For my money, the pundits, the talking heads and most commenters here have this wrong. Bloomberg can spend all the money under heaven and earth to support Biden, but the VP will lose in the end. Trump is going to eat this guy alive in November. When I look back on all the milquetoast, centrist candidates run by the Dems in years past, I see one defeat after another. And it seems that we are going to do it again, which is particularly sad in this case because there is a much better alternative. Bernie offers substantive and greatly needed change to our system. His message is the only one that can energize voters in the fall. I could be wrong, but I'm almost certain that a vote for the "safe" candidate is ultimately a vote for Trump. I urge those who have not voted yet in the primary to think about this.
4
Once again James Carville calls it like it is. 2/23/2020
"The entire theory" put forward by Bernie Sanders "that by expanding the electorate, increasing turnout so you can win an election, is similar to climate denial," Carville said.
2
While Bloomberg using his own money to fund his campaign decreased the likelihood of his being beholding to special interests, it has still been perceived as tainting his candidacy. Big money in the US system, whether personal, corporate, or union, has corrupted the process and should not be allowed or at least greatly minimized. Citizen's United has allowed this corruption of our elections. If Congress can not find a constitutionally acceptable way to limit private money in our elections, at a minimum there must be full disclosure of who is providing this dark money in our elections.
1
Circumstances did not favor Mr. Bloomberg but IMO he was the best qualified candidate in either party for the job. His pledge of support for Joe Biden, financial and otherwise, is an indication of his integrity. Bernie didn’t inspire turnout for himself and that may be because people can’t convince themselves that his platform can be implemented. Hopefully when the dust clears the next big decision will be who is Joe Biden’s running mate (maybe Amy Klobuchar?).
6
Imagine… Chuck Schumer threating Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh or liberal tolerance being tossed to the gutter, while embracing hatred. Talk about shadows of Dixiecratism residing in the Democratic Party. You’re left wondering when Chuck Schumer and his clannish buds might be held accountable for their vile threats and hate mongering.
Imagine… questioning the complexities of Lady Justice, if you didn’t know any better you might even think the scales of Justice were weighted in favor of political bigots in search of political power. Ooh-well… tossing 1st Ament Rights to the gutter, while embracing dogmatic hatred masquerading, as tolerance seems all the rage these days.
2
Did you see health insurance & drug stocks zoom yesterday?
Did you see the Dow gain 1100 points?
Don't expect much to change under Biden:
Nobody loves him like the billionaires.
6
Michael Bloomberg was running because he wanted to be president and he never actually stood a chance. While some are praising him as a "strategist" and a "hero" I remember the arrogant mayor of New York telling a snow bound city to go see a Broadway show when buses and ambulances were stuck in the streets. He has always been tone deaf and as a candidate had the personality of a turnip. Obviously I am no Bloomberg fan and in my opinion Biden's winning of South Carolina was a foregone conclusion whether Bloomberg was in it or not.
1
We--the coalition of the decent--will need every dollar Bloomberg has committed to spend. Thanks Mike!
3
I am a open to learning more about Sanders ideas but he has slammed the door shut to me and anyone who identifies as less than ideologically pure. Sanders needs to stop attacking Democrats. Then, he may have a chance to win the Democratic vote. Sanders acts like a demoagogue and his ideological purity, self-righteousness, bitterness, anger and conspiracy theories reminds me of Trump.
9
@Mack,
Free healthcare for all, college education for anyone who wants it, support for working class unions, increase in Social Security benefits, increased taxes on the rich ...
Sure, exactly like Trump.
/s
2
A comment very loosely related to this article is concerning women voters. Women voters, who for years, have complained about the unfairness to their gender in business and politics, let an opportunity pass by them in this primary season. There were at least three very competent women vying for high office in this primary. Did enough women voters support these women. No--- they did not. If you are not committed enough to support women, why should I, as a man, care if we elect a woman president. You supported a flawed women candidate in a previous election but in this primary, with three very competent woman, you didn't bother to support them?
2
@Bob Ellis,
Your support for women should not depend upon what others do.
1
My admiration for Mr. Bloomberg is immense. This puts paid to the critics who can't see past his wealth to his core seriousness and patriotism.
Donald Trump has done, is doing and will continue to do all he can to tear this country apart and down. He is the central issue in this election and Mr. Bloomberg, doing what he does best -- reading the data -- has stepped aside to support the candidate he sees as the best bet to oust Trump in November.
If you're wondering, my own preferred candidate in a perfect world is Elizabeth Warren. I have already been out canvassing for her. This doesn't diminish my admiration for Mr. Bloomberg.
5
Someone should remind Bernie Sanders of the important economic principle of TANSTAAFL (There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.) He is promising a lot of "free" benefits to the young voters who are less likely to incur the real cost of voting - actually showing up at the polls. Wouldn't it be wonderful if more education and more healthcare, even voting, could be free?
3
@Doug the rest of the developed world is way ahead of America. We need to catch up. If not we will be laggards in quality of life.
2
@Doug,
Sanders is not suggesting a free lunch.
He is suggesting financing his programs with higher taxes on the rich and Wall Street transactions, and with implementing a tax to replace health insurance premiums.
1
In my view Bloomberg was the strongest candidate running , the best to challenge Trump and would have made a good president . Sadly his debate performance was poor, his town halls strong in my opinion , but overall he doesn’t come off to many as relatable , warm and with a sense of humor. Biden certainly has these characteristics but doesn’t have the organization skills and many other attributes Bloomberg brings to the table as evidenced by his early campaign . Hopefully Bloomberg’s endorsement and assistance will help strength these weaknesses . If Biden chooses a VP who balances out his weaknesses , surrounds himself with smart people to whom he listens , perhaps he will make a good president.
4
I hope that all of Sen. Sanders supporters reading these comments are taking to heart the dismissiveness of the moderates in their comments. That's because, despite 2016, they take our votes for granted.They would rather have 4 more years of Trump than earn our vote. We are once again being told to shut up and get in line. Take a hint. Democrats do not want our votes. Support progressives down ballot at the local level, help flip the Senate and help keep the House, BUT "stay home" at the top of the ticket. They take our votes for granted.
3
Mike Bloomberg is a patriot plain and simple. I was frankly tired of reading screeds re: his wealth and "buying the election." All candidates buy elections; just with other people's money. He used his own. Please tell me what's wrong with that. Please tell me what's wrong with being successful and doing it without multiple bankruptcies and shady dealings.
Here is a real billionaire who uses his wealth to support a variety of worthy causes. What's more, he recognized that Trump and Trumpism is the greatest threat to our Republic I've witnessed in my 75 years. His decision to support Biden and continue to throw his resources behind Democratic candidates demonstrates his commitment to democracy and his character. An egotist, as some have labelled him, would have stayed the course or gone off in a corner and sulked. Not so here.
I am still convinced that of the field of Democratic candidates, Bloomberg would have made the best President. I salute him and wish him well. As for sending Trump and his acolytes packing, Mike "get it done."
9
I was leaning toward Bernie, but I was appalled by his gracelessness and arrogance after Biden's victory. No, Bernie, it wasn't "billionaires" who gave Biden his victory. It was ordinary Americans who were persuaded by Biden's experience and by his decency.
14
America did not need a bunch of sycophantic communications and PR people (that’s Bloomberg’s inner circle to a tee) running the government. I don’t love Biden, but I’ll vote whoever makes it to the top of the ticket, and at least I won’t have to hold my nose as much as I would with MRB, or as I think of him, Reagan II.
1
The more I think about it, the more I believe Joe Biden will defeat this horrid man. Many people voted for Trump because he was not Hillary that will vote for Joe. Hillary's biggest problem is she was not authentic in any sense of the word. With "Uncle Joe," what you see and hear is what you get, and people like that. Not to mention he is still trusted by union workers in the rust belt, especially his native Pennsylvania. Donald Trump is terrified of Joe Biden and always has been, and for good reason. Biden 2020!
7
"I returned and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to women of understanding, nor yet favor to women of skill; but misogyny, media and voter suppression, and election hijinks happeneth to them all." — Ecclesiastes (contemporary translation)
Thank you Mike Bloomberg for all you have done and will do to help the USA return to its ideals and values. Trump is the biggest threat to democracy and the rule of law since WWII. No progress on climate change is possible without strong U.S. leadership and that is impossible with Trump as president. Getting rid of the corrupt fool in the White House is job one!
Stopping Bernie is key to have Biden win. Mike helped turn the tide for Biden. Bloomberg will continue and can help the Democrats win the House and Senate.
8
Elizabeth Warren will hopefully stay in the race. At least for another couple of weeks. She is by far the best candidate. The media should have given her more coverage. I worry about Bernie's health. I do hope that Joe Biden will choose a female progressive for his ticket, hopefully her, if he is indeed the nominee. And if eh wins, offer her a Cabinet position. Stacy Abrams would also be great but Im not sure that she has enough name recognition at this point. I heard her speak and she is fantastic- but would enough people learn that about her in time?
Sanders revolution doesn't seem to be happening. Sure, young people will say "Bernie" if asked on the street. But did they make it to the voting booth? #anyonebuttrump
2
"Both issues came to the fore in the Democratic debate in Las Vegas last month that signaled the beginning of Mr. Bloomberg’s downfall, as Ms. Warren left him reeling with a barrage of criticism about his conduct toward women."
Warren should be proud of herself. The danger of attacks like that should never be underestimated.
Bloomberg's ads were still running as of late last night (Wednesday). Of course, a fully paid buy running to its end is not unusual. And many seem to forget that Bloomberg paid staff and local leases through November. All along, he repeated his commitment to support the winner through the election.
Warren will not accept "millionaire money."
Sanders stated recently that he would not accept Bloomberg money even if he (Sanders) was the last one standing.
Warren needs a new plan. Look around. There is a whole lot of people who just don't like her. Guess she will come up with a plan for that too.
For those who bemoan that the half-billion dollars Bloomberg spent on his campaign would have been better spent on social programs seem to forget that if his participation in the race helps Dems win, he will have saved many more billions that Trump plans to try and cut from every social program. And he still has about 60 more billion that he uses to donate, which he does with great regularity.
Time for dreamers to realize what really is happening out there.
1
The good ones are only a thought away. Mr. Bloomberg was not a good debater. We didn’t need that. We needed a leader. Mr. Bloomberg, in one on one interviews was powerful. He was low key, yet effective. He knew his stuff. His call for a candidate’s that spoke to why they were running backed by what and how resonated strongly. He spoke to the importance of having run something as complex as big government. He spoke to the importance of teams and welcomed rival opinions. He spoke to having a health care Czar in place and not appointed after the need. He resonated a person who built something and ran it effectively. I hope he can teach Biden a thing or two about such skills. I’m glad he is bringing his money and infrastructure support to the Presidential campaign. I’m glad he is willing to put resources into Senate and the House races. I don’t like the thought of an all Democratic sweep. I like balance of power and teams of rivals with leaders that can pull dissenters together move all in one direction. I hope Biden can win. I hope there will be place for Bloomberg in Biden’s cabinet.
6
@Bob,
No, I don't like the thought of an all Democratic sweep either.
I would prefer socialism.
But I'll take any Democrat over every Republican in a wink.
What have Republicans ever done but block every attempt to improve the lives of working people?
There's no balance of power between decent people and fascism.
1
Mr. Biden should announce his cabinet fast. Imagine mayor Pete and Amy in the cabinet.
@J l why the hurry! Let joe become president first. Slow down...
Joe has already lived in the WH for 8 years, been there done that. Now he needs to get new faces new energy on board but the establishment sticks with the old tested tried folks. Bureaucracy
1
Go Joe, Go!
Could it be that the people want Joe Biden as it’s nominee or Bernie Sanders for all that matters. In the end to this primary season, let the process play out at our Convention In Milwaukee and then lets all unite to evict the four stage cancer that resides in our White House. The coward Senate Republicans wouldn’t honor their oath to convict and Donald J. Trump was guilty as sin. Now his dysfunctional administration is failing to handle this outbreak of the Coronavirus. All they can do is point fingers and then attempt to blame former President Barack Obama. It’s insanity!
We the people must do it,
Onward!
3
Where are you getting this information? Sanders on Maddow said he saw no statistics “yet” on youth not coming out for him. It is clear that he cannot get the sane GOP, suburban women and Independents able to vote and Democrats that overwhelmingly voted against him on Tuesday. Even he must know his hc agenda will never pass. His newfound love of Obama in his ad (expecting people to forget he wanted him primaried) is pathetic. His lie that Biden asked Barack to endorse him sounds like desperation by the multimillionaire with 3 houses. Trump, his GOP billions and Putin will demolish him. Biden with his “Uncle Joe” persona, his likability, and the ever expanding urgency to defeat Trump see Biden as the one. Bloomberg’s money certainly is the magic elixir to make it all happen.
3
Please, Mike, make one final large financial contribution to the Democratic campaign: appoint some of your finest data analytics staff in combination with social sciences and marketing experts to bolster Joe and swat away the multitudes of lies and smears (aided and abetted by the slimy likes of Facebook) that will be hurled at him be the corrupt GOP.
6
It is time to return to decency with Diamond Joe!
Remember how decent the Obama years were?
No one said anything about our endless wars, our stagnant wages, or the fact that not a single banker was held accountable for the crash of ‘08. It was all so decent! People practiced such restraint!
When migrants or former refugees murdered citizens, our leaders’ biggest fear wasn’t that we weren’t protecting our citizens, it was that we might unfairly stigmatize the undocumented and people from Muslim countries. So decent!
We applied this same level of decency to rioters in Ferguson and Baltimore, and politely avoided noticing the skyrocketing murder rate in Chicago and homelessness in California. To notice and criticize would have been very indecent!
Hopefully we can all get back to those glory years again. We might have been slowly killing ourselves with opioids, our families falling apart, and communities in a state of disintegration, but I feel like if you just focused on our beautiful celebrity President and his smile and his cool and soothing words of unity and hope, none of it really mattered. The media was there to help too - what truly mattered was reducing our white privilege, and being there to help our rich get richer.
It was all so decent until our Critic in Chief showed up. He goes after everyone and everything, using Twitter at times like some troll. It’s all so tiring!
We need to go back to sleep. We need Sleepy Joe to take us there. Back to “decency.”
8
I’m so glad this latest vanity project of Mike’s is over. He has so much in common with Trump, yet he hides it only a bit better. Now, if only the NYG AG Leticia James would look into how he used his charitable foundation to plan his political campaign since 2018 - that’s a Trump move too, isn’t it? What’s good for the goose....
1
Bernie's empty ranting and false promises aren't doing well with most of us
6
I hope that Bloomberg uses his media empire to keep exposing Trump’s lies, particularly as Trump will continue to attack Biden about Ukraine.
4
Not a loss Mike. You showed America you don't have to be a whining bully who insults at every tweet and finds pleasure in dividing our country. Our country was great before Trump arrived. It will be even greater when he is gone.
3
Sanders should take the battle to Trump, not to Biden.
9
Great Bernie, let’s try to sink the best hope we have for your own aggrandizement. Thanks.
1
The 'young turn out' voters are smart voters. The goal? Stop a second term of Trump and possee to include the hold they have in the Senate.
This election is game of Chess and the positioning of the King is the most important piece. Biden is that King and he frightens the heck out of Trump and for a host of reasons. Donald will avoid a public debate with Senator Biden any which way he can because the guy will bomb.
Trump views Bernie Sanders as an easy mark to defeat. An angry Bloomberg endorsing Biden is icing on the cake.
The multitude of issues that need to be addressed begin with ending the reign of Trump and posse. On 11-4-2020 you'll hear the youth you speak of yell, "Checkmate."
If someone wants to know how far the democratic party has progressed since the Obama Administration, an interesting article to read is "Why did obama pick Biden as his Veep in the first place?" on nymag.com from 22.06.2019. As I see it the choice as it stands right now is between real change or mediocrity vs. blatant insanity (Trump). By eliminating the female candidates the democratic party has done itself no favor.
2
The NYT describes this as a "big, heaping loss" that Bloomberg is not use to. Shouldn't the same be said about Warren? Meanwhile at least he has enough sense to listen to his advisers, know when he's beat and get behind something bigger than himself.
3
Bernie needs to stop calling Biden his friend. The establishment is trying to hide the fact that Biden has dementia and will lose to Trump. They have Bernie supporters to blame so they don't care. They will keep their power and tax cuts with Biden or Trump. They will never give the dirty poor lower classes any of their money for healthcare or College. Trump or Biden will cut Social Security Medicare and Medicaid to make room for the next round of tax cuts for the rich.
3
Let's hope Mike Bloomberg forms a SuperPac and relentlessly and mercilessly pounds away at the worst excuse for a President in the history of the country. The Republican Supreme Court created a gaping canyon in campaign finance law to help billionaires elect Republicans.....how delicious it will be to see it completely backfire on them.
2
I have entered many comments, but I have never seen my comments published. One more try.
The important thing to remember is that we need a president who can do the job. Biden doesn’t have the sharp mind that you need to do a president’s job.
Bernie is a socialist that does not support American ideals.
The democrat party has instructed you to hate President Trump who has done a good job as president. As you do your taxes this year notice that your standard deductions are much more because of the Trump tax cuts. We now have the most people working. These working people are funding medicare and social security. Our country is doing well under the Trump administration.
1
You have both Klorbuchar and Buttigieg to thank for wasting no time in lining behind Biden. Then Bloomberg's decisiveness is another huge factor.
Incidentally, people may want to make jokes about Bloomberg spending half a billion for nothing. It is not nothing. His half a billion has made him a huge target and thus bought Biden some breathing room to regroup.
People are silly to say Bloomberg is buying the presidency, for himself or for Biden. As you can see, ad buys did nothing to boost the chance of someone who cannot connect with the audience on the debate stage. However, Bloomberg's backing is essential for Biden to fight opposing Super Pacs, swift boat tricksters and Russian disinformation machine (DNC, are you listening?)
Here is another prediction. If the Biden Presidency comes to fruition, he may try to appoint Bloomberg for some role. The Republicans might attack them. The truth is Bloomberg has Bloomberg, a powerful media machine. He doesn't need to buy access or anything. If he chooses to serve, it is out of his patriotic impulse
3
How sad. Bernie Sanders has consistently presented the best opportunity for change and the country is blowing it. Who would have thought that even Democrats would block change? It only shows how powerful the shady agenda actually is. God bless America. The end may be closer than we think and “the Democratic experiment” is failing miserably.
6
Bernie backers are going to place the blame on someone once again, taking no responsibility. Just like Trump, never his fault.
4
I am afraid the deepest explanations of Bernie's second place only are not related to the assurance he could not beat Trump. It is the opposite: you need an ideological outsider to beat another one, not someone who embodies the establishment whose rejection sent Trump in the White House.
America, and I mean the very victims of the country's religion of unavoidable unequality, is still afraid by what appears as a sort of un-american evil, even after nearly 4 years of the Donald.
Trump's statements to the media about the coronavirus should be enough to convince voters to elect anyone but the incumbent.
1
Never was I involved in politics until the Kavanaugh hearings. Listening to my neighbor's responses to what was happening (a crying guy as he pleaded for Republican votes to become a Supreme Court justice!!?). How could this friend be such a party-line voter and so naive? I became a political junky: I read everything, listened to everything, watched everything, and I soaked it up.
But I was worried about the 2020 election: who'd be the best candidate to oust the liar, the narcissist, the corrupt marketer in Washington? No question, I was thrilled when Bloomberg joined the Democratic field. Here was a true leader, the only executive candidate with real experience, not just another politician who wrote bills in Washington and rubber-stamped unqualified judges on the court.
I'm disappointed Bloomberg didn't get enough votes to stay in the race. I attribute his difficulty in gaining momentum to all the nonstop negative media; they wouldn't drop certain topics. No question Bloomberg would have restored the honor and respect that is missing after Trump's four years. With Bloomberg's ability to cross the aisle and get things done, he would have united the United States.
Thank you Mr. Bloomberg. It's been an honor to be on your campaign.
2
The United Front to prevent people from heaving healthcare and to protect Big Pharma and Big Insurance profits. This is completely insane. Biden will either lose to Trump or "Trump like" figures will win presidency in near future.
1
If Biden choses Elizabeth Warren as his Vice President, they will win this in a landslide. Biden will be a voluntary one-term president, and Warren will be his successor.
3
It will be interesting to see what Warren does, personally I think she will see Biden as a better partner to strike a deal with then the other gent who sees himself future El Presidente. With Warren as his VP she will push some of her social issues and the lady has shown to have a mean left hook if called upon, something Joe needs.
4
Has the Democratic establishment learned nothing from 2016? Seems not. Looks like they're going to run another deeply flawed, unpopular candidate idolized by the 1%.
Amazing when the DCCC and the Democratic corporatists put their shoulder to the wheel how quickly the can upend the will of the people.
Biden has been running for the Presidency for over 30 years. It's taken him that long to win a primary. Fifty years in various offices with very little vetting.
The man who confused his wife and his sister in his 'acceptance' speech. No doubt in my mind we're seeing Alzheimer's. Trump is going to turn Joe into mincemeat.
3
Bloomberg's the only executive, a true leader with in-depth experience, who knows how to cross the aisle, work together, and get things done. That's unlike all the others who are politicians who write bills in Washington and approve unqualified judges. He would have restored the honor and respect that has been broken. He would have united the United States.
It's a reluctant switch, but I'll vote for Biden and any Democratic Senator I can. We can't afford four more unchecked, untethered years of Trump.
3
More than 200 years ago our nation launch a revolution that resulted in the longest standing experiment of government by the people. Today we have a dictator wanna be in the White House shredding our government’s balance of power’s. In just but 72 hours we the people casted votes, that spiritually lifted millions with hopes for a path to removing the dictator wanna be. The next step is to nominate a moderate in competition with yet another person, a socialist wanna be. I for one appreciate our democracy over a dictator or socialist wanna be. I welcome the infrastructures and monies of all who have dropped out of the primaries. This not about buying the Presidency. It is about defeating and taking back our democracy as intended and as has survived since our Revolution. It’s about honoring those who gave their lives for our freedoms. It’s about an incredible Constitution and it’s balance of powers that have stood the test of time. I see an enormous opportunity to put boots on the ground in all our states to take our government back.
1
I am not opposed to Bernie ideologically. But the biggest reason I do not want to vote for him and do not want him to be the nominee is that he does not seem to understand that working together to achieve goals is the only way to achieve them. He does not play well with others and that attitude and those of his supporters can only help Trump and prolong the outrages Trump has wrought. Biden appears to have the best chance to beat Trump. Biden is capable of listening to other points of view and changing his views and policies. I do not think Bernie can. If Bernie followers really oppose Trump, they might consider what supporting Bernie too long into the nominating process could cost us all.
1
Mr. Bloomberg did build an empire by not being able to put together a strategy plan or two. Hats off to him - he probably saved the Democratic race by helping to consolidate it. All those that have dropped out in the past few days have done the right thing and have proved that their ultimate goal is to make sure DJT is not re-elected. Kevin from Austin, as far has his philanthropy giving goes, not to worry, as one can see on the website it is thriving! He has enough funds to keep giving to charitable causes and to help the Dems win back the White House and Senate.
1
Sander's has the best programs for the future of America, and his donors have created a huge war chest.
But with billionaire Bloomberg bolstering Biden's ad campaign, and throwing in his taunts that Sanders is a communist (Sanders is a Social Democrat, as are the governments of the EU and Canada), Sander's war chest is no match for Bloomberg's billions and his false advertising.
Biden, desperate for the cash infusion, will happily let Bloomberg lead the way--which in itself is weird, but Bloomberg's money does buy influence.
So Americans will have to watch Bloomberg buying the Presidency -- not for himself, but for Biden. Fait accompli.
For Sanders, voters who don't agree with Biden's message, which is still, "I was Obama's VP" and "I'm not Trump", who is pro-fracking and an incrementalist in making change, must get out and vote.
Otherwise the U.S. is doomed to a center-right philosophy where expensive healthcare, Big Oil, Big Pharma, toxic chemicals still hold sway.
I always liked Bloomberg precisely for the reasons he is mocked. He is different from other politicians who often try to appeal to your emotions. I feel more comfortable with Bloomberg’s result-driven, practical approach. Kudos to him for stepping aside to make way for the most viable candidate to beat Trump.
2
It's relevant that younger voters didn't turn out for Bernie this time because everyone thought they didn't turn out for Hillary in 2016 because they were angry Bernie wasn't the candidate.
Younger people are historically the least dependable voters and no candidate should count on their support in 2020.
I'm not sure why they're so undependable but perhaps they're just too self-absorbed and busy to vote.
2
As a Republican - I find all this stuff about Biden saving Democrats and Bloomberg helping along - kind of amusing.
It was only a couple of months back that the Democrats were advertising themselves as a party of the future - a party of women and non white candidates.
The Democrats lectured us Republicans that we were less than mortals for supporting our POTUS because he is of the last generation and not tuned to a new emerging America.
And the dominant debating points of Democrats how Republicans are leaving millions behind and it's their candidate alone who can save America.
But not a couple of hours after Super Tuesday - all that changed.
An old war horse of politics who prides in being bipartisan to get things done, who singlehandedly helped Justice Thomas , who had plaigirized in the past - - and who never won anything in national level - why, he will deliver the White House.
And let's not forget Obama is not exactly enthused about Biden.
I think this coronation of Biden is premature - as every candidate has yet to receive the remaining 1,000 plus delegates for nomination.
Biden is Biden and next debate - could be cringe worthy for all heaping praise on Biden.
And if throwing Bernie under the bus - so fast - Democrats are wasting a good opportunity to discuss their own ideas of what it means to govern America.
2
As a Republican - I find all this stuff about Biden saving Democrats and Bloomberg helping along - kind of amusing.
