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

[CuriousPerson]

Who cares?

Some men were arrested in the Natalie Holloway disappearance...

That's the real news.

[ChiefJudgeGascoigne]

Bloomberg has a clear cut policy against elders. He cuts spending on senior centers and other quality of life issues as in libraries and museums. Most of all, under his administration there is a dedicated pro-landlord anti-Senior tenant policy predicated on slander. The senior is profiled upon entering court and all dignity, facts and truth are ruthlessly destroyed. Bloomberg is against the dignity of a citizen, which is the mark of a civilized society. His office will not intervene.

I would not worry about his being Jewish since there are rabid anti-Semites in his executive branch. He looks the other way.

[Spoons]

Bloomburg said he likes the "European" syle health care system. If he sticks with that, I'll stick with him thorugh thick and thin. He may be our only hope.

[LizM]

Well isn't that just what we need - another candidate cramming on foreign policy. Please.

Why doesn't he just leave foreign policy and the whole damn thing to the experts and bankroll the REAL third option - BIDEN/HAGEL...he's already had at least one briefing session with one of them.

[hglindquist]

Let's see how much money Ron Paul raises on December 16th. I think it will scare the beejesus out of the global corporatists!

They are going to need Bloomberg to offset that thunder.

This may get interesting yet.

[unclebucky]

Aha. [rubbing hands together]

Now. Let's see how it's settling out.

Democratic Party = Obama or Edwards.
Neo-GOP Party = The Moron Candidate.
American Christian Homeland Party = Gomer Huckabee.
9/11 - 9/11 Party = Rootie-Tootsie.
McBush Party = McCain.
Libertarian Party = Paul Ron... Paul... Which is his first name?
Independent Party = Mayor Bloomberg.
American Fascist Party = Tancredo.
Republican Party (remember them?) = Clinton!!!!

Ugh.

--UB.

[DanDeVries]

Here's a scary thought. A Bloomberg candidacy could mean that no one has a majority of electoral votes. In which case, as we all know, the election goes to the House of Representatives. But, what many probably do not know is that in that election each state has one, that's right, one, vote. (Article 2, Section 1, as modified by the 12th Amendment.) Smells like a Karl Rove plot to me.

[Occasional Observer]

I wouldn't make too much of the story. I'm not running for anything but I'd study with her in a heartbeat.

[freespeach]

While my disdain for Repukes is without limit, I do have some pity on the trailer park crowd who vote for these fascists because the pronounce their luv for Jeeezis.

Only to see the greedy corporate scum ship jobs overseas to save money, hire illegals to save money and claw back social programs to keep their kids healthy.

So the third party phenomenon will be a factor in 08.
Both parties have elitist pigs at the trough talking sweet to their base while it is all about the big corporate money.
Progressives have had it with the war enabling ways of the Pelosi crowd and there is much talk of third party options.

Mass media like the cozy fake two party system in which they are comfortably entwined.

I hope Bloomberg shakes up the Repukes in the same way that the Green party is going to shock the hell out of the vile DLC vermin who run the Democrats.

Power to the people. Screw the business as usual fat cats in both parties.

08, the year of electoral chaos and unpredictability. Come what may, I'm done with the DLC version of the Democratic party.
If Repukes revolt against their fascist overlords with Bloomberg, good for them!

[ConnieInCleveland]

Just what we need, another rich guy, richer than rich. I won't be voting for him. I'm sure he will have the best campaign, but we just bought one out of touch rich guy. Bloomberg is not the person to repair the past 8 years. We don't need on the job training. I'm not looking for a candidate, I'm looking for a leader. Who can win is only part of the issue, what we get in the end means everything. It's far too important to gamble on Bloomberg. I want someone who doesn't have to cram. I would like to see someone who has been in the trenches already. Did he serve in the military? It may seem like an unfair question, but we are at war and we need someone who understands what it is to serve. I'd like someone win who has served in a time of war.

[nomoredead]

Do you think he would crack down on Wall Street greed ? puuleeeze

[ipitombi]

Jesus Christ!!! Must be the season of the New-Yorker-for-Prez., which is the last thing the rest of the world needs.

I just looked up the definition of New Yorker in Webster dictionary:

New Yorker: rude, nasty, loud, know-it-all

[researcher]

do you want a neo con or a neo con or maybe a neo con.

bet isreal hopes he runs. but then they cannot lose with hillary rudy or bloomberg.

god give it up those people are smarter than us of course most people are.

oh the benefits of a dumbed down warmongering society.

watch the economists in american convince americans a shrinking dollar is good for america.

they will buy it watch and see.

good for hollow corporations; those very corporations that control both demos and repugs.

[Maxbyte]

About time! If Bloomberg dives into this mess, it will probably clear away the bottom-dwellers... if they are still hanging around.

The bottom-dwellers on the Republican side include all but one or two candidates. On the Democratic side, they include all but two candidates.

The warm-ups may finally become interesting. Nice change.

[NuAgeDok]

Another super wealthy know-nothing who has to have the Foreign Policy 101 Cliff Notes read to him -

Kherrist! We have already had to live through the last rich super asshole who didn't know Jack about anything -

In a country of over 300 million people can't we find at least one asshole who fits the toilet seat at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave who knows how to wipe -

I give up!