Bloomberg stirs talk of a possible 2008 independent bid with appearance at bipartisan summit

[SaveElmer]

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg turned up the volume on a possible independent bid for president on Monday, participating in a bipartisan summit that stole a bit of the spotlight from the announced candidates in New Hampshire.

Amid talk about Washington riven by partisanship, Bloomberg gathered with Democrats and Republicans _ some current elected officials, others out of office for years _ to discuss bridging the divide between the parties. The summit came on the eve of the first-in-the-nation primary.

...

"The opportunity to remove partisan politics from the dialogue is a wonderful idea," said Dennis Ryan, 74, a lawyer from Oklahoma City.

But the national media who traveled to the University of Oklahoma, and some in the crowd of about 1,000, were there to see Bloomberg more than anyone else. The multibillionaire mayor switched his party affiliation from Republican to independent last summer, increasing the political chatter about a potential third-party bid for the presidency.

Some of the event's organizers themselves have bluntly billed the gathering as a warning to the major party candidates that they are prepared to back an independent candidate _ someone like Bloomberg _ if they do not see more cooperation among the declared contenders.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/president/13501686.html

[cmaff05]

1. Please reconsider

Let's hope he doesn't enter the race. We don't need another Ralph Nader 2000 situation.

[SaveElmer]

2. His appeal would be far greater than Nader's....

Not saying he would win...but he cannot be dismissed...

[robbedvoter]

4. Because he has his own media - it's why NYC-ers are mostly blind to his record

[SaveElmer]

6. Care to provide examples?

From conversations I have had with friends in New York...he is thought of very highly...

Definitely progressive on social issues...

[robbedvoter]

3. Just watched some of it on C_span - Bloomy said "competency" - like Bush

he makes up words - and then sets standards for my kids' tests in school - the turd!
Digby's blog has the best analysis on the "bipartisan" thinghie

[Inuca]

5. "competency" is not incorrect

check it out