A question about Bloomberg

[Andy823]

I keep hearing how he will run if "Hillary" is the nominee, but not if Obama is. Nadar will run if either of them are the nominee. But why would Bloomberg only run if Hillary is the nominee? He is a billionare who "IS" corporate america. Obama supporters keep saying Hillary is "part" of the corporate america, and Oama isn't. So why in the world would he NOT run if Obama is the nominee, "IF" Obama is going to make the "changes" we need to take on corporat america to stop what they are doing to this country, like outsourcing, CEO's making multi millions every year while their workers get laid off, etc.?

Can someone explain this to me?

[Clarkansas]

1. Bloomberg sees Clinton as polarizing.

And Nader hates Clinton.

They are much more likely to run against Clinton than Obama.

[terisan]

10. Think he wants to give NY to the Republicans by running agnst Clinton nt

[MadBadger]

2. That Unity message Bloomberg would run on wouldnt receive much traction with Obama on the ballot

[napi21]

7. Maybe not, but he'd pull enough voters from any Dem candidate to elect a Pub!

I know Bloomberg is a millionair, but most of the time, when I listen to him speak, he makes sense. If he makes sense to me, you can bet your life he makes sense to a lot of other Dems and Indi's too.

[terisan]

24. One of the founding members of Unity08 is Hamilton Jordan, rabid Clinton hater

and former Carter aide. He was one of the people demanding Hillary Clinton leave her spouse due to his infidelity (talk about Ham's respect for marriage vows). He has lots of angry screeds tucked in around the internet (not too much of a unifer). Hope he left Unity08)
I think some of the Clinton-haters in those crazy media circus days were being secretly paid). I had alsway wondered about Jordan.


Vintage Holier than Thou Jordan:
"If a president can get caught having sex in the Oval Office with an intern and committing perjury about it to a federal grand jury, and still get away with it, what could possibly stop him? Bill Clinton--whose every decision was guided by public opinion polls--interpreted his high job-approval ratings following his impeachment at least as a vote of confidence and more likely as some form of national forgiveness.

Instead of leaving him for his public betrayal, Hillary Clinton exploited her public image of a wronged but loyal spouse to create a new persona for herself and win election to the Senate".

I've been seeing a lot of this Jordan spew being posted at DU by some Obama supporters. Are they Unity08 (WELL IT APPARENTLY HAS CHAPTERS AT MANY COLLEGES).

[Windy]

3. Apparently Bloomberg and Unity '08 wants more bipartanship in washington

they don't think the Hillary will bring tht about. They claim that there motivation is wanting washington to get something done and to emerge out of gridlock. Hagel is in on this too and some others.

Nader will through his hat in too if its Hillary (or anyone but edwards)

The best we can hope for is that Wacko Ron Paul decides to run independent to get some offset on the repub side.

I hope it doesn't happen, but I think it could be a real possibility.

[terisan]

18. Edwards is the person they want to stop. Unity08 is Dem/Repub centrist. they like Obama.

[terisan]

20. Unity08 sees unions as divisive and corporations as unifying and multinationalism

in business as essential.

It is about homeland security and competing in the global marketplace. It is not about human rights.

[WCGreen]

4. Bloomberg is a liberal Democrat who ran as a republican so he

wouldn't have to beat, I think, Mark Green in the primary and thus become mayor of NYC...

And I think you confuse corporate America with reporting on corporate America...

He created the Bloomberg Business Network and was the first all business channel on cable...

He is really a publisher and a cable TV franchise...

Of course I believe he has divested himself of all of the stuff that was his...

[terisan]

8. A social liberal democrat. Not sure about his other stands, are you?

[phillyliberal]

9. well

because Bloomberg is aware that a large portion of liberal-democratic voters have a dislike for Hillary Clinton. Whether that is wrong or right for them to feel that way is another issue- but he feels he can capitalize on that..

However, I just dont understand the point of a Bloomberg run
Bloomberg

-supports abortion rights
-liberal on almost every issue
-is the epitome of "big money politics"
-is Jewish(which may have a large impact on his electability)

I dont see what people will get with a Bloomberg presidency that they wont get in a Clinton or other Democrat... is it just the stupid label that he is now an "independent"?

