February 17, 2008
Bloomberg "Grumpy" Over Post-Mayoral Life
Photograph of Mayor Bloomberg at a Mayors Against Guns press conference last week by Gail Burton/AP
Now that there seems to be a compelling 2008 presidential race, Mayor Bloomberg's White House prospects appear diminished. And associates of the billionaire suggest to the NY Times that post-mayoral life may not be enough for Bloomberg.
After being splashed on covers of magazines (New York magazine called him the "sane Perot," Time with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Newsweek as the "Billion Dollar Wild Card") and breathlessly debated as a potential third party candidate (or spoiler) for over almost two years, the possibility of being the most powerful man in the country, if not world, has really gotten under Bloomberg's skin. Sure, being rich is great, but being the commander in chief would be priceless. And this comment made to the Times was telling:
“He was extremely successful, and then he was extremely successful as mayor,” said Michael H. Steinhardt, a hedge fund manager turned philanthropist, and a longtime friend of Mr. Bloomberg’s who played host to an early presidential strategy session. “Now where does he go from here? He doesn’t really care that much about his philanthropy. I think he likes hearing himself talk publicly — terrible way to put it, but I think that’s right.”What? Bloomberg has been claiming he'd dedicate himself full time to his philanthropic organization while dodging presidential rumors! New Yorkers must be shocked, shocked to find that Bloomberg might have been hiding his true intentions! But also, ha! on how Bloomberg likes to hear himself speak publicly. That Steinhardt - he's quite a friend.
Naturally, Bloomberg declined to be interviewed, but others say "Mr. Bloomberg has been acting grumpy as he faces decisions about what to do next." Maybe he should do some more polling to ask people what he should do.
| 
I think Obama and Bloomberg would be the ideal ticket.
He is less worse than anyone else who is actually running, plus he is actually from outside the evil highway known as the Beltway.
I'd be happy with him ad VP or some other position on Obama's or Clinton's ticket.
And I find it hard to believe his "friend" thought it was okay to say "he doesn't really care about his philanthropy!" He's basically accusing him of hypocrisy. That's no friend. I have my doubts about his so-called friend's intentions.
Yeah, he'd be great except he's pro-war and he lies a lot.
People have fucking insane ideas of what constitutes a good Democratic ticket. People who supported Bush-Cheney '04? Not so much.
I had to laugh when I read in the same article that he's come to like public speaking and having people listen to what he has to say. As THE dullest politician in my lifetime, he probably found himself ignored as a child and teenager. Power and money gave him his platform and audience! Yet even if he buys himself a talk show on his own network, somehow I can't imagine him drawing much of an audience. Nothing like Ed Koch or Giuliani anyway.
Bloomy is too-PC for an Obama veep candidate. Under them, the only people capable of being accepted into colleges would be gay, one-legged, bi-racial dwarfs.