I love Bernie and all he preaches and if he would beat Trump I would be proud to be American once again. It would be the most joyous day in America to see that cretin in the White House removed from office, and even more joyous to see him indicted and eventually locked up.
this is it America-we are fighting for the soul of our country. If Trump wins we will officially become a banana republic.
3
Every Democrat feeling glee that Bloomberg is squirming right now should pause and ask themselves why they are feeling that glee.
If Bernie is the nominee, Trump won’t just say the word “Socialist” a million times; he’ll morph it into “Communist”, and will ask Americans if they’re ready for the USA to become North Korea. You know he will do that. And he will win by doing that.
So, ask yourself if you want to be gleeful now and see 4 more years of Trump in November, or if you want to win the presidency and maybe the senate too.
Democrats need to end this circular firing squad right now.
7
When Michael was asked to release those bound by a NDA by Elizabeth Warren, it was like a live grenade going off in his face. I think Warren’s explosive behavior set the tone for the evening and just riveted the audience. Not too fast on his feet evidently could not come up with a good retort. He should have told her, "you’re not my lawyer or I have to talk with the legal department." Or better still, I have nothing to hide. Ha. How about “sue me!” Oh and while I am at it, Trump did not win that debate. A low blow.
1
So fellow Dems are blasting away at each other, the circular firing squad, demanding Bloomberg fess up, etc.....Trump has a closet filled with women who he's insulted, assaulted, harassed, etc....and he became President and will be re-elected. Why? Because the Dems have no sense of scale.
Trump is the enemy, not fellow Dems....I'm convinced Trump will be re-elected...
This elections was a slam dunk for Democrats...and they are working overtime to ensure they lose in November.
9
So, is this what We the People of the USA want?
To stand in long lines to choose between Tsar Bloomberg the Arrogant VS Tsar Trump the Terrible?
Do voters really want to watch a drawn out brawl between 2 conceited, sociopathic, lying, racist, bigoted, misogynist, power seekers, to see which one can waste more billions and exchange the grossest insults?
Very entertaining? And good for media profits?
4
Hmmm, where have I seen this show before? A divorced, old, white, golf-playing, NYC billionaire who changes parties with every election and has a boatload of sexual harassment assaults against him along with racist remarks can't release his taxes because they are complicated and will sell his business if he becomes president and is in Jeffrey Epstein's little black book?
At least he is not Trump?
3
Why do you think Russia is backing Bernie as the candidate? Come on people, I think you know.
2
Mike Bloomberg is arrogant and thinks his money can buy silence against sexism in his workplace. He will never get the nomination after these revelations. More women will probably come forward and he will be finished.
4
Seriously people you cannot have it both ways. Here is a guy who runs a company of 20,000 providing good jobs and by the way 12 WEEKS OF PAID MATERNITY AND PATERNITY LEAVE. Like a frat house in the early days: yes. What financial company in New York was not?? Purity tests= 4 more years of Trump. Or his liberal Doppelganger, Bernie Sanders.
7
“There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”
– Oscar Wilde
If the media would stop covering Trump's stupid decisions, he'd be in a major panic mode. Stop covering his rallies.
2
Release them all, or it doesn't count, Mike.
6
The attack by Elizabeth Warren on Mr Bloomberg about an issue that occurred 30 years ago, which was not out of line at the time, is frankly pathetic !
The tone of the debate was reminiscent of a schoolyard brawl with kids shouting and demeaning their “enemies”.
All this egged on by “moderators” asking inflammatory questions of one candidate and aimed at another, doing no “moderating” at all...
Bloomberg was the only adult in the room with the rest of them guilty of “operating mouth before engaging brain”.
This is EXACTLY what we do not need as we endeavor to remove the “divider-in-chief” and get our country back onto a civil and more positive course.
Let’s try to focus on real issues and rise above trivial nonsense.....
5
Oh gee! The Republican running as a Democrat throws some crumbs to the crowd. Give it up, Mikey. We appreciate your help getting rid of Trump, but you're way out of touch with the nation--you're not the guy to run this one.
3
As a former principal, I prepared better for parent open house than Bloomberg for this debate. In fact, for a slight fee, I could have done a better job than a room filled with six figure consulting fees.... Must admit Mike's performance affirms my belief that being very smart and very stupid can exist in the same person.
2
3 women? What about all of the others?
5
It's so nice of Mike to give women permission to speak about the abuse they received at his hands. It's not like people are ever forced to sign NDAs under economic or legal duress!
5
Napoleon Bloomberg is now 'willing' to RELEASE 3 women from their NDAs. Gee, thanks,Bloomie.
Or, thanks to Sen. Warren.
An article by 2 law professors in The Atlantic Magazine --- “Hush Contracts Corrupt Everyone Who Signs Them”.
They say “Nondisclosure agreements silence sexual-harassment victims and White House employees alike. The law shouldn’t allow these deals.
NDAs require the victim to explicitly agree to protect her predator from public scrutiny, making her formally complicit….. a deal that exchanges money to compensate for an act of unwanted intimacy after the fact.
The purpose and effect of a hush contract are to exert social and emotional pressure on victims or observers of wrongdoing.”
This type of stuff is what Bloomberg, our supposed savior from Trump--- is known for, has covered up, avoided and then minimized when forced to confront it by Sen. Warren.
And Bloomberg's advertising money flooding the media is exerting pressure on American votes too. Will they withstand it or will they elect him?
2
'Says He’ll Release 3 Women From Nondisclosure Agreements'
_____________
So does this mean he's buying them off a second time? telling them what he wants them to say publicly?
Something along the lines of, "Mr. Bloomberg told an off color joke that I found offputting."
5
Warren should drop out already. She has run on the “vote for me because I am a woman” platform and now she is trying to resuscitate her phlegmatic campaign by becoming the savior of all those women Bloomberg gave a lot of money to over the years. Whatever.
It’s time for Warren to get out of the way and let the real candidates have a chance to actually win without being nagged to death over nonstarters that no one cares about.
You had a nice run, Liz. It’s time to give up the ghost.
4
And the "Days of NDA" are just beginning.
Say what you may about our POTUS - if he had been attacked over NDA - he would have refused to release.
If anything - he would have sued to stop them from demanding a release.
Bloomberg is already on a slippery slope.
And it just got a little steeper and wetter and more sleepery.
Nothing he does will satisfy anybody and even he wishes to release all - he will face a revolt within Bloomberg ranks who benefited from these NDA - and they in turn will sue Bloomberg to stop releases.
Next will be a complaint from an institution to which you donated money.
My advice to Bloomberg is now even more relevant - get out before they tear apart everything you built - brick by brick.
3
Good afternoon! I am Albert Valiakhmetov and I completely agree with You!
If Bernie is an independent why isn’t he debating Trump now? Let’s see what ya got Bernie
I'll bet Trump wishes he had gotten some NDAs. See, Bloomberg is smarter. He'll never have a scandal because he gets out in front of these things. NDAs are used to silence people. You need to silence people when you know they will out you.
Wow, I don't trust the vast majority of comments, for or against! A lot seem to be plants.
3
Elizabeth Warren gets things done.
3
Warren made mincemeat out of Bloomberg! Can't help but look forward to her bringing down Trump!
4
Send that NDA release to Trump, Senator Warren.
HIs entire life is one big NDA.
If these women want to be released from the NDAs they should return any money they got as part of the deal.
4
Mr. Bloomberg, tear down that wall of secrecy!
2
Our .01% have landed, gutted and are cooking our nation.
Hope they leave some for the kids.
2
I don't know any billionaires. But my millionaire friends are all in for Bernie. These are highly educated, competent, thoughtful and compassionate people who care deeply about their children's future, a sustainable earth, and decent wages, among other things. They believe health care is a right. And they're willing to pay for it, because they've learned life is not about endless acquisition, and a Rolex won't by any kind of lasting happiness.
On paper, I'm also a millionaire. Barely. But my husband and I stay in our 1750 square foot home because it's all we need, and drive a fifteen year old car because it's great looking and works fine. I haven't bought new clothes in a few years, because the old clothes serve me well. While I am privileged to have a housekeeper twice a month, and a gardening team, every individual is paid $30 an hour. They're worth more, and get big Christmas bonuses. Could I afford a twice weekly housekeeper? You bet. But my child is grown and gone, I'm retirement age but work part time, and I'm perfectly capable of picking up after myself. And what we don't spend on ourselves, we get to give away!
Now, that is happiness.
Go Bernie.
243
Mike has done much much more for the environment than Bernie, who major accomplishments are talking and yelling.
And everyone knows Single Payor won’t happen in Bernie’s first term - but he is so contradictory, he won’t work for incremental change - which can get done Obamacare was a great first step, make it better. That’s doable.
Take a look at Bloomberg’s ideas and plans. Sure he’s a billionaire but Bernie’s pretty happy to have become a millionaire himself. And Bloomberg made his money and is now using it to make a better world for all our children.
Last thing, buying elections is how things are done now in this America. We have no idea where Trump’s money will come from - at least we know where Bloomberg’s come from.
30
@CC I’m not a billionaire-I’m 82 years old, once a political leader-I have no money. I do not believe in socialism because it inevitably leads to greater government control of our lives. We lose our most basic freedoms when the governments take over our lives. When Lenin died millions of Russians, all dressed in gray, all looking the same, a long grey line. MINDLESS. I’ll is inevitable when the test upon which all of your freedoms depend will be what is the need of the State-whatever that is will prevail very your basic rights-and if you oppose that you will be re-educated!
8
@Maxi I don't disagree! I just think Bernie got the ball rolling years ago to make us act locally and think globally. I believe he inspires in a way that Bloomberg does not. But for all Bernie's fine ideas, much compromise would have to occur to implement most of them. I like his passion and sincerity.
If Bloomberg wins the nomination, I'll be among the first to say Go, Mike! And I'll sign on immediately to phone bank into other states, because California will vote blue, no matter who.
15
Obama laid a huge egg in his first debate with Romney, then rolled on to a landslide victory. Being able to convey your message is what is important, and I believe more voters will want to hear Bloomberg's message over Bernie's tired default setting "Everything for free, paid for by the Rich" message.
406
@Midwest Josh Bloomberg's inspiring message of "we need a businessman in the White House" who can "get things done"? Truly riveting.
Running to the right of Hillary Clinton will surely boost turnout among the Democratic base... Elections aren't only decided by independent swing voters anymore, high turnout is a necessity. Sanders can get Michigan, he is credible. People don't care about ideology and buzzwords, they want a president whom they can trust to work in their interest.
30
@Midwest Josh Bloomberg's message is nothing more complex than "I got rich without anyone's help, and therefore I know better than you poors". He is a condescending elitist with a penchant for abandoning his current political party at the drop of a hat as soon as he thinks he can wring some advantage out of it.
Do you want women to vote Blue in 2020? Then don't pick Bloomberg, the only Dem candidate who has a record of misogyny that could give Trump a run for his money. Do you want young people to vote Blue in 2020? Then don't pick Bloomberg, the out of touch boomer that no one under 30 wants to vote for. Do you want people of color to vote Blue in 2020? Then don't pick Bloomberg, the guy who decided that poor black people don't really have civil liberties.
The only thing most voters want to hear from Bloomberg is this: "As of today, I am suspending my campaign for president".
43
@felix
Tell us how you can possibly trust a person who has accomplished so little in his 30 years in Congress to get anything done in anyone's interest as president?
44
Let's compare Sanders versus Bloomberg. Michael Bloomberg created a tremendously profitable company by himself. Bernie Sanders, correct me if I am wrong, did not have a regular job until age 40. As mayor, Bloomberg helped make NYC the safest large city in the US. Has Bernie done anything in congress? Bloomberg has given several billions to charity. Bernie wants to give away other peoples money. I have been a Democrat for many years and I fully support Michael Bloomberg - he gets things done. Can Bernie say the same thing? Ranting is not a qualification to be president.
476
@DickH
As Sanders said, Bloomberg made his money off of the backs of workers.
54
As competent and as experienced as he is, Mike Bloomberg was no match for municipal unions which he failed to reign in despite the ability to crush them.
3
@DickH You don't sound like a Democrat. "Giving away other people's money" is red meat for conservative republicans. Democrats call it fair taxation.
18
Well, he perhaps thought people would talk policy and a vision for the future, not attacks from the past.
What will Bernie say when they show he honeymooned in Moscow, heaped praise on Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, making it clear he's a communist, not a social democrat.
61
@David So do you think Trump will talk policy and vision for the future? or do you think he will use attacks from "the past"? By the way, the past is still ongoing, as those NDAs are still in effect.
5
@David What vision for the future can we expect from someone who boasts of having his police force grab thirteen-year-old boys, slam them against a wall, and frisk them?
6
I went to Havana for Valentine's Day three years ago when the travel ban was lifted. Despite the poverty, the Cubans were kind and joyful in a way that you don't find in the states. They were also optimistic about the future because Obama was working to repair our relationship and they even had a mural of him on the wall of the public housing. Cuba is a popular destination for Europeans because travel is not prohibited like it is here. I am aware of the evils of Communism, but I suggest people get out of their bubbles.
8
Mr. Sanders is right to respond to Mr. Bloomberg's incessant attacks, the most audacious of which is to accuse Sanders of being a communist, rightly called out as a cheap shot on the debate stage.
The last time the Democrats nominated the moderate in 2016 the ploy failed utterly – and I hardly see that nominating Bloomberg, with his past sexual harassment claims and disreputable record of enacting racist policies and suppressing the minimum wage, can offer a sufficient contrast to Trump. If he is not so different to Trump, how can Bloomberg convince voters looking to remove Trump to vote Democrat?
214
@dlt by that logic if Bernie were the actual candidate, wouldn't he carry those states (Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, etc)?
16
Marie D'Aguilar, call him a communist or socialist, the point is that Bernie Sanders is not a capitalist. He believes that the government should control the means of production, not the people in a free market. It's not a cheap shot to call that out.
What was a cheap shot was labeling Mike Bloomberg as a sexist. He's not. He has said a few things over the years that sound bad now but he's nothing like a Donald Trump. Shame on you, Elizabeth Warren, for saying otherwise.
37
@Marie D'Aguilar
Winning by 3 million votes hardly counts as 'failed utterly.'
11
The most important thing in this Election: Democrats retaking the Senate, and retaining the House. Without his Collaborators, Trump is just a toothless, senile old Dog, howling at the moon. Sanders as the nominee will NOT enhance the likelihood of picking-up Senate seats. In fact, we might even LOSE some.
Wake up and smell the real world, outside your purity bubble.
Seriously.
678
@Phyliss Dalmatian why do people keep saying this without any evidence
37
@Phyliss Dalmatian Sanders drives turnout, which helps downticket races. Nominate a moderate and it will be Hillary all over again.
38
@Phyliss Dalmatian How many people who oppose Trump's presidency do you honestly think would sit out the election entirely because their favorite candidate didn't win the Democratic nomination? Are there really people out there who want to see a Democratic-controlled legislature, but won't bother to vote at all because they're not wild about Bernie?
32
I'm a Democrat and a liberal but I am always frustrated at the Democrats ability to forfeit an election by infighting and losing sight of the big picture. We need to be more pragmatic We should not alienate Bloomberg when we desperately need all the help we can get to defeat Trump. They should focus more on promoting their solutions to the problems of climate change and health care and less time disparaging other candidates and throwing mud when it might comeback to hurt us in the general election.
3
I prefer a moderate, and I think any of the current ones would be fine to get past trump. We are splitting hairs now.
So I kind of wish the moderates would put country First and give up the race so that moderate voters can unify behind ONE of them. Otherwise our votes will be divided and Sanders will win, which I along with many others believe will not be able to bring onboard enough people to win the general election.
1
releasing women from non-disclosure agreements doesn't mean much if he gets to pick and choose which women to release from their agreements
and as he claims that all of these agreements are based on him telling dirty jokes, why couldn't he stop telling dirty jokes?
2
I agree with the comment from NYer. The Democrats are acting like feral creatures in a small area--tearing each other apart. While I am not adverse to the Dems doing what they do, the real opponent is Trump. The thing is that they have no coherent policy by which to oust him from a second term. Hating Trump is not a policy. It is a slogan which will not get them very far.
Show me how American life and financial rewards will get better under a Democrat and I will consider my vote. Until then, Trump is my man.
2
Anyone who has worked in large organizations knows it is virtually impossible to ensure only good behavior prevails. And, what was acceptable behavior 20 years ago is not acceptable behavior today. Bloomberg has over 20,000 employees throughout the world. It is impossible to lead such an organization without ever having conflicts between the sexes, or misbehaving employees, that give rise to claims of harassment. Warren is overplaying her hand on this. It is this same obnoxious attitude that forced the excellent Sen Franken out of office. We have a man in the WH who has said and done despicable things, most of which was revealed before he was elected.
Elizabeth, the public cares more about the issues. If you want to attack Bloomberg, do it on the issues. Do it on his record running NYC. Focus on his stance on gun control, his plan for tax reform, health care, immigration, etc. His support for Democrats helped us win the House back. You didn’t complain about his “buying the election” then.
.
Bloomberg agreed to release the women who signed DNAs relating to complaints about him personally. That’s good enough for me. It’s time to move on to the real issues otherwise we can be assured of 4 more years of the Apprentice.
5
So the issue here is that some Democrats are concerned that if Bloomberg does not fully release all the NDAs, there are voters that would vote for trump over bloomberg. Right?
Tick tock folks- every second of this foolish squabble is ad content for trump. Y’all better figure this out...and quick, so we can mobilize and get on with convincing America that a moderate Dem ticket is the way to go. Save the great giant lurch towards democratic socialism for the second term.
And the only poll I want to see from here on in to the convention is that representing the 80,000 voters in the 5 states that will matter in Nov. if they will vote for the hard left candidate great...this race (and the future of our country) is not about what YOU want, it is about what THEY want. I really wonder if Bernie’s polling in those states really shows that there are a lot (A LOT) of previously uninvolved potential voters ready to jump in his pool....
1
It's not enough and nothing will be; even if he were to try to disburse his entire 60 billion fortune to the Sanders and Warren campaigns, he should be refused on moral grounds.
Bloomberg should take a stand of listening to what others say—and respond positively and respectfully, on the spot or later as he did now with the NDAs.
That is leadership, not snarky bickering. It’s gracious. It also deals with everyone ganging up on him—above the fray. It shows how he would be conciliatory if elected—and work toward solutions.
He should do the same on stop-and-frisk. He loses nothing by apologizing, although it is weaker done this late.
It would add empathy to what sometimes, for him, is a cold and distant personae—one that some Democrats see as “Republican”.
He’s paying advisors plenty to advise him. How did they miss this? Are the NDAs just a one-off that Warren had to wring out of him?
It’s what parents want. And It’s temperament that unites and can beat Trump.
1
Bloomberg- Always with the convoluted explanations and minimal concessions fronted by subtle-seeming but actually substantial barriers, dispensed with regal disdain from his ruffled cuffs.
If you want to convince me that he is yet another clueless corporado entirely unable to grok the depths of his entitlement and cellular-level misogyny, just begrudgingly pry loose three hand-selected NDAs.
This is reawakening nightmares of my days dealing with powerful men in business. It shows me, instantly, more about his character than his campaign intends.
Thank you, Elizabeth Warren, for highlighting this, and for drafting the blanket waiver Bloomberg is avoiding.
I would vote for Bloomberg only to defeat Trump, if we end up with Bloomberg as the candidate. But every step of the way heading there I will support the other four front-runners.
3
Can Mr. Bloomberg just please put his money into the Democratic campaign of one of the other Democratic candidates he sees most likely to beat Trump?
I realize that billionaires must possess huge egos to be able to make billions upon billions. But, dueling billionaire egos is such an ugly visual.
I know! I know! It’s made for TV.
1
The Democratic Party sent an email to volunteer precinct chairs asking them to sign a non-disclosure agreement by offering a payment to not speak to journalists. This is a party that does not believe in freedom of the press. They are not fit to govern anything at the moment.
My feeling is that Bloomberg made a fatal mistake. He opened the gate now for a stream of complaints that will drown his candidacy. He played right into the hands of Warren et al. who will use their new found treasure to the end, smearing the man with a million allegations, belittling everything he accomplished before. His success as a mayor, his benevolent philanthropy, his plans for the future of the country, all will be lost in the the din that will last to the bitter end, when Trump, smiling, win the elections and leave the idiotic democratic puritans to keep fighting in the mud pool, not aware that they already lost.
2
Too little, too late. Shows poor judgement. My favourite choice for President crumbled before my eyes this week. A shame, ...
3
No Bloomberg means two or three more Supreme court Judges that Mitch McConnell approves.
The environment further trashed.
An end to women's reproductive rights.
But we are pure.
Purity got rid of Franken.
If that ain't winning what is?
4
The "Debate" ranks as the dumbest format for publicly assessing a candidate. Besides being a misnomer, 'TheBait' serves the kind of trash talk that, no surprise, the junk fed populace watches morning to night - hence the entertaining government the US enjoys today. Without question Bloomberg is the only viable president and a failure to recognize that come election time will only cement the US's newly minted reputation as the dumbest democracy in history.
3
This article unfairly attacks Bloomberg. It alludes to unspecified events which happened 30 or 40 years ago most of which are trivial and all of which are insignificant compared to Trump’s treatment of women.
Bloomberg is the strongest Democratic candidate and frankly the best one.
Such articles help Putin elect Trump.
4
This cherry picking is a ridiculous response to the call to release people from NDAs. Three out of how many, Mr. Bloomberg?
3
Has anyone considered that these NDS’s might contain information about people not Bloomberg?
Perhaps they contain information having nothing to do with Bloomberg and he is respecting the agreement.
Let’s get real, there is no one amongst us who has not made bad moves.
Let’s not lose sight of just who can take on trump!
2
There is much discussion of who can best hold their own in debate with Trump. My crystal ball says there won’t be any debates. Trump will continue to do his circuses and the Democrat candidate will do rallies. Never the Twain shall meet.
I am only commenting here because most of the comments are ignoring the NDA's. Whenever a person has a claim against a company and the company doesn't want to litigate they offer money and require an NDA. If a person is leaving a company and they are only contractually entitled to a certain sum of money the company will often offer money, but the employee must sign an NDA, a confidentially agreement and a non competition agreement. These are standard procedure. In the case of sexual claims if litigated or arbitrated there can be damage to both sides.
If the candidates running on the democratic line want all NDA's made illegal, that will be the end of settlements. Everything will be litigated to verdict and thereafter appeals. NDA's are a way of finalizing legal disputes without spending years in litigation or arbitration.
If the ladies want to talk, give back all the money that they took and speak all you like, but remember the other side gets to speak as well.
3
Thanks a lot Elizabeth. You caused me to go from fear to hopelessness with your foolish ridicule of Michael Bloomberg.
For 50 years I’ve been watching and wincing at the Democratic Party’s demand for purity above all else. And the majority of time, we end up the pure losers. People are not perfect and Mr. Bloomberg has apologized. Goodness knows, the RNC doesn’t demand perfection and no Repub ever has a regret.
This election will not be business as usual. Michael Bloomberg is the only candidate who can overcome the assault that will be waged upon our Constitution by Trump and his Russian pals.
2
The cherry-picked three? Big deal. What about all the others?
3
I’m a millionaire and I support Bernie.
2
Mr. Sanders said “One person one vote.” I wish that was true. Does not Mr. Sanders know about the electoral college? In NY a vote for Mr. Trump will not mean much. I think this is wrong. Everyone’s vote for President should count the same!
I am getting really put off by Bloomberg's juvenile billboards about Trump eating burnt steak and cheating at golf. Is this supposed to be funny, or is this info a game changer? Is this what the Presidency is about? If Bloomberg really cares about the future of our country, he should end his sorry candidacy and support a winnable candidate (e.g. Warren or Klobuchar) with his billions.
1
Really. There isn't a Democrat who would be WORSE then the one infecting the White House! Let's get over all the squabbling and posturing and concentrate on BEATING trump!
2
Releasing only three smacks more of a cover-up than not releasing any.
Come on, Mr. Mayor, release all of them or drop out of running for president.
2
For two candidates who've collectively won one (1) election as Democrats, Sen. Sanders and fmr mayor Bloomberg are asking a lot from the party.
The essential case against Mr. Trump is that he's an old white guy who doesn't think any of the rules apply to him. These two old white guys separately are exuding the idea that some rules don't apply to them.
It's hard to believe that Mr. Bloomberg didn't think that his financial information, NDAs, etc. weren't at least symbolically important to distinguish himself from Mr. Trump, as well as an endless source of twitter zingers from the Trump enthusiasts.
Mr. Sanders should stop acting like he owes the Democratic Party nothing.If he is running under its aegis, the least he could do is change to Ver-D in the senate. Not only is he trying to have it both ways, independent and Democratic, it would be the single biggest way to get party panjums to be less hostile. It might also make some voters less skittish
(Also, he should stop having his wife give that inane explanation about Vermont not registering by parties. Sen Leahy is a Democrat, and fmr. Sen. Jim Jeffords changed parties mid-term. Many other states also have open primaries and no registration by party.)
6
@grennan
In case you haven't noticed, the Democratic Party brand is damaged, and continues to be so. Registering as Democrat would only mean he owes membership fees to the DNC.
Well, they've already got Bloomberg's money for that. His no-strings-attached donation of $300K mysteriously coincided with debate qualification rule changes - changes that were previously set in stone.
1
For the record, Warren claimed Indian ancestry *after* getting a job at, I believe, Harvard, not during the application process. It was done, according to the Boston Globe's thorough look into the issue a couple of years ago, in order to help out her department head, who wanted to show s/he was running a diverse department.
4
@Sixofone
For the record, her bar registration lists her as Native American in 1986, long before she got her Harvard job. This was reported by WaPo.
And yes, her application to Harvard included her Native American status. It was not done as a favor after getting hired.
2
@Sixofone Mmhmm....her and Bernie's purity standards are ridiculous let they don't apply to them? I'm in MA and MANY of her constituents were very disgusted with the Native American issue and felt she ignored it/covered it up for too long. I forgave her though, but she can't consider that for others? She also used to be a Republican, far past the time I was at her age. But, also, forgiven because I know there's more to her than that. However, her v recent reversal on PACS/Super Pacs? THAT has created quite a stir on Twitter-which I don't necessarily take too seriously-but many women of color especially, are extremely upset by her convienient reversal after she demanded "purity" from all the other candidates, leaving us at a point where now all the candidates are white.
Let me be clear here. I supported Bloomberg before that terrible debate. Now, I support him even more--if that is possible.
20
@SM Yeah me too. That debate, smh, while Mr. Mayor (NYC) didn't perform great and HAS to do better....his ideas, policies, and record on action had sold me before. I just wanted to hear more about it and at the last debate wasn't really given the opportunity due to the lack of moderating, infighting, etc
1
After the convention, Democrats should be doing everything we can defeat Donald Trump. Until a Democratic nominee is elected, we should be doing everything we can to defeat Michael Bloomberg.
7
@Bob I'm sorry Bob, but as a lifelong Dem and person who relies on SSDI and Medicare, I must disagree. This election matters to us all...those of us who care about democracy all the more so. Please don't go after someone who only wants to make life better his policies are really good...I'd argue we need to do everything we can to stop Mr. Bernard Sanders....a Russian ally and completely off the wall, my way or no way, intolerable, grumpy old man.
Nice to hear Bloomberg will open up three NDAs, but how many are there altogether? What about the rest of them?
This issue is not the deal breaker for me. But Bloomberg's reluctance to answer any question he didn't like reinforced my opinion that people with $64 billion think they make the rules and are not bound by the rules set by lesser tycoons.