[terisan]

12. Maybe it is Edwards he wants to stop. nt

[TwilightGardener]

22. What's the point of a Hillary run? Or a Thompson run? Or a Huckabee run?

Maybe Bloomberg just thinks he'd make a good President.

[Windy]

5. Heres the Unity /08 webaddress and new message

http://www.unity08.com/


One of our principles at the outset of this audacious project was transparency and openness. Too often in our recent political history, what you see is not what you get.

For this reason, we are writing you today to lay out the current status of Unity08 and possible paths going forward.

First, however, it's important to reflect upon what we - together - have accomplished in shaping the current political discussion and building a sense of what is possible in this crucial election year. Two of our core ideas - the importance of a centrist, bi-partisan approach to the solving of our nation's problems and the possibility of an independent, unity ticket for the presidency have already gone from far-out to mainstream.

Barack Obama, for example, has made the theme of unity and the necessity of bridging the partisan divide an absolutely central theme of his campaign. And just last week, a group of former and present national office holders - independents, Republicans and Democrats - met in Oklahoma for the sole purpose of stating their belief that at the present perilous moment, a unity government is the only hope of solving the nation's mounting problems. When you have agreement among the likes of former RNC chairman Bill Brock and Gary Hart, you're onto something.

And, of course, waiting in the wings should the divide persist, is the potential of a serious non-partisan candidacy in the person of the Mayor of New York (two of our founders Doug Bailey and Gerald Rafshoon have stepped down from the board and may have more to say about their plans in the near future).

Can Unity08 take full credit for these remarkable developments? Of course not, but through this website, your active involvement, innumerable news stories, op-eds, and public appearances by friends like Sam Waterston, we certainly have helped to bring these ideas to the forefront of the current political discussion.

So in a larger sense, we have accomplished a major portion of what we set out to do. But in the specifics and logistics, we have fallen short.

At the current moment, we don't have enough members or enough money to take the next necessary step - achieving ballot access in 50 states - to reach the goal of establishing our on-line convention and nominating a Unity ticket for president and vice president this coming fall.

The past year has taught us that it's tough to rally millions to a process as opposed to a candidate or an issue. In the past, third party movements that have broken through the monopoly of the established parties have always been based on a person (Teddy Roosevelt in 1912 or Ross Perot in the last decade) or a burning issue (slavery in the case of the insurgent Republican party in 1860). Stirring people and moving them to action about a process change - replacing the quirky primary system that tends to drive candidates to the extremes with something more inclusive and sensible - has proven to be a lot harder than we expected.

And the Federal Election Commission hasn't helped. The Commission has taken the position that we are subject to their jurisdiction (even though two United States Supreme Court decisions hold exactly opposite) and, therefore, that we are limited to $5000 contributions from individuals (even though the Democrat and Republican Parties are able to receive $25,000 from individuals). Needless to say, this position by the FEC effectively limited our fundraising potential, especially in the crucial early going when we needed substantial money fast to get on with ballot access and the publicity necessary to build our membership.

We were caught in a peculiar catch-22; we wanted to break the dependence on big money by getting lots of small contributions from millions of members, but needed some up-front big money to help generate the millions of members to make the small contributions. And the FEC (in effect, an arm of the parties) didn't let that happen. We have challenged this ruling in the federal courts, but are still awaiting a decision and time is running out.

And so reluctantly, especially given the volatility of the present situation, we're forced to scale back - not cease - our operations and suspend our ballot access project. Our website will become less interactive (it takes staff to answer hundreds of e-mails a day) and we can't in good faith make the $5 million commitment necessary to make a serious start on ballot access.

But we're not closing our doors. We believe it is important to see our case against the FEC through (both for Unity08 and any similar movement in the future) and be ready to gear up if (when) we win our case and political circumstances warrant later this spring. Unity is in the air right now, and Mayor Bloomberg seems poised to run on his own (and the fact is that two independent candidacies wouldn't work) if the parties leave the sensible center open - but all this could change in a matter of weeks.

We still believe strongly that we have the right idea, but it just might (emphasize might because who knows what can happen in the next month) not be the right time. In the meantime, a sincere, profound thanks for your help, involvement and support so far and please keep pushin' - for the simple but very powerful idea that solutions to our nation's problems are going to take ideas and hard work from all sources, and that a political system whose stock-in-trade is division may well be the biggest problem of all.

