Michael Bloomberg AND $1 Billion Dollars to Spend in 2008 --Will He Run Independent? LINK

Newsweek does a spread on Michael Bloomberg(See Link Below).

Will he run as an Independent and spend $1 Billion Dollars? Pro-choice, pro-gun control, pro-gay rights, devoted campaigner against global warming, willing to raise taxes, a fiscal hawk ... those positions would certainly appeal to some Democrats.

It 'sounds like' Bloomberg is keeping his options open at this time.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/68113/page/1

'Campaign 2008 - The Revolutionary'

"If his potential opponents' fears come true and Bloomberg runs, he would campaign, predictably, as an outsider. What is less predictable is the impact nearly a billion dollars of TV and Internet advertising might have. The possible theme of such advertising, and of such a campaign, is becoming clearer by the day. In speeches Bloomberg has begun to be more explicitly critical of the capital culture. "The people at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue and on both sides of the aisle just aren't facing up to the problems that need facing," he says, and has taken to referring to Washington as a "swamp of dysfunction." He is pro-choice, pro-gun control and pro-gay rights. He has become a devoted campaigner against global warming. He raised property taxes in New York, but could legitimately claim to be the biggest fiscal hawk and an unabashed supporter of free trade. Who could be a bigger believer in the power of markets than the inventor of the Bloomberg Terminal?"

MORE

Does Newsweek look at all his money did NOT buy? It couldn't buy the destruction of the party system he tried to get us to agree to, a lovely plan that would let billionaires run without parties.

He wanted the Olympics, and couldn't persuade us to build him a stadium in Manhattan. Can we say idiotic idea? Both the stadium AND the Olympics. Asking us to paint fucking targets on our backs. Genius.

He campaigned hard for all those little rich man's toys. Just as he's been fighting for congestion pricing, a brilliant plan to clear the peasants and trucks off our streets so the limos
can travel crosstown without traffic. We've all been very impressed by that.

Oh, and let's not forget charging to park on Sundays, another lovely idea that had to be rescinded when the churches screamed.

He's a very efficient fellow. I like him. But he thinks like a rich guy.

He just said "I am not a candidate for President."

He just mentioned Sarkozy of France, someone to pull everybody together.

I find it hard to believe that he won't run--he seems to have all the logistics and electoral math worked out, and he's doing candidate stuff. And why would Newsweek devote ten pages and 7 writers to him if they didn't think he was planning to run? If he helps Hillary win, good. If he wins, I'm OK with that. If he tips it to the GOPer, we'll have a new Nader to hate.

He has all the money he needs once he 'pulls the trigger.'

He is now assessing the candidates likely to prevail in the Dem and Repub Primaries.

MSNBC just said he probably would not 'get in' until at least March of 2008.

There is a real advantage running as an independent in that he can be the 'new fresh candidate' who is not beaten up in primary races, and the public might look at him more closely since they will likely already know plenty about both the Dem Nominee and the Repub Nominee.

The longer he 'holds out' the more publicity he will get as people speculate 'will he or won't he?'

He may be the biggest threat to Democrats capturing the White House given the current anti-Repub environment.

or keeping options open. He had Newsweek writers following him to Seattle for a reason. He's been positioning himself carefully, promoting a new national carbon tax, and he even came out last week AGAINST the Spitzer driver license idea, which will contrast him with Hillary. I don't think it's a done deal--depends to some extent on who the nominees are and the mood of the country, but reading that article, and the fact that he's recently traveled to England and France to meet with leaders and give speeches (just like Rudy did), my impression is that he'll run. He's acting too much like a candidate to deny it, even though he says no. I am not too afraid of him throwing the election to the GOPers at this point--I think Dems still have the best shot at winning.