An Internet hub for moderates, centrists, and independents, with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, and right

« News Media Conventional Wisdom Shifting Fast On Hillary Clinton Chances

Chavez’ Harebrained Scheme to Restrict the ‘Language of Empire’ »

My (personal) problem with Bloomberg

Posted by POLIMOM in At TMV.
Mar 27th, 2008 | Comments

Angela Winters’ earlier post on Barack Obama’s speech this morning has generated some wonderful discussion. I’m enormously grateful for those thoughtful comments, since I’m truly not an economy expert. (I’d describe it as barely literate…)

But there was also a bit of buzz before the speech, centered up on Mayor Bloomberg’s introduction of Obama. Is an endorsement in the offing? Or (even more politically affecting) is there the possibility of an Obama-Bloomberg ticket?

Personally — very personally — I hope not. I wrote about my problem with this Veep suggestion, here.

Ads by Project Wonderful! Your ad here, right now: $0

AshenShard

I do not think Bloomberg has any chance of becoming Obama's running mate. In fact, choosing Bloomberg for the position would be strategically dumb. Obama will already have the Northeast wrapped up, better to choose a running mate from another region.
However, it is not far fetched to see Bloomberg filling another important post in an Obama administration. I think it quite clear that an endorcement from Bloomberg is looming, and if he gives that, Obama will have even greater strength in independent support, not to mention a larger guarantee of a lock on the Northeast.

pacatrue

Hi polimom. Can you explain your reservations about Bloomberg's actions regarding gun control as you discuss in your home blog's post? The only item I saw that was obviously debatable was seeking to bust gun dealers outside of the NYC jurisdiction. I get why this is controversial and possibly inappropriate, but I do view it a little bit like fights between the local sheriff and the FBI about who should capture the murderer. In an intellectual sense, I care, but I'd rather that someone, anyone capture the bad guy and then worry about who should have done it.

And yet you described the tactic as appalling. Can you explain further why? According to the quoted article they only targeted gun shops whose guns had been documented as repeatedly being used in NYC crimes. Thanks!

Polimom

Hi paca -- my reservations regarding Bloomberg's approach to the out of state gun dealers are primarily jurisdictional. As I understand it, Bloomberg -- acting in his capacity as mayor of a major city in the state of New York -- hired private investigators (that were paid by the city) to leave his city / state / region, to conduct clandestine investigations into private businesses who are under the jurisdiction of other government entities altogether.

He (or rather, NYC), then filed suit against these dealers in federal court.

Since there are, in fact, agencies and jurisdictions -- and criminal charges -- that apply to straw gun purchases, his approach seems to have been both outside and above the law. Not an asset in an elected official.

But I'm not actually bothered to the point of froth and lather. Like you, I understand both the problem and the goal; I judged it as a serious, but not fatal, tactical mistake.

What makes a possible Obama-Bloomberg ticket so terribly problematic for me is that there are people who feel VERY strongly about Bloomberg's actions there -- and I'm married to one of them. This feeling is so strong (and the first commenter on my other post agreed with DH, btw), that they'll not just stop supporting Obama if Bloomberg joins the ticket , they'll actively work against him. This presents a very serious challenge -- particularly in a family that split politically in 2004.

Hope I've explained this better....?

blog comments powered by Disqus