Here and There

In no particular order:

• Bill Richardson
• John Edwards
• Chuck Hagel
• Michael Bloomberg
• Janet Napolitano
• Jim Webb
• Brian Schweitzer

Isn’t it nice not having to worry that the ticket will be too white? I know, I know, if Hillary had won, we wouldn’t have to worry about its being to male. Still, I’m just saying.

Seems like yesterday afternoon was a ticklish fun time in Electionland. I was helping my lady move, and missed some nuggets, most importantly this one from Michael Bloomberg on the gas-tax holiday, aka, worst idea in the world.

Thx: Sullivan.

Bloomberg-Obama meeting fuels endorsement speculation. From Huffington Post.

Well-written prose from Michael Bloomberg on why a political independent in the White House would be the best thing for this country. I agree with him.

Yes, we’ve heard it before. But that was way back when Hillary Clinton was the Democratic frontrunner and the need for a candidate like New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was real.

My guess? He read the so-called tea leaves and decided Obama was the nominee. Now maybe he’ll get a Cabinet position in the Obama administration.

Okay, I’m annoyed. There have been more reports in recent days that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is working toward a possible run for president as an independent. Don’t get me wrong: I’m all about political independence in this country, at least on a personal level.

But a run by Bloomberg, announced this late, with no formal organization doing the necessary footwork over the last three-plus years, would be irresponsible. Announcing the year of the general election (despite RFK) is not the way to do it.

I like Bloomberg’s politics, and would even consider voting for him. But now, it’s just too late. He couldn’t rally enough support, and would end up just another Perot (1992), or Perot(1996), or Nader (2000), or (not-so-much) Nader (2004). It’s lame, and unnecessary.

I don’t mind the way it shakes out that there are mainly two political parties in this country. Used to be the two more viable ideas rose above the fray and battled it out. But sometimes (and now is a perfect example of when), a new way needs to be sought. The electorate tires of the same old politics, the same old rhetoric, and approval ratings for politicians plummet because no one has any faith that the government can do a damned thing.

But look at history: These conditions existed in 2005. They existed in 2006. That would’ve been the time for a figure like Bloomberg to join other dissenting voices in forming a third party. If, by this year, it had blossomed into something viable, then so be it. It could put forth a candidate of its choice, and that candidate may end up doing more than simply spoiling the race and preventing the elected president from getting more than a simple majority.

But this kind of tinkering, especially by an independently wealthy white man (however much you agree with his politics), is wrongheaded. Please, Mr. Bloomberg, do us all a favor: Stay out!

Had a conversation at a party over the weekend regarding presidential candidates. I let my interlocutor know that, as soon as I read that Rudy Giuliani decried universal health care as socialized medicine, he was out as far as I was concerned. And so, my logic goes, I will, with 100 percent certainty, be voting for a Democrat in the next presidential election (unless a viable, ahem, Bloomberg, third-party candidate emerges).

I told my friend of my hope that, by the time February 5, 2008 rolls around and it’s time to vote in California’s primary, Barack Obama would still be in the running, because so far, with less than six months to go, he’s my frontrunner. I reminded my friend of an aversion to voting for HIllary Clinton, at least until she’s nominated.

But on to why I’m writing today …

My friend made a few points that may have knocked a few more bricks out of my Hillary-defense wall.

First of all, he equated Obama with Kerry in the sense that, no matter how much people like us appreciate the ideas, energy, and articulation of the candidate, they are both too intellectual to play well in a general election. It was refreshing to hear anything besides Obama’s supposed inexperience and/or ethnicity as a strike against him. And the more I thought of it, the more I agree with my friend. I can’t go choosing the candidate who’s right for me. Sadly, I have to choose the person who’s right for the nation.

Now, whether that person is Clinton is another story, and one we may have to wait 14 months to determine.

The second point my friend made was his response to a question I asked. “Can Hillary Clinton beat any of the Republicans?”

“She can,” he said. “Americans want a dynasty. Also, they’re tired of Republicans, and Giuliani’s views of abortion and gun control, his supposed blaspheming of the church, will be enough to turn Republican voters away.”

“They would never vote for a Democrat, though,” I said.

“Right. They just won’t vote.”

So, presuming Bloomberg (or Al Gore, for that matter) doesn’t get involved, and Clinton wins the nomination, I hereby announce that I am beginning to think she may not be so bad. Hell, I might even feel good voting for her.

And today, she unveiled her plan for universal, individual mandate health care. Nice.

Bloomberg now saying he’s not only not running, but that even if he did, he couldn’t win.

“Nobody’s going to elect me president,” the NYC mayor said.

Is he possibly trying out a new tactic: pity?

From an op-ed in The Washington Post.

There, I said it.

I somehow failed to note that Giuliani and Fox News President (and slightly larger than life douchebag) Roger Ailes were so buddy-buddy. Then I go to nytimes.com today and see a photo of Rudy on Sean Hannity’s show.

It was only yesterday here at work that I proofread a story about Giuliani’s health care plan (read: go fuck yourselves, poor people!).

Giuliani had this to say: “”We’ve got to solve our health care problem with American principles, not the principles of socialism. I know Democrats will say this is unfair, I know they’ll squeal… But I’m a realist. I face reality, which is: if you take more people and have government cover it, it’s called socialized medicine.”

Then this: “Michael Moore wants to take you to Cuba for your health care. Anyone want to sign up? I didn’t think so. Maybe the Democrats will sign up.”

Well, listen, assface, I’m no Democrat, but I would be glad to go anywhere that wouldn’t bankrupt me or my heirs to mend a broken bone, not to mention save my life. It’s sad that Rudy has become such a pandering politician.

So yeah, the only Republican I had ever considered voting for has officially lost my vote.

I haven’t urged Michael Bloomberg to run for president lately. Mr. Mayor, are you out there?