Patterico's Pontifications

11/7/2019

Enormously Wealthy White Male Prepares to Enter Democrat Primary

Filed under: General — JVW @ 4:00 pm



[guest post by JVW]

Because that’s just what the party is searching for!

Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to file paperwork ahead of this week’s early deadline to enter the Alabama Democratic presidential primary as he seriously considers entering the race to take on President Trump in next year’s general election, according to The New York Times.

Howard Wolfson, a close adviser to Mr. Bloomberg, said on Thursday that Bloomberg is “increasingly concerned that the current field of candidates is not well positioned” to defeat President Trump.

“If Mike runs, he would offer a new choice to Democrats built on a unique record running America’s biggest city, building a business from scratch and taking on some of America’s toughest challenges as a high-impact philanthropist,” Wolfson said.

It makes a lot of sense. Mr. Bloomberg (born February 14, 1942) hits that sweet spot where he isn’t veering towards senility like Bernard Sanders (born September 8, 1941) yet at the same time he doesn’t have the same impulsiveness of youth that Joe Biden (born November 20, 1942) continually exhibits. If you are worried that Tom Steyer (estimated net worth of $1.6 billion) will come off as a veritable pauper against Donald Trump (estimated net worth of $3.1 billion), then you are no doubt cheered by the idea that the Democrats — the party of the working man and woman — now have someone in the race whose net worth (estimated at $52 billion) is obscenely higher. If you like Elizabeth Warren but worry that deep down inside she isn’t enough of a busy-body regulator for your tastes, you now can vote for the guy who banned Big Gulps and trans fats in New York. If you aren’t quite comfortable with President Trump’s personality yet are still worried that the Oval Office requires a megalomaniacal New Yorker who spends half his time in Florida, then you now have a champion in the other party.

I want to reemphasize what I have been saying since Campaign 2020 kicked off: I was entirely wrong in all of my predictions in the last Presidential election cycle, so nothing I write here should be taken to have any level of insight. That said, I simply can’t imagine Michael Bloomberg rising to the top in today’s intersectionality-obsessed Democrat Party. But in this entirely stupid age I won’t be surprised if the level of suck is yet to overflow the tub.

– JVW

76 Responses to “Enormously Wealthy White Male Prepares to Enter Democrat Primary”

  1. If I were writing a contemplative post (yeah, right!) instead of my usual spitball-throwing from the back of the room, I would probably speculate that Mr. Bloomberg is trying to rescue the Democrats from the Bernie Sanders/Elizabeth Warren anti-capitalist wing that increasingly appears ascendant. As much as he obviously hates President Trump, it would be interesting to see him have to grit his teeth and campaign for either one of the phony-baloney New England Marxists who are very clear in their hatred of billionaires.

    JVW (54fd0b)

  2. As much as my distaste for Mr. Bloomberg’s egomania may be, if he actually runs in the primary on a platform of fiscal sanity (which these days just means not hating billionaires as an evil criminal class and keeping socialism at bay), supporting law enforcement, and not allowing the teachers’ unions to control 100% of the public schools, and if he can articulate sound reasons for each of those positions, he will be doing the Democrats a long-term favor.

    JVW (54fd0b)

  3. Snicker, snort, snorfle. I might even start watching the Dem debates, now. Just to see Elizabeth Warren throw out a quarter every time it’s Bloomberg’s turn to speak and watch him dive off the podium to scramble after it.

    nk (dbc370)

  4. Run all the candidates!

    B.A. DuBois (80f588)

  5. [cough]

    Eugene Robinson
    @Eugene_Robinson
    ·
    It gets even more interesting. I hear from a good source that Eric Holder has been consulting strategists about possibly jumping into the Dem presidential race. NYT reports Michael Bloomberg is seriously considering a late entry as well.

    Fire up the Ferris wheel!
    _

    harkin (337580)

  6. Eric Holder! Because, as Kamala Harris has proven, a corrupt attorney general whose principles rely heavily upon which grievance group needs to be pandered to at any given moment is an unbeatable recipe for success in this year’s primary.

    But it would be fun to see him throw his hat into the ring just to hear the bleating from Ms. Harris and Cory Booker.

    JVW (54fd0b)

  7. I also would like to see some whiny immigration rights activist nail Holder to the wall over the Obama Administration’s deportation record. And, of course, by whiny immigration rights activist I mean Julián Castro.

