I am quite disturbed by the number of posters on other diaries who are stating that they would support NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg should he run for President on an Independent ticket, as seems more likely than ever.
Yes, I know he's pro choice and has a good environemtnal record. So did Ralph Nader, and we all know how welll that worked out, don't we? The spoiler aspect aside, I"ve got serious qualms about him as a candidate, whether he's electable or not (I thinkt he later is the case).
My concerns are:
- He helped Bush politicize 9/11 and thus get reelected. I've got major concerns about anyone who helped Bush win a second term even after the war was well underway. Bloomberg pushed to have the convetion in NYC. When he did, he knew full well that Bush, the shamless campaigner he is, would try to exploit NYC and use the ruins of the WTC as political prop. I've got no respect for anyone who helped Bush win another term so overtly.
- Rudy
This man helped Rudy become larger than life. If you live or lived here in 01, you know what I am talking about. That famous attack ad he ran against Mark Green in the waning days in which Bloomberg turned Green's 100% accurate quote that he had as much experience and probably would have done as good of a job as mayor post 9/11 and made it seem as if no one had a right to compare themselves to Rudy. By running on Rudy's coattails and winning, he helped make Rudy a serious player and a presidential contender. I don't want to see a Rudy presidency.
- He backed Lieberman for reelection. Sorry, but I've got problems with anyone, Republican or Democrat, who supported Baghdad Joe for reelection. Lieberman was the GOP's choice last fall, and Bloomberg made common cause with him. I find the amount of potential support for Bloomberg on this blog appaling when you consider that Lierbman is probably the most loathed figure here.
- The party changes. He used to be a Democrat, Then he was a Republican, now he's an independent. And its all about political convenience. How do we know he won't realign with the GOP if he should win an Indy presidential bid? The answer is, of course, that we don't.
- The way this city treated protesters at the above mentioned GOP convetion was disgraceful and not something we should be proud of.