Any word on Bloomberg?

[Jacobtm]

When the ideas about Bloomberg running for president surfaced during the summer, almost everyone claimed that he wouldn't announce until the Republican and Democratic candidates had been decided upon, so that he could know his opposition and judge his shot of winning.

Well, that time is fast-approaching.  We'll almost definately have the candidates by February 6, if not sooner. So has anyone heard any other news relating to Bloomberg's possibilities, or have people pretty much stopped fantasizing about it?

[True Democrat]

His political adviser said that if he were to run, he's have until the Texas primary in early March to decide, as the Republican primaries might not be over until then.  Bloomberg has also hired a foreign policy adviser, which indicates he might run.

I'm thinking that if Huckabee is the Republican nominee, Bloomberg's chances of running increase exponentially.  Any of the Democrats, though I think Obama more than Clinton, could influence Bloomberg to run.

[MODU]

True, but he has also said numerous times that he isn't running.  So, flip a coin, and you have your answer.

[NDN]

Who cares? There's another politician just like him running right now. His name is Rudy Giuliani.

[WalterMitty]

he was in china this week giving speeches.

[Verily]

Who cares? There's another politician just like him running right now. His name is Rudy Giuliani.

I'll just say you have no idea what you're talking about and leave it at that.

[StateBoiler]

I can only see Bloomberg running if each party nominates certain candidates. I think he will wait til the nominations are "de facto" set before deciding.

[NDN]

Who cares? There's another politician just like him running right now. His name is Rudy Giuliani.

I'll just say you have no idea what you're talking about and leave it at that.

No seriously, other than being marginally more socially liberal, how is Bloomberg any different from Giuliani? They're both secular business-oriented Republicans who've basically endorsed Bush's approach to the War on Terror (re: Iraq*; Patriot Act). I see no major differences.

*Last I checked.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I know. Bloomberg and Rudy are too much alike. I do think if Huckabee does win the nomination that Bloomberg may run. The GOP will have no chance at all. God I hope Rudy can win the nomination dispite losing the first primaries. I hope they dont mean as much as they once did. I dont see Huck beating any Democrat, and I'd hate for the religious right to walk us into a blowout just because abortion is their most important issue.

[Verily]

Who cares? There's another politician just like him running right now. His name is Rudy Giuliani.

I'll just say you have no idea what you're talking about and leave it at that.

No seriously, other than being marginally more socially liberal, how is Bloomberg any different from Giuliani? They're both secular business-oriented Republicans who've basically endorsed Bush's approach to the War on Terror (re: Iraq*; Patriot Act). I see no major differences.

*Last I checked.

Bloomberg has never, as far as I know, supported the Patriot Act, though I don't know that he's opposed it, either. (Really, as mayor, there's little reason for him to have commented.) As for Iraq, he did support it initially but hasn't commented on it in years; unlike Senators and Presidents, he didn't have inner knowledge of the intelligence that showed Bush's reasons for the invasion were false. He has not voiced any of the positions on those issues that Giuliani has any time within the past couple of years.

In any case, Bloomberg has been much less supportive of draconian law measures than Giuliani and brute-force policing, focusing primarily on fostering development within New York City. Unlike Giuliani, Bloomberg understands the importance of development in creating a successful society, and the true role of government in ensuring a strong and stable economy and society; Giuliani focused exclusively on being as bad as the gang to fight the gang.

[gorkay]

I don't think he's going to run. If he is, he's fooling himself if he thinks he can succeed without doing the necessary spadework right now, which to my knowledge he isn't. Money is a requirement to run successfully for President, but it isn't the only one.

[MarkWarner08]

Who cares? There's another politician just like him running right now. His name is Rudy Giuliani.

I'll just say you have no idea what you're talking about and leave it at that.

No seriously, other than being marginally more socially liberal, how is Bloomberg any different from Giuliani? They're both secular business-oriented Republicans who've basically endorsed Bush's approach to the War on Terror (re: Iraq*; Patriot Act). I see no major differences.

*Last I checked.

Bloomberg has never, as far as I know, supported the Patriot Act, though I don't know that he's opposed it, either. (Really, as mayor, there's little reason for him to have commented.) As for Iraq, he did support it initially but hasn't commented on it in years; unlike Senators and Presidents, he didn't have inner knowledge of the intelligence that showed Bush's reasons for the invasion were false. He has not voiced any of the positions on those issues that Giuliani has any time within the past couple of years.

