Anyone heard this rumor: Bloomberg considering indie run in 08?

[CTyankee]

My son in law who is a political consultant spent last week in Washington D.C. where he heard a buzz about Michael Bloomberg contemplating a run for President in 08 as an Independent. He said that Bloomberg is willing to spend the requisite $2 billion of his own personal fortune to back it, and is quietly getting advice on whether it is feasible.

I have not seen any threads about this on DU, but then I am not a DU expert so I may have missed something...

[DainBramaged]

1. He was a Democrat turned Republican but runs NY like a Democrat

Could be worth a look.

[Stinky The Clown]

2. That's been whispered for a while now ......

I think I read it here on DU, as a matter of fact .... maybe .... 6 months ago? :shrug:

[Me.]

3. Al From

Famously from the DLC group of insiders has been urging Bloomberg to run as an indie. There were small items in the news in Oct. and mentions here and there since then.

[wyldwolf]

5. Not true

The two had dinner - arranged by Bloomberg's people. I'm quite positive both have many dinners with many people.

I've seen no indication that From or a group of "DLC insiders" have been urging him to run.

[Me.]

6. Is True

“New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has always denied it, but CBS 2 has learned the details of a secret meeting, involving the mayor, to discuss a possible run for the White House. <…>

CBS 2 has learned the details of a private dinner for the mayor that was held at an apartment building on Manhattan’s Upper East Side last month. There, he spent the evening in serious discussions about the viability of a White House run.

Sources told CBS 2 Bloomberg brought three deputy mayors with him, and proceeded to talk through every angle of a presidential run. By the end, the group had zeroed in on his running as an independent in 2008. And, the sources said, he seemed intrigued.

The dinner was held at the home of Michael Steinhardt, a legendary Wall Street hedge fund manager and a Bloomberg friend. He brought along Al From, head of the Democratic Leadership Council, which played a part in Bill Clinton’s rise to power in 1992.

Sources said the man who put Bloomberg together with Steinhardt and From was New York City Schools Commissioner Joel Klein.”

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/8487.html



DLCers Talk Up Indie Run by Bloomberg

“In today's issue of The New York Times, Diane Cardwell discusses the possibility of a presidential run by Michael Bloomberg. How fitting, then, that the pundits apparently most open to talking about a potential independent candidacy by the billionaire and New York City mayor come from the DLC.

As Democrats and Republicans argue over the future of their parties and the national debate remains polarized, there are signs that voters are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with President Bush and the Republican leaders of Congress, and that they aren't necessarily energized by the Democrats, either.

"Most people are not satisfied with their politics and would very much like to see more politicians who just got things done," said Al From, founder and chief executive officer of the Democratic Leadership Council, a centrist policy group. "Most people really aren't about ideology. Most people really are about, 'Let's get something done that's going to make my life better.' "

http://www.mydd.com/story/2006/5/29/132328/714



“# WCBS's Andrew Kirtzman has details about a secret Bloomberg '08 meeting, with Al From playing a supporting role.”

http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/09/the_saturday_br_5.html



Bloomberg Secretly Considers Presidential Campaign
CBS 2 Exclusive: Despite Public Denials, Mayor Has Secret Meeting With National Political Strategist, Wall Street Money Man

“Sources told CBS 2 Bloomberg brought three deputy mayors with him, and proceeded to talk through every angle of a presidential run. By the end, the group had zeroed in on his running as an independent in 2008. And, the sources said, he seemed intrigued.

The dinner was held at the home of Michael Steinhardt, a legendary Wall Street hedge fund manager and a Bloomberg friend. He brought along Al From, head of the Democratic Leadership Council, which played a part in Bill Clinton's rise to power in 1992.

Sources said the man who put Bloomberg together with Steinhardt and From was New York City Schools Commissioner Joel Klein.”

http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_258181718.html

[wyldwolf]

7. Everyone knows they had dinner. You haven't proved support

You said, "Al From and... DLC group of insiders has been urging Bloomberg to run as an indie."

Your links in no way show From or some secret DLC group of insider have urged him to run.

Show me ONE quote where from or any DLC member has said, "We want Bloomberg to run."

A link to myDD is laughable as prove of this - reads like muckraking.

AMAZING how these things have to be debunked on an almost daily basis.

From was invited to the dinner - not vice versa. He was asked about the current political landscape and answered. There is no indication that From is in on any plans for a Bloomberg run.

Here is the story:

ne day last July, Al From received an unexpected call from Michael Steinhardt. From is the founder and CEO of the Democratic Leadership Council, the centrist outfit in Washington that helped propel Bill Clinton into the White House; Steinhardt is the once-hellacious hedge-fund manager turned philanthropist whose name now graces the School of Education at NYU, a former chairman of the DLC, and a friend for decades of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. When From picked up the phone, Steinhardt greeted him thus: “How’d you like to come to New York and have dinner with the next president of the United States?”

From replied, teasingly, “I didn’t realize you’re so friendly with Hillary Clinton.”

The genesis of Steinhardt’s call was a conversation with New York City schools chancellor Joel Klein. Klein said that “Bloomberg was preoccupied—no, that’s too strong a word—that he was really focused on whether he should run for president,” Steinhardt recalls. Steinhardt reminded Klein of his association with the DLC and told him that if Bloomberg wanted to meet From “to get some perspective about the realities of running for national office,” he would happily arrange it. Fifteen minutes later, Klein called back and said that Bloomberg certainly did.

