t understand stop and frisk in post 9/11 NYC wasn’t living in the city at that time. Bloomberg was trying to keep a city of 10 million safe from future attacks. And yes - shocker - in war we often restrict some civil liberties of some groups to assure more safety to all.
This was a far cry from the Japanese internment camps of the 1950s. But Trump continues to ignore international immigration laws so he may lock up kids in cages on our southern border.
The fact you are even comparing these two NYers shows a lack of understanding about either of them.
Trump is an unrefined and unapologetic incarnation of pure and selfish evil. Bloomberg on the other hand has given billions to help make this world a better place. One is selfish, one is philanthropic. One is a successful businessman, one has filed for bankruptcy multiple times. One builds cities up, one bankrupts Atlantic City into the ground and steals the lights on the way out of town.
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I am resigned to possibly not getting to vote for my beloved candidate but another American oligarch in the WH...? Didn’t we agree we wanted representative democracy in this country?
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