Seems Obama and the crew have a favorite in the NYC mayoral race.

[Smarmie Doofus]

And it's not the DEM candidate, City Comptroller Bill Thompson. ( nominated by a landslide in an open primary by NYC DEMS last month.)

Thompson's up against an incumbent conservative Republican who has spent... so far... 65 million dollars in a frantic effort for a third term. Despite a 17-1 spending advantage, Bloomberg leads by only 8 pts. ( That spells vulnerability, folks. People here ...NYC... really do not want him. )

Yes... there was a perfunctory... one might even say *grudging*... endorsement of Mr. Thompson by the WH press flack a couple weeks ago; but it's clear that the Republican candidate has found a $$$oft $$$pot in the heart of this administration. No joint appearances. No Michelle. No Biden. No surrogates. You get the picture.

Obama and Co can do as they please; and I'm sure they will. For myself, I just made a 50$ donation (it's my 2010 DNC money) online to the Thompson campaign to help elect the DEM candidate.

Here's the cool thing: my 50 bucks is actually worth over 400$ to the campaign. Why? NYC's Campaign Finance Law. Explained in this email from the Thompson campaign:

>>>>>If you live in the city Help elect Bill Thompson: Make an online contribution

New York City needs a leader with the experience to see us through tough fiscal times, and the commitment to put the needs of our great city before his own.The NYC Campaign Finance Board will match all contributions (up to $175) from every NYC resident at a 8.57 to 1 ratio - so it will effectively make a $25 donation a $214.25 donation, a $50 donation a $428.50 donation and so on.
contribute before midnight tonite the contribution is matched X 8 by the Campaign Finance Fund.>>>>>>

Anyone can help. Apparently only NYC residents get the matching funds. http://www.thompson2009.com/site/home/

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

1. You're right.

Obviously with two wars and a healthcare debate going on, what Obama should be focusing on is local elections where we're destined to lose.

[Smarmie Doofus]

7. Re. the wars: Check with Sabbat Hunter.

Bloomberg supported the initiation of both... bad-mouthed dissenters... then harassed ( and his cops actually seriously injured a large number of )antiwar demonstators.

But Sabbat thinks he's not a conservative.

[sabbat hunter]

8. That does not make him a conservative

that makes him stupid.

Take a look at Bloomberg's overall politics and they are left of center.

My biggest beef with Bloomberg currently is the fact that is going against voters wishes with running for a third term. The voters of NYC voted to have term limits in the city charter. He via the democratic party controlled city council, overturned that so they could all run for a third term. I plan on voting against the democratic candidate in my area (Peter Vallone jr) and for the Green Party candidate, as Vallone is guilty of the same crime. (vallone is cross endorsed by the republican party in his bid for reelection)

[JVS]

15. Yeah, NYC will never go blue, so we should give up.

:eyes:

[sabbat hunter]

2. couple of things

1) bloomberg is not a conservative. I do not like him but he isn't a conservative by a long shot
2) Obama is fully behind Thompson, witness him being in NYC tonight.
3) Bloomberg spent a ton of money the first two times around
4) Thompson has run a lackluster campaign.

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. "Not a conservative." Pardon me while I get my dictionary.

>>>>>) bloomberg is not a conservative. I do not like him but he isn't a conservative by a long shot>>>>>>


>>>>>>2) Obama is fully behind Thompson, witness him being in NYC tonight.\>>>>>

So he's here to raise money for Thompson? There will be joint appearances? Not according to the NYT: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/20/the-chief-fund-raiser/


>>>3) Bloomberg spent a ton of money the first two times around. >>>>>>>

Ok.....don't see your point.


>>>>4) Thompson has run a lackluster campaign.>>>>>

Green "ran a lackluster campaign".

Ferrer "ran a lackuster campaign".

Thompson "has run a lackluster campaign".

Hmm... seems every DEM that runs against Bloomberg mysteriously "runs a lackluster campaign." Or so the print $$$ media narrative would have it. We're better off thinking for ourselves, imo. We can really do with less help in that dept. from Rupert J. Zuckerberger.

[sabbat hunter]

6. Actually

Green ran a very good campaign, but was hurt by Ferrer's timid endorsement after a brutal primary (on Green's part, he did a lot of mud slinging).

Yes please break out a dictionary and show me which parts of "Conservative" Bloomberg follows

Bloomberg supports abortion rights, supports gay marriage, supports gun control. All fairly liberal ideals.

My point about bloomberg spending all that money is that since he spends his own money, it is nearly impossible to keep up with him dollar for dollar, and that he is using the same tactics that he did the previous elections. Considering the huge advantage Dems have in registration numbers in NYC an 8% lead is huge for bloomberg.

[Smarmie Doofus]

16. OK... now starts the silly season:

>>>Bloomberg supports abortion rights, supports gay marriage, supports gun control. All fairly liberal ideals.>>>

Of course Bloomberg *says* he supports these things. Everyone running for Mayor *says* they support these issues. Otherwise they can't be elected. It's the NY equivalent of kissing babies.

What does he, Bloomberg, actually DO, if anything, about them? Example gay rmarriage. You say he's for it.

