(4 votes, average: 3.75 out of 5)
Loading ...Mike Bloomberg, “I’m Not Running for President”
Fellow colleagues,
In the many months since we began our efforts to Draft Mike Bloomberg, it has been an honor and a pleasure to volunteer with you all. In today’s New York Times, Mike Bloomberg has firmly and finally put an end to the notion that he may be drafted to run for the Presidency in 2008. In his closing statement he said;
“In the weeks and months ahead, I will continue to work to steer the national conversation away from partisanship and toward unity; away from ideology and toward common sense; away from sound bites and toward substance. And while I have always said I am not running for president, the race is too important to sit on the sidelines, and so I have changed my mind in one area. If a candidate takes an independent, nonpartisan approach — and embraces practical solutions that challenge party orthodoxy — I’ll join others in helping that candidate win the White House.”
So there you have it. Will John McCain be this independent candidate? What about Barack Obama, will he beat out Hillary Clinton in the primary or will the Super Delegates decide at the Denver convention? Will either of these or any other Democratic candidate emerge and embrace this “independent, nonpartisan approach”? Quite frankly - I do not know.
What I do know is that since this project began we have collected 2064 signature through one site and 587 signatures through another. We have researched, written, advocated for and helped organize the grassroots foundations for a Mike Bloomberg run. Our efforts even appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, ABC news, and international press. More importantly, our story was told by smaller papers like the New York Observer and Norman Transcript - by reporters like Azi Paybarah and Julianna Parker - who managed to focus on the human aspect of the Draft efforts, something which the larger papers simply glossed over.
I would like to thank every member of the community, especially at RunMikeBloomberg.com, DraftBloomberg.com, RunMikeRun.com, and all of those who helped highlight the need for a Mike Bloomberg presidential run - including the pro-Mike Bloomberg Vloggers.
I would especially like to thank Michael White, Greg Paoli, Jeff Ingalls, Dave Wakeman, John Milligan, Kevin Moore, Phil Wray, Alex Innes, BL Ochman, Karin Gallet, Matt Guercio - and others. Finally, I would like to thank my good friend Citizen Ben, whose efforts and advice were invaluable toward achieving our many successes.
Personally, this whole experience has left me with the unmistakable impression that if we the people truly want to take our nation back, all we must do is unite and refuse to accept single minded partisan bickering where as what we want is result oriented nonpartisan leadership. I look forward to the future and I look forward to working with you all again.
Regards.
February 28th, 2008 at 6:55 am
It was a good run, wasn’t it? I also believe that this experience has shown me that people are tired and want to take the country back. If, one day, Bloomberg does run, I’ll be here in SC to help in any way.
February 28th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Thank you, Andrew. Very good and responsible citizenship. Y’all represent the rising generation which is just now this year beginning to coalesce around ideas. Here is a parting thought for you: From 1607 to the present our country has been organically divided between North and South. What we will see in your lifetime is a new division; a division between East and West. Adams and Jefferson were the binary fathers of colonial head and heart when North and South first formed together in harmony in 1776. But that age is prelude: America’s fate will be East/West and that new binary will occur directly. Bloomberg and Arnold are light years above the hoard - they will be the Adams and Jefferson of this new century and possibly the new millennium.
February 28th, 2008 at 8:02 am
John, Greg, & Phil are great thought leaders and are a credit to any political organization.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:53 am
It’s been a great great experience for me working and conversing with you all on all these eternal political verities. Bolstering the rational doable bipartisan political center against the forces of activist special interest base-pandering will go on. The addressing/resolution of the big Mega-Issues impinging on this blessed Republic remain to challenge us all. I look forward in the future to working in some capacity with you all in the noble vital endeavor. As they say in the Trade - “Retreat, Regroup, Strike Again”!! Cheers to all!! Milligan
February 28th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Heck — I was in the taxi and watched the video from the news telling us that Mike would not be running — and then spoke to Andrew about writing a post, which he already had done.
Simply put - it has been an honor to work with all of you — in the various steps and stages of this grassroots campaign. I think we did a terrific job with our coffiers and our enthusiasm — and I, too, am proud of the work everyone on the team did.
Nothing but pride is there for all of the work you all did - and especially Andrew for his good works and tiresome efforts in the Unite for Mike effort. Without him, this effort would have been a nothing project. His combining with Michael White and Karin Gallet demonstrated uniting for the cause made the effort greater than the simple sum of the three parts. I wish him well in his new job at the American Farmland Trust as their online director.
Be sure to sign up for Mayor Bloomberg’s email alerts - it seems to be one of the best channels for direct communication from his office. And be sure to fight for what you believe in…do not give up your ideals, we have candidates we need to hold accountable. Make sure you continue your civic duty - as we will as well.
Best to you all - and godspeed.
Sincerely,
Citizen Ben “Frank” Lin
citizenben@uniteformike.com
February 28th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Thanks to everyone! We have planted seeds here that are much larger than any one individual.
“The full fruit of change lives in the harvest, and that always comes in its right season. For us, that season has yet to come.” - my paraphrase
We have done what we can. Now is the time to roll up our sleeves for the truly hard work ahead. The journey has just begun!
February 28th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Neither of the major party candidates is likely to change anything. They are prisoners of party activists who take a doctrinaire approach to issues. The only way Mike Bloomberg can provide for the type of leadership he recognizes is needed is to run for the office himself.
February 29th, 2008 at 1:16 am
I guess my analysis of his chances will have to be a retrospective. Too bad. Keep in touch!
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I’ve been off the grid for the past week and just heard the Mayor’s announcement. I guess it isn’t too unexpected though. It was great meeting everyone in this process. Hats off to Andrew for all his time and money he put in to what I still feel was an important effort to move the country away from partisan bickering.
March 5th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Yes, we all gave it a shot.
I will be leaving my Run Mike Run website up, in the interest of documentation, and in the event there should be renewed interest for 2012.
Best regards to all involved,
Chris Grayson
March 5th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
After seeing Hillary’s behavior in the last week, and last night, I think Mike should consider re-posing his “threat” to run. Seems like she’s ready to play every dirty trick in the book…
Otherwise it’s been a pleasure working with all of you. Keep fighting that good fight
March 6th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Hi Folks,
I still think the Mayor would make an incredible leader for this country. I like is governing philosophy on just about everything.
With that said, I fear that his analysis of the current political situation is probably the most wrong he been (that’s ok…he can get one thing wrong out of a thousand).
His comments when “dropping out” gave me a bit of shudder in how similar they were to Ross Perot, when he dropped out while still leading in the polls (only to return later)
There are many wonderful and inspiring people in the two big parties. The root of our political problems are, however, systematic. Sadly what you will see in the next many months is a tranformation of candidates from uniquely inspiring people supporting progress to those who have to play the fundraising and political support system… we are already seeing signs of this and I fear we are going to see more.
Our country is in very bad shape right now…and we need leadership that is willing to say tough things (the Harry Truman versus JFK comparison I mentioned before). Mayor Bloomberg was that “give-em-hell” candidate who would tell our country tough news and what needs to be done. People need honesty right now and they are not getting it, instead they are getting “blame Bush” from one side and you should be “Scared of the Dems” from the other.
Our country is better than this.
Peter Tharaldson
Minneapolis
March 11th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
There’s a new group starting to draft Bloomberg for NY governor. I hope you’ll consider joining!
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2008/03/facebook-gets-bloomberg-for-go.html
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=23275890351
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:35 am
I am still holding my breath and hopping to see Mike take a very active part in fixing the many problems our country has.
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Mike, please reconsider. I absolutely, unequivocally am being honest about this.