Please know that you have already made a difference and are at the forefront of a movement that may yet save the country.

Robert Bingham
Angus King
Peter Ackerman
Zach Clayton
Lindsay Ullman

Board of Directors, Unity08

[xchrom]

6. mrs clinton won't ''unite'' us.

whatever the fuck that means -- and magically and mysteriously -- bloomberg{and or obama} will.

i have no idea what this ''unite'' is that people talk about.

liberal/progressive people need to make a case for their ideas and ideals -- enact them -- make sure they work and do good -- and fuck the rest -- becaus eif we do that then the country will prosper -- and people will be plenty ''united'' then.

[terisan]

14. I don't want to be united with people who want to take away or bargain away my rights.

[xchrom]

16. yeah -- i feel ya.

it's an over used term that now has to be checked off against what i don't want -- and see what i've got left.

[Windy]

11. Here is the Nader article from early 2007 and his potential run if HRC is nom

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/15/BAGUCO5CPL10.DTL



Nader says he may run in 2008, especially if Hillary gets the nomination
Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer

Thursday, February 15, 2007

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(02-15) 16:16 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- Former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader said he is considering a presidential run in 2008 and strongly suggested today he would enter the race if Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton wins the Democratic Party nomination.

"She's just another bad version of (former President) Bill Clinton,'' Nader told KGO radio host Ronn Owens in San Francisco.

Asked to describe Clinton, a front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination a year in advance of the primaries, Nader said: "Flatters, panders, coasting, front-runner, looking for a coronation, not taking on the huge waste in the military budget as a member of the Armed Services commission, never going after the corporate crimes against pensions, against workers. ... She has no political fortitude.''

Asked specifically if he would run in 2008, Nader said it is "too early to say. ... (I'm) considering it. We're going to see what the Democrats come up with.''

Nader made the statements in San Francisco while on a book tour to push his new memoir, "The Seventeen Traditions.'' Nader also spoke at the Commonwealth Club in California.

Nader gained more than 2.7 percent of the national popular vote as the Green Party candidate for president in 2000, which some analysts said came primarily at the expense of Democrat Al Gore and helped Republican George W. Bush win the White House. In a second run four years later, Nader gained less than one-half of 1 percent.

Phil Trounstine, who worked as communications director for former Democratic California Gov. Gray Davis, said Nader's hint that he might run for president again may tarnish his reputation as a longtime progressive and consumer advocate.

"To an awful lot of people, Ralph Nader appears to be threatening, once again, to play the role of a spoiled brat whose purpose in life appears to be ... electing Republicans by draining off votes from Democrats,'' said Trounstine, who heads the San Jose State Center for Policy and Research.

Nader's presidential aspirations are viewed by many as evidence that he is on "an enormous ego trip with potentially destructive impact,'' Trounstine said.

Nader's is the subject of a searing new documentary, "An Unreasonable Man,'' which chronicles his early work as a consumer advocate and the turn in his career toward presidential politics. In the film, critics lambaste Nader, the author of "Unsafe at Any Speed,'' for abandoning his consumer advocacy, and suggest he is the ultimate egotist.

None of that jabbing appears to bother Nader, who says he is not interested in legacy, but in holding politicians' feet to the fire. On his trip, he has been highly critical of Democrats in Congress, saying they haven't held Bush accountable or done enough to stop the Iraq War. He has urged progressives to form a "Pelosi Watch" group and planned a visit to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco office to underscore his opposition to the war.

And he assessed the other leading Democratic presidential contenders, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.

Obama "has capacity ... whether he gets specific in his proposals, that's what a lot of people are waiting for,'' Nader said. "He hasn't shown that much political fortitude ... in his two years in the Senate.''

And of Edwards, Nader said, "I like the way he's emphasizing the poverty in the country, the sinking of the middle class.'' But he said Edwards, who met today with high tech executives in the Bay Area, is "not very good on foreign relations. He doesn't challenge the military budget. He should go after things like abuses of the Patriot Act against the civil liberties of the American people.''

E-mail Carla Marinucci at [e-mail]

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Comments(1)

[global1]

13. He'll Run If Hillary Is The Nominee, Nader Hates Hillary - So This Is Why......

the Repugs want Hillary as the Dem nominee. They feel they will at least have a fighting chance to win in '08. Bloomberg or Nader siphon off a bunch of votes from Hillary. There are many Dems who if Hillary is the nominee - won't vote for her. As the Repugs always hang pretty much together and vote the party line - they believe that they will have enough votes to win in '08.