    JVW (54fd0b)

  8. And none of them have ever hosted a reality TV game show.

    It’s hard not to feel embarrassed for them.

    Dave (8f119a)

  9. Bloomberg just doesn’t have the ground game to mobilize an attempt. Although I suppose 52 billion can buy a lot of campaign staff. Especially if you only need them for about one hour on one day. Let’s see, 65 million times $100 – that’s affordable for hiring campaign workers, isn’t it?

    Jerryskids (702a61)

  10. MeToo! Salomon Brothers , just sayin’.

    Bugg (ebf485)

  11. The possible entrants aren’t really that different from those officially running – call me if John Bel Edward’s survives. (He could benefit from a split rest of field).

    urbanleftbehind (82ad94)

  12. Interesting.

    Still, nothing is ever as it seems on the surface.

    Why now? To be blunt, Midwesterners, rustbelters, and gun-loving good ol’boys ‘n’ girls down South will never warm to an old [he’d be just shy of 79 on inauguration day in January, 2021], short [5’8″], Jewish billionaire [worth $56 billion] Boston-born, ex-three time New York City mayor who has a history of wearing every party coat of convenience and is an avowed enemy of the 7/11 Big Gulp. [BTW, anybody remember how many delegates the last ex-NYC mayor who ran for President won? Rudy does.]

    If he does a run for a while, he’s likely running as interference for friend-of-the-bankers-Biden. It’s in his interest; figuratively and literally. He can afford it, too.

    Bloomie has been affilated w/D’s, R’s and I’s throughout his political career and in opposition to the positions of Warren and Sanders. And he can spit venom at Trump albeit w/an odd, irritatingly effeminate voice better than Joey Bee. He’s the perfect foil to give crutch to the moderate, increasingly feeble Biden so he can hobble better through the early primaries and bruise any momentum Warren and others may be building. If he runs, the winner will be the banks– and Trump.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  13. @1. Bingo.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  14. I think the Democratic Party is trying to force me to vote for Trump…

    Kishnevi (9a9ca3)

  15. Speaking of wealthy white doods…..


    Bernie Sanders
    @BernieSanders

    Say Bill Gates was actually taxed $100 billion.

    We could end homelessness and provide safe drinking water to everyone in this country.

    Bill would still be a multibillionaire.

    Our message: the billionaire class cannot have it all when so many have so little.
    __ _

    The Partyman
    @PartymanRandy
    The federal government collected $3.3 Trillion in taxes in 2018.

    Why did you not end homelessness and provide safe drinking water to everyone in the country?
    _

    harkin (337580)

  16. Bloomberg/Calypso Louie/2020

    mg (8cbc69)

  17. Bloomberg/Beto/2020

    Hell yes we’re going to take your sugary drink and your AR-15”
    _

    harkin (337580)

  18. Unlike Biden, Bloomberg is a moderate with gobs of money. I like his chances.

    Paul Montagu (00daa1)

  19. Bloomberg is a radical leftist that wants to control every aspect of your life, from making you defenseless by taking away your right to bear arms, to what you ingest in your day to day diet.

    He fits right in with the fascist left.

    NJRob (4d595c)

  20. Unlike Biden, Bloomberg is a moderate with gobs of money. I like his chances.

    In what universe does anybody care about his candidacy?

    He’s another dull mediocrity in a field of dull mediocrities.

    Dave (8f119a)

  21. How about Bezos/Gates? They can give EVERY voter $1000 and have plenty left over.

    Kevin M (19357e)

  22. I think the Democratic Party is trying to force me to vote for Trump

    Bumper sticker:

    “VOTE FOR THE ORANGE IDIOT. IT’S IMPORTANT!”

    (have to say “orange” to avoid confusion)

    Kevin M (19357e)

  23. Kevin M (19357e) — 11/7/2019 @ 11:10 pm

    Medicare Amazon Prime for All”?

    Dave (8f119a)

  24. He fits right in with the fascist left.

    The guy is a capitalist and multi-billionaire. By default that puts him to the right of just about everyone except maybe Biden.

    Paul Montagu (00daa1)

  25. In what universe does anybody care about his candidacy?
    Um, those Democrats who are dissatisfied with the current slate. I’m sure he’s not making noises with some polls that are telling him that Democrats aren’t happy with their choices. Howard Schultz should’ve been so smart.

