If you want to point a finger at two men with absolute certainty of guilt when Trump gets re-elected

[MelissaB]

Link to tweet

If you want to point a finger at two men with absolute certainty of guilt when Trump gets re-elected by Bloomberg and Tom Steyer.

I can't explain to you even a tenth of their resources would do to alter the battlefield in this campaign.

2/ If they really cared about defeating Trump both of those men would be up on the fucking air right now with a massive tv and digital campaign nuking the living shit out of him in the 15 swing States.

But no. They have to jerk themselves off in public.

3/ In my new book Running Against the Devil I talked about the danger of third party and vanity candidates in an equation where the forces arrayed against Trump cannot afford to lose a single vote.

The groups these men fund on the outside currently will be put to their service.

4/ And honestly, Steyer rankles me more than Bloomberg and some ways. Mike at least made a fuck ton of money and was Mayor.

There is no Democratic party leadership that can stop these two men but if there was Tom Perez would be bringing down the wrath of God.

5/ they're popping corks in Trump headquarters right now.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I don't think either of them, or even the two together, will have that much influence.

Even with all his money and advertising, Steyer is still polling in the low single digits, and now this story has come out about one of his aides allegedly offering campaign money in exchange for endorsements in Iowa. That's not a good look. And even if Bloomberg makes all the state filing deadlines, he has no organizations on the ground anywhere and he's too late to be included in the remaining debates. Both of these guys are using their money to satisfy their ego trips and their campaigns won't go anywhere.

[edhopper]

6. The just need to syphon off enough Dem votes

for trump to win. Like Stein did last time.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Neither is running as a third-party candidate, which is the only way they could take Dem votes.

Steyer is running as an avidly anti-Trump candidate; he's the one who started that "Need To Impeach" campaign. He is selling himself as a progressive; he has proposed a “wealth tax” on the superrich that's similar to Warren's; he wants to expand the Supreme Court, and he wants emergency action on climate change. He's theoretically a competitor for Warren's and Sanders' voters. Bloomberg would run as a moderate, and as such would be more of a competitor for Biden or Buttigieg voters. But since they are running as Democrats, they'd have to get the nomination of Democratic party, and they won't. The only siphoning that might occur would be within the party.

[edhopper]

10. Thanks for clarifying this

So what is Bloomberg doing. Afraid of Warren's wealth tax?

[Mars and Minerva]

16. I doubt it. More likely he believes that Warren couldn't possibly win in the general...

but she is on her way to winning the Primary. He was only going to run if the front runner wasn't a Moderate.

[uponit7771]

2. K&R,

[Darwin2019]

3. Rick Wilson what a poet

He has such a way with words!

[DFW]

4. If either of them wants some REAL influence in Washington after the 2020 election

They should each pour a billion dollars into the dark money super-PAC of their favorite candidate. If their candidate of choice doesn't HAVE a super-PAC, just dangle a billion dollars in front of them.

[Bev54]

5. I agree

I have been screaming about Styer for months now that he should be putting his money to good use instead of running, nobody is interested in another fucking billionaire using his money to buy a job and especially when it is obvious he is not in contention. I cannot even understand the arrogance of both of these men who seem to think the people want them. They don't.

[exboyfil]

8. I am with you

They should be nuking the Senate candidates right now using Trump to tie around their necks. Steyer's commercials do bash Trump at the start of them.

[Dagstead Bumwood]

14. Damn near $50M blown on Steyer's vanity project to date.

What a waste, and so many Democrats running on small contributions and good wishes that could use that money to beat Rethugs at the local level.

[Autumn]

18. Tom Steyer poured $123 million into politics to help ensure a blue wave.

More than what many have done. I support his run 100 %, he is a voice that should be heard.

Ever since Donald Trump entered the White House, California billionaire Tom Steyer has been at the forefront of the resistance. From buying “Need To Impeach” billboards in Times Square to strategically mobilizing get-out-the-vote efforts, Steyer has poured $123 million into politics in the last year. One of his goals was to ensure that the widely anticipated “Blue Wave”—in which Democrats would flip Congress—would happen.

While Democrat gains were significant, it looks like the Blue Wave was more a Blue Ripple: Democrats flipped the House, but Republicans added numbers to their ranks in the Senate. This raises the question: Was Tom Steyer’s hefty contribution money well spent?