7
I generally oppose NDAs -- they have no place in an open democratic society. But I also oppose Democrats chasing other Democrats on matters of form not substance. I care what Bloomberg's positions will be on equality for women. Do his past comments matter? Of course they do, but fellow Democrats should treat them in a measured manner. Leave the hysteria to the Republicans. Otherwise we risk further splitting the Democratic party in to two obstinate partisan divisions the way the country has been split in two. And then Trump wins. God forbid.
9
The reaction was inevitable: Bloomberg's critics would just say (as they have): "What about all the other NDAs?" and "Why do these 3 women have to ask the company for releases? Couldn't Mike Bloomberg just order the company to issue those releases?"
Frankly, If I were Bloomberg, I'd have just taken the hit and moved on. He didn't handle himself well in the debate, but debates don't matter much anyway. Just ask Mitt Romney, who crushed Obama in two of their three debates in 2012 yet barely saw a small uptick in his poll numbers the following week.
4
Wienstein said he was sorry, but does that make it all okay?
5
Bonnie Josephs, a New York City lawyer who initially represented a former Bloomberg employee in a sexual harassment case, criticized Bloomberg’s decision as too narrow.“This is ridiculous. What it appears he’s doing is responding only to the people who have complained about him personally,” she said.
If Warren wants to see all the NDA'a filed on behalf of his company, and not related to him personally, she should go to court. What grounds would she have for that, though? I don't think " I need political ammunition to smear a competitor" would be sufficient grounds.
9
@Michelle
Rest assured that Trump's people don't need to go to court to get them. He'll have the women at the debate as his guests, as he did with Bill's accusers.
@Michelle: What Bonnie Josephs wants is ridiculous, because it implies that all companies should have to release all NDAs over the past 30 years involving sexual harassment. If she wants that, she should lobby to outlaw NDAs in cases of sexual harassment.
1
Does anyone really think that Bernie can raise enough money to compete with Trumps war chest? The idea that small group of individual contributors can compete with Trump's mega rich donors is ludicrous. Trump is going to flood the airwaves with lies and neither Bernie nor Warren are going to have enough money to respond. Bloomberg should be thanked for willing to spend what it takes to beat Trump.
Every day I get an email from Bernie and Warren asking for another contribution that I can't afford. The election is still eight months away, and I'm already tapped out. If hope all these Bernie and Warren supporters are willing to put their money where their mouths are. Of course, most probably won't. The only thing you can count on is for them to be righteously outraged when Trump is re-elected.
7
Give the guy a break.
He’s agreed to release the women who have NDAs regarding his alleged behavior. That’s good progress in just a few days and that’s what‘s been demanded of him.
It might take more time for the company to consider a wholesale release.
16
Ms. Warren said on Friday that Mr. Bloomberg’s decision was “just not good enough.”
“Michael Bloomberg needs to do a blanket release so that all women who have been muzzled by nondisclosure agreements can step up and tell their side of the story in terms of what Michael Bloomberg has done,” she told reporters after stopping for a taco as she campaigned across the city.
If Bloomberg does this it will never, ever end and will become an endless litany of he said she said. Worse it will blow everything off the headlines souring the electorate. You can't have it both ways. You can't sign a Non-disclosure agreement and years later you don't want to be held to it. Warren knows this. A very cynical and desperate move by her campaign.
24
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it through to November stop beating each other up and use your energy, power, money, time to protect our democracy. Enough grandstanding, name calling, digging up dirt on each other. So help me more of us will put our hands in the air and stop supporting this circus.
10
Hey I do not want Trump to be replaced with a benovolent dictator! If bloomberg can’t handle vetting from Sen Warren... Thank you for having HIGH and need to be common standards of our PUBLIC SERVANTS! Do not sell your ethics just to beat Trump... the damage Trump already has done will take generations to recover- supreme and all federal courts, EPA n foreign policy- lack of reverence and trustworthy agreements. All good things will come to those who follow morals n ethics.
4
If the public was aware of this, how did he get elected three times?
7
He succeeded in buying the elections. As you may recall, he had the law changed to run for a third term. He rigs the system.
6
@Carter Cohn: The law was changed using the appropriate procedures and he did not buy the elections. He was voted in by New York City voters all three times. The voters were not paid for their vote. If laws were unchangeable and forever, women would still not have the vote, and interracial marriages would still be outlawed.
2
Stop and Frisk and NDAs may be important to MSM pundits who want materials for their daily column, the rest of us are more concerned about how can get the job done. As WAPO interviews of potential voters in CA, quite a few voters still plan to vote for Bloomberg because they need some one with deep pockets to win against Trump. Bloomberg also showed that he was the only adult in the room at the Nevada debate. He did not attack other Democratic candidates other than Bernie Sanders for pushing a platform that he can never deliver, and a platform that will cause other Democrats to lose in National and State wide elections.
I am also not interested in spending valuable time and resources on NDAs that are decades old. Instead, let's keep our focus on the President who is testing the limits of executive power on a daily basis.
16
Simple.
Keep the House.
Win the Senate.
Elect Bloomberg.
Glue the shredded Constitution back together.
17
Warren is over-playing this - she is throwing flames trying to find a way back into the race. She should have left the extreme on the debate stage but to continue so negatively is too much and she looks ridiculous. Sorry elizabeth, our country is on fire and to focus on this towards a man of his age -give me a break, different times for sure and he has evolved - proof of it. Move on, pllleeeease.
And, it is not because she is a women - bernie is so negative that he gives me huge stress. Try something w/ Bernie - listen to him with the lights off - so only his voice...nooooo we cannot have this after trump. He sounds looney-tunes...his emotional points are not policy they are rants about what is wrong in the world. Rants do not solve anything. they only make us more unbalanced, less unified, more hyped-up about self-righteous arguments...we need policy makers, innovative thinkers, big hearts, big minds, and huge experience.
I am undecided and not inspired yet. I only am sure that bernie is the worst choice ever. He will be eaten alive. Hearing these new pro-castro quotes...forget about FL, he has lost this state for sure if he had this posture.
17
Good , Bloomberg has nothing to hide, he acknowledges that he made off color joke and remarks perhaps what 20 years ago or more .
This is a nothing burger compared to Trump having 24 women or more file sexual assault or harassment allegations against him.
I would remind Democrats that without Mike Bloomberg financial support we would not have taken back the House in 2018.
Please lets keep our wits about us we have a choice the Best or the Perfect .
I want Trump to be beaten in 2020 that is all that matters to me . If Mike Bloomberg can do that he has my support .
21
Mayor Bloomberg, don’t make the mistake of being reactive. Run on your record in nyc. Reduction of crime, re-centralizing the nyc school board, creating low and middle income housing, creating public/private partnerships, environmental policies, calorie disclosure in food service, job growth, infrastructure growth and preservation and resurrection of city sites (high line/high bridge ),pedestrian areas, tourism, learning Spanish to speak Directly to minority communities and your support of immigration policies, your philanthropy helping other cities build on the amazing policies you established and perpetuated in nyc. stop succumbing to placating the political pundits and remember what individuals think and want.
33
@Denise Savage my thoughts exactly. He needs to define himself by explaining and defending what he accomplished, rather than letting his opponents define him by the mistakes he has made. Another debate or two like the last one and he is toast.
1
@Denise Savage:
I agree that Mayor Bloomberg should not try to placate the political crowds, and especially the "beltway pundits" on TV. He should not feel stung by Warren and Bernie. However, he feels stung - and he wants to answer them because I believe he wants to show them (and us voters) that he listens and wants to make things better.
His offer to release women from past NDAs is forthcoming, shows leadership under difficulty (he's taking huge risks, because those women may be vindictive and come out slamming or -- heaven forbid, lie -- about things. And he then will get roiled-up in more controversy. He is giving these women immense power to either weaken his candidacy or to do nothing. He's taking a risk, to appease the likes of Warren and Sanders -- who won't take a risk for him.
I find it disgusting that Warren and Sanders are playing politics for self-gain, while putting the party last.
We need leaders who stay focused on removing trump, even if that means they need to muzzle themselves (as Bloomberg usually does), or step aside (hear that Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Steyer, Biden? -- you four lack enough strength and funds to be the nominee, so please step aside to help the main contenders). Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Steyer, and Biden cannot get sufficient votes from minority POC. They are a major part of the party. Realizing this, they should not prolong the agony and infighting.
Don't attack each other !!
Please==Focus==On==Removing==trump !!
1
NDAs don't protect the victims of sexual harassment, they protect the perpetrators of sexual harassment. So kudos to Senator Elizabeth Warren for challenging Bloomberg to allow victims of sexual harassment who signed NDAs with his company to share their accounts. Now let's get any entity that receives Federal funding to do the same - any educational institution, religious group, or other entity that gets tax breaks, should be required to allow victims of sexual harassment who signed NDAs speak up. It's time to stop allowing taxpayer dollars to silence these people - it's time to stop using public revenues for subsidizing predatory behavior.
9
@Julie Risser: You forget that the NDA also covers the alleged perpetrator, who is now free to defend himself (or in some cases herself) publicly against the allegation.
2
@Julie Risser:
What you are saying would be VERY wrong.
It would give some women more power. This is not bad until you realize the world has manipulative and evil women -- just as it has manipulative and evil men. You may believe there are more such men, so in your mind that may justify giving women more power. However you'd be wrong. The number of "distorted" or "sociopathic" minds seem to be equal among men and women.
If you have a son, do you want to give enough power to a warped person (an envious co-worker, his last date) to destroy his life, simply by making a false accusation? The truth about sexual assault accusations is that rarely is there any proof. Most of the time it's a legal case of "he said, she said".
In such cases, neither party is believed -- which is why they sign an NDA: to memorialize in an agreement the money to be paid by the more powerful/famous/richer person, to the other person -- in order to reduce the legal expenses they both will suffer. As best it can, this "closes" the issue.
The world is not as simple as we wish. There ARE women who make false accusations. If you don't believe it, look at our prisons holding too many black men who get exonerated after decades (through DNA evidence proving they were innocent). And the woman who lied (or had false memories) putting them in prison get no punishment.
The world is not fair.
Let's not make it even less fair for our sons!
The solution is to help women and men get proof of abuse.
1
It's more than likely that Bloomberg's Democratic opponents really could care less about any "victims" in Bloomberg's historical wake. Let's get real. They're raising the issue not out of their own noble motives; they're raising it because they resent AND fear his entrance into the race, especially Ms. Warren. Her indignation over it strikes me as particularly insincere.
26
"He is the only one who can beat Trump" is a phrase I see a lot in these comments, and it sounds like the kind of blind loyalty that Sanders supporters are accused of. Any of the current crop of candidates can beat trump if we all unify behind whoever it turns out to be. Bloomberg would probably have the hardest time of any of them, as he has the charisma of a limp cabbage and the dynamic presence of a stuffed rabbit. I think he's been surrounded too long by people who tell him how great he is.
10
I can't agree with that statement. Think of the math as Andrew Yang may have said. People running on medicare for all did not flip seats in 2018 when there was a blue wave (Bernie and AOC backed candidates failed to flip a single seat). Coming out against fracking makes it almost impossible to win PA and may even cost democrats CO. Bernie's praise of Fidel Castro means FL is off the table if he is the nominee. And that is putting aside that Trump is more popular among Republicans than when he was elected and has a strong economy to point to. Everyone who thinks Trump is weak is kidding themselves. It is going to be a difficult election no matter who wins the democratic nomination. This is not the time to take the threat lightly.
6
That doesn’t make any sense. Sanders would get absolutely crushed in the election. It doesn’t matter how many Democrats like him. You win an election by winning states not more individual votes. Bloomberg actually has a chance because he can gain momentum in a state like Oklahoma or Arkansas and Bernie just can’t. I want anyone to beat Trump but Democrats can only blame themselves for playing the game the wrong way.
7
@Mike Did you read the part about, if we all unite behind him. If you withhold your vote because you don't agree with him, then do you agree with Trump. It's that simple, just vote – like I'll vote for Bloomberg if he's the nominee.
Don't worry about what other people think. Just vote.
Zuckerberg is given a free pass when he justifies lies being spewed on Facebook; lies which allow him to become richer at our democracy and country’s expense. Yet Bloomberg - who has spent much of his fortune to support Democratic candidates, fight climate change, and help enact sensible gun restrictions - is vilified for becoming wealthy by building a successful business over many decades. I’m a lifelong Democrat who feels a sense of doom.
22
The culture of the Democratic Party and the party’s ineptness are huge problems in 2020
But, how many NDAs does this Republican barely in Democratic "clothing" in total.
If the answer were merely three, then that's what the response would have been to Warren.
Bloomberg is no better than Trump. None. I do not accept.
7
@Thomas
He is so much better than trump in so many ways, it is impossible to list. Just look at what he accomplished as mayor or the many causes supported by his philanthropies. What did the Trump Foundation ever do?
6
Let's be clear that Bloomberg's wealth is a red herring. Has anyone considered the last billionaire Democrat to become president? Yes, Bloomberg will be the second. The first billionaire (in today's dollars) was JFK. Look it up.
6
I blame NBC for terrible moderating.
Talk about setting a confrontational tone.
The questions were more like
old lines from a Jerry Springer show
than any form of sorting through ideas
and settling on principles that might serve the public's need to follow our better angels.
Maybe it's asking too much
for on-air news presenters
in a subsidiary of an old line media/entertainment conglomerate to ask good questions.
It's probably just wishful thinking
to propose a fourth estate
provide the nation more than a slogan studded spectacle.
If they can't do it, we need to find a better arbiter.
Should we go back to the League of Women Voters?
Democrats as well as anti-demagogue Republicans and independents
will come out in November no matter who is nominated.
Still... . How can we accept this bread and circus nominating show as the best our country can do?
We are at a decisive moment in our national history.
We 've got to demand better presentations of competing ideas and principles that actually matter.
For our children's sake, we must not fail.
17
@responsibleparentsdemand better I agree that the NBC moderators encouraged a free-for-all.
1
I had my kids watch the debate to gauge who seemed most impressive/most likable.
Elizabeth Warren came off as obnoxious pain. Not a good sign if that’s the sense she gives off..
11
Warren went way too far with the non disclosure agreements against Bloomberg and ends up looking like a mean-spirited fishwife. It may hurt Bloomberg for awhile, but it's going to end hurting Warren more. I just don't like her and bet lots of other voters agree. She comes across as a mean and spiteful person and won't be the Democratic nominee.
14
Hard to understand Warren’s obsession with the NDAs since she presumably has the woman’s vote in her pocket. Just trying to damage Bloomberg who has the best shot at beating Trump.
2
You know he could have just said. Look, the issues are what we should be focusing on. The NDA's contain unproven allegations that in most cases are old and impossible to verity. So that's why I'm not releasing them. Let's focus on who has the best ideas to make things better in this country and in the world and left it tat that. He didn't. This is exactly what you want in a president. Lead but be respectful of others views to the point of changing your mind in the face of better arguments. We're still waiting to see Trump's tax returns.
9
From a business perspective, NDA's are premised to keep a Corporations trade secrets from being shared with its competitors. Of course, in a political way of thinking "your hiding something" which is nothing more than conjecture on the part of a "negative campaigner" who wishes to destroy a competing candidate simply because they can't stand on their own merits and qualifications. Simply, those who use negative campaigning as a way to gain support by ripping apart a rival clearly shows their lack of confidence in themselves to compete aboveboard.
6
Warren overplayed her hand the other night; but Bloomberg is now responding appropriately as regards willingness to consent to release from NDAs. Warren, of course, has a history of questionable, unflattering practices relative to employment/ political ambition; and right now the same applies from her being in desperate political condition. That Bloomberg is such a strong candidate (and thus a major target to check) in light of his non-involvement for so long in the Dem race for nomination to be president is evidence of how weak the Dems are otherwise without him. And that includes Sanders who, as a self-declared “socialist,” simply won’t make it ... especially not against Trump the Con! Bloomberg has to be held accountable; that’s fine, but by going viciously after him like on Wednesday by “fellow” Dems is merely assistance, one way or other, to Trump. Ambition often does get in the way of wisdom ... even tragically so, as depicted, for example, by Shakespeare.
12
Warren may be able to fool most of the big media types, but as a retired senior executive at S&P 100, who dealt extensively with these types of agreements, and others, she as a lawyer should know better. She's going to get some votes for her theatrics but in terms of the legal process she's doing a real disservice as to how these work, and what is entailed to overturn them, and therefore spreading disinformation to many potential victims of workplace abuse.
22
@Northcountry
Bloomberg is running for President. This isn't a court of law, this is the court of public opinion. When you run for President and you have an issue like this, there is no due-process, only the possibility of X more NDAs.
Why? Because those women could make what is, in their mind, an efficient breach of contract, to let the world what more there is to Bloomberg than mere "comments."
3
@Northcountry - "...she's doing a real disservice as to how these work, and what is entailed to overturn them,..."
While you do a disservice to those who should know for whom and why the protection of an nda is afforded? Is it the victim or the perp? Barring an honest difference of opinion and no reason to harm anyone's rep if agreement can be reached. Since you brought it up, what is entailed in overturning the particular agreements relevant to bloomberg's 3, what will it entail past signature agreement of all of the involved parties to dissolve each's own respective agreement? After all, wouldn't you say the courts would find overturning these nda's, particularly wherein all interested parties of an agreement are amenable to its being overturned, to be in the public interest?
1
Ms. Warren hopes to inflate a flagging campaign by attacking another candidate. This vindictiveness is similar to tactics used by Mr. Trump and shows her desperation rather then any concern for women.
Mr. Bloomberg was flustered by the attacks from the other candidates whom all belong to the same party as him! You will see a better armed, prepared candidate in the next debate!
Hopefully for the next debate, all the candidates will bring their manners and, rather than trying to annihilate each other, they could debate the real issues!
Mr. Bloomberg's wealth should not be held against him because, unlike Mr. Trump, Mr. Bloomberg earned his money honestly! That is the American dream, and we should all be so successful!
Mr. Bloomberg has the best chance of winning the next election and that should be the Democratic goal!
24
Warren thought she had a “gotcha”moment in the NDAs. She did much worse herself in claiming she is “Native American”. She had 2 years to convince Iowans she should be President and she failed miserably. She should drop out. Sanders is truly a socialist at heart, in the Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez mode. Just look at his biography. He will lose to Trump in a landslide. Bloomberg will beat Trump. He achieved the American dream, then started giving his money away for good causes. He is not perfect, but he would be a very good President.
25
His gesture to release some of the women from their NDA comes too late and it simply won’t be enough to satisfy the critics. For him to say that it came about after much reflection only makes things worse for him. To only release some of them, worsens things further. Mr. Bloomberg had one and only one chance to make his case, but he failed miserably at a time when there was simply no room for error and no real second chances. The stakes are too high and perceptions too important. I really wish it could have turned out better for him. I certainly would have voted for him.
5
The NDA issue is trivial when we are facing a second term of Trump/ you cannot see the trees for the forest
1
I hope that in offering to release the non-disclosure obligations Bloomberg insists that the women return the money they were paid. These women, undoubtedly represented by counsel, made a business deal. If they now want to tear up the deal, and if Bloomberg is willing to give them that opportunity, fine. But it is absurd to suggest that they should be released from their obligations but also keep the consideration they were paid for assuming those obligations.
16
In reading these comments, I am afraid too many people are too pure to pick a candidate who can win, and will instead go for the one that makes them feel the most pure and self-satisfied, and then watch that person lost big time on election day.
As the old saying goes, "voters get the politicians they deserve."
13
What is Mike Bloomberg's message to Democratic voters? Is it, "I'm the moderate?" Because, it seems like he doesn't have a platform. He's just seems like a guy with a lot of money and lot of problems.
10
@Mark
Take a look at what Bloomberg did as mayor and what he supports through his philanthropy and you have a very good introduction to his platform as president.
7
@David Lui
So his platform is to gentrify the US by shipping out all the homeless and poor, while giving tax breaks and incentives to the rich?
It's easy to pay the homeless to leave NYC and price out the poor. It's a lot harder to pay them to leave the country.
@Mark ..Gun control, Climate change?
1
I like Elizabeth Warren a lot, but the truth is that she has literally zero chance of winning the presidential election. ZERO. This is a fact. A Sanders-Warren ticket the last election and Trump likely wouldn't be our president. But...Deb WassermanSchultz was never going to have that. And now we have a viable candidate that polls incredibly well against Trump - better than any other candidate - and there is another circus that will ensure - guarantee - another Trump victory. America won't survive another four years of Trump, my friends. This is also a fact. So go on searching for the "perfect" candidate or start looking for the one with decent ideas who can also win the election. It's that simple.
11
Bloomberg looks like he's not ready for the spotlight that shines on political candidates. Although there are opinions that Bloomberg could defeat Trump, that seems very unlikely today after a poor debate showing and now controversy about NDA's.
He can afford to stay in the race but the final result for him is already clear.
3
If Bloomberg can’t win, no one can
2
Mike Bloomberg is the best candidate that we have. Let me state why I support Bloomberg.
1) He is a great philanthropist. He donated his billions to notable causes. Go to https://www.bloomberg.org/
2) He started his business from scratch and it is a multi-billion dollar business now. Bloomberg LP hires thousands of people.
3) When he was a NYC mayor, he reduced crime, raised taxes on wealthy people like himself, increased the salaries of school teachers and reduced pollution.
4) Bloomberg spent millions for sensible gun laws, closed many coal-powered power plants and he is a strong advocate of paris climate deal. He even spent his money to support paris climate deal.
5) Bloomberg is a doer. He grew up in a lower middle-class family and worked very hard to be a successful businessman, mayor and philanthropist.
27
Wow all your points mirror Senator Warren except she never dictated women to keep their mouth shut nor did she change laws to extend her elected term in office ...
I'd like to see the NYT print some kind of geographical marker of where all these pro-Bernie posts are coming from.
My sense is its from Millennials in urban areas who feel guilty that mom and dad still pay their rent. They went to colleges they could not afford, majored in art, and now want a way out so they can buy a 2019 car.
Bernie cannot win in the critical swing states. That is a fact.
As a Gen Xer I never thought I would see the day our democracy would be ruined by a bunch of spoiled, impudent 20-somethings.
38
@N
And that’s why no one under the age of 25 should be allowed to vote.
1
That's 3 more than trump, however, Democrats standards are higher than the trump party. While I do appreciate Bloomberg's contribution to the Democratic party and I also appreciate the fact that he is different from trump in that he's not a pathological liar, he actually is successful and he is a true billionaire which trump is not. But I really do think that the change will likely happen through an assertive woman like Warren. They do have about what, 3 women in the trump party but they all follow trump. We don't need those kinds of women. We need real leaders looking for change. I like the fact that Elizabeth and Amy are both winners. They have great resumes and no scandals (except that one with Amy). Neither one of them would make the presidency about themselves and don't have man ego issues. This country has been run by old white men and nothing has ch'g'd. Obama was great.
Let's start focusing on the imbecile and all his loser traits. Foreign policy is very important. We can't lose our allies. Climate chg that should be a priority to FL and I don't know why it's not. Coal miners ignored in KY and need healthcare. We have too many issues to focus on and nothing but brazen corruption is hap and not helping the American people.
4
This country will not elect a woman President in 2020
I am a Bloomberg fan and think he may have a good shot in the general election. But to say that he made a joke maybe a few women didn’t like? It won’t stop me from voting for hi
- but show a little enlightenment, please.
21
I don't understand how shouting about injustice with no plan on how to implement its cure is presidential.
I don't understand how a person is thought to prove themselves presidential because she attacks harder and is more willing to insult her opponenets than others in an All-Star wrestling bout. Rallying a crowd to hate the enemy, the accursed billionaire– the one who had a lot to do with putting Pelosi in power and has been attacking Trump & doing it well is not presidential or unifying.
22
Once again, the democrats are doing the republicans' jobs for them. Warren's stunt is akin to Harris' T-shirt sale after she thought she cleverly took down Biden. Hopefully, Warren will meet the same fate. Her shrill finger wagging sanctimonious preaching is a turnoff not only to me, a feminist, but will be to moderates and independents in the swing states that we need to win 270 electoral votes.
As a NYC teacher who was not keen on Bloomberg's education vision, I will nevertheless support him against Trump. I don't care what he said or did 20 years ago. I care about what he plans to do to repair the damage and destruction wrought upon this country by Trump and his administration.
43
@dba
I share your opinion completely. I was disappointed by her performance as were my female friends who were watching the debate. She obviously couldn't wait to take him down and wanted to rise her profile because her support was waning. Some saw this as a plus and that she could "take on" Trump but this tactic didn't work so well for Harris at the end of the day. She should have known better.
13
@dba - "I don't care what he said or did 20 years ago."
Do you make the same statements about Brett Kavanaugh?
I'm sorry, Ms Warren, but not all NDAs are a 1 way street. Some people prefer to write books. Like John Bolton. Others prefer to be paid not to write books. But one thing is certain, they're all mutual agreements. Or they wouldn't exist.
20
Curious if unravelling an NDA involves paying back the $
1
My wife worked at Solomon Brothers when Bloomberg's star was rising.
The stories of his misconduct regarding females at Solomon were notorious. Evidently he regarded them as a learning experience that he used to forge policy at his new company.
Females were treated with disdain, insults, perverse jokes and debased.
This is no breadth of fresh air, rather it is a calculated candidacy to take advantage of the confused state of the Democratic party.
Bloomberg has an elitist personality that his billions allow to foster and practice unchallenged, unchecked. It seems that the timing of his candidacy is ill fated as his onion is being peeled.
11
Specifics, Nick.
Let’s see some names, dates and places
6
@Nick Hi people, it’s - or was -SALOMON Brothers. This guy’s wife worked at that investment banking firm - and I am an astronaut.
1
Bloomberg has employed thousands. He bulit a fortune lawfully. He's apologized for stop & frisk...by the way, wasn't that a Chief of Police design? Wasnt the goal to reduce guns and gun violence? Bernie is well meaning, has he ever run a lemonade stand? 3 Bills passed in 30 years...not a finisher. Bloomberg's given billions to charity....wasnt the DNC the recent recipient of his millions when the house flipped? He beats Trump because his 'sins' are soft versions of Trump's and his successes far greater than Trump's in finance. We can't go far wrong with Mike in those regards.
22
Kudos to Bloomberg for releasing three women from NDA's. Let's hope this issue dies.
Trump likes nothing more than to fight in the gutter. Remember that when Hillary Clinton accused Trump of filthy speech in the Access Hollywood Tapes, Trump responded by bringing out accusers of Bill Clinton. Voters were left wondering why exactly it was Bill Cosby and not Bill Clinton that went to jail.
Inflammatory accusations are a sure ticket to keep discussion away from important issues like climate change, income inequality, protecting the integrity of government institutions like the Justice Department.
I was raised a Seventh-day Adventist, a member of a fundamentalist protestant denomination. I rejected my religion when I went to the university because I realized that the Grand Canyon was cut by the Colorado River and it must have taken more than 6000 years.
But I understand the fundamentalist mind-set.
I wasn't allowed to go to any movies as a child. The Me Too speeches at the Oscars would have received the following response among my family at the time: What do they expect when they practice free love and divorce each other with abandon? Sexual harassment is minor compared to the pain of the children growing up in broken families.
Value systems were once thought to be provided by God on tablets of stone. But when you abandon that belief, you are left with: How do we justify a new morality when we have destroyed the old rules?
Why not drop the culture wars?
6
Now I know that anyone who was ever heard uttering a derogatory comment in their lifetime against a woman, minority, LGBT or religion, regardless of age or circumstance, is unfit to run for office. Some readers would add puppies and vegans. You may find a squeaky clean candidate for 2020, but then for what? Someone that violated all these "rules" has gotten the last laugh.
