Mark Cuban said he is 'considering' presidential run

[TexasTowelie]

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mark Cuban, the Mt. Lebanon High School graduate and billionaire owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, said Tuesday he is “considering” a run for president in 2020.

Mr. Cuban made the statement during a podcast for CNN’s “ViewPoint” with Bakari Sellers.

In the past, Mr. Cuban has said a presidential run would not be unthinkable, and during the podcast he seemed to indicate that a large consideration would need to be given to how he would handle his business holdings. It’s a situation similar to one faced by President Donald Trump, whose divestment of his own holdings has generated criticism.

"Anybody who knows me, anyone who listens to me, anybody who talks to me isn't going to think I'm anything like Donald Trump," Mr. Cuban said during the podcast.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2017/10/03/Mark-Cuban-considering-presidential-run-2020-independent-billionaire-Pittsburgh-Dallas-CNN/stories/201710030171

[Honeycombe8]

1. Wow. I'd vote for him! He's a level headed man. A man with both money & compassion.

But I doubt a progressive.

[TexasBushwhacker]

8. Leans Libertarian n/t

[Honeycombe8]

11. He is? I don't know his political leanings, except tidbits he's said about particular issues.

And what he has said about Trump.

[TexasBushwhacker]

17. He's a Rand admirer n/t

[joshcryer]

39. Put him in the White House and he won't anymore.

He'd go from "fuck, this X administration doesn't need to exist," to "damn, these people are actually doing something worthwhile, I need to help them" very very quickly.

Trump sits there every day and any time an issue is raised, he thinks quietly "I wish this didn't exist, this wasn't part of my daily activities."

[onetexan]

47. i like the guy and i'm willing to keep an open mind

but i think he'd make a great VP candidate for Hillary.

Hillary 2020!!

[maxsolomon]

65. keep flogging that horse

[LanternWaste]

59. Used to lean as such. He endorsed Sec. Clinton last summer

Used to lean as such. He endorsed Sec. Clinton last summer and posted an entry on his blog claiming paying more taxes to be the most patriotic thing someone can do.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

15. Oh boy Just what we need. Another pro business douche bag too embarrassed to be an actual republican

But yeah, maybe he can cut "entitlements" and raise the retirement age to 90. I mean, he'll probably be billionaire-ing well in to his nineties -- so why shouldn't a brick layer lay bricks in to his 90s?

Maybe he won't be so hard on abortion. I mean, ya gotta go middle of the road. Amirite? Maybe just those late term abortions could stay regulated.

Level headed and all.

The things I read on DU.

MARK CUBAN: I want to be a Republican, but the party has one big problem

http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-cuban-republican-party-big-problem-2015-8
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban on Tuesday weighed in on the status of the Republican Party.

In a post on his Cyber Dust social-media app, the outspoken billionaire investor wrote that he would prefer to join the GOP but had an issue with the party's push for conformity.

"I would prefer to be a Republican," Cuban wrote in the post, which was flagged by The Dallas Morning News. "I want smaller government. I want smarter government. Just like most Republicans. Put aside that I disagree with Republicans on most social issues. The Republicans have a much bigger problem that will crush them in every presidential election until this changes."

...

The "Shark Tank" star's desire to avoid party orthodoxy could be related to his recent praise for real-estate mogul Donald Trump, whom he hailed as "the best thing to happen" to politics in a long time. Indeed, Cuban even told Business Insider he would consider being Trump's vice president if asked, though he said he would probably decline the hypothetical offer.

[FakeNoose]

40. He's got one thing going for him

He's a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, born and bred. Other than that I don't see anything in his resume that qualifies him to run. The fact that he adores Trump is reason enough NOT to vote for Cuban.

Wikipedia says he's worth $3.3 billion, how can that be?
Many NBA franchises aren't profitable, or just barely breaking even.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

41. He's got nice hair and white teeth

[emulatorloo]

68. So did FDR

What's wrong w Bernie's teeth, that is not a very nice thing to say.

[onetexan]

48. Hmm so would he run as a GOP or Dem candidate?

now i'm confused

[Funtatlaguy]

62. That article is very old. 2015

Cuban now loathes Trump.

[emulatorloo]

67. He despises Trump. endorsed Clinton in 2016. Quickly sent help to Puerto Rico

Wants the wealthy to pay their fair share of taxes. I'd have to know more about him to see if he's qualified to be president. That includes policy positions. Will require research.

