Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

Skya Rhen

(2,701 posts)
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 03:14 PM Feb 2020

Bloomberg Unimpressed With Obama and the Osama Bin Laden Raid

On the latest cover of The Atlantic, Mayor Michael Bloomberg looms large over (a model of) New York City; inside, he gets to sound off for a national audience about many of the things locals hear him say on a weekly basis.

Among the issues he expounds upon and gripes about in the full interview: the soda ban, Wall Street, and the future of journalism — but not stop and frisk, Muslim surveillance, or anything too sticky.

Where Bloomberg does go a little wild is in his assessment of Barack Obama’s presidency, declaring that the administration’s greatest accomplishment was “just getting elected.” What about the killing of Osama bin Laden, Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson interjects. Nah, says Bloomberg.

Here’s his full, somewhat convoluted answer, from the transcript:

That’s like giving Harry Truman credit for dropping the bomb: any president would’ve pushed that button, any president would’ve dropped the bomb. Harry Truman stood up to Douglas MacArthur. An awful lot of people wouldn’t have done that. Harry Truman integrated the Army.

A lot of people wouldn’t have done that. Harry Truman had the Marshall Plan — if in World War I we’d done that, we wouldn’t have had a World War II. But dropping the bomb, no, and I don’t think, in this case, Osama bin Laden — and incidentally, if you believe any of these stories or books, who knows what he did or didn’t do or was forced into. I mean, I don’t know. But I think that’s not — I don’t know that that’s fair.

I don’t know that you can look — I mean, Hillary Clinton’s very competent — but there’s no Obama Doctrine that I know of. I don’t know that anybody has enunciated a worldview the way that Henry Kissinger did in his day, or George Shultz, or even [James] Baker. I have nothing but respect for Hillary, but I think the world today is run out of the White House rather than Foggy Bottom and places like that.


https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2012/10/bloomberg-unimpressed-with-obama-killing-osama.html

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
31 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Bloomberg Unimpressed With Obama and the Osama Bin Laden Raid (Original Post) Skya Rhen Feb 2020 OP
It's out of the Billionaire Politician playbook Baked Potato Feb 2020 #1
It's also out of a bigoted playbook where you never give a black man the credit he deserves. Skya Rhen Feb 2020 #5
THIS. BlueWI Feb 2020 #9
THANK YOU !!! uponit7771 Feb 2020 #11
Yes, thank you. Love-All Feb 2020 #26
He claimed that Obama heightened racial division in America. Very strange assertion. emmaverybo Feb 2020 #28
+100000000000 emmaverybo Feb 2020 #31
Where Bloomberg's wrong is that he doesn't give Obama credit for willingness to violate Pakistan's andym Feb 2020 #2
Arrogance snowybirdie Feb 2020 #3
As the sayin goes, pride comes before the fall. Bernie has Mike's number... & it's in the billions! InAbLuEsTaTe Feb 2020 #6
Likeable JustAnotherGen Feb 2020 #8
It's fun to watch those defendin billionaire Mike B's statements twist themselves into pretzels InAbLuEsTaTe Feb 2020 #4
Bloomberg makes me appreciate Sanders, that might be MB's goal !!! uponit7771 Feb 2020 #12
Ain't that the truth. Corgigal Feb 2020 #14
That's kinda the point I was makin. A friend of mine's rents, Biden fans, say theyll vote for Bernie InAbLuEsTaTe Feb 2020 #17
Great answer /generous sarcasm BootinUp Feb 2020 #7
Sooooooo, Bloomberg did not like Obama either? Bloomberg is starting to look like a typical racist uponit7771 Feb 2020 #10
You surprised?? I'm more surprised to hear that Obama's thinkin of endorsin Mike over Joe!! InAbLuEsTaTe Feb 2020 #18
Any word from Obama camp on this ? uponit7771 Feb 2020 #19
I've looked;couldn't find anything. Obama needs to act fast if theres any hope he wants to save Joe. InAbLuEsTaTe Feb 2020 #20
There's no proof Joe needs saving & national polls don't mean anything other than to M$M horse race uponit7771 Feb 2020 #22
He sounds like michael moore here.. Cha Feb 2020 #13
+1000 tishaLA Feb 2020 #15
+1, M Moore doesn't have a recent history of saying some of the most racist crap about PoC. Someone uponit7771 Feb 2020 #16
No MM doesn't, but Mike gets a pass?! Are people that willin to deny healthcare as a human right?! InAbLuEsTaTe Feb 2020 #21
No Mike Moore gets the benefit of the doubt cause I don't see him always unfairly bashing or doing uponit7771 Feb 2020 #23
I'm agreeing with you... Mike shouldn't get a pass, yet he does from some here. Go figure! InAbLuEsTaTe Feb 2020 #24
👍 uponit7771 Feb 2020 #25
... InAbLuEsTaTe Feb 2020 #27
As an African American woman., I'm gonna have to give all the top tier candidates a underthematrix Feb 2020 #29
Jeez... I'm thinking, WTF is this man? He's not completing thoughts. Eyeball_Kid Feb 2020 #30
 