17
Thank you Mr. Bloomberg. You are doing the right thing.
Welcome to the playpen of intra-party infighting.
I whole heartedly believe you never behaved as egregiously as Trump, nor is your attitude towards women at all similar. A very low bar, for sure.
I do hope this #MeToo thing does not destroy the Democratic Party's hope and effort to get him out of office. (I still mourn what we did to Al Franken.)
I do not condone abusive treatment of women, I am a female.
I've had my fare share of inappropriate gestures and comments. As well as down right abusive.
But isolated incidences, do not make a way of being, an overall attitude. As someone who came into professional life during the late 80's, I understand the general attitude and misogyny that was about, but began to evolve and change as women became a more natural part of the workplace, especially at higher levels. And I know and believe many, many men put a check on their attitudes and behaviors as this happened. So I do not harbor resentments.
However, the man in the White House, and his perverted VP, are the epitome of twisted attitudes and relationships with women.
That I do not forgive. And I want them OUT!
25
Has anyone thought maybe these women DON'T WANT out of their NDAs? This is a non story story. There are bigger issues to Tweet about.
10
@H For sure, a non story story, but it's the stuff for smearing political opponents these days. And, as you understand, NDAs and their confidentiality can benefit both parties. Without NDAs - and I'm sure there will be fewer of them from now on, thanks to the likes of Michael Avenatti and Elizabeth Warren - there will be fewer settlements of sexual harassment cases. Once the claim is made, even if it's frivolous and baseless, the alleged harrasser's reputation is ruined when NDA confidentiality can be pierced at will. So hush money settlements of these cases won't be made anymore, and that's not going to benefit victims who want recompense and privacy.
3
We need another billionaire in the Oval Office like we need a hole in the head.
9
That Bloomberg is even responding, so obsequiously, to such pressure, and that he regards it with such careful cold calculation involving such a troubling and human dilemma, is a profoundly important datum in his psychological profile--such detachment is a classic diagnostic symptom of socio-pathology. Does he otherwise really want to be president so badly? In his performance this week (along with others) he clearly exhibited early-stage cognitive impairment and an icy-cold detachment that suggests dissociation. He isn't the first. He won't be the last.
3
Sorry, not good enough. Bloomberg wants to cherry-pick and release the 3 women who, apparently, didn't much care for his jokes. What about the rest of them? Did he assault any of them? Did he pass them over for promotion based on their gender? Did he not pay them the same as he paid the males in his company? Bloomberg, like Trump, uses his money and position to attempt to control the narrative. But I'm just not interested in voting for someone for President who has to use NDAs to protect himself from his own wrongdoing. And before someone says we don't know that he has done anything wrong...exactly! And we won't know unless he releases all of the women from their NDAs.
8
In the context of handing Trump a second term, NDAs become a trivial issue
@lynchburglady
Women are passed over for promotions, underpaid and under appreciated every single day all over the country. It’s a story, but not a Bloomberg exclusive.
Bloomberg is making a mistake by shifting left and trying to appease those who are implacably opposed to him. NDAs and settling lawsuits are a problem brought about by rapacious lawyers and simple economics - it is cheaper to settle that defend one’s self. He would win over much of America by pointing out that his Democratic opponents are major supporters of the plaintiff’s bar, and that they are a major part of the problem. Not PC, but accurate.
4
it is subjects like this is why the democrats will lose 2020 - I don't care how many women/men etc any candidate has insulted etc. I care what their policies are - the democrats instead of giving fodder to the gop - which what this action will be - the dems should be talking WHY trump is not a good president - how his policies are not working - that the gop has no health care plan etc.
10
@pottsm
And if the Democrats lose in November, the Republicans will fill Supreme Court vacancies with Justices who will perpetuate the conservative/Trump legacy for their lifetimes, not just for four more years. It is political malpractice by the Democrats if this incompetent, unethical President is not a one-termer and the Senate is not flipped by removing the Trump sycophants.
4
Thank you, Warren! I don't know why all the top comments are abut Sanders. Bloomberg is doing this because, in the debate this week, Warren was right.
7
Warren buried Bloomberg. How he never saw her coming beats me, but he was woefully unprepared for the assault. No way he recovers from that debate performance. My only concern is that he runs as an Independent.
7
@CritterDoc He didn't see it coming because it never occurred to him that a woman could present a credible threat.
I know this is not politically correct to say but these NDAs in many cases were not forced. They were a contract between a person and company (CEO etc) to not disclose certain facts. For that the person was paid. To me that is the end of all I need to know and care about. If a person wishes to now disclose then the company should be compensated. That needs to be part of the deal.
10
Three, thirty, three hundred... The Democrats are better off positioning for 2024. Trump is just talking, nothing is getting done. The Dems will need 60 senators to pass anything after Trump. So they win or beat Trump. The Republicans will have the filibuster of the week. If anything the fear of socialism makes further gridlocks the system. The Trump presidency ends at some point. Using the next 4 years to shore up the congress is what the Republicans did during Obama. It looks like the Dems have learned nothing. Let Trump win, then dominate 2024. Just don’t elect a Trump socialist type.
2
Well, three just got a bonus.
5
... and?
can he unfrisk the tens of thousands of black folks who got stopped, some of them dozens of times, enough to make them feel like targets for the rest of their lives?
too little too late, mike.
10
What about women besides these three? Are there other agreements that are still being kept secret?
Personally, I will not support any primary candidate (ie. Bloomberg) who has sexually harassed women in any way. It’s just not acceptable behavior. In the general election, I will campaign my heart out for any candidate other than Bloomberg. I won’t lift a finger to help anyone who sexually harasses women, no matter what party they are representing. Enough is enough.
6
@E - I don't know how other old guys were raised but my mother literally beat into me the following: When a woman enters the room you will stand and offer her your seat. You will open the door for her and offer to carry her bags. You will offer her your seat on the bus. And you will clean up your language in the presence of a lady.
I still do this today and it shocks women. They call me a gentleman and a dying breed. But it isn't that hard to do. And I know I'm not the only grey haired man in America who was raised this way.
2
You can’t see the trees for the forest/ sexual harassment is a trivial issue in the context of giving Trump a second term
1
@E
How do you know these women are claiming Bloomberg sexually harassed them? Don't you want to hear what these women have to say before you form an opinion? He purportedly employs more than 20,0000 people. If there are other NDAs that have nothing to do with Bloomberg personally, why should those NDAs be released? Maybe those women do not want to come forward. Let the facts be revealed in due course.
1
Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar ticket.
4
I was really troubled to hear Bloomberg's defense of his fortune: 'I worked hard.' This is a man who sued the city of New York for trying to raise the minimum wage to $12. So, does a single mother working 60 hours a week as a cleaning lady because she can't get a higher paying job and the minimum wage is stagnant, wealth is concentrated at the top, not work hard? The lack of imagination is astonishing. I had not previously counted out Bloomberg as potentially the best option to beat Trump, but this is a deal breaker for me.
I think an important question to ask is Would this person fight for me, or for ordinary people? Would he uphold the status quo? The proof is in the pudding. He has a billionaire's instincts. He would serve their interests. Bloomberg is a useful foil to the progressives, demonstrating why their agenda is so urgent and necessary. I had not previously been keen on Sanders, but I'd take him over Bloomberg any day.
I think the other candidates could highlight this discrepancy between his record and statements about his own wealth, rather than simply going after him for being a billionaire per se, or for this or that statement to women. There is nothing wrong prima facie with having heaps of money, but his attitude shows what can often accompany it, which is that he doesn't see what he has in common with ordinary people. Maybe he can run a great business with that mindset, but not govern. Not on behalf of the democratic party. Jesus Christ.
12
Bloomberg still a million times preferable to Trump
It was reported there are a total of 64 non-disclosure agreements so the fact that only three are being released speaks volumes. Bloomberg has shown as much transparency as he has radiated charisma. (Hint-- not a lot!)
8
The fact that he told a woman, “ I’d do you but.....” is enough. He is a misogynist. Remember who we are trying to replace! It simply is not okay.
6
Bloomberg: You can speak now, woman. But only you, not the other one.
6
That doesn’t change who Bloomberg is or what he is—
Nor does it change the atrociously vile comments made to women in his employ—
Which is disqualifying.
10
@srwdm - so you're willing to endure another four years of Trump and HIS atrociously vile comments, neverending lies, disrespect for our form of government, and destruction of our institutions and world alliances?
There's too much at stake to give Trump another four years. There is NO other Democratic candidate who can beat Trump. If Bernie is the nominee, the landslide for Trump will be deafening - and completely unfetter the madman because of his perceived "mandate." Warren is a nonstarter. She loses the male vote in droves. Too many men already hear her as a harridan.
But, have at it. Keep attacking the only candidate that can beat Trump at his own game.
10
@srwdm. Please stop referring to the lie that Warren told about Bloomberg at the debate. Those off color insults were from a joke that was about the British royal family that was in a gag booklet about Bloomberg. They were not insults directed at his employees. Warren apparently thinks that lying is the new normal just like Trump does.
9
@Roger T I agree, Roger. I donated to her campaign at one point, but after the other night would never, ever vote for her.
Her behavior was disgraceful. She misrepresented the way in which a legal settlement works, and did so to politically exploit the fact that Bloomberg could no longer defend himself in court against unproven allegations, if the women who signed the NDA’s were allowed to speak to the media. She twisted his attempt to defend himself by explaining that he had promoted and chosen women to work with him, and therefore was unlikely to have discriminated against women, by claiming, falsely, that he had said that he was bad to some women but good to others.
She pretended that off-color jokes and stupid remarks made 30 years ago, when the workplace was a different place, were said recently. She pretended that lawsuits brought against Bloomberg’s company, for actions allegedly committed by people others than Bloomberg, had been brought actually against Bloomberg, individually. (Harvard University is sued regularly, for many reasons, including discrimination. Maybe Elizabeth should have quit in protest.)
She did what an unscrupulous attorney does on cross-examination – namely, misrepresented and distorted the witness’s testimony. Other attorneys despise those guys, and should. I have lost all respect for Elizabeth Warren and would not vote for her now unless she somehow ended up being the nominee, which she most assuredly will not.
2
So he's only willing to release the ones with the least amount of dirt on him?
13
@Martha Shelley No, he’s only willing to release the ones that name to him as an individual, because those are the ones that concern his behavior. Any other lawsuits – with unproven allegations; you know, the ones that have not yet been afforded to process – any other lawsuits were brought against the company and concerned the actions of other people.
You do know the difference, right? Do want those people publicly smeared - you do know what unproven means, I assume - so that Warren can get a few additional sound bites?
1
Bloomberg is willing to release the NDAs of “some” women.
Hmm.
Those must the same “some” women that he has been good to.
7
“Workers and farmers”, “take from the rich and give to the poor...” robin hood drooling in the microphone every 4 years. Has he ever accomplished anything?
3
Go Bloomberg let them keep getting negative meanwhile your the only one who succeeeded.
6
Not that I am the grammar police or anything, but this is kind of funny.
3
Touché! Elizabeth.
7
Bloomberg should just say he messed up and apologize.
No one is perfect, and sensitivity changes with the times.
Perhaps we should ban Bing Crosby's recording of Mississipi Mud?
7
3 NDA's, Mike? Out of how many?
Senator Warren was 100% correct with everything she said about Bloomberg in the debate. We don't need another arrogant, bigoted plutocrat in the White House. It would cement our nation as an oligarchy.
I will not have the Democratic party run a closet Republican as our nominee. I'm a lifelong Democratic voter and I will not vote for Bloomberg under any circumstances. Even in November. I'm not kidding.
18
It’s three out of three.
2
@Dominic
I believe you. Thank you for your honesty. There are a lot of others out that won't admit it.
Now we can sit back and look forward to another 4 years of Trump. Not.
1
My thoughts are...
Why not just say what you will do for the country, not how bad the other candidates are?
2
I don't know what nondisclosure agreements are and I really don't care. I doubt if Trump apologizes for anything. Bloomberg should not apologize/ stop apologizing for stop and frisk, etc. as by doing so, he comes across as a wimp and a panderer. Bloomberg is not a racist or a sexist. He is the only one who has a chance at beating Trump.
19
He sure acted like a racist when he was mayor. Not sure about his sexist ways. During stop & frisk era cops would dump a 7 year old’s backpack on the sidewalk- see nothing and walk away leaving the child to clear up and arrive to school late. It was a pretty racist & abusive policy. He should apologize. Thanks to Bloomy NYC has become playground for the rich & his legacy is tax breaks to the wealthy and the housing crisis we currently see. There are few politicians Blue or Red that do NOT represent corporations & the wealthy. Politics is corrupted by cash. Mike Should know he bought his place on stage this week just like he bought himself not just one
But THREE terms as mayor - NYC has a two term limit so he has deep pockets. If he is elected president we may be stuck with him til he is 90 in 12 years!
NDAs are common in the business world. Especially for upper level management. Due to their knowledge of proprietary information. I've actually signed a few myself.
Principal executives leaving or selling a company are often paid generously to not work for, or establish a competing organization.
Does Ms Warren truly believe people who sign NDAs are forced into it? Or is she trying to paint Bloomberg with the same brush as Trump? Because neither would be accurate.
26
@JimmySerious, I've signed NDAs that required me to not disclose details of contracts between my employers and our clients, and to not use my employers' intellectual property.
A non-disclosure agreement related to the behavior of a company's executive is quite different. I hope you recognize the distinction.
13
@JimmySerious She isn't interested in accuracy. She is interested in hyperbole that she thinks can help advance her candidacy.
4
@Karen Lee
Yet Warren wants all Bloomberg company NDAs released. Does she not recognize the distinction? Or is she phishing for political points?
1
Too many in the “only Bloomberg can beat Trump” camp. Reminds me of a HRC reboot, only worse. A dour, affectless northeastern elite who ran a racist police state for gentrifiers and real estate developers and who enjoyed telling everyone else what they were allowed to eat and drink... And then there were the municipal workers that were told to beat it when they had the audacity ask for contracts to afford the cost of living that skyrocketed. Good luck buying purple state votes with that.
18
Oh yeah I totally forgot about the epic SNOW clean up debacle. Municipal workers wouldn’t “properly plow” coz after buying his first term mr Business Man thought he knew how to run a city & ‘negotiate’ a deal. Those rich clowns are quite the caste of Characters & jokers. Mike needs to do something about that hair... that’s the only way he can beat Trump.
"Russia Is Said to Be Interfering to Aid Sanders in Democratic Primaries"
Because everyone in the world knows that Sanders is the most easily defeated nominee.
22
If Democrats decide not to vote for Bernie or whoever the nominee is, then they have nobody but themselves to blame if Trump gets re-elected.
4
Warren did indeed sling it to Bloomberg—and he deserved it, and should have been prepared to cope with that onslaught—but all to what end? Bloomberg had better practice some eloquent apologizing and voicing forcefully what it is he does believe in—equal rights? equal opportunity?; and not count on being 'above the fray.' But Warren, in launching her gleeful attack, doesn't help the Democratic cause: DEFEAT TRUMP. That's all that counts.
11
I hope the women released from their NDA’s will talk about what happened and let us know if they have any opinions on Bloomberg as a candidate. I really like having the facts rather than listening to skilled politicians hurl insults. I would also like to know, are there only three women who have NDA’s with Bloomberg personally? Can a reporter please ask him?
I was definitely not impressed by Bloomberg’s debate performance, but then I’m not voting for anyone based on their debating skills. It doesn’t matter how well or badly they do against Trump anyway—that didn’t determine the 2016 outcome and we don’t even know if Trump will debate this time around.
And can we please stop with this devolution of the English language into campaign jargon? Bloomberg is not an oligarch. Please quit incorrectly throwing around the term oligarch everyone, including you Bernie. It’s moronic.
27
How is Bloomberg not an oligarch? He obviously is and wants to use his power to help his children, future generations and the Democratic Party. He wants to beat Trump. He is a benevolent oligarch.
I’m not going to vote for him because of his autocratic beliefs and behavior and the fact that I see him as a threat to civil liberties among other reasons.
But I do think he has good intentions and I appreciate him going after Trump.
I just hope there are enough superdelegates who are not indebted to him so that we have a fair primary/convention. The corrupting influence of his money is not in his TV ads but in influence/votes he has bought through his funding of democratic campaigns and organizations in recent years.
“None of them accuse me of doing anything, other than maybe they didn’t like a joke I told.”
This is the most childish excuse. As a result, if you are an adult then it makes you a die-hard "Laws? What Laws?" person.
3
@Nigel
People working in offices told dirty jokes up until the mid or late 1990s. It was not considered politically incorrect or banned back then. One cannot apply today's norms to another time period. What was considered acceptable back then is not acceptable now. Conversely, some things that are considered acceptable now were not considered acceptable back then.
I will wait until the facts are revealed before I form an opinion.
5
@ME,
Correct.
But we Democrats would rather mine history for fresh outrage than defeat Putin’s puppet.
1
Are we really so fragile that we have to police language to the nth degree? Is everyone just looking for a chance to say gotcha?
13
Yet another reason to make Bloomberg the Dems’ presidential candidate ...
10
I voted for another candidate but I resent the criticism here that Mr. Bloomberg won't waive the non-disclosure agreements for events that involve employees - but not him. Given that he runs a HUGE company and the allegations involve events that occurred 20-30 years ago (as best I can tell), what is your problem??? I loath sexism and a toxic workplace as much as anyone else, but enough already! If you have nothing else better to do with your time, go after the Catholic Church, the Boy Scouts, and all the sports associations (which is where the current and/or worse abuses have occurred). Go find out what Jim Jordan did/did not know ...
34
@notrace, well, no one is running for president from the Catholic Church, the Boy Scouts, and all the sports associations.
Bloomberg cannot under NYS law “offer non disclosure agreements” to sexual harassment claimants - see below for text of statute, CVP 5003(b). The claimants can request an NDA, but the employer cannot “offer”- i.e., require one. So insofar as he’s talking about sexual harassment claims, Bloomberg’s policy cedes nothing that the claimant doesn’t already have by law, at least in NYS.
The real issue is whether, both sides having given up the right to litigate and included calculations re the value of that right in a settlement agreement, a claimant can “have her/his cake and eat it too,” avoiding the risks of a law suit - expense and loss - while continuing to make public accusations against an employer that has given up, per the settlement, the right to defend itself in court. Note that the accusation remain just that - an unproven allegation.
Do we really want to try harassment and discrimination cases on CNN?
Here is the statute, in relevant part:
.....[F]or any claim or cause of action . . . the factual foundation for which involves sexual harassment, in resolving, by agreed judgment, stipulation, decree, agreement to settle, assurance of discontinuance or otherwise, no employer, its officer or employee shall have the authority to include or agree to include in such resolution any term or condition that would prevent the disclosure of the underlying facts and circumstances to the claim or action unless the condition of confidentiality is the plaintiff's preference.
5
@RMC Just to add that this is the NYS statute - a plaintiff who sues under federal law has no such protections.
1
@RMC Thank you, RMC, for spelling this out to us who are not lawyers or have never dealt with a NDA. As can often be said, "don't confuse 'em with facts, their minds are already made up."
I think Mike could do well to spell out what NDAs are to Ms. Warren, et al. And then maybe we could get back to the business at hand, which is removing the GOP from the White House and from their majority in the Senate. Some things really do matter.
1
If in all his years of running Bloomberg, he only had to sign three NDAs from complaints stemming from his own behavior and all three were about "inappropriate jokes" then he was a fool to not release them upon entering the race. Are these really all there are?
7
Bloomberg has spent $350 million so far to buy the nomination. Yet he apparently spent $0 on debate prep. $0 on a campaign strategist who would have proactively dealt with releasing the women from NDAs. $0 on a campaign strategist on dealing with stop and frisk.
The buying an election is terrible, but that’s how we, in part, run elections in this country.
The sexual harassment, hostile work environment issues for Bloomberg are terrible, the harm and hurt done to these women are real, the NDAs are an awful mechanism to silence the victims. But there are ways to at least mitigate these issues both on a human level and a political level. Bloomberg having some genuine understanding of the harm done, empathy for the victims, and some real contrition would help - this part needs to be real, not purchased.
Stop and frisk was a racist policy. But that doesn’t automatically make Bloomberg a racist. There are ways to at least mitigate the issue on a human level and a political level. Bloomberg having some genuine understanding of the harm done, empathy for the victims, and some real contrition would help - this part needs to be real, not purchased.
The complete incompetence in at least trying to deal with these issues is mystifying.
Did Bloomberg really believe that you can write a check, even a $1 billion check, run some ads and be done?
Trump is a con, cheat, mobster, Putin puppet. Bloomberg could have taken him down in our corrupt system.
2
@MC I'd feel better if he did it the old way and bought a candidate, rater than an election
1
What about his taxes...
5
@Gladf7...what about Bloomberg's taxes? he did agree to release them during the debate last Wednesday. those billionaires don't process their taxes on a yearly basis. They ask the IRS for extension!
Bernie, despite being the oldest is also the least accomplished and least qualified of all the candidates.
The only steady paycheck he's had in his long life has been from the taxpayer for the last 30+ years. His only tangible accomplishment: Amassing a personal net worth of $11ML as a "public servant."
Bernie's got more ugly baggage than any 3 other candidates combined. Before "re-branding" himself a "Democratic socialist" in the 90's, he spent 2 decades loudly - and on the record - singing the praises of the USSR, every failed "socialist" dictatorship in the Americas, and particularly Fidel Castro. Boy did Bernie love Fidel 's "bread lines"; so egalatarian: even "rich" people had to line up to get the scraps of basic sustenance!
Bernie is God's Gift to Trump. The ads just write themselves.
The media has scrutinized and even eviscerated every other candidate, but not Bernie. He as always, gets a pass even though he's constantly playing "victim/grievance" card. This is a huge disservice to the American public.
So NYT, do your job. Scrutinize St. Bernie. Be sure to take a good look at his M4A bill. Publish your findings. Then let American voters, armed with some information and not just heated rhetoric, make their choices.
22
Three? That sounds worse than none. Watch for three women in shiny new cars, a la Goodfellas.
1
Two weeks ago, I bumped into an acquaintance who works in news/politics, and when I said I'd be happy to have Bloomberg win the nom. She said she didn't think it was fair that he could potentially buy his way to the nomination. Two weeks later, and that kind of fairness is not as much of a problem for me. HIs debate answer about these NDAs being consensual may be technically true--each party signed it, right?--but that answer misses the point. These NDAs are often used as tools to silence those with less power. I signed one and regret it to this day, but at the time, I didn't see any other option, given the situation, my life circumstances, and the institution I was up against. Anyway, good for Bloomberg for making this gesture, but it feels that at least some damage has already been done. Are there more than these three? And his flat performance at the debate is indelible. There's just way too much arrogance here for me to get behind him.
6
The most essential question is not whose platform has the broadest support but who is the most likely to beat Trump. Trump's people and Putin are eager for a Bernie nomination is but that should be transparent to Democratic voters. Trump's greatest fear is facing Bloomberg, who he can't brand a socialist, in fact, after the release of Trump's genital grabbing Access Hollywood video, he can't label Bloomberg a misogynist. Nor can he get traction defaming Bloomberg for his stop and frisk policy when Trump proclaimed that "there are fine people on both sides" at Charlottesville. Bloomberg, warts and all, gives the Democratic party its best chance of beating Trump.
13
I'm guessing that Bloomberg is just getting started and he wanted to let all his negatives come out in his first debate so that he can then address them go on to more substantive issues.
Not saying I know enough about his positions to back him but I think he is much more of a contender than most people guess at this time. Time will tell.
13
@JB Naw. You're overthinking it. Warren buried him. Just another thin-skinned mega-wealthy man unaccustomed to justified criticism, particularly from women.
The Russians want Bernie to get the nomination, and Trump the Presidency. This should tell Bernie supporters all they need to know. But like most Trump supporters, most will bury their head in the sand and naively ignore facts.
14
The Russians want Trump to win and the Chinese want Bloomberg to win; not sure if one is better than the other
2
@Keith I am unsure of your post's meaning. Are you suggesting we should not vote for Bernie because Russia wants us to? Okay, so who does Russia most want us not to vote for?
2
How many more Saul-on-the-road-to-Damascus moments can Bloomberg have before he becomes the shorter and older version of Trump?
2
First of all, if you've got people under an NDA and you're running for public office, then you have something to hide. And second, if you've got people under an NDA and you're running for public office, then you have something to hide.
4
Bloomberg is willing to admit his mistakes and make changes. Trump is not. Who would you rather have as president?
33
@Paul Not much of a choice Paul. A man who refuses to admit he ever did anything wrong, or a man who pretends to be sorry for the things he's admitted he did wrong.
Bloomberg was forced by the courts to end stop and frisk. It was not, as he claims, his decision.
2
@Paul um, any of the other Democratic candidates?
1
Attached to each release will be a generous check, payable on the saying of nice things about Mike.
For the crowd willing to accept the most wart covered candidate to defeat Trump, you are trading a headache for an upset stomach.
3
Go, Liz. It made me uncomfortable but wow! If ever there was a person meeting the moment, it was her. Courage and conviction.
If I wavered a bit because of the attack, her one page ad in a Law Vegas newspaper owned by Sheldon Addison saying if her wealth tax were in place right now, his tax bill would be North of 300 billion dollars.
It should be pointed out, that with his billions he'll still have billions earning more for him.
She could take on Trump as well. I am much surprised at myself, at 70 plus years, how much I thought, we need her. I don't remember anyone else talking as much and as in depth about corruption as she has in the past as well.
7
@Nancy G After what I view as a dishonest, lowball attack on Bloomberg - and I am not necessarily a Bloomberg supporter - I will not support Warren in the primary, despite having contributed to her campaign. Mike Bloomberg is no saint, but he is neither a racist nor a misogynist - and Warren knows it. Demagoguery is not advocacy.
1
As if that matters. I watched that “debate” and in watching realized, we’re finished.
10
This episode illustrates two seemingly contradictory attributes of Mike Bloomberg, which I saw often as a New York City civil servant during his mayoralty.'
On the one hand, Bloomberg's impulses can be pretty bad - in this case, to use NDAs in the first place and then when called out initially to defend the practice. On the other hand, Bloomberg has the capacity to learn - from experience, and more importantly, from criticism.
I'm not going to vote for Bloomberg in the New York primary, just as I didn't vote for any of his three mayoral campaigns. But if he should win the Democratic nomination, I'll vote for him with unreserved enthusiasm.
I defy anyone to name me one time that Donald Trump ever took criticism and made a change for the better.
48
Mike Bloomberg is going to be a tougher competitor than Warren, Sanders and others expect.
My view of Bloomberg’s first debate was that he was purposefully observing dynamics and not raising his hand much.
I expect this to change as the debates continue.
Bloomberg’s approach seems to be very strategic and systematic, while both Warren and Sanders can come off as being emotionally attached to their agendas.
My expectation is that Bloomberg is going to carefully and systematically craft his image on stage that will differentiate him from the others. Very akin to how he has built his business and philanthropic empire.
30
This is really a tough one. Just as the many women who have pretty much ruined the #metoo movement, I'm sure there would be a couple in this group who would be willing to say ANYTHING for attention, notoriety and money paid to them by Republican and/or Russian apparatchiks. I don't really blame Bloomberg for not wanting to open this can of worms so that Elizabeth Warren can make political hay out of any claim, vetted and true or not, will be flogged at the next debate. Liz needs to talk about policy. As a woman, I do not like her petty squabbles with fellow candidates. I think less of her because of this. Win on your merits, Liz, not by tearing down others.
