I think I finally understand the goal of the Michael Bloomberg campaign.

[jcmaine72]

Remember when RW'ers and some of the ventriloquist dummies in the MSM were mocking our field of candidates as being "lackluster", "unimpressive" or "old and dull"? We suddenly have a candidate running now who, by sheer contrast, makes all the other candidates look like dynamic historical pillars of justice, decency and moral rectitude.

Whatever lethargy I was feeling before Bloomberg entered the fray is now gone. If there was an "Oh, let's just get this all over with already" vibe to our primaries before, it has since been replaced by the absolute moral imperative of preventing this documented racist, misogynist, and Dumbya supporter/ally from ever representing our party.

I'm now energized, and will volunteer whatever time and money I can spare to assist whichever Democratic candidate is left opposing him if/when Bernie decides to drop out.

This indivudual cannot ever be permitted to become the face of our party,. We're the party of racial equality, not racial profiling. We're the party of gender equality, not misogyny.

We MUST try to be better than this. Some here have lowered the bar of expectations far, far too low for our party. We cannot let a man with a lengthy track record of civil rights abuses ever represent the party of the Civil Rights Movement. That would be a giant, greasy, middle finger in the faces of every person who fought hard and literally sacrificed life and limb within our party for the past sixty years to make our nation a fairer, more just place for all Americans.

So congrats to Mike Bloomberg for his brilliant contribution to our election process. He has presented an alternative that is so terrible for some of us that whomever is left standing against him in the primary, be it Bernie, Biden, Buttigieg, Warren or Klobuchar, they will now enjoy an instantly consolidated and energized base of support.

[RockRaven]

1. I've never been more enthusiastic about Biden/Klobuchar/Buttigieg than I am now.

The contrast with Bloomberg sure makes a difference.

[emmaverybo]

10. Same here. Money bags Bloomberg would pollute our system. The Dem party would cede

moral authority on racial equality, civil liberties, justice reform, and damage any case against Trump we have ever made. Bloomberg would do in the nation what he did in NYC.

Under the guise of crime control, counter-terrorism, getting guns off the streets, he would suspend civil liberties for people of color, African-Americans, Muslims, protestors, and unleash spies and surveillance as he felt needed, quite possibly to protect his presidency.

Further, he’d make deals with Republican friends behind our backs, push a Neo-Con foreign policy bringing us to war, and, as he has said is necessary to protect us, “change our laws or our interpretation of the constitution.”

Homelessness would soar as it did in NYC under his authoritarian rule and, as he did there, he would lie about it. I don’t care how he might appear to champion women’s issues, a man who personally hates and humiliates them can not possibly sincerely represent them.

It is unthinkable to replace one morally corrupt, power mad, anti-democratic, bigoted president with another when we have decent candidates, all of whom support constitutional rights, none of whom believe some Americans don’t deserve them because they are naturally inclined to crime or
terrorist acts by dint of race. Or when they protest Bloomberg’s pals.

P.S. Bloomberg wanted to fingerprint public housing applicants for food stamps. He is very suspicious of the poor, black and Latino youth, Muslims, protestors, and women who tweet about abusive men.
While Bloomberg was mayor, Epstein was safe in NYC.

[thesquanderer]

15. For anyone thinking that fear of Bloomberg's attitudes towards Muslims are unjustified...

...check this piece.

https://muslimadvocates.org/2019/11/muslim-civil-rights-group-demands-bloomberg-disavow-his-anti-muslim-spying-program/

Under the Bloomberg administration, the New York Police Department (NYPD) enacted a sweeping, years-long surveillance and profiling program targeting Muslims in New York and New Jersey. For being guilty of the crime of being Muslim, potentially thousands of innocent people were subject to video surveillance, photographed license plates, community mapping programs and had undercover officers infiltrate their mosques, schools, businesses and restaurants. The spying program led to a major civil rights lawsuit, Hassan v. City of New York, and a landmark settlement that required the NYPD to halt suspicionless surveillance activities on the basis of religion or ethnicity.
...
Despite widespread outrage, Bloomberg in 2012 defended the program, saying “that’s what you would expect them to do. That’s what you would want them to.” Additionally, in 2015, then-candidate Donald Trump praised the Bloomberg administration for supporting the NYPD’s Muslim spying program, saying “we had great surveillance going on in and around mosques in New York City.”