Question: Did he, as mayor, order city lawyers to go to court to argue in favor of gay marriage or to OPPOSE it? ( Do the search; let me know if you have any trouble.)

Question 2: Gay marriage is illegal in NYS primarily because the GOP caucus in the state senate is unanimously opposed to it. Bloomberg donated 600,000 in the last state senate election cycle, all of which went to which state senate campaign committee : the pro-gay marriage DEM party or to the anti-gay marriage republican party? ( again , look it up; if you have trouble let me know, I can help.)

>>>>>Considering the huge advantage Dems have in registration numbers in NYC an 8% lead is huge for bloomberg.>>>>>

The general electorate is pretty much swayed by tv commercials ( unlike the primary electorate which tends to read.) The fact that he's only ahead by 8 points is , ( assuming the USA Today survey OCT is close to acurrate) is astonishing.

17 to 1 spending advantage plus the local electronic media loves him 'cause of the cash flow. Yet... a measley 8 points. At one point... after the phony subway terror plot in '05... he led Ferrer by 34.

I don't think our boy's doing so great this time.

[sabbat hunter]

25. couple of corrections

Bloomberg has said that when gay marriage is legalized in NYS, he wanted to first, as mayor of NYC, to perform a marriage. As mayor of a city he does not have standing in court bring a court case for gay marriage.

Gay marriage in NYS is illegal actually mainly due to several democrats. In case you forgot the Democratic party currently controls both houses in NYS. However several NY democrats are vehemently opposed to gay marriage, and a number of these democrats are from NYC.

The local media is not in love with Bloomberg, in fact the NY Daily News came out against him when he proposed eliminating term limits and continues to oppose him on this issue.

[brooklynite]

11. I would LOVE to vote for a strong Democratic candidate for Mayor...

...but Bill Thompson isn't one.

I know one of the other Dem candidates in this year's primary, and he said the Thompson Campaign had said they weren't going to actively campaign until after the Primary...a substantial waste of time ESPECIALLY given Bloomberg's advertising edge.

And, yes, Ferrer ran a lackluster campaign, and Green ran a campaign that divided the Party so badly he couldn't pull the Democratic vote together.

And before THAT, Ruth Messenger ran a campaign that was non-existent against Giuliani who at the time didn't have billions to spend and didn't have 9/11 to campaign on.

Until the Demos can find a solid candidate who can run citywide, our Mayoral prospects are going to be bad as long as the Republicans can find more Business types like Bloomberg.

[Smarmie Doofus]

14. I'm curious. For whom are you voting? nt

[brooklynite]

23. Didn't say I wouldn't vote for him...

...but I'm under no illusion that Bloomberg won't win, and I'm not going to take the easy way out and say Thompson can't possibly win because of Bloomberg's campaign spending. I don't buy the notion that people are too stupid to think for themselves in the face of campaign advertising; Thompson has had a year to come up with some dramatic proposals to get voter attention, and he hasn't done so.

[Bluenorthwest]

22. That is how CA got Arnold twice in a row

lots of talk about 'luster' and money. Arnold got Democratic votes because he had 'luster' and his opponents did not. So they voted for the sparkly thing. And it worked out great, they are one rich state for sure!
" The Democrat is boring and wonky. Let's elect a Republican with luster!"

[sabbat hunter]

26. Dont forget

when Peter Vallone ran for Governor against Pataki. That was ridiculous, horrible campaigning.

There are too many democrats in NYC who get elected locally simply because they have a D next to their name, not because they are good candidates or actually back Democratic Party ideals.

Giuliani won his first term in a race against Dinkins, mainly because of the Crown Heights riot issue. Too often Dinkins gave the appearance that he cared more about planes flying over the US open than the really big issues facing the city. He did not get the credit he deserved for starting the downward trend of crime in the city.

Then Messinger ran on what seemed to be the platform of "I am a democrat and it is my turn to be mayor"

[sabbat hunter]

28. Teh daily news

Run by Mortimer B Zuckerman has opposed Bloomberg ever since he pushed thru eliminating term limits so that he could run for a 3rd term.

[Raineyb]

17. Lackluster campaign = couldn't out spend the billionaire who bought the election

Might as well be honest about what you're saying.

[sabbat hunter]

27. incorrect

even is platform is full of generalities and full of talking about what he has done as Controller, not what he will do as mayor.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. What proof do you have that Thompson is not Obama's favorite in this race?

:shrug:

[Smarmie Doofus]

5. Sitting DEM presidents generally express a trace of enthusiasm ....

... for the DEM nominee. Especially in big cities. Especially In New York.

If they don't feel enthusiasm, they *feign* enthusiasm. This is a well known and established political convention.

To fail to do so is to invite speculation that the sitting president prefers the candidate of the other party.

[Blue-Jay]

9. So, you're saying that your OP is pure speculation?

[Cha]

10. "Democrat William Thompson buoyed by President Obama's endorsement"

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/election_2009/2009/10/10/2009-10-10_democrat_william_thompson_buoyed_by_president_obamas_endorsement_bloomberg_plays.html

[sandnsea]

12. Uh, he's specifically on a campaign tour

NJ for Corzine, CT for Dodd, VA for Deeds - NYC for Thompson.