18
This seems like something that is easier said than done, especially when Bloomberg has hundreds of millions of dollars to pour into a campaign to spread his message whereas Warren isn’t a billionaire and can’t have her voice blasted from every possible speaker. If they were arguing on equal footing, I would be more inclined to agree, but we can’t pretend that they have the same platform for their ideas.
A very good move. I also suggest he take responsibility for his crass actions. Meaning it is best he shows 50% of the democratic voting population, ie women, he has lived, learned and intends to practice this learning. As with everything, this is not about his aides goofing up his preparation. What ordinary folks are seeking is a moral compass that matches their own. For instance the Trump voters have a compass that points at hate. Liberals have one that points at compassion and love. So Bloomberg has to show that he has heart. It’s never been about just running an efficient show, it is about seeming to include citizens in your decisions. Maybe if he really soul searches, he will find that he is running for all the right reasons, and of course to unseat Trump.
Sanders speaks with conviction. And he is right about the money divide. But we all know he will get nothing done. And like Trump he has sown seeds of hate. Take the lower income folks and give them something to hate, those who are higher educated and those at present earning more. Hate the millionaires, hate the billionaires. Well it’s around 20 million plus votes he just lost right there. I feel strongly about a candidate who uses a supposedly just platform to continue to divide this country. I can only hope the nomination will go to someone else.
8
@Meena -- I hope it goes to Bloomberg.
1
We overlook everything Bloomberg does because he promises to make the trains run on time. Big Mistake.
10
I'm not particularly a fan of Bloomberg, but I'm going to defend him, just a bit.
Bloomberg, apparently, said some things that he thought were funny, or maybe crudely funny. Others were offended.
I grew up with crude NYC humor. There are people who enjoy it and people who don't. That doesn't divide perfectly by gender.
Does he owe an apology? Some compensation? Maybe so. No argument.
But, I don't think it confirms a complete lack of empathy or inability to self-examine and improve.
If I thought he was the best chance to beat Trump, I'd be unhappy if this sort of thing took him out of the race.
In fact, it already took out the candidate I wanted to vote for: Al Franken. I thought he owed an apology and maybe needed some therapy. I didn't think he needed to resign and disappear from national public life.
25
first, I doubt if Mr. Bloomberg's past had mal-intent, one of his staunchest supporters is Judge Judy, certainly this fine judiciary who is about law, you must remember before she was a TV reality icon, she was a judge, (not failed like Trump, reality star, never gained an Emmy) would not let her name and reputation be associated with Mr. Bloomberg, that being said, it is right that Mr. Bloomberg release these three ladies from their non-disclosures and hopefully, this can be put to rest, now, on a personal note, I am sick and tired of this new climate that everything said in passing often not serious, eg. how many women have not looked at a man today, in the past and in the future, and this man looks good in a pair of blue jeans and said the following "Look at that, would love to get my hands on him" sexist or flirting but generally speaking wishful thinking, had sexes not meant to complement each other, then we would not love, have children, have relationships, regardless of sexual orientation so please, when you hear something remember it might just be an awkward saying that hopefully can make you feel good or if you are offended address it at the time and let whoever spoke it explain it, do not go back years, you would be amazed at how intelligent conservation can take something possibly innocent and you can continue your day with a smile.
7
@Rachel Quesnel, um, you do realize that Bloomberg negotiated nondisclosure agreements with women whose employment he controlled at the time, right? That is quite different from admiring or flirting with someone you're interested in socially.
btw, your comment is the longest sentence I can recall ever reading.
1
Good for him. According to his campaign, those 3 are the only three involving him personally. There have been other complaints against his company and other NDA's agreed to by individuals and company management, that don't involve him personally.
17
Hmm.
So, Mr. Bloomberg is "willing to release" three women from nondisclosure agreements, concerning statements that they said that he made? He won't address how many other women or, perhaps, men, have similar nda's related to their employment?
And, Sen. Sanders thinks that "We are a democracy. One person, one vote."
Neither of these two is among my first choices for the Democratic nominee. Even so, I'll try to stay optimistic.
Honestly, I wish Bloomberg opted to run as a Republican, since none of the other Republicans are willing to challenge Donald Trump.
1
The Russians believe Sanders would lose to Trump.
There are a whole lot of videos over many decades of Senator Sanders disparaging the United States and supporting left wing dictators in Latin America. Those clips will certainly not play well in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, not to mention Ohio, Iowa and Arizona.
The comments may excite the "Squad" and their Twitter zombies, but very few others will be amused.
9
Once again, Warren has shown that she acts impulsively without thinking things through or researching.
1) she accused Hillary Clinton of rigging the election against Bernie Sanders (then had to retract it)
2. Rushed to judgment on Al Franken. (Should retract it)
2) She called for impeachment a full year before it was time to do so. She did it to boost her profile but it hurt democrats in the end.
4) She insulted John Roberts during crucial negotiations with the Senate.
5) She accused Bloomberg of very serious crimes without having all of the information.
23
@Sasha Stone -- anything for a vote. Neither she nor Sanders have an ice-cube's chance in he*l of being elected!
1
I'm curious as to why these women decided to sign the NDAs in the first place. They did have a choice to go public. It is possible that they (or their lawyers) may have also seen some problems with their complaints (he said, she said/ lack of documentation/ lack of witnesses) and decided that they're better off getting money out of it. Or was there intimidation, and if so, that's a big accusation that would require solid proof. I guess we'll find out. I'm more concerned that Mike has not released his tax returns.
2
@James
They wanted the money, and to disengage from litigation. Litigation is time consuming, and can be exhausting.
3
Whether you are for Bernie or Bloomberg, it boggles my mind that Sanders and the media fault someone for paying their own way for something as opposed to begging other people to support them. Since when has self-support become a defect?
22
Bloomberg has given in to provocation. He is lost.
I would think that Bloomberg at least understood the worth of a decades old maxim attributed to Disraeli and that made many great leaders since: "Never Complain" (it only makes your enemies happier); "Never Explain" (your enemies are not listening anyway.)
Giving in to current ridiculous "group think browbeating" and "purity tests" only shows lack of character, dignity and leadership.
I thought Bloomberg was better, more experienced than that.
1
@Si Seulement Voltaire -- He is new to all of this including the mud-slinging. Hopefully he's a quick study. He'll need it as the rest of the candidates are out to hurt him instead of uniting and telling their voters that the number one goal, actually, the only goal in this year's election, is to get rid of Trump.
1
If Mr. Bloomberg is going to release 3 women from their non-disclosure agreements, why not release them all? NDA’s are nothing more than legalized slavery and some lawyer’s idea of protecting the rich and powerful from having their dirty laundry or their criminal activities aired in public. It may be useful in protecting intellectual property rights, but otherwise it’s just a way to shut high paid employees up. There’s no difference between Bloomberg and Trump when it comes to hiding the truth from the rest of us.
1
@robert lachman According to his campaign: that IS all of them. There have been other complaints filed against his company, but not him personally.
15
That is some progress thanks to Warren. I hope she will reciprocate and start to work on the 250 or more sealed sexual harassment settlements currently in Congress. We need more transparency on these issues.
4
When I heard that Hillary was running my first disheartening thought was that she'd been annointed by the Democratic machine and its big donors. This despite my having liked her. I'm getting the same feeling now. We have plenty of good candidates, but Bloomberg and his billions can elbow them to one side and buy a place in the debates after less wealthy candidates have dropped out. I'll vote for him if he manages to buy and /or finagle the nomination, but I can't get excited about him. At all. Meanwhile, trumpsters come out in record numbers to cheer their hero. I'm voting for MY hero, Warren, because the next president will win by appealing to people's hearts as well their minds.
2
Mike -- the NDA question was raised weeks ago. There was a 100% guarantee it would be brought up in the debate. This is a great response. Too bad it didn't occur to you to give it when you were on a TV broadcast with the bigger audience than the Oscars. You didn't make all that money being this slow.
4
Bloomberg cannot unilaterally release all people from all NDA's, only those that involve him and the released party. If they involve other employees who might have done bad things, he cannot simply tear up an agreement entered into between multiple parties that benefited those employees. He is not a king.
10
@Stephen That is correct, and that is what he is doing. According to his campaign, those 3 are ALL of the ones involving him personally. There are other complaints and other NDA's with his company, but not him personally.
5
@Stephen -- no, he is not a king, but Trump thinks he is. Actually, he would like to be the dictator. Bicker about Bloomberg's agreement and squander away your opportunity to kick the scoundrel out of the White House. What's left of our democracy is in great peril. Don't freak about these agreement or the frisk mandate in NYC, or not being able to buy sugary (and toxic) sodas in NYC. Concentrate instead on getting rid of Trump. United we win. Divided we fall!
2
Just a humble thought: If a non disclosure agreement is to be voided, I wonder if that would mean 1) that the “complainant” has to pay back any money that was part of the settlement ( I would say that is obviously the nature of terminating an agreement), and 2) Bloomberg or his organization is freed from an obligation not to sue or counter sue for defamation, should the complaint be without merit (I would say that is also obviously the nature of termination an agreement). Or does Ms Warren’s understanding of contract law not contemplate that voiding a non disclosure agreement is in fact voiding a non disclosure agreement?
3
It's a mistake. It will never be enough.
He should have simply said "No" and moved on. Anyone like this will be a target of lawsuits, claims, and extortion. On the "stop and frisk" he simply should have said - I managed the biggest city in America. I took on a leadership role and I made mistakes. That's what happens when you look for change.
He is being advised badly.
6
It's interesting to me that this article is essentially about Bloomberg's desperate plea that he isn't morally equivalent to Trump with regard to women and yet most of the comments are aimed at bashing Bernie.
Their gist is: "The only way to beat Trump/2012 Congressional Republicans is to elect corporate Democrats who want to maintain the status quo."
As an American who can't afford health insurance, I'm tired of subsidizing the wealthy and I'm finished with being lectured on electability.
2
I like Mike.
He is the best one to take down Trump, bar none.
Whether is is the Putin choice, Bernie, who knew of the Russian meddling a month ago and said nothing, or the rapidly falling Biden, we need to defeat Trump.
Mike can and will do it.
Watch his Town Hall in SC on Monday to hear him for one hour answering audience questions.
14
The answer to every question imaginable is available with a few key strokes. Should we click on email links? Should we use the same passwords for all accounts, and never change them? Is there money and advantage to be gained by accessing personal, private online activity? Is it possible to research individuals pursuing elective office? If there isn't independent verification at that heart of what you believe, don't believe it. That's what the journalists working at the Times must do. We call that news. Opinions are not news, nor are advertisements, and both are clearly segregated from the news. Opinions are not information. Opinions are attempts at persuasion. Even Fox News segregates its news division from its entertainment presentations. Here's your homework assignment: do some online digging, from reputable sources, on Trump and your preferred candidate. Begin by doing some research on sources of reputable information. It's a time consuming effort, but if nothing else,
you'll learn a thing or two about a thing or two.
I'm less concerned about the NDAs than all the other issues not raised in the debate. Warren and Sanders should have been talking about Russian interference in the election and the increasingly volatile behavior of the President. NDAs are the least of this nation's worries.
17
Good, Mr. Bloomberg.
Warren's ambush of Bloomberg reminded me of Warren & others who jumped on Senator Al Franken & demanded his resignation - refusing to call off their wolf pack & allow Franken to have the Senate Ethics Hearing he asked for so unsubstantiated accusations against him could be investigated publicly.
Senators including Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Maisie Hirono & Kirsten Gillibrand hounded Franken in the media until any attempt for him to schedule a fair hearing in the Senate became untenable. They turned up the volume in the media & forced him out. They acted like a mob. Franken was denied fairness.
Franken was arguably one of the 2 or 3 best Senators. His opposition to Trump was scathing & he would've been the best Democratic candidate.
Forcing Franken out was not just unfair. It was stupid.
That Warren is itching to repeat that mistake by demanding Bloomberg drop out shows she's unprincipled, a purely political animal who doesn't care about anything but benefitting herself.
Warren is transactional, not principled. Or fair.
She's used being a lawyer to justify her attacking Bloomberg - the same thing she did to Franken.
I supported #metoo when it was used to force out serious abusers like Matt Lauer, Mark Halperin & Charlie Rose - all credibly accused of physically assaulting multiple women or demanding sex for employment.
After the Franken debacle, Warren trying to ruin Bloomberg shows she's doesn't learn from her mistakes.
19
The real apologies should be to Bloomberg from both Warren and Sanders. Warren and Sanders were obnoxious mud slingers. They were not serious debaters.
52
If he can’t deal w their “mudslinging” how will he debate the liar in chief if he were the nominee?
3
Neither said anything untrue.
4
Bloomberg vacillated too long about running. He should have stayed away from the debate as well. The disastrous first impression on the common stage may prove fatal. He's now the candidate of stop and frisk and NDAs. Even his singular virtue of being a money-making machine goes over poorly with many Democrats. If that weren't bad enough he comes across as arrogant and truculent, rivaling Biden in stiffness and overall uncharm. It's hard to see Sanders losing now except by a concerted effort to deprive him of the nomination at the convention.
3
Working in the ad world I’ve signed many a NDA and one in particular with my employer was in “perpetuity.” You know that word; it means forever. Does it bother me? No. Did I get treated fairly all the time? No. Do I care? No. I have had many new jobs since then and even became a certified Minority Business thanks to Bloomberg’s policies.
35
The most important thing is to beat Trump. And Trump will try to win by attacking his opponent on issues that matter to democrats in an attempt to discourage democratic turnout.
That means both Sanders and Bloomberg would lose to Trump because they have too many liabilities Trump can use against them. In Sanders case Trump will relentlessly attack him for being a socialist that will destroy the economy. In Bloomberg’s case he will label him racist and sexist. In both cases some democrats will feel afraid to vote and will stay home.
Unfortunately, only a candidate that is least scary to democrats is the candidate that will beat Trump. Such a candidate won’t inspire much excitement, but that’s OK because the prospect of defeating Trump is exciting enough to get people to vote. As long as Trump can’t use fear or disgust to discourage turnout.
But unfortunately you need excitement to win a primary. So Trump will probably win again since the most likely candidate is Sanders and Sanders is guaranteed to lose against Trump.
Oh well.
1
This process is so tightly controlled that it isn’t news until one of them actually comes forward. What stops Bloomberg from denying all requests while publicly saying no one asked to be released? Even if one or two of these cases are allowed to come to light, I won’t put much stock in them to not be cherry picked to make him look less bad. He came across as very difficult to believe on these issues.
3
@Eric
He is easy to believe, for those of us who are not delusional about that angry old man Sanders.
1
I'm impressed by Bloomberg's response. 1) He will accede to Warren's challenge for the NDAs in which he was directly involved and 2) he does so stating that he does not wish his organization to be part of a cover-up culture going forward while opening the record on some errors of the past. Can't get cleaner than that. As to any other NDAs involving any other individuals, Bernie has already stated that organizations (like his own campaign) can't be held liable for acts by rogue individuals. Win/win for Bloomberg.
49
Bloomberg gives most of his money away. He has done more for the US and its citizens than all of the others combined. The other candidates need to quit complaining about how much money he has. He is not beholden to donors either. He is evolving and maturing as we all are ... men AND women. Let's get out of his way.
58
Bottom line: no one is worse than the president we currently have.
However, Bloomberg needs to release everyone from NDAs and own his mistakes. If he did something wrong 20 years ago, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. I can objectively say that I’m not the person I was 20 years ago either.
37
@Angelica
He HAS released everyone in each case involving himself. It’s not possible to do more.
3
Sanders tried to buy the 2016 election for $230,000,000. He failed. Let's see how much he tries to buy the 2020 election for.
11
Michael Bloomberg runs a company with over 20,000 employees. It's a sad fact, but every large company has sexual harassment claims as well as racial bias claims. Every single one. Some are true. Some are not. Some people make unfounded charges the moment they're fired, laid off or passed over for a promotion. It's a common tactic to try to gain leverage when you otherwise have none so you can get a little something extra on the way out the door or just to try to get even. This is not to say that nothing happened or it's not worth investigating. But we have to be realistic about the litigious world we're living in.
77
You can't un-ring a bell, and Bloomberg can't recover from this: The deer-in-headlights image can't be erased. Forget Dean screaming in Iowa--you have to go back to Muskie crying in New Hampshire for any kind of parallel.
6
Seriously!? This is how you judge a presidential candidate?! One poor debate performance? Wow. That’s like failing a student after the first quiz of the semester.
8
Three? But how many such agreements exist?
11
@Dan Broe
THREE !
1
So, Micheal took the bait set out by Warren and is getting dragged down the rabbit hole. I expected more from him in terms of vision, policies, plans....
Might as well just concede the Presidential Election to Trump and save everyone time and money.
8
Does Bernie Sanders think that FDR was evil because he was wealthy ?
34
Kennedy. Bush. Reagan. Bush. None of them poor.
3
@Steve Cohen my point was that FDR, while wealthy, was responsible for Social Security , the safety net for poor people.
In Sanders's world, billionaires must be evil.
3
"..after coming under fire from his rivals" or after coming under fire from Elizabeth Warren (and then Biden just repeating her points less coherently). The consistent failure to frame this news appropriately as the result of the intelligence and political skill of Elizabeth Warren and instead focusing only on the impacts on these unqualified male candidates is maddening.
3
The Bernie road is a dead end. Democrats can love his policies all they want, but if he is elected, all of his free this, free that will go nowhere with Congress. If he can explain how he would get some of these ideas to materialize, then my hears will open again. Otherwise, a complete waste to nominate him.
23
except for the fact that trump will be out of office and we will have elected someone with a genuine movement of people behind him demanding change. Even if he doesn’t get one full major initiative passed he will get better policies along the way and start to reinvest in science, people, green technology, etc.
7
bernie is out of touch with reality.
5
Not that I'm even remotely interested in voting for Bloomers, but the idea that Trump can "chew up and spit out" anyone in a debate is amusing. Good one, Bernie.
12
Read Krugman today if you want to know where Bloomberg's fortune comes from. If he really believed in what he said he would get behind Elizabeth or Bernie. His smug demeanor and encouragement for the less popular , so far, candidates to resign was not acceptable. It is why the government should not be run as a business.
7
Lots of questions unanswered here. How many women with nondisclosure agreements are there? Why were these three chosen? Could he pay them to talk nice about him? If so, could that be the subject of new nondisclosure agreements? Inquiring minds want to know...
9
@Doug Thompson
These questions are answered. THREE. He can only release those involving himself. There were three. Period.
3
Bloomberg apparently made some mistakes. Is there a person on the planet...or a politician... who has not made mistakes? The thing is that he has apologized for what he believed he did that was wrong and has made attempts at correcting the mistakes. How many politicians do that? He has so much that is positive to offer, the Democrats are making a severe mistake by focusing on this petty nonsense. They are defeating their own cause, which should be to get Trump out of office.
Bernie said that Trump would chew Bloomberg up and spit him out. I think the opposite is the truth. All Trump has to do is utter one word: socialist and Bernie is toast. Bloomberg is the one person in the race who can stand up to Trump and beat him at his own game. If Democrats nominate Bernie they are committing political suicide and handing over the country to a tyrant. We can't afford that.
40
@Lupito
OK, millenial. You are SO wrong.
5
One of the few but important virtues Bloomberg was thought to bring to the Democrats nomination ritual was toughness. That he should wimp out and kowtow to those he would have us believe are his inferiors bespeaks weakness, not strength. Maybe he doesn't really have the right stuff after all.
3
This was a smart move on his part. It’s not kowtowing. He clearly felt the cover up was going to be worse than the crime. Smart move.
8
Bloomberg does not look good.Caving under pressure makes him look weak and indecisive. This side of Mr.B. has nothing to do with rusty debate skills. This goes to the type of strong principled leadership skills necessary to take out Trump? I fear that I may have overrated Bloomberg. A massive paid media campaign will not mask fundamental personal deficiencies.Will the real Mike Bloomberg please stand up.
5
@Milton Lewis
So if Bloomberg doesn't release the individuals who made complaints against him personally, he's hiding something.
And if he does release them, he's weak.
I think I see where you are coming from: He can't do anything right.
8
And we all wonder how much more Bloomberg may be secretly arranging to pay these women, after he is forced to allow the old non-disclosures to lapse.
His $60 billion goes a long way.
8
@srwdm
No, we are not ALL wondering. There will be no exchange of money. And, he cannot be forced to release the parties involved.
And none of the three may chose to break the agreement.
3
@Buddydog If he releases them from the commitment, they wouldn't be "breaking" it by talking.
I think only the really, really paranoid wonder this. Or pretend to wonder it, in case the initial mud being slung doesn’t stick. Then they can say, “look, more payoffs from the terrible billionaire!”
Why doesn't Bloomberg release all of them from their NDA's. Releasing only 3 makes it look like he's still covering up.
9
@Honey Badger To protect the privacy of others accused of sexual harassment.
1
Bloomberg may have been sexist at times and acted inappropriately, but I don't think his behavior is disqualifying.
Similarly, I don't think his focus on stop & frisk was due to deep seated racism.
He's not perfect, but his heart has been in the right place as far as I am concerned.
28
He stepped forward about the one’s naming him enough. Ok no Jerry Steinfield or Chris Rock lets move on.
3
Are we going to nominate a grumpy old socialist with a bad ticker or a billionaire capitalist who was a Republican until very recently? Really? Get ready for four more years of Trump.
2
By the way, how many NDAs reside in The New York Times’ files regarding #MeToo and when will those women be relieved of their restrictions?
14
I supported Elizabeth Warren with contributions and fervor but her actions in this week's debate have turned me completely against her. Does she understand that Trump is everyone's opponent? I am tired of her lecturing and her attitude that her fellow Democratic candidates are losers.
As to Michael Bloomberg, I felt that he faced the onslaught and hypocrisy of his opponents attacks with calm and dignity. If we cherish our country, it's values and Constitution we need to defeat Trump and his henchmen. Bloomberg understands this while the others are willing to tilt at windmills until we lose the election.
58
Well stated. Yes, totally agree.
11
Only three?
4
He should have done this before the Debate. He also should have prepared for it. I was leaning towards voting for him until I saw his arrogant performance at such an important Debate. Trump would chew him up if this was an example of what to expect. Pure arrogance.
4
The way these agreements work is that you take money in exchange for dropping whatever your issue is. You cannot change your mind after you have accepted the money for doing so "queers the deal". Had an individual refused to settle and gone to court (or arbitration) the outcome might not have been to their liking and therefore would have gotten nothing. The only way he could relieve them of the agreements is to get the money back and then proceed to go to court to settle the issue.
Settling has become standard operating procedure when companies are involved. It is easier to buy off a problem than to beat them in court even if victory is assured.
3
Bravo, Mr. Bloomberg!
9
Three out of 40?
4
Well, I may have to change my tune and say "Mike is a mensch" unlike the meshugganah in The White House! Clearly, he listened to Elizabeth Warren and took her advice rather than playing the Trump card and saying "She's not my type!" If Bloomberg is willing to face his female accusers and make things right, then he will have earned my respect. Let's see.
17
@Paul Wortman
3 out of 64.
He's no mensch.
Now Bernie — he's a mensch.
Three strikes and you're out.
2
Anyone smelling three big payoffs? Bloomy can buy anything he needs.
6
Hey Mike, release them all.
7
smart move
2
Three?
What about all of them?
He’s only digging his hole deeper.
5
@Timbuk: It’s the three that he is involved in directly, not some other employee. I think it’s legally complicated for him to release NDAs that do not involve him personally.
4
I keep hearing this “we need to be unified” message coming from certain liberals. It sounds to me like code for, “Let's get behind Bloomberg.” Look at how nasty the Republican race was in 2016. Trump prevailed, because he didn’t shy away from criticizing members of his own party. Bernie can prevail too, if he doesn’t pull any punches on his rivals.
5
So you want Bernie to be more like Trump? In many ways he already is.
When diplomacy is done by the President of the US debating the President of Russia, on prime time TV, moderated by some newscasters, I’ll judge candidates based on “winning” debates. In the interim, I don’t think Mr. Bloomberg should have done this. I am interested in how people will perform the presidency, not some legal thing they did years ago.
3
Bernie has been repeating the same things over and over for the last 5 years, or longer. His debate prep is simple - just repeat more of the same. But as a voter I am still not clear what his plans are. Is it that on the first day as the President, Bernie will somehow dissolve all private insurance companies hand over our insurance plans to Medicare administration? What exactly is the plan for tens of thousands of affected families of workers who suddenly will need unemployment benefits and re-training because their skills will no longer be in demand. I suppose he plans the same for the pharmaceutical companies and the entire fracking infrastructure. I simply don't get it. I wish he at least once, just once, explained what exactly he is planning to do in his first 100 days as president.
12
Good for him for offering the women who accused him the freedom to rescind their previous agreement.
But of course Bloomberg can't release all of the NDA's of his entire company. The employees involved deserve the privacy they mutually agreed to. Neither the accused nor the accusers are running for public office.
If Mr. Bloomberg had nothing to do with these complaints, then we have no right to see them.
14
Very important distinction that almost all commentators are missing (Bloomberg implied this distinction in debate, but very unclearly).
He’s releasing all those accusers who by speaking out now would only tar Mike Bloomberg himself. The remainder (he says) are between an accuser and another employee. It would be both unlawful and unethical to release accuser to talk about another employee, after accuser and accused have mutually agreed to terms of agreement. Even if Bloomberg company signed, still totally unfair to employee to break this and re-open/break a settled dispute.
4
@Josh
Just 3 out of 64.
Not even worth reporting.
How do we know there were only three? How can we be sure Bloomberg hasn't simply selected the three least damaging out of a slew of many others?
The others (if any) couldn't come forward because they're still bound by NDAs.
This is what happens when you're secretive. Nobody knows if you're really finally telling the truth.
6
He's releasing THREE individuals from their NDAs? Bloomberg literally couldn't even come up with a number on stage. He's releasing the softest, tamest complaints and allegations against himself in the name of "transparency".
On the other hand, where are Bernie's health records? I support him as a candidate, but he should make those readily available to the public instead of attacking people who ask for them (he didn't, but his staff did).
4
Same thing happened with Trump. After his initial debates we all thought there is no way this guy will be able to come close to winning the GOP primary. He pivoted left, right and every which way. Let's see what Bloomberg does next. What I'm worried about is how the rest of the Democrats don't seem to be able to grow and adjust with the process. I'll pick on Warren this time (but I can easily use anyone else), she needs to stop complaining about buying the election. In Illinois we already sold our soles to our current billionaire governor who bought the gubenatorial election but none of the Democrats complained because they didn't care about that.
As for the debate, I think they all failed.
2
A politician being self-reflective and stepping up is an unfamiliar feeling.
I like it.
Good on you, Mike.
12
It's nice that this well meaning billionaire had a change of heart after Warren "ripped him a new one" at the debate over this issue. His team obviously convinced him if he didn't do this he was toast. So, it's not really a sincere change of heart, it's a hack politician trying to stay viable. I'm waiting for his heartfelt apology for this practice just like in the case of stop and frisk.
5
IMO, Mike Bloomberg is the best and most sincere candidate running. Like every other human on the planet - billionaire or not- he has made mistakes. He’s not running for president for his health or for his ego at this stage of his life. In so many ways- particularly all the good he has done with his work on climate change, gun control, education, public health, etc. - he definitely doesn’t need the limelight or the headaches of being president.
As an independent centrist, I take great offense at other candidates trying to rip him apart with the apparent mantra of “all billionaires are evil” as the backbone of their argument. Any of the other candidates are free to do this but in my opinion it comes off as opportunistic and calculating as well as insincere.