    Paul Montagu (00daa1)

  26. he will do less then styer or schultz. steer was caught bribing politicians in iowa to fix the caucuses for him.

    asset (c3eb82)

  27. I am not a Democrat, but it doesn’t seem like Bloomberg fits the current mood of the Democratic party right now.

    Nic (896fdf)

  28. And Pierre Delecto cried.

    mg (8cbc69)

  29. Where has all the Pierre Delecto sheep been hiding?

    mg (8cbc69)

  30. now billionaires want a safe space! AOC.

    asset (c3eb82)

  31. With Yovoavich lying under oath Pelosi is up Schiffs creek without a witness.

    mg (8cbc69)

  32. Heh. Clever, mg. At least to this old man.

    felipe (023cc9)

  33. Doesn’t matter how wealthy he is. Bloomie is totally out of touch w/daily life in the USA; he’s after America’s soda pop. And if you think that’s merely a trivial pursuit, suggest you take it up w/Jim Florio, who tried to tax toilet paper and was soundly wiped out of office by Christie Todd Whitman in NJ.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  34. In non-Red State America, sodapop consumption is like cigarette consumption in the ’60s-’90s, people have to sneak around lest you get judged by the HR department insurance liaison, the paleo /keto diet folks, the Crossfit/Ironman/Marathoners and the hipsters and the non-sugared juicebox sports moms.

    urbanleftbehind (5eecdb)

  35. @34. Wage war on Coca-Cola and Pepsi and your campaign fizzles. He might as well pee on Old Glory.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  36. I think his faults are more aethetics, short, J-ish, and his confiscatory position on guns is far more problematic – soda pop tax is not going to be a rallying point because there is enough of a stigma on soda consumption even reaching down into heartland America, and had there not been the specter of a larger and more encompassing taxation scheme to fund Green Nude Eel, the SPT probably could have been sold as a way to fund smaller health care initiatives.

    urbanleftbehind (5eecdb)

  37. @36. Tell that to Jim Florio; mess w/t basics, like toilet paper– or Coca Cola– and you’re chances get flushed down the drain.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  38. Oh dopey me! Mahalo, felipe.

    mg (8cbc69)

  39. Bloomberg – he has all the vigor of Biden, the charm of Harris, and experience of Buttigig. He’ll take the D’s by storm. Look out for President Mike.

    rcocean (1a839e)

  40. Wait, I thought he was a “Life Long Republican”. He certainly enjoyed giving the R Party ADVICE on how to run things, for the good of the party, of course. But now, he’s gone back to being a Democrat. LIke he was for his first 50 years.

    rcocean (1a839e)

  41. Bloomberg can’t HELP but rise to the top; he’s the biggest turd in the Democrat punchbowl.

    I’m gonna be blunt here; I’ve not been a huge Trump fan, BUT OTOH I have been watching the Democrats shoring tantrums every time they didn’t get the White House – as it it were their birthright – since I because interested in politics at all, in the mid 1970’s. Trump may well be the reincarnation of Huey Long, but it’s clear to anyone who has been paying attention that in 2016, the Democrats committed massive, systemic vote fraud (look at the voter turnout numbers forDemocrat controlled areas like California) and are sniveling because Trump won ANYWAY. He was supposed to just roll over on his back and wave his paws in the air, like a good RINO puppy in the face of their Hand Picked Fenris Wolf-Bitch, Shrillary Maojackets von Pantsuit. How DARE he fight back.

    Mom! Donny hit me BACK!

    I’m not thrilled by Trump, but I am sick to the back teeth with the sniveling, arrogant, cry bullies of the Progressive Left, and the clown car of Leftist Nitwittery and Socialist off-the-wallery that is running for the Democrat nomination this time…I would vote for Richard Nixon again, and he’s dead.

    C. S. P. Schofield (9eb8bc)

  42. “Democrats committed massive, systemic vote fraud ”

    The only massive vote fraud in the last few years was committed by Republicans.

    “I’m not thrilled by Trump”

    I think you actually are.

    Davethulhu (fab944)

  43. I’m not a Trump supporter but… *repeats every MAGA talking point*.

    Davethulhu (fab944)

  44. it doesn’t seem like Bloomberg fits the current mood of the Democratic party right now.

    Democrat activists, certainly, establishment Democrat voters (the flip side of GOPe)? I think he’s spot on. Of course, he’s in favor of the Bush-Clinton corporate globalism that Trump overturned, so he might get some GOPe votes, too.