It was only a couple of months back that the Democrats were advertising themselves as a party of the future - a party of women and non white candidates.
The Democrats lectured us Republicans that we were less than mortals for supporting our POTUS because he is of the last generation and not tuned to a new emerging America.
And the dominant debating points of Democrats how Republicans are leaving millions behind and it's their candidate alone who can save America.
But not a couple of hours after Super Tuesday - all that changed.
An old war horse of politics who prides in being bipartisan to get things done, who singlehandedly helped Justice Thomas , who had plaigirized in the past - - and who never won anything in national level - why, he will deliver the White House.
And let's not forget Obama is not exactly enthused about Biden.
I think this coronation of Biden is premature - as every candidate has yet to receive the remaining 1,000 plus delegates for nomination.
Biden is Biden and next debate - could be cringe worthy for all heaping praise on Biden.
And if throwing Bernie under the bus - so fast - Democrats are wasting a good opportunity to discuss their own ideas of what it means to govern America.
2
As a Republican - I find all this stuff about Biden saving Democrats and Bloomberg helping along - kind of amusing.
It was only a couple of months back that the Democrats were advertising themselves as a party of the future - a party of women and non white candidates.
The Democrats lectured us Republicans that we were less than mortals for supporting our POTUS because he is of the last generation and not tuned to a new emerging America.
And the dominant debating points of Democrats how Republicans are leaving millions behind and it's their candidate alone who can save America.
But not a couple of hours after Super Tuesday - all that changed.
An old war horse of politics who prides in being bipartisan to get things done, who singlehandedly helped Justice Thomas , who had plaigirized in the past - - and who never won anything in national level - why, he will deliver the White House.
And let's not forget Obama is not exactly enthused about Biden.
I think this coronation of Biden is premature - as every candidate has yet to receive the remaining 1,000 plus delegates for nomination.
Biden is Biden and next debate - could be cringe worthy for all heaping praise on Biden.
And if throwing Bernie under the bus - so fast - Democrats are wasting a good opportunity to discuss their own ideas of what it means to govern America.
1
The goal for moderate Democrats and Bloomberg included is to keep the status quo. You will continue to pay impossible prices for healthcare, all your tax money will go back to the military industrial complex per usual with endless ongoing wars with no end, and so on. America it’s too late for incremental change which is all The Biden campaign and his supporters now represent. Thank you for sealing our fate Bloomberg. those are my sentiments and less I hear programs of massive change ala Sanders/Warren regarding healthcare climate change and war. we are doomed.
3
Mike Bloomberg candidacy forced the moderate candidates to consolidate earlier than later. Had he not been a candidate, Warren, Buttigieg , and Klobucher would have wanted to stay in the race longer as Biden would have run out of money. But with Mike Bloomberg using as much money as needed to win, that option is out. His campaign manager had also warned the candidates ahead of the NV and SC vote about the need to consolidate. Now that Bloomberg has suspended his campaign, he can resume his role as the king maker and continue to run his campaign against Trump.
1
1. Biden won states that are going to vote Trump in November.
2. The vote totals for Tuesday, and the overall vote winner, will not be final until California is all counted.
3. Do we really want a rerun of 2016 hoping that this time the result will be different?
4. Biden has a long history of being wrong on issues supported by the elites of both parties (Iraq war, bankruptcy reform, criminal justice, Anita Hill, &c.; this is not going to bring great numbers people out to support him.
5. Biden's cognitive decline seems greater than Sanders; the thought of him on the stage with Trump is a bit scary.
6. Warren can still be a factor. Let's not be hasty. It could all change even next week.
2
I am sorry Bloomberg left the race. He's smart and accomplished, despite past mistakes. I think he was the best candidate to beat Trump, restore the government, and move the country forward. Thank you, Mayor Bloomberg, for your continued support on behalf of our nation. I wish you would have been the genuine billionaire Republican nominee in 2016 and the present were different.
1
The Biden surge is a clear response to the Senate vote one month ago to clear Trump despite overwhelming evidence that Trump sought to destroy Biden's candidacy on the basis of lies. Biden's win in South Carolina confirmed that Trump may have been right to fear Biden so much that he would go to the extraordinary lengths that he did to try to stop Biden. On Tuesday Biden was seen as an underdog who had been maligned. Maintaining momentum will be challenging.
The Senate vote starkly revealed that the problem is not only Trump but also those in Congress that vote in fear of Trump or are in the information bubble where Trump has been racking up success after success. If success is gutting agencies of their capacity to provide the American people with clean air and drinking water or quality education or mature diplomacy in dealing with friends and foes Trump has been very successful. But, what is needed is less of such success and more of what well-trained professionals can deliver. No doubt many thousands in Northern Virginia suburbs see the damage that Trump has done to institutions better than voters more distant from Washington. The "deep state" - which is merit-based civil-service professionals in government - have saved the Trump administration from catastrophe despite the war on the "administrative state" mounted by Trump.
Voters need to vote OUT the Republican Senate that cleared Trump on February 5. They are just as complicit.
1
This article omits that a number of progressive groups like Democratic Socialists of America have been urging Warren to unite with Sanders' campaign. The impact of voter suppression and how it impacted Sander's campaign is excluded from the analyses. Particularly in measures taken by Southern Republican State legislatures to suppress the votes of younger people by imposing by onerous ID and residency requirements. In addition in state likes like Texas 50% of all polling places have been shut down in African American and Latino communities since 2015. With Bloomberg's infusion of several hundred million dollars into TV and radio advertising completely eclipsing that of both Sander's and Biden's budgets, it's been suggested this also succeeded in drawing voters from Sanders. It's also well known many of Warren's voters' second choice was Sanders. If she had dropped out before the primary Sanders' might have picked up more states. What's sad is we've reached the point where the dominance of money in the electoral process by billionaires is completely unquestioned, and instead the issues is turned towards candidates so-called personal failures! Not the role that money has played!
1
If Biden is still ahead, it will only be by a few delegates once the votes are all tallied in California. I’m not sure why so many people are counting Sanders out at this point.
8
@Duke The reason is that Sanders best states are behind him. Biden is likely to win Florida, Illinois, New York, Georgia, and Ohio, along with other small states. Sanders will primarily win smaller stars in the Northeast and a couple that are left in the west.
3
It will be interesting to see how Bernie Sanders sustains his race for nomination against the heavy odds presented by the combined weight of big money and the power of the Democratic party establishment with the only asset of political capital he earned through championing the social cause. It will equally be a test for the party he represents as to how closer it still is to the ground when it comes to supporting a candidate who furthers the party cause through commitment.
3
I am afraid we will see, once again, many disgruntled Bernie voters electing Trump. I think Biden supporters, by definition, will vote establishment. Mr. Sanders, whatever your way forward may be, please please please include a way for your supporters to not walk away in anger if you are not the D nominee.
Let’s not make the same mistake twice.
I don’t suppose one of you would consider being VP?
I know it would be a political mess, but it would be of the grand gestural kind that would fascinate us all, make exactly the right kind of statement the whole world needs, and bring voters out in droves.
10
After Tuesday, many of Sen. Sanders supporters (I am one) have concluded that moderates are correct. We are not Democrats. Therefore, Democratic unity is not what is needed. VP Biden will have to convince progressive independents who now understand that there is no real place for them within the Democratic Party to support him. That is not the same as Democratic Party unity. And fear of 4 more years of Trump will not do it.
3
I would LOVE to see a Biden/ Sanders ticket. But sadly can’t imagine that could happen.
@Midwesterner Interesting, so Bernie's lads will instead vote for the man who introduced the largest tax cut to corporate America ever? Good luck with that.
bloomberg rocks. the guy is a brilliant strategist. i think he knew what he was doing from the get go...and his stepping aside proves that to me. ego is not the name of his game. i believe he really wants to save this country from the swamp creature occupying the house on the hill. he literally put his money where his mouth is. i loved that he was so ineffectual as a "debater" not to mention speaker in general. polish wasn't what it was about. i'm grateful to him. he continues to do the right thing.
22
Apparently you are all about buying elections. This is exactly why people will not vote for Biden in the presidential election. Why bother voting when Bloomberg and the special interest groups have obviously bought and paid for Biden. Slow Joe is merely a tool of the monied power structure and has no chance of beating Trump. His weakness as a candidate is exactly why the chose him. They would rather have 4 more years of Trump than risk the progressive changes from Sanders.
2
I’d be interested to see Warren ask Sanders to be VP.
Warren might be more palatable to moderates.
The progressive coalition would come together.
Turn things upside down. Get the sharpest remaining candidate in the debate - against Biden and Trump.
Far-fetched, but would only slightly upstage the the Klobuchar and Buttigieg endorsements.
4
Warren is not a moderate.
Diamond Joe is the only candidate with a chance to beat Trump.
8
I don't buy the premise that somehow Biden caught fire. It was mostly the sequence of primaries that made the difference for him. It's a very very long horse race this primary - much too long most would say and his strong holds are just now coming into play after how long has this been going on? There needs to be a limit when campaigning can start and all the related nonsense. Really, it's exhausting and exasperating and costs way too much money for all concerned, money that could be spent for better causes.
12
Bid en and Sanders and Warren and all other contenders for
President must now become a team to beat Trump. The
contest now is to be a team and not adversarial in any way
whatsoever...Only a team of the best and brightest can beat
the Trump team.
To win back our Republic from autocratic rule that has destroyed the GOP those in the Executive; Legislative and
Judiciary branches of our government who are funded by
Citizens United and the Super Pacs of corporations ...in order
to return our Republic to a democracy....a team of Democrats
as well as Independents and true Republicans must cooperate and become a team...I think Biden has this team
idea in mind; so does NYT OP ED journalist Tom Freidman
(read Tom's recent OP EDs and you will most likely agree with
him)….OP ED..Super Wednesday is what I am referring to
3
@Carol B. Russell "the Executive; Legislative and
Judiciary branches of our government who are funded by
Citizens United and the Super Pacs of corporations..."
Wait, wasn't it Hillary who outspent Trump by two to one and wasn't it Bloomberg who already has spent between a half and a whole billion dollars attacking Trump?
Biden bragged about wanting to cut Medicare, Social Security and
Medicaid a few years ago ... hopefully, he doesn’t sell out middle class America for Wall Street. Senator Warren wouldn’t sell out or neither would Bernie.
12
Trump already did that. Remember Trump trying to convince us that Hillary was all about “pay for play?” Smh
2
@Patty while Berne wants to rise middle class taxes whether they want them or not..and he didn't say that a few years ago
I support Biden. I don’t care about Medicare for all, free college, a whatever for free anything. I want Trump gone! I want an overwhelming, ocean sized, Democratic wave that will not only gain seats in the House, but clean republicans out of the senate, and put a democrat in the White House. A win so big that republicans have no basis for contesting the results and/or stealing this one too. That’s all this election is about...the rest is just talk!
24
Music to my ears.
What is Warren doing. She is sabotaging the election away from the progressives. She needs to quit and endorse Bernie. Otherwise we will get the closet Republican Biden as the nominee.
7
Even Warren sees through Bernie’s plot. She will endorse, but I Sam guessing it won’t be Bernie!
5
Bernie's plot? Please elaborate.
1
Have you left room for the possibility that Biden is the true Democrat and not Bernie who invites himself to the Democratic “party” every leap year?
Biden represents nothing new. As stated by himself; 'Nothing will fundamentally change'. Trump will crush him in November. But I'm beginning to suspect that is exactly what most of the Democratic leadership wants. 4 more years! Yay!
10
Absolutely! The DNC knows that slow Joe will never win against Trump. They like the status quo just fine with all of the give a ways to the special interest groups that get them elected.
2
Mike Bloomberg has been a competent mayor, an exceptionally successful business owner and a justifiably extolled philanthropist.
For better or for worse, Bloomberg was at best a lackluster presidential candidate.
Kudos to Mike Bloomberg for exiting the 2020 presidential race rapidly, for endorsing Joe Biden and for pledging to continuing his efforts to defeat Donald Trump.
I hope that Mike Bloomberg will, if he wishes, assume an appropriate role in a Biden administration, and that Bloomberg will continue to help the Democrats defeat Trump.
10
So--is the DNC paying Warren to stay in the race? Why is a candidate who came in third in her own state still in the race? If you want to see election "meddling" look no further than the DNC.
9
I have a feeling Russia will show us the answer in seven months...if they're listening to the loser, of course.
Give. Me. A. Break.
I need the start making a notebook of all indignations and “theories” Bernie supports come up with. Let me tell you it would be exhaustive.
2
Irony, because of the Repubs and their judges, Bloomberg will now be able to use his gazillions to help Biden without the limits that should apply to contributions to another’s campaign.
13
@MikeG By spending gazillions more than Trump, the Democrats will win the popular vote again, just as they did in 2016!
Bernie needs to stop now. It’s over. Defeating Trump is all that matters.
20
This is a typical democratic reply of a person who is well off and is not dependent on healthcare for all or medicare, or education relief for low income people or are not on the verge of bankruptcy because of insanely expensive healthcare and medication cost. A person who has actually seen his hourly wages go up instead of being held back for over three decades as the working class had to deal with, while the inflation rate has been going up.
Who are you that you only care for yourself and not for the rest of the country who has not been that lucky, or maybe you even blame them for that?
You are part of today’s cowardice in the Democratic party, you rather vote for Biden who hasn’t a single plan proposed to the nation, who can only burp up Obama’s very limited achievements.
Maybe it is time for you to really think about the country as a whole and not just as a happy unburdened individual.
Democrats used to stand up for all, to improve the lives of all Americans, not just the lucky ones.
The Democratic leadership just organized a coup against a very few real democrats left with their organized warmongering and hatred against one person, Sanders and you aren’t even aware that your voice suddenly means nothing anymore.
The so-called Democratic leaders have forced their choice on to you and you didn’t even notice.
Wake up and you might find out that democracy has ceased to exist within the party you used to trust.
19
@Johan D.
Please breath, Johan, and stop drinking the Kool Aid.
Inflation as flat as a board.
City and State colleges are still well funded and quite affordable, with numerous opportunities for scholarship.
As for health care, even Bernie is gonna tax the working class to death to pay for medicare for all- no other way.
Sorry, johan, this is democracy. The moderate wing of the party flexed it's muscle, and the angry left didn't like it.
So will the angry left help elect Trump again?
@Johan D. Obama tried to push a Public Option through with the ACA with a Dem-controlled House and Senate and failed because of some Dems breaking party lines, and Republicans being staunchly against it.
What hope did Bernie Sanders ever have of doing the same with a Republican controlled Senate and the inevitable Blue-Dog Democrats crossing the aisle to vote against?
He's shown a fair inability to help down-ticket Democrats get elected, so his presidential bid would also likely lead to Southern Democrats losing to Republicans, which means even more staunch opposition to his ideas. He shows a fervent unwillingness to compromise as well on his goals.
So pray tell, how exactly does the Medicare for All that Bernie espouses ever actually get properly through Congress? This is the point that Sanders fans miss. I would love if the healthcare system would get some changes, but it's not going to magically happen with a mere presidential election alone -- and not one where Sanders heads it.
As planned, Bloomberg comes out smelling like the proverbial rose, while doing what he can to try to ensure an establishment victory.
Touching.
5
OK, Youngsters.
11
Bernie: Grow up! Isn't it late in your life for this appeal even to be necessary?
11
He is the only and last chance left for real democracy, this country looks and acts the same as Russia, China, and Indian and all voices have become irrelevant, including yours.
8
@Johan D. Well, under the USSR-honeymooning Bernie, you can be sure the US would look more and more like Russia.
Bernie’s supporters are very vocal online (even in this comment section) and seem to have no problem opening their wallets. But where were they Tuesday?
13
@Paul
The Bernie Bros' moms heard about all the nasty things they were saying online, so they grounded them until after mid-terms.
9
@Paul
We were at work on Tuesday, because most of us make under a living wage in the worst economy for young people since the Great Depression, and have been living paycheque to paycheque since 2008, thanks for asking.
Perhaps if you knew any young people, you would have a passable understanding of the realities of our lives and the very specific hurdles we face.
12
@GMooG
It's cute that you think you're not being part of the problem by being dismissive and callous here.
A whole generation of human beings don't fall in with an "extreme" candidate promising a revolution for no reason. Maybe instead of wasting your (clearly) limited energy and brain capacity being petty online, you could try to actually empathize with and understand the young people in your country?
Especially because they are the people who will actually have to LIVE with the consequences of your actions.
Just a thought.
5
More media hot air.
There is no pressure. Different group of supporters which don't effect each other.
If Bernie adds Warren to his ticket now and they campaign together, he will win the nomination. Her supporters will vote for change. No empty promises about adding her to a short-list, make the historic move now and join forces to fight Trump and DNC establishment now. Without Warren, Bernie will sink and he will not get our votes.
Here is CA. Bloomberg had a lot of support from Republicans tired of Trump. Most wealthy communities came out big for him.
9
Would Warren even settle for second, amid MeToo et cetera—much less to someone who she said lied about what he'd told her? And would Bernie trust her with veep after that, when the job demands someone who won't suddenly backstab to seize the higher office? More likely she'll give arms-length support to Blue No Matter Who—Sanders-Warren is a dead fantasy now, and Biden isn't in line with her positions.
"Joe is going to have to explain....." That really is rich. Bernie is now dictating what Joe Biden needs to explain.
This dictate comes from a man who promises that we will all have free healthcare, all previous healthcare debt eliminated, no co-pays, no premiums, no deductibles, free college and all previous education debt wiped out. And makes no mention of how we will pay for it. And provides absolutely no details on how we will concurrently pay down a national debt of $23 trillion.
Thankfully the majority of Democrats said clearly on Tuesday that Bernie has a lot of explaining to do before he earns their vote.
13
As happy as I am to see Sanders faltering I believe Biden would be more difficult for Trump to defeat.
Reasons:
More registered Democrats will be with him than would be with “socialist” Bernie—-despite Biden’s often verbal confusion.
Independents who dislike Trump will vote more for Biden than they would have for Sanders. No matter what Biden says in the debates. Emotions running high for those who want to see Trump not re-elected.
Sanders will do as much possible to rally his young voters to vote for Biden, adding (some) voters to a weak demographic of Biden’s.
Biden will do better than Sanders would in certain states. PA being the best example with Sanders promising to stop fracking.
Seems to me if Biden carries every state that Clinton did and swings two of these three states PA, Michigan and Wisconsin he will win presidency.
6
If you spent much time in Pennsylvania, you would realize that most people here are not pro-fracking. It’s not 2008; Pennsylvanians have witnessed fracking’s destructive effects which disproportionately affect low income residents. Sanders and Warren should be commended for their stance, and it’s one that Democrats would routinely take in the past in their efforts to protect the working class. The current Democratic Party, unfortunately, continues to adopt the positions of Republicans in a perverse display of satisficing.
Sanders & his ilk, generously hyped by US Media have usurped the badge of Progressives for their brand of politics. In truth, Sanders practices the politics of Coercives - politicians who believe their right to exclusively decide what their fellow countrymen should do. Such Coercives have no respect for the native intelligence of ordinary citizens. Such Coercives give no room for individuals to exercise their choices. Sanders is not even Truthful when he claims his Medicare for All is already practiced successfully in Europe. In fact, even in his ideal nation of Denmark, his Medicare for All policy was found ineffective 25yrs ago ! Even in Denmark Privately managed Medicare is available to citizens as a competitive option to the govt managed scheme. Sadly, the US Media has failed to Fact Check Sanders & expose the shortcomings of Medicare for All before the American people. That is how Coercives flourish under the cloak of Progressives & defeat Democracy.
8
Bernie Sanders can decide if his most important priority for him Is defeating Donald Trump or attempting to become President of the United States.
If it is the former, he should drop out and marshal the party behind VP Joe Biden.
If it is the latter, he can continue as he did with Secretary Clinton.
He promised the nation he would do everything in his power to prevent Donald Trump from becoming president in 2016. He did not.
He knows the Russian government and the Trump-Pence ticket are supporting his nomination for president.
He must wonder why Russia is supporting his campaign, funneling money into his campaign below the $50 anonymous level for donations, while his votes are declining.
Putin, the GRU and Trump-Pence want Bernie Sanders to remain in the race with his many hateful supporters to divide the majority opposition.
They want to sow discord and enmity in the nation, and Bernie Sanders is their useful tool for doing so.
With the nation galvanized to defeat Trump behind Biden, he will be crushed.
The feckless Republicans in Congress who paid fealty to the Russian asset in the White House will be sent packing.
Sanders had claimed all Democratic rivals should galvanize behind the winner, when he thought he was going to be the winner. Let's see if he is a man of his word.
If he is the patriot he purports to be, he will drop out and support Joe Biden For President of the United States, and unify his supporters to defeat Trump.
10
Imagine thinking like this. Wow
4
Excuse me, we are still in the middle of the primaries. Why should Bernie pull out now?
He is the one with vision, courage and staying power. Biden up to now has pretty much just showed up. He has invested no energy, no organization, and no new ideas in winning this race.
It is going to take a fighter like Bernie to win againstTrump. He knows that and that is why he will stay in.
1
Sanders' goal seems to be to show that he can "take on" Biden. If he doesn't understand that his goal should be showing the electorate that he can successfully "take on" Trump, he's just another "disastrous to Democracy", self-absorbed Ralph Nader.
11
I'm waiting for the ads to come out of the woodwork about how a NY Jew who having failed to win the nomination is trying to buy it for Biden in order to control him.
And anybody who thinks this would be beyond even Trump and his henchmen I offer two words: George Soros.
3
Bloomberg's ego can't allow Trump to win in November. Trump is mocking him for pulling out after Super Tuesday. Biden must have a guardian angel on his shoulder. Bloomberg will do whatever he can do to send Trump packing. I hope Bloomberg can teach Biden to respond in kind when he is attacked by Trump and his minions. Biden letting Trump beat him up for months about his son caused people to think there was no fight in Biden.
3
Bloomberg- the Hamilton of 2020.
This is were all those 'What's up Bloomers' where supposed to show up and bring us 'The Revolution'.
Sorry to see you were otherwise occupied. Meanwhile the
Grownups in this country took care of business. Per usual.
8
Of course MSM is pulling for Biden. They like the pharma ad money way too much.
13
Bloomberg never wanted to be POTUS. He is worth $60B. If he spends $1B to prevent Sanders or Warren from becoming president that is pretty cheap insurance on $59B. And he saves the US and global ecomony from going down the drain as they would if either of the "free" stuff cadidates became president.
7
1. Voting to nominate really a Republican to the Democratic ticket shows how hoodwinked much of the Party is to their own best interests they really considered Bloomberg, whose bankrolled so many Republican campaigns, including Lindsey Graham!
2. To the first point, Biden 2020 is back to the future of Clinton 2016. I will be quite surprised if a redux of the “decency” campaign doesn’t lose the same swing states all over again. M4A woulda come in handy for this second round of Democratic voters shooting themselves in the foot, again, this time for Biden, and just before they stopped for those Super Tuesday exit polls to show majority support for M4A, but just after voting for the guy who doesn’t!
11
In a nutshell, yep.
4
The message from voters to Dem candidates is, enough with the debates, enough with the attacks—we want to get rid of Trump and it’s going to take a party-wide movement, starting now. All of a sudden, that doesnt look like Sanders.
10
Considering it cost Jeff Bezos $38 billion to get a new girlfriend, the $500 million Bloomberg spent to run for President is a downright bargain...
11
Just the way Mike Bloomberg assessed the situation and responded quickly tells me that the best actual candidate just left the race. In another time when this unrealistic Purity Test wouldn't be in full effect we voters would have supported him full-on and then chased that Orange Demagogue right out of DC.
Now we are back to hope. And I sure hope Biden can do what we Americans and most of the rest of the planet need; Trump fired.
10
Glad Mike is out! I am surprised at the posts from people who wish he had stayed in. I guess they did not live in NYC under his "rule" - a kinder billionaire than Trump for sure, but one who did not work well with others, who believed (and probably still believes) in the racist policy of stop and frisk, and who put a businessman interested in the bottom line (financial) in charge of the city's schools.
Oh, and he changed parties to get elected, and bought those three elections too.
5
The outcome is now easy to predict.
Biden will be chosen as the Democrat candidate. Those who supported Sanders will, for the most part, not support a candidate they perceive as "the Establishment Guy". And, as a result, Trump, being the most charismatic of the two, will win.
What "moderate" Democrats don't seem to grasp is that you cannot win against a populist like Trump by gathering people of very diverging opinions around a guy whose only point is "I want to keep power in our hands". And that's exactly the only point Biden is making right now - support me, because I'm the only one who will be able to keep control of the House and Senate in Democrats hands".
But that's not a program, and certainly not a message that is a concern for most citizens. So, in the end, Trump will, very likely, prevail, and by a larger margin than in 2016.
12
@Lauwenmark To be honest, I've felt that no matter who gets out of the Democrat side this election, Trump had a good shot at re-election to begin with. My personal assessment is a good 65-75% chance of re-election.
Why? The economy. Typically for an incumbent, so long as the economy hums, people won't really move to vote against the incumbent. Since right now the economy hasn't been particularly horrible, Trump has the edge in people who haven't seen any direct impacts from a Trump presidency from their perspective. Even with the shenanigans Trump pulls, as seen in 2016, none of them really stick to him enough to affect him where it hurts.
Whether it was Sanders, Biden, Buttigieg, Warren, what have you, it was hard to see if any of them can win. Maybe whoever comes out of the primaries will surprise me, but I've honestly been bracing for 4 more years of Trump to begin with anyways.
We can take one thing away from Super Tuesday...The Democratic Party in American Samoa is for sale.
6
I feel so relieved today.
All you ‘Oh Boomers’ somehow failed to show up and once again left the Grown Ups to make the important decisions.