You have any details on his positions on social security and Medicare or are you just making shit up?

[hamsterjill]

77. +1

n/t

[madokie]

2. I rec'd it because of what he said

on the strength of this one statement and this one statement only

"Anybody who knows me, anyone who listens to me, anybody who talks to me isn't going to think I'm anything like Donald Trump"

[ailsagirl]

3. That'd be great!!

But 2020 sounds so far away...

and God knows where we'll be then, no thanks to chump

[Raine]

4. I really like him

he'd get my vote!

[Laffy Kat]

78. Can you say that w/o knowing where he stands on LGBTQ, Choice.....

Immigration, health care, gun control, etc., etc. "I really like him" got us where we are today.

[LisaM]

5. When are we going to figure out that business people don't make good politicians?

I like Mark Cuban a lot better than Donald Trump but this is ridiculous.

[still_one]

28. Thank-you

[socialist_n_TN]

74. Not only business people, but ANYBODY who......

has had a buttload of money for a while has no idea of what the rest of us go through.

[Jose Garcia]

86. Yes, but many politicians don't make good politicians either

[StevieM]

87. We figured it out before Trump was "elected." He only "won" because the FBI rigged the race. (eom)

[Liberalagogo]

6. No thanks!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Cuban#Political_activity

[Raine1967]

7. Personally I say NO. No more rich guys with no experience in Governance.

Cuban seems like a nice enough person, but just because he's not trump does not make him someone who gets governing and politics.

[C Moon]

9. Yep. They will see the country as a corporation. It's not. It's our country.

We pay taxes and get services from those we pay taxes to. We have a President and a VP, we don't have a CEO and CFO.

[diva77]

21. +1000 This! Why doesn't he back a qualified candidate with political experience and knowledge of

law as well. What an ego!!!

Oprah, on the other hand, has things in perspective -- she's a billionaire, but found a qualified candidate and backed him -- Obama!!!

[LittleGirl]

10. I think it was

Al Franken that said he never considered running for President because he didn't think he was qualified but now that #45 (I won't say his name) is President, he might change his mind.

[groundloop]

35. Franken has been in the Senate for quite a while and truly 'gets it'.... unlike 45*

[LittleGirl]

36. I'd vote for him. eom

[LisaM]

89. Al Franken also took the time to get involved in politics before he ran for office.

He had a show that I liked on the short-lived Air America network, and you could tell he was really a smart guy. He immersed himself in politics before he ran for Senate.

I think a lot of comedians tend to be bright anyway, but they also possess a huge dose of empathy, which is a crucial quality for an effective politician to have, IMO.

[TeamPooka]

12. No thanks. Another rich guy reality TV star isn't the answer to the other rich guy reality TV star.

[hatrack]

13. Great, another "billionaire businessman" who doesn't know SHIT about government . . .

[TexasBushwhacker]

14. Enough with the leap frogging

Run for John Cornyn's seat in the Senate or run against Greg Abbott for Governor. It's ridiculous for these businessmen to run for President when they have zero political experience.

[LeftInTX]

23. Yeah, there was talk of him running for gov

He should run. Would be a huge improvement over Abbott and could possibly win.

[Bleacher Creature]

16. 100% NO. Havent we learned our lesson?

It’s the highest office in the land, and it should be filled with someone with experience and a solid understanding of the issues. Mark Cuban may be a lot closer to our political views than Donald Trump, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s totally unqualified. I’m also pretty sure that he’s a registered independent.

Why are people so opposed to the idea of running a qualified Democrat?

[Starry Messenger]

18. I doubt hed take us into nuclear winter, but still

I’d like to see if we can do better than vanity celebrity candidate x.

[Paladin]

19. Another mouthy billionaire without any governmental experience? Fuck that shit. (nt)

[ProfessorGAC]

44. At Least There's No Dispute That He Is A Real Billionaire

Unlike someone i can think of.

[Lokilooney]

20. I have a better idea, lets invade Russia in the winter!

[JI7]

22. No thanks. If he is serious he should run for Mayor or other office first

[hatrack]

45. He can pay his dues, and learn something about politics . . .

Sick and tired of Miracle Men promising Miracle Government.

