Bloomberg and Hagel Holding Regular Calls.... What's UP? LINK

[Blackhatjack]

Will there be a '3rd Front' in the race for the Presidency?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/20/bloomberg-and-hagel-holdi_n_77734.html

Bloomberg And Hagel Holding Regular Calls
Sam Stein
The Huffington Post

"New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel have been conducting regular, private phone conversations over the past few months in an effort to "feel each other out" for a possible presidential run, sources have told the Huffington Post.

It has been widely speculated that the two men could mount a third-party White House ticket. And while the maverick Republican and the independent mayor have met in the past, the private phone calls provide the clearest indication yet that they are considering such a move.
Sources with knowledge of the conversations say they usually occur every few weeks and always are done in private. As such, the topics of discussion remain unclear. But one high-ranking aide confirmed that they have discussed Hagel joining the presidential campaign should Bloomberg choose to run.

"It has to come from Bloomberg because Hagel can't really do anything," said the source, before adding that there was no indication that the two have declared a political alliance. A decision on whether to run will likely be made once the Democrats and Republicans have settled on a nominee.
The Bloomberg-Hagel presidential rumors began after the two had lunch together last May. Days later, Hagel appeared on CBS' Face the Nation and remarked that he would consider running on an independent ticket with Bloomberg, presumably, at the head. A few months later, the Washington Post's David Broder, wrote a flattering piece about the possibility of the two men mounting a run at the White House. As recently as a few weeks ago the pair reunited for a dinner in New York City. "We didn't make any deals," Hagel said after the meal. "But I think Mayor Bloomberg is the kind of individual who should seriously think about this. It's a great country to think about - a New York boy and a Nebraska boy to be teamed up leading this nation."

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[tekisui]

1. I think it would hurt the goppers.

Even more than they are hurting themselves.

[Nite Owl]

2. Rumors abound on this one

I heard somewhere that they are waiting to see who is nominated.

[Inuca]

12. That makes perfect sense

Neither man is a fool and so neither of them would get into this unless they think they have a decent chance to win. I hope their motivations go beyond the ego stroke, and there are probably possible nominees on both sides that they consider unacceptable, I would not venture to guess who and why. And they have no reason to rush, so of course they will wait until the nmonations are a done deal or very close. Obviously, it is all speculation at this point, but interesting....

Also, Hagel may be hedging his bets, as there is talk of him as part of a democratic administration as well (even dem ticket, but that is just too wild IMHO). Assuming that he still has political ambitions and interests, which seems to be a fairly safe assumption, he runs the risk of being too smart for his own good, I do not know... I remember an interview he gave Cafferty http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBL8hFFyE0o back in September, shortly after he announced his "retirement from politics". At the end he was asked about Cheney comment about him (Reagan's 11th commandment). He ended his answer with a wry smile and "I am sorry he said that but notheless I understand this business". I like him, so for his sake I hope he indeed does.

[Krashkopf]

3. With Bloomberg having all the money . . .

and Hagel owning that voting machine company, that could be a formidable ticket.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Either carrying on a long-distance romance, or strategizing.

Hagel, at least, seems happily married, so I'll have to go with strategizing.

[rndmprsn]

5. ...on quick reflection, this ticket would help to obliterate a huckabee or romney...

rethug ticket, a fiscal conservative/social moderate with national security conservative/social center right as VP independent ticket would IMHO tear apart whoever the eventual R nominee...thoughts?

[TwilightGardener]

7. That's what I'm hoping! I was worried that Bloomberg would try to get

a Dem on his ticket, which would really sandbag us. I hope he does pick Hagel.

[AtomicKitten]

6. Rumor has it he will jump in if Hillary and/or Giulliani get the nod.

If that happens, all bets are off.

[tekisui]

8. God, I hope we don't have a three-way New Yorker race.

[AtomicKitten]

10. We'll have to get Martin Scorsese to direct.

;-)

[Leopolds Ghost]

26. "What'll It Be, America!! Rib owr Chop? Loin owr Shank?!"

That my friends, is the minority vote.

Now you tasted my mutton, how do you like it?

you god-damned neocon bastard!

--------

Citizens of the Five Points!

Mr. Cutting is attempting to draw me...

...into an argument...

...that would no doubt end in bloodshed...

...and the compromising of my office.

What do you think?

Shall I engage in silence, this relic of the ancient law...

...or, shall I be your chosen voice...

...in a new testament, in a new world?

There you are, Bill.

The people have spoken.

The very notion of violent reprisal benumbs them.

Come on up.

Let's see if we can resolve our...

...grievances the democratic way.

THWACK!

That my friends, is the minority vote.

Now you tasted my mutton, how do you like it?

Look, I want you to see this.

This is you, right here!

Notch 45, you Irish bug bastard.

Why don't you burn him?

See if his ashes turn green.

---------

-- You killed an elected official?

Who elected him?

-- You don't know what you've done to yourself.

I know your works.

You're neither cold nor hot.

So because you are luke warm...

...I will spew you out of my mouth.

You can build your filthy world without me.

I took the father, now I'll take the son.

You tell young Vallon, I'm going to paint...

...Paradise square with his blood.

TWO COATS!

I'll festoon my sleeping chamber with his guts.

As for you Mr. Tammany fucking hall...

...you come down to the Points once more...

...and you'll be dispatched by my own hand!

Now get back to your celebration...

...and let me eat in peace.

-------

I love to work with pigs.

The nearest thing in nature to the flesh of a man, is the flesh a pig.

-- Pig, huh?

That's right.

This is for you, mother.

Here you are.

-- God bless you.

