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Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey, who has spent many months (if not years) hinting about his boss's presidential ambitions, is still stirring the pot of rumors. Last night on NY1's Inside City Hall, Sheekey, "promoted the idea of an Obama-Bloomberg presidential ticket."
Sheekey revealed that after Bloomberg's official announcement/NY Times op-ed about not running for president, Barack Obama had a chat with the billionaire mayor:
"Certainly you could joke that Obama's call was a fundraising call yesterday. The man [Bloomberg] has the ability to finance a campaign. I don't think that’s why you choose a vice president. I do think that people are going to be very concerned about the influence of special-interest money in this campaign going forward.In fact, he's so independent, Bloomberg has made some substantial donations to the NY State GOP, in spite of not being a (fake) Republican anymore. Anyway, maybe the call was a way for Bloomberg to influence the national debate. Or the call could be construed as a thank you call, as some polls indicate that if Bloomberg ran, he would have siphoned independent votes from Obama (if he got the nomination) in key states.“I think it was a reasonably short call, you know, I was briefed. I was told they had a nice call and I spoke to the mayor after they had breakfast a few months ago. Back to Obama -- you were the one asking about an Obama ticket. I think the mayor is the ultimate swing voter. He is someone who the country is looking at to find out where they will go. He is one of the true independents in the country."
Keep in mind, Sheekey made $700,000 in bonus and salary when he worked on Bloomberg's 2005 reelection campaign, so it could be in his interest for Bloomberg to jump into another campaign.
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I would love to vote for an Obama/Bloomberg ticket, but I don't think America is ready to vote for a black president and a Jew vice president. It's a shame though because the two would be great for America.
I would love to vote for an Obama/Bloomberg ticket, but I don't think America is ready to vote for a black president and a Jew vice president. It's a shame though because the two would be great for America.
what kind of drugs did Obama use that turned his lips ashy purple?
He. Supports. The. War.
How many fucking times do you people have to hear this before it sinks in? It's not just an unlikely choice but a stupid and insane one. Think it the fuck through.
Where's the part of your poll where you can check "Sheekey's full of it, and NO ONE would want Blooomberg as anything but an IT guy"?
Bloomberg has wired New York City, and it needed it, and no one can take that considerable achievement away from him. He has attempted to and been marginally successful in getting guns off the street. But he's a dick. And the only reason he thinks he's more than that, is in comparison to the explosive divisiveness of Giuliani.
Obama doesn't need Bloomberg's money, nor his megalomania. I'm sure Bloomie's developer friends can find the oval office on their own.
What would Bloomberg contribute to the country? Let's see... He could use eminent domain to move all of the small property owners into camps, and feed them soylent green. But most people wouldn't want that.
What would Bloomberg contribute to the country?
Let's start with the trillion dollar debt we have. I would love to have Bloomberg run for president, but since he's not, I don't mind him being vice president.
I'm an Obama supporter and be quite happy with this arrangement.
Where's the "Bloomberg shouldn't go to DC -- and NYC would do better without him too" option?
Just what I was wondering Yanked.
I'm sick of this elitist prick and his obnoxious smirk.
He's anti-union, anti-working class and has ripped the soul from NYC.
I love the complainers who whine about the ridiculous condos going up in their neighborhoods, but are bloomberg fanatics. You have Bloomberg to thank for the ridiculous over-development and gentrification of the city.
He has handed the city on a silver platter to his billionaire developer friends who cater to yuppies and Euro transplants.
Sheekey got paid $700K in bonus and salary for managing the campaign of an incumbent who spent $100 a vote to get re-elected?
I am clearly in the wrong line of work. And I love this line of work. And the Mayor may be a billionaire by a total fluke of time and circumstance.
Just Bloomberg out of NYC already! He's a terror!
hey nice gash & others are dead-on; Bloomberg is nothing more than an opportunist who pursues politics as a hobby. Name something substantial that HE has done for the city? Education? Just as third-world standard as ever. Housing for the 'luxury' class? Still popping up all over as if there is a housing crisis for multi-millionnaires.