[Red Oak]

37. You are spot on.

Bloomberg is no Democrat.

To me he is a republican in Democratic clothing, for appearance only. He changes party as is suits his needs and he is a special interest group with only one member, albeit a member that has $54B to his name.

I hear "but he gave $100,000,000 to "insert cause here"". Do the math. For him to donate $100M is like a person making $100,000 donating $185. Yeah - $185. Not that big a deal is it? Shows how much money $54B is. He could donate without running

What does Bloomberg want for his investment? Dangerous times my friends.

If the Democratic party has to go to a multi-Billionaire as its savior to defeat Trump, then heaven help the Democratic party. The irony of having the "party of the working class" be run by one of the wealthiest men in the country. Well, it is stuff that "The Onion" would run comedic satirical articles on.

We have plenty of good candidates on the stage, hustling, with great ideas, working hard for my vote. I intend to vote for one of them.

[thesquanderer]

16. While I'm more of the Warren/Sanders wing, yes, I'd take Biden/Klobuchar/Buttigieg

over Bloomberg, in a heartbeat.

[uponit7771]

32. +1

[Devil Child]

2. One profound effect his entry has had on me

Is making me appreciate every candidate who was in this before him. I’d strategically vote for any of our Democratic candidates in my state’s primary if it meant helping stop Bloomberg’s presidential aspirations.

This will be the most important primary I’ve ever voted for and it will be an honor to vote for “anyone but Bloomberg” and most importantly the one that seems most capable in doing so.

[delisen]

3. Planned Parenthood: Bloomberg funds it Sanders dissed it

Bernie dismissed PP as establishment

If Sanders considers himself a feminist maybe he should thank MIke-as I have.

[thesquanderer]

17. Sanders criticized the political arm of Planned Parenthood...

...after they endorsed Hillary (it was the first time they had ever endorsed a presidential primary candidate). So one can argue about who started that battle. But more importantly, he's never been against the organization itself or the services it provides.

[MH1]

27. Why SHOULDN'T Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorse a candidate?

It seems to me they had very good reason to endorse who they did. In any case it was their choice, just like any labor union or any other group.

Oh, he dissed Human Rights Campaign the same way.

[thesquanderer]

35. Yes, it was their choice to endorse, and Sanders was equally entitled to make his feelings known.

None of those feelings were in any way in opposition to PP's mission, services, or funding.

[Demsrule86]

28. Bloomberg funded planned parenthood after it was cut...there wouldn't be a planned parenthood in

Ohio without this money...what did Sander do for them other than call them establishment? All this criticism just makes me think Bloomie may be the one stop Sanders from getting the nomination ...hey I would prefer Biden...but if he is out, Bloomberg will do...to kick Trump out.

[Laelth]

30. Truth. Thank you. n/t

-Laelth

[thesquanderer]

33. re: "what did Sander do for them other than call them establishment?"

He supported them with every vote that was relevant to them.

[Demsrule86]

41. Well he couldn't affect the outcome...Bloomberg gave hard cold cash...Sanders has plenty of money

too... did he send any?

[thesquanderer]

42. I have no idea what Sanders' charitable contributions are... but "has plenty of money too?"

Sanders has an estimated net worth of two million, Bloomberg has an estimated worth of 62 BILLION. Do you have any idea how much of a difference that is? Talking about Bloomberg and saying "Sanders has plenty of money too"--to imply there is ANY comparable amount of wealth between them--is absurd. It would be like comparing the wealth of somebody who has total wealth of $100 with someone who has total wealth of over 3 million dollars.