You have no one left to blame.
28
I hate to say it but unfortunately you are right. Except in California the young vote has failed one more time. This sad because only the young can make a difference. Otherwise and that means with Biden and his cronies the “Fall of the Empire” will continue with another four years of Trump.
9
The system has created too many obstacles for young voters, and all voters really. If registering and actually voting were modernized and made easier (automatic registration upon 18th birthday, paid time off, weekend voting, ample locations where THEY hang out, mail-in ballots) then they would swarm the system.
6
@Misplaced Modifier
Maybe we could just send voting machines to their houses so they could vote without having to get out of bed?
11
Hoping and praying that the curmudgeonly Sanders and his fanatic tribe of Bernie Bros don't create another sore loser scenario like they did in 2016. After losing the nomination many of his Bros actively campaigned to not vote for Clinton or voted for Jill Stein. Sanders fervent followers were intent on making us all feel the Burn !
29
@Watchfulbaker
I think you can trust Joe Biden to lose the election on his own, without any help from friends or foes.
Do not start blaming Sanders' supporters for Biden's failure; at least wait until after he actually loses the election (he may also lose the nomination first, you never know).
13
Why did you expect any other reaction when the Dem party was so hostile to their candidate?
8
Rachel Maddow's interview of Sanders on tonight's show was probing covering important points' of disagreement with Biden.
I reluctantly voted for Biden, only because I find that Sanders has not clearly detailed how his proposals will be funded. I am not very excited by either candidate but based my choice on which Democrat could out talk Trump in debate. Who could forget the Clinton debates when Trump hovered over her like a bird of pray. The day of charismatic politicians is past. Buttigieg came close but would conservatives vote for a married gay guy? Beto O'Rourke, young and full of enthusiasm was rejected as too inexperienced . I'm a senior and a bit biased that age does not guarantee wisdom. My choices now have been reduced to voting for a grouchy pie in the sky guy or someone who has suffered unimaginable personal lose who is a corporate Democrat and is comfortable with party status quo. We may now be approaching a national biological health crisis that will test the ability of the administration to make life effecting decisions.The Trump administration is incapable of making selfless decisions.
5
The Democrats have enough obstacles to ousting Trump without having to deal with insufferably long lines at the voting booths and broken voting machines. It is inconceivable that, with all the spectacular advances we have made technologically, we are still in the dark ages when it comes to the mechanics of voting. This should concern us more than choosing between Biden and Sanders.
5
If only more candidates for public office were as focused on the public good rather than their own egos and unquestioning, non-self-reflective certainty, we would all be better off. And, he well understands that you can promise everything, but if you don't win, you will not have the opportunity to accomplish anything at the Presidential level. Putting our nation and our people first, he has chosen to drop out of the race and endorse Joe Biden. Michael Bloomberg exemplifies what politics can be.
He is as close to Jed Bartlett as we have seen.
7
thak you ms. warren for nudging mr. bloomberg out of the race and enabling him to support mr. biden directly to win this thing and regain a bit of sanity in this nation.
4
Whoever wins the party nomination, all Democrats and voters of all stripes who care about the country need to get behind the candidate to defeat Donald Trump. The country cannot survive another four years of Donald Trump’s march towards Fascism and tyranny.
10
Rather than speculating on the horse race, the Times would benefit its readers far more by publishing a side by side comparison of the Biden and Sanders voting records on the major issues of the last 30 years. That would be like...you know, ...real journalism.
14
Bernie or bust!!
9
@rupert
Please help vote out Trump, no matter the candidate.
11
Then please change your vote to Bernie. And please stop asking us to support Biden. We never will.
2
@Misplaced Modifier But you expect every Biden supporter to vote for Sanders if he is the nominee?
7
Thank you, Mike Bloomberg, for showing that you genuinely care in making a substantial effort in helping to restore America; and without a strong foundation to back it, the calls and appeals for funds will only continue to grow, i.e., to help our war veterans of foreign wars, our children afflicted with ills and animals abandoned in the street, to name just a few forgotten in the turmoil of political upheaval.
From this admirer of yours when you were in public office, you are helping our nation in a multitude of ways, whether it be in the field of medicine, education or our environment.
Whether your political views are affiliated with The Republican or Democratic Party, you remain a true American first, and you will be remembered for your role in inspiring others to do better for our Country during this dark moment in our history.
Hats off for your show of character and courage!
12
Bloomberg should continue as an independent in the general election. Most moderate Republicans, Independents, and Democrats would vote for him over Biden.
3
Thanks for stepping back Mr. Bloomberg--the Dems need to come together and move toward defeating Trump. We still need your help--especially in getting climate change front and center in a way that people can understand. I know this is an important issue for you, so let's go for it!
8
Sanders cost the Democrats the election in 2016. It is important that we never allow him to do it again. It is past time for the Democratic Party to stop allowing his brand of politics to dictate policy and the future of the party. That's how we got Trump.
13
@Independent
Hillary and Hillary alone cost the Dems the election.
too stuck up to campaign in Mich, Penn. and Wisc.
10
@Reader In Wash, DC Oh no. Hillary fell victim to Trump's and Roger Stone's dirty tricks that started with their "lock her up" lie followed by their colluding with Russian to hack emails. Don't keep suggesting that Hillary Clinton was responsible for her loss. Her loss is a direct result of Sanders refusal to endorse her well after he was rejected at the convention.
8
Wish Mike was President. Now we are most certainly to get the same old same old. Thanks Mike!
2
So who is donating all this money to Bernie Sanders and then not coming out to vote?
It is question worth researching.
15
Well, it seems Bernie supporters did in fact turn out to vote, they tried to vote but were met with closed polling locations and 8-hour lines. See the “State of Texas Closes Hundreds of Polling Locations in Democratic, Poor and Minority Areas” for confirmation.
5
@Misplaced Modifier
Maybe they should stop sleeping past 3
5
@Misplaced Modifier It’s always something with those beleaguered Sanders supporters. They are legion but the world just keeps stacking up against them: The evil establishment, the mainstream media, Hillary, the DNC’s “unfair” rules that Bernie agreed to abide by, the onerous process of (gasp!) registering for and having to vote, the burdened polling stations that prevented them — and only them — from voting like the forceful mass they claim to be.
Don’t you get tired of the excuses and playing the victim? I certainly do. A revolution based on sniveling is hardly inspiring.
2
Some really good comments from readers. The stories about Trump seem to indicate that he will not go 'quietly into the night' if he loses the election in November. That's to be expected and might even be entertaining to watch. What worries me is that Bernie Sanders will become 'Nasty Bernie' if he loses the Democratic party nomination. And, as has been said a number of times, the other down-ticket races around the country are just as important as the presidential prize. Senator Sanders could do a lot of damage to Democratic party if he chooses to aggressively attack Joe Biden.
9
I think that Bloomberg simply wanted to show Trump that he could blow $500 million and not even notice it. Trump on the other hand is probably thinking "Darn, that is $499.5 million more than i have which i don't owe to collection agencies".
8
Sanders will try to make Republicans seem progressive in comparison to Biden, just to stick it to moderate Democrats who are afraid that his candidacy will make Trump’s re-election more likely. I guess he’s getting angry about what the DNC leadership did to advance Clinton in 2016.
But Sanders is not going to modify his message. He’s offering what the people want, not just progressives, and it’s corporations which are denying the people what he’s offering them. Once he’s controlled the corporations, all those Republicans who support Trump now will awake to see the light and join all their brethren to transform the country into the people’s country, power to the people. For some reason he cannot believe that other people understand what they want and it’s not what he wants.
2
Uhhh... what people?
5
Sanders is popular with a large proportion of Democrats as is Trump with most Republicans. The rest of the electorate are uncertain. Both Sanders and Warren exaggerated the role of money in our political divide, asserting that they are in conflict with billionaires and corporations, ignoring those who have voted for the Republicans and mistrust liberals.
2
We can not afford a moderate anymore. Climate change is too dire of an issue to deal with 'moderately'. The healthcare situation can not afford to be dealt with 'moderately'.We now have a virus killing people at a pace of 10× faster than the flu with no cure. This is not a time to be denying people health care.It is time for this nation to catch up to the rest of the developed world and provide our citizens with healthcare and education and stop expecting the working class to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
8
Didn't you say that Russia was helping Bernie's campaign?
If Russia is this bad in rigging elections, I must say .. Kudos to Trump for winning '16 in spite of Russia's help.
3
"In a further boon to Mr. Biden, Mr. Bloomberg signaled in his concession speech that he intended to keep wielding his multibillion-dollar fortune against President Trump. The former New York City mayor had previously pledged to keep spending large sums of money to help Democrats in the general election, even if Mr. Bloomberg did not become the nominee.
(The Sanders campaign has said it would not welcome that kind of help.)"
Bernie is a hypocrite- I guess the MOST CRITICAL result of this election is NOT, after all, vanquishing DJT? Total malarkey coming from this man. I don't trust him.
7
Wall Street is opening their wallets for Joe. Well, no surprises there. And Uncle Joe, who is nothing if not loyally grateful to his friends and benefactors, will no doubt return the favors in kind, if he becomes president.
7
He left New York City with a balanced budget when he left.
I’m not a fan of his politics, but I guarantee he’s going to heaven.
8
Berni,
Please let let Biden represent the bulk of rational Americans. Joe is our best bet.
8
Biden, please drop out and let Bernie take America into the 21st century... Bernie is our best hope.
7
Only Elizabeth Warren can go toe-to-toe with the current occupant of the White House. Warren-Sanders for 2020. I will not throw my vote away on another Hillary Clinton wannabe in 2020.
4
Same. I will only vote for Warren and Sanders. I’ll not have my hand forced again by the DNC and their corporate backers.
2
You cannot cudgel people into adopting your views. I understand that some of Sanders’ people were using tactics like the Trump people. Disturbing. We need unity not divisiveness. You cannot win if you are divisive.
9
If you truly believe that, then join the Bernie /Warren team. Bernie supporters will not vote for Biden, so it’s up to Biden supporters to change their vote to Bernie. Biden is also clearly in the throes of some cognitive issues (Alzheimer’s?). Let’s not put another impaired man in office.
3
Since you are the medical expert, what’s your opinion on heart attack’s?
Yeah, I thought so!
5
@Mike What heart attack? The records have not been made public.
1
So the Democrats have coalesced around two men who make Donald Trump look young. Good work...
2
Sanders was a pest in the 2016 race against the Clinton machine. Sanders will be a brokered convention this time.
4
This is starting to get boring. Now it's between two old white men. I was really hoping for Warren because at least it would be a significant chg. I'll vote for whoever is standing out of necessity to get the con out the WH. At least now, I can start not caring about the race especially if Warren drops out.
1
Big mouth Bernie...the more you see him the less you like him.
9
Dear Mr. Bloomberg, please send help to CA-25. Thank you.
2
Mike Bloomberg would have been a great president. He looked at the facts today and made a decision, that’s his methodology.
I recently have appealed by the negative press of the New York Times underscoring any critical aspect of Mike’s distant past, repeatedly.
Tom Friedman, in his opinion pieces, did Mayor Bloomberg justice. He wrote about his capabilities and achievements.
I subscribe daily to the Times but in weeks past I’ve been disgusted by the articles directed repeatedly at the Mayor. If you have no current news, don’t retread old issues. It’s lazy coverage.
Lastly, if we end up with Bernie, take a good look in the mirror, editorial staff and see what part you played in this.
I read the opinion pieces faithfully and this is my opinion.
3
The country is tossing a once in a generation chance to join the ranks of more advanced Western European democracies that find not protecting worker's rights or providing basic access to health care to be far more radical ideas than doing so. I'm on the tail end of the boomer generation and am once again disappointed in my Reagan-voting, Iraq war approving, Patriot Act clucking generation, which squandered the hippy ideals of its youth to become the very thing they loathed most -- sad, frightened, complacent, conservative morons circling the wagons around a befuddled relic of a bygone past that was neither democratic nor just.
This self congratulatory anointment of an inferior candidate is sickening. The moderates of today are the radical right of yesterday. Let the barons of wealth stop quivering in fear of losing their hoarded blood treasure, as no matter who wins, they are guaranteed four more years of same old same old, with the lemmings of the status quo marching us yet closer to the cliff of our own demise.
9
Bloomberg’s performance was good in the circumstances. He never campaigned for long, just ran ads and participated in a debate and won 15-20 percent of the primary vote. By endorsing biden he delivered many delegates to biden, a moderate. He was a gentleman throughout, even when attacked by liz warren and won more delegates than her. He lost because biden has many years of experience and won south carolina, gaining momentum.
6
With all of the media hype about Biden v. Sanders, everyone missed the blowout numbers Trump received in the Republican primary. He broke several vote and turn out records in key blue and swing states. In Vermont and Minnesota he got the most votes for an incumbent in four decades. In Texas, Trump got more votes than all of the Democrats combined. He ran virtually uncontested and Republicans still showed up to vote. The President has much more support than he did in 2016. Whether it's Biden or Sanders, the Democrats will have a difficult time in the general election.
9
@J.R. The Democrats do not want to hear there. IN November a lot of Democrats who voted for that candidate now will not vote for the the candidate.
Many Democrats are going to vote for Trump.
Also Trump may well get 15 - 20% of the POC vote. Hard to imagine but those are the numbers turning up at Trumps rallies.
3
Trump ran unopposed in the primary LOL.
1
I am not so sure this Biden fantasy people seem to be reveling in will pan out.
In debate after debate, for months, he stumbled. I can’t remember a single new idea he brought to the table. Cogent points were rare.
I’ll certainly vote for him if he gets the nomination. I’m just not convinced he can carry the weight against Trump, no matter how many endorsements or billionaires’ dollars are propping him up.
12
There is a good reason why Sanders is receiving opposition. He has no skepticism about his own dreams. The American economy is not creating the wealth as it did in the 1960’s. The wealth is from global economic activity and our economy has grown slowly since the end of the post WWII boom years. We are not paying for the needs that we have now, we are deficit spending continuously. The unexpected costs are enormous. There are no surpluses to fund the kind of programs Sanders wants. Even with far higher tax rates, they may be too expensive. His response is identical to the Republicans who justify big tax cuts by asserting that eliminating waste and reallocating resources will pay for it. He knows that will not be enough. The country will have to operate like it has during world wars and to closely control economic activity and without far greater growth that won’t work.
We are in a very hard place, right now. Just wanting to have things different is not going to solve anything.
4
I'm glad that Bloomberg has dropped out and endorsed Biden.
Bloomberg said he entered the race because there was no strong Democratic candidate to challenge Trump, and also no doubt as something of a vanity project.
Well, now Biden (finally) appears to be a strong candidate, with wide support among the Democrats. And Bloomberg not only dropped out, but also endorsed the strongest Democratic candidate, one with the best change of defeating Trump and ending the USA's nightmare. (Presumably, Bloomberg didn't get the groundswell of support he hoped for and was also chastened by polling in the 10-18% range.) But the main thing is that Bloomberg -- like any sane American -- realizes that Trump MUST be defeated for the good of the nation!
11
Sanders has a problem. Millions of Americans will vote for establishment centrism, as defined by our distorted US politics. They've been conditioned to fear progress and change.
As Sanders says, Biden is 'an instrument of the political establishment'. But that looks good and safe to many voters. Compared to the extreme negatives of the criminal president Trump and his courtiers, the prior 'establishment' seems a welcome relief.
That's the worst effect of the Trump era--- even mediocre politicians and policies look great by comparison. So, in effect we stay stuck, or even go backwards.
How many election cycles will it take to make any progress?
Meanwhile, we lag behind other democracies, where it's centrist to serve the public interest, instead of raising private profit to the 1st priority. Here, the public interest is painted as 'radical'.
Quite a coup for our famous democracy.
In the 21st C, it's still fought as left wing, big govt, interfering in our Freedoms to have affordable, universal HC--- common abroad for decades or generations. Canada started it in 1966-- 1 example.
Or low college tuition, which the US once had in many state universities, paid by taxes. It helped create the middle class. Our news media never mentions that past positive role model.
Or paid sick leave for all employees, that protects workers' jobs and pay, and also the public in contact with them.
These are national protections citizens abroad get from the govts they elect.
26
@Meredith
Do not give up hope. The primaries are not over yet. (I hesitate to write: keep your fingers crossed).
Speaking only for myself, I do not see much difference between Trump and Biden, except that Biden is more "diluted" than Trump, but both are declining mentally (I am a lot older and I may have a senior moment now and then, but not to the point of forgetting the name of the person I am talking to).
4
@Meredith
You are so right! It’s painful that so many Americans can’t see it.
Imagine how much good could be done if only one of his proposals, for example, a financial transaction tax on Wall Street trades to finance public education could be implemented.
There are so many other proposals he has put forward that are truly progressive, and NOT radical, that would improve the quality of life and the future for the majority of Americans.
But as you say, people have been conditioned to fear change even when it is in their best interest, and the bar as to what constitutes a better world has been set pitifully low.
6
Likewise, Biden has a problem because millions of Bernie / Warren supporters will never vote for Biden.
1
Senator Warren has one play left if she really wants a progressive agenda, too bad that she burnt most of the bridge needed to get there. She has to convince Senator Sanders that she has one objective: TO FOLLOW.
The Sanders staff are sure to distrust her ability to be his soldier and follow. Senator Sanders can't want her help more than Senator Warren can demonstrate her 100-percent backing of his nomination.
Her only question should be "Will I be campaigning for you full-time"?
3
@Able Nommer Warren knows what is up with Bernie. He is radioactive and his candidacy is about to crash bigly. She is way too smart and calculating to align herself with any of that mess.
2
@Able Nommer
i am kinda shocked this comment did not receive lots of comments. it is so retrograde that i am not sure it was even posted by a bernie supporter. but why am i even reading these things?
2
@Ed,
Hot mess (who I voted for) is in contention (the why); she was not, is not. Coattails can do more for her future viability than "End of 2020 Tales". How does that story go? Oh yeah, "The End".
If she doesn't want to push for everything Bernie wants and if she doesn't want to be compromising, until/if he makes that decision,.. then I understand. Settle for snail pace change via Biden, as viewed from the peanut gallery.
Nikki Haley latched onto Toxic Trump. It was a crazy ride, but she got her name recognition and her U.N. hardliner chops. Trump can lose, and Haley will be ok (unfortunately).
It bothers me that everyone is kissing the ground that Bloomberg walks on. There's an argument out there by a Disney heiress that there shouldn't be all the focus on philanthropy when the rich should just be taxed properly to fund social (socialist!) programs and that the rich should pay a living wage in the first place. Basically, that philanthropy is a distraction from the real issues of income inequality and the need for government to address climate change, healthcare, etc. Bloomberg's generosity actually makes a case for Warren and Sanders. If all the people of Bloomberg's ilk were taxed properly, there would be a lot more we could do to improve our country without having to pander to whatever it is they want in return.
20
@JES
Bingo!
1
@JES
The top 10% of taxpayers pay 70% of all federal income taxes. We should have more tax cuts. Federal spending needs to be cut. I and and others are not interested in supporting the lazy and irresponsible.
3
It’s apparent that most democratic party members today are moderates.
It is true now and it was true in 2016.
That Trump won in 2016 was an anomaly resulting from a combo of factors: from disillusioned democrats including labor union members who blamed their job losses on Bill Clinton’s signing Nafta; disenfranchised republicans, most of whom may have been non-college educated white men who lost their jobs in the financial crisis; Facebook’s allowing the spread of made-up posts against Hillary due to its wrongheaded belief that it’s free speech (perhaps its technology can’t distinguish between factual and fake, in which case shame on FB); Russian interference in our democratic elections by feeding false news to these vulnerable (disenchanted and less educated) men and some women as well.
That Sanders only halfheartedly endorsed Hillary to his followers Nd too late in the game hurt her immensely.
Sanders and his supporters said that had he been the Democratic party candidate and not Clinton he would be our president today.
Neither in 2016 nor in 2020 does the majority of Americans want the US to be a socialist country; this is a bastion of capitalism and democracy. We want to keep it that way. To accomplish this we must prevent foreign interference this summer and fall - as much as humanly possible.
16
Democracy where majority of voices are ignored as it was shown in 2000 and 2016, where two parties have monopoly on power, and few big corporations dictate economy and policies to 300 millions Americans.
5
To aleve all those voters unsure of Mr. Biden's age and concern about the way he sometimes speaks, he has a big heart and truly cares about Americans. Joe Biden will surround himself with the best minds and they will be loyal to him and the country.
How many advisers left the Trump Whitehouse? Ask yourself why they left.
20
@Northernd
What makes you assume that "the best minds" will accept to "surround" a man like Joe Biden (not exactly a "best mind" your Biden).
1
@Fran
Sometimes things are relative.
Have good night :)
Gore was safe. He lost.
Kerry was safe. He lost.
Obama in 2008 wasn’t safe. He moved to far to the center for my taste, but he wasn’t the establishment guy in 2008.
Clinton was the safe choice. She lost.
You might notice a pattern.
31
@JW
Did any of them run against an impeached president with lousy approvals?
4
@JW Bernie lost the primary last time..you might soon notice a pattern
6
@JW
Gore won. He lost the electoral college.
Hillary won. She lost the electoral college.
Had America had a true democracy where the majority of the electorate chooses the president we would not have had a Republican President since 1992.
Bernie fought too long and hard against Hillary, putting her down and slinging so much mud that when he lost the nomination, his supporters would not vote. He essentially gave the election to Trump by splitting the party. If Bernie is going to fight this time, I hope he uses better tactics. Otherwise he may be getting a Thank You note from Trump in 2020. We need a Democrat in the Oval Office, not a repeat of 2016.
25
No, it was Dem establishment who split the Party. First by ignoring concerns of the American people, then playing the dirty tricks to de-rail Bernie's campaign. I like how they claimed that Bernie is not a Democrat, and yet expected Bernie's supporters to have loyalty to the Party.
5
I find it amusing that Sanders is saying the MSM is against him and everyone is ganging up on him. Reminds me of Trump. Next he will be blaming Russia.The fact is he's not a strong candidate. To thine own self be true.
19
It is difficult to miss how the Dem establishment ganged on Bernie, when the ranking Dems went to the trouble to go publicly about how dangerous and unelectable Bernie is. When they bend the rules to get Bloomie in the stage in order to derail Bernie's nomination. He is a strong candidate, if he alone (no billionaire's backings) could put fear in the hearts of Dem establishment.
3
There is one clear winner in Biden-Sanders race: Trump.
10
Bernie, it is time to retire! I voted for VP Biden in Arizona today because I want to defeat the worst President in American history with every fiber of my being!!!
28
Don’t sacrifice the good for the perfect. And get off my lawn!
1
@Mark
So, you get rid of Trump, and then what? I will tell you: you spend another four years dreaming up ways to get rid of Biden.
@Fran
It will be very nice to have a President who actually cares about the American people. Who does NOT lie all the time? Who is not a criminal? Who mocks the disabled and gold star families?
7
Over the years Sanders seems to blame everybody for his loss(es). He should take a look at his vitriol and orthodoxy. Maaaan is he hard to take.
27
of course, it is only Dems are allowed to blame everybody for their losses: Sanders, Russians, Social media, FBI, Wikileaks, Reps. Everybody, except themselves
2
Exactly right. The criticism comes with the bias that they're supporting a strong candidate. Well, that "strong" candidate lost...but only because of Bernie, Comey, wikileaks...etc.
Maybe if the "establishment" stopped lying to themselves about much more they know than the people, didnt thumb the scale, and just let it play out fairly....there wouldn't be a Sanders problem in 2020 whether he would have won or lost the 2016 nomination.
1
Notwithstanding Klobuchar’s and Buttigieg’s bold, brave, and selfless efforts to unite the Democratic Party behind the one candidate who might be able to beat Trump (followed now by Bloomberg), the party is severely fractured with a socialist “Free Stuff” candidate who idolizes repressive Communist regimes and a clueless Elizabeth Warren who has no plan or path to win except syphoning votes from Bernie. It’s been 24 hours and she can’t see the forest for the trees. Tsk, tsk, tsk... Bernie’s only choice is to make EW his running mate and then lose either to Biden or Trump in a landslide.
9
Please Sen Sanders - advocate for economic justice without destroying the party - or we’ll end up like 2016 again !
A scorched earth canpaign won’t win you more votes, and only be destructive. Thar is why Trump is trying to rile your supporters.
I am speaking not as a supporter of the “Democratic establishment”, but as a pragmatic progressive.
38
@ml
Bernie and his supporters are soreheads. He is angry every time he speaks. Listening to him yesterday bad mouthing Biden was really unpleasant. Biden's speech was joyful, and he didn't say anything ugly about Sanders. We have enough ugliness in the White House.
19
It is quite a change for Biden. Just says ago he was bad mouthing Sanders, and guess what ... It was totally OK with his supporters. I guess bad mouthing Bernie is no problem, but God forbid, Sanders criticizes Biden.
2
His own base is walking away. The young are not turning out to vote in the numbers predicted or that he would hope. They crowd his rallies apparently to find belonging and have a good time. Hangers-on. His revolution has not materialized. Realists understand that, if elected, his agenda would go nowhere. He needs to get behind Biden quickly if he is truly to make a difference in history.
30
@vsr
Sanders won the state you live in. I'm scratching my head. How can you say they are walking away? He has huge crowds compared to Joe. In my state Joe was barely viable. There was almost no enthusiasm for him. Collectively the mindset here is pretty dimwitted. I guess that's what happens when the critical thinking hats come off and we only focus on winning! (At least we think we will.)