Bloomberg's talk of 'unity' is Republican-speak for 'let's continue with the status quo by ignoring efforts to empower the working class to actually move up the economic ladder, continue to ignore enforcing policies that would truly address civil rights of immigrants, people of color, the lgbt community & others, subsidize corporations for their own greed while trampling the environment...' etc. etc. etc.
I know this is just a stupid, useless snap-poll that Gothamist has put on its site, but its exclusion of a 'fuck you, Bloomberg' option is troubling to me. Are the editors of Gothamist really so blinded by Bloomberg's money and so-called charisma that they think there are no other options other than praising him?
We don't need another businessman in the White House. We need someone with a soul and a heart.
But we needn't worry, he's a gun grabber.
A lot of Bloomberg hating on this board. I would argue that he has been the best mayor that the city has ever seen (a sentiment echoed by the NYT).
For one, he is not a anti-union. Those who remember when he entered office, he opted to raise taxes to pay for raises at all of the major unions, instead of asking them to take cuts. The only one that didn't get one is the MTA, which didn't deserve it, and wasn't in his control anyway.
I agree, I don't like his eminent domain projects, or his 3 stadiums. But to fault him for all of the development in the city is a bit ludicrous. How does he stop it? Also, how do more apartment units in the city increase rents/prices? New apartments cost more typically, that is true, but if you hadn't seen an increase in housing stock, you would have been seeing far more significant rent (I'm assuming those who are complaining are renters) increases on the existing units. Think about it.
You can also commend him for improving crime rates in the city, without the escalating racial tensions under the Guiliani era.
While I think an Obama/Bloomberg ticket would be interesting, it be a tough pill for BBG to swallow. VP's have historically been useless, with the exception of Cheney, and I don't see how that precedent bodes well for another era of an elevated VP role.
To call BBG a Republican just reeks of ignorance. He has consistently favored more spending and raising taxes. Additionally, he was a card carry democrat until the day he chose to run for office in NYC. And has subsequently dropped his membership.
Education is a mixed bag, but I think his reforms are a step in the right direction, and could lead to progress. Which is more than you could say under any previous administration. I think if you ask teachers, there are some that agree the new policies are good and some that say they are bad.
@cool
I call him a Republican. Here's some ignorance-antidote for you, from today's NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/01/nyregion/01bloomberg.html?em&ex=1204520400&en=487f7f4a9c31582b&ei=5087%0A
Bloomberg Steps In to Help G.O.P. in Albany Fight
By RAYMOND HERNANDEZ
While declaring his commitment to nonpartisanship, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is quietly injecting himself — and his money — into one of the most explosive partisan battles in decades in New York.
Several weeks ago, the mayor wrote a $500,000 check to help keep the dwindling and increasingly imperiled State Senate Republicans from losing their grip on power, according to an official with direct knowledge of the donation.
The Democrats are seeking to gain control of the Senate for the first time in 40 years, and the race is growing personal and bitter.
Moreover, Mr. Bloomberg has made clear to the Republicans that he is willing to personally campaign for G.O.P. senators.
Fiorella Laguardia was the best Mayor NYC ever had.
'scuse me I meant Fiorello.
A change of pace to a successful businessman in the WH might be a good idea...
No VP Bloomberg, no problem. On the subject of a potential Obama administration, there is an interesting project in pure democracy just getting started on the web. It consists of automated and continuously updated 'approval style' voting on VP, cabinet, and major posts in a potential Obama administration. Approval style voting means you can vote for as many of the choices as you approve. The results are instantly viewable and the system is reasonably tamper proof. Furthermore, the lists of nominees are continually expanded to include all other reasonable suggestions. Voting may be anonymous and votes may be changed at any time. The voting is simple to operate and will remain open indefinitely so you can come back for follow up research any time (also please spread the word so as to improve the sample): http://puredem.wordpress.com
Thank you nos. 8 & 9 + others.