[DavidDvorkin]

24. No. A thousand times no.

[roamer65]

25. No thanks.

[Chasstev365]

26. NO! NO! NO!

[raven mad]

27. With all the RWNJ's around? His name alone will defeat his hope.

[lutherj]

29. Mark Cuban strikes me as just another mediocre joe who happened to make a lot of money

and now thinks he's brilliant about everything and his money proves it. The pathology of the rich. No more fucking billionaires . . .

[7962]

30. Oh great; another egotistical blowhard.

America needs a businessman!!

[Just Yakov]

31. Fuck off, Cuban

We don't need another richie rich candidate for President.

What we need are progressives running for President, thanks.

[Eliot Rosewater]

70. No thanks, dont want progressives, want democrats and liberals.

[alarimer]

84. Yes to progressives.

They have been winning on a local level (Jackson, MS and Birmingham, AL just recently).

Meanwhile, a decent Dem is running against Moore in AL and the DSCC is hemming and hawing about whether to support him or not. Not sure what the DNC is doing. But what they all need to do is at least attempt to win that race. It's the only one happening right now.

[Just Yakov]

90. If they are stalling, then there's a problem with the DNC

in support of progressives defeating Republicans. It seems to me that only Third Way politicans may appeal DNC for help.

NOT. ACCEPTABLE.

MUST. SUPPORT. PROGRESSIVES.

It's past time for the Blue Dogs to retire and let new blood take over and advance the People's plan.

[ehrnst]

92. Because "progressive" is measured by ones income?

Since when?

[dawn frenzy adams]

32. HELL NO!

The last thing we need is another billionaire for president. Rich doesn't mean good.

[George II]

33. Oh I hope so. I'd work for him, although where I live a telephone pole would defeat trump.....

....if it ran as a Democrat.

My immediate plan is to drive up to Vermont a few weekends to campaign for the eventual Democratic Senatorial candidate in next year's election.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

49. So you are publicly supporting Svitavsky?

Good to know. Do you know anything about him?

[George II]

51. I didn't say that, please reread my post. Thank you.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

52. Is there someone else starting a campaign?

I haven't seen anyone else.

[George II]

61. It's October 2017.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

64. And the election is Nov of 2018

Are you trying to indicate that people decide to run for Senate in the last month? Won't the primaries be in the spring?

Is there someone else other than Svitavsky getting together a campaign? Because if they aren't...tick tock.

[George II]

66. Much of the information you're looking for can be found here:

https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/candidates.aspx

[Cuthbert Allgood]

75. Doesn't really answer the question of who you are supporting.

You said:

My immediate plan is to drive up to Vermont a few weekends to campaign for the eventual Democratic Senatorial candidate in next year's election.

So it seems like you are already throwing your support behind someone. The only one I know of is Svitavsky. So either your "immediate plan" is to support him or there is someone else you know of that is planning to run. Which one is it?

[George II]

76. That paragraph answers your question.

[Hortensis]

79. It's too early to know who the Democratic candidates will be. For sure, more

than one will be vying for one of only 100 very powerful, elite Senate positions. Hopefully one of them will be a competent, honorable person who is strongly motivated by a determination to make a positive difference, rather than carefully doing whatever is needed to keep getting reelected for the next quarter century.

We really, really need to make these positions less desirable. Right now, most pols become risk averse for fear of losing their very elite positions in the centers of power and having to go home. The safest place for all of them is in the center, wherever that happens to move, and that's where those who get reelected time after time vote. Certainly, that's been the case in Vermont.

[Act_of_Reparation]

53. Isn't he that guy...

...who plays cookie jam every day, says things like "phoney baloney" in casual conversation, and looks like the type of person any competent Ben & Jerry's manager wouldn't trust to be alone with the Cherry Garcia?

Yeah, we'll go far with him.

[George II]

63. Personal attacks generally bite back.

[Lordquinton]

69. What does that mean?

[NurseJackie]

71. Apparently so.

[Lordquinton]

72. I'm trying to imagine

What it would look like if all this effort was put into defeating Republicans, instead of a 2016 Democratic presidential candidate.

[George II]

73. You should read what I posted. I AM going to put effort into defeating a republican next year.

[radhika]

34. I've seen some online teasers suggesting Oprah is thinking of 2020 too...

Why the f**k not?

Every ego maniacal billionaire with a TV or media empire is fair game for the Oval Office in today's realm. They've become bored with personal or commercial conglomerates and wish to express themselves by running our world.