2
@JES In Utah, there's always a pent-up frustration with ultra-conservatism. It's not that this is solely a venting of that frustration; young voters, in particular, are genuine in their embrace of Bernie. Native Utahns, who account for the greatest growth in population, also, in my opinion, tend to be impressionable. No knock intended; it's just that they enjoy a relatively easy and good place to grow up. Though I've been here for many years, and love it, I am not a native. My roots are in an Eastern state and city of much more diversity and greater challenge. I love Utah; it's been good to me. But my sensibilities were shaped elsewhere.
from VT sevendays the local alt rag:
The exit polls show that demographic differences between supporters of the various candidates mirrored national trends. Younger and less educated Vermonters were more inclined to back Sanders.
4
Bernie shows signs of going hard negative on the most viable candidate to beat Trump. In a speech he claimed otherwise, and policy differences are quite legitimate targets, but people do change their positions on issues with time, as has Joe. Attacking Biden's ancient history will get Sanders attacked on his.
I have seen some disingenuous claims about Biden made by some of Bernie's ardent followers on line. I believe most of us are sick and tired of extremism, of hate. intolerance, and if that comes from Bernie followers on the hard left, it will not help their cause. Leave the harsh attacks for someone who deserves it, who hasn't evolved, Trump.
21
So, attacks on Bernie by Biden were OK, but attack on Biden is no-no?
2
Look at so-called Democrats writing paeans of love to this cynical uber-billionaire, in the hopes that their pathetic supplicancy will entice him to drip some crumbs from his insane wealth toward the cause not of universal healthcare and social justice, but toward the campaigns of empty suits like Biden and those like him down the ticket who will do EVERYTHING in their power first and foremost to ensure that he gets to keep as many of his billions as possible, up to and including exploiting and waging war on the poor if necessary (even literally: just ask the dead, burned, and maimed in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya etc. etc. etc.). Bloomberg is an avatar of egotistic greed and social incompetence, and the fact he got any delegates at all in a Democratic primary proves that the party is so far right now, that there are only two major parties in America: The right wing party, and the far right wing party. Sad.
15
Kudos to you Mike Bloomberg!Unlike many of your financial peers you put your money where your mouth is...no back room mega donations with strings for you!!! You are the perfect example of how to accept a setback with grace & move forward with positive energy always keeping your eye on the goal of defeating the most corrupt, lying, amoral president this country has ever suffered.
Here’s hoping Bernie & Elizabeth follow your lead to bow out with grace when it’s apparent their path forward is not existent. Unlike 4 years ago let’s not defeat ourselves.
22
It is truly sad to see that the primary qualification for the Dem nominee is solely to beat Trump. Does no one realize this is the exact same Dem Party establishment that anointed a weak, arrogant candidate in 2016 when it was clearly our election to lose, and we did it spectacularly. What exactly is different this time? Where is the hope and vision for the younger generation, the poor, the stagnated middle class? The discontent with the status quo is what allowed our “most excellent” stable genius to win and grow. Huge damage now done for decades. Don’t think you can go back to “how it was” before HRC lost. That’s over. All the same players rallying around the same special interests that brought us 2016 can’t put Humpty Dumpty back together again. Check books are now are open! Wall Street to the rescue! Really?
What about the rot we ignored that allowed the lunatic narcissist to win? Are we just trying to turn the clock back to erase our own 2016 disaster?
Clearly a victory over our “dear leader” will be a huge relief, if it happens, but little of substance will be done, or get done, to really help the glaring issues. We’ll just go back to complacency, sadly, until another dictator appears.
3
Flaws and all he is a classy guy and a true patriot. I will support him in any of his future initiatives. I would say the same for Klobaschar and Buttegieg.
16
Am I the only one who takes wry amusement in the fact that the party of inclusiveness, diversity, and progressiveness has sifted its best and brightest to deliver two white septuagenarian men, one showing repeated signs of confusion suggesting the onset of dementia, the other a professed admirer of Castro's Cuba and the disastrously faiked Soviet experiment?
7
Yeah, Cuba should be more like Honduras or Salvatore or Mexico where life is so much better
1
Don't you people understand that the only reason Bloomberg pretended to run for President was to stop Bernie? You think he actually wanted to be President? It's hard to believe, but those who style themselves as "Democrats" seem to be still dumber than the maniacs who call themselves "Republicans." Y'all deserve four more years to Trump.
8
Bloomberg’s peeps are not Bernie’s peeps. If anyone lost because of Bloomberg’s run, it was Biden—NOT Bernie.
4
@Andrzej Warminski
"Y'all deserve four more years of Trump" -- and that is what we (they) are going to get next November.
Serves them right! (I am too old to care.)
1
Bloomberg was brought in because Biden looked so weak. Otherwise, why would DNC changed the rules to let him in for debates?
1
One reason I find Bernie Sanders so unlikable is his utter disdain for anyone who has made money. Mike Bloomberg was raised if not middle class, possibly working class. It’s not Mike Bloomberg‘s fault that our tax structure allows a concentration of wealth in a few hands. He is spending his money for the common good by fighting gun violence and climate change. What has Bernie Sanders done? He’s named a few post offices!
26
@MJ
No one “earns” 65 billion dollars. The man didn’t cure cancer; he figured out a faster way to trade bonds.
The obscene concentration of wealth in this country is mind numbing, and now even “Democrats” think that’s okay.
15
If a man builds a better mousetrap, good things will come his way. What he does, what he has, what he earns has absolutely nothing to do with you. You spend your time dwelling in pure envy and victimhood when you could be developing a better mousetrap.
3
If he would be one who built the mousetrap, it would be one thing, but he uses labors of thousands, pays them peanuts, takes the majority money to himself and make sure that nobody was able to be able to make better mousetrap than his.
1
$500 million spent got him a blowout win in American Samoa.
If he stuck through for another week, he could have dominated the Northern Mariana Islands
12
@Is
Your comment is the first one to put things into the right perspective.
1
The elegant solution is for Sanders and Biden to jointly campaign for president. Sanders "taking it to Biden," and vice versa, only will deplete voter energy. We need a new model of cooperation for this campaign.
3
Coalition governance is the only way forward now. Unfortunately won’t happen. But common in many countries.
1
Sent my contribution in today. Proud to have a leader as courageous as Senator Sanders leading the charge on the critical issues of our time.
17
The MSM is surely pulling out all the stops for Biden. He and Sanders are essentially tied in delegates. Not sure that is such a big win for Biden. Esp. since he won in red southern states just like failed presidential candidate Hillary.
12
@Reader In Wash, DC
Yes I too noticed as soon as Sunday was over. Even PBS and their "political analysts" got the memo...just amazing to watch how everything just unfold and everybody coalesce/fall in line.
8
Biden is more reminiscent of John Kerry or Hillary Clinton. Safe, steady moderate candidates, lacking charisma.
9
Biden is a conservative. He’s not even close to a moderate. He voted for the Iraq War. The worst American foreign policy decision/disaster in American history. He voted against women and for misogyny with Anita Hill and far right-wing extremist Clarence Thomas. He voted against both Social Security and Medicare. The list of his conservative, right wing positions is long and sad. He has rarely stood up for Democratic or democratic values. His constant pandering to the extreme right wing Republican Party is well- documented. Calling Biden a moderate is fake news.
15
Just plain wrong, with several inaccuracies to boot. When are people going to stop confusing emotions with facts?
9
@DSD
You wrote that Biden "voted against both Social Security and Medicare."
Social Security was enacted into law in the 1930s. Before Biden was born.
Medicare was enacted into law in 1966. 7 years before Biden entered Congress.
If Biden becomes the candidate, he will easily lose against Trump. People want real change. Those who would vote for Sanders would never leave their homes to vote for Biden. Why bother!? It would be Obama Part 2 and Sanders voters don't want a Obama Part 2 government
13
If sanders supporters choose trump II over whoever wins the Democratic nomination, they’re only flushing their future down the toilet. No matter how one might “feel”, this will be a time to vote smart and vote tactically. If the Democrats win, there will be another time and opportunity to push for more substantial reforms. If they don’t, there may not ever be another opportunity. That’s it in a nutshell.
15
Opportunity? After the DNC made it abundantly clear they are rather allow Trump to win than allow the meaningful reforms. I guess one may wonder if the Party will me receptive to the left ideas if it will be out of power next 10 years
3
@Paula
Here, let me fix that for you:
"Those who would vote for Sanders would never leave their [Parents'] homes to vote for Biden."
2
Guess the young ones need to get their heads out of their phones if they want to really back Bernie. Looks like they can't be bothered or it's too much trouble.
11
Joe Biden's cognitive abilities have deteriorated in recent years. Prepare to be very embarrassed in coming months of, and for, the Democratic frontrunner.
13
@Killoran Yeah, before long he will claim to be a stable genius.
14
There is a strange similarity between the “Democratic Establishment” and the ”Deep State”. Ironic, isn’t it?
12
All class Mr. Bloomberg!
And thank you for all your charitable contributions. Unlike Trump's favorite charity which is Trump.
29
I don't think I have anything against Biden, but to be honest; he does not seem to be... how shall I put it... "always at home".
Out of 300 million people, he is the one that can beat Trump?
If there was ever a good indicator of democracy's shortcoming then it is this: Donald Trump is President, the most, officially, powerful person the world. The only one that can take that power away from him is Joe Biden.
It's like stepping into the best restaurant in the world and they have only soup.
17
Why didn't one of these super wealthy men - back someone under 60 or 65. Bernie is 78 - and yes he has lots of good ideas but he has already lost once.
Bernie's running may be the reason the world has to suffer Trump again.
Canada's Justin Trudeau is 48
Germany’s Frank-Walter Steinmeier is 64.
Britain’s Boris Johnson is 55
Italy’s Giuseppe Conte is 55
How long can a leader expect to lead when they are already 78?
7
So we bid adieu to the King of American Samoa. Long live the king!
But seriously, Bloomberg can be an extremely valuable resource for Biden and the party going forward. His ultra-deep pockets are still, well, ultra-deep. And now he can focus his fire on Trump exclusively without having to promote himself. This should have been his role in the campaign all along, but I guess some public humiliation was required before he was able to see the light.
1
In summary, Michael Bloomberg showed that he is truly a mensch.
16
Bloomberg did the Dems a huge service by executing an integrated advertising campaign, with incredible reach, targeting and impressions, that honed in on the failures and deficiencies of President Trump ... not Bloomberg’s rivals.
At the end of the day, it makes people ask, “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?”
Whoever the winner is, call Bloomberg and ask for his strategy docs.
14
Hopefully Bloomberg can concentrate on his faux philanthropy - which requires IOUs- and gives his money to causes in other countries. Israel,needs hospitals right now, for instance -according to the. NYT. So, Lordy, Lordy, don’t let him spend a penny in the US.
I guess you aren’t aware that one of his many causes here in the U.S. is the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to which he has donated millions over the years. It is regarded as the top public health program in the world. He also supports educational, gun safety, and climate change initiatives as well. He truly is a self made man and, unlike the man in the White House, actually uses it to help others.
20
@Ted , he gave a mere $1.8 billion to Johns Hopkins Medical Center in 2018 alone. Good foresight, considering.
12
Bloomberg just bought the face. Come on, people! This isn't fair and it sure isn't a democracy!
4
Which face is that again?
Lord, the enemy isn't the Democratic party. which Sanders isn't even a member of. Threatening your supposed allies is stupid. Sanders won't win support by being a jerk.
14
Younger voters will, once again, be disappointed with Biden as the nominee. Younger Democrats are again told to “get in line” for a candidate that, as far as I can tell at the moment, has no concrete plan to combat any of the major problems facing the country - climate change, healthcare, and wealth inequality - nor any plan to incorporate the views of the young electorate into his policies. The platitudes that solutions come from working with and compromising with the other side do not ring true to anyone that has been paying attention for the last 12 years. It rests on the assumption that the other side also wishes to compromise, which is a huge assumption. It is not clear to me when the Democratic Party will wake up to the fact that voters under 65 are tired of hearing the same vague, recycled policy prescriptions or told to “wait” or “slow down.” I do not want to wait any longer. I do not want the Democratic Party to define its policy proposals by those that are “palatable” to a Republicans. It is time for the Democratic to take a serious look in the mirror - what do we want to stand for? That which is possible within the confines that Republicans have placed on us and that we have placed on ourselves? Or something more?
26
Younger Democrats didn’t show up.
Spare us the Russian conspiracy theories about the DNC plot. Sanders can’t get enough people to the polls to make him the nominee and he will get crushed in the general election.
If the situation weren’t so dire, I’d say give him the nomination, let him run and get beaten. Maybe then his current supporters will stop insisting that he’s been “robbed.”
17
Do we really need yet another self-serving narcissist in the White House like Bernie Sanders? He would lose in a landslide to Trump.
19
Well if Biden is shoved through by the establishment, unlike last time when I voted for Hillary even though she was extremely uninspiring, I'll sit this one out.
7
@Monsp
Have a nice day.
4
Thanks for playing 'I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE FUTURE'
9
I will vote for trump.....I do not want to vote for anyone from the Obama Clinton era they distroyed the country
6
Go for it Mr. Angry Man—cement your reputation as not being the happier warrior.
4
I love capitalism as a means of enriching a growing population, but it's extreme coalescing of power in the wealthy has corrupted everything everywhere. Bloomberg the Wall Street Billionbaire ran against Trump the Wall street Billionaire, and now endorses Biden who hails from the state of Delaware, home to many bank operations. Where does the gall of the rich end?
9
@PATRICK
The rich pay most of the taxes. Do you think the rich are not going to make they have a say in government?
1
@Reader In Wash, DC
You are not even close after they bought the government and got tax cuts in return.
1
@Reader In Wash, DC
The rich pays most of the taxes because they make MOST of the income? Yet they pay @lower tax rate than your avg. Americans
3
Biden without Warren on his ticket will not beat Trump. Trump will win using immigration, abortion, Judges and gun rights ad the platform.
If Sanders and Warren are both out of the ticket it will be slap on the face of many young, Latino and new voters. We will see many folks skip voting or vote for a Green Party. Waiting for Jill Steins to show up again in 2020 to split the votes.
11
Like a broken record I'll repeat that Biden lacks the crucial focus that Bernie has to Not get baited by Trump; Trump is predictable - he will obfuscate and change any cogent subject to anything else he can - he has gotten away with operating that way for years... Biden will respond with amorphous rejoinders that lack the focus to stay on point.
Bernie on the other hand won't get thrown off from dealing with facts and the state of affairs about what social issues need to be redressed. He will throw socialism for the privileged, with examples, right back into Trump's face.
12
Biden will accomplish nothing.
Joe Biden’s Success Shows We Gave Obama a Free Pass
We refuse to talk about how President Obama’s failure to deliver transformational changes may have fed voter disaffection in 2016.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/05/opinion/Biden-Obama-2020.html
7
Exactly
2
The elegant solution in this situation is for Sanders and Biden to throw in their lots together: Whoever wins the nomination will be president, the other vice president. They should campaign together!!! Their cooperation would lift this election contest out of the swamp and into a new and much better political terrain, and would, in my opinion, more certainly assure defeat of the incumbent demagogue/dictator-wannabe.
10
@PSR
I agree. Their slogan can be "What the heck?"
7
Why Sanders is unqualified: Our CEO just circulated a memo about coronavirus to the whole company. My wife says a government entity she visits for meetings just closed to the public over this,, and to protect her health in her position at her own company she is now avoiding cities. The markets are in serious turmoil right now. And Sanders is babbling about *trade agreements??* The invasion of Iraq, are you kidding me? And fiscal intervention in 2008 that saved critical economic sectors from vaporizing -- What is Sanders' plan for the crises now, in 2020? Does he even care?
12
Thank you Millennials!!
3
Stocks rose today ... the biggest gainers .. Health Insurance Companies ...
13
A lot of cheerleaders for Bloomberg. Wake up, he didn't start his company to help anyone but himself. Business isn't an altruistic endeavor.
And that's ok, just stop kissing the ground he walks on.
7
What we just saw is the bare fact that Biden can consolidate the minority votes, the suburban votes, the working class and senior votes, and Senator Sanders cannot - his base is narrow and offers no path to a general election win.
19
Bravo to the Dems for doing what the Republicans should have done when faced with Trump in 2016. Mobilized the party candidates and come together for the good of the party early on. Had we done that to Trump, the country and especially the party would be in much better shape now.
8
Bloomberg should fund a PAC or some other organization with primary goal of getting young people actively involved in liberal politics at every level. The future of the Democrats and democracy rests on a young, committed electorate. This will be especially important in winning races in the Senate and the House. We also need to develop a pool of young, liberal lawyers, some of whom will eventually move into the Judicial System.
3
The New York centered Corporate Television industry is what elects Politicians. Billionaires galore ran for President. It looks like wealth wants either Trump, or Biden to win, thus winning either way. Biden comes from Delaware where many big bank operations are. I'm disenchanted by both Trump and Biden after these extreme years of despair and hate in America by those who seek to divide the nation as they rob us blind. The root of it all is the wealthiest people and corporations. That means the most logical choices, if you can think without your TV's, is Sanders or Warren, and I think they would make a great team that would moderate each other but still be impassioned to help every American. It's not too early for them to announce they are a team, if they want to win. Think about it; a team dedicated to all Americans combining their resources to become a forceful reason to vote for.
7
Don’t they have TVs in your mysterious “Thoughtful State”? Instead of insulting individual voters by suggesting they’re all manipulated by wicked New York corporations, you might give them a little credit for honestly following a “logic” which diverges from your own.
A college-educated, white female voter here, boomer generation. I voted for Sanders in the 2016 Ohio primary in solidarity with my children and to give Hillary a jolt, and voted Democrat in the presidential election. I’ll vote for Warren if she’s still on the ballot here in Ohio on March 17. But 2020 Sanders reminds me of my Dad @ his worst -- argumentative and "my way is the highway." No, thanks!
22
@Susan Beaver ...."A college-educated, white female voter here, boomer generation"? So chances are you have good health insurance. Congrats to you.
And did you have huge college tuition debt? Or more likely, did your family pay, or did you attend a state college with low/free tuition --common in past generations? Now it's painted as radical. That needs argument to overcome.
Sanders is argumentative, true. But why?
Any US politician pushing HC for all, or free/low tuitition, is against our entrenched centrist politics, thus must be argumentative.
Most Dems have NOT been very arugmentative---but only weakly for 'expanding or improving' ACA---someday.
How can our typical 'compromising' politician give Americans what we need and deserve? Meanwhile it's just too darned bad for the millions uninsured, or facing huge medical and tuition costs, and millions with no paid sick leave.
We need a strong fighter to get America on the highway to modern democracy, because the barriers are too strong. And are erected by mega donors to our elections.
6
Mom here...did the same thing in 2016 but voted for Warren in MA primary but am all in with Biden now.
2
After today's events, my fervent hope is that Biden chooses Elizabeth Warren as his running mate.
I so wanted her to be the nominee ... not happening.
So if democrats are to be united in November, having both a progressive and an old-school dem might just appeal to the vast majority of voters.
Retaining the House, re-capturing the Senate, and obviously the WH, is an absolutely achievable goal if progressives and traditional party leaders are the ticket.
11
Bernie Sanders may be a potted plant.... Why did it take Sanders over a month to acknowledge, after it was made public by the mainstream media, that US intelligence had briefed Sanders that Putin was supporting him to be the Democratic Party nominee for President? The news was made public the day before the Nevada caucuses. Do you think Sanders was trying to hide something from the American public for personal gain?
And let's go to right now. The main objective of the Democrats is--or should be-- to throw out the corrupt, lying, venal Trump and his henchmen. There is no higher objective. This is Gettysburg. Normandy.
So why doesn't Sanders ("Uncle Bernie") read the tea leaves after Super Tuesday and figure out which way the wind blows? If he had any personal integrity (doubtful) he would throw his hat in the ring in support of Biden as the (perhaps) best but most certainly likely Democratic Party candidate for President of the United States. And the most likely to beat Trump
12
People need to figure out which demographics are not voting and just consider them a lost cause: no more policy service for people that tawk and don't vote.
3
Yay Bernie! We have all learned so much, so quickly.
2
I will vote blue in November no matter. But in early voting today, I marked my Arizona ballot for Biden..
12
Sanders big challenge is this: he has spent his entire career working from the outside against entrenched power. How does he transition to inclusion and enlisting that entrenched power in service to his ideals?
High morality that can’t be transformed into effective policy is worse than useless; the disappointment such a failure would bring would discredit those ideals far more than we can afford.
I really hope Warren stays in. A debate with just the three of them would be far more illuminating than the shout fests we have had up to this point. It would worth it just to force those two old white males to have to listen to a woman who won’t back down and will challenge their assumptions.
4
Sanders was basically in the same place after Super Tuesday in 2016 and making the same type of statements. Basically the same type of people who voted for Hillary Clinton are going to vote for Biden and the same type of people who voted for Sanders in 2016 are going to vote for him again. The demographic voting patters never changed in 2016 and they probably aren't going to change now. All of Sanders attacks on Hillary Clinton didn't change anything and whatever attacks he uses against Biden will probably not change anything. Despite all of Sanders attacks on the center-left more Democrats are going to vote for the center-left Democrats than a left wing populist like Sanders. If this election goes like 2016 it will appear like Biden will win but Sanders will be able to keep it just close enough to make it interesting and no matter how far back he will obtain enough funds to keep going until the end. It will probably be like a sequel of the 2016 election with same ending at the Democratic convention.
4
Just like Hillary didn't win, Biden won't win either. But his defeat against Trump will be even more dramatic.
3
@Bob
Yep, you nailed it. The centrists don't care and will get their way and 2016 will repeat. I kind of wish I was a trump supporter.
2
I'm amazed so many seemingly sensible citizens still believe that single payer healthcare can be afforded in so many countries but is not possible here. Pie in the sky they call it.
A minimum wage that could be a living wage....Pie in the sky.
The list could go on but what's the point? I'd rather vote for someone that reaches for the moon and maybe gets a star, then never reaches at all.
11
@Ken
European and other countries can afford healthcare and other lavish social spending because their defense is provided by the US taxpayer and soldier.
When Trump tried to the get the NATO members to meet their very meager spendin targets the DNC and MSM attracked Trump instead of siding with the US.
2
@Ken I'm promising you free donuts for life. Where's my vote?
2
Biden should start carving out a strategy to allow Sanders and Warren supporters to vote for him. Attacks of Sander's democratic socialism will alienate his voters. He can "disagree" with it without being derisive. Biden needs to state how he will confront insurance and pharmaceutical(and explain how he will do that while taking their contributions). He needs to state he will tax the the 1% and corporations at appropriate level. Biden needs to exclaim that he is NOT after 2nd Amendment rights, but FOR the waiting periods, the background checks, the elimination of gun show loopholes, and limiting magazine capacity. I think he should stay away from eliminating automatic weapons, ...that just gives someone concern who might otherwise vote for him, to vote for the other guy. And he needs to get the right VP on board, the sooner the better(Klobuchar, Harris, Patrick, or Booker). And make sure his wife and sister are always on the same side of him for future events. It's got to be tiring and confusing on that campaign trail, so keep it simple. If Sullenberger would start making some appearances on his behalf, that wouldn't hurt either.
7
Your report predicted "adult" Dems will risk another four years of Trump rather than accept a Bernie presidency--which would threaten their economic interests.
It turned out to be correct.
5
Warren has to stay in.
Sanders will have anywhere from 1,000-1,500 delegates.
They will make quite a ruckus.
50/50 Biden will have a senior moment.
The Convention can't go to Sanders.
It would go to Warren as a compromise.
Forget Bloomberg. after his showing, nobody is putting him on first base.
3
Bernie can't win. I'm no fan of Biden, but he's the only Democrat who can. That's really all that matters. Four more years of a Donald Trump who doesn't have to worry about re-election could tear this country apart.
9
Read the article about how Wall Street is happy that Biden has taken the lead. That’s all you need to know about why we need Sanders.
14
Not at all?
Bernie is doing the same thing to Joe that he did to Hillary! I heard Bernie Wednesday morning list the reasons not to vote for Biden. The GOP doesn’t even have to research!
11
@Laura L.
It's great how it's ok for all the moderate candidates to bash Sanders but it isn't ok for him to respond in kind! Isn't hypocrisy wonderful?
2
Democrats need to figure out a humane but plausible immigration policy because that's one of the issues that propelled Trump to the White House. They must repudiate the progressive nonsense of decriminalizing the border and free health insurance for illegals. Republicans will not let them get away with silence and ignoring this elephant in the room.
7
Mr. Burns, in the interest of accuracy and clarification, why did you not mention the other Democratic candidate still in the running for president?
As far as I know, Tulsi Gabbard hasn’t yet withdrawn. While the chance of her winning the nomination is implausible, I believe we readers would be better served if you named all the current candidates instead of just Biden, Sanders and Warren (alphabetical listing — not preferential). While Gabbard may not be a “major” candidate, she is a candidate — and no, I’m not a supporter, I just believe in balanced reporting.
5
Billionaires for Biden should tell you everything you should already know anyway. Biden is now, has always been, and will continue to be a shill for the rich. He doesn't care about the 99%. And if you think he'll make things any better for us poor slobs you're dreaming. Things will continue to get worse under him. Only Bernie can save America now. Don't fall for Biden and the DNC's lies!
6
Don’t fall for Russian conspiracy theories
3
Biden is "best shot" to beat Trump?
Sorry Bloomberg, you're wrong again, like in so many things such as stop and frisk. Like so many things you've said to women in your employ.
6
The Dems, generally, need to now have a reasoned ideological debate about what differentiates the extreme wing from the more centrist moderate wing...POLICY-Wise. Sanders should be aiming more at Trump right now, and let the upcoming Dem debates work out policy differences. Is there a middle ground to Bernie's Medicare for All? Are there some practical incremental changes to capitalism that he feels can work...without disrupting the entire system? He needs to also move to the middle and take his base with him.