Poll: I vote "none of the above". Oh wait...
A black and a jew to run America. America's not ready for either one.
A black and a jew to run America. America's not ready for either one.
@ yanked
I concede that his money is speaking as a Republican. You're absolutely right on that front, and I'm disappointed in his support of Bruno. It is clearly a shot across the bow at Silver, who shot down his stadium and is working to do the same on congestion pricing. So, the issue is a little more complicated. Albany is a cesspool of politics so there are no heros there.
My point was more to his policies/views. Take his positions on gun control, gay marriage, taxes, greening the city and government, minority civil rights, labor unions, congestion pricing, parks investments, etc. and you have a Democrat. You are unable to create an equally long list of *policies* that represent a GOP agenda.
Bloomberg would be the perfect vp because he understands finance, and the next few years are going to seriously challenge our economy. Everyone hates 'The Money Guys', but Bloomberg has done an outstanding job setting economic policy in the city. He made the city more business friendly than it has been and New Yorkers will be feeling positive economic benefits for years to come.
If Bloomberg was so "pro-union" "Cool", why in hell do rookie cops make $25,000/year?
Got corruption?
There is not enough of Bloomberg hate, and there should be much much more. Why? Because he's a lousy mayor, a tax and spend burden on the working and middle classes, and a welfare king for the rich. He gives to the rich and shits on the poor.
At least that's why I hate him.
Starting pay for a police officer is $33,000/yr by the book, but cops earn $51,000/yr on average in their first year of duty. Pay for a cadet in training is $25,000.
To put this in perspective, a 21 year old will earn, on average, $51,000/yr with 4 weeks of vacation. They have unlimited sick days, but use, on average, only 8 days (almost 2 weeks).
After five years, average pay is $77,000/yr, with 5 weeks of vacation. And, they can retire, with a pension, after 20 years.
This job pays better, with better benefits than most jobs available (which is merited given the valuable service they provide).
Seems like your hate is misplaced.
I said, a Rookie cop, "Cool". And they make $25,1000.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070214121045AAsKdoc
A second year cop gets $32,700. If you have to lie, which apparently you do, to make your point-- perhaps you should abandon it.
I don't see why Gothamist keeps running stories like these. There's not a snowball's chace he will get a running ticket with Obama and there's no way he will run for president with any real hope of winning. SO what's the point?
When the deputy mayor is talking like this, and when the mayor is a person with big dreams, it's totally a worthy story, whether or not it's in the realm of possibility.
Hey megs, Cool is lying through his teeth.
Remember the supposed 'raise' that fdny rookies got about a year ago?
Yeah it wasn't a raise at all. Bloomberg just merely shuffled their salaries & benefits around so it would appear they got a raise.
Quality of life for cops and firemen has never been worse.
Bloomberg shits on the working class.
NYC is dead.
ALL HAIL THE RICH CARPET-BAGGER YUPPIES!
Yeah, Hey. Cool is lying. Declaring Bloomberg union friendly is ridiculous. Bloomberg is only friendly to other rich asses, including children. Public school children? Here's some soft drinks for you. Private school kids? Here's some city land to play team sports.
I despise that cretin.
Jen, I think it's a worthy story when the mayor is a person with character deficits way bigger than his dreams like Bloomberg. What I don't think is worthy is a poll that asks whether we want him or whether we want him.
Yeah, Hey. Cool is lying. Declaring Bloomberg union friendly is ridiculous. Bloomberg is only friendly to other rich asses, including children. Public school children? Here's some soft drinks for you. Private school kids? Here's some city land to play team sports.
I despise that cretin.
Jen, I think it's a worthy story when the mayor is a person with character deficits way bigger than his dreams like Bloomberg. What I don't think is worthy is a poll that asks whether we want him or whether we want him.
B & B 2008 y'all