Folks want to sit back and be entertained by a star, rather than take democracy by the people seriously.

[Initech]

37. No. And I mean hell no!!!!

Oprah would get destroyed in the GE. If there's one person in the world the GOP hates more than Hillary Clinton, it's Oprah. I vote hell no on this one!

[FloridaBlues]

38. Hell no more billionaires who think they can govern

He's seems like a nice guy but no thanks

[DeminPennswoods]

43. Heard Cuban speak at a Pgh rally for Hillary

right after the DNC when she did a short bus tour from Philly through PA. He gave a terrific speech.

Cuban is not like Trump at all. He actually wants to understand all sides of policy issues. He isn't trying to avoid paying his fair share of taxes. He actually shares his success with his employees. He told the crowd he encouraged his employees to invest in the company and when he sold his first business, he said he made 300 (iirc) of his them millionaires, some of them were his lowest paid workers. Unlike Trump, Cuban's a real self-made billionaire. He's done the jobs at the bottom of the economic ladder. He has an actual vision for making a better America. I doubt anyone disagrees with the federal govt being smarter and more efficient with tax dollars. Even most federal civil servants like I was want that.

[riversedge]

60. Thanks for the insight.

[Javaman]

46. no thanks. I'm tired of one oligarch being replaced by another. nt

[rock]

50. For which country?

I like Mark. But not as president.

[Me.]

54. Is His Campaign Slogan Going To Be

"I'm not Trump"?

[Moostache]

55. FFS NO!!!!

We do not need to propagate the destruction of government by turning it into an actual fucking "reality TV show".

We need fewer businessmen and lawyers in government and more union representatives and governors. Being rich qualifies you for jack-all, especially when the source of your wealth comes from either a single well-timed sale (Cuban's sale of his internet company just ahead of the 90's tech bubble crash) or because you fell out of a privileged vagina (like our current loser asshat) and the source of your renown is a goddamn TV show and the press.

We need to return serious minded civic servants to government and we need to expose and eradicate the GOP's intentional poisoning of government as a means to discredit its effectiveness and purpose. Going into another election cycle with unqualified loudmouths is no way to solve anything.

Hell, if we want to do that....I'll run for president...the biggest difference between me and Mark Cuban is the number of zeroes in my bank accounts and net worth...otherwise, shit, why not? Right? (Of course that is facetious!!!)

[SHRED]

56. Oh HELL NO

[CrispyQ]

57. The office of the president will become a businessman billionaire position.

Our country is fucked. Our population is too stupid & apathetic for this kind of government.

[samnsara]

58. i think america is tired of billionaires who lack political experience...

...no matter what side hes on. We need tried and true and ESTABLISHED experience to lead the world out of this hell hole. No more newcomers...not as prez. He can run for Congress if he wants to...

[briv1016]

80. I'll say the same thing I said when Opera was talking about running a few months ago.

We've had enough billionaires with no political experience playing president to last several lifetimes. Now if he wanted to run for congress or a governorship first to prove himself...

[olddad56]

81. Just what we need, another billionaire celebrity for President.

We don't need any celebrities in political office. How well did Reagan work out? Arnold was a disaster as gov in California.
Lets leave it up to qualified people who have paid their dues. Like Al Gore and Hillary Clinton. They both would have made excellent presidents. Had Gore not gotten cheated in the rigged election of 2000, we may have actually made some progress on the environment. Had Hillary not gotten cheated in a rigged election, all of the good work that Obama did, might have been carried on.

[Deb]

82. I've had enough reality tv personna shoved down my throat

We can do decent and ethical public servants

[alarimer]

83. NO MORE INEXPERIENCED BILLIONAIRES!!!!!!!

Have we not learned our lesson? Cuban is no more qualified than Trump was.

Why do these idiots always want to start with President? They know nothing about actually governing; they just want POWER.

[xor]

85. If they want to get into politics then they should do some other political stuff for awhile

so people can figure out what they're all about. Congress, governor, or whatever it might be. As someone said about, this leapfrogging stuff isn't a good idea.

[alarimer]

91. The same way you or I would.

They are not experts at anything other than their businesses (and sometimes not even then).

[StevieM]

88. If we are going to consider nominating a billionaire then I would prefer Tom Steyer.

He is a solid environmentalist who has worked to fight climate change. He has also spoken out against trickle-down economics.