Bloomberg Crams On Foreign Policy: Proof That He's Planning '08 Bid?

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been receiving foreign policy briefing sessions on a wide variety of topics, providing the strongest indication yet that he is considering a run for the White House, the Huffington Post has learned.

The sessions, which were confirmed by multiple sources, have been conducted with Nancy Soderberg, a former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and a Clinton Administration foreign policy adviser. One source described her as "Bloomberg's Condi."

A range of topics have been discussed, from non-proliferation to the defense budget, with a specific focus on the war in Iraq.

These sessions dramatically contradict Bloomberg's denials that he is planning to run for president. The one aspect of his possible candidacy that is considered missing is foreign policy experience. These strategy sessions with Soderberg seem clearly designed to fortify that weakness.

The Huffington Post has also learned that one of the main reasons Soderberg was chosen is that she is not currently associated with any presidential campaign.

Soderberg was serving in New York City as the vice president of multilateral affairs for the International Crisis Group, a non-profit organization. Currently, she is a distinguished visiting professor at the University of North Florida. Soderberg is regarded as an expert in a variety of regions, including Northern Ireland, Indonesia, the Middle East and Africa. She did not return a request for comment.

Bloomberg's term as mayor expires in 2009. But rumors have been rampant that he will announce a third-party White House bid before then. And despite repeatedly claiming he is not interested in the job, Bloomberg has made several political moves that suggest otherwise.

Earlier in the year he switched his party affiliation from Republican to Independent (he previously was a Democrat). And in November, The Daily Telegraph in London reported that the New York City mayor had held at least three lunch meetings with officials from England's Independence Party.

The self-made billionaire, who founded Bloomberg LP, is seen as a formidable presidential contender. His billions in wealth would allow him to run a campaign without financial restrictions. And his handling of New York City gives him highly regarded executive leadership credentials, while his bipartisan appeal would siphon off votes from the two major party candidates.

The mayor's press office did not return a request for comment.

Comments

[dr4Will]

the only policy he is checking is how we get Americans to die in foreign countries so jews don't have to--

[ajax2]

A vote for Bloomberg would be a vote for perpetual war and diminished rights at home.

Bloomberg was a door buster for the Republican National Convention in NYC, and an early supporter of the Bush murders in Iraq. His position on both crimes is "because of 9-11".

[realnoia]

Yes, Bloomberg started out as an engineer made
it to entrepreneur and billionaire should not
run against Spitzer for governor but should
be Edwards' running mate.

[beckerbeavers]

If the Hillary Clinton machine dominates the primaries and she becomes the Democratic Party Nominee for 2008 - I would gladly cast a vote for Mayor Blumberg for President with John Edwards as his vice-president.
Blumberg has leadership skills and is compassionate on many key issues facing America today.
John Edwards is my first choice for President but if the Democratic Party and their naive followers can't wake up to the dangers of a Hillary Presidency - Blumberg can easily beat her and whatever the rubber stamped Republicans put up.

the bottom line is that America needs a leader who can bring back our moral leadership in the world. America needs a leader who isn't afraid of removing tax cuts for the very rich as well as taxing the OIL companies who have phony headquarters outside the USA to avoid their fair share of taxes. America needs a leader who knows when it is correct to send men and women to war to defend our national interests - not manipulating intelligence and lying in order to push an agenda that we now know is destroying America. An America leader who will focus on poverty in America, improving Education for our children and assisting able students to get low-interest loans and grants to colleges. An American leader who will focus like John F. Kennedy on bringing dignity and accountability back.
An American leader who will be an environmentalist with responsibilities as well as heavily focused on reducing our dependency of foreign crude oil.
An American leader who knows how to win the hearts and minds of the Third World countries instead of being a BULLY to the world.

John Edwards is that leader and so is Mayor Blumberg.

[fourex]

As many have forgotten Bloomberg assisted many no knock, warrant less searches throughout the entire country to stifle protest at RNC.

NYT,
Civil liberties lawyers sued the Bloomberg administration in federal court yesterday, charging that the Police Department had subjected protesters during the Republican National Convention to wrongful arrest, improper fingerprinting and lengthy, harrowing detention.

[fourex]

NYT is talking about the no knock warrant less searches to stifle protest at the Rep. Convention in NYC.

NYT "Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg defended police spying on potential protesters in advance of the 2004 Republican National Convention, saying yesterday that it was necessary for security during an uneasy time:

We had a fundamental responsibility to learn whether groups might include any potential terrorists or anarchists planning to cause or take advantage of any disruptions… in a few instances, we did keep track of groups or individuals who did plan to come to New York for the R.N.C. convention and who might have been planning violent acts…. We were not keeping track of political activities,” he said. “We have no interest in doing that."

A friend of mine had a Bloomberg break-in because of a poster on his door.

[fourex]

Short memories, the fool that keeps on giving.
Daily Kos,
...when it comes to donating money to politicians, Mr. Bloomberg's Republican bona fides are as good as they get, judging from his campaign finance records. As mayor, he gave $250,000 to the same Republican party-building effort that Representative Tom DeLay is now charged with using to launder political money. Mr. Bloomberg has also doled out thousands of dollars to politicians who are far more conservative than he is.

[fourex]

Short memories the tool that keeps on giving.

NYT, "Throughout the convention week and afterward, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said that the police issued clear warnings about blocking streets or sidewalks, and that officers moved to arrest only those who defied them. In the view of many activists - and of many people who maintain that they were passers-by and were swept into dragnets indiscriminately thrown over large groups - the police strategy appeared to be designed to sweep them off the streets on technical grounds as a show of force.

"The police develop a narrative, the defendant has a different story, and the question becomes, how do you resolve it?" said Eileen Clancy, a member of I-Witness Video, a project that assembled hundreds of videotapes shot during the convention by volunteers for use by defense lawyers."

At the same time Bloomberg's NYC police officers were assisting no knock, no warrant searches throughout the entire country.

Keep your Bloomberg, "I'll take Manhattan and Staten Island too."

[LaFeminazi]

Happy thanksgiving to all you

Goose-Stepping Imperialist Americans.

May your boots be shiney and bright.

;)

[JaneC]

Happy Thanksgiving Huffpo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ohTaXTjcuA

[buske]

Everybody could see what a prick Bloomberg was when he helped out fascist Joe Lieberman to win over Ned Lamont in Connecticut. The blooming idiot is very dangerous.

Joe Lieberman is also an Independent now. Are the two planning something?

[LaFeminazi]

Pinched Holiday Shoppers Trade Down as Stores Fret
Feeling squeezed by gas prices and tight credit, Americans are increasingly opting for lower-price stores or cheaper items. Find out which shops consumers are likely to be flocking to...
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071121/holiday_shopping.html?.v=6&.pf=banking-budgeting

Guess which nation will profit the most, the drive for lower prices drives outsourcing.

Just buy less and buy better quality items.

[CuriousPerson]

Oh, Happy Thanksgiving to all you Americans, and Canadians (I think it's celebrated there) and those residents of any other country where its celebrated.

[faretheewell]

A life-long democrat, if Hillary is the nominee, I will certainly give Mr. Bloomberg a serious look. This country needs new and innovative leadership. I frankly don't see that from either of the front runners in the two parties today.

[CuriousPerson]

I have no horse in this race...watch for the standard responses to this...

But I'm curious. To all you who say you don't like Hillary, can you explain why?

Not just, she's a bitch, or a witch, or evil... can you provide evidence to make a logical reason for your dislike?