She ain't really my mother.

-- I knew that, Bill.

This is the liver.

The kidneys. The heart.

This is a wound. The stomach will bleed and bleed.

This is a kill.

This is a kill.

And the artery. This is a kill.

You try it.

Go ahead.

Don't follow the blade on the rib.

Very good!

And the artery.

Bleed 'm slow. Let them think about it for a while.

Slow death.

Good!

You'll each bill the city 5000 dollars a month...

..for supplies and services..

...for which you will receive 10%.

Bill! Mr. Glour will work out the details. Thank you.

That's how we do things around Tammany, gentlemen.

--------

-- I'm in no danger of damnation, Bill.

Here's the thing.

I don't give a fuck about your moral conflicts...

..you meatheaded shit sack.

...

That's more or less the thing.

I want you to go out there. You and nobody else.

None of your little minions.

I want you to go out there...

...and I want you...

...to punish, the person...

...who's responsible...

...for murdering this poor little rabbit.

Is that understood?

Right!

Help yourself to some decent meat on the way out.

-------

This is bad for everybody.

What's next, dead politicians?

I could spare half a dozen of you...

...easier than I can spare him.

Still, I think it shows dash.

Give the boy some time, we'll settle with a good dust up.

Our elected representatives are a gang of thieves!

Who swear to better our lot...

...while dipping their hands deep into our pockets.

I stand shoulder to shoulder with community leaders like Bill Cutting...

....against any, an all in roads in our democracy.

I'll see to it, that no one takes away...

... what you earned by pluck and application.

To invading hordes of Hibernians.

Go to the polls and put your mark...

... next to the name Walter McGinn.

Against the potato weeders, like them over there...

...thieving our jobs.

Why should so many Irish die down south...

...when the first war to win...

...is not down in Dixie, but right here...

...in these streets!

Who's the finest streetfighter in the Five Points?

Monk!

That's right and let the whole damn city hear it!

That man was right born for this.

He's killed 44 men and laid low a couple of hundred more.

Is that right?

I should have run him for President!

[in_cog_ni_to]

9. Depending on who wins the nomination, they'll jump in the race as Independents.

I wonder WHO they don't want? Romney? Guiliani? Huckabee? McCain? (pro-occupation) This could be GREAT for the Dems. Ross Perot, anyone?

I'm still wondering why Obama and Bloomberg met for lunch. Why did they meet? Curious.

[behonest]

11. Bloomberg could get a republian elected

If Bloomberg runs he could drain off enough democrats to allow a republican to get elected in a year when the republicans are panicking. I can't imgagine he could win as president-maybe as vice president.

Bloomberg by the way would make an awful president. He is as inspiring as a gecko lizard. I think he may actually be able to crawl walls.

In any event he is not an uplifting figure, has zero charisma, and as president would do an awful job.

[Blackhatjack]

13. I think Bloomberg would sink the Repub Nominee... but would enough Repubs vote for him?

I have my doubts that Bloomberg would draw enough Democrats to make a difference.

IMHO he would have to gain the majority of his support from Independents/Undecideds and Unaffiliated voters and disaffected Republicans.

[Inuca]

15. Probably... but it is too unpredictable

to state as a fact. A lot would depend on who the nominees would be, and also on many other uncontrollable and/or unknown factors.

[mnhtnbb]

19. gain the majority of his support from Independents/Undecideds and Unaffiliated voters and disaffecte

That's a HUGE group. It might even be a majority.

[spanone]

14. pat buchanan speculated that bloomberg would run...hagel for vice? could be

adios rudy

[Ganja Ninja]

16. I think it would open the door for the religious right.

A Bloomberg/Hagel ticket would likely draw votes from both the GOP and the Dem's but the fundies will vote for the Huckster no matter what.

[Horse with no Name]

17. I think it would be good for America

I think a viable 3rd party ticket is what we need.

[mnhtnbb]

18. This is scary. I said some time ago I thought if R's were smart, they'd nominate Hagel.

[Inuca]

21. I agree, but they are not

smart. Hagel on the other hand is, and he realized that his chances were slim to none. He also porbably realized that the R brand is not exactly at his strongest right now. In any case, I agree with you, I thought the same thing for a while too, but Hagel is too much outside the reservation to be acceptable. Primarily on Iraq and related issues (Gitmo, habeas, etc.), but more generally he is an independent thinker who does not like to play by the rules, a fact not much appreciated by most Rs.

[mnhtnbb]

22. I think there are a LOT of R's embarrassed by Bush/Cheney who would

flock to Hagel because of his war record, recognizing error of Iraq, and NOT a fundie. He's more in the mold of the Rockefeller R's of 60's.

He would also play nicely into the two Americas theme of Edwards. I do believe this election is shaping up to be one of haves/have mores (Bush definition)and the declining middle class becoming impoverished class
that Edwards is trying to define.

[bdamomma]

20. hmmm.....something up their sleeves perhaps

[spinbaby]

23. I like Hagel

And I can't say that about many Republicans.

[TwilightGardener]

24. Here's why a ticket with Hagel might do well (provided Bloomberg is against the war):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2510754

[Inuca]

25. Some more speculation

here http://pundits.thehill.com/2007/12/21/mike-bloomberg-and-chuck-hagel-can-win-in-2008/ Mike Bloomberg and Chuck Hagel Can Win in 2008

Kind of interesting because he makes suggestions about what a B/H ticket should do to win

Again, it all boils down to who the two nominees will be. I hope the dems will come up with somebody that will dissuade Bloomberg and Hagel, though things for sure will get very interesting if they are in.