In any case, Bloomberg has been much less supportive of draconian law measures than Giuliani and brute-force policing, focusing primarily on fostering development within New York City. Unlike Giuliani, Bloomberg understands the importance of development in creating a successful society, and the true role of government in ensuring a strong and stable economy and society; Giuliani focused exclusively on being as bad as the gang to fight the gang.

Great comparison of Giuliani and Bloomberg.

[Bacon King]

Bloomberg could win, under the right set of circumstances. I think he will run, though I'm far from certain. 60% chance, maybe.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

I don't think he'll run.

[NDN]

Who cares? There's another politician just like him running right now. His name is Rudy Giuliani.

I'll just say you have no idea what you're talking about and leave it at that.

No seriously, other than being marginally more socially liberal, how is Bloomberg any different from Giuliani? They're both secular business-oriented Republicans who've basically endorsed Bush's approach to the War on Terror (re: Iraq*; Patriot Act). I see no major differences.

*Last I checked.

Bloomberg has never, as far as I know, supported the Patriot Act, though I don't know that he's opposed it, either. (Really, as mayor, there's little reason for him to have commented.) As for Iraq, he did support it initially but hasn't commented on it in years; unlike Senators and Presidents, he didn't have inner knowledge of the intelligence that showed Bush's reasons for the invasion were false. He has not voiced any of the positions on those issues that Giuliani has any time within the past couple of years.

In any case, Bloomberg has been much less supportive of draconian law measures than Giuliani and brute-force policing, focusing primarily on fostering development within New York City. Unlike Giuliani, Bloomberg understands the importance of development in creating a successful society, and the true role of government in ensuring a strong and stable economy and society; Giuliani focused exclusively on being as bad as the gang to fight the gang.

As Mayor he supported the Patriot Act and among other things used it in conjunction with random Subway searches. Similarly, he's recently advocated for the establishment of a National ID card. There are similar articles out there stating his stance, but it's not that well publicized. That he hasn't really recanted his previously gung-ho stance on Iraq other than that he has "mixed feelings" following the discovery that there were no WMDs indicates that he's milquetoast at best on the War on Iraq. Basically, based on that Bloomberg just looks like a more toned down version of Rudy to me.

[Padfoot]

Who cares? There's another politician just like him running right now. His name is Rudy Giuliani.

I'll just say you have no idea what you're talking about and leave it at that.

No seriously, other than being marginally more socially liberal, how is Bloomberg any different from Giuliani? They're both secular business-oriented Republicans who've basically endorsed Bush's approach to the War on Terror (re: Iraq*; Patriot Act). I see no major differences.

*Last I checked.

Bloomberg has never, as far as I know, supported the Patriot Act, though I don't know that he's opposed it, either. (Really, as mayor, there's little reason for him to have commented.) As for Iraq, he did support it initially but hasn't commented on it in years; unlike Senators and Presidents, he didn't have inner knowledge of the intelligence that showed Bush's reasons for the invasion were false. He has not voiced any of the positions on those issues that Giuliani has any time within the past couple of years.

In any case, Bloomberg has been much less supportive of draconian law measures than Giuliani and brute-force policing, focusing primarily on fostering development within New York City. Unlike Giuliani, Bloomberg understands the importance of development in creating a successful society, and the true role of government in ensuring a strong and stable economy and society; Giuliani focused exclusively on being as bad as the gang to fight the gang.

As Mayor he supported the Patriot Act and among other things used it in conjunction with random Subway searches. Similarly, he's recently advocated for the establishment of a National ID card. There are similar articles out there stating his stance, but it's not that well publicized. That he hasn't really recanted his previously gung-ho stance on Iraq other than that he has "mixed feelings" following the discovery that there were no WMDs indicates that he's milquetoast at best on the War on Iraq. Basically, based on that Bloomberg just looks like a more toned down version of Rudy to me.

I think that's the stance that most people in the general public would take as well.  People in the New York metro may have more finely nuanced opinions of Bloomberg and Giuliani but I don't think that would translate well onto the national scene.  A Bloomberg candidacy is more likely to hurt any of the Republican candidates and with Giuliani it would probably create a nearly even split of the party.