Steyer, who went from hedge fund manager to environmental and political activist, spent the majority of the money—more than $80 million—on two efforts: Need To Impeach, his online petition and media blitz to oust Trump from office, which later included a Need To Vote initiative; and NextGen Rising, a youth voter mobilization effort.

According to political strategists, Steyer’s youth voter turnout campaign was critical and likely helped Democrats take back the House. The impeachment rally cry? Not so much.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelauyeung/2018/11/09/how-billionaire-tom-steyers-123-million-made-a-difference-in-the-midterms/#7c5384963ed1

[Dagstead Bumwood]

19. Agree to disagree. n/t

[Autumn]

21. I for one appreciate what he has done to elect Democrats. nt

[Dagstead Bumwood]

33. Where did I say I didn't?

I commented specifically about his vanity project at present. I think the money could be much better spent. If you don't, then there we are. Have a good weekend

[mountain grammy]

22. Thanks for the reality check.

Pretty sure Bloomberg poured some money into Democratic races as well.
But I hate that they’re running for president.

[Gore1FL]

25. There is a lot of needles to thread here, but I pretty much agree with you.

His voice should be heard, but I'd argue that is true of anyone with something to contribute to the discussion.

He's earned his spot at this table because he fought for it, not because he bought it; his money made it infinitely easier for him to fight, though.

Ultimately, it's all nuance, and "yay" to all who contribute what they can to make the world a better place!

[Volaris]

30. His political positions are commendable. And if he REALLY BELIEVES THEM,

He can help Warren win so she can raise his taxes.

[Autumn]

31. I pay attention to what he says. He will be happy to have his taxes raised. nt

[Kurt V.]

9. rick wilson again. smfh. a vulgarian barely capable of a thought deeper than a pond

[calimary]

11. Just file him in the "useful idiot" column.

Last edited Thu Nov 7, 2019, 09:33 PM - Edit history (1)

I enjoy what he says these days because he badmouths trump. But I don’t untrusted him. Let another CON come along in the future who tows the party line and is less vulgar, dishonest, and overtly greedy, and he and most, if not all, of the Steve Schmidts and David Jollys and Rick Tylers and even the Justin Amashes and Joe Scarboroughs will come scurrying back under the “elephant tent.”

It’s just trump who offends their delicate sensibilities. The wretched IGMFU I-don’t-wanna-share, sucks-to-be-you-(if you’re poor or female or a minority) republi-CON policies are no problem for them.

[Kurt V.]

12. +1

[tblue37]

17. They hate that Trump says the secret part out loud, and that he is embarrassingly gross. nt

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. Oddest sentence structure ever...first one

[Poiuyt]

27. It was really strange, wasn't it?

[Autumn]

15. Only if they run third party and Tom Steyer won't do that. nt

[Behind the Aegis]

20. Actually, I will blame the "never Trumpers", among others.

Those assholes, claim to hate the POS in the WH, but still refuse to back, much less vote for a democratic candidate "out of principle." I can't think of who, off the top of my head, but there was one on Bill Mahar recently, and Mahar cornered him by asking if he would actually vote for the democrat...he said "no."

[mountain grammy]

23. Yes I remember that.

Can’t remember who it was. Maybe Joe Walsh or Mark Sanford?

[dustyscamp]

24. I've been seeing a lot of Steyer ads here in NV lately

His messages in them is really good and feels sincere and it makes me like the guy, but I don't think he has a chance at beating the top 3 running. Bloomberg meh all I know that he is a rich dude just like Steyer

[RainCaster]

26. We need fewer candidates, not more!

Both these clowns need to go away. We don't need any more billionaires in our political system.

[UniteFightBack]

28. IF ONLY there was a candidate that was beating dump in all the swing states. IF ONLY.

Fucking UNREAL.

[amywalk]

29. I read Eric Holder was considering jumping in the Dem primary as well.

[Cha]

32. Good way to put it!

[GoCubsGo]

34. I detest the fact that I have to agree with this prick.

But, he's absolutely correct here. Instead of wasting all that money on vanity campaigns, which neither will win, they need to be putting it into getting legislation passed that will actually help people.

P.S., Mr. Steyer, please stop sending me your goddamn campaign literature. I do not read it. It goes straight into the recycling bin. I'm sure the USPS appreciates the income, but you are wasting paper. You will not be getting my primary vote, nor will Mr. Bloomberg.