Baked Potato

(7,733 posts)
1. It's out of the Billionaire Politician playbook
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 03:24 PM
Feb 2020

Tear down institutions and icons and the accomplishments of others and replace them with themselves and their own actions. They want all the spotlight.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Skya Rhen

(2,701 posts)
5. It's also out of a bigoted playbook where you never give a black man the credit he deserves.
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 03:43 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

BlueWI

(1,736 posts)
9. THIS.
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 06:47 PM
Feb 2020

Showing respect for the office and for the first black president would be way more on point, especially on the 9/11 issue for the former mayor of NYC!

I have to say that as a Midwestern who doesn't always follow NYC politics closely, it has been an education to learn more about Bloomberg. Your posts have helped me seek to be more educated about the extent of stop and frisk and its deeply racist effects.

Not that I was inclined to support him before, but I can see now that I need to be activity opposed to a Bloomberg nomination, to say the least. Thanks for your insights!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

emmaverybo

(8,144 posts)
28. He claimed that Obama heightened racial division in America. Very strange assertion.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:30 AM
Feb 2020

Today my partner said “Did you know Obama’s endorsing Bloomberg?”

No. And he’s not, I said.

“But he has an ad with Obama, so I thought...”

———————————————————————-

It is the first claim I find stunning. How did Obama stoke racial division in America?

By succeeding at the highest level of achievement, being perhaps the most unifying president in our lifetimes, accomplishing so much for the American people? Maybe Bloomberg missed Obama’s incredible speech on race. Maybe missed everything and imagined or assumed.



If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

andym

(5,443 posts)
2. Where Bloomberg's wrong is that he doesn't give Obama credit for willingness to violate Pakistan's
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 03:29 PM
Feb 2020

territorial integrity to order to accomplish the elimination of bin Laden. Not every President would have necessarily done so, and it did carry risks.

As for the issue in general it's complicated. For example, I think Obama deserves full credit for eliminating bin Laden, but that means I have to give Trump credit for eliminating ISIS leader Al Baghdadi.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

snowybirdie

(5,227 posts)
3. Arrogance
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 03:32 PM
Feb 2020

comes through in this interview. He seems unlikable. Good democrats will see through this.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

InAbLuEsTaTe

(24,122 posts)
6. As the sayin goes, pride comes before the fall. Bernie has Mike's number... & it's in the billions!
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 03:44 PM
Feb 2020

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

JustAnotherGen

(31,823 posts)
8. Likeable
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 04:57 PM
Feb 2020

I think among women - that is going to be a factor as the primaries ramp up. Seriously - if nothing else for women in the Democratic Party - I'm reading and hearing this more and more. And it is in my mind.

I can tolerate Bloomberg - but I don't like him.
I can tolerate Bernie - but I can't relate to him.
I like Warren - but I can't relate to her.
I like and relate to Biden and Amy.