Bloomberg has the absolute best resume of any of the candidates. He’s a doer. When you combine his success in business, his 12 years as mayor of New York City, his major contribution to Democrats taking the House of Rep in 2018, and the fact that he has been the quintessential philanthropist- it’s obvious this guy is the complete anti-Trump.
Among so many other problems, the planet is burning up and Trump is close to becoming president until 2025. It’s fine to discuss Bloomberg’s warts and mistakes he’s made but they should be put in perspective – particularly when considering how much good Mike could do if elected and how much harm Trump will do if he’s the most powerful person in the world for another four years.
16
Bernie may beat trump but dems must also win both houses. If that doesn't happen then 0 will get done for 4 years. too many if's. The country may want it for the popular vote, but too many negatives to prevent a repub recapture in 4 years of doing nothing. big mistake to fall in love w sanders
4
It would very ironic if Democrats nominate Bloomberg who was a Republican in the not so distant past. Democrats have an identity crisis they embraced far leftism and now far leftism is ensuring Liberal Democrats do not survive into the next decade.
1
The few, who comment in the NY Times, including myself, are an inconsequential representation of how the general population and the electorate feel about the candidates, and who they will ultimately vote for.
We may think it important to voice how we feel, and hope that our opinion may have some real effect, but it's just hubris; and the opinions of the various pundits, with their biases, matter little as well.
So, that said, currently examining the reports from across our land, tells me the following -
Bernie Sanders is ahead, picking up support, more than likely to win Nevada and South Carolina, and go into Super Tuesday with the garnered momentum from the two wins, to become the undeniable front runner and inescapable nominee.
Klobaucher will drop out; support goes to Warren.
Buttigieg will drop out, support goes to Bernie.
Biden is out; he simply is being kept in by the running-scared Republican-Lite Pelosi Schumer democrats, to deny Bernie more momentum.
Bloomberg is toast, never had a chance but hey, the Republican-Lite Pelosi Schumer democrats figured give it a shot, isn't costing the Party money.
Come the convention, Bernie and Warren are left standing, which is as it should be, in a real "not" corrupt Democratic Republic; the massive support for Bernie by then will be impossible for the Republican-Lite Pelosi Schumer democrats to hide, resulting in Bernie being nominated, thereafter he identifies Elizabeth Warren as his running mate.
America is back.
3
To Sander's credit, he is completely open about his socialist, even semi-communist views on private ownership and wealth distribution. He lays out these views on his campaign website. For example, check out corporate governance and democracy where Sanders lays out his vision for transferring corporate ownership - that's ownership not just seats on a governing board - to company employees. Pretty crummy for a shareholder in that company when the government confiscates 20% of the company share ownership in an uncompensated transfer to employees. In every imaginable way, Sanders wants to meddle in and explode the American economy, from establishing a national rent control, capping prices for goods, setting wages across industries, and so on. All the Democratic Party presidential candidates are progressive in their broad support for infrastructure, climate controls, gun regulation, $15 minimum wage, criminal justice reform, investment in education, and more. In my view, Sanders departs from the rest of the field by laying out some very, very extreme views that would wreck havoc on our economy. Have his supporters read and understood his fantasy socialist wishlists!
4
The United States should have spending limits on political campaigns like we have in Canada. In fact, they are quite strict and people get prosecuted if they break them.
That would solve the issue Bernie Sanders raises with Bloomberg.
3
Has Senator Sanders forgotten that we don't have publicly financed elections? Whoever wins in November will have bought the election. If Sanders wins, he will have bought it with other people's money. The real problem with money in politics is the potential for the buying and selling of influence. Sanders isn't selling influence -- not for $27. But, whose influence is Bloomberg buying? His own? As far as I'm concerned, the distinction between how these two are funding their campaigns is not all that meaningful.
38
@J This is about your boss, Mike Bloomberg, and his NDAs, not election finances
3
The people want Bernie.
2
@Is My boss? I see the intellectuals are out in full force tonight. The final three paragraphs are about election financing.
Sanders is all "myth." It's a good bet that eye to eye with Bloomberg he could;t hold his own on real topics. Sanders promises the moon but has no idea of how to secure it let alone pay for it. He has simply learned from Trump how gain a following.
43
Why don’t you try reading his website where he explains how Medicare for all will paid. There are quite a few other studies, which you can research, which show that Medicare for All would be LESS expensive than for profit “healthcare “ the most expensive health care on earth.
He has explained that a marginal tax on Wall Street transactions can easily pay for community college or vocational school for all our young people.
Do you ever ask how we can afford another $50 billion increase in funding for our bloated military industrial complex? Did you ever want an explanation as to how taxpayers would pay for a trillion dollar bail out for too big to fail banks?
God forbid that OUR tax dollars be used to help American families.
2
The point that Senator Sanders is inept at policy making is one that you should do a double take on. He has been in politics for many years and is notorious for reading the entirety of bills. This notion of inadequacy at enacting policy is due to the fact that for most of his political life he has been seen as too radical or going in the wrong direction. However, that is why he is gaining momentum, average Americans are looking for options going forwards as they are not content in the current system, whether you look at Trump or Sanders, what was at the basis of their very different campaigns was the fact that the system needs to evolve. Furthermore when promising the moon, one should be aware that the congressional branch will tone down his policies to reduce possible friction.
At the end of the day this election is about mending the damage that the American Political Institution has endured over the last decades. Therefore the point is more whether we want a candidate that believes in his vision or one that flip flops around on even basic policy issues like stop and frisk, which by the way, if Stop and Frisk came from a previous administration Bloomberg should have had the legislative competence to modify such policy. Once again proving his inadequacy at the potential role, we have seen what a “businessman” has done to the country already. Why follow up with another one?
3
Well, I guess “the people” have spoken.
Enough with this "Bernie can't beat Trump". No one who says that really has any idea of whether or not its true, nor do they have any evidence to support that notion. DONALD TRUMP is the President of the United States. All bets are off, folks. What you thought you knew doesn't apply anymore. The closest we have to any quantifiable prediction is General Election polls, and Bernie does as well as anyone, including in swing states.
So with all things being equal, ask yourself who has an army of over one million passionate volunteers to support his general election campaign? Who generates the most get-out-the-vote excitement?
10
Our President.
2
I think Bloomberg reflects the hypocrisy of the Democratic Party. Accept this kind of interference of money in politics and they're done for. It also shows the internalization and distortion of the values and ideals associated with money and power, the admiration of millionaires and billionaires as models of achievement and success in society, as wizards, as Olympic gods. The old values of virtue or the common good as the basis of the republic and the good society are over. It is unconscious now. Trump represents this to the Republicans and Bloomberg to many Democrats. Amazing.
Perhps it would be a good idea if Sanders tones down the language of "socialism" [so unconsciously charged in the politic al unconscious of this country] and use the more accurate "social democratic" identification which is more acceptable and "neutral" and represents his program better too. He should keep linking it to the Roosevelt tradition, to an "American" political tradition. That "patriotic" link has to me highlighted too.Or simply talk about the social agenda without labeling it.
4
@tdb
In labeling it, he neutralizes it as a point of attack. As a matter of history, all great movements were termed in the language of revolution: FDR's revolution,JFK's revolution, Reagan's revolution, etc.
So Bernie Sanders is surprised Bloomberg was unprepared.
Sounds about right for a professional politician/gadfly who has spent his entire career on the bench, never committing to a party and spouting leftist rhetoric from the dugout like an undergraduate who just took his first poli-sci course, while the game actually plays out in front of him.
A professional talker talking, expressing surprise that others are not professional talkers, like him.
37
Actually Sanders was a mayor then a congressman, he probably has as much or more actual governing experience than the average senator.
3
@Dan88
Wow, with all that we're supposed to believe Bernie Bros are a menace?
Sanders is right. Bloomberg has pretty much nothing to attack Trump with. His record of stop and frisk and hostile work environment towards women puts him at a serious disadvantage. What would he use? That he was an effective mayor? Please.
8
@Mark: Nope. He’d use that his billions are his own and Trump’s on loan from Putin. And if Trump protests, Bloomberg will challenge him to show his tax returns!
4
@Mark
"His record of stop and frisk and hostile work environment towards women puts him at a serious disadvantage. "
You really don't get it. The confrontation with Trump will be after the Dem primaries, when the Dem candidate no longer has to cater to the far-left wing of the party. In the general, the Dem candidate will be trying to get independents, as well as to pull votes away from Trump's base. And the liberals willl have nowhere else to go; they aren't going to vote for Trump no matter how conservative the Dem alternative is.
In the general, if the Dem candidate is Warren or Sanders, Trump will attack them as being typical Dems, soft on crime, and supportive of policies like bail-reform, felon-voting, and open borders. Trump can't do that against Bloomberg though. Bloomberg can say that while he was mayor of NYC, he had a stop & frisk policy that reduced crime, until the far-left judges made him stop.
4
Sanders would be well served if he took time to deal with his own issues. Namely proposing a way to deal with the cost of his plans beyond waving his hands.
21
@W.A. Spitzer
Sanders doesn't have an issue. The United States is the only country in the industrialized world that doesn't guarantee healthcare to all of its citizens. If other countries can afford it, why can't we? Whenever there's a war, we always seem to have the money for it. When the big banks were failing, we had the money to save them. When we want to give tax breaks to corporations, we always have the money. Sanders supporters have had enough. They're not fooled by this narrative that we can't afford healthcare for all.
5
@W.A. Spitzer
Yeah, as if "dealing with cost" was ever given a second thought in foreign policy circles when invading Libya, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, etc.
He’s explained this over and over again. Don’t you listen? Can’t you read? Do you still think Medicare for All is more expensive than for profit “healthcare “ the most expensive health care on earth? Don’t you think it’s possible to invest OUR tax dollars into OUR health care?
And why not impose a marginal tax on Wall Street transactions—didn’t taxpayers bail out Wall Street—so that our youth can all have the opportunity to go to community college or vocational school and get a start in life. What do you have against this idea?
4
I’m not sure who can defeat Trump in 2020 but after the last debate seriously doubt its Bloomberg. He harmed himself by not debating with the others sooner. They’ve honed debating and acting skills by practicing in front of the camera in the earlier primary debates. He’s way behind the rest in live debate experience and all are still years behind the President in experience in media manipulation and playing to the cameras—which Trump has been doing since the 80’s.
I agree with Sanders/Warren that income inequality is the number one problem in the USA. Social democracies do not have an even distribution of wealth, as Bloomberg suggests—there are still people who are poor, middle-class, upper middle-class, rich, richer and richest; but everyone is given the basic tools to better their situation in life. The problem of social safety nets is finding the balance between giving too much and killing motivation, and giving too little and turning life into a struggle to survive.
My husband is Norwegian, I know the difference between a social democracy that leaves a market economy and capitalism in place, which is what Sanders is advocating, and the Bogeyman called socialism which NYT Op Ed people and Republicans use to try to scare Americans away from Sanders/Warren.
And btw, Mr. Bloomberg, Norwegian middle-class families routinely own two homes and many Norwegians own more than two. Bernie is not a hypocrite by owning three houses and promoting a social democracy.
14
@Color Me Purple
A fishing/hunting shack in the boonies of Vermont is hardly a second home.
Like all long-time Senators, he needs a home in DC and has his real home in VT.
2
@Color Me Purple
Social Democracy is easy in places like Norway, where money is no object because the country is sitting on an ocean of oil.
3
Bloomberg stayed above the fray, took what they fired at him, and gathered the data and intel he needed to continue in the campaign.
Say what you will, it's clear that he's the smartest guy in the room - which doesn't say much given the Dem's dysfunctional disarray... but unlike Bernie, at least Bloomberg actually joined the party he's looking to represent in 2020.
65
I actually think Amy Klobuchar at this point is the most sane candidate. On top of her demeanor and policy positions, if Trump insults her it will backfire on him. That can’t be said for the other candidates—he will have full license to tear them to shreds and his people will eat it up.
4
@Carlotta
Agreed. Amy for America !
2
If Sanders is our nominee, not only will we lose the presidency, we will also lose the House. The suburban Democrats who flipped GOP districts last cycle won’t win re-election
20
The only electable candidate that's acceptable to Democratic voters is Elizabeth Warren. Failure to grasp that by party elite, media etc., will guarantee a Trump reelection.
3
@CacaMera
It takes more than Democratic voters. Warren just came out in favor of transgender (male to female) boys competing with biological girls in school sports, saying that disallowing them to do so would be 'cruel'. Warren is old enough, as am I, to remember when there wasn't even any funding for girls' sports. What is cruel to girls is requiring them to compete with bodies which have male chromosomes and to share their private spaces with them at a vulnerable time in their developing years. This is one of those 'woke' policy positions which will bring Warren down outside of the Beltway.
3
@CacaMera
What a remarkably fact-free comment. The polls and primaries thus far say you are quite wrong.
It doesn’t matter who the democrats choose if they can’t start working together. The current level of raw animosity among candidates and their democratic supporters will rob the party of the resources and votes needed to oust trump from the Oval Office.
7
Bernie has a committed but limited number of supporters. He’s the Trump of the left and could get the nomination like Trump did - with a plurality that’s far from a majority. After which he will lose the general handily.
Hopefully D will learn and send folks like AOC packing. To their tiny and narrow districts, where their voice has a place.
8
I agree with Mr Sanders that Mr Bloomberg was ill-prepared for this past week's Democratic debate. This was surprising.
Mr Sanders can hold up well in a debate. Problem is, I predict that Mr Trump will not debate again. He has many times said completely illogical statements in unscripted situations. He can coast on his good economy reports (though he can take no credit for this) without debating, and it would be too much for a risk for him to debate again this fall, while his mind keeps slipping. His handlers will continue to prop him up.
Moreover, the flyover-states undecided voters will not take kindly to an elderly, radical eastern Jewish politician. Too extreme.
Joe would compete better in the flyover states. But he himself has not come across well in debates and puts his foot too often into his mouth.
Buttigieg is very green, a small-city mayor, untested.
This comes down to either Warren or Klobuchar, both who can come across effectively, decisively, and forcefully.
2
@Victor Mark
Warren cannot prevail in said 'flyover states'.
Klobuchar can.
2
No credit for the economy?
Love it. That shows how truly delusional the thinking of the Left is.
It will also be one of the many reasons the Left will lose in November.
Again!!
1
Bernie Sanders is practiced at talking a good line. This is another one.
The candidate whom Trump and the GOP would chew up is the socialist.
Sanders has succeeded in creating a movement. He has passed virtually no legislation in his nearly 40 years in office.
If Sanders is the Democratic nominee, he will lost to Trump.
Bloomberg is an imperfect man. He is still better than a socialist.
26
@Joanne
Thank heavens your "socialist" pearl-clutching is obsolete.
Younger voters see right through that silliness.
1
@Hmmm
Younger voters, that is, Sanders believers, are having a temper tantrum, spoiled brats as they are. If for one week, all the Sanders screamers stopped their incessant bullying barking, then folks might look at Sanders, otherwise, it a total turn off.
Bloomberg is a businessman and executive who has spent his career running things (rather successfully). Bernie is - well I'm not sure what he is other than a career politician who has never accomplished anything as a Senator. I think Bloomberg would do just fine against Trump.
41
It's precisely this kind of knock-down-drag-out rhetoric that is going to guarantee Trump another term simply because Democrats can't seem to stop fighting amongst themselves long enough to focus on the real problem here -- namely Donald Trump.
5
I hate to paint a doomsday scenario but… If Sanders has the most delegates at the convention but is shy of the 1,991 and the DNC doesn’t award him the nomination, his supporters will not only stay home but the more vengeful will vote for Trump. 
So in reality the DNC would do well to let Sanders have it if he is leading. And maybe, just maybe, the voters will reward the Democrats with a victory in the general election for allowing the will of the people to prevail.
5
@Oliver: Yes, but that would leave the Senate Red and probably the House would return to Red as well. Sanders won’t get anything done and may even find himself impeached on some frivolous allegation.
7
“If we choose a candidate who appeals to a small base, like Senator Sanders, it will be a fatal error.” How disingenuous; Sanders won more of New Hampshire’s young Democratic primary voters than the rest of the field combined, according to exit polls conducted by Edison Media Research. That is not a small base. And I am confident that his support among young people is only going grow. Democrats should be working with Sanders, not beating him down. As someone once said, Your old road is rapidly agin', Please get out of the new one If you can't lend your hand
1
Its all about 8 to 10 states and Sanders is not a good choice against trump in those states. Trump will hammer him as a socialist regardless of the reality of his proposed policies and too many moderates that would otherwise vote democrat will vote trump. If you want to get rid of Trump, then Bernie is not your man.
9
Bernie Sanders is a sure loser. He is a good debater for Democratic primaries which include a large number of progressives but in a general election he will be crushed and bring down the entire House and Senate. He is a Socialist. He favors Medicare for all which will allow Trump to say he is protecting Medicare. Can you beieve that? You don't to be a rocket scientist to know that taking the health care they have away from 180 million people and putting them on the Medicare rolls which will increase the premiums for many and reduce the benefits for those currently enrolled. This is as sure as night follows day. You can't sell me the Brooklyn Bridge or convince me that public colleges will be free, student loans wiped out and taxes for all will not go up as well. He had a recent heart attack, will not release his medical records and stents improve symptoms but, unlike bypass, don't improve survival. Yes, I am a medical doctor. What do all his coronaries look like, what is his complete medical history? Did he really vote against gun control? (yes). He will sweep the Ivy League but lose the Electoral College.
13
Sanders has a record of accomplishment in Congress that closely approximates zero. That's exactly what one would expect of self-declared not-Democrat or not-Republican, but instead a Socialist. He's proven himself to be unable to forge legislatively productive relationships with either Ds or Rs. But he'd be happy to upend our healthcare system, flawed as it is, then try (and fail) to rebuild it at tremendous loss to the public and cost to the Treasury. The guys an angry, pompous poser.
Anybody but Bernie!
20
Sanders remains true to form. Bloomberg has already said he’ll spend $1 billion no matter who the Democratic nominee is. Sanders is as usual ungrateful, petulant, and self-centered and will take the Democratic Party down the drain. In many ways he’s very much like Trump. Just for starters, he’s an intolerable egomaniac who thinks only of himself. If for no other reason, he won’t see Trump’s bombs coming until they hit him.
17
Has President Obama endorsed Bloomberg?
You would think so from the ads being run by Bloomberg.
President Obama needs to say something about this.
7
@Tony I saw the ad. It sounds like Obama is very supportive of Bloomberg's efforts. It's Obama's voice and his words. Sounds like a ringing endorsement to me. What are you waiting for? For President Obama to use the words, "I endorse Mike Bloomberg". The ad shows that he does.
3
@Tony
"President Obama needs to say something about this."
By not objecting to Bloomberg's use of his name and the videos, Obama has already said quite a lot. Bloomberg is the real "White Obama."
1
@PeterW
Seems like you are missing Tony's point: the videos and words in all those ads are years old, from long before Bloomberg decided to run.
Here is the Democrats’ dilemma: Bloomy and Bernie are both flawed. Bernie is not a Democrat, he is a socialist and he is a true believer of his very worthy socialist dreams. They are more delusional than achievable. He lacks the know how to bring those dreams to life. That he thinks he can is a reflection of his own inflated ego.
“Mike can do it”, especially when he can wield authoritarian power, like in his own company or to dominate a weak city council. MiniMike has a mega ego, with racially prejudiced and misogynistic tendencies.
But Bernie’s attack on Billionaire Bloomberg is a red herring, right out of the mouth of a red herring eater himself. That Mini Mike was a mega bust in his first debate proved that money can’t buy you love of the electorate. Madison Avenue could create a new image but not a new Mike.
Sadly,Bernie’s attacks may resonate...and Mike will have to work hard to convince voters that he truly regrets his past transgressions. Of these two candidates, Bernie represents pure authenticity. Bloomy is the epitome of egotistical arrogance. Bernie has his campaign script down pat; Bloomy hates performing and reeks of condescension. We know Bernie’s goals, he can’t fulfill them. If Mike can layout his agenda, he has a better chance of getting it done. So what if he has and spends a few $billion.
3
Here's the real issue. Bernie's a crackpot. If he gets the nomination Trump gets 4 more years.
More scary would be if Bernie won. In his own way he is just as much of an authoritarian as Trump and he may be even crazier.
Trump has managed to cause as much damage as he has because the Republicans will not stop him.
Bernie won't get that kind of lock step obedience from Democrats so what he would get done is anybody's guess.
5
Bloomberg will get the nomination. By the time he spends a couple billion on ads people will be believing he’s tall, good looking and can even sing well.
8
@MLB And NDA's are a sign of a healthy, equal relationship
2
@MLB
If spending money on ads could make people like you, Hillary would be president. She outspent Trump 2:1.
Of course he will. With a baggage of mistreatment of women, and his racial bias issues made clear by his statements about 2008 crisis, Bloomberg is the Democrat's Trump.
2
@CacaMera
When you're a billionaire, being accused of mistreatment by women comes with the territory. Settlements and NDAs mean he was accused, not that he was guilty.
5
Mike Bloomberg of "I opposed the Iran deal, but the way Trump left it was wrong" fame, is not an acceptable candidate to Democratic voters. He is a flip-flopping phony who will indeed be decimated by Trump.
"Mike Bloomberg in 2010 called Obamacare legislation 'a disgrace' and 'another program that's going to cost a lot of money’
Now, a decade later, as he hopes to become the Democratic presidential nominee, Bloomberg has fully embraced the Affordable Care Act, even proposing an additional "Medicare-like public option" that builds on the law."
https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/16/politics/kfile-bloomberg-called-obamacare-a-disgrace/index.html
1
If Sen. Warren can just pivot to the center a little, she will win the nomination, hands down.
I contributed to her again today. I think she will reach the 10 mil goal for the month by Sunday.
Can all Sen Warren supporters flood her campaign with pleas to just barrow one page from Bill Clinton winning textbook?
A little triangulation.
1) She will support criminalizing illegal border-crossing.
2) She will not allow illegals to get on Medicare.
3) She will not abolish ICE, but retrain them.
4) She will work on finding any common grounds with GOP in Congress.
5) She is not for free, unlimited, on-demand abortion, but supports women's right to chose.
Strip the impeached clown and his fascists from their demagoguery attacking points.
There is no such thing as holding a purity idealism in politics, then losing.
We need to win. We must win. There is no other option.
We will say anything to win.
3
@morGan: Sounds more like Amy Klobuchar to me.
Bernie is a dark-money receiving hypocrite and liar. During the debate he compared Mike Bloomberg's double stent to his own as if he never had a heart attack. He won't release his health records and after you've had a heart attack, it means the heart muscle is damaged. Then, he attacks Mike for being wealthy and funding his own campaign? At least Mike isn't accepting any dark money.
From the associated press. If the link doesn't work, search Sanders pac money.
https://apnews.com/345bbd1af529cfb1e41305fa3ab
6
"Cher him up and spit him out"? That headline is what I would expect to hear coming from Trump's mouth.
I detect Putin's influence.
4
Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent by one person for one person!!!!
When hundreds of millions of people are hungry and homeless!!!!
6
Projecting as usual, Bernie. You forget that Bloomberg was mayor of NYC while you were toiling as a singular Congressman from a state with less population than the borough you grew up in.
NYTimes, shame on you for printing this ridiculous schoolboy bully taunt.
5
The night of the debate I saw Chris Matthews interviewing Nina Turner from the Sanders campaign. She was saying that Bloomberg was trying to buy the presidency with his vast fortune.
Chris Matthews then asked her if a candidate who promises his supporters that he will cancel their existing student loans, give them free college and health care isn’t also trying to buy their votes.
Ms. Turner did not like that question but it was the truth.
At least Mike Bloomberg’s money is real and not just a fantasy. And it is his to spend however he wants to.
19
@Me
Don't forget an increase in the minimum wage, and national rent control
1
Trump was and is the poorest speaker/debater I have ever heard. Just listen to his performances in 2016 - fifth grade vocabulary, incoherence, nonsense, lies, ignorance and constant, empty repetition, or his rallies, or his statements as president. If assigning a disparaging nickname to an opponent is "chewing them up and spitting them out" God help us all. If winning a real debate is the issue, any of the Democratic candidates could do that without breaking a sweat.
9
@TFK
There will NOT be a debate. Trump will not debate, why do you imagine he would?
3
My theory is that Bloomberg's advisors had been tipped off prior to the debate that some of the other candidates planned a elementary school style shouting match full of half truths and venom. That turned out to be right. Elizabeth Warren even resorted to lying when she quoted a couple words out of context from a joke about the British royal family that Bloomberg told at a public speech years ago. The pre-debate advice was for Bloomberg to stay calm, but that came off as him looking unprepared. He will continue to be reserved in future debates but since he's a fast learner he will probably engage the candidates that he feels are his main threats, Sanders and Biden.
15
Reality tv meets fast food. Bernard is the McDonalds of politics. For your $29 "donation" you get free health care, free college, $15 an hour minimum wage, a job for life, open borders, and a few other frees I am sure I am missing. It's like a Happy Meal for less than McDonald's. It's also a sucker's deal. No one likes that our government is for For Sale, but thanks to John Roberts (our Chief Un-Supreme Justice) it is. The value proposition then is what can you expect for what you pay? For Bernard, you pay little and that is what you will ultimately get, whether literally (no votes in Congress) or his economics burning our collective house down ($95T in programs about 60-70% of GDP; more like the USSR than Denmark). In the case of Bloomberg, he has all the money he needs, so he'll pay your tab for you. He's a fiscal conservative, but will raise taxes on the wealthy. He's also carrying some very unappealing baggage. He's personally committed hundreds of millions already to gun control, and the environment, while Bernard won't even become a Democrat much less give back any money given to him in '16 to help improve the party, but he sure will whine if he does not get his way. Neither is the ideal choice, but at least Michael is more honest about what he will give you for your vote, than Bernard. Between Scylla and Charybdis, Vote Blue like your life depends on it cause the alternative is much worse.
9
@Mark
Yes, Sanders does have a fool’s gold aspect to him. But Trump is like snake oil so...
3
Well, it looks like Trump will win again. on bright side my portfolio is up 30 percent in 2019. I'll gladly risk that to get rid of him.
10
Newsflash: Bernie Sanders will tank Democratic prospects for the Presidency and the Senate and put the House majority at risk.
15
Bernie is no dummy - going after his biggest threat.
2
I am so tired of Sanders screaming every time he opens his mouth. Put the finger away Bernie. All the Democrats are all awful at this point: almost more like Trump than Trump himself. The Democrats need to pull together, and check their egos at the door.
12
go home Bernie, you sound like angry grandpa.. Bloomberg /klobuchar is the ticket..nothing wrong with the American dream,
Bloomberg has the chops to help rebuild the nation, Klobuchar
has governmental skills and mid west appeal.. Bernie Liz Buttigieg
none are presidential..biden has had his day..
12
The Left has this dual view of Trump as simultaneously a conniving mastermind and a bumbling moron. You gotta pick one or the other. Is he a master debater, or a blathering fool?
2
Blathering fool all the way. He couldn’t master mind himself out of a paper bag.
5
If you draft a job description for the presidency (as opposed to campaigned for the presidency), I would put debating skills pretty far down. (They are used all the time by members of Congress, as obvious). But the presidency is not just about management. The ability to inspire and communicate with a broader public are essential. Sad that Bloomberg's extensive philanthropy work is focused around an agenda of important social and existential issues like education, health and climate change, but he has yet to learn how to communicate a policy agenda. I think he should practice being positive about his vision and how he can achieve it. BTW, Glassdoor which allows anonymous employee comments about workplace environments has over 4000 about Bloomberg's organization with a 91% approval for the CEO. He doesn't need to be too defensive at the cheap shots based on some inevitable complaints.
