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In These Times blogs live from the Republican National Convention September 1 - 4.

Bloomberg Could Tie Centrists in Knots

If the New York mayor runs, he will stymie the ability of the Democratic nominee to play both sides of the fence on issues like guns, gay rights, immigration and choice

By Laura S. Washington

When New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg looks at himself in the mirror, what do you suppose he sees? A hard-nosed, no-nonsense businessman? A non-partisan political operator? Perhaps a nuts-and-bolts manager? Kingmaker, spoiler, billionaire? The next president of the United States? It’s a perplexing picture that offers up a cornucopia of possibilities. Bloomberg has newly declared himself an independent. Independent… return to article

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    Page 1 of 1 pages

    Illegal guns?

    You want a War on Guns?

    Look at the War on Poverty. Then there’s the War on Drugs — a lot like the experiment with alcohol which financed the big gangs in the 30s. Not a good prospect for success.

    Chicago has had a ban on guns within the city for at least two decades. Anyone notice besides those law abiding citizens who had their rights taken away?

    We put people in prison for using drugs (unless they are a celeb in rehab — then they do the talk show circuit). Wouldn’t it be better for us all and less costly to give them a choice of free drugs or treatment?

    How many of those 34 students were killed by other kids because of the War on Drugs?

    The illegal acts committed with guns and the people who misuse the guns are are the problem — can Bloomberg promise a cure for that?

    He may just make it to the WH — after all, he managed to buy the governorship for only about $85 million (if memory serves me right).

    Centrist — I guess that is the term for someone who is willing to be for/against whatever floats your boat.

    United States Posted by whattheheck on Jul 24, 2007 at 9:26 AM

    Ralph Nader a megalomaniac? Is that what you call someone who can’t be bought? Who tells the truth no matter how unpopoular or unpleasant? Wake up. Everything the man says is true. Just look how great the dems are doing now that they have congress back. He predicted this. Instead of blaming Mr. Nader for this mess we should be listening to him. That we didn’t listen to him all along has been our undoing.

    United States Posted by coolfool on Jul 25, 2007 at 10:06 AM

    Check out my article, “The Answer to Bloomberg, Ad-Free Gore!” at: http://hankedson.squarespace.com/ad-free-gore/

    United States Posted by hankedson on Jul 30, 2007 at 10:46 AM

    It seems as if Ms. Washington has exposed herself as nothing but a centrist Dem. When are supposed “progressives” going to stop beating that dead horse about Nader causing Gore to lose in 2000? Maybe she hasn’t heard that the Socialist candidate for Prez in 2000 garnered enough votes to swing it Gore’s way too, or that upon recount, Gore did actually win the vote in Fla. Since she wants to jump on the bandwagon of a centrist (if, in fact he really is that or is just pretending to be for votes) maybe ITT should get a real progressive voice to expound the feelings and political leanings of its readership and let Ms. Washington go somewhere else where her views on having to spend 100 mil to buy a political office (which she doesn’t seem to mind in the least) will have a welcoming audience.

    United States Posted by contrain1 on Aug 8, 2007 at 11:21 PM
    Page 1 of 1 pages

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