3
Bernie needs to go away. He doesn’t work and play well with others, he’s a do nothing senator, and he has no idea of how he would implement his unrealistic platform. Also, he’s had a heart attack, which in itself disqualifies him from a Democratic candidacy. Heck, he isn’t even a Democrat.
15
The fact that the parasitic healthcare insurance companies led the stock market upwards today is concrete proof of what is wrong with a DINO such as Biden.
22
After that diverse progressive group of candidates in the beginning, the Democrats have settled on an uninspiring relic of the past.
Once the euphoria dissipates in a few days, and as they see Biden cluelessly bumble along, there will be significant buyer's remorse.
18
@JQGALT
I doubt that very much, and the earlier candidates may have been more progressive, but they could not win, at least not this time around. This is the time to get Trump out of office and restore some decency unless of course you are fine with a demagogue. Next time around we can all work on getting a progressive candidate to take the reigns, but now is not the time.
4
It is time to bring this to a close quickly and move on to job #1: defeating Trump. Sanders is going to drag out the inevitable and this is why he can't seem to move beyond his base. He lacks the ability to work well with others and fails to see the big picture. His idealogical purity may let him sleep at night, but it doesn't get things done. He claimed he was going to turn out a bunch of "hidden voters" and that was the justification for why he could beat Trump. That hasn't happened and therefore it is time to stop believing in miracles and get down to the dirty work of beating Trump. The sooner Sanders is forced to face this reality the better.
13
Bernie needs to do what will help the Dems win by dropping out. This is too serious for his ego to hinder the next election.
9
Thank goodness the DNC - with the collaboration of Bloomberg, Buttigieg, Klobuchar, and yes Warren - are working to force Sanders out of the nomination. The last thing the Democratic Party (or the country) needs is an avowed Marxist and his street revolutionaries attempting to destroy the American economy with their harebrained collectivist schemes. Biden will lose to Trump, of course, but at least we won't end up like Venezuela. And make no mistake, it is Venezuela Sanders wants to emulate, not Scandinavia.
4
Too bad you’re not smart enough to make the billionaires pay for healthcare and education..!!
8
@Jose Pieste Biden will beat Trump. Guaranteed.
2
@Carl O
At least I am smart enough to do the math (unlike you and Sanders): there are not enough billionaires in the world to pay for 350 million Americans' healthcare.
3
Hats off to Bernie, the only real candidate, all the others are synthetic.
18
@sebastian Strongly disagree. He is only interfering w/ the true candidate that can beat Trump --that being Biden.
3
The last few days make me feel like Putin has a hand in the democratic primary.
Suddenly, our frontrunner is the Dan Quayle of democratic candidates.
Gone is Amy Klobucher, with her fine mind, common sense, and reassuring presence.
I'm disoriented and depressed.
Putin must be smiling.
3
@ dolores
No, Putin would be smiling if Sanders was the nominee because it would ensure a trump re-election. And of course by having him re-elected gives Putin the biggest smile because he knows he can manipulate trump with ease.
2
I don't think the mood should be celebratory. Biden seems to have serious cognitive issues; just yesterday he mistook his wife for his sister. There are recent examples of Biden not knowing where he was or speaking gibberish. I just can't understand why voters didn't pick a more qualified moderate candidate, like Buttigieg or even Klobuchar. I am really afraid Republicans will destroy Biden. This will get very ugly, very fast.
15
@IIlana
Biden has always “stumbled” when he speaks, it’s what he’s known for. And for anyone to wonder about Biden’s cognitive issues, but thinks trump is a wordsmith really needs to check themselves because their bias is showing. But hey, at least trump knows that Puerto Rico is an island surrounded by water, but yeah sure, Biden is the one with speaking issues right?
4
@Adam Gargano
Cognitive and speech issues are not one and the same. They are separate things; educate yourself. Biden's stutter is definitely not the issue. Both Trump and Biden likely have early dementia. A terrible predicament this country will be in, having to choose between two impaired older adults. The difference is that Trump is a master at spinning the truth; he just lies, and entertains his base. He will cover up his cognitive deficiencies a lot better than Biden. We are doomed.
3
@Illana
“educate myself”? sounds like I hit a nerve. And let’s say for arguments sake that both of them are early onset dementia. I’ll still take my chances with Biden because he’s not a demagogue and a pathological liar like trump. And he would actually surround himself with competent people that could actually steer the ship as opposed to trump who surrounds himself with sycophants and con men. If given the choice I’ll gladly go with the former.
I'm bummed. We never got to see Mike Bloomberg's tax returns!
5
I find Biden truly repulsive. He's done nothing of note in his life. He is a nobody. Trump will win.
17
Bloomberg paid the highest that anyone I know ever paid for a funny moniker.
$500 million for "mini Mike."
If he had paid me half that, I would have thrown him an extra one for free.
"16 oz. Mike"
3
So, back to Biden and uninspired old school pandering and politically ambiguous statements.
Such as Biden’s statement, “The establishment are all those hard-working, middle-class people, those African-Americans, those single women,”
He knows full well that those honorable voters are not the “establishment”, they are the electorate. The establishment is the National Democratic machine that got Buttigieg , Klobishar, O’Route ETC to suddenly support The Man.
The same ones who torpedoed Sanders in 2015 and held ZERO bankers accountable in post 2008 crash.
4 years of needed reconstruction and then a Biden Nicki Haley battle in 2024. Oh, and wow, a little prescription drug price relief. Protect Ginsberg, etc, but how absolutely uninspiring Biden is.
Nice n plain a white bread. Honest but old in policy. Very old.
10
"Mr. Sanders indicated he would focus over the next week on attacking Mr. Biden’s record of supporting what he described as “disastrous trade agreements” that had been particularly damaging to Midwestern states like Michigan. In a refrain calling out Mr. Biden, Mr. Sanders several times said “Joe is going to have to explain” various other parts of his record, including his support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the 2008 bailout of the financial industry."
- Was NAFTA a disastrous agreement?
- Does Bernie know for sure that the 2008 bailout of the financial industry didn't help avoid the abyss? Is there any non-ideological answer to this question (not 20/20 retrovision)?
- A lot of honourable people approved the Iraq war - but underestimated the incompetence of Bush's subsequent management of the aftermath.
The only honourable thing Mr Sanders could do is to admit reality. The NYT coverage is not favourable to him but the varied opinions pieces are expressed clearly and honestly, without low punches of the kind he intends to inflict on his winning opponent.
My reservations about Mr Sanders are not related to his policies (the minimum required of an enlightened society) but to his blind self-righteousness - Chomsky-like).
This is an article about a meeting between him and Alan Gross, a prisoner in Cuba for five years:
https://www.npr.org/2020/03/04/811729200/former-prisoner-recalls-sanders-saying-i-don-t-know-what-s-so-wrong-with-cuba
4
The media and corporate democrats incessantly wonder “why are they turning on us?”. I read this from an article by Matt Taibbi and it sums up nicely why so many have turned to both Trump and Sanders. Mainly, you’ve been destroying and disenfranchising us for decades. It’s over.
On the Democrat Party:
“They didn’t just fail to defend groups, but built monuments to their betrayal. They broke labor’s back with NAFTA, embraced mass incarceration with the 1994 Crime Bill, and ushered in the Clear Channel era with the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Welfare Reform in 1996 was a sellout of the Great Society (but hey, at least Clinton kept the White House that year!). The repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act gave us Too Big to Fail. Shock Therapy was the Peace Corps in reverse.
They sold out on Iraq, expanded Dick Cheney’s secret regime of surveillance and assassination, gave Wall Street a walk after 2008, then lost an unlosable election, which they blamed on a conspiracy of leftist intellectuals and Russians.”
16
Absolute slam dunk post. These are all cogent points (ignored by many in the run of the mill media) but that everyone else should be talking about.
2
There's a great moment from The Big Short which is hard to contextualize if you haven't seen the movie. Suffice to say, it's an ensemble and there are two young guys who are decent suburbanites who started up a garage rock hedge fund worth 30m, but they only have 3k of it cuz it's about equal share. They get humiliated at some lame meeting cuz the Shearson guys inform them they need 1.2 b just to qualify to get on the 15th floor where they can get a seat at table for big deals.
At end of movie, Brad Pitt's character is a hippie hedge guy who helps them make the moves and they're worth 490m.
They still don't have a seat but it's 2008 and people are literally running out of their offices after brokerage houses fold.
The two guys decide to sneak up to that prized floor and just see middle aged dorks running for their lives and cheap cubicles.
One kid says "This isn't what I thought."
His partner, equally troubled, answers: "What did you expect?"
Kid just shrugs. "I thought it would be more grown up".
Everything we need to know about Wall Street and Washington.
6
Not just Wall Street and Washington, but also some people who make comments based on what they saw at the movies.
Re: Biden's whereabouts today: There is no such place as West Beverly Hills, California.
3
My prediction was right! Biden & Democratic voters have defeated the Bernie Sanders "revolution." Joe pulled off upsets in the Midwest and Northeast and DOMINATED Bernie in the South! Bloomberg's endorsement just confirms obvious: Joe will be the nominee. https://realcontextnews.com/the-best-guide-to-super-tuesday-no-seriously-bidens-got-this-and-the-nomination/
2
Reality check woman need to get vote out. Only way is to vote out stupid people in government is 100 percent of people vote an be counted for. People would be shocked by real numbers who voting now.Time is now woman should march on Washington to demand mandatory voting
3
@jerry lee Women need to march to Amy Klobuchar's house and beg her to come back.
First, let's congratulate Mr. Bloomberg as an honest man with seriously held goals and a high intellect. He will do what he says, and he will be a key player in removing a venal, grifting, incompetent, Donald Trump, from office.
19
@Paul Bloomberg has always been a class act.
He's a wee bit shy, and if you don't know him might misinterpret him as aloof
7
Bernie's supporters tend to be much too intelligent to actually vote Bernie's convictions, and in the case of a Bernie supporter that is an excellent thing. Thank You.
1
I just saw a Bernie attack ad. It had a quote of Joe talking about cutting Social Security. There was no date on it, but I bet the film cannister was quite dusty. It seems like a fairly desperate move.
Iirc, Bernie has three states he should win on Tuesday - ND caucus, Idaho and Washington state. If he cannot sweep these and play even or better in Michigan, it is hard to see how he can keep Joe from a plurality of delegates. Bernie won all four of these in 2016, and winning the West is nowhere near enough.
7
Bloombito could have primaries Donald if he really wanted to. This was all about derailing a Sanders Presidency. $600m is a lot less than the taxes he'd be paying under Bernie.
12
Oh the conspiracy theories coming from the Bernie bros. How condescending that you think voters can’t think for themselves.
8
We need evolution not a revolution! Bernie Sanders wants FREE healthcare and college/university for ALL Americans. This means millionaires, billionaires would get FREE healthcare and college/university too! Why should anyone who can afford to pay for these things get them FREE?
And until we get a handle on poor lifestyle choices like smoking, drinking, drugs,eating high processed foods,junk food, fast food, foods high in fat and sugar, and a sedentary lifestyle. which medical experts say account for the vast majority of medical dollars spent, medical costs will only rise higher and higher.
NO one ever talks about preventing disease, only treating. Thus we have a sick care system NOT a health care system. Physicians and dentists note that many of the problems they treat are related to lack of dental care. Yet, dental care is NEVER mentioned be it with Medicare or health insurance coverage.
Common sense says we should means test so that those who make to little to afford good medical coverage, would get Medicare which would also include dental care and physical fitness coverage for fitness centers, gyms.
4
Sanders ought to tamp down his urge to attack Biden. We all need to unify around Biden--admittedly, an imperfect candidate, as any of the choices would have been. I support Tom Friedman's assertion that the Democratic party must unify to defeat Trump. Sanders should magnanimously get onboard in the same effort and he will go down in history as a great patriot. Conversely, if he acts to damage Biden's general election prospects so that Trump is once again victorious, his legacy will be permanently marred.
10
@MSPWEHO
why should the poor side of town be magnanimous?
To help the educated and wealthy moderates to clear Trump from their TV screens?
Shouldn't the first call to help the country be directed to the educated and wealthy moderates?
3
Bloomberg is rational, very smart and gracious.
A proven manager. A few mistakes - who reaches 70+ without some?
Would have made a terrific President, especially to clean up Trump mess. Hope Biden listens to Mayor Mike.
10
Do you really think Bloomberg thought he could buy the White House? Can the American voters not smell foreign interference in the US election? ...... Really?
The only reason Bloomberg and his $500 million were in the race was to make it almost impossible for Bernie Sanders to enter the white house. Bloomberg's task was to split the vote, then after gaining enough followers, to steer those voters away from Bernie Sanders. Why was this strategy put in place? The purpose was to protect Israel from the effects of a Sanders presidency, which promises the advancement of human rights and respect for international law.
ALL Americans should be incensed by this meddling by external forces.
8
Foreign? External? Are you insinuating that because he is Jewish he is not American? Horrid and despicable. And ironically, you are bloviating about “foreign” influence on American politics from France.
6
@Concerned
Yes, the far right Israelis are foreign..
Yes. the far right Israelis are external.
No. He is an American. But he is well known to be a friend of Netanyahu, well-known to support Israel's human rights abuse, well-known to support Israel's colonization project, and well-known to support Israel's attacks on the civilians of Gaza.
Any other questions?
1
Thank you Mr. Bloomberg. Thank you for your leadership and efforts to protect our democracy from 4 more years of Trump’s destruction. There is no Republican Party, only a Trump cult. Thank you for reminding all Americans — particularly Senator Sanders— that being successful and wealthy need not make one selfish and corrupt. Our country is a better today because you are a responsible citizen.
7
As I read some of these comments, I am amazed how many people don’t get it. MB was not in it for himself! He was and is in it for the American people and ousting the criminal carnival barking dog that occupies the White House.
Thank you, Mike Bloomberg! You are a true patriot!
20
@Sandra
Thank you Sandra. Well said. He just got so much phenomenally unfair "purity test failure" from all quarters of progressives that I'm just mystified.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, If Mike Bloomberg is such a bad guy how come and intensely Democratic city voted overwhelmingly for him 3 times as mayor? I still haven't had anyone explain that to me well enough.
7
Mayor Mike Bloomberg blew it BIG. His advisors should pay him back the millions he wasted. Mr. Bloomberg should have based his candidacy on the terrific job he did as mayor for 12 years, keeping the city safe, keeping predominantly black neighborhoods safe and seeing Realestate in those sections soar, passing on a financially sound city to the next mayor. What did Mr. Bloomberg do? He went on an apology tour, totally weakening his accomplishments. There was nothing to apologize for, show strength in explaining how bad the 1980’s and early 90‘s were and own up to the fact he was a great administrator. Now he is perceived as a spineless and unprincipled.
2
Both Biden and Sanders are excellent candidates. I prefer Bernie, but whomever wins the nomination gets my vote. The focus needs to be on ousting Trump - Our country can not handle 4 more years of lies, incompetence and corruption.
6
Joe thanks everybody, attacks Trump.
Graciously accepts help.
Bernie attacks Joe.
As his giant get out the youth fizzles.
As key constituencies ignore him.
He lost Maine for gosh sakes.
Donald Trump is praying to himself that Sanders stays in fracturing the party.
Who else would be such a fool and turn away Bloomberg's help? A life preserver for the nation, nah don't need one.We'd rather have seven Trump justices and maintain our purity. As we lose the house and have the senate disappear from reach. Better yet a repeal of the 22 Amendment that prevents third terms.
9
so when does warren drop out ?!
bernie would have won MA and Maine and maybe other states too -
IF she'd done for bernie what the others did for biden - drop out b/c she ain't gonna win!
every minute she stays in and does not endorse berine is another reason to dislike her
11
@J. Listen to “Pod Save America”, Tommy Vetor says the data does not support what you say. And as a Warren supporter I know you’re wrong.
6
I have a Fair Warning for anyone who thinks Biden will care for the well being of Americans as I once thought he would.
See https://www.fairwarning.org/2012/09/a-strange-indifference-to-highway-carnage/
6
@louis v. lombardo
Purity Test Alert! Purity Test Alert!
On our way to 4 more years of the most venal, vile and corrupt president ever if this keeps up.
8
Bernie Sanders is beginning to get the "It's my turn" mantra, a death knell to politicians.
Voters are many things, misguided, angry, lazy, devoted but they are not stupid. They've been shafted many times and surely will again. But they do know what they want. Ranting and raving is not it, not again, it's exhausting.
Bernie's problem with eliminating student debt is not everyone is a student and not everyone wants to pay for it. Try to get a new school bond passed in a senior community. Medicare for all, same problem. Workers have insurance. Could be better, sure, but most of that is drug lobbying and tons of new procedures, legitimately expensive. Staying alive isn't cheap.
I have a theory. George H.W. Bush lost his election because Dana Carvey on SNL did him better. Sarah Palin went down because really, Tina Fey was totally her. And now we have Larry David ranting and raving as Bernie, can't tell them apart or rather Larry is better at it.
Most SNL impersonators are funny and over the top but when the real one sounds like the parody it's over. Bernie should blame Larry for his slide. Just my theory.
7
I think it is interesting to note that Bernie is consistently asked whether or not he will be able to incorporate the moderate wing of the party into his base, but Biden is never asked how he will incorporate the progressive wing into his base. It is clear that there are a large number of progressives among Democrats now, and discounting that would be a grave political blunder. Unfortunately, on that score, the party's memory doesn't seem to stretch back to 2016. The moderate Democratic base is largely age 55 and over and seems to be out of touch with new Democrats - this is a major generational problem that the party must confront for its continued viability. It seems we are expecting different outputs from the exact same inputs. We cannot continue do the same things and assume anything will change. Let me be clear, I will support whomever the Democratic candidate eventually becomes, but I am frustrated that we limit ourselves to thinking we must run a candidate that has essentially the same agenda that every moderate Democrat has had for the last 30 years. I think that we limit ourselves as a party -- we can and should want more -- we are capable of more.
16
I’m a progressive. I didn’t vote for Biden or Bernie. My guy lost. But I’ll vote for whoever. Maybe we just need the next four years to heal, normalize and go a bit slower than we wanted. Its going to take that long to undo what trump has done to America.
4
The only reason Bloomberg was in the race was to split the vote, gather as many votes as possible, then turn those votes over to the best candidate to beat Bernie Sanders. Why was this strategy put in place? The purpose was to protect Israel from the effects of a Sanders presidency, which promises the advancement of human rights and respect for international law.
Bloomberg followers should be angry at foreign forces interfering in the US election and having been part of the plot. . They should show their contempt, by voting for Sanders.
9
I respectfully disagree.
He entered the race to beat Trump, as a moderate and a proponent of gun control.
I didn’t vote for him, but question his motives all you want, his promise to support the Democrat nominee rings true.
Will Sanders supporters do the same?
7
Conservatism actually just means you enjoy the status quo and will die to protect it even if it is immoral because it’s been working so well for you. Funny Pete say change is chaotic and people don't want that, yes, no one wants change they didn't ask for, but there are clearly MORE people in support of rapid and serious change on many fronts, ASAP, and change is always chaotic. And we know one thing for sure, the younger generation is ready and there are now more Millenials voters than there are boomers.
10
@Ray ...if this is so, why did they not come out and vote for Bernie then?
3
I’m going with Bernie all the way, even if he isn’t the Democrat nominee, because he is for Medicare for All, wealth fairness, and pro-environment, and many other good policies. To those of you who will comment that I’m essentially voting for Trump, I counter that with no - you are voting for your own self-interests, while my vote is for the interests of other Americans. I am already wealthy in relative terms, and have health insurance in the form of Medicare and Tricare-for-Life, which I would give up gladly so that all Americans would be covered equally under Medicare for All. So if you think my Bernie vote is really for Trump, I say you have it backwards, your non-Bernie vote is for Trump.
19
So privileged.
6
I was in law school in 1980. I Was tired of jimmy carter so I voted for John Anderson. I have always regretted that vote. Elections have consequences. Bernie maybe perfect for you, but Biden is a million times better than Trump
6
@Pro-Bernie
I voted for Bernie too but Warren was more to my liking. I’m all for M4A but don’t push it down my throat. This is still a free country and the M4A public option has much better appeal.
Do you think we should have Public Schools 4 all? I don’t think so.
Do you want to force everyone to use public transit and give up their private means of transport, their cars? I don’t think so.
So why do you want to eliminate private hospitals and private insurance? Those that are willing to pay and can afford - go for it! But that doesn’t mean they should be off the hook from paying taxes to support M4A, much like nobody can get away from paying taxes that support public schools, road maintenance, public transit, and many other government programs.
3
Why doesn't Warren drop out and endorse Sanders? She should have done it before Super Tuesday, but now would help too. Then she can be VP to Sanders POTUS.
I really liked Warren, but she clearly is not in the running anymore.
11
@Vera
She is working with the DNC to siphon votes from Sanders, to make sure he can't win the nomination, that's why. (And I applaud her for that.)
1
@Vera
Why doesn’t Warren drops out and support Biden by making it more progressive? It seems like Biden is gong to win the nomination. May as well influence the winner, than complain, complain, complain and see no change.
2
Let's hope that Mr. Sanders and his followers do not give the election to Trump, again.
14
So now it seems that, in all likelihood, it'll be Trump versus Biden. Can you imagine a debate between those two very senior citizens?
Here's a way out. The DNC has all but shutout Sanders. Whatever chances he might have will be crushed by special delegates at the convention. Wouldn't it be grand for him to bow out in favour of Elizabeth Warren, the best candidate whatever the metrics. Sanders can't win, but his ideas are close to Warren's. Aren't they worth a try, as slim as the hope may be?
2
@William Dufort imagine that - the democratic party prefers a democrat to an independent. Interesting. Go on....
5
When the corporate plutocratic stooges coalesced around Biden, Elizabeth Warren showed her true colors by electing to continue. Thanks Liz. Say goodbye to 2024.
10
Bernie whines and gain. Your voters don't show up. You need to read a book called "The Last Hurrah". It,a over
5
I don't like Biden. He destroyed Ukraine and organized Orange revolution together with Germany. Trump is right about Biden and his son were making money in Ukraine. I would not rely on him at all. He is very weak and doesn't have energy to be President of USA. Additionally to it he has memory lapses. I am democrat but i will not vote for him. He has to retired. America is young country and deserve the same president.
11
I like Bloomberg. Wasn’t his time, but I’ll continue to support him in whatever he does.
4
Sanders blames low voter turn out. It's actually because Millennials thought the little heart button on Instagram counted as a legal vote.
12
"“The establishment are all those hard-working, middle-class people, those African-Americans, those single women,” Mr. Biden said, referring to voters who turned out in force for him this week."
Amen. I've said it before, but it bears repeating:
Enough of the cries of Biden being the "establishment" candidate backed by the "establishment" Democrats. Has it occurred to Sanders and his supporters that these "establishment" Democrats are establishment precisely because they are supported by the majority of Democrats? My guess is no as they are too busy basking in their victimhood.
Super Tuesday's lesson is: Sanders is not as popular as he and his supporters think he is. The votes of Democrats who are centrists matter just as much as the votes of Democrats who are far-left progressives. It is called democracy.
9
Sanders "vows to take the fight to Biden." How about taking the fight to Trump instead of Biden, building a solid Democratic coalition that's based on Democratic ideals, and explaining what you would do differently than Biden. He's not the person you need to be fighting -- instead, you need to express your concern about the direction that Republicans are taking the country, and separate yourself from other Democrats by stating specifically how your platform is better.
6
This party is over. Democrats have Super Delegates and the party apparatus. No way Bernie can overcome. Biden is the nominee.
6
@Tom
Bernie was fully expected to walk away from Super Tuesday far ahead of everyone else. We're at the point that we are because of the VOTERS. The idea that when your chosen candidate doesn't win the contest is automatically rigged is ridiculous and childish. Bernie and his supporters have been insisting for 4 years now how they are the majority but they are not. There hasn't been one shred of evidence to support it. Most Democrats, let alone all Americans, do not support Bernie Sanders.
8
@Tom
"Democrats have Super Delegates and the party apparatus."
And voters.
3
Bloomberg's data and ad production savvy are as valuable as his money. His anti-trump ads were brilliant. Democrats' ads are usually so lame ... the family around the kitchen table, blah, blah..
It is not necessary to be derogatory about Bloomberg, especially just because he is a billionaire. He operates in the same rigged system we all do and he wants to change it for the better.
9
Schumer overtly threatened the Justices, "You will pay the price."
That is the democrats strategy.
Do I think they threatened Klobuchar, Buttigieg, Bloomberg, and Beto, "you will pay a price" before they dropped out?
Bernie and Warren are the only ones standing up to the swamp intimidation.
5
Stop with the ridiculous conspiracy theories
Trump will be re-elected whether it’s Biden or Bernie.
10
The Socialist/Anarchist Sander has made his point through two election cycles. He should be resting on his laurels for changing the future of the electorate and should stop being a spoiler. History will not be so kind to him if he does it this time.
5
You're aware that socialism is basically the opposite of anarchy right?
2
Bernie against the Establishment. It’s like the sixties all over again. Peace. Let’s hope bell bottoms don’t come back with Bernie though.
2
I voted for Mr. Bloomberg in early voting. It seemed like he had the best chance at the time, not because I really wanted him to be president.
Joe, if you can't support legalization of weed, then you're going to get beat.
America, put down your whiskey and do the right thing. Legalize weed!
From a geezer.
3
Laments? The cynicism from these journalists
2
Thank you, Mike.
7
The turnout thing is an overall mystery, not just a Sanders lament. In California, this time around with a meaningful Super Tuesday primary, it was 26%. In 2016, with Sanders vs. Clinton, it was 34%. That's a 20 percent decline. (There was nothing meaningful on the GOP side contested in either primary). Where is the vaunted fired-up "Resistance?" It seems like it resisted voting.