7
Hey, Bernie... and Elizabeth, and the others -- the REAL opponent is Trump!
Knock off the low-road attacks and the childish name-calling and focus on the ISSUES and the real opponent: Trump!
You're merely doing the Republicans' dirty-work for them! Tarring each other and making voters indifferent to the real issues -- and frankly, despairing that the Dems can get it together enough to mount a real challenge to Trump and his gang!
Sadly, we've been this snatching of defeat from the jaws of victory many times from the Dems in the last 40 years. This time the stakes are simply too high for such pathetic, dysfunctional failure!
856
Hey NYer,
I'm not willing to support let alone vote for anyone who thinks my Civil Rights are obituary.
14
@NYer Narcissism is not limited to the GOP...we are witnessing how some of the democratic candidates are putting their “ego” and self righteousness above what is at stake here: preserving the democracy in this country.
12
Bloomberg's attempt to buy the nomination and thus kill the campaign for national health care is certainly a real issue.
19
From the article, Bloomberg opining on electability: "If we choose a candidate who appeals to a small base, like Senator Sanders, it will be a fatal error."
Gee, where have we heard that argument before? Oh yeah, that's what everyone said about Trump, and he won the election. The lesson of the 2016 election seems to be that we should pay attention to where the passion is on each side of the divide, rather than trying to please a broad swath of the electorate with vague generalities about "working across the aisle", as if that's even politically feasible nowadays.
4
@Mitchell
Praising Fidel Castro and spending your honeymoon in Moscow isn’t going to get a broad swath of any part of America. It won’t even get the Trump voters who love Moscow.
7
@ADN Good, you've identified the only two tired points of criticism that the right has lobbed at Bernie. How many unsavory things are in Trump's past (and present)?
There is not one Democratic presidential candidate who can beat President Trump. He is unbeatable. The Democratic party is chaotic and far too liberal and left wing. Mike Bloomberg bombed during the debate so his billions will not make any difference. He was unprepared and floundered. Bernie Sanders is way too leftist for the average voter. The other candidates polling numbers are abysmal and it is doubtful they can catch up at this time unless a miracle occurs.
The winner in all this is President Trump. He is organized, confident and has a plan that has worked since he was elected. He needs to continue making America great. He is the only one who can succeed.
1
I just watched the embedded excerpt from the interview. Either my computer monitor has re-calibrated itself toward EXTREME red, or Bernie Sanders blood pressure is in the danger zone (Cooper's flesh tones are normal). Maybe the voters should see those promised medical records from Sanders before we see another debate.
7
Why is it that Hillary Clinton won the debates with Trump but lost the election? In my opinion there is only one task at hand and that is to rid ourselves of the con man at the White House. I believe that Bloomberg is the best equipped for that and here is why: In the last congressional elections the democrats were successful in flipping 40 seats. This was done with great help from suburban women. Of the 40 seats only two were progressives so it is important to consider that a moderate is crucial. Recent surveys show that in general people are happy with the economy with surveys giving Trump anywhere from 49% to 60% approval on handling the economy so that tells me to leave that alone no drastic proposals or new programs. I don't believe that the same group of suburban women and middle america in general are against self made people so we need to end the smear of billionaires. So why did they vote for moderate democrats? I believe because they are tired of the of the vulgar corrupt man and the circus of a government that he has. They want change but not drastic change. Also Bloomberg can get the votes of the many disaffected republicans. Finally he has an important weapon which is to disclose his tax returns and challenge the bully to do the same and that, I believe, will undress the con man.
Regretfully both Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have painted themselves into a corner.
A Bloomberg/Klobuchar ticket would make a formidable competitor.
5
Mr Sanders got it wrong. With Mr Sanders free Health care and education he will not do good in a debate. Plus he already has had a major heart issue which should have disqualified him from serving. He won’t show us his health reports. If he wins the nomination i will vote for Bloomburg or Mr Biden even if i have to write Mr Biden’s name in myself if i can. By giving the young people free health care and college is only making them stay at home and do nothing. I am a long time Dem but disappointed the way this election is going already. We need someone tough like Bloomburg and Biden to save the climate from coal abusers .
3
I lean more toward Bloomberg than to Sanders. However, that bit about the three houses was off base.
One house is in Vermont, which is the state where he, you know, actually lives.
One house is in D.C. , which is where Congress convenes and where Sanders spends a large portion of his time. Would Bloomberg had been happier and would it make Sanders less of a "hypocrite" is he bunked down each night at the YMCA?
The third house is a vacation home. Sanders is 78 years old, and like many folks around that age, he and his wife have saved their money over many years for a place to enjoy some downtime with friends and family.
Enjoying the fruits of one's (well-earned in the case of Sanders) labor doesn't make one hypocritical about wealth inequality. If their savings had instead been invested over the decades in stocks and bonds, he'd have just two houses, but about the same net worth, maybe more, yet Bloomberg wouldn't have thrown out his zinger.
I've never understood this emphasis on home ownership as the only measure of net worth.
3
@James K. Polk
It makes a lot more sense to build equity in a home rather than shell out rent (as in Wash. DC), and certainly real estate is as tenable as investing in the stock market, perhaps more so depending on location, location, location. Plus you have something tangible to leave to your descendants, imprinted with your own personality. Have to wonder, how much real estate has Bloomie's name (or is otherwise held by him) on it ?
1
@James K. Polk
You really are out of touch. Bernie is campaigning as the Everyman, the hero of the downtrodden. And yet he has 3 houses, while most of the people he purports to represent can't even afford one.
2
If Sanders is concerned about who can stand up to Trump, he should endorse Elizabeth Warren.
5
I’ll be honest: I’m not sure I’d vote for either one of them. In my opinion Bernie has created a cult, further dividing the country, and I haven’t seen any evidence Bloomberg offers much at all besides unlimited cash for his commercials. And both of them will be eviscerated by Trump despite wishful thinking on the part of their supporters. How many Democrats might sit the election out if one of these two candidates is the nominee? If I were in the polling business this is the question I would ask.
I believe Bernie is confusing Bloomberg for what Trump, and Trump supporters, will do to every Dem. candidate other than Bloomberg. Anyone the Dems. nominate other than Bloomberg will be walloped in a national election.
3
I will not vote for Bernie if he wins the primary. I know a few people who will do so reluctantly. I’m not sure about others. We are all registered Democrats.
5
For anyone who was paying attention, Bloomberg was under constant attack. He and Pete had a hard time being heard. The moderators allowed Warren and Sanders to campaign at the expense of the other candidates. Bloomberg was able to nail one point very well. He pointed out that he is the only candidate who has started a business from nothing and made it enormously successful. He did not, but should have added, that this created jobs and opportunities for many. Donald Trump isn't fit to hold Mr Bloomberg's pencils and I doubt that Donald could chew him up in any sense. Mr Bloomberg knows how to close an umbrella. Shame on you Bernie.
11
Who cares if Bloomberg doesn't have "stage presence" in the community theater that is our debates? He's a very VERY successful businessman and was an effective mayor.
He is the candidate Trump and his team are scared of and intimidated by.
The debates prove nothing.
Elizabeth's "zingers." Bernie shouting. Useless - except for the commentariat/pundit class.
Still on the fence between Bloomberg and Amy.
Still have a few weeks before we vote in Massachusetts.
8
It's not all that certain that Trump will agree to debate any Democratic nominee.
3
I would like to see an article that places the focus on Elizabeth Warren, the winner of the debate. As a leading newspaper, it is your job to highlight the key moments as they occur.
2
Bloomberg falsely asserts: "If we choose a candidate who appeals to a small base, like Senator Sanders"
A small base?
1. Five million individual donors is by far the largest grassroots movement in American history.
2. 17,000 supporters at a rally in Tacoma a few days ago rival's Trump's rallies and is not indicative of a "small base".
Bloomberg is another rich egotistical liar...just like Trump.
2
@John
There are over 300 million people in this country. Bloomberg is correct. Bernie's base, and the numbers you cite, are in fact very small when you consider the entire country.
Exactly. Trump will make mincemeat of Bloomberg whose only scruples are that which will get him elected; Bernie has been saying the same thing for 40 years and lo and behold he has been right about our nation’s situation all along. We need someone who will put the likes of Bloomberg and Trump in their place, make them pay taxes and reign in the corporate and plutocrat thieves who have fed at the public trough since 1980 when Reagan and the Republican Criminal Organization set out to destroy our democracy and reduce Americans to serfs.
1
You heard it here first: Trump is not going to participate in debates with anyone.
3
People: All Trump has to do to win the next four years if Bernie is the democractic nominee is simply to yell at every rally and over the internet that BERNIE IS A SOCIALIST AND YOU KNOW A SOCIALIST IS JUST A COMMUNIST IN WAITING!
Bingo...end of story. Tell me the number of older voters, independents and fence sitting Republicans who are going to entrust a capitalistic country to a snarling old man who talks as if it is his way or the highway. Check Bernie's senatorial record and see what he has accomplished for all of his years? Not a lot at all...but yet he is going to be the savior of the US? Bernie can not win a national election just because he has a rabid base of howling followers. That does not translate into votes in Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania and the Carolinas. Medicare for all? What a joke that is...Imagine the Trump commercials on that one! And then there is old man Bernie looking hard and mean and trying to convince stockholders and holders of 401K plans to vote a socialist to oversee your money! Bernie is mad at the world and if everything goes down in flames in November, you can bet that Bernie will be holed up in his Vermont cabin talking to himself about, "I could have been a contender...where did I go wrong?"
5
Good luck Robin Hood!
4
Bloomberg should have run in his own party. Now he'll never be anything but a very rich joke.
@Robbie Heidinger: What, the party of climate change deniers, NRA money addicts and forced birthers?
Sanders is good at talking at campaign rallies. He's also good at promising things he can't deliver.
Bloomberg is good at putting his money where his mouth is.
7
I just heard a Bloomberg radio commercial where Mike was pitching why he should be prez. It was eloquent, heartfelt, and convincing. In the next debate all he has to do is pivot to text like that and he'll be fine.
As an attorney, it was against the ABA's ethical cannon for Elizabeth Warren to ask a layperson, Mike Bloomberg, if they would release another party from an NDA. She knows Mike has council and must ask his lawyer or Mike in the presences of his lawyer a question like that. A very cheap and Trumpian-like move for her to circumvent the rules.
I'm still undecided but at least I'm now certain I won't support Warren.
59
@Mike B I thought it was a cheap shot too since many/most of the agreements would involve duct of subordinates and not Bloomberg himself. As the CEO of a company with 20,000 employees, I'm certain they have a lot of law suits no matter how well run they are. He's going to release anyone in a case involving hie conduct ... plus no longer use NDAs.
2
@Mike B
As a real attorney, rather than someone who pretends to be one on the internet, I know that you are wrong. Warren was not acting as an attorney, and not representing any party, during the debate. So the ABA ethical canons (not "cannon") don't even apply.
PS - lawyers are "counsel," not "council."
4
Bernie Sanders is George McGovern in 1972,
17
@William Whitaker Bloomberg is Hillary Clinton in 2016. Or John Kerry in 2004. Or Al Gore in 2000.
1
The other big headline today is:
“Lawmakers Are Warned That Russia Is Meddling to Re-elect Trump”
and THIS is what you think is a strategy for success Mr. Sanders?
7
It’s the reverse. Trump would ridicule Sanders, but Bloomberg would ridicule Trump.
25
Bloomberg candidacy is perversity of democracy in USA which is reflected in that super rich guy trying to become the president out of hobby and by massively spending his own money. Put simply, he is buying presidency, as he bought the governance of intellectually lazy, lethargic, and decadent NYC
He deserves no votes.
Trump is sort of clown who at least did not spend that much money and who took on and beat a number of 'formidable' and dynastic politicians on both sides. Hence, like him or not, he deserves his place since he won the race as an ultimate underdog.
2
@ss its hard to argue with the fact that the twelve years in which Mike Bllomberg was mayor of NYC - the bigest city in the US and the most iconic metropolis in the world- were the most prosperous successful stretch in its past 60 years. Calling Bloomberg intellectually lazy and lethargic is simply a disconnect from reality.
6
“Yada yada yada socialism.” Sure, try to scare me off with: Social Security, Medicaid, roadways, the fire department, public schools, our military, and the CDC. Sick of being bullied by plutocrats here in the heart of America.
I just want to see Mommy and Daddy get back together. Sanders/Warren 2020
17
@BamaGirl Let Mommy and Daddy get back together in the Senate where the damage they can inflict is limited.
2
Bloomberg is like Trump in that he isn't used to anyone questioning anything he does and doesn't like it when they do. Surrounded by fawning sycophants who know exactly what he wants to hear from them at all times.
He wasn't flustered so much as irritated that anyone who doesn't have as much money would dare to question anything he does. The nerve!
And Bernie has a base, Mike. Unlike you.
6
Why do people believe that Michael Bloomberg is even remotely touchable by Donald Trump? Folks, Trump is a joke and a puppet to all of the rich people who run him--these aren't highschool cliques, rich people don't stay rich by chewing on and spitting out each other. Bloomberg is not working alone.
5
You know what Trump and any other candidate would chew up?
A self identified socialist opponent who honeymooned in the Soviet Union and is on camera praising Fidel Castro
Karl Rove himself couldn’t come up with a better profile to run against
If Democrats don’t get come to their senses real quick they will curse this country with another four years of Trump
21
Now that Bloomberg has been accused of sexual harassment and racism he is perfectly situated to attract some of Trumps supporters.
Brilliant!
9
Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
Everybody knows that the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died
Everybody talking to their pockets
Everybody wants a box of chocolates
And a long-stem rose
Everybody knows
6
No. Bernie is equating YELLING with winning. Just like Trump. This Woman is extremely turned off by anyone that Yells, unless there’s a Fire or other Medical Emergency.
Just saying.
22
@Phyliss Dalmatian
There is a fire. We should all be screaming.
3
"Not a guy worth $60 billion buying an election.”
How is Bloomberg "buying an election?" Senator Sanders?
Is he buying votes?
Buying state and electoral commissioners?
Or is he purchasing advertising to persuade people? You know just like your campaign is?
And btw, at least Mike Bloomberg is a member of the party whose nomination he is seeking, not just someone like you who never joins but seeks the nomination while throwing rhetorical bombs at it when it suits your political needs.
30
You would lose to Trump pretty bad as well, Bernard.
15
@Kyle That't not what the polls say, so you'll have to do better.
1
@KM
If the polls were accurate, Hillary would be Prez now. So there you go.
1
@KM Prepare to be disappointed in the end. If Bernie's the nominee, it will be a repeat of the 1984 election between Reagan and Mondale. Or more recently... Johnson & Corbyn in the UK.
1
Obama, Trump and Sanders created a movement. Bloomberg not only doesn't have the skills during a debate but lacks on any sort of social movement to bring voters to the polls. There's also plenty of damning info coming out about his company silencing journalists to protect Chinese corruption.
6
If Trump would "chew Bloomberg up and spit him out," I can imagine Bernie as a hairball.
7
Uh, Bernie - Should you take the nomination, be prepared to hear about your honeymoon in Communist Moscow more than you've ever talked about Medicare-for-all.
9
@Pedro G.
Nobody cares that he honeymooned in Moscow. It's an historic city with many art galleries, amazing music and ballet, and much more. Definitely a legitimate destination.
@irene
Lot's of people care. While Moscow is indeed all the things you say it is, now, Bernie went there in 1988, before the fall of the Berlin wall, when it was a very different place.
You can think what you like about t-Rump vs. Bloomberg, but when t-Rump creeps up behind Bernie at their debate and goes 'Boo!' Bernie will have a heart attack and that will be that.
8
Which candidate is buying votes?.
3
Michael Bloomberg with his sexist and racist comments will have his campaign more clouded than Hillary ever was with her emails. Bernie is absolutely right, I think it is a mistake for moderates to rally around Bloomberg.
9
How do I contact the Bloomberg internet troll farm? For $2500 per month, I am willing to post that Bloomberg is human and age 78.
6
@brixton77
Bernie is offering a way better deal: increased minimum wage; free healthcare, even for illegals; student loan forgiveness; free college; national rent control.
Look at his crudeness.
How in god’s name will he pass bills
Especially with $4t deficits
3
Let's think about this a bit.
Bloomberg: Hires people worldwide that are smarter than him and made him a true billionaire.
trump: Hires criminals and mobsters who lie, cheat and end up in prison.
Sorry donnie you stand on the shoulders to the brilliant people you hire and sink in the swamp of vermin.
6
Those aren't debates, merely TV entertainment shows. They are simply the Democrats version of "The Apprentice", with the punditocracy, commentariat, and twitterati getting to feel good saying, "You're fired!" and "You're hired!" In any case, being a good TV entertainer, which Trump is, does not mean you know how to be a good President. The most important ability for a President is to be a good judge of people, as he or she cannot know all the substantive detail necessary to make good policy decisions. One-line TV zingers are not what demonstrates such an ability or how to operate in the Situation Room.
TV "moderators" are picadors. [bullfighters on horseback who prick the bull with a lance to weaken it and goad it.] TV likes advertisers, advertisers like ratings, and ratings like blood, not intelligent, substantive discussion.
Bernie would be excellent to hold the non-existent position of Conscience Of The Democratic Party. Meanwhile, Bloomberg is the only one who demonstrates that defeating Trump is what the election is about, that if you don't win, you lose, that if you do not defeat Trump and deal with the reality that will be Congress in 2021, you will get nowhere, not even one step on the road to all the noble, aspirations coming from other candidates.
As to being a billionaire: it takes a billion to run for President. I prefer Bloomberg, whose source of money is 100% transparent, than someone elected with a lot of money from unknown and special interest sources.
436
@Steve Fankuchen
Working class? What working class? Sorry folks, but this isn't the 1930s or even the '50's. Yes, there are millions of poor and exploited workers but, by and large, especially among younger ones, there is not a sense of class consciousness.
Think of unions. It is not only because of some government and broad right-wing opposition that they have shrunk hugely, especially in the private sector. Face it, union organizing was much, much, much harder in the late 19th century. Rather, it is largely because young people have not for decades imagined themselves as as class-conscious "workers." Ask a kid today what he or she wants to be, and I'll bet not one in a thousand answers "a union member" or even "a worker." Even the lowest paid techie considers himself or herself as a "professional."
I would bet that the vast majority of Sander's and Warren's supporters do not consider themselves "workers", with few being, let alone aspiring to be, union members. Their support for the "working class" is about "them", not "us."
17
@Steve Fankuchen thank you, excellent comment. I agree and I sent off my absentee ballot to Florida - Mike Bloomberg got my vote.
We need to defeat Trump, for my grandkids' sake. For all of our sake. Mike has so many positives and not one of the candidates on the ballot are without faults or mistakes.
53
@Steve Fankuchen Amen, brother!
12
Working class? What working class? Sorry folks, but this isn't the 1930s or even the '50's. Yes, there are millions of poor and exploited workers but, by and large, especially among younger ones, there is not a sense of class consciousness.
Think of unions. It is not only because of some government and broad right-wing opposition that they have shrunk hugely, especially in the private sector. Face it, union organizing was much, much, much harder in the late 19th century. Rather, it is largely because young people have not for decades imagined themselves as as class-conscious "workers." Ask a kid today what he or she wants to be, and I'll bet not one in a thousand answers "a union member" or even "a worker." Even the lowest paid techie considers himself or herself as a "professional."
I would bet that the vast majority of Sander's and Warren's supporters do not consider themselves "workers", with few being, let alone aspiring to be, union members. Their support for the "working class" is about "them", not "us."
3
@Steve Fankuchen Don't you realize that this is why Bernie's campaign is so important?
When it comes to these two candidates, it seems like there are two competing narratives about how Dems will win in battleground states.
Sanders: I'll get the working class to vote in unprecedented numbers.
Bloomberg: I'll get the suburban voters who don't want to vote for Trump but would if it's Sanders (or stay home).
Each side seems to envision a stunning loss if their path is not the chosen one. [Or they don't recognize that there even are two paths.]
Their shortcomings?
Team Suburban may be blind to the rage of the working class against income inequality.
Team Working Class may be blind to their supporters unreliability when it comes to voting (especially young people.)
Me? I'm blue no matter who.
18
You can accuse Bloomberg of buying the nomination but Bernie is doing the same by promising unrealistic freebies. Free medical. Free college. Free energy. While we’re at it let’s throw in housing, food, anything else? Bernie’s trillions far outweigh Bloomberg’s ad budget. Start with changing the tax code rather than toss promises around like fairy dust.
78
But Medicare for All is LESS expensive than for profit health care, the most expensive health care on earth. Why can’t we tax Wall Street transactions so that every young person can go to community college or vocational school and get a start in life. Did you ask how taxpayers could afford bailing out big banks? Do you ever ask how taxpayers can afford another trillion thrown at a bloated military industrial complex?
Do you wonder how we can afford tax breaks for the rich? Or a tax system where billionaires pay less of a tax rate than working people and Big Billion Dollar Corporations pay 0?
2
Trump could easily do the same with Sanders- by just saying ‘Socialist’ and reminding voters of the recent health scare (not that Trump is in great shape himself, but that has never stopped him from slamming other people)
Unfortunately that may be enough to scare voters away.
121
@mm Then Bernie could retort "The 1980s called, they want their political scare tactic back."
3
@mm Well, Sanders beats Trump on most polls, so the label doesn't seem to be scaring everyone off.
6
@mm
Newest development :
"Russia Is Said to Be Interfering to Aid Sanders in Democratic Primaries"
Does this mean Putin prefers Sanders to other candidate to secure Trump's win?
9
Bernie does have a point. Bloomberg new the day that he would have to participate in a debate was coming, and he has some money, why was he not better prepared.
Lord knows if i had a debated upcoming and money for prep, i would be ready for every question possible.
13
After watching Bloomberg's performance in the Las Vegas debate I can't imagine why any of the other candidates would bow out to allow Bloomberg to go head to head with Sanders. Bloomberg was smug and displayed an annoyed angry face much of the debate. He refused to give answers to some rather direct questions. If I didn't know that he was a successful mayor of New York City I would have written him off on the spot.
20
Really? Is Trump also going to drill Bloomberg on his NDAs, redlining views, and stop-and-frisk policies? Trump has nothing on Bloomberg. We need to remember that we are not trying to displace Warren or Sanders in November, so it doesn’t really matter if he appeals to their “wokeness”, the real target is still Trump. And Bloomberg is still the best candidate to take him down.
58
@Vincent Uh, of course he will drill him on those things. Don't you remember when he brought Bill Clinton's accusers to a debate? Trump would love running against Bloomberg, because Bloomberg would be a giant hypocrite to call him out on racism and sexism.
6
@Vincent he absolutely will, did you ignore the entire campaign against hillary? where he attacked her for her hawkish forign policy, her curruption, being a rich out of touch new yorker?
1
@Vincent Yes, Trump will do exactly that. His goal is to drive down voter turnout, not to win over liberals disgusted with Bloomberg's record.
2
Well, the electorate in the swing states are going to "chew" Sanders up and "spit him out." He will not win the necessary states. A nomination of Sanders will doom our nation by leading to a Trump re-election and a Republican Congress.
11
So the Dems have debates, to decide who is going to take on Trump. It’s a bit like having a boxing contest to see who is going to take on a champion in mixed martial arts.
2
Just say no to debates. They don’t prove a thing, just who has the best zingers.
12
Trump and Putin would like nothing better than to face a socialist in November, because Americans have abhorred socialism for more than a century, and there is no chance we will put a socialist in the White House. Trump would destroy Bernie; Democrats could lose their majority in the House; Mitch McConnell's chokehold on the Senate would be tightened.
Trump supporters in the open South Carolina primary have been openly supporting Bernie, to give Trump his most vulnerable opponent.
If Bernie Sanders is the nominee, Trump's commercials and rallies will feature footage of Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea, and former Soviet countries, and MAGA-hatted sycophants reciting the evils of socialism. And we'll suffer four more years of this monster.
11
What's President Sanders going to do when 2-years in he realizes he's too old and tired for the job.
Klobkuchar is the only sensible, intelligent, unoffensive candidate.
Bloomberg has a big base: but they’re in the Republican Party.
5
Can Bernie speak without ranting like Trump? Has Bernie done one thing to unite the Dems? Can he develop a platform that finds common ground? I’ve yet to see Bernie accomplish any of the above.
Trump continues to control the election narrative because the Dems are a hot mess, eating their own. It’s utterly embarrassing. The Dems made a fatal mistake when they allowed Bernie to run as a Democrat. He divided the party last time and we lost. He’s doing it again and the results will be the same. Flat learning curve all around.
10
Bernie has to stop with the barking delivery all the time. People wont put up with that barking delivery and always red in the face. Beware of the Bernie? Just talk to us, Bud. Bernie's going to give himself a heart attack one of these days. We're people, not mail delivery persons, dude. He's got to get rid of the Middle School Vice Principal in charge of expelling kids demeanor, all the time!
21
@PH
In town halls, when answering questions from individual citizens, he does speak in a calm and reflective tone of voice. Same type of lowered volume in interviews.
Maybe the podium and a large assemblage naturally begets higher energy, especially since Bernie has spent decades speaking out loud against corruption in the lobbyist-sponsored Senate. I welcome his tireless moral outrage on behalf of the disempowered.
Bernie’s got to know not everyone yells like Larry David. Bloomberg is very savvy, clever, sly, and very cool (see Marshal McLuhan). Sometimes a smart riposte to a Trump moronic, ad hominem attack is needed. If Bernie had to defend the carpet bombing critical attacks of Warren, Biden, Pete, and Amy, Bernie’s head would’ve exploded.
I’m certain that if elected President, Bloomberg would have a Press Secretary on view briefing everyday.
9
Could someone explain what debates really have to do with the act of governing as President or taking the fight to Trump?
So far Sanders has just been a rather loud sloganeer. Why can't he go toe to toe with Trump?
Bloomberg is an administrator and decision maker. He is not an attack dog politician who sic and sicken, like the other candidates.
Bloomberg has made it in New York and he can handle himself with Trump, as did De Blasio
You tell me exactly what the debates have to do with being President except that's what everyone has assumed and taken for granted.
They're not a real simulation, they're a bogus audition.
Bloomberg is not a natural politician and neither is Trump
14
Bernie is completely right. This Bloomberg clown needs to drop out of the race, for all the billions he has, the man can’t speak and would be devoured by Trump in any debate! What’s clear is that the only candidate that can beat Trump is Bernie!
4
@Frank Samson
Debates, like twitter, are not real life, and have no bearing on who wins elections
Does Bernie think that trump will bother to debate? That’s naïve.
3
Does it matter that Bernie has been America's most popular Senator eleven (11) times in a row?
~~ January 2019morningconsult.com › 2019/01/10
Or that he's the third most popular politician in America?
~~ today.yougov.com › ratings › politics › popularity › politicians
Barack Obama is the most popular. It would really help if he supported Bernie if he wins, but that looks doubtful. I suppose he wants Joe to win, thus reflecting well upon himself. I know he doesn't want to interfere, but wouldn't a mensch jump in and show who he favors? Why play a game?
(These political roadshows have more nuances than a health insurance policy.)
1
@James Muncy
"... America's most popular Senator..."
Is that like "America's favorite dental procedure"?
4
@GMooG
Well, it's a giant step above "America's most hated dental procedure."
