This is one of my "Just had lunch in DC" with a friend diaries.
Some here at dKos hate them. Others love them.
My friend has worked with, and known Bloomberg for over a decade.
Both when Bloomberg was a CEO and as Mayor
This is, a summary, of our lunch converstion together.
(Full Disclosure: I wanted Gore. I lean toward Edwards today. Just saying.)
The Bloomberg Engagement is setting up. One unknown is if Edwards pulls it out in Iowa and NH.
Bloomberg apparently wanted Gore to run and waited for his decision. Bloomberg and Gore are speaking. Gore apparently would support Bloomberg over anyone but Edwards.
Or at least, give no active support for Clinton or Obama, and just support "all candidates who commit to sustainable future."
The Gore support, or lack of opposition, is a factor. That hinges on Edwards. (I personally have found Edwards sort of absent on the Environmental front, which is the cause of my lukewarm support for him.)
Warren Buffet will also support Bloomberg's run if/when it goes forward.
So will many major D donors.
Mike wants the VP to be a woman.
Gov. Whitman (NJ) is the leading VP choice right now (Unity Ticket)
Gov. Napolitano (Arizona, D) has been brought up (Better Unity Ticket)
The whole: Ticket with Hagel thing is not happenning. Hagel would be involved but not VP. Hagel is involved for Military/Overseas knowledge.
Mike plans to run on:
Environmental Issues.
Renewable Energy.
Uniform Carbon Tax for Business.
Tax Abatement for Individual Conservation.
Restoration of Rule of Law.
Basic Universal Health Care.
Balanced Budgets.
Restoring American Leadership in the World.
Bloomberg is actively considering announcing an entire cabinet selection and have them actively campaign on the way they would improve each area of interest to each post. A campaign by targeted sector deligation.
He is ready to spend over a Billion of his own money to run.
I have spent some time on the web checking some of the lunch claims.
My main interest is restoring Rule of Law and Long Term Environmental Sanity...
Here is Bloomberg saying the same thing in Bali:
Bloomberg Demands US Leadership on Global Warming in Bali
Here he is on being a Leader on this issue in Seattle:
Bloomberg in Seattle at Mayor's Conference...on leading on Environment
I appreciate there are a few here who keep referring to the unfortunate events surrounding Mayor Bloombergs decision to break up a few (but by no means most) of the protests surrounding the GOP Convention in NYC 2004. I attended several of those events and saw first hand hundreds of NYCPD and other NYC Services actively making protest possible and first amendment issues reasonably executed.
There were no "Protest Cages" like Mr. Bush demands be set up. Lets just say, there is room for discussion about this issue. Leaders of all Kinds are put between Rocks and Hard Places.