Bloomberg gave about 14 million to Planned Parenthood over 4 years. For Bernie to give a comparable amount of his wealth, he'd have to have given them about $440 over 4 years. Maybe he did, I don't know. But... seriously? This is what you'd base Sanders support of Planned Parenthood on?

ETA: p.s. -- Sanders hasn't even been worth 2 million for very long... he wasn't worth that much when Bloomberg gave those contributions. Though Bloomberg may have given more since that report, I don't know.

[tulipsandroses]

4. I feel the same way. I am still undecided but I have decided it should not be Bloomberg

He has a shitty record as mayor for the working class and poor. So even if you excused the Stop and Frisk and misogyny. ( We shouldn't) But even if democrats are willing to overlook that, I am trying to wrap my head around excusing someone that made life harder for working class and poor folks under his tenure? I mean the man literally said it was dumb to increase taxes for the rich. Now when he decides to run for president, oh yeah I am gonna tax the rich.

We have better choices.

[jcmaine72]

5. Great point!

I guess we're all expected to overlook how the divide between rich and poor widened exponentially under his reign as mayor as well.

So, to sum up, and to follow up on the point you made, this is what Mike Bloomberg and his supporters are expecting us as Democrats to excuse:

His history of racism.
His history of misogyny.
His history of classism

Let's just say for argument's sake we all do. The next logical question is what else is there left for us as Democrats to believe in? Would we even stand for anything anymore as a party at that point?

Some have argued that it's all about winning, and that should be our sole focus. My counter argument is if someone doesn't believe we, as Democrats, can't win higher office without endorsing a candidate who is the antithesis of everything our party stands for, then what good is winning? What exactly have you really won?

No, I firmly believe we can win as Democrats by championing Democratic principles, without having to compromise everything we've fought for since the 1960s. We can't head down any other path. We'll never make it back again as a party.

[Moderateguy]

39. Talk about bringing a knife to a gun fight....

No, I firmly believe we can win as Democrats by championing Democratic principles, without having to compromise everything we've fought for since the 1960s. We can't head down any other path. We'll never make it back again as a party.

The other side has abandoned their principles for power and we NEED power to survive. Instead you are suggesting that we hold hands, sing kumbaya and hope for the best?

[jcmaine72]

40. Anyone who wants follow the reTHugs down that scummy rat hole can.

I know there's a better way that doesn't involve me selling out everything I've believed in my whole adult life.

[Desert grandma]

6. I will vote Blue no matter who!

The priority is to defeat the Orange Maggot. I do not think Bernie can win a GE. He has good ideas and proposals, but he will be branded as a "socialist" and I do not think that will fly in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan. It is all about the electoral college win, and whoever can do that should be our nominee. Bloomberg is not my first choice but I will gladly vote for him if he becomes the nominee. Our primary is not until June, so it will all be pretty much decided by then. We must not lose sight of the goal...getting rid of trump and his corrupt administration.

[calimary]

11. So will I.

If there's a "D" by the name, that will get my vote.

[thesquanderer]

18. re: "I do not think that will fly in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan"

yet Sanders polls well there. Though admittedly, Biden polls better. No other candidate does, though. (I don't think they've polled for Bloomberg yet.)

[ForEverGlades]

7. PERFECT

You sum it up perfectly.
Candidates need to be vetted and judged by their record.
Bloomie's very recent record just doesn't compute for this party.
Especially agree with your statement that "Some here have lowered the bar of expectations far, far too low for our party."
We must do better than rationalizing supporting him because wow, he has all those $$$'s.
Is that really all we're about??

[Demsrule86]

26. Yes it does actually...support for Planned parenthood, Climate, gun registration, money for Virginia

and Money for the House...he is great on the issues...it is his past that troubles me particularly stop and frisk...but it is a no brainer for me to vote for him if it comes between Sanders and him as I believe Bloomberg could win a general.

[not fooled]

8. Well said

We are better than this.

[Red Oak]

9. Bernie's not a Democrat! Yay Bloomberg!

I see that all the time on DU.

Blows my mind.