2
I don’t support career politicians anymore. Bernie, Biden and Warren are multi-millionaires and they love to thrash billionaires like Bloomberg. If Bernie and the rest are against billionaires, they should not be writing books and enriching themselves with millions. They could have donated the proceeds of the books to the charities they wish. So far, they have donated almost nothing.
Mike Bloomberg worked hard and earned money. Why are they talking against him? I simply don’t get it. I simply call them hypocrites and I wont vote any hypocrite.
6
How many people decide to vote based on someone's debate performance? How about Bloomberg's ideas versus little fat donnie's. DJT lies and performs, he doesn't debate on issues or facts. If Bloomberg tells the truth, he will have won in my book. We don't need a "performer" for our potus as demonstrated by the current occupant of the job.
5
Ones ability to hurl canned zingers and engage in verbal karate is totally unrelated to one’s ability to run a country
For proof look no further than the current occupant of the Oval Office
I’m still with Mike
11
Bernie Sanders is all talk. His ideas sound great, in theory. In practice they don't work. The government can't take charge of the economy and succeed. The Soviet Union crumbled. In Venezuela people starve. Americans aren't ready for what people like Bernie Sanders preach. (Just like Britons were not ready for Jeremy Corbyn.)
Mike Bloomberg may not be as good at talk as Bernie Sanders. He is a poor debater. He lacks charisma. He's short and old and has a prissy voice. But he has a long record of accomplishments, both in business and government. Surely that has to mean more. Doesn't it?
12
Bernie’s wrong. Liz Warren’s evisceration of Bloomberg Wednesday evening has left nothing for Trump to chew on except bone and maybe some remnants of marrow. In an earlier life, she must’ve been a taxidermist.
Even I was cheering her on. And I’m a Buttigieg supporter.
1
Bernie is correct about Trump schooling Bloomberg.
It’s obvious Mike hasn’t been a hard worker for a long time.
And changing the NYC voting rules so he could get an extra term as Mayor was very Putinesque/Stalinist.
The only 2 people I see who can go head to head, in a debate, with Trump are Bernie and Warren
5
"Chew Him Up and Spit Him Out"
If anyone who was concerned with "shrill" Ms Warren but is fine with that language from Mr. Sanders needs to check their bias.
This is ugly language. Not worthy of a presidential candidate. Not my candidate. Why are we replacing one loud mouth demigod with another?
3
After years of divider-in-chief President.
It is about time to have some Unity.
-- > No Trump , Warren or Sanders .
1
One main reason Bernie pretty much has this thing wrapped up: As the "moderate" alternatives drop out in the following weeks, their voters will move to Bernie just as much as they might move to another "moderate".
Pundits, etc. seem to be under the impression that, "If only some of the "moderates" would drop out, their voters would coalesce around a single main alternative to Bernie. But, this is clearly wrong. As they drop out, just as many of their voters will move to Bernie as will move to anyone else. Fundamentally, the Dem party as a whole is aligned with Bernie's principles, so it is easy for him to grab up as many of the loose voters as anybody else.
Thus, Bernie will continue to dominate and lead the primaries, all the way through the convention. At that point, the Dems will have to concede that he is their nominee or face outright rebellion (and in fact they will be glad to do so, non-withstanding the current faux hand-wringing).
5
First debate in 10 years for Bloomberg - 10th for Sanders.
I’m not a Sander’s supporter, will not vote for him in the primary but I will if he is the nominee. How many Bernie-bro’s will do the same.
I met two who said they wouldn’t vote for anyone but Bernie. I understand thousands stayed home or voted for Trump in 20016. They are the reason Trump is President.
And why has Bernie not become a Democrat. He keeps running to lead a party he won’t join and one he complains about.
6
@Maxi Bernie isn’t a Democrat because he has specific principles. The Democratic Party (unlike say the Greens) do not have a set of principles. This is not necessarily a bad thing because it allows for flexibility over time. All Bernie is trying to do is move the party towards his principles. In theory this shouldn’t be too hard because his values are essentially the same as FDRs but for some reason there is a lot of resistance among the party thought leaders to shifting to where the voters are (as borne out by polling.)
2
@Maxi
As a die hard Sanders supporter very keyed into the Bernie-sphere: I will vote for anyone who makes it to the general except for Bloomberg. Racist, sexist faux billionaire vs. racist, sexist real billionaire gets a vote of no confidence from me. I can tell you very confidently that the vast majority of other Sanders supporters will say the same. At this point, I'm more worried that the relentless negativity about Sanders from many moderates will keep more voters home than a moderate would for Bernie voters.
Also, and I've said this so many times it's getting very tiring to repeat to people who can't be bothered do a basic amount of research before they spew misinformation: More Hillary people voted for John McCain than Bernie people voted for Trump. The idea that Bernie somehow uniquely inspired his voters to stay home is absolutely false. He full throatedly endorsed her (which many of his supporters hated), and campaigned for her 30+ times in key states like Michigan and Wisconsin. The meme that disgruntled Bernie voters brought us Trump has to end. A historically unpopular Democratic nominee who was widely despised by voters in both parties and ran a poor campaign brought us Trump.
1
Both Bernie and Mike are smart, but Bernie has been a politician all of his adult life. Mike is a businessman, and has been, except for a short time as mayor in New York. Bernie likes to listen to people. Mike likes to give them orders--do this, do that.
These differences explain why Bernie is the front runner, and Mike, for all his money, is floundering.
5
Um, sorry Bernie and Bernie supporters. Bernie has zero chance of defeating Trump in a national election, same with every other democratic candidate except Biden or Bloomberg. The American middle, and the states needed to win nationwide, are not the coasts. As much as it pains me to say, Trump will win another term.
6
@Jason Do you have any polls or real evidence at all to back up your claim?
Every poll we have available to us shows Bernie does just as well if not better against Trump than Biden or Bloomberg.
Also, the idea that a has been politician in cognitive decline or another corrupt, racist, sexist billionaire are somehow more electable than a man who's dedicated his entire life to fighting for justice is both laughable, and, if true, a good reason to think that this country is not worth saving.
@Jacob Polls? Let's recall that polls predicted that Hilary would win at 91% certainty. I don't doubt Bernie's integrity and adherence to his politics. The middle of the country is where national elections are won or lost. How does Bernie appeal to the working & middle classes of Michigan? Wisconsin? Pennsylvania? Ohio? Bloomberg is the pragmatic choice, not the ideal. But defeating Trump is the utmost priority here.
1
I don't watch TV but am seeing a high percentage of Bloomberg ads online. I'm already sick of it. I'm starting to think it may actually be possible to overspend on a campaign and have it backfire -- we'll find out.
105
@Andy I hope it does not backfire. He is the only one who can beat Trump.
16
@Andy Absolutely, many of my fellow young people share an aversion to both Steyer and Bloomberg, not necessarily because of their politics or billionaire status, but because the ads interrupt almost every piece of media they consume and it has gotten annoying.
However, i am not sure if this is generally the case. Quite a few people in the New York Times comment section seem to have been thoroughly convinced by his ads.
6
@Andy Rich Tarrant, in 2006, spent more money per vote than any other candidate in the country, for any office, in his attempt to defeat Bernie Sanders in the race for Vermont senator. He was a wealthy medical billing software executive who had no real roots in Vermont. He spent millions of his own money. In fact, he spent about $100 per vote received, while Bernie spent about $35. Tarrant's self-funded exorbitant campaign disgusted many Vermonters and totally backfired. He was thoroughly routed by Bernie, who won with 65% of the vote.
5
If Bernie Sanders wins the Democrat nomination I will very gladly vote for him, but I would prefer Mike Bloomberg to be our president.
I know Bernie's supporters will wince and Mike's supporters will all agree.
Opinions are like belly buttons - we all have one. And that just happens to be mine.
Bloomberg has nothing to prove. He didn't enter the race because he wants to prove to everyone what a great president he would be. He entered solely because, looking at the field of contenders for the nomination, he was concerned that the winner might not be able to beat Trump.
No one can know for certain who has the best chance to beat Trump this November, but I believe that person is more likely to be Bloomberg than Sanders. Sanders has a core of "Sanders is the only viable candidate" supporters, but Bloomberg has a broader base and will be able to garner greater support.
And for Bernie to argue that Mike would not be able to stand toe to toe with Trump in a debate is beyond his ability to know and his stating so is only an attempt to denigrate Bloomberg's chances.
33
@Richard Phelps Bloomberg entered because he thought Sanders or Warren would win, and he's more afraid of President Sanders than he is of President Trump. He is doing this entirely to try and prevent a progressive president who would make him actually pay taxes.
7
@Richard Phelps - Based on what we saw Wednesday night, no, Bloomberg does not have the ability to stand toe to toe with Trump.
That headline made me burst out laughing. Who on earth thinks that anyone could come to a debate less prepared than Donald Trump? And who really thinks he's even going to bother to participate in debates--why should he? His base doesn't care if he does or not, and he doesn't want to have to learn anything. He's made that abundantly clear.
22
@Karen Exactly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Trump wouldn’t bother to show up at any presidential debates this year. It would trigger yet another slew of “Unprecedented!” headlines, but what else is new?
1
I'm a political junkie and even I am still undecided on who the right candidate is to beat Trump. All have advantages and all have disadvantages. Bernie's positives include his consistency of message, his perceived honesty, his willingness to speak his mind and, let's face it, his army of staunch supporters. With the Russians interfering again and with Trump's willingness to break all norms (and laws) we're going to need a powerful leader with an army if we expect to make Trump accept defeat and leave.
129
@Cindy He also beats Trump in polls.
11
@Cindy I appreciate the honesty and thoughtfulness of your comment.
7
Hi Cindy...it's good to read this. This is me, to the letter. Though I didn't vote for him in the primaries in '16, I assumed the same gut feeling about Sanders 4 yrs ago, and his unwavering message hasn't deviated an iota. Nor has the support. I'm convinced he's the only viable candidate that can take down Csar TrumPutin amid a 40% voter ignorance rate and the Electoral College. Until people get their heads out of the clouds regarding those two afforementioned realities, the idiotic arguments for establishment centrists as viable D candidates are laughable. I'll vote whoever D is, but I'll also be getting myself some help imagining another 4 yrs of the Flunky-in-Chief if it's not Sanders.
6
Although Bloomberg has at least one more chance to redeem himself, it's looks as though both he and Sanders are right about each other's chances in the general election.
3
Biden: “The mayor says that he has a great record. Well, the fact of the matter is, he has not managed his city very well when he was there. He didn't get a whole lot done.”
Biden hit the nail on the head: It's true Bloomberg didn’t get a whole lot done in New York City!
11
@I Gadfly Biden's one to talk. His signature achievement was selling a black woman down the river so he could win confirmation for one of the least qualified Supreme Court justices in history. As for Sanders, what does he have to show for 30 years in Congress besides naming a few post offices?
5
Sanders' incessant focus on and vitriol towards Bloomberg only shows how scared he is of his opponent.
58
no, it's more like an insect that has gotten caught in a big spider web... Bloomberg is asking for it
1
Considering, Bloomie's focus on Sanders, does it mean Bloomie is terrified by Sanders?
5
@Bokmal - As does Bloomberg's incessant focus on and vitriol towards Bernie (e.g., the cheap shot of calling him a communist).
3
I can think of 1000 attack lines for Trump to use against Bernie
I can’t think of any for him to use against Bloomberg
I’m with Mike
160
It just shows your level of imagination. Quotes about women, minorities, flip-flop on policies and party. You can say Trump did it too, but that just frames election as Trump vs another version of Trump, dampening turnout that will benefit Trump.
19
@John Did I not watch the same debate as everyone else? Bloomberg looked terrible, he stumbled over his words, his horrible record was exposed. What kind of mental gymnastics do you have to do to assume that he won’t get eviscerated in the General debates?
14
@John
* Young people won't come out and vote for Bloomberg.
* Many black and Latino people will not vote for Bloomberg.
* Many working class people won't see any point in casting a vote for one arrogant billionaire against another, not seeing any way Bloomberg will improve their daily lives.
* Union members will not want to vote for Bloomberg.
* Progressives will not want to vote for Bloomberg. In the end, some will, some won't.
* Bloomberg has no grassroot support. He has to pay people to say nice things about him on social media.
* Many women are turned off by Bloomberg.
* Trump will credibly be able to paint Bloomberg as a racist - and he will.
Nominate Bloomberg and we lose this election.
17
Mr. Bloomberg, or “Bloomie” as he likes to be known as, represents the corporate Democrats and the corporate Republicans, collectively known as the status quo.
They’re pulling out all the stops to stop the People's candidate. Neither corporate party and wants to see their system unrigged.
44
@Fourteen14 What "People" are you talking about? Sanders is stuck at about 30% of Democrats supporting him - and he's not a Democrat. Seventy percent of us don't like him, don't support him, don't believe his screamed pronouncements, don't like the behavior of his "Bros", which he pretends to disdain, and don't believe he can win against Trump.
That latter is all that matters. And Sanders is too divisive, too old and angry and too unaccomplished to do it.
6
@Fourteen14
Sanders is NOT the people’s candidate. Why are you true believers so unwilling to see how you appear to the rest of the voting public ? Panicking immature baby tyrants.
4
Bernie may be right about Bloomberg. But this is the pot calling the kettle black. Trump will delight in tearing Sanders to pieces.
43
@kingfisher1950 - I disagree with your assessment of how a debate between Sanders and Trump would proceed. I believe the opposite would take the place of what you describe as Trump tearing Sanders to pieces. Trump will yell and talk loudly and profane while Sanders will patiently wait for the nod from the moderator to speak his piece. That possible debate will not go well for Mr. Trump.
3
@willw - I also don't think Trump will participate in the debates. So it will be just town halls - at which Bernie excels.
2
@willw Trump isn't going to participate in any debates. He and his team knows his mental decline is too steep at this point for him to have to respond extemporaneously and stay on topic.
3
As a citizen of ‘Bloomberg’s New York’, I can tell you firsthand—he did not get things done. He destroyed our education system. Our housing system was in shambles. Our subway system was broken.
We’re still recovering from his 12 years as a Republican mayor. I can’t even imagine the country having to do the same.
Our country is in need of repair, not some egomaniac like Bloomberg.
39
@Mateo @Mateo and we wonder why this comment is not a Times pick? Also Mateo, how do you feel about the CitiBike stantions?
4
Yes, thank goodness we in New York finally got an incompetent egomaniac like de Blasio to help us recover! Maybe HE should run for President! (Whoops! He DID?)
8
@Mateo
You made all that up.
8
do yourself a favor and watch the videos of Bernie as mayor of Burlington that are on Youtube and how he interacts with his fellow citizens... if you don’t come away from viewing those thinking this is a man who genuinely cares, loves and will fight for the common person in this country, I’d have trouble believing you. Bernie is the real deal. A moral force. While Bernie was helping his fellow citizens in the 1980’s, Bloomberg was ripping people off in cut throat deals or whatever on Wall Street. Then as mayor of NYC acted like a dictator. His philanthropy at his level of absurd wealth is nothing. Its nothing to be impressed by and his candidacy isn’t either. He is far more mentally aged and detached than Bernie or even Biden for that matter. Money does not equal morals.
51
@F. Jozef K. That's the major blocker for Bernie Sanders. He is a real human being. He's simply too good to be the president of the United States.
3
@F. Jozef K. I suppose it helps if you overlook Bernie's anti-immigrant history, love-fest with the NRA and his vote against the Brady Bill.
8
@Randy nonsense...Sanders has the nerve all the other corporate lapdog Dems don’t have to say that unlimited immigration is precisely what corporations want to drive down the cost of labor in the market to keep all middle class wages low in relation. That is an economic fact and a reality that these neoliberals will never mention because it’s politically incorrect to their base. The sooner the American Left can finally stop ignoring that inconvenient truth the better they’ll be. Look at Brexit and the fascistic right parties in Europe. They all have swept into power and influence precisely because the left refused to have that conversation.... also, on Bernie’s gun vote... why not mention the year of that bill and compare the level of gun violence than and today. If you think Americans want to ban guns, they’ll get the super majority in the Congress to change the Constitution. Gun ownership is a legal fact of United States citizenship.
2
I don’t support career politicians anymore. Bernie, Biden and Warren are multi-millionaires and they love to thrash billionaires like Bloomberg. If Bernie and the rest are against billionaires, they should not be writing books and enriching themselves with millions. They could have donated the proceeds of the books to the charities they wish. So far, they have donated almost nothing.
Mike Bloomberg worked hard and earned money. He created jobs for thousands and he donated billions to help needy people. Why are they talking against him? I simply don’t get it. I simply call them hypocrites and I wont vote any hypocrite.
48
I don't think I can say this enough:
The best thing about Bloomberg--that foul, racist billionaire of a Trump-variant--is how he brings out the white privilege in all of the nominal "liberals" and "democrats" out there.
Just like what Trump did with all of those rabid white nationalists and xenophobes--brought them out into the light of day, which is exactly where we want them. Careful, just like them, once you're out in the light of day, there's no more hiding.
I love that people are coming after Sanders for his allegedly "lax" approach to "gun control" --that's a whole reason for many of us in the poor, working, and minority populations to consider him, if we actually were took part in this comical farce of a democratic process, where there is no longer a clear boundary between the public and private sectors.
"Banning or restricting firearms is the most white-privileged idea ever. Rich liberals scoffing at the notion that a person might need to defend their own life is a tower so ivory you can't look at it in direct sunlight. It's the personal safety equivalent of saying 'just have the maid do it'."
Love,
The True Left
8
Vote for Bernie! Your guns will be safe!
1
@Larry D
Look how clever you are--you must feel safe in whatever hypergentrified part of Brooklyn you've recently moved to...
Does anyone actually believe that Trump will participate in any debates that are conducted by the mainstream, “radical left” media? He’s already hinted that he won’t because he thinks they will be unfairly biased toward the Democrats. Trump’s idea of a fair debate would probably look a lot like one of his rallies.
If Mike Bloomberg gets the nomination perhaps all that will be necessary is an ad battle carried out on an hourly basis.
13
@Kari M. Donna Brazile feeding Hillary the debate questions. Why wouldn't Trump feel that way?
@Kari M. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! Perhaps it's just a NYT audience bubble effect, I don't know--but wow, everybody's like "oooh I like/dislike Bloomberg because he will/won't humiliate Trump!" Ugh. These two will never, ever stand on a debate stage and come out with any sort of impactful effect on the election.
2
@Kari M.
Don't underestimate the people. I'll pitch in anything I can to beat Trump and I am pretty sure I am not alone. We don't need Mr. Bloomberg's billions to run TV ads.
I am curious about how Bloomberg made his billions, was it investing in fossil fuel industries or related industries like extraction companies. I don’t believe he always understood the scientific evidence that has been available for decades or did he even care.
Somehow I wonder if he is spending millions of bucks of blood money or extinction money just to elevate his stature being President.
Bernie 2020!
9
@Dave
If only there were something that would let people who just landed here from Mars look up questions on the internet and get the answers in less time than it took for them to type the question.
At this stage in the game, how can any sentient adult not know how Blooomberg made his money?
5
He made money by starting a company in financial technology. How is Bernie making millions? He is a public servant. Why is he not donating his millions to his preferred charities? Why does he need millions? Can you please convince me?
7
@Dave , he earned this money by founding Bloomberg Inc., an information-services company he established with buyout money from a Wall Street bank that laid him off after a merger. I've been watching him since he was mayor of New York (I was not a fan) and I never heard this theory before.
1
Sanders is the flip side of Trump. Each of them make grandiose promises to their respective base supporters that cannot possibly be delivered. It's as if their followers think that we elect dictators who just make proclamations that become law once they enter office. Outlandish as that sounds, since our public school system no longer teaches civics (or so I understand), There are a hell of a lot of people out there who have no idea how our government works. Sadly, our current president is demonstrably a member of that crowd.
28
@BC Sanders is not the flip side of Trump. That's just lazy "both-sides"-ism. Economists like Jeffrey Sachs and Robert Reich support his platform. A Yale study shows that Medicare for All would save money and save lives.
1
Nominating Bloomberg would be a great way to nullify many major lines of attack against Trump.
-Grab them by the pussy? Sexual assault lawsuits? Bloomberg of the 64 NDAs has the exact same problem with sexual harassment and misogyny.
-Racist behavior and language? Bloomberg has stop and frisk, crackdown on Muslims, racist comments about young black men, etc.
-Authoritarian behavior like threatening to stay in office for a third term? Trump hints he will, Bloomberg actually did it as mayor of New York.
-Billionaire looking out for the rich and powerful? Don't even get me started.
It's true that Never Trump Republicans will pick Bloomberg over Trump, but there aren't a lot of them (unless you take the NYT comments section as representative. Hint: it's not). Meanwhile, the women and minorities who helped flipped the House in 2018? If Bloomberg is the nominee, enough of them will stay home in disgust to hand Trump an easy victory.
13
I am hopeful that Bernie wins the Democratic nomination. He is unelectable in a general election and I think nothing short of a devastating loss will convince people otherwise.
It will be another painful 4 years, but I do not think any of these weak moderate candidates would beat Trump anyway.
7
As someone who wants Trump out of office, this increasingly just does not look good. Short of a tectonic shift Sanders is unelectable. Trump’s key insight is that the country, or at least the electoral college, is largely controlled by the kind of people who come to his rallies. There used to be a barrier to entry to be a major party candidate, giving these people no real choice but to elect someone with some kind of semblance of propriety. Now that they do have a choice, I have a very hard time seeing them voting for a mild mannered Jewish NYC mega-billionaire, no matter how competent, over the demagogue entertainer in chief. I hope I’m wrong.
6
@John The country is NOT controlled by the people who come to Trump's rallies. The country is controlled by a lot of very rich people and large corporations, who pour millions of money into lobbying and influencing state and local governments as well as the federal government. Sanders and Warren are the only candidates who see this and point it out.
It was the great genius of Ronald Reagan to convince the middle class that it was the poor and minorities, rather than the wealthy, that have the power in this country. Warren and Sanders see that we're all in this together.
1
I think we should stop putting so much importance on surveys. Voters have barely enough time to vote. As for Bloomberg, we’d have to be desperately desperate to opt for him.
6
If Russians are indeed interfering the primaries, would not be surprised if they are supporting Candidates that they think Trump can crush easily. Who do you think Trump wants to campaign against?
6
@Elizabeth
Anybody other than Bloomberg.
1
Gonna have to agree with the senator on this one.
Considering Bloomberg is merely a carbon copy of Trump with a bunch of nanny-state baggage (soda ban), his debate performance kind of seals the deal that he would collapse in the general, especially since he would lose the youth and minority vote.
Sanders has routinely polled better than Trump in the general, and is the only candidate right now who can say that, and he has a broad base of support excluding establishment Democrats who would ultimately vote for him anyway. He seems like the closest thing we have to a perfect candidate right now.
27
He's right about the money in elections--it's out of control. Electoral reform is needed, sooner rather than later.
18
Sanders has a small base? Then why does he have the most donors to his campaign nationwide?
58
@Allen
The 2 are not equivalent. Bernie has a base of angry progressives - the flip side of Trump’s base of angry conservatives (to put it politely). These types of bases give donations disproportionately to their size. I will vote blue, no matter who, but angry men (and women) of any age rarely play nicely with others. And a consensus builder (with experience) is my preference (yes. I’m for Warren).
4
@Linda Jean
Please stop smearing Bernie's diverse base of support. You're the Sunrise Movement (young climate activists), Make the Road (immigrant rights), the Dream Defenders (criminal justice reform led by young African Americans), the National Nurses' Union, and more. The most common profession donating to his campaign is "teacher."
6
@Allen Bernie is not running to be a president, he is running to promote his lifelong platform, to pave the way to major changes that we all know will take decades to accomplish. And it's working, seriously working. It's important to think beyond this election, the next four years, even the next eight years. Times are changing.
4
During the Republic of Rome around 133 BC, wealth was concentrated in the hands of a few thousand rich nobles represented by the optimates in the senate. The suffering of the poor was immense. The Gracchus brothers, Tiberius and Gaius, tried to ameliorate the suffering of the plebicites who made up the majority of Rome, through, among several measures, modest land reforms.
The rich landowners affected would be compensated for the land redistributed.. land which the nobles stole anyway from yeoman farming Roman citizens who died fighting off in wars (the farmers fought, not the oligarchs) for the empire.. Wars which of course profited the oligarchs.
What were the oligarchs and optimates response? They slandered both brothers as demogogues of the poor, rabble rousers, and subsequently murdered both Gracchus brothers with the help of reactionary hired thugs.
Time after time history shows, when the rich feel their position is threatened, they band together. Bloomberg and Trump are golfing buddies after all..
Today, with even the whiff of democratic socialism, the elite, and of course the democratic elite too, who benefit from the largess of Bloomberg's millions and the current economic system, become very afraid. This is exactly where we want them to be.
Bloomberg and his followers will slander Sanders as a demogogue and a communist to attempt to discredit him. It won't work though, not this time.
2150 years later, do the Gracchus Brothers justice Bernie!
22
@Sean
Michael Bloomberg wasn't simply thrown out of the ring durimg the last debate, he was catapulted unceremoniously out and into a trajectory towards the sun, where his demise will not even be noticed.
Whatever the intent of the Republican-Lite Pelosi Schumer Biden Democratic Party by picking Bloomberg as the back-up for Biden, it failed spectacularly; embarrassingly.
Anyone not seeing the light at this stage in this game is simply willfully obtuse; our Democratic Party is being who they have always been, which of course is the protector of the status quo they do desperately want to maintain.
Regardless, the other night we saw a brilliant dawn break across our land, we saw it unapologetically light up Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren as our champions, showing us that either one will be our 46th President and the other our Vice President.
Our beaten-up and beaten-down nation, so badly done in by Trump and his Republican partners is being called upon to not stay down for the count, but spring back up and show all the doubters that we are alive, we believe in decency, we believe in respect, and we are about to reclaim our place as the champions of the poor, the middle-class, and all of the people.
To watch the pretenders on that stage last night get exposed and made nearly irrevelant was divine.
8
40% of Americans support Trump and another 40% support Sanders. Both men tell their supporters America is not working for them, and that they have enemies out there who need to be punished whether these enemies are immigrants or corrupt capitalists. That’s 80% of our people. Wow!
Neither camp will give up easily. I am really worried about my country.
8
@Amy
Considering that less than 1/3 of voters are registered Dems and considering Bernie is not even getting a 1/2 in Dem in primaries - it does not seem like he has that much support. The moderates got over 55% of the vote in NH
3
@Meg Except that, as reported earlier this week in this very publication, Bernie has the highest favorability rating with Democratic voters (73%), more than any other candidate running.
He also has more support from independents than any candidate running in either party (he creams Trump by 18 points with that bloc--whom it is important to remember makes up nearly half of the voting population).
To suggest that he doesn't have Democratic support and can't have the party's voters coalesce around him is just plain wrong. Just because he wasn't everyone's first choice doesn't mean they don't like him (although 20% of Democrats view him unfavorably), and there is literally no candidate who is viewed more favorably, or who has been receiving a larger share of first-round support.
Bernie is in it to win it, and so are the record-breaking millions of us who donate to his campaign. I hope you'll join us soon, because he is our only chance to not just beat Trump, but to effect a positive change in our oligarchic kakistocracy!
1
Bernie's M4A plan is a lot more liberal of an idea than what is even being done in many of the countries Bernie likes to point to as examples
In fact, what the moderates propose is actually more akin to what many of these other nations have in place
So, when you consider that there is zero chance it can get M4A passed in the Senate, why is it being debated?
Why are we risking losing swing states over something that can't even get done and that polls far worse among voters than a public option?