That's why I'm concerned about Hillary winning the nomination. Along with the fact that two families will have dominated American politics for at least 24 years if Hillary wins - I want someone else - Edwards or Obama - that could actually stop the siphoning off of votes.

Bloomberg is no dummy. He's not going to throw good money away. He knows the only chance he has to win as an Independent is to have Hillary as the Dem nominee.

I wonder what his polling is telling him about which Repug candidate he has the best chance winning against if Hillary is the Dem nominee?

[terisan]

15. All Bloomberg has to do is give a billion to his chosen candidate. Why not do that?

[TwilightGardener]

23. Campaign finance laws.

[terisan]

26. Ah yes. nt

[Windy]

17. If all these people throw their hats in, pray for Ron Paul to do so too...

He'll ciphon off some repub votes...

seems like this election could turn into a real whirlwind...

[mac2]

19. Bloomburg wants Hillary to appoint him

as her VP?

[OHdem10]

21. A group of Elites led by D Boren have been meeting in Okla

under the banner of studying the sad state affairs of the country
and what they can do or what solutions--SS etc. Deficit Spending--long list.
However it is believed there is a 'hidden agenda". Obama is essentially
their candidate running as a Centrist New Democrat. Bill Bradley has
been C Rose schepping his book but pushing Obama as using his book
in getting the youth Vote. Bloomberg is part of this group. There are
some who believe and I have to say as observer it surely seemss:
Some in the Media are pushing Obama and it has been described as
attempting to end Hilary. You get the feeling with Bloomberg keeping
on rattling the sabers---Obama must win. If Obama does not win, I
Bloomberg will get into the race. Did I tell you some of these
people like the Dems in Group Boren etc have their problems with
Hilary.

Elites have a way of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

If you think this sound undemocratic, it is. What else is new??

I am Edwards supporter. I do like HRC.

The GOp already have their strategy for going against Bloomberg.
Disavow him as a Republican and paint him as Liberal. He will
divide the Dem. Vote and GOP wins.

The Media especially MSNBC have been in an Obama Swoon and admit
it. Thrown every journalistic principle to the wind They were
dancing with glee on Hilary's grave actually telling each other
she is through. she is going down tonight.

Smarmy situation. I hope Obama knows what he is doing.

[CK_John]

25. Bloomberg knows we are headed for a '29 type crash and is not going to let his life savings washed

away without a fight. He wants a role in the process and will do what he thinks is right for him first, and has convinced himself that he knows what is good for the country.

Edit: response was meant for OP.

[terisan]

27. Unity08 and the Bloomberg Express seem to be 2 different entities. Unity is a definite Obama backer.

Unity08 apparently has some financial backers (low profile) because the BofD members they list do not seem to be big money people. Their college campus organizer is listed as Lindsay Ullman-Yale grad. They are a pro Obama organization and have definitely infiltrated the college campuses.

Here is some of Lindsay's message:Part of being involved with the effort is participation in discussions of issues that Unity08.com believes people should be discussing, but are not. Such issues are the national debt, dependence on foreign energy, education, healthcare and global terrorism. Growing from this discussion and the overall Unity08.com effort will be an online convention and a Unity ticket in the 2008 election.

“Basically what we’re doing is looking to run a Unity ticket with one Republican and one Democrat or vice-versa in the 2008 presidential election,” Ullman said. “And what that means is in the spring of 2008 roughly — maybe a little bit later or a little bit earlier — there would be an online convention where any American who’s registered to vote can participate in selecting the Unity ticket that will be on the presidential ballot in 2008.”


I haven't found any complaints about media concentration or media bias from Unity08 or job outsourcing, or corporate control of US. They describe themselves as "centrists".

[OHdem10]

28. The Group listed in previous post re Unity 8 do overlap

with the Okalhoma Group. Sam Nunn, Conservative Democrat Heavy Foreign
policy experience Hawk? Financial conservatove
D. Boren Conservative Democrat Foreign Policy
C. Hagel
Leach Ret. Banking Committees Republican
Conservative--no ideologue
I have held many of these people
in high respect.

I have problems with all this happening at time of election.