10
Really? Why, no good?
It’s a loss.
Bloomberg was the candidate capable of getting things done.
The first Jewish President would have been a good one.
14
he was the only one. guess it will be 4 more years of trump.
3
Really ?
Comrade Sanders would have cost the Democrats the House, cemented Moscow in place for the next 6 years and tanked the Stock Market.
Oh let me know how long you wait for the energized Young Electorate to show up and save the day - the next Ice Age will be here first
Finally the only thing Comrade Sanders will unite is Trump and his Base
7
@A. Stanton
Bloomberg could have been the best US president Israel ever had. But this was not Bloomberg's goal. His goal was to prevent Sanders from becoming the worst US president Israel ever had.
Bloomberg and his team represent the worst of foreign interference in the US electoral process.
3
Thank you Mike
12
@NYT Hey, biased much?
"Yet Mr. Biden may be disinclined to hold a grudge: Mr. Bloomberg has vowed to mount a heavily funded outside-spending effort for the eventual Democratic nominee..." EVENTUAL Democratic nominee? Is this your psychic powers working?
2
@Liberty In
Trump would agree with you, and as a matter of fact he is taking Sanders' part against Biden. I wonder why.
4
Sherry, the reporter is not saying that Joe Biden will be the eventual Democratic nominee. Just that if he is Mike Bloomberg will support him.
3
In my opinion Bloomberg was the best candidate as well as the most sincere person running. If we had a centrist party he would have won, but our lousy two party system continues to leave independent centrists like me politically homeless.
16
agree. he was in it for the right reasons and the only real chance to beat trump.
6
Centrists are neither here nor there at any particular time of day, week or season. Just going with the flow. Staying out of harm’s way. Nothing to say. Just OK
3
Biden should say that if elected he will appoint Bloomberg a climate’s czar. This will bring in many young people who see climate crisis has just the most critical issue. And Bloomberg could really do great things as he’s already shown with his climate organization.
21
Bloomberg changed the race, woke up the sleeping-walking democratic party, drew a line in the sand between the moderates and the radicals (I'm done honoring them with the term progressive), and let Trump know that there will be money, plenty of money.
A couple of weeks ago it was a little bit Cuckoos Nest up there on those debates floor. Then Bloomberg suddenly appeared and made them all nervous, which was what was the disarray needed. He was the grown-up who reset the conversation just by showing up and threatening giant money and a well-established career -- and the latter wasn't any more minor than the former. Guiding NYC during 9/11 was never a minor accomplishment. I loved it when he entered, I would have been happy to vote for him as president, and I hope he stays involved.
12
@PS
Love your every word. America’s loss I’m thinking. I could weep.
4
@DoPDJ Thanks. A lot of typos though. I should consider proofing these. I think he will stay involved so not a total loss. But yeah imagine...,
Democrats: Can we just focus on winning the senate and keeping the house please? The last 20 years should have taught us that it doesn't matter what kind of bright charismatic superstar we get in the White House, the right wing will clean our clocks from the lower realms of government. The White House isn't that great a prize for democrats as the corporate elites won't allow a democratic president to do anything. Focus on the other political offices.
10
@kim I beg to differ. If Congress passes Medicare for all, any Democratic President would sign it.
2
Agreed ... in fact focus on all political offices.
1
Thank you, Mr. Bloomberg for providing us with an insurance policy on your own dime.
6
The cynical view is that Democratic caucuses voters are being played for patsies. Someone as smart as Bloomberg knows he had no chance of winning the nomination, but he went ahead and stood anyway; so his motivation must have lain elsewhere, and he has now, rather predictably, having softened up a portion of the electorate, thrown his weight behind Joe Biden, his preferred choice from the beginning.
7
Between Biden & Bernie they have 70 years in politics and have done less than Trump has done in less than 4.
Go figure.
Trump 2020
7
@Nycdweller Less damage, certainly.
4
@Nycdweller You may be right. Trump has indeed done something. And it will take all the street sweepers in the USA to clean it up..
5
WAAAAAAH! so sad to lose a dynamic voice for moderation.
3
Warren’s behavior toward Mike Bloomberg in the debates was disgraceful. Cheered on by people that already supported her and columnists and the running commentary supplied by the New York Times, no one else was apparently too impressed by her ranting behavior. It didn’t work out too well for her in Massachusetts, did it?
18
Deep deep gratitude to Bloomberg, Buttigieg & Klobuchar. Dropping out & supporting Biden full out might just save us all.
And wait, what is that feeling...could it be...hope?!
30
Jane
Queens
Bloomberg seems more an integer. Paradoxically, what's his footprint?
Plutocrats have the right to run for President of the United States, just like anyone else besides convicted felons. Bloomberg would have never said that on the record, though.
2
Now, can Bloomberg put out some more money to defeat Trump AND support the Democratic candidacies of opponents to Mitch McConnell (Amy McGrath), Lindsey Graham (Jaime Harrison), Louie Gohmert (Hank Gilbert), Joni Ernst (Theresa Greenfield). Realign that God-forsaken Senate so that America can reboot and return to democracy! And please, VOTE!
14
First, I thank Mr Bloomberg for running, second of all the candidates he was the most capable , by far, to organize a well thought response to Covid-19 - a virus that will go on and kill more Americans
Whoever winds up in the White House should remember this
9
Hopefully, a Democratic Admnistration will place Mikey B in a position to make the graffiti free, clean and modern trains run on time and and place some competent technocrats in charge of the machine.
5
Even with Bloomberg gone, Republicans can safely vote for Biden without risk to their assets or tax advantages. The only deterrent might be Biden's liberal social values, many of which he adopted under great pressure.
Besides, Bloomberg has promised to stay involved. With his brains and money he can have a huge impact on Biden who is happy to yield to pressure if it will enhance his "nice guy" reputation among the high status white males whose approbation he craves above all.
6
Turns out the people who oppose Trump are turned off by an arrogant New York billionaire misogynist on an ego trip. Go figure.
4
Nearly a half billion partisan political Bloomberg dollars made Mike Bloomberg first in the primary in American Samoa.
While the endorsement of the New York Times Editorial Board of Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren hasn't garnered a 1st- 3rd place finish in any caucus/ primary.
4
What a shame he dropped out! He would have been a great president!
8
I admire the man - he is putting his money where his mouth is!!!!!!
Weird expression most of us can not afford to but he is! I have derp respect and admiration for him!
FYI - Bernie supporter here!
1
The corporate media thanks yo for your donation Mr. Bloomberg. A fool and his money are soon parted.
6
@BiT
When you have $62 billion you can give us some financial snark, BiT! :)
Expensive EGO trip !
4
i bet the Democratic power brokers offered both Buttiegeig and Klobuchar cabinet posts if Biden ends up winning the election.. such sellouts.. so too many Warren supporters who now have turned into Biden supporters.. He's a conservative Democratic a corporate one at that just how are those 2 candidates similar? "Meet the new boss; Same as the old boss"! the joke's on you!!! foolish voters.
6
Bloomberg and Biden May not be as despicable as Trump and his backers, but they are surely just as crooked. You get what you pay for, America.
4
Thank you Mike. You are a true patriot.
I am sorry you had to spend so much but do appreciate your contribution. I hope that you can now really turn your people over to Biden while you focus your ad spends and media on taking down McConnell and the other traitorous republican senators.
4
Money like that should go to research.
4
What a man - Michael Bloomberg. He is everything good about America.
4
Well, at least he’s walking away with a new nickname.
1
Apparently Mike CAN'T get it done.
5
you’ll always have your victory in American Samoa
4
Two old, white, male, protectors of Wall Street, one endorsing the other.
Cute.
5
In Macbeth, Act 1, scene 4, Malcolm says to his father, King Duncan, speaking of the traitorous Earl of Cawdor, who had just been executed:
"Nothing in his life
Became him like the leaving it."
One can say the same of Michael Bloomberg.
-- Billy Salter
3
Gosh, I hope he can spare some loose change and donate a few million to the campaign of Amy McGrath of Kentucky.
8
go MIKE2020!!!!! - keep your bigboy pants pulled up - keep being a player - America needs you in this time of crisis
Bloomberg was the voice of reason. All that's left is a babble, bravado. and bombastic blowhards. And we've already had 3+ years of THAT!
6
I have had the pleasure of watching Mr. Bloomberg put his money where his mouth is time and time again in regard to issues that really matter to the whole human race. Thus I dislike reading snipes about his fortune and his spending on the Democratic campaign. Certainly I am glad that he is putting his support now to Mr. Biden, but I don't hear people reflecting on how good it can be to have a candidate that CAN'T BE BOUGHT. Mr. Bloomberg continues to have my great respect, and I hope he has earned the respect of some of those who see him only in terms of his bank account.
11
Let's hope Mike Bloomberg's cool pragmatism and vision for America can act as a sane counterpoint to wacky splinter groups like the anti-dairy crowd that has taken to interrupting Democratic candidates' speeches:
"It is a campaign led by Direct Action Everywhere, a coalition of animal rights activists who are trying to stop an industry that they say enslaves and tortures animals at the expense of the environment."
Oy.
Only in America.
I was happy to hear that Mr. Bloomberg had lived some of his happiest moments during his brief campaign. He seemed very presidential to me - polite, considerate, intelligent - and would have made a competent president.
I have read many, not so warm, comments from others in some "comment sections" and perhaps as a society we have become much more opinionated about who we "like" and "dislike."
I believe his decision to enter the race was primarily based on a concern that he would be more likely able to beat Trump in November than some of the other candidates.
Perhaps his absence from public office made him a bit rusty and less prepared than he would have liked to have been.
I wish him well.
11
For all of my life, my voting standard was forced to be: “which candidate will do less harm to me and mine”. This year, for the first time, I was able to vote FOR a candidate, on the basis of admiration for many of his qualities, his humanity, his brilliance, logic, and charity. I voted for Bloomberg, of course. Now I must revert to my standard, and subscribe to Vote Blue No Matter Who. That’s our America, and it’s a late life disappointment.
6
Bloomberg; "“I’m not going to try to be somebody that I’m not,” he said this week before he dropped out of the race. “I can beat Donald Trump, and I don’t know that any of the others can.""
Anybody can beat Trump because he is so bad. The Democrats won the House majority in 2018, not because they were so good, but because Trump is so bad.
Up until today, Wall Street had people on both sides, I viewed as a fixed election. Now the Billionaire Bloomberg has dropped out and endorsed...........
Biden from Delaware where the big banks are incorporated.
I'm leaning more toward Sanders now. Perhaps we need someone as seemingly radical as him to correct the wrongdoings of the radical right.
3
Now Warren? Except on M4A, I think she shares more with Biden than Bernie because her best ideas come of pragmatism and cooperation.
3
Bloomberg would've been a great candidate, unifying moderate Republicans and Independents, much better than Biden could, with moderate Democrats to beat Trump. But as it is, Democrats are too hopeful and wild-eyed, they got so blinded by Warren's anti-billionaire rhetorics and failed to see how Bloomberg has actually backed most of the things Democrats care about more than any of the other candidates.
5
It is tiring to hear the "Bloomberg spent billions on his campaign" line being trotted out by the media. It was his money so who cares how much he spent. The point he was making is that beating Trump at all costs was imperative. Still is, which is why he is focusing on helping Biden and down vote candidates on the Democratic side.
4
Because Mr. Bloomberg is facing the estate tax at his departure and because he is likely to more than double the value of his estate between now and his death, US taxpayers actually paid almost all of his campaign costs.
2
You have my immense gratitude Mr. Bloomberg.
You are a wise, pragmatic and generous man, and I appreciate that you threw your hat in the ring, thus bringing us to this moment and now towards the finish line, of getting Trump out of the White House!
3
This is where America mystifies us simple-minded foreigners. You elect someone like Trump who's terrified of his own tax returns and basically ignore a real DIY billionaire. You know the deal about Sanders' decades-long-overdue social reform approach and go for Biden. Biden is no liability, sure, but does this means that yet again the unique talents of people and their different market reaches aren't an issue?
Bloomberg is a good plug-in to corporate America. Trump is a minnow compared to him. He has authentic clout and market reach. You picked on some old trivial stuff as an excuse. It was history and should have stayed history in the name of the Democrat image.
If Sanders is shelved a second time, you can expect another no-vote scenario. This is a very myopic approach not only to electing a nominee but to valuing very good candidates. It can backfire badly.
8
To the so-called moderate ‘left’: please stop buying what is being sold to you. The establishment ‘left’ has overseen the most unequal distribution of wealth in history. It has voted to repeal the separations between commercial and investment banking. It has supported legislation making it more difficult for working families to discharge credit card debt in bankruptcy. It has voted for the Iraq war.
Is this what you thought they were campaigning for? Is this what aligns with your priorities?
To the people who can’t draw their attention away from Donald Trump: please stop engaging with the convenient fiction that he represents all that is evil. Our country is sick, and it’s not because of Donald Trump. But that narrative does conveniently help the truly powerful malign interests in our country.
Just a friendly reminder in case you have been seduced, again, by the politicians and the media, and perhaps the (maybe secret) perception that the moderate ‘left’ will be better for your 401k.
2
Bloomberg saved biden. His commercials were brilliant. He took on progressive controversial issues and made them mainstream. He pointed out all the dangers of trump and how important to get out and vote. A real billionaire pointing out the one in the white house is a fraud. This fueled Dems to get out and vote and support a moderate. Thank you Mike bloomberg!
7
Mike should have stayed in a bit longer. From the debates, most democrats think Biden is just a little slower and a little more tongue tied than he was 6-8 years ago. Now his stump speeches and audience interactions will get full scrutiny and they will be scared out of their wits. The other night was the first time I saw one of the major networks (ABC) run a snipet of Joe's daily foibles. Last week Politico ran a full story on how uncomfortable it is to be at a Biden event, always on edge that he is going off the rails in some odd direction, saying a lot of jumbled words and occasionally making things up, like the false Mandela arrest.
My guess is 45 days from now moderate democrats will be kicking themselves that Bloomberg is gone and they are stuck with a daily train wreck that will remind them more of their aging grandfather than a potential President vs Trump.
5
This is good news.
Anytime Biden over the clandestine Communist Sanders, who masquerades as a Democratic Socialist. It sounds so nice until you do a proper search of the history of Socialism.
And please, don't come with the Scandinavian example. Those countries may practice what is test called: compassionate capitalism. Definitely not Socialism.
2
Well, Mr. Bloomberg, I guess money doesn’t buy everything after all.
1
The only reason he ran,was to get Bernie.The majority of the 1% biggest nightmare is to pay more taxes (or any taxes is probably more the case).God forbid they have to part with any money at all.
My apologies to the young generation.You all are inheriting a dying planet and such income inequality.I sure hope you can survive and do a better job than your elders have.
6
Will the media stop harping on how much money Bloomberg spent? Stop it!! He has the ability to spend that much money and if any of the other candidates had that much money, they would have spent it too. It was his money and he could do what he wanted with it.
3
My parents always taught me, don't spend your last half a billion on Super Tuesday.
1
Like with baseball you usually have to be a money team to hope to win but it does not guarantee a WSeries win, ie POTUS.
The Yankees (and many other teams) were prime examples of it. They spent money through the roof but most of the time did not win the big one.
1
Rich is rich, either inherited or "self-made" (as Bloomberg brags). Both had peeps who grew their fortunes. Their commonality is a hyper-inflationary opinion of themselves. Both rich geisers used their wealth to pursue power for their ends. Bloomberg's intent was and is to stop a new tax on the weathiest.
“He’s a climate denier, I’m an engineer,” Mr. Bloomberg said repeatedly at his rallies.
You're not, Mr. Bloomberg. You are a Republican who thought that money buying "ONLY Democrat" ads would mask your true identity and intent. Your campaign as a Democrat was never going to fly; an engineer proceeds on rigorous calculations.
Bloomberg should have aimed at the Republican convention; and if he felt strongly enough, a 3rd party candidacy. Yes, he would probably lose, but Donald Trump would be weakened, not Democrats.
This former Republicans' claim “Joe’s taking votes away from me” was a pinnacle for self-centeredness. After he got Super Tuesdayed, ME, ME, ME!!! recognized that he was hurting Biden and only then did he bail.
Bloomberg is all about stopping Bernie, Medicare for all, and the wealth tax. If Bernie is nominated, Bloomberg will toss his Democrat facade.
1
I can think of 500 million better causes for his $500 million+ dollars in ads. What a waste of money. Money that could have been used to do actual good in this country.
3
I like to think that the trouncing that the otherwise very capable Senator Warren experienced, even in her own state, had something to do with her mean spirited attacks on Bloomberg in the debate, cherry picking every flaw from decades ago as if she had none herself, and never acknowledging the man’s many contributions to society and the Democratic party. And I wouldn’t mind a few apologies from Charles Blow either, whose op-eds against Bloomberg were shrill, hyperbolic, and out of proportion to the man’s faults.
5
Hats off to Mr Bloomberg for a graceful exit and spending his money to rid America of it's greatest threat, 4 more Trump years!
1
Thank you, Mr. Bloomberg, for putting your ample resources toward defeating the pathetic current occupant. Now the Dem's funding apparatus can go toe-to-toe with the GOP's enormous war chest, and we can finally oust him. That's what I call philanthropy!
2
What a speech! Michael Bloomberg was amazing in ending his campaign. This was a Mayor Bloomberg we never heard until today. His announcement to back Joe Biden is fabulous and there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Now this has nothing to do with this article, but just this minute I heard on CNN that trump is blaming Pres. Obama for something to do with the Coronavirus vaccine not being ready.
What a madman etc. Too funny for words.
AOC serves coffee, not votes.
1
Bloomberg, always smarter than the rest of us,
probably decided with his 50+ billion, does he really need to be spending the next 6 months traveling around the country shaking thousands of hands, and bestowing hugs on anything with a pulse.
2
The bloom, it seems, is off the rose.
2
This article has drawn the Bloomberg fans. What is their criteria for a candidate? Do they just admire billionaires? Do they admire arrogance and power?
Why would Bloomie better beat Trump than the other candidates? Why do his fans think up all these excuses and rationalizations for a morally repugnant candidate, when the other candidates, while they vary, are all much more palatable?
2
Bloomberg and all the contenders who have dropped out should put their time and money behind winning back the Senate!
1
@Richard Tandlich,
Bloomberg won't help Democrat nominees retain nor take seats because they'll likely vote FOR a tax on wealthiest.
Yet again, more proof that Bloomberg was, is, and forever will be a Republican. He only withdrew, so as not to take votes from Biden. Maybe he thinks that he can buy the V.P. nomination. What would be his tie-breaking vote --- if the Senate was locked on a wealth tax or Medicare for All?
Republican.
Sorry to see Mike go. I was very glad to support him--a proven executive who could have brought progressive social change AND fiscal responsibility together to the Democrats. Nonetheless, it's the right move for the nation. I will vote for a piece of trash on the ground if it can beat Trump.
2
Please Mr. Bloomberg, use your considerable resources and talents to help defeat Trump.
A concerned voter
1
I hope Biden wins the nomination the presidency AND appoints Bloomberg as Secy. of HHS.
—> Bloomberg was the best public health mayor in NYC history.
1
Black voters weren't fooled, despite Bloomberg's vaunted senior staff and digital playbook. Clearly, they failed to pay any real attention to black voters? If they had, then Bloomberg wouldn't have had such a pale face (no pun intended) when asked repeatedly about stop-and-frisk. His answer was wooden, lacked passion and, in reality, truth. The black electorate may is far from monolithic in the 21st Century, but we still have our raging memories when our their civil liberaties are being violated, 17th-, 18th-, 19th- and 20th Century-style
1
“Three months ago, I entered the race to defeat Donald Trump,” Michael R. Bloomberg said in a statement on Wednesday. “Today, I’m leaving for the same reason.”
Perfectly and beautifully said. A class act.
3
Good riddance. An obscene amount of money spent on a joke of a campaign. He could have given it to a worthy charity or some schools instead. But that's American "politics" for you. Get ready for four more years of Trump.
2
It would have been better if Bloomberg had
spent the money are helping those in Puerto Rico
who are still homeless after the hurricane.
4
I think 2/3 of what Bloomberg spent was on anti trump commercials.
1
I've been mocking Trump's lack of coherency for four years, so it's gonna sting a little voting for Biden.
1
As a far left voter who cast my primary vote for Bernie I would have been much happier if Biden had dropped out and Bloomberg had gone on. This decision shows why, he is practical, thoughtful and a patriot. Now we begin the Burisma hearings and head towards a possible loss in November. I would have been much more comfortable voting for Bloomberg, Biden might be a nice guy but he has certainly lost a few steps along the way. I'll vote for him, but I'll no longer follow the race closely, I'll save that for some of the Senate races like defeating Gardner here in Co.
5
I hope Bloomberg turns his focuses to removing impediments to gun control in the Senate. Universal background checks, red flag laws, and assault weapons bans have high support nationwide, but just never get passed. Getting even just one of the three would save many lives.
4
I'm a little sad to see Bloomberg drop out. I think he could have beaten Trump handsomely and would make an excellent President. However that wasn't happening and he did the noble thing to sacrifice his personal gain for the good of the country. I'm glad he is supporting Biden. His appearance in the Democratic race was short and may not look successful to many, but I think that it was a very positive thing in the long run.
15
Pete, Amy and Mike's dropping out shows that moderates know how to compromise for greater good while progressives think that they are the only one who can fix things and thus Warren and Sanders are still in the race! Idealism can make you popular but will not necessarily help get things done.
10
@AM Moderates will do absolutely nothing, where do you get this? 64 thousand people a year will die for simply having a moderates idea of health care, that's not idealism, it is fact.
2
Bernie is fighting for his beliefs- he’s a hero! I only hope we don’t regret not letting him run twice!
3
I think Mike's legacy will be burnished by what he did today, and that when Biden defeats Trump in November, Mike will have played a big part in that success. He put our country and our democracy first! I may be prouder of him today than I was yesterday.
11
@A Father and Grandfather Biden will lose, very few people under 60 want anything to do with him. Horrible candidate just like Clinton was.
5
Right after the November election, President Biden should appoint Mike Bloomberg as his senior adviser on infrastructure development, urban renewal, healthcare, and immigration reform. Let the President also appoint Bernie to a similar role for combatting the shameful income inequalities of this great nation by focusing on tax reform and access to higher education.
The two will obviously come with different personalities and visions and there will be inevitable clashes between them, but such clashes might lead to good pragmatic truths under an even tempered top leader as committed to genuine democratic values as Biden is.
Let President Biden also appoint Former President Barak Obama as Ambassador- at-Large for two years to repair the damage to our foreign relations wrought by our present Disgrace-in-Chief.
Let's hear others about their recommendations for secretary of state and other cabinet-level positions.
9
Kamala Harris for Attorney General. That one is a no-brainer if Biden can repair their relationship.
1
"President Biden should appoint [bloomy] as his senior adviser on [...] urban renewal"
Then guess I'll be getting my body ready for the national city-street grope-for-dope program, woo! *sigh* It's bad enough air travel is now a TSA racket with PreCheck.
What freedoms will we be protecting anymore, again?
He wanted to see if he could help his country by being the Democratic candidate. I don't think he was doing this for his own ego or to get his way. When it was obvious it wasn't going to work out that way, he gladly and without excuses or griping stepped aside graciously. He knew Joe was back at full strength and can successfully lead the ticket. I wouldn't mind seeing Mr. Bloomberg in a Biden administration.
11
Giuliani in 2008, Bloomberg in 2020. It’s likely going to be a long while before another candidate decides to skip the early
primaries.
Regarding the future, abolish the caucuses, establish a national primary (or maybe four regional ones).
5
Let's Be Honest With Ourselves. The two men left standing as democratic candidates are really very risky candidates just like Trump. Bernie Sanders is A Risky But Strong Candidate, and Joe Biden is A Risky And Week Candidate treated like a special student because much is not expected of him.
4
Thank you Mr. Bloomberg. You are helping to save democracy in the US. (I just wish he had dropped out *before* Tuesday.)
2
I am very pleased about the results from Super Tuesday! It was a great day for Joe Biden and the USA. Bernie is a passionate and honest believer in his positions, which paved the way for his popularity. Mike Bloomberg gave it his best shot until Ms. Sanders demonized him and Biden won S.C. Go Joe! As a Delaware native, I’d be proud to support you in any way I can do. As for the big bucks, I think you can count on Mike Bloomberg, who clearly has the money to help you win the nomination and the presidency. Congratulations! I hope that this time next year, we can look back at the current president and say good bye, have fun in Florida in jail or on the golf course.
6
I would like to see Joe Biden give Michael Bloomberg a cabinet position - perhaps
Treasury. He would also make a great or Fed Chair. Actually, he would be an asset anywhere.
12
Bloomberg was the anti-Trump. A real billionaire who came from modest roots, and built a massive company with tens of thousands of employees. He is pragmatic, socially and ethically liberal, and a quiet leader who would have brought management skills to the Presidency that have not been seen in decades, perhaps ever. But we rarely elect the best person for the job. Biden will be a good President, not least because he will allow us to get rid of Trump. But I'm sorry that Bloomberg did not fit in with the current political landscape--I think he could have successfully tackled some of the big issues facing the US and world.
7
Good for Bloomberg. He had a strategy and it didn't work. I don't criticize hm for that. I just hope he lives up to his promise to fully support the Dem nominee.
3
To the famous book on 'The Madness of Crowds' maybe we should add 'The Madness of Billionaire's'. Money must warp your perspective. The presidential campaign is about money, but not all about money.
Trump didn't win because of 'his' money (which is as big a lie as his being a successful business man and stable genius.) And he didn't win despite his flaws, he won because of them. His particular brand of flamboyant con sells to the populist base and serves the GOP agenda.