As Klobuchar, who has worked well with Bernie in the Senate on health care legislation, effectively pointed out, why would you bet on a number that is not even on the wheel?
I live in a swing state and the GOP are already running ads pairing the Dem Sen running for office with Sanders as a way to knock him out of the running and this is already happening all over the country
So, why are people willing to lose the Senate, the House, and even the White House over M4A that has zero chance of getting done?
Makes no sense
We will just get Trump with no congress to stop him
Add in that we already have enough anger, conspiracies and lies coming from the White House, why would we want the same from our Dem candidate?
Buttigieg was right. Bernie and his surrogates campaign in a way that brings out bad behavior fueled by wild conspiracies
There were also death threats made in Nevada by his supporters 4 yrs ago, as well, fueled by anger over a debunked conspiracy from Bernie's campaign
6
Because the people sincerely want to improve the system. We can not reform the system if we do not change the view of population. Of we let health insurance and health provider to determine our attitude toward health system, we will be bankrupt by this system, despite minor adjustments proposed by moderates. In order to fight for real system improvement you should change attitude of the population and that what the progressive are doing. And they are quite successful: compare attitude to M4A in 2016 and now.
1
Although I continue to back Mayor Bloomberg, I must agree with Bernie—Mike was terrible in the debate.
This is the 60th anniversary of the first TV presidential debate, Kennedy vs. Nixon in 1960. And over the years a science has developed for how as a candidate you prepare for these events. You set up a replica of the debate stage and lock yourself in that room for a day. You have people act as stand-ins for the other candidates and questioners. You anticipate every possible question and develop carefully-crafted answers. Then you run though the drill, letting the stand-ins hit you with questions and abuse as you perfect your responses. By the time of the actual debate you should be ready for a flawless performance. And Blomberg’s aides claim he DID prepare in this kind of way.
I'm a big fan of Bloomberg. And, I view him as our salvation from the Trump evil and as the person who can get our once-great country back on track. Which made me all the more disappointed at his poor performance Wednesday night—it seemed as though he had not prepared at all. I think most of us could have strolled onto that stage in his place and done no worse.
I'm hoping he learned from this experience. He's still my guy, but geez Mike, you're the only one who can save us, and you have to do better than this. I've always felt in a Trump vs. Bloomberg debate Mike would eat Trump alive, and I'm still holding out hope that he gets his karma together and fulfills that vision for me.
17
@Jerry Schulz
I don't think Bloomberg expected to be attacked by everyone when he already pledge to support whoever the actual nominee is, and he may have wanted to be courteous to all the Democratic candidates, even when they all want to jump on him.
I also think that Bloomberg, unlike other politicians, is not a good liar, and he might have been uncomfortable with advice by professionals about how he should apologize about Stop and Frisk and the NDAs for lawsuits filed against his firm.
1
The irony is that both Bernie and Bloomberg are buying the election, if indeed an election can be bought. Bernie with an army of small donations and Bloomberg with his own money and by doing so, both seek to seek to disavow outside influence. Bernie, is the pot calling the kettle black? For all of his ideals, Bernie is not the most transparent and truthful guy.
9
@Bobaloobob Seriously? Bernie is accountable to his millions of working-class donors, while Bloomberg is accountable to only himself. The problem with outside influence in a democracy is if an politician depends heavily on a very small number of people to get elected, they will then prioritize their interests over those of the masses of people they actually represent. Bernie will fight for us in office, Bloomberg will fight for himself and his billionaire buddies.
16
@Bobaloobob Getting money from ordinary people is how elections are supposed to be run. That ensures that the party represents the population, not the powerful few. The fact that this is strange to people is a sign of how far our democracy has fallen thanks to corporate stooges in both parties.
4
@Bobaloobob Are you serious??!! You are comparing apples w alligators. Candidates need money to campaign and Bernie gets his from donations from thousands of Americans who do want medicare for all, free college, a living wage et al. Bloomberg does not get or want or need anything from the people so what does he owe them "zip" 0.
Sanders either drops the idealistic unrealistic impossible to deliver freebies that he’s trying to buy the election with or dems lose.
It’s that easy.
9
Bloomberg appeared not to have a leg to stand on during the debate. The former mayor needed to have checked his record on stop-and-frisk, redlining, and misogyny before appearing in the debate.
Money has come to rule politics in the US, so the former mayor probably thought he had enough of the latter to appear on the debate stage.
6
One thing I don't like about Bernie Sanders is his righteousness and his willingness to scorn those in his own party. (He is not alone in that last, sadly.) This is the year for Democratic unity above all. The ONLY issue in 2020 is to expel Trump from the presidency and his party from a majority in the Senate. The future of the nation, and very possibly (think climate change) the world may well depend on it.
319
@JJM Bernie Sanders is not a Democrat.
34
@JJM Bloomberg would never have made it to the debate stage without his personal money being pumped into his campaign. He has an undeniable advantage. If we value our democracy, this issue is worth talking about. Criticizing members of our own party should not be stigmatized. Blindly following the leader for the sake of “unity” often results in corruption. It’s exactly what’s happening now with the Trump administration.
24
@JJM Sorry to say it, but SOMEONE has to represent the democratic party in the general election. Do you expect Bernie to be nice to the others and not point out their shortcomings? You and other people might dislike Bernie's righteousness but there is one thing that is backing him up: HE IS RIGHT. And that is the cold, hard truth.
27
Sanders' base small? I believe that there are more than a couple of people in the US, who are interested in economic justice & a normal level of compassion for those less fortunate & a modicum of humility in those who have been extremely fortunate.
17
Bernie Sanders has been running for president for nearly five year in some shape of fashion so his skill at sound bites and phrase making are certainly better honed In the last five years Michael Bloomberg has been using parts of his accumulated wealth for causes such as climate change and gun control in addition to managing a business he has built.
What Bernie proposes is a fundamental re make of the American economy. Are we prepared to give him and his philosophy this enormous responsibility? Does he have the economic acumen and most importantly of all, the administration and management skills? Or, so you prefer a person who clearly has the skill to find solutions without using dynamite to blow the system apart?
The choice is pretty clear.
8
@Richard Lenox ---- We have seen how poorly a "businessman" has functioned as President. The government has job to protect and support the welfare of our people not generate profits for the shareholders. Vastly different purposes.
The economy is serving the top few percent not the people. It is time to reset the rules and level the playing field.
13
@DRTmunich Donald Trump is not a business man, he is a failed rich kid.
4
I'm a Bernie supporter but I'm not sure his analysis is entirely fair here. Yes Bloomberg did poorly in the debate. Yes he should have been much more prepared than he was. No such a performance does not bode well for the future. But it was Bloomberg's first debate. The other candidates have been through a bunch of these debates and town halls already. It's not really a fair evaluation though ultimately I have absolutely no appetite for a billionaire buying the nomination.
3
@Tim
It did not need to be Bloomie's 'first debate'. He could have gone through the process like everyone else, including Tom Steyer. But he was above all that. HaHa.
Bernie is a campaigner who repeats slogans and makes promises he can't keep. Sound familiar?
121
every single politician does this. comparing Sanders to Trump on the basis that both have large rallies demonstrates a technocratic distrust and hatred of democracy. Sanders actually has values of equality and justice, which terrifies neoliberal authoritarians like Bloomberg. He is nothing like Trump except insofar as elitist neoliberals dislike him, which sounds more like an endorsement to my ears...
14
@Theresa
Umm, yeah . . it reminds me of . . . every politician who ever lived.
4
@Theresa
I thought Trump would bomb out too.....
He NEVER had a coherent "debate".
1
I don’t know if I agree with Sanders about a Bloomberg vs. Trump debate. I do believe that Trump would chew up and spit out Joe Biden. Trump would make some ugly, provocative statement, probably about Biden’s family. In his response, Biden would get all wrapped up in his rhetoric, as he is known to do, and stumble into a Gerald Ford – Poland moment.
18
Bloomberg is trying to obfuscate the facts by saying Sanders's has a small base. Sander's in fact has the largest base of any democratic candidate, which can be easily shown by looking at the Times' own maps of individual donors. It isn't even close. If Bloomberg means to say Sanders's base has few billionaires (I wouldn't be surprised if those are the only people he cares about) he's right. But most Americans would consider that a bonus.
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@Matthew
Sanders at least has the most hysterical & delusional & repetitively jejune cultists.
2
@Matthew
I don’t know about bases, but most polls have Sanders favored by somewhere between 25% to 30% of voters, which means 70% to 75% favor someone else. This is the problem with having so many candidates. It makes Sanders’ lead, well, misleading.
5
Yesterday I asked my Uber driver if he’d watched the debate and he said “no, I don’t do politics because they’re all just talk and nothing gets done for anybody.” I said I could see why he thinks that, and let him know part of the reason I like Bernie is because he doesn’t want money from corporate interests buying influence for their own benefit, but only has donations from everyday people - showing how we are the ones to whom Bernie plans to be accountable.
We had a good talk, and with smiles we parted ways, both planning to vote for Bernie.
The thing about focusing and really caring about the dignity and best interests of the 99% is that our numbers can easily grow.
Try to imagine a country that is unified around looking out for one another, and the basic well-being of future generations. I like that picture, and so among many others I volunteer for Bernie.
We trust him to keep getting worked up about injustice and immorality - I’m so glad that instead of raising his voice in defense of the left-behind to an empty Senate too busy to listen to anyone but lobbyists, he is now bringing the justice message to crowds in the tens of thousands.
We are ready to bring the changes and do the work of saving democracy and the planet, so why not let our votes matter so our voices can, too?
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I tend to get smiles and agreement from people who rely on ratings and tips.
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@Waabananang
Did you ask your Uber driver whether he is a union member, and whether that was "politics"?
3
@Waabananang
You really think you convinced him to vote for Bernie? You don't think maybe he was shining you on to get a better tip? The naivete of Progressives never ceases to amaze me
8
These are the facts:
Bernie might lose to Trump, as might any of the other candidates. Trump is doing very well in Wisconsin and many other crucial states no matter who you put him up against.
However, if Bernie wins the most primary delegates and doesn't get the nomination, it doesn't matter who they choose. Millions of Sanders supporters will stay home and the party doesn't stand a chance of getting the votes they need in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
Moreover, the Democratic party will be permanently fractured and the General Election will be a bloodbath in favor of Trump.
Place your chips wisely.
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@Sara
More facts: Bernie beats Trump in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin right now.
173
@Sara -- the 'Democratic' National Committee can much more easily live with yet another disastrous trump term than any social Democracy, where their status is no longer quite so quo.
It's easy to forget, but the 'D'NC is a very private Corporation and thus beholden solely to itself.
And coprorate donors.
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@Fourteen14
Bernie does not beat him in Wisconsin and I live in a swing state and I have seen what happens when the GOP starts ads pairing the congressional candidates with Sanders and other far-left liberals - they lose and these ads have started already!
There is no way he will get congress and may lose once they start running the ads showing his support for communists in the past -
Sanders has decades and decades of video fodder for the GOP - (Hillary nicely did not even go there)
Also, why would we nominate him when M4A can't even pass the Senate even if we did get a majority?
Risking 4 more years of Trump and giving him both houses of congress - makes zero sense
32
I just watched the clip. While it could be characterized as a criticism, Bernie said the chew-and-spit-out sentence with concern, more than any kind of intent to harm. He was asked a question by Anderson Cooper, and then he responded, in a matter-of-fact, don't-mince-words Bernie manner. Maybe at most one could call it an barbed comment, rather than an attack. An attack is when George H.W. Bush, back in '88, said Michael Dukakis was a "card-carrying member" of the ACLU. The tone of George H.W then, sort of a sneer if i recall correctly, was an attack tone.
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@Dana NO. An attack is when you are shaking your fist, your face is turning bright
red and you shouting as you are ranting. That is Sander's M.O. Does he know how to modulate his voice?
Otherwise he will give himself another heart attack.
2
Democrats need the practice for Trump. Bloomberg is that practice. Warren did better because of Bloomberg. Bernie is viable but he's wrong about Bloomberg. These Democrats need to stick together.
23
@That's What She Said
Fantastic insight and perspective.
4
For once democrats have to be willing to do what ever it takes to WIN. The candidate HAS to be Michael Bloomberg. He has shown with his advertising blitz and resume that he has the resources to defeat trumps coalition along with help from Russia and China troll farms. I’m sorry as much as I like Bernie and his views he would be slaughtered by middle America and the rigged electoral college. Now is not the time to
gamble it’s too dangerous to do go with the heart and leave it up to a chance.
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@Matthew Beechurst If you think a guy who passed a soda tax is going to win middle America, you need to get out of your bubble.
13
It is less about resources and more about getting people out to vote and Bernie’s movement has proven that based on the diversity of his base. Polls and data show he has the votes in middle America and the rust belt.
The risk if you take away Bernie’s nomination as they did in 2016, the disenfranchised will switch back to Trump.
16
@calantir
I would have so loved to see Amy K. invite Bloomie to come to flyover country so that he could 'teach people how to farm'. That would have been priceless.
6
If Bernie wins the nomination he will most certainly lose the election. This is unfortunate but it is what it is. And again, he’ll find someone to blame for his loss.
105
@Reader We can all spout our fears with no evidence, but it doesn't lead to productive decision making. Bernie does better than any other candidate except Biden against Trump in polls. I think we will see Bernie expanding the electorate in Nevada and it will show people how he can expand the electorate to win the general.
28
@Reader -- I think you're thinking of Hillary and Bernie Sanders is no Hillary Clinton. He CAMPAIGNED for her.
She's still blaming Sanders and refuses to endorse him, even if he's the last man standing.
As regards to character, past performance should be most instructive.
18
@Reader I’m not so sure, but am eager to place the wager. If the forgotten American thinks he or she is better off with Trump than Bernie, then by all means, we should have a 2nd term of Trump.
4
It's strange to me how everyone simply assumes that Bernie will lose to Trump. I believe they're making the same cognitive error that led everyone to believe that somehow Trump wasn't supposed to win in 2016. Let's look at the evidence:
In head to head polling with Trump, Bernie Sanders does at least as well as all the other democratic candidates and often times he does better.
In his own state of Vermont, Bernie consistently wins reelection in a landslide, winning large majorities of Democrats and Independents and constantly outperforming the Republican candidate for president.
Trump won because of his strength in the midwestern states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. These are states that Bernie performed well in in the 2016 primaries and have large union presence which Bernie's natural constituency.
The moderate bias against Bernie has little to do with empiric data and is based mostly on talking heads on cable news announcing that he is somehow 'unelectable' whatever that means. It seems to me his winning of elections should put that argument to rest.
383
@BarneyAndFriends I agree. It would shock me if Trump beat Bernie. This would mean that the “forgotten” Joe and Jane think they’re better off with Trump than Bernie. If they think that, then by all means, we deserve a second term of Trump. I mean, there is no way in hell that anyone in the future is going to be more for the working class than Bernie Sanders. If the working class can’t see that, then we deserve Trump and Republicans.
41
Sanders performing well in primaries in Ohio Michigan and Pennsylvania is not indicative of general election possibilities. And he lost Pennsylvania too.
Bloomberg polls better than Trump but Sanders doesn’t give Bloomberg a chance. What should we make of that?
16
@BarneyAndFriends ... Why does cable news just keep saying Sanders is unelectable?
Why does NYTimes and other media keep giving a negative picture of him?
Why does the media avoid how other democracies finance their health care?
In fact, Sanders and the other Dems don't talk about this either. Why?
23
Hilarious that Bloomberg pulled out the “three houses” canard on Sanders (though Sanders can, and should, expect it and find a savvier riposte- “yes Mike, three houses and I’m more than happy to pay my fair share to make sure ALL Americans have access to healthcare, education, and housing”).
This is like a guy who has $65k in his savings account telling a guy who has $1 in his that somehow that would undermine their concern for the guy with zero. Hogwash.
43
@gpearlman
And when Bloomberg was mayor of NYC he went away to one of his many other houses, many of them overseas, virtually every weekend and refused to tell the public where he was going as if being mayor was a Monday to Friday job.
And he didn't even move into Gracie Mansion, the home the city offers to mayors, because it was a step down from his own mansion.
I wonder if Bloomberg really believed that quip about Sanders' homes would really get anyone to reassess their support for Sanders.
14
@gpearlman Right? As comedian Russell Brand put it, "“When I was poor and complained about inequality they said I was bitter; now that I'm rich and I complain about inequality they say I'm a hypocrite. I'm beginning to think they just don't want me to talk about inequality.”
15
reading this article helped me to realize that i needed to donate to biden’s campaign, even though i am a bernie supporter. here’s why; bloomberg is not a democrat, despite his mild mannered brand, he is actually a dangerous threat to the democratic party in particular and democracy itself in general. he is a republican oligarch that is trying to buy the election and cut out “real” people’s support and involvement, he doesn’t want grass roots support or involvement for him or anyone else, he wants to buy and control the narrative. we cannot afford as democrats to let this happen, thats why we need uncle joe to continue in this race and continue to blunt bloomberg’s appeal and take him on in the debates. i would support biden any day over bloomberg. biden needs to stay in the race until bloomberg implodes, which he will. imagine a man who would spend 400 million dollars to attempt to anoint himself president, only to realize it was folly all along when his quest fails.... that will be a large and painful ego check for him when it happens. 400 million and counting, that will sting even to a fellow worth 60B. support ALL democrats until bloomberg washes out is what i say.
22
Bernie does well on the debate stage , particularly if you can tolerate a message delivered in a too loud voice accompanied by lots of arm waving and finger pointing.Bloomberg has not been challenged for years and his debating skills are rusty.Mr.Sanders is wrong when he says that Mr.Trump would “chew him up and spit him out”.Mr.Trump would shout about Bernie being an old socialist and that would play well in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, all states which the Democrats need to carry in order to oust Trump.On the other hand, what will Trump say about Bloomberg-that he is too rich, that he hasn’t paid employees fairly,that he doesn’t know his way around politics-all things which Trump is vulnerable on himself.This election will be won much closer to the center, which is where most voters are.
47
sounds like vaguely anti semitic tone policing to attack Senator Sanders for being loud and expressive on stage. Personally, I appreciate that Sanders hasn't conformed to WASP cultural niceties when there are very real, urgent problems facing most Americans.
7
In politics there's always a next time; just like the news cycle. Debating is not governing. Bernie has a pathetic record for someone who's spent the last 30 years in the Senate. That makes it easy for his supporters because no performance means there's nothing to criticize. His ideas require that the Democrats win back the Senate and hold the House. However his ideas are too extreme and the Democrats may actually lose the House let alone the Senate. Let's see what Super Tuesday brings.
51
@John Millsap Bernie's ideas are not extreme to anyone who remembers the world befor Regan.
8
@John Millsap I fail to understand your point. Any democratic president would have to deal with Congress. I guess you can just throw up your hands and say why bother trying to pass anything progressive, but that doesn't seem like a very good solution to me. Maybe instead you set the goalposts in such a manner that the compromise is an actual sound centrist policy decision rather than some center-right half baked mess like Obamacare.
2
@John Millsap
Except h'ss done things. He was one of the major factors in the bills to improve the Veterans Administration and benefits to veterans.
And I challenge you to say what Biden did in his years in the senate apart from making it more difficult for working people to declare bankruptcy and saddling us with Clarence Thomas and the Iraq War.
5
Bernie is just another Trump, simply on the other side of the spectrum. Both hateful old men, both self involved and both capable of motivating their die hard 30 percent through myth and conspiracy theory. We have met the beast and he is us, thank you William Golding. Trump and Sanders wants us to forget the Lord of the Flies, believe there really is someone out there. Why look inside for our faults and disappointment when we can blame the rich and liberals? Two old crutches, being held up by the lowest denominators.
27
@j24
Sanders has spent his life working for other people. Trump has spent his whole life working for just one person: himself.
Anybody who thinks that they have anything in common except their age is wrong headed.
4
@j24 this is absurd. So the guy who’s spent his life trying to fight for the working man and against oppression is the same as the guy whose spent his life trying to acquire wealth and status for himself and views the rest of us as losers?
4
Bernie underestimates Mike Bloomberg. He'd take Trump out easily.
Mike revealed it on the podium this week, he can be a man of few words, but he can be a scrapper. He's a tough New Yorker, who knows how to hone in on Trump's weakness's.
Bernie, on the other hand, is incredibly vulnerable. Trump is already working in the propaganda words and cue's in his rants, tweets, and rally's practically criminalizing the horror's of socialism. The bias is already being clearly established.
52
@Fromjersey Sounds like you only watched this version of the debate: https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/bloombergs-manipulated-debate-video-earns-a-maximum-four-pinocchios/
6
It flummoxes me that anyone could have thought Bloomberg was most qualified choice for the nomination. I've seen so much fawning over him in comment sections here over the past couple weeks but the moment he's challenged he crumples like a cheap card table. It was clear from day one that Bloomberg's only advantage was his money. Other than that he's completely bereft of charisma and principles. The people of the future will be baffled at how so many supposedly upstanding and progressive Democrats uncritically supported this racist right-wing billionaire.
32
@Gagnon
And if Bloomberg thought he could compete with other Democrats he would have tried to run for the Democratic nomination for mayor of NYC. Instead he bought the Republican nomination. That should tell you something.
5
@Gagnon
He's most likely paying people to comment favorably.
4
@Gagnon Easy for a billionaire to pay for some astrotufing.
4
Another thing that happened in the Democratic debate was political malpractice. That’s because everyone piled on Bloomberg while Sanders got a pass. He’s the front runner. You go after the front runner.
Elizabeth Warren may have scored a knock down and raised a few million dollars but Sanders is gone now. He won’t be caught. After Super Tuesday this primary is over.
So let’s get ready for Trump vs Sanders.
29
@Oliver And we'll be all the better for it, since Sanders has the highest favorability rating among Democratic voters (73%) out of all the candidates running, and he creams Trump by 18 points with independents.
While Klobuchar is literally making the case that Democrats should support her because her ideas are conservative enough to win over Republicans, Bernie can beat Trump without trying to cater to the GOP's base, which, incidentally, is not going to leave Trump for ANY of the people running! Not even Amy and Pete, who would have been moderate Republicans a few decades ago, before the neoliberals dragged the DNC ever rightward.
36
@Oliver
Integrity, judgment, and character against a con man. We will find out what we're made of.
15
that's the thing... none of the other candidates can really say anything to Sanders other than stuff he proposes is too expensive. as brooks pointed out just yesterday that is an incredibly weak point to try and make (and ineffective against Sanders's main take which is that we live in a heavily economically corrupted age). bloomberg should have anticipated the pile on but was unprepared nonetheless. that's too bad for him... and the others have tried to speak against Sanders's but it has been ineffective. Sanders isn't going to let up and the claims of socialism can keep coming but people realize that there is a lot of truth to what he says and a lot of authenticity in the person telling it. the dem party would be wise to capitalize on the momentum he's garnered for the election, doubtful that they will, though we can hope
9
There's a first time for everything in one's life, so here I go:
I agree with Bernie 100 percent.
387
Plenty of us non Bernie Bros agree with Senator Sanders, but that doesn’t mean we believe he can beat Trump.
33
Agree....Been surrounded by yes “people” for years...
5
@Marty Bernie is a hypocrite. His private pac can accept donations from anyone and everyone is large amount and he won't have to disclose them. That's called Dark Money in my book. With Mike you know who is donating the money and moreover how much he's donated to causes I hold near and dear: Planned Parenthood, combating global warming, scholarships, gun control. Bernie voted against comprehensive immigration reform, has not authored any significant legislation (because he's so rigid and offensive), and has the highest absentee record of anyone in the Senate (passing even Marco Rubio). I like most of his aspirations, but not him.
30
Mr. Sanders is sorely mistaken if he thinks his fate in a general election is somehow better than what he has predicted for Mr. Bloomberg. I cringe thinking about November 3rd if it's Sanders vs. Trump. We're toast.
332
@BN This point of view always strikes me as incoherent. Sanders not only has a huge following among the left, far greater than any other candidate outside of billionaires, but his policies directly appeal to Trump's base. He would literally be stealing Trump's base out from under him, while maintaining his own huge following. Bernie would be the Democrat's slam-dunk candidate.
180
@BN
Polls have consistently shown Bernie performing better than Donny in the general elections. He has the best shot of anyone in the line-up to unseat Donny. The fact that he's withstood so much mudslinging and hostility from the neoliberal Democratic establishment should tell you everything you need to know. Not unlike Donny, Bloomberg is a weak, uninspiring, and unlikable plutocrat on top of being pretty right-wing for a supposed Democrat. It's no contest.
130
You forget : most American families are struggling or suffering with expensive for profit “healthcare “. (I have received 4 GoFundMe requests so far this year. Medical bills)
Most American families are worried about how they will afford college , even state schools, for their children. Young people who are not rich are yoked to high interest debt that will take decades to discharge.
Sanders’ popularity continues to grow.
138
I don’t necessarily agree with all of Bernie’s magical thinking, but I certainly agree with him on this. Bloomberg was very wet behind the ears up there.
130
@ELBOWTOE
All Vision is magical thinking, that's what makes it work.
@ELBOWTOE I agree and want to add that Mike is not a professional politician and it shows. He's plain spoken, which sometimes offends folks, but I'd rather have someone who speaks what they believe to be true than a candidate who forms a base speaking repeating what he knows can't be achieved (because the Senate won't work with him) but keeps repeating it as his mantra because it's seductive.
5
@ELBOWTOE
Ha ha - Bloomberg built a huge company and was three-term mayor of NYC.
He had one bad debate performance. Let's see what happens over the next 10 days.
5
Let's get this straight: No one can buy the election, unless they actually pay voters which lands you in jail. Advertising does not force anyone to vote in any way. In fact, recent elections have shown advertising less effective. Trump spent half what Hillary did, yet won. Bloomberg has the management skills to be president, honed over building a huge company from scratch and running America's biggest city for 12 years. What have you done, Bernie beside flaunt your socialist identitity when polls show 69% of voters won't support a socialist? Follow the voters' hint. Withdraw and be a senior advisor to the next president or stay in the Senate. That's where and how you can do the most for your country.
399
bernie isn't a socialist quit trying to put him in a box! the fact that wages for working people have not risen at a rate even close to inflation or near the rate of billionaires wealth creation is just one reason Bernie has big legs to stand on. let's not all forget about climate change or healthcare or women's and LGBTQ rights and so on...
73
@Jay S Bernie is on the record, repeatedly, supporting communist regimes. His social democrat title is new, to cover up his actual inclinations that Trump will be broadcasting 24x7.
34
@Jay S
Trump may have spent half of what Clinton spent on ads, but the media showered him with attention that came free of charge. It was all about ratings. To paraphrase Les Moonvies of CBS, Trump might not be good for the country, but he was gold to CBS and all the other media outlets. Thus the thanks for Trump's reign of terror goes to them.
23
Bernie is fair. Bernie is just. But Bernie will lose to Trump. Life, like the election is unfair and unjust.
87
@Corkpop This doesn't make sense. As I pointed out to BN, Bernie's policies appeal not only to his own huge base, but to trump's as well. He would literally steal Trump's voters out from under him.
29
@Corkpop What is this or any opinion about Sanders vs. Trump based on? What people on CNN tell you?
Actual polls show otherwise: General: https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_sanders-6250.html Sanders +4
Michigan: https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/mi/michigan_trump_vs_sanders-6768.html Sanders +5
Pennsylvania: https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/pa/pennsylvania_trump_vs_sanders-6862.html Sanders +2
P.S. Just visited Reims, beautiful city (and champagne of course :) )
7
@Corkpop Every poll says otherwise.
7