On my walk to work I pass several street corners fortified with Newspaper Boxes. I love them. I know they are in many ways relics of a bygone age of media, but I always enjoy seeing the layout of what is "fronted" and "above the fold" Today the New York Times image of the a minibus engulfed in flames with a Palistinian Man (clad in an LA Rams Team Shirt) in the foreground was definitely the most arresting.
But what stopped me was the face of Mike Bloomberg fronting from the Washington Times. "Bloomberg Poised to Run" Now, you, have to take account that about half the time Rev. Moon's Paper of Record always has some agenda utterly unknown to non-Moonies. I think reading his paper must speak to the Crypto-Fascists-Buddist in all of us.
But then sometimes, the Washington Times runs with a "sort of pretty well sourced" story that turns out to be dead right a week later.
I didn't buy the paper, but just read the article online at the office. I suspect this is one of those pretty well sourced stories. And if it comes out true, has huge implications.
Mike Bloomberg is a relentless, unstopable, uber-moderate. If he is entering the race, he will instantly stake a position in the dead center of nearly everything in this race. He will then pound all sides with relentless, endless, positive, happy, common-sense.
It will force everyone, left and right, to face voters who have watched 10 common-sense positions from Bloomberg a week on TV and heard another 50 on Radio. Every politician will suddenly have to say: "Me Too." to centrism.
Mike Bloomberg was a conservative Dem until the NY Dem Party made it clear they would wipe him out if he ran for Mayor as a Dem. So he became the most Liberal R in the nation today.
How many members of the GOP today are: Balanced-Budgeters and Anti-Iraq, Anti-Corruption, Anti-Cronyism, Anti-e-Voting, Pro-Gun Control, Pro-Abortion, Pro-Public Health Care, Pro-Public Service, Pro-National Parks, Pro-Smoking Ban? I can only think of one. Mike Bloomberg. He's actually to the further left than many members of the Democratic Party.
Oh, and Mike Bloomberg despises religious zealots. Won't give them the time of day, nor the Justice Department.
And his impact on the campaigns, apparently already is very real.
Big Dog Bill is co-hosting a summit on impacts of Global Warming with: Mike Bloomberg. I have to assume the greatest political animal living today, whose wife is running for President, is doing nothing that is not considered for it's impact on politics. Big Dog co-hosting with Bloomberg is a consideration of presidential politics. Global Warming is a home run platform for them to meet about.
Bloomberg, just by sitting on the sidelines must now be immediately considered the Big Gun in this race.
He is a self made man. He lives to win and win big. From best and youngest paper route, to best and youngest Eagle Scout, to best and youngest Bond Trader, to Billionaire Information Broker, to "Best Mayor of New York Ever" The many does not do anything until he knows he will win it all.
And what other effect is it having according to the Washington Times, in a semi-sourced way, Bloomberg aka The Big Gun, is starting to rip holes in the already tattered airships of the existing GOP candidates.
And this analogy? Priceless. McCain was and is a Great American. He has given so much for this nation in ways most of us will fortunately never know. He was ruthlessly and horridly savaged by Rove and his own GOP in the 2000 race. But, since then, he has increasingly appeared out of time, out of sync and out of gas.
But this is the money quote:
"Some of the people on [Arizona Sen. John] McCain's [presidential campaign] staff have been calling me to see if Mike is running because they are ready to leave the McCain campaign, which is a biplane on fire and spiraling down," the Bloomberg adviser said.
The article also reports on Hagel and apparently other moderate Rs coming to Bloomberg's team. But the Big Gun is going to spend the next year focussed on reducing anyone he wants out of the race to Flaming Spiraling Bi-Planes.
Interesting times. Great of Progressives. Mike Bloomberg. The Billion Dollar Big Gun Campaign.
Buckle Up. Figure out where it fits. I got the gut check feeling this is one of those times where the Paper of Moonies is ahead of the Curve.