Bernie walks the walk. Literally. He may register as an Independent, but he sure seems to vote Democratic on almost every issue out there. Not only Democrat, but Progressive Democrat at that and not a bunch of the 3rd way quasi-Republican neocon BS.

I'll be glad to support Bernie, Elizabeth, Amy or Biden, over billionaires. Especially billionaires like Bloomberg.

Bloomberg changes party when it suits him. He is no Democrat. Just a Billionaire in it for himself.

How ironic that much of our party is looking to a man with $54B to lead the "party of the working class".

Wow.

[Demsrule86]

25. Sanders uses the Democratic party for his convenience in getting elected in Vermont and now for the

nomination but treats the party abominably IMHO.

[Red Oak]

34. The entire party of just the 3rd wayers?

EOM

[AlexSFCA]

12. dem is a dem, I won't bash Bloomie

he may be morally worse than any of our candidates but he is a saint compared to trump. I respect that he is willing to spend billions of his own money in a short period of time to ensure our side does not get outspent by trump. I don’t believe he is serious about winning the nomination, he would have entered the race much earlier if he truly was. IMO, he only has one intent is to beat trump. But yes, if that happens his ego will get credit for saving the world. I’ll take it. We need his money. Also, he has sincere convictions such as gun control, feminism, climate change, and others.

[Thekaspervote]

13. Agree!

[Amimnoch]

20. Notice, he's also the one that's firing directly at trump and not the other candidates.

Just look at this thread.

For certain other candidates, their entire sales pitch are almost exclusively around just how "bad" other Democratic party candidates are.

They can't run on how good their own candidate is,

And neither they nor their own candidate of choice are going after Tramp like Bloomberg iss.

I'm with Mike because he knows who the ACTUAL enemy is and is going after him the way all of our candidates should be.

Bloomberg 2020

OR

Any Democratic Party candidate other than Bernie 2020

[AlexSFCA]

38. if BS is the nominee, will Bloomie support him?

[Demsrule86]

24. +1000 I do think you are wrong about Bloomberg...he chose to wait until he had a shot...the early

states are not good for moderates...Joe would have been well served to do the same.

[QualTest]

14. Trump Derangement Sydrome...

I'm truly amazed at how many people who claim to be D would literally vote for
ANYONE just to oust Trump!

Well, as long as they are NOT someone who FDR, or the Europeans would recognize!
Oh No!

If the Koch Bro registered as a D., would you vote for him?
He has MORE money and power than Bloomy to kick out Trump. What about Bezos?

Has it come down to the battle of the oligarch, same of 2 evil, with a different name?

Does the D brand stand for something? Is there anything in the old FDR quiver?
I guess it just a free for all now. SMH!

[Amimnoch]

19. LOL. Welcome to DU.

[Hav]

21. The only ones who talk about Trump derangement syndrome

are Trumpists because it implies that there has to be a mental condition behind being opposed to Trump.
But that is only besides the other logical fallacies in your post, for instance, because of one similarity between two people, they are the same in all other aspects as well.

[Demsrule86]

23. Sanders doesn't think so apparently since he is not a Democrat by choice.

[BusyBeingBest]

36. Bloomberg does have a 12-year record as a public official. Other billionaires

do not. Bad or discriminatory policies were a part of that, but he's probably done some beneficial (read: progressive) things too, such as supporting women's choice and gun control. He ruled as a progressive repub (centrist) apparently. But his current platform is very Democratic. I have to look at what someone promises and plans to do NOW, and his or her ability to kick Donnie Dump's ass.

[Demsrule86]

22. Hillarious how Sanders supporters are so threatened by Bloomberg...personally, I want to win...

so if the choice is between Sanders and Bloomberg to win the nomination...I will vote for Bloomberg...he will turn the orange monster out of office. Sanders won't be able to do this.

[apcalc]

29. I don't trust Bloomberg. He supported R's in my state as recently as last year.

We needed those seats. And he is a racist, misogynist. NO!

[uponit7771]

31. K&R, I'm energized now ... you're sooooooooo right