Soon enough, From found himself having supper at Steinhardt’s apartment on the Upper East Side with Bloomberg and his senior political adjutants: deputy mayors Patti Harris, Kevin Sheekey, and Ed Skyler. For the next couple of hours, From laid out his analysis of the political landscape and his views on the viability of an independent candidacy. He discussed DLC poll data concerning the alienation of voters from the two major parties. But he also argued that any mayor—and especially a mayor of New York—would face an uphill slog. Bloomberg listened closely but asked few questions, preferring to hold forth (at great length) about his record as mayor. Regarding his national aspirations, he adopted a posture of self-protective self-deprecation. “What chance does a five-foot-seven billionaire Jew who’s divorced really have of becoming president?” he asked.

http://nymag.com/news/politics/25015/

NO mention of DLC backing or encouragement.

[Me.]

8. Perhaps You Missed This Line

"DLCers Talk Up Indie Run by Bloomberg"

[wyldwolf]

9. that was the title of a blogger's post - when you actually read the post...

no one from the DLC is "urging Bloomberg to run as an indie."


Can someone not comment on something without it being assumed they support it?

[Me.]

10. Gee Now I Get It

A secret meeting is held about an indie run for Bloomberg and uninterested people are invited, for the food.

[wyldwolf]

11. obviously you don't

Someone asks Bloomberg if he'd like to meet Al From. Bloomberg says yes. They have dinner. They discuss the political landscape.

Suddenly, From and some secret cadre of DLCers support a Bloomberg bid for the presidency. :crazy:

Hey - about 400 of so GA Democrats piled into a hotel ballroom to hear Evan Bayh speak earlier this year. We all had dinner with him. Guess that makes us all Bayh supporters.

[H2O Man]

13. "A conspiracy of silence

speaks louder than words." -- John Lennon

It's funny how jumpy some people get, isn't it?

(edited to correct a spelling error)

[wyldwolf]

15. very funny how jumpy some people get

[H2O Man]

16. It sure is.

I think deep breathing exercises are a good thing. Attempts to say "but it was just two people sharing a meal" seems lacking in oxygen.

[wyldwolf]

18. It sure is

I think deep breathing exercises are a good thing. Attempts to say make it all some grand conspiracy based on a dinner where Al From's brains was picked seems lacking in oxygen.

[Me.]

19. Oxygen Is Needed

in the DLC. What's From doing discussing DLC poll data with a potential rival of a democratic candidate?

[wyldwolf]

20. apparently it's needed ...

... on the far left... Where everything is a biiiiiig conspiracy

What's From doing discussing DLC poll data with a potential rival of a democratic candidate?

You mean the publically accessable poll data?

The DLC published the poll results on their website much the same way PEW and Gallup does.

[Me.]

21. The Left Who's Been Right About So Much

even when there was way too much protesting going on and they were being called conspiracists?

[wyldwolf]

22. did you know Harry Truman enjoyed a glass of buttermilk before bed?

:: This reply auto-generated when someone tries to change the subject ::

[Red Zelda]

4. He's a solidly better candidate...

than that reptile Giuliani!

[AndreaCG]

30. He's still a fascist jerk

Look at the continuing arrests of bike riders.

[skipos]

12. So would he Naderize Dems or Reps? Probably Dems

since we seem to have this attraction to 3rd party candidates, even if it means missing the opportunity to save our district, state or country from Republican destruction.

[radfringe]

14. 3rd party candidate viability will depend on

how well the Dems are seen regarding Congress. How much work will be done and of what importance.

the repubs have lost credibility, it'll be a couple more years before they are able to repostion themselves. As such, 3rd party will emerge from this side. How strong of a "public appeal" will depend on how good or bad the Dems do in running congress.

Bloomberg could be in a good position to run as an independent if the Dems totally screw-up and people are afraid the repubs will pick up where they left off in screwing the country.

The drawback for Bloomberg is how to 'define' himself. First he was a Dem, then a repub, now an independent?? Can't this guy make up his mind? What's he going to be next week - a Martian Libertarian? -- he's going to have to get a handle on this and come up with his own explaination of party hopping

[CTyankee]

24. Well, it seems to me that a good part of the country will roll their eyes

at a "New YOrk Jew." Excuse me for saying this (my grandchildren are Jewish) but here we go.

I'd LOVE to think that a liberal New Yorker could advance in national politics to Prez, but I don't think Bloomberg could do it as an Indie. He'd have to have the sanction of a national party, IMHO.

[radfringe]

28. at the moment it's looking like McCain

saw some poll last night about repubs - Guilliani and McCain were the only ones in double digits. everyone else is below 9%

still too early for me to place any bets. too much can happen to upset the apple carts between now and the primary season.

[trogdor]

17. Wonderful (rolls eyes)

A candidate that can turn New York and its 31 electoral votes red. Just what we all need. I'll have a vodka, straight up.

[stray cat]

23. Definitely being considered. See latest edition of New York magazine

[election_2004]

25. Great, I hope he draws moderate Republicans away from McCain or Hagel

A three-way race between Bayh, Hagel, and Bloomberg could be veeeeeery interesting!

[Renew Deal]

26. I live in NY

The speculation has been there, but Bloomberg keeps denying. I think he should run.

[CK_John]

27. Repost from aug. New Independents will make major waves

in 08. I think we will have to deal with the Mayor of NYC and the Gates Family. I am not sure if Bill Gates or his wife will be the public face of this new movement. But count on a very strong and well financed independent who will make Ross Perot, Nader, or Anderson seem like small potatoes.

[SmellsLikeDeanSpirit]

29. He will take votes away from democrats. He would do better than Nader in 2000.

He has name value and lots and lots of money. His he richer than Perot?