Mayor (Bloomberg) Snubs 'Party' - Stirs Prez-Bid Rumor

[brooklynite]

Source: New York Post

April 30, 2007 -- FURTHER fueling speculation he'll run for president, Mayor Bloomberg has canceled an expected appearance at a major GOP fund-raising dinner featuring White House hopefuls Rudy Giuliani and John McCain, The Post has learned.

Aides to Bloomberg informed state Republican officials Friday that "scheduling conflicts" would make the mayor a no-show at the May 17 $1,000-a-ticket Manhattan gala, a key annual fund-raising event designed to put the near-bankrupt state GOP on a sound financial footing.

"A 'scheduling conflict' for the most important dinner of the year? Very interesting, right?" said an influential Republican official, one of the first to learn of Bloomberg's decision.

Bloomberg's attendance at the event would have forced him to sit through speeches by McCain, the keynoter, and Giuliani, a featured speaker, in which each is expected to outline his case for the presidency.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/seven/04302007/news/columnists/mayor_snubs_party_columnists_fredric_u__dicker.htm

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As an aside - The NY Post doubled its sales price today from a quarter to 50c. I guess Rupert Murdoch isn't willing to take a financial bath anymore in oreder to spread the conservative gospel.....

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Not a surprise and not exactly late breaking news:

1. Bloomberg's party is the Party of Bloomberg and always has been. He was a registered democrat and switched parties to run against Mark Green who won the democratic primary for the mayoral election in 2001. Bloomberg knew he couldn't win the democratic primary and there was nobody ready in the republican party to replace Rudy Giuliani, so Mike was welcomed as a convenient convert.

2. Bloomberg and Giuliani aren't exactly kissing cousins (like Rudy's first wife). Rudy wanted to cut into Mayor Mike's mayoral term by demanding that he have an extra three months in office past January 2002, due to 9-11. Mike declined Rudy's heroic offer but harbored bad feelings for Rudy trying to stay mayor of NYC for political/personal reasons.

3. Bloomberg is a democrat in some ways and a republican in other ways. He is not a party chauvinist and more like an independent. He buys his campaigns and voters seem to believe he is resistent to bribery and stuff since he doesn't need anyone's money or favors.

[youngdem]

2. They should dig Bob Dole up for another losing battle

He ran as the proxy Repuke whipping boy last time the Repukes faced a no win situation and rising Democratic party identity.

Perhaps he could run again. Dole/McCain. The answer to the question no one is asking.

[JPZenger]

3. Would He Run as an Independent?

The analyst I heard on the radio yesterday said he thinks Bloomburg will run as an independent. That could throw a monkey wrench into everyone's thinking. What would that mean? An independent can screw up the results if they only get a few percentage points in battleground states. In fact, the main reason Clinton was elected was because of Perot.

[MrModerate]

4. Bloomberg is the 'Licans' Lieberman . . .

Leftier than many with a (D) after their names.

[fooj]

5. Just the other day he was quoted as saying he hoped Gore would run.

Perhaps he meant it.

[aquart]

6. He has a billionaire's view of taxes.

He's not a bad mayor by any means, but every now and then he does something stupid rich. Like clearing the streets of poor drivers so the limos don't get stuck in traffic. Great plan. Green, except for all the limos. Outrageously regressive.

[jumptheshadow]

13. Beg to disagree

He's been a surprising good mayor and a rare public servant during these times. And I thoroughly agree with the $8 fee. NY's traffic is too congested and is getting more polluted and noisy all the time. The fee involves only a portion of Manhattan, there are workarounds, and the Mayor has planned for public transportation alternatives before the fee is imposed. Our city wasn't planned for cars in the first place and our residents don't want to raze buildings to make highways.

If millions of New Yorkers can use public transportation then everybody else can.

However, as much as I think Bloomberg has done a good job, he has a snowball's chance of winning the Presidency. He has done a good job but he will not get my presidential vote.

[antiimperialist]

7. Bloomberg would significantly increase Dems' hopes

Go Bloomy!

[Ignacio Upton]

9. If he ran third party, he would be more likely to take away votes from our side

than he would in hurting the GOP candidate.

[antiimperialist]

19. I disagree

Bloomberg is a Republican, and it cannot be said that he's more liberal than he is conservative. He is a moderate, but a moderate Republican. His support in NY has come mainly from Republicans, although he has overall appeal.

[still_one]

8. Out of anyone else in the republican line up he would be the most moderate

[David Dunham]

10. If Bloomberg runs, he'll take Dem votes and the Repugs will win

[still_one]

16. I don't agree /nt

[seasat]

11. If he runs, I'll bet he's the Unity '08 candidate.

Liebermann can be his running mate. Liebermann would make the perfect Cheney.

[calimary]

12. "...the near-bankrupt state GOP"? Near-bankrupt GOP ANYTHING?

Now THAT'S telling. Usually the last people on earth flirting with bankruptcy are republi-CONs and republi-CON groups. Times must be tough for them.

[billbuckhead]

14. I'd probably vote for Bloomberg as an independent if he ran against an NRA Dem

I like his courageous stand against the gun lobby.

[CK_John]

15. I keep telling you it will be a Bloomberg/Melinda Gates (IND) ticket and

this will be our worst competition and I hope our campaign managers are getting ready for this.

[Bucky]

17. Bloomberg might like all the flattery, but he really wouldn't be much of a factor in the race.

I assume he's too smart to try this for real. He may want to distance himself from two overhyped losers-to-be like Giuliani and McCain, but that hardly means he'll run himself--or that even if he did run as an indy, he'd stand even the slightest chance of diverting enough votes out of the Democratic column to matter in the next election.

[CK_John]

18. If HRC is our candidate, IMO half of DU would vote for him. n/t

[VegasWolf]

20. I think that would depend on his position on the war. nt