:crazy:

[Smarmie Doofus]

13. Link?

[patrick t. cakes]

18. vote for reverend billy

http://voterevbilly.org/

[KharmaTrain]

19. Bloomberg Isn't Popular Yet Up By 8 Points?

Not that I care for the dude, but leading in the polls by 8 points is outside the margin of error...hardly vulnerable this late in a race.

All the money can't buy an election if the candidate is truly unpopular...been there, done that. After all these years, Bloomberg is a known commodity...his money wouldn't buy an election if he been that "unpopular".

The problem is with the Democratic party...a good friend in New York and is a very die-hard Democrat is fed up with the party and how it's become the NYC equivelent of the GOOP...regional...serving buroughs and pushing candidates that aren't electable. He worked for Mark Green in '01 but was has been put off by how poorly organized and unified the party is that he's sat out the last one and is doing it again this year. Here's one of the most Democratic cities in the country and they haven't elected a Democratic Mayor since Koch...and some doubt he was ever a Democrat.

I wish Mr. Thompson well, but he's representing a party that fights more with itself than with rushpublicans...all but giving the election to Bloomberg.

[Smarmie Doofus]

31. Not much infighting here, ( NYC DEMs) really.

>>>> wish Mr. Thompson well, but he's representing a party that fights more with itself than with rushpublicans...all but giving the election to Bloomberg.>>>>>

Thompson won the primary with about 75%. The runner-upis an enthusiastic supporter.

Just a lot of defectors who find Bloomberg attractive for reasons that they can't or won't explain.

[Nye Bevan]

20. Bloomberg is not a Republican

He left that party in 2007:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19317522/

True, the GOP decided to put him on their line in the election, just as they did for Ed Koch in 1981. Koch was not a Republican either.

Thompson is doomed to lose. Bloomberg has run NYC competently. I highly suggest you spend your money on races where the Dem actually has a chance to win.

[Smarmie Doofus]

30. Let's keep this on an adult level. Bloomberg sought....

... and won the Republican nomination for mayor in order to oppose the candidate of our DEM party.

He IS the Republican candidate.

*Republican*.

The Koch analogy is silly. Koch *was* the DEM nominee; he wasn't running AGAINST the party. GOP endorsed him for ... among other reasons... they had no one and no real rationale for opposing him.


>>>Bloomberg has run NYC competently. >>>>>

No offense, still waiting for you to get something right here. He's a horrible mayor. He does everything incompetently except PR.

You're in CT. Bloomberg may indeed look good from there. (Lieberman looks good to some New Yorkers who don't know him well enough.)


But some of us actually have to live here.

[Nye Bevan]

32. His schools policy has been successful

or do you disagree with the Teachers' Union Leader Randi Weingarten?

https://secure.nypost.com/seven/06022009/news/regionalnews/mike_has_the_look_of_a_winner_172133.htm

The city's third- through eighth-graders dramatically boosted their performance on state math tests by 7.5 percentage points compared with last year -- stunning results that had even teachers-union boss Randi Weingarten singing the praises of mayoral control yesterday.

...

She said yesterday that he has built a "very impressive record" working with teachers to boost student achievement.



I did live in NYC during the Dinkins era and I wouldn't blame NYC voters for not wanting to take a chance on Thompson.

[leftynyc]

21. Bloomberg is not a conservative

And I'm pretty sure he's not a republican anymore either. I like Thompson and think he'd be a good mayor but Bloomberg is going to be re-elected in a cake walk.

[rvablue]

24. Do you have an example of the last time a President, VP or First Lady stumped

for a mayoral candidate?

[Smarmie Doofus]

29. Certainly.

It was the last time there was a sitting DEM president.

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=47117

So... where's Obama?




Remarks at a Fundraiser for Mayor David Dinkins in New York City
September 26, 1993



William J. Clinton
1993: Book II



The President. Mr. Mayor, Mrs. Dinkins, Senator Moynihan, Governor and Mrs. Cuomo, distinguished leaders of this magnificent city, other distinguished head tattle guests. You know, when I do a speech, because sometimes, as you will remember, I'm a little long-winded— —my acute advisers always say, "Now, Mr. President, imagine what you want (be headline to be." What is the headline? I think I've already heard the headline. The headline is the Mayor would very much like to have his job for 4 more years, and we ought to give it to him.
I always love to come to New York, but I certainly would have come here tonight just to listen to my Senate Finance Committee chair and your brilliant Governor and the Mayor give these speeches. And now I feel like I did the night I gave my first speech in public life, in January 1977, at the Pine Bluff Rotary banquet. It started at 6:30. There were 500 people there. Everybody in the whole place was introduced except three people; they went home mad, kind of like Dave did. And I got introduced at a quarter to 10, and the guy that wits introducing me was the only person in the crowd more nervous than I was. And so everybody got awards and the whole deal had gone on, and the first words out of his mouth were, "You know, we could stop here and have had a very nice evening." And that's kind of how I feel. It is wonderful to be back in New York, wonderful to be here with all of you, and wonderful to be here on behalf of Mayor Dinkins. (more at link)