    Kevin M (19357e)


  45. Ryan Saavedra
    @RealSaavedra
    Democrat presidential candidate billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who spends tens of millions of dollars pushing for extreme gun control laws, demonstrates that he knows literally nothing about firearms.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/RealSaavedra/status/1192572237670281216
    __ _

    (((AG)))
    @AG_Conservative
    ·
    Astonishing. He claims pistols are different from “assault weapons” because with pistols you have to pull the trigger each time. The guy has been pushing gun control for years and still hasn’t even bothered to learn even the most basic facts about guns.

    _

    harkin (337580)

  46. Wait, I thought he was a “Life Long Republican”. He certainly enjoyed giving the R Party ADVICE on how to run things, for the good of the party, of course. But now, he’s gone back to being a Democrat. LIke he was for his first 50 years.

    rcocean (1a839e) — 11/8/2019 @ 8:54 am

    This is effing hilarious coming from a Trump fan.

    Dustin (d42b09)

  47. ”This is effing hilarious coming from a Trump fan.”
    Dustin (d42b09) — 11/8/2019 @ 11:22 am

    Trump ran for office as a Democrat when exactly?

    Munroe (dd6b64)

  48. If bloomer hurts biden’s fund raising good! He is in because billionaire styer got caught bribing democrat politicians in Iowa. Billionaires need a safe space says AOC>

    asset (4019ec)

  49. Trump ran for office as a Democrat when exactly?

    Munroe (dd6b64) — 11/8/2019 @ 11:29 am

    Oh look, Munroe is denying Trump was a decades long fundraiser for Hillary, Pelosi, Schumer, Planner Parenthood, gun control, universal healthcare and even criticized being tough on illegal immigration. But he does it in Munroe fashion: obnoxious and bad faith question.

    Trump fans!

    Dustin (d42b09)

  50. I thought he was a “Life Long Republican”

    HE wrote all those letters?!

    Kevin M (19357e)

  51. Pierre Delecto – Life Long Republican Grifter.
    If my memory is correct wasn’t his daddy tossed from the republican party?

    mg (8cbc69)

  52. Today:

    Biden in New Hampshire = Gramps at the Pathmark.

    Press the flesh; thump the melons.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  53. Bloom me not telling the people of Alabama he will be banning pop and guns should be entertaining.
    Moron.

    mg (8cbc69)

  54. “It’s great to be here tonight…” – today, Joe Biden, Concord, NH

    It was 2:15 in the afternoon.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  55. Cut him some slack, probably dark already… why do think the New England states are pushing to be in the Atlantic time zone rather than EST

    urbanleftbehind (d6abf0)

  56. @55. Plagiarists get no slack; they steal it: pretty bright in the light of day there on CSPAN in Concord, ULB.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  57. DCSCA, what if Joe Biden was plagiarizing a speech that happened at night?

    It all adds up.

    Dustin (d42b09)

  58. Breaking – Papers filed: Bloomie’s in.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  59. Biden in New Hampshire = Gramps at the Pathmark.

    Press the flesh; thump the melons.

    DCSCA (797bc0) — 11/8/2019 @ 2:21 pm

    You’re as out of touch as these politicians. Pathmark’s been out of business for years.

    NJRob (32809b)

  60. And there you go not believing in trickle down, DCSCA. Whatabout the political consultants, workers, meeting halls, banquet halls, bus, car, and limo rentals, airlines, printers, ad agencies, ad producers, media outlets, etc., etc., who’ll now get a slice of the Bloomberg billions?

    nk (dbc370)

  61. You’re as out of touch as these politicians. Pathmark’s been out of business for years.

    That may have been his point.

    Kishnevi (d99923)

  62. But maybe Bloombs is more worried about a — heading the ticket instead of a socialist: http://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/11/bloomberg-campaign-would-only-boost-elizabeth-warren/601660/

    urbanleftbehind (a42738)

  63. Next time anybody tells DC there you go again, gotta link to this

    urbanleftbehind (a42738)

  64. But maybe Bloombs is more worried about a — heading the ticket instead of a socialist: http://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/11/bloomberg-campaign-would-only-boost-elizabeth-warren/601660/

    urbanleftbehind (a42738) — 11/8/2019 @ 5:34 pm

    Reminds me of the GOP primary in 2016. The 3-4 OK candidates refused to get out of eachother’s way for the good of the country, so the nuts took over by plurality. (no I’m not saying 3-4 of the democrats are OK)

    Dustin (d42b09)

  65. @62. Bingo.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  66. Woohoo! Nikki is making her move; quills a book; backs Trump, says nyet to impeachment. After the Senate trial, hit the silk outta Boeing, dear; Mikey will suddenly crave more time with his family– or go under a bus.