Now Bloomberg can put his money to good use supporting Democratic candidates up and down the ballot. I'm guessing he'll be in it to win it, with a vengeance.
2
A rich 21st C democracy shouldn't depend on the whims of super rich billionaires to fund causes for 'social good'.
We peasants just have to hope to get a 'benevolent Tsar' instead of a mean one? Is this what American democracy has descended to?
Instead, our elected govt should fund social good, making sure citizens get representation for their rights and the public interest, with fair and adequate taxation of the super rich.
See book and TV interviews -- Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World by Anand Giridharadas.
Our parties and candidates have been beholden to wealthy mega donors, whose money was equated with 1st Amendment Free Speech by our highest court, distorting our constitution.
Now, some thought it better to have a self funded billionaire fund his own campaign. But it's still big money interests dominating our policy making.
Self funded billionaires who are just 'better than Trump' show the destruction of our standards.
4
Actually, where Bloomberg was strongest and where he could play a big role in the next administration is restoring our ability to respond to crises, like the Corona virus.
There were a lot of reasons I did not want him as president, but I would be very happy with him in a position like that.
1
Just chiming in to thank Mr. Bloomberg. He got into the race for love of his country and left for the same reason. Now he will turn his brilliance and capital towards getting the nominee elected.
4
Aw, man! We never got to see Bloomberg's tax returns!
Now, we never will.
But, on this point, he was as evasive as Trump. There is no valid reason for not releasing 2018 and earlier returns, as the other candidates did, when he announced he was running last November.
2
So here we have the status quo closing ranks against the future. That means toxic capitalism as far as the eye can see.
The next move will be the Progressives joining their natural allies the Trumpsters to take down the two corporate parties responsible for climate disaster, income inequality, forever wars, and all the rest.
Bernie would have been a far better leader of the People than Trump but he'll get the job done, regardless of cost.
1
The last temptation of a monk is to become a revolutionary, right @fourteen?
Thank you Mike for modeling behavior of a servant leader. Thank you for your quick exit further highlighting your egoless leadership. I signed up as a Bloomberg volunteer on November 24, 2019 and fell proud of the movement we've started. I believe Mike Bloomberg is a boss and looks at life under the aspect of eternity, as thou he was gazing down at the earth from far away, from a distant star. From this perspective, the incidents that trouble him don’t seem so shocking and so large. What is a divorce, getting fired, the death of a loved one, a rejection in love, experiencing housing discrimination, spending 500 million on Super Tuesday and have underwhelming results when compared to the earth’s 4.5 billion year history? We always use passion to exaggerate our here and now, but our reasoned intelligence gives us access to a unique intelligent perspective in which we participate in, what I call external totality that we can use instead of railing against the status quo, we can opt for clear eyed serenity instead. I now support Joe Biden too!
5
I'm sorry that Bloomberg dropped out. I really think he is the only one eminently qualified to be President. While some of my friends said "he's an acquired taste", I quickly acquired him! Biden makes me uneasy. I don't think his gaffs and forgetfulness are "charming" as some think. I'm 78, in very good cognitive health, with friends who are not in the same good health, and I know what those clumsy spurts could mean. So I'll watch him closely. Warren is now the spoiler for Sanders, and I'm SO disappointed in her. I would not vote for Sanders, but Warren's refusal to get out is hurting him because their visions are closely aligned.
3
"While Mr. Bloomberg’s departure from the race was meant to help unite the moderate wing of the Democratic Party behind Mr. Biden, it also had the potential to enrage supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders, who have long regarded Mr. Bloomberg as a malignant force in the 2020 campaign."
Of course. What else would one expect from the followers of a grievance-stoking demagogue?
If Bloomberg's in the race, they're angry because he shouldn't be. If he quits, they're angry because he got out.
No occasion can't be turned into an excuse to be angry.
This is the ore that Bernie mines to produce the fool's gold of his campaign: anger.
Just like the demagogue in the White House.
Thank goodness a majority of Democrats showed us last night that they're not as gullible or as choleric as Bernie needed them to be. It seems most Americans don't relish the prospect of four more years of incessant warfare with a divisive demagogue in the White House.
Thank you, Mr. Bloomberg, for running a decent race and for doing the right thing, exiting the contest when your common sense told you it was time.
4
It is quite remarkable, amazing, noteworthy, etc., etc. that Buttigieg, Klobuchar, and Bloomberg made the grown-up decision to step aside and coalesce around Biden as early as they did, setting-aside ego\vanity and the wishful hope to duke it out for that victory that is surely just around the corner. If the Republican candidates in 2016 were as conscientious as these three, maybe things would've been dramatically different.
3
Bloomberg only made it this far, because he could afford to. In the end, I'm glad to see the presidency couldn't be bought.
2
To all the nay sayers that think Bloomberg could have spent his money better, I say he’s spending it well. Working to defeat Trump is a very wise, important investment because it will affect the lives of all Americans. And remember Bloomberg donates to myriad philanthropic causes including his organization to put a stop to gun violence. Thank you Mr Bloomberg.
4
Mayors never get nominated. That’s our history.
Both Mayor Pete and Mayor Mike were on a vain
pursuit.
1
I don't know Bloomberg well, but does any one here think he'll work in a cabinet or other position since he won't be president?
1
Bloomberg has the power of money and the amazing foundation of ads and Internet presence that Biden could benefit from. Let's hope Bloomberg is generous with both.
3
Biden / Trump? It'll be record turnout.
Bernie has to make a case for Biden to get out the Bernie youth vote. Down ballot is so important in a redistricting year!
Trump can wreck and already shaky Biden debater.
The moderators MUST STOP Trump from interrupting and editorializing on JB's responses has he did with HRC, that was humiliating ... and it worked.
1
The debates, for the primary AND general, don't even bother silencing microphones of those out of turn! The loser will thus OBLITERATE "It is over" Biden, who often defeats himself first with gaffes, with a ninja's ease in the general debates. It'll be sad to watch—and make the dropouts VERY quickly wish they united behind the "unelectable" "angry" "screaming" "communist" instead.
2
Looks like Bloomberg lied. He said he would support whoever was nominated. Now he is endorsing someone before the nomination.
If Biden is nominated, many will have to sit this one out. There is no way to morally support a person like him who would vote to authorize the invasion of Iraq based on political expediency. Has he shown any remorse for the hundreds of thousands of people killed wounded and bereaved by his action?
Then there are his lies that a nonprofit insurance system like Medicare would be more costly than a for profit medical insurance system. This is demonstrably false.
He must know the facts that have been available for years that thousands of people die let alone go bankrupt due to not having health insurance. This issue has been well documented in the recent Yale report that 87 million people do not have insurance or are not adequately covered and as a result 68,000 Americans die per year. The rise in private insurance stocks today are but another indictment of Biden.
And if Biden can't take on the private insurance industry or the arms industry how is he going to take on the fossil fuel industry on the existential issue of Climate change that threatens the whole would and all species of life. It is sickening to watch or read the commentators and politicians that are gleefully celebrating Biden’s supposed come back.
4
bloomy always wanted to run as an obstruction to actual Democrats—gods forbid real change gets in the way of his bank account. Of COURSE he is elated Biden's atop.
As thoroughly glad I am that bloomy couldn't buy the election strictly for *himself*, he's now gotten the second best result money can buy for him. I can, barely, vote for Biden in the general. But he'll be WHOMPED.
1
Bloomberg got the results he wanted. It was worth every penny. Biden is resurrected. Sanders is toast. A moderate will face trump. All is good in the world.
5
I'd like to see Biden/Warren at this point. Mike seems to be willing to offer financial support to help the Democrats defeat Trump and for that, I thank him.
3
I hope this is the end of billionaires thinking they can buy the presidency for themselves, but it's probably not.
2
Mike Bloomberg is a patriot. We must welcome his decision to use his wealth to bring down Trump -- a great philanthropic project if there ever was one.
7
Thanks Mike for stepping in as a moderate alternative when Biden appeared to be faltering early this year. Please continue to use your extensive, hard-earned resources to help defeat Trump this fall. America still needs you!
3
Thank you Mr. Mayor! And thank you for your pledge to continue to spend your fortune to rid this Nation of its worse contagion in its history (and that includes the coronavirus.)
4
I appreciate many things about Mike Bloomberg, one of which is his precise thinking. I’m disappointed he’s not going to be a candidate but I also know that he looked at the facts and made a decision.
I volunteered for him as recently as yesterday. I volunteered for him during his third mayor run and I will be volunteering for him and his policies whenever they were announced again.
He was a great mayor and I think he would’ve been a great president.
Thank you for your service, Mayor Bloomberg.
7
I'm shocked that Bloomberg didn't stick with the Presidential bid. Honestly, he was similar to Trump and had some really good ideas like the greenwood initiative. I would have liked to see him stay in it. The money he spent is pocket change to his overall wealth. I think it would have been interesting to see a real businessman, had no wealth passed on to him , to debate Trump. Trump would only have stop and frisk against Bloomberg, nothing more, nothing less. Now, Bloomberg will put that money behind Joe Biden. I'm happy that Bloomberg didn't stay in the race because of his ego.
Let's not forget that Bloomberg's ads attacked Trump, not his fellow Democrats. The money he has spent lays the groundwork for the national campaign.
Now as he switches to supporting Biden and getting control of the Senate, I say Thank You!
5
If only more candidates for public office were as focused on the public good rather than their own egos and unquestioning, non-self-reflective certainty, we would all be better off. And, he well understands that you can promise everything, but if you don't win, you will not have the opportunity to accomplish anything at the Presidential level. Putting our nation and our people first, he has chosen to drop out of the race and endorse Joe Biden. Michael Bloomberg exemplifies what politics can be. He is as close to Jed Bartlett as we have seen.
1
Actually, I was hoping for Bloomberg - he knows all the finances and has international experience to fit the bill.
Watching Mr. Bloomberg, I noticed that he is not only brilliant but sensitive to the world around him. Well, that is just what America needs - someone who would try to improve school lunches and get rid of the over-sweet drinks that kids would drink and get fat on.
You are also a father figure and you mean well and that in a world that doesn't care much about anything except themselves.Thank you for being that star of light in a world of too much darkness.
2
I hope he uses his fortune to back democrats for the Senate. The greatest block to progress has been Mitch McConnell.
4
Bloomberg has shown that a “billionaire” can have aspirations, take a risk, and then do the right thing for the country. Cue the name-calling from Sanders.
2
Corporate media thanks Mr. Bloomberg for his generous contributions.
2
Mike spent hundreds of millions in a short time.
Imagine how much it would improve our democracy, if instead of such huge waste, we had mainly public financing of elections.
Strict limits on private spending, all candidates getting the same amount-- set aside in advance-- for basic campaign expenses, to inform voters of their proposals--on a level playing field.
Then tax the super rich at adequate levels to fund health care for all---as govts in many other capitalist democracies do, for the well being, safety and security of the citizens that elect them.
Per Wikipedia on Campaign Advertising:
... "many countries ban paid campaign ads on their media, to prevent special interests from dominating their political discussion."
Here, paid ads cost a fortune, make big profits for US media, affect news coverage, and swamp US voters with distorted marketing and PR for candidates.
Polls show the majority of Americans, and many politicians of both parties want to get the money out of politics. We the people want to reverse Citizens United---which has helped disunite the country.
Citizens can't compete for influence, while the court pretended that money in politics equals 1st Amendment protected speech. They used our own Constitution to amplify the voice of the wealthy elites, and muffle that of the citizen majority.
Election finance reform could give us what the American colonists demanded when they overthrew King George --Representation for our Taxation.
1
Bloomberg made an ethical decision and will use his money to help unseat Trump. I wonder if Biden would appoint him as Secretary of the Treasury and if Bloomberg would take the job?
1
Thank you, Mr. Bloomberg for your passion and your immense efforts to help steer this country back towards sanity and moral action. We really appreciate your sacrifices and assistance.
Hopefully you will keep chipping away at Trump's empire of incompetence, and will be with us in the fight all the way to November. God bless you!
1
Sigh, I voted for you Mr. Bloomberg. A vote lost no doubt, but honestly, I did feel that at this stage when the country is being systematically destroyed by the Republican Party, we needed a strong, sane, strategist who knew how to steer the country out of this predicament. I still think, all the political gaffs aside, you would have been the best. Good luck and stick with your absolutely awesome partner, she is a wonderful role model for women everywhere.
2
This may be hard to believe, but maybe Michael Bloomberg, a politician, has been telling the truth all along. His ambition was to save the country from 4 more years of Donald Trump. Perhaps consolidating behind Biden, at this time, is the appropriate way to go to achieve that goal
6
Glad he's gone, the only one in the mix for whom I might not have voted in the general.
2
Bloomberg did badly on the debate stage by most opinion.
It's obvious why---he didn’t think he had to even bother to prepare. His arrogance and egotism let him think just his presence there was enough, that he was so superior to the other candidates.
And this is in line with his past arrogance in how he treated minorities and women. He was sued, but he actually thought his conveniently timed apologies would seem valid.
Bloomie's a travesty, living in a dream world his money let him create. Best for satire. Good riddance from politics.
2
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting things to change. Stop backing these moderates who hardly get things done.
2
The don even care anymore. The objective is to beat Sanders..not Trump.
2
Bloomberg’s won. His goal wasn’t to belected President, He knew that would never happen, but he understood that destroying - for the moment- the progressive wing of the voting population was necessary for his financial investment, Wall Street bankers’ investments and control of the economy as well as control of elected officials. His putative largesse buys IOUs, which he tried to collect through the support of some pretzel bending African Americans, for instance He also, when questioned during a debate about it moving the US Embassy from Jerusalem, he said no. Therein lies , his lies and con job. He’s interests are not those of working families, or he would have tried to get justice for families whose loved ones died as the result of the Sacklers’ OxyContin poisoning. Or, he would have denounced Michael Milken’s pardoning by Trump, or he would have denounced Steven Miller’s racialization of refugees. Talk about chutzpah. We need to get dirty money out of politics. And he needs to redirect his charity to other countries and out of the US. We can’t afford more corruption .
1
I want to thank Mayor Bloomberg for helping to drive out and defeat all of those vile candidates who would have forced him to pay billions in dollars in taxes, if taxed equitably. The five-hundred million hé “wasted” to run in this election is trump change (or is that Trump change) compared to the billions he saved himself by helping to defeat the left wing of the party.
A great day for the Democratic donor class, health care companies, student loan providers, etc., etc., etc. Make America Great Again!
1
All of my students are so happy. "Yay, no more ads!" they say.
2
For all those who derided Bloomberg for trying to buy the election for himself, he will now try and buy it for Biden. He's pledged to keep open his whole operation and will likely spend like crazy on advertising.
3
I will miss Trump if the next democratic president starts to behave like Obama, encouraging and arming insurgents in peaceful and non hostile countries like Syria and Libya causing incredible human misery. I you have any doubt about this ask the three million refugees from Syria and Iraq.
1
Whatever his shortcomings, at the end of the day, on this occasion, Mike is a mensch.
3
I’m glad Bloomberg is out. I never liked him as a presidential candidate. Billionaires already have far too much power. They don’t need the presidency as well. I applaud and encourage him to continue his efforts in philanthropy and in defeating Trump (really a form of philanthropy in itself). Both are much needed.
1
Mr. Bloomberg- winning back the Senate is just as important as ousting Mr. Trump. How about running some ads to help opponents of “the enablers” Senators McConnell, Graham, McSally, etc.
558
@JCAZ
I believe that Senator Warren would be most effective as Senate Majority Leader.
29
Yes! If I were as rich as Bloomberg I would spend $10 billion on advertising against Republican senators. The copy almost writes itself.
35
@JCAZ He said he would help in every way.
31
The race for the Democratic nomination is winding down to Sanders vs Biden it would appear. A lot of states still have primaries to try and determine the eventual nominee. It seems to me that this is a somewhat antiquated way of determining the best candidate to eventually win in the general election. The election will really be determined in approximately 6-10 "swing states". It doesn't really make a difference who people in CA, NY, MS, MT choose as their preferred candidate, their states are already predetermined which way they will vote. The way the election for POTUS is ultimately decided now, the best course of action would be to try and determine who is the most preferred candidate in states like WI, PA, FL, OH, MI etc. THAT is the only states that ultimately matter. Of course that is not how the system is currently set up.
Since the voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada had a unique opportunity to examine Joe Biden closely for many months, The Big Question is "What Did Those Voters In The First 3 Caucus And Primary States Saw In Biden That Made Them Reject Him?". The earlier we find answer to the question, the better we can make decisions before it's too late in November 2020. But I have to say that Biden's team did a great job by both defining Bernie Sanders as unelectable and defining Biden as Mr. Electable. On the other hand, Sanders' team did a very bad job in terms of taking time to define Sanders as Electable based on the good polls that shows that Sanders consistently defeat Trump in Matchups and defining Biden as unelectable based on Biden's decades of bad policies and decisions. Instead,Sanders' team only focus on policies alone. Though Many People Prefer Sanders' Policies, They Also Do Care About Electability. Sanders' team have to find a way to talk about both policies or issues that people care about and electability
2
I think his advertising was effective against Trump. I am glad he is endorsing Biden and I hope he continues to support Biden and other Democrats up for Senate and House seats.
3
I reserve judgment until I see how strongly Bloomberg supports Sanders, if he wins the nomination. I applaud his intention of giving all the support he can to Democrats all over the country, up and down the ballot, no matter what.
5
I have always admired Michael Bloomberg for his philanthropic work and his support of science in public health. I have admired his ability as a manager (he is the REAL rags-to-riches story). He was not the idea presidential candidate because of a lack of debate skills and personal charisma, but he can do immense good for this country overall with the power of his wallet, as he has already shown in the 2018 midterms. Thank you Mike.
27
Bloomberg should be applauded for making sure his campaign ads focused on his accomplishments and Trump's failures. He was very careful not to attack the other moderate Democratic candidates. Now his money and his campaign infrastructure are at Biden's disposal. Bernie Sanders is a good man and I believe he could well beat Trump, but that's no good without Democrats holding on to the House and gaining the Senate. That's more likely to happen if Biden wins the nomination in my opinion.
37
I would have liked to have seen a Bloomberg presidency. He would have been a brilliant manager of our environment, civil rights, and the economy. As it is, good for him, and let's hope Biden uses him wisely.
63
@B. I am not sure what you mean by civil rights. His stop and frisk was a direct violation of the 4th Amendment.
us army 1969-1971/california jd
2
Thank you Mr. Bloomberg. I have no doubt that if elected Mike Bloomberg would have been one of our nation’s greatest presidents. As a lifelong progressive who moved away from NYC at the end of Mayor Dinkins term and then returned for Bloomberg’s last term I saw first hand the incredible, impossible positive change he made on the city. I’m disappointed he will not continue on but respect his decision to focus on the greater good. Bloomberg is the real deal.
40
Mr. Bloomberg entered the primary contest based on an analysis of its course, which polls showed had some validity. Unfortunately for him, he did not factor in Rep. Clyburn. Now that the new evidence of Super Tuesday emerged, he made a quick and clean business decision to end his campaign. I can see why he acquired his wealth.
I was never a supporter, but I think his endorsement shows his purpose was sincere — to deny Mr. Trump a second term. I don’t mock him for giving it a shot and backing it up with personal cash which, even for him, must be a pretty buck. His mayoral record was mixed, but included good that improved New York. Although the bar is low, he undeniably would have been a far superior president than Mr. Trump. (I’d feel much better, for instance, if he were handling the coronavirus threat right now.) I hope he remains engaged. We’ll need all the help we can get to recover from the Trump years.
39
Mr. Bloomberg is a champion at heart, with a low need for public approbation; a civil servant motivated by the internal desire to serve a mission he values; a pragmatist with a critical mind and intellectual rigor, an honest broker and a strategic architect of change, a Kantian wise master (in opposition to a tutor). As pluralists, Bloomberg and Biden will build on Warren's and Sanders' idealism with a rate of change calibrated to avoid a community breakdown.
Bloomberg joined the race when Biden’s success was uncertain. He gracefully withdrew today to lever his allies network and financial support for Biden and rally democrats and independents to their vision and long march to combat poverty and climate warming; advance universal health care, education, integrity, transparency and decency, i.e. a “government of the people, by the people, for the people." Today, Michael Bloomberg joins the powerful charismatic “club” of great masters of exits, such as Jean Chrétien, Nelson Mandela, Charles de Gaulle, Léopold Senghor, Pierre Eliott Trudeau, George Washington, Solon of Greece and other democratic leaders who retire on their own terms, either at the height of their popularity or when they can better realize their vision with others at the helm.
Important: Joe Biden has been ubiquitous in advancing diplomacy and global peace. As a young senator, he convinced Gromyko to honor SALT II, in the absence of ratification by Congress, as I wrote on Feb. 18 and earlier in the NYTimes.
40
I thank you Michael Bloomberg, your intelligence, capabilities, patriotism, philanthropy, and love of Country shines like a refreshing beacon of light and hope.
During these traumatic times in the U. S. , you were and are needed as an Elite Manager/President to bring the Best of the Best people who wanted to work with you to government. There's a big mess to fix.
I believe that the past well intended actions that didn't hold well PR wise are not the seasoned ethical man that stands before us now nor reflect your legacy that will endure. The expenditures you have made during election catch-up were needed and that of a self-made Man. Yes, you did earn the money!
I am sad and proud of the for -the-Country decision you have made today. Now on to beat Trump!
28
The thing Biden gets with Bloomberg isn't just money (although he will get plenty of that). It is 6 square miles of CPUs crunching data on every potential voter down to the street address and the analytics and people to drive results from that data.
27
@Renaldo Morocco Yeah baby, that's what I'm talkin about!
Mike, you have shown the patriotism, liberalism, and common sense that make a leader, and nowhere better than in this decision. Your advice and support will help Democratic candidates everywhere. Thank you.
39
The last thing the Democratic party needs is financing from a billionaire. How low things are going to go?
And doesn’t all that show that Biden was not ready for prime time?
5
@sapere aude
not really. the Republican criminals easily are spending well over a billion dollars for upcoming elections, particularly with the dark money that was made possible by the flawed citizens united decision by supreme court.
I mean there are probably a dozen billionaires that are financing the republican races. do you get that?
Democrats need the Bloombergs and Steyers to help even the playing field.
1
The last thing the Trump "empire" needed was corrupt Russian money for golf courses and failing casinos.
And yet thanks to Deutsche Bank, he got it.
Mr. Bloomberg is a philanthropist.
The Democratic Party needs all the help it can get from whomever it can get help from. That’s the reality of the situation. But let them accept that help without any strings attached. It is for the good of the country.
You know, I could have told Bloomberg that he had no chance to win the Democratic Party nomination for free. Instead he spent hundred of million $ to find out that he had no chance, That was a very costly nice try.
4
Michael Bloomberg is a patriot and a natural leader. Had he gotten into national politics 20 years ago, he probably would have been President by now and more than likely would have been a very good one.
16
Looking at the big picture, Mike had the support of mayors across the country, and a lot of pragmatic centrists. This kind of support will translate into down ballot wins for democrats. And to those who begrudge his spending, I would argue that his philanthropy is being directed to America. This was never about him, but about saving the country that gave him the conditions to use his talents. I see his efforts as true patriotism!
28
This is getting real now.
Just made a donation to Joe Biden.
And thank you, Mike!
19
All the nitpickers and Elizabeth Warren have killed off our best hope, by judging him for long ago incidents or his money rather than who he is now and his potential. Once more, we Americans have done something we've been doing all my life -- We've snatched defeat from the jaws of opportunity. The reason he couldn't surmount this was not so much the man but his messaging team. They lost sight of the big field and the priorities to be addressed. That happens in a war, there's so much pressure, smoke and noise. I hope Biden can pick up the pieces, but he's never been a profile in courage or a brain beacon. Now our only hope is Trump's natural repellence.
10
Warren (and the questioners) did a number on Mike but he also hurt himself during the first debate by failing to defend himself and make the case for why he was the best candidate. Voters want to see strength in a Presidential candidate. Letting Warren whack him like a piñata was not a good look. As it turns out it wasn’t a good look for Warren either.
1
@Waylon Wall amen to all that, Warren was wailing on him not realizing she was taking them both out -- and she's suppose to be so smart. You don't shoot your ally and banker. She treated him like Dreyfuss, ripping off his epaulets, grinding them into the dirt and spitting on him. And doing that every time she saw him. And here he was our Billionaire, trying to help us, taxing himself, giving all that money back to us for progressive things. And he must of have thought, like I did, "These people are too crazy to help -- and if I'm burning good money after bad trying to get through to them, I must be crazy, too." And every day since, that idea must have gotten louder in his head until "Poof" he's gone and we D's get 500 million more, when it could have been ten billion or more. France financed our American Revolution and the King lost his head for it. Bloomberg could have financed a needed New Democratic Revolution, but Warren mostly and Sanders some, could not see that he was an essential part of our team and cut him off at the knees. And now we're gonna be stuck with a mealy mouthed man of mush leading our resistance to the worst president in history. It's so depressing. I grew up believing God Blessed America and it's been going to Hec ever since.
1
Bloomberg spent a half of a Billion dollars...… All of that could have been donated to the west coast homelessness problem. Why is it ultra rich people want to be taxed in order for them to cough up their own money. They can always just give it away, the government doesn't have to be involved.
2
To give that money away to solve homelessness would be worthy, but he chose to spend it as a candidate to try to address the policies in this country that permit, even encourage the scourge of homelessness. That’s what politicians do, and that was the path he chose this time.
Similarly, he has spent enormous sums of money educating the public about climate change and encouraging ur engagement to push for policies that address outrageous gun violence in this country and our energy policies that help destroy our planet
1
@RS He has given away billions and will continue to do so. He wanted to TRY to save the nation he loves.
