(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)
Loading ...Mike Bloomberg Calls for Bipartisian Meeting
The Washington Post reports:
New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, a potential independent candidate for president, has scheduled a meeting next week with a dozen leading Democrats and Republicans, who will join him in challenging the major-party contenders to spell out their plans for forming a “government of national unity” to end the gridlock in Washington.
Those who will be at the Jan. 7 session at the University of Oklahoma say that if the likely nominees of the two parties do not pledge to “go beyond tokenism” in building an administration that seeks national consensus, they will be prepared to back Bloomberg or someone else in a third-party campaign for president.
Conveners of the meeting include such prominent Democrats as former senators Sam Nunn (Ga.), Charles S. Robb (Va.) and David L. Boren (Okla.), and former presidential candidate Gary Hart. Republican organizers include Sen. Chuck Hagel (Neb.), former party chairman Bill Brock, former senator John Danforth (Mo.) and former New Jersey governor Christine Todd Whitman.
This is fantastic! With Mayor Bloomberg engaging the discussion - it is time for YOU to tell Hizzoner why YOU want him to be your next President.
But this Draft Bloomberg can not be a success without YOU. We need your help - sign the petition today!
With the growing swell of support we are seeing, Mike Bloomberg will be President!
(h/t to the folks at Moderate Voice)
December 30th, 2007 at 7:55 am
A great grouping: America is bringing out the good china. It should be noted that Susan Eisenhower is in this Nunn/Boren/Bloomberg group. She gathered together the best minds in foreign affairs in the later ’90s when foreign policy began to unhinge from stability and reason. Christie Whitman is a great addition as well. Like Bloomberg, Angus King and Bill Well, then Gov. of Massachusetts, she represents the generation within which American history reached a turning point and began electing Governors and state officials who were more creative and competent than nationally elected officials. This is a true Council of Elders.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Great news! Now, I wonder what their source is for the statement “they will be prepared to back Bloomberg or someone else in a third-party campaign for president.” If that’s true then this is fantastic!
December 30th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
I am less excited about Mr. Bloomberg running for president than I am about him leading a movement to help elect a more centrist and collaborative congress.
A few astute changes to the public finance of elections and redistricting laws could inspire an increase in representatives who are less ideological and more pragmatic… like Mike.
December 31st, 2007 at 12:34 am
The problem with “a few astute changes to the public finance of elections and…” is that the powers that be will absolutely NOT change the system for the better. That is why an independent presidency, especially one by someone as talented as Mike, is necessary.
It’s more realistic to win the single position of president and make changes than try to win a majority in Congress. I’d have to imagine that if Mike won that he, and the people mentioned in this article would start to develop a viable alternative party.
This would be a more likely path than the Libertarian, Green, Constitution parties, which are stuck at the wings, and therefore pre-ordained to be spoilers.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:08 am
[...] New York Times follows the recent Washington Post article regarding Mike Bloomberg: Buoyed by the still unsettled field, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is growing increasingly enchanted [...]
December 31st, 2007 at 7:00 pm
[...] who are sick of the partisan war. They too, are sick of a government that does not get it right. The plan spelled out in the Washington Post, is to draft an agreement to move forward, but this plan is lacking [...]
January 7th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I just saw Mr. Boren on Newshour, discuss this ‘meeting’. I had heard it was going to occur, but nothing further.
I have nothing against Mayor Bloomberg, I own property in New York state, and have heard nothing negative.
I was highly offended by Mr. Boren’s comments, and what I’ve read here. Such as: ‘we are sick of the partisan war’ above. It’s a one sided war, with Republicans acting as obstructionists, with a record number of filibusters! Mr. Boren wants the ‘candidates’ to agree to a ‘Bipartisan’ cabinet! Excuss me, exactly what part of the Bush Whithouse/Cabinet/Administration has been bipartisan?
Why the sudden interest in Bipartisan? Where have you been for the last 7 years? Could it be because it looks like the Dems. might just win? Exactly what was bipartisan about your little get together? A bunch of ‘Blue-Dog’ democrats, and hard-core Neo-Cons!!You all did nothing to stop Bush’s iron-fisted rule, you have no right to talk bipartisan now!
January 8th, 2008 at 1:14 am
@Andie - The problems we are facing as a nation are larger than the two parties. Neither party has demonstrated the ability to place good governance above partisan gain. We need something different. An independent bid by Mike Bloomberg is precisely what could change the direction of this great nation of ours.