    Trump/Haley 2020. The clock is ticking…

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  67. I will say this…Haley could definitely bring some crowd control manpower if protesters, agitators, Qanuses, and NTs get out of pocket

    http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/wild-brawl-wedding-guests-throw-20575521

    https://youtu.be/ztv_7j-wHvI

    urbanleftbehind (a42738)

  68. @60. Limos? ROFLMAO You do realize Bloomberg has a piece of or owns a slews of the businesses in some way, shape, or form to trickle down on himself; start w/t Bloomberg Industry Group. Banking 101- pay yourself first. 😉

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  69. @68. CBS has done an interview w/her. She sounds and looks good; tanned, rested– and ready.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  70. Leon cooperman billionaire who paid a 4.9 million dollar fine for insider trading. Cried on cnbc about the poor plight of billionaires. We are misunderstood! Were like jesus on the cross.

    asset (af50d9)

  71. Pathmarks are now all Stop&Shops.

    Give Bloomberg this; the economic impact of all those consultants taking his millions, daresay, billions, for a woke delegate or 2 will have a positive effect.

    Bloomy-I’ll take your guns,your salt, and your Big Gulps, you goddamn heathen losers, because I KNOW BETTER.

    Can’t wait for Bloomberg to walk back stop&frisk before a crowd of The Woke. All that stuff I said for 12 years, even in numerous state and federal lawsuits, yeah, forget all that.

    Bugg (acadb3)

  72. George Conway and others suggest that Bloomberg’s first campaign move should be to buy Fox News…

    Dave (b50cf2)

  73. NJRob @59: Pathmark’s been out of business for years.

    kishnevi @62: That may have been his point.

    DCSCA @66: @62. Bingo.

    Bugg @72: Pathmarks are now all Stop&Shops.

    No, not all of them.

    The Pathmark that was at the outskirts of Boro Park, on a piece of property in the middle of the block between 13th and 12th Avenue but much closer to 13th Avenue, going from 61 St to 60St in Brooklyn with two exits, one going to a parking lot that open to 61 St and one, down one floor, going to 60 St, is now a store called…

    Bingo.

    The store was closed for a while

    https://www.koshertoday.com/exclusive-bingo-kosher-costco-concept-set-open-boro-park-owners-hope-launch-new-trend

    Exclusive: “Bingo” a Kosher Costco Concept Set to Open in Boro Park; Owners Hope to Launch New Trend

    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

    Kosher Today has learned that the two are set to open a new 70,000 square foot store in about two weeks on 60th Street and 13th Avenue, the site of the now defunct Pathmark.

    It’s not really a wholesale club. There’s no admission charge.

    The Pathmark on Cropsey Avenue near Coney Island is now a Stop & Shop.

    Sammy Finkelman (ccce11)

  74. Bloomberg intends to more or less skip the first four states and concentrate on the later ones. This strategy didn’t work for former mayor Rudolph Giuliani in the Republican primaries in 2008, but could work for Bloomerg is there is no clear front runner and Biden is slipping. H can become the alternative to Warren and Sanders

    Biden’s strength is African Americans and older voters. He’s extremely weak among anybody under 45, or 50 even. Sanders’ strength is very young people and Hispanics. Biden has them for now, but Sanders is going after them, particularly in California, and in schools. He is weak among females, and extremely weak among those over 50. (those over 50 remember the Cold War)

    Elizabeth Warren’s strength is unions and everybody else who leans left on economic issues who does not support Bernie Sanders. Highly educated liberals like her because her website is full of position papers.

    Buttigieg is eclectic, and so is Yang. Bloomberg will try to get everybody else who does not want someone very too leftist.

    Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren criticized Bloomberg’s entry. Joe Biden said he is welcome (probably because he hopes that Bloomberg will endorse him before the convention – one of them will probably endorse the other if the other one as a chance. Amy Klobuchar resents it because she intended to pick up the torch if Biden falters.

    Sammy Finkelman (ccce11)


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