I loved Julian, Corey and Kamala - because I could relate to the on so many levels.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

InAbLuEsTaTe

(24,122 posts)
4. It's fun to watch those defendin billionaire Mike B's statements twist themselves into pretzels
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 03:38 PM
Feb 2020

when Bernie would be absolutely torched, by those same people, if HE had said them. It demonstrates PERFECTLY why Bernie has pretty much already defeated Biden in the Democratic primary, and will soon dispatch with Mayor Mike. He'll be child's play for Bernie, as the dichotomy between the workin class and the privileged class will be in full view.


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

uponit7771

(90,339 posts)
12. Bloomberg makes me appreciate Sanders, that might be MB's goal !!!
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 07:29 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Corgigal

(9,291 posts)
14. Ain't that the truth.
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 07:35 PM
Feb 2020

70 year old men fighting each other. I’m going start drinking.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

InAbLuEsTaTe

(24,122 posts)
17. That's kinda the point I was makin. A friend of mine's rents, Biden fans, say theyll vote for Bernie
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 07:53 PM
Feb 2020

if Joe drops out and Mayor Mike is promoted to be his moderate replacement.


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

BootinUp

(47,151 posts)
7. Great answer /generous sarcasm
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 03:57 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

uponit7771

(90,339 posts)
10. Sooooooo, Bloomberg did not like Obama either? Bloomberg is starting to look like a typical racist
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 07:25 PM
Feb 2020

... who's too rich for someone to tell him he's racist.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

InAbLuEsTaTe

(24,122 posts)
18. You surprised?? I'm more surprised to hear that Obama's thinkin of endorsin Mike over Joe!!
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 07:56 PM
Feb 2020

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

uponit7771

(90,339 posts)
19. Any word from Obama camp on this ?
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 08:27 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

InAbLuEsTaTe

(24,122 posts)
20. I've looked;couldn't find anything. Obama needs to act fast if theres any hope he wants to save Joe.
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 11:23 PM
Feb 2020

TBH, it's hard to tell if he does.


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

uponit7771

(90,339 posts)
22. There's no proof Joe needs saving & national polls don't mean anything other than to M$M horse race
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 12:24 AM
Feb 2020

... folk.

At the state level Biden is still whoopin azz

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Cha

(297,240 posts)
13. He sounds like michael moore here..
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 07:33 PM
Feb 2020
Michael Moore Slams Obama: HIstory Will Only Remember You Were a Black President ..

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10025513223
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

uponit7771

(90,339 posts)
16. +1, M Moore doesn't have a recent history of saying some of the most racist crap about PoC. Someone
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 07:40 PM
Feb 2020

... OP'd the reason Bloomberg was in the race was to get democrats alarmed and in order.

He's done that, I'm tight Biden now gonna give another 20

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

InAbLuEsTaTe

(24,122 posts)
21. No MM doesn't, but Mike gets a pass?! Are people that willin to deny healthcare as a human right?!
Mon Feb 17, 2020, 11:26 PM
Feb 2020

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

uponit7771

(90,339 posts)
23. No Mike Moore gets the benefit of the doubt cause I don't see him always unfairly bashing or doing
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 12:36 AM
Feb 2020

... something antagonistic against PoC like Bloomberg has.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

InAbLuEsTaTe

(24,122 posts)
24. I'm agreeing with you... Mike shouldn't get a pass, yet he does from some here. Go figure!
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 12:43 AM
Feb 2020

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

InAbLuEsTaTe

(24,122 posts)
27. ...
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:09 AM
Feb 2020



Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

underthematrix

(5,811 posts)
29. As an African American woman., I'm gonna have to give all the top tier candidates a
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:32 AM
Feb 2020

pass on #MelaninEnvy

I'm more concerned about restoring our democracy and the rule of law.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Eyeball_Kid

(7,432 posts)
30. Jeez... I'm thinking, WTF is this man? He's not completing thoughts.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:33 AM
Feb 2020

Read his words. And this is a billionaire. How did he ever get into that much money?

So THIS is what it's like to be a filthy rich celebrity. You can have microphones in your face while you turn on your stream of consciousness and let fly. What privilege.

No thanks, Mr. Bloomberg. I've seen enough.

"Kill it."

Really, Mike. You didn't think you'd ever have to answer to that one, eh?

Now you will.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»Democratic Primaries»Bloomberg Unimpressed Wit...