@RS tell this to Tom Friedman!
1
What a waste of money. Think of how much good work charities could have done with $500m.
3
I have been wondering if Mr. Bloomberg could be part of a plan to pay off the debt of released felons in Florida so they would be eligible to vote in the 2020 election . I am unaware of any plan to bypass the “poll tax” strategy and help over 750000 disenfranchised people to cast a vote. I would be happy to contribute to such an effort.
3
@Abraham Genack That is a fantastic idea. I'm with you!
Too bad, I would have voted for him.
This leaves a 3 way race now. Biden, Sanders, and a far far distant 3rd Warren who has 0 chance in hell to win.
Had Warren dropped out on Monday, Sanders would have won Tuesday and the headlines would be crying about a possible progressive White House. But no, Sanders will not win. At the end we get a DC lifer who has too much baggage to get anything done.
A Biden win will only fuel the GOP to win Congress so that Biden gets nothing done in 4 years of scandal after scandal.
From the most diverse group ever, right back to white old rich males DC as always.
Too bad the one rich male I would have supported did not gain traction.
I am not lining up behind any one on this side of the coin, thanks for the show but you guys lost my vote.
6
@AutumnLeaf Joe Biden will bring a diverse team that represents all of this country. He will bring enough voters to the polls to win. Why did you make up some nonsense about "scandal after scandal"?
1
I am a Warren supporter who would vote for Biden over Sanders, and I know a lot of us who would do the same. We don’t need a non-Democrat wanting another revolution. We need breathing space and a Democratic President and majority to implement wise, progressive (humane) policies
2
Don’t you really support Trump? That’s why you said “on this side of the coin.” So you will be voting for a rich male after all.
The bloom was clearly off the Bloomberg rose last night. Glad he saw that and quit. He's no fool. I see Elizabeth Warren is still in. She, apparently, is a fool. Sad to see.
7
Ok Senator Warren, now its your turn to drop out and endorse Joe Biden.
7
VICE PRESIDENT WARREN.
Looks like the only place that Mike could "get it done" was American Samoa. Maybe if he'd officially named Hillary Clinton as his running mate, as was rumored.....
2
Thank goodness only a few idiots voted for bloomberg, talk about destructive politics...
The only way Sanders will win is if he gets more votes. It is up to the people. The establishment has made its choice clear. This is no mystery. But if Sanders wins more votes, then the establishment will be forced to listen, if not only expect more of the same.
3
@MC
the millions of DEMOCRATIC VOTERS made their voice clear.
VOTERS = PEOPLE.
who is 'the establishment' anyway?
Thank you Mr. Mayor. I voted for you yesterday knowing full well you were not going to win here in California, but wanted you to know a lot of people in this country appreciate what you did while you were in the race.
PLEASE keep spending lots of money on ads calling out Trump for what he is all the way to November. With enough frequency these ads will convince enough Trump supporters to see the light and drop Trump in November. Again, thanks for all you do!
18
With Bloomberg gone, it remains to be seen how he will use his money to support the Dem candidates: Biden right now, and whomever is selected as the Democratic nominee in November.
Biden doesn't excite enthusiasm with masses the way Bernie does. Bernie is for a major change, and I can see why the younger generations get excited by his ideas and his candidacy. And I can see him doing well face-to-face with Trump in debates.
However, even if Bernie won the presidency, I don't see many of his programs getting through Congress to become law. Nor do I see him as a unifying factor in this deeply divided political party, much less this deeply divided country.
If Bernie is the Dem candidate, I will vote for him. However, I hope Biden is the person running against Trump, and victorious in the election, because we need someone to bring the country back to a point with the pendulum isn't swinging rapidly in either direction and then start to rebuild it more along Bernie's (and more so, Warren's) vision. The country is too divided to take Bernie's "my way or the highway" approach, even if he is right in his proposals.
Let's set the ship of state on an even keel and then approach how to make it sail better for all in the rough and uncharted seas we have entered.
15
Sure, Mike Bloomberg spent $500 million and counting, if with no other benefit than to have countered some of Trump's very expensive lies. Trump has hurt our national interests to the tune of $billions, starting with multi-$billions already spent on his vanity wall. In fact Trump's efforts to stall climate change endeavors will most likely end up costing us $trillions. Sure, Mike could have spent that money on other philanthropic ventures, but remember it was spent in the USA, raising the incomes of many American companies who produced or aired those ads. For once, Reagan's trickle down effect actually took place.
10
Mike brought voters from the moderate republicans and was very necessary to keep Biden in the center. Now we could have a tendency to move the fight on the left which will not necessarily be a good thing for the democrats
2
Mr. Bloomberg is a champion at heart, with a low need for public approbation; a civil servant motivated by the internal desire to serve a mission he values; a pragmatist with a critical mind and intellectual rigor, an honest broker and a strategic architect of change, a Kantian wise master (in opposition to a tutor). As pluralists, Bloomberg and Biden will build on Warren's and Sanders' idealism with a rate of change calibrated to avoid a community breakdown.
Bloomberg joined the race when Biden’s success was uncertain. He gracefully withdrew today to lever his allies network and financial support for Biden and rally democrats and independents to their vision and long march to combat poverty and climate warming; advance universal health care, education, integrity, transparency and decency, i.e. a “government of the people, by the people, for the people." Today, Michael Bloomberg joins the powerful charismatic “club” of great masters of exits, such as Jean Chrétien, Nelson Mandela, Charles de Gaulle, Léopold Senghor, Pierre Eliott Trudeau, George Washington, Solon of Greece and other democratic leaders who retire on their own terms, either at the height of their popularity or when they can better realize their vision with others at the helm.
Important: Joe Biden has been ubiquitous in advancing diplomacy and global peace. As a young senator, he convinced Gromyko to honor SALT II, in the absence of ratification by Congress, as I wrote on Feb. 18 and earlier in the NYTimes.
10
Michael Bloomberg is a hero. His candidacy was a fail safe. If Biden had failed he would have been there to offer an alternative to candidates who each had goals and touted policy that was objectionable to more conservative voters. We need their votes. Bloomberg’s rallying cry was to get rid of Trump. It should be the only thing on each of our minds. If Bloomberg lends his money, expertise and people to Biden’s efforts he will have earned a glowing chapter to our history. We still need him.
18
Mike Bloomberg's campaign "derided as an attempt to buy the White House" was, along with Tom Steyer's campaign, in fact an attempt to buy the White House. The cause of democracy hardly needs a new standard of selling high political office to the highest bidders.
Mr. Bloomberg's abysmal debate performance surely factored strongly into the decimation of his prospects. By spearheading his evisceration with intemperate metaphorical shiv stabbings, however, Elizabeth Warren might have hurt her own campaign more than Bloomberg's.
Now, Warren could move on to damage Bernie by remaining in contention, splitting up the left wing of progressive voters in the Democratic race.
5
@malibu frank this position makes no sense. Either excessive money in politics is a problem or it isn't. Bloomberg throwing his money around is just as much a threat to democracy as special interest groups and Super PACs.
8
@malibu frank
Your comment makes no sense to me. Either way, its a billionaire trying to force his agenda down your throat.
6
@malibu frank ... any problem with liberals buying the presidency with Bloomberg money?
2
So Bloomberg is not only very intelligent and very rich, but also wise and good. Can he be in the cabinet please.
9
New Yorkers must be different from Pennsylvanians. Most of the people I have talked to are astonished at the amnesia of the DNC and the American people--this feels like 2016, with the fantasy that Hillary deserves the nomination and the fairy tale that good can conquer evil if enough people rally around the candidate who is deemed, suddenly, as the chosen one. So much for by the people. Back in the real world, young people? They are not feeling this, at all. They have been clear that they are tired of being ignored by older generations, who have saddled them with college debt, health care costs they can't afford, and a catastrophic climate future. Biden barely speaks to these issues at all in his gee golly speeches about being a Democrat. He has not performed well in a single debate and offers nothing new. I am personally, as a Gen X woman, furious. Biden is not my candidate. I guess that leaves Bernie.
9
Much to my surprise, I think we gotta give Bloomberg some real credit here...
When he saw that Joe Biden's campaign was struggling, he stepped in; he stepped up to the plate with time, energy and millions of dollars; he put his money where his mouth it.
Bloomberg wasn't going to stand by and allow Trump to be re-elected.
Good for him. Good for us.
Despite the press, the pundits, and all the naysayers...Bloomberg cares about this country. That's infinitely more than we can say about the majority of our very own Senate.
Thanks Mike...much respect to you.
23
Well, he’ll always have Samoa.
9
Any explanation why Tulsi Gabbard is still in the race?
Good for Bloomberg - gotta give him credit for doing what he thinks is best for the country. I tend to agree with him on this one.
7
Pat Boice, what better does she have to do? She's given up trying to keep her House seat and seems to be attracting enough funding to keep a bare-bones campaign going.
Of course she too realizes she is not going to win. She's not in it to win it, but for some other purpose instead. Probably to push her views and establish a maverick status that may pay off in some way down the road.
Or maybe she's just having fun.
1
@Pat Boice
Tulsi who?
1
Bernie Sanders brought low, a half a billion dollars well spent.
If Bloomberg were correct in his assertion that the nation wants 'evolutionary' and not 'revolutionary' change, then Obama would not have elected, Trump would not have elected. The people want 'revolutionary' change, but Trump may have shown them the cost of that change. By-the-way, who cannot see basing foreign policy on a nation's willingness to do personal 'favors' for the President as the prime example of political corruption? Leave him unindicted and not even censured by the Senate for the clearest possible case of corruption and you tell him he can do anything. Only the stupidest and most ignorant Americans want a corrupt president with unlimited powers. So we'll decide soon, a contest between dotards and a socialist and then there's Warren. I saw an add claiming Obama backed her - what was that about?
1
PLEASE Mr. Bloomberg, spend enough to secure the Senate and the House for Democrats...!!!
THANK YOU...!!!
9
"My preference to lead this unity coalition would be Mike Bloomberg, because I think he has a campaign machine that is built to last and stand up to the pummeling from Trump, but he may not have enough grass-roots support in the party. If it’s not him, then the obvious choice would be Biden ... " (Thomas Friedman, NYTimes, 3Mar2020)
As an Independent, I agree, and now that Mr. Bloomberg has dropped out, its probably Biden. For the years of this campaign, I have felt that Mr. Biden is an old school, big smile politician who craves attention and says a lot of goofy stuff in that pursuit. Also, his repeated verbal slipups indicate a mind that is not at its sharpest, and so he may have difficulty with the inevitable vicious (if unsupported) attacks from Mr. Trump & Co. But I hope his lack of inspiration does not cause some voters, disgusted with Mr. Trump like myself, to simply not vote or vote third party (it can happen ... ). On the bright side, Mr. Trump more than matches him on the less than sharp mind front, and is way past him on the goofy (disgraceful in Mr. Trump's case) stuff.
1
If Bloomberg can't use all his millions for tv ads and digital presence directly to Biden because of donation restriction rules, he should tailor ads to generically attack every Trump policy (immigration, gun control, environment, foreign affairs. etc.) and repeat the danger of continuing another four years of Trump as an emboldened authoritarian, a malignant narcissist and a pathological liar. Surely Bloomberg has a good NYC marketing team to pull out the gloves and bombard the media with a pro-democracy, pro-Democrat party message non stop from here to November. His own candidacy put this once unknown billionaire on the radar of voters in places from Iowa to Alabama through the power of his vast investment in tv advertising. Media matters. Keep those ads coming Mike!
8
Let's not go to extremes glorifying Bloomberg like Jesus.
He did the right thing, what else can you do with such insane amount of money, except real charity for much less lucky among us and putting all your resources to save our Democracy.
Any decent person would do it!!!
Our country can afford after several years to welcome decency and civility back.
2
Rhetorical question: why are so many commenters here certain that Biden will beat Trump?
7
@Julie
- because Trump won the election by winning battleground states, by small numbers, where the African-American turnout was low. That turnout won’t be low this time around;
-because at least some of his voter were not members of his, racist, ignorant, leering, shrieking, 100-word-vocabulary tribe, but were white working class voters, women and men, who thought Clinton was elitist;
-because every Democrat who can drive, run, walk, crawl or take public transportation to vote in 2020 - with the possible exception of the Bernie bros and sisters - will vote for Joe in 2020
- because if everyone, including African-Americans, votes, there are not enough Bernie bros and sisters to defeat Joe and elect Trump.
That’s why.
4
@RMC
I hope you're right, if he should indeed become the candidate. I don't buy the myth that Bernie supporters won't turn out for Joe, no matter how spacey he has become, nor how many fibs he tells. He comes off as a sweet, harmless guy. No clothespin may be big enough for Bernie supporters to have turned out in large numbers for Bloomberg, but of course Joe looks better than Trump. There will be little or no change, unless Joe reaches across the aisle to Progressives, but it appears national expectations have been reduced to "stop the madness". After all the devastation, "good enough" has become the new standard.
1
@Julie
shhhhh! We will discuss that the emperor had no clothes right after Trump’s second inauguration.
1
Maybe now that Bloomberg has ended his vanity campaign he will give an equivalent amount of money that he wasted to organizations fighting homelessness, a problem he exacerated while Mayor.
3
Mike is a class act! Hoping you get a major position in a Biden admin.
9
So what happens to Bloomberg's delegates in Samoa? Do they go to Tulsi Gabbard?
2
While I am a bit surprised that Bloomberg didn't stick it out to the very end, I think a lot of us knew deep down that if he wanted to be President, he could make it happen with a few phone calls. Biden has racked up party endorsements left and right (no pun intended!), including two of his 'competitors' right before Super Tuesday. He won a primary for the first time ever, in deeply red state who will vote Trump in the general election anyway, and boom! the party (and clearly many of its voters) pushes him as the chosen one.
Bloomberg was never the chosen one. Shame, as I will always wonder if he could have used his money, influence, and "horse-trading" acumen to wheel and deal with Republicans who could have easily worked with him to get Trump out.
It's borderline madness for us to think that Bloomberg's lack of votes from us normal folk is the reason he will not be taking the Oval Office in 2021.
90
The problem is that he is not a Democrat - he's a DINO (Democrat in name only). Bloomberg made a colossal mistake in not running as a Republican against Trump in 2016. I am still baffled as to why he didn't.
25
@M
Over the years he has given a LOT of money to organizations and causes that are in line with progressive causes (i.e. $13 million to Planned Parenthood alone between 2014-2017; too many others to list), and the two causes that appear to be closest to his heart are gun policy and climate change. I don't think he would have been welcome in the general GOP as their Presidential candidate, especially with Trump already installed.
42
@M Revelations of Stop and Frisk and the NDAs really hurt him. I too thought he would be best suited against Trump not the least of all as a contrast to the successful businessman that the fraudulent Trump portrays himself as.
That said, his endorsement of Joe Biden and any monetary contribution will be his legacy in what is a very important time in the US's reclaim of democracy and, generally, decency towards its citizens.
23
So let's review. Joe Biden gets...
Rock solid fundraiser and volunteer corp from Pete Buttigieg.
Field offices and staff from Mike Bloomberg.
High energy stump speeches from Beto.
Hot dish recipe from Amy.
Did I miss anyone?
11
@GDub Not "anyone", but "anything". Biden will also get cash and/or ad money from Bloomberg. $Millions either in the form of private advertising by Bloomberg and/or donations to PACs (existing and to be created) and the DNC after he reaches the limit on what he can donate directly to Biden's campaign.
1
@inkspot My friend reminded me that I forgotten Elizabeth Warren. Her debate attack of Bloomberg, exposed his unpreparedness for the campaign. That helped Biden immensely.
If Mike Bloomberg could be appointed president, he would be my guy. Though not perfect, he ran NYC competently. He governed by data, and with an eye towards improving life - though I repeat he wasn’t perfect.
But presidents are elected - thankfully. Regrettably for Bloomberg that takes a talent his money can’t buy: to connect with people where they are emotionally. No one among the Democratic candidates can do that better than Biden. Watching him relate to the family members of the victims of the Charleston church shooting, and his dignity in enduring his own tragedies, has moved me to tears. I will be voting for Biden because he will restore America’s decency.
Nonetheless thanks to Mr. Bloomberg. He is a patriot who deploys his considerable fortune to improve people’s lives.
12
Bloomberg is a data guy. He's been in competition, large and small, with Super Tuesday probably among the biggest in his life. Having spent some $500m in short order, with nothing to show for, he has the grace to admit defeat and call it quit. I did all these without much ceremony. I applaud him.
It's also good to know that money does not automatically buy votes in US. It also shows that retail politicking is still alive and well in US. For that, I'm really glad.
I'm sure we are not seeing the last of Bloomberg. With his immense wealth going behind Biden, Trump must be running scare now. Never mind Sanders, he's just a side-show, as he has always been.
Biden does need to keep the momentum going, and not let his son Hunter Biden's debacle derail him. And he does need to work on a better plan for voters, rather than reviving TPP (or more free trade deals) or opening borders. And he needs to show more backbone against economic rises and aggression by China. THESE are the issues that would win over Trump supporters. That's how Biden will win.
3
Bloomberg (largely) and the other candidates who recently dropped out probably spent upward of half a billion dollars on TV ads.
The general elections will see even more ad spend.
So the real winners of the US Presidential elections are the TV networks!
Imagine these billions spent on poverty alleviation or refurbishment of the nation’s infrastructure.
4
@Shreekant The money spent on tv ads are often spent in local markets and so support local communities by "down the chain" purchases of goods and products in the local community which, in turn, supports the local economy. Granted, the national networks get their (more than) fair share of it, but think how much money was spent in the small town communities in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and the multiples of small states and communities on Tuesday.
Yeah, it might be better spent more directly towards local charities, but at least some of it is serving a good purpose other than flooding the airwaves with political propaganda.
2
It was not an ego trip. Had it been, he would have entered the race much sooner. But he was afraid of spoiling things. He only came in when Biden looked dangerously weak. He has bowed out now that Biden again is strong. No, it was no ego trip. The man is already very rich and famous and is probably happiest taking it easy in Bermuda. He just wants to defeat Trump. I admire him for that. As for all the comments on all the other things he could do with his money: he does. He is extremely philanthropic. And he is still fighting very hard for gun control.
12
Bloomberg did the honorable thing; he recognized the situation and released his supporters to work for their next choice. Sadly, Warren seems to be delaying the inevitable, and it smacks of selfishness. Hope that changes today (Wednesday AM) or tomorrow.
7
@ Jonny Walker
I agree. But Warren, my candidate, made a fateful error by not challenging Sanders. It was too easy to beat up on the sitting duck Mike Bloomberg and let Sanders slide. Now that strategy has come back to bite her.
6
My support of Mike was not misplaced and I will forever wonder if his wealth would have been a good foil against Trump. All that said, the thinning of the herd is also good to see.
Most important is getting people to the polls in November. We can never forget that!
5
Thank you to Mayor Bloomberg for making the wise choice to step aside and endorse Biden. Now, I wonder: would he be a VP to Biden? Policy-wise they're almost identical but Joe's weakness is Bloomberg's strength, namely money. And Joe's strength is Bloomberg's weakness, and that's likability. Together it might work though I'm not sure Mike's ego could tolerate it.
3
Mike is not a VP kind of guy. The other way around, maybe.
1
@Brannon Perkison I believe Biden will probably get the nomination now, and I think that is a good outcome (please not Bernie!). But Biden cannot afford to choose another white male septagenarian from the east coast as VP. He needs to team up with a younger woman or minority from the South or West - preferably all three. I expect he will be more likely to choose someone like Kamala Harris or Stacey Abrams.
2
Not a chance. NONE.
Bloomberg is an honorable man. He entered the race, not because he really wants to be president for his ego, but because he feared Trump will win again. He's getting out because he sees that Biden can attract support. He would have even supported Bernie if he thought he could beat Trump. He will use his resources to continue to help Democrats (I hope to take the Senate too!). He was unfairly demonized. He uses his money--self-made--for good causes that he has no need to splash his name all over. I will vote blue, no matter who and actually supported Warren. We need to unite and get rid of Trump. I'll bet Bloomberg is now relieved he doesn't have to campaign anymore. But either way, he is rational and has excellent advisors--people who can now help Biden since Bernie is too pure to accept it.
9
Mike Bloomberg might have become a great president, but his timing was awful and all the vitriol coming from Warren doomed his debate performances. He helped rebuild NYC after 9/11 and through the recession. I’m not sure any of the remaining candidates would have been able to do the same in the same circumstances.
Warren lost me as soon as she came out with the Bernie said a woman can’t be elected President claim and the “you called me a liar on national TV” bit. Personal attacks really hurt all sides.
I’m saddened and more worried than ever that Trump will be re-elected. My earliest memories of Biden was how poorly he treated Anita Hill. Obama gave him a veneer of gravitas and congeniality that he never seemed to possess on his own.
3
@In despair Remember, that Warren comment was said supposedly off-mike. It happened to be picked up, but Warren did not purposely attack Sanders on national tv.
I also wonder how much of that Bernie "said a woman can't be elected President" statement (which was taken totally out of context, btw) was perpetuated by Russian trolls.
Mike knows how to blow money. He can get that done. Just goes to show that making a lot of money is not always because of brilliance. Plain dumb luck often enters the equation. Yet we continue to idolize rich oligarchs. Why?
Nevertheless, I am glad he is out. I hope Warren comes to the same decision quickly. From the start this was destined to come down to Sanders or Biden. This is far from over.
2
Bloomberg should use his vast resources to pay off the fines and fees of the Florida felons who can not get there voting rights restored for lack of money. Evidently there are enough votes there to swing a statewide election to the Democrats.
6
So sad to hear this. Biden is just a suit full of bluster, riding on Obama's coattails, who has been somewhat misleading on details of his history.
4
Half a billion thanks, Mike.
As primary season continues it's now on us to put our money and especially our votes where our mouths are.
Register. Confirm. Vote.
4
Thanks, Mike, sincerely! As always, strategic instead of noisy!! BTW, I don't mind if you try to "buy" the Senate - starting now!!
24
We can thank Warren for this. She took out Bloomberg with her amazing debate skills so that mediocre old men who are barely coherent can reap the votes.
Smh at the American voter, yet again
8
Let’s see how you feel in November
Bloomberg is still key to defeating trump. As he has attacked trump for all of his failings Mike needs to stay in the media war and challenge trump's deep pockets with his own. Biden backed by Mikes dollars will defeat trump and send him into history's trash heap.
16
I care more about the political agenda that the Democrats put forward than which talking head gets put on TV (I'd prefer someone like Warren or Bernie, but let's be real, I'd vote for a paint can in November if it were blue). What has this primary told us about Democratic voters?
My takeaway is that the media would like to impose a structural narrative that does not exist. Urban Democratic voters (aka the majority of Americans) want someone like Warren or Sanders, whilst Bloomberg and Biden are the most likely to appeal to Republican defectors to guarantee votes in the electoral college.
This is what representative democracy looks like (and it's sometimes a cluster).
8
Once again Bernie has been thwarted by the professional pols. and an hysterical, fearful voter. Once again this country will fall further and further behind the rest of the world as were keep yelling "we're No.1" with the worst health care, infrastructure, education, environment plan, tax system and wealth disparity.
Expect to re-elect Trump as the young and idealistic stay home again in despair, knowing that we are on a burning ship and the powers that be refuse to douse it with "socialist" water.
4
@John MD
Sanders is his own worst enemy, and would lose to Trump not only in the Electoral College, but in the popular vote. At the end of the day, this is not a progressive country. There is only one goal. Get Trump out. Nothing else matters. Sanders can't do it.
6
@John MD The young and idealistic should get off their bums and vote.
1
@John MD If your point is true then those “young and idealistic” voters really aren’t that idealistic, are they?
Good for Bloomberg for giving it a good old college try!!!
I'm an Independent who really wanted to see he and Trump square off on the issues with that special New York City sarcasm and combativeness they both have.
But Bernie's pretty good with that stuff too.
Finally, his gold plated utterly flopped campaign puts a big dent in arguments for overturning Citizens United which allows unlimited financing of electioneering communications by unions, corporations, etc.
It clearly undermines the notion that big $$$ can buy elections.
So, Mike, thanks too for demonstrating that, as personally painful as it might have been for you.
3
Thank you, Mike. For getting in. And now for getting out.
5
Now that he has more time for other pursuits, Bloomberg should turn his attention to farming. He might learn that it is a little more complex than digging a hole, dropping in seeds, covering it over, watering, and watching the corn come up.
His disparagement of the intelligence and hard work of non billionaires was a total turn off to me, and not what I would want in a President.
8
When Warren drops out I hope she supports Biden just as I am going to. Sanders has already enraged the Jewish community and it makes you wonder how he will speak to foreign leaders if he becomes president. Will he call them bigots if he does not agree with them? It makes you think that maybe HRC was correct when she said nobody likes him. And then there is the health issue - Biden did not just have a heart attack.
8
Let’s pray Bloomberg keeps his word to be a massive financial resource for whomever the nominee is.
7
AND the Senate AND the House...!!!
3
Half a billion dollars on a vanity project.
Couldn’t he have just gotten a new suit instead?
5
Assuming Mike Bloomberg can help put Joe Biden over-the-top, and he does, indeed, become president, then Mike will be an excellent Secretary of the Treasury, if that was the deal. Hey, there's something to be said about having one's signature on a dollar bill!
7
So that locks in the American Samoa delegation for Joe - no stopping him now.
2
So long as the Miguel Bloombito Twitter handle remains. The tweets are hysterical and the highlight of my day.
8
Bloomberg was the respirator Biden needed. Now the Biden has found his feet and Bloomberg is stepping back and supporting Biden. I heard a political analyst say Bloomberg will now become the biggest super pac ever.
Blue in 2020.
8