Obama-Bloomberg Ticket? MSNBC Points Out Potential

America's financial house is in real trouble and the economy is teetering on the edge of recession. The banking system is in gridlock because of the subprime crisis and the failure of the financing mechanisms that propped up the housing market. Global competition is intensifying. The economy will be one of the most critical issues a new President will face.

Bloomberg grasps it all, from obscure investment vehicles to national monetary policy to world capital flows. And he can explain the complexities " along with the need for difficult action " in easily understood terms. Adding him to the Dem ticket would be like getting a Manning to run a complicated offense.

Obama has built much of his campaign on leading America past Washington's bitter, paralyzing partisanship. This is how Bloomberg has governed, albeit in a very liberal city, and it's precisely the message delivered on national stage.

Tapping a Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-Independent who has worked across party lines with civility would gutsily solidify Obama's crossover appeal. This is no small consideration.

Obama has never managed anything larger than his office and campaign

In contrast, Bloomberg has enjoyed a successful Wall Street career; built one of the great media companies of the day, and, rather unbelievably for a billionaire, been one of New York City's most popular mayors. He has driven crime down, rebuilt neighborhoods, kept the streets clean, overhauled the schools " and more. New Yorkers are even living longer than they used to.

Bloomberg-Obama 08

Obama keeps saying he doens't want to surround himself with yes men. He wants to surround his administration with the most qualifications on the most important issues. People who even if he disagrees with him offer a fresh new perspective. People who see beyond partisan lines and think for themselves.

It's time for Obama to put his money where his mouth is.

There is NO democrat out there more experienced on economic matters than Bloomberg.

Bloomberg is an economic guru, the CEO of the largest economc organization.

He worked his way up from nothing to be a one of the richest people in the world, with over 20 billion dollars, all by understanding the economy and making smart investments.

He turned around New York after it was in a record debt after 9/11 and Giuliani. And now New York City has a surplus and tons of job creation.

Plus he's very green.

And he draws in the same support from independents that Obama does.

I think with the economic problems we have, Obama-Bloomberg would be a dream ticket and the perfect way to address the "experience" issue that Obama.

Bloomberg has a record turning record defecits into surpluses even during bad economic times and New York City.

And that's exactly what we need to do at the national level.

I'm actually a Ron Paul fan, not an Obama fan. I find it truly racist that Andrea Mitchell would comment on Chris Matthews that Obama should nominate a Jewish VP, so as to satisfy those Jews who are nervous about Obama. As an American I always thought that we Americans should be nominating VPs that are good for the USA , not for Israel, or is that the reason the dual loyalty question persists?
Excuse me ....but I'm nervous about the Zionists because we had an incompetent cabal of them get us involved in the Iraq War based upon flawed Israeli provided intelligence that amounted to misinformation that would benefit the security of Israel. These neocons desperately want us in Iran too.
If the Zionists are nervous they should be because the USA is finally coming to its senses and politicians who wish reelection must begin to take care of the USA instead listening to elites in AIPAC and Israel and the relatively tiny portion of America and that they actually represent.
If I was Obama I'd be truly nervous if I had a VP that was in Israel's pocket. JFK opposed both the Federal Reserve and Israel obtaining nukes.

More like cabinet post for Bloomberg. Although Bloomberg may now be considering a run for Governor instead.

As "MSNBC points out Potential", Joe and Jane America - HOPEFULLY! - remember that MSNBC just like Bloomberg himself is just an element in the network of those financial interests, misnamed "elites", who are about ruining this country, impoverishing the (former) middle class, giving the under class "employment" in imperial wars etc. etc.

We can only hope Obama knows better than to even consider accepting a preach-water-drink-wine "bipartisan" adviser, straight from the predators' world of the financial "industry". We can only hope, but little justifies us to assume Obama would NOT take an opportunity to further his career, as long -- as said Joe and Jane will not wake up.

Need I coax you people? Wake up, if you are not yet. The world is no tv-screen. And it's your lives, your country, no less than mine.

It's such a shame to hear such ignorance as spoken here. I don't know if it's immaturity, racial, or just stupidity. Whatever, it smells like hell! Those of us who use our brains for something other than spewing hate are up on the idea of such a ticket as Obama/Bloomberg. The ramifications of such a unity is SUPER ASTOUNDING. Obama is definitely showing his ability to connect with the right people to complement his agenda. It shows his foresight and understanding of what this country really needs. It also shows his compassion for the people of this country by being able to work with anybody to achieve his goals. Partisan he is not and it makes me proud to see him move towards a new generation of a government for the people, of the people and by the people. You go Obama!

For those who don't understand why so many people love Bloomberg, here's an article that explains it...

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1632736-3,00.html

And for those wondering why he is a strong VP choice, here is why...

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/02/28/2008-02-28_barack_obamas_dream_ticket_mike_bloomber.html?ref=rss

And he actually understands even the minutae of the subprime loaning mortage mess because he not only made 20 billion by understanding markets, but he created the second largest charity.

And he brought New York out of a historic debt even in the middle of economic stagnation All while switching New York to all hybrid cabs. He is one of the most popular mayors in the history of NYC.

Obama keeps saying he doens't want to surround himself with yes men.

He wants to surround his administration with the most qualifications on the most important issues.

People who even if they disagree with him offer a fresh new perspective. People who see beyond partisan lines.

People who form policy based on facts and evidence.

It's time for Obama to put his money where his mouth is.

There is NO democrat out there more experienced on economic matters.

Bloomberg is an economic guru, and as VP addresses the "experience" issue.

Bloomberg has a record turning record defecits into surpluses even during bad economic times and New York City.

And that's exactly what we need to do at the national level.

Just like McCain needs someone with a lot of depth on the economy, Barack needs someone with a lot of depth in foreign policy. He certainly won't get that in Bloomberg.

I am from New York City and Bloomberg is not an Obama kind of guy. He denied the peace movement Central Park for peace demonstration on what was later admitted to be a false claim that it was to protect the grass. This was unprecedented in my 50 years in NYC. The two big demonstrations that were held were crammed into dangerously crowded areas by police barriers and sometimes cops on horseback. At the time of the 2004 Republican Convention over a 1000 people were illegally jailed to scare demonstrators away. Some cops were embarrassed to make illegal arrest and I have always felt it deterioated police morale. The City wound up having to pay millions of dollars of tax payers money to settle false arrest suits.
So we have one politician who supported peaceful opposition to the war and another who tried to sabatoge it. Not a good match.

Bloomberg is a FASCIST. Why would Obama want to have anything to do with such a terrible person?

I don't doubt they would be able to pull it off with Bloomberg's billions. But Obama with a fascist? This is the part where we have to tell Obama to get real.

Bloomberg is a big supporter of the PPP (Public-Private Partnerships) which would, for all intents and purposes, "outsource" construction of basic infrastructure projects from the Federal government to private contractors. The private contractor would build the project, but the public would be paying for these infrastructure projects twice; through increased taxes and so-called "user's fees" which can be raised frequently, at the company's whim. You can see this clearly on the "Greenway", the private toll road which links Washington with parts of Northern Virginia. The tolls which are charged by the private company which "owns" the Greenway are three to five times higher than the tolls charged by state governments on their toll roads. Also, Bloomberg is a big supporter of the "congestion tax", which would make people who drove into Manhattan pay for the privilege of driving into the city on public streets.

If Sen. Obama were to have Michael Bloomberg as a running mate, it would be the "kiss of death" for his campaign, and once Michael Bloomberg's "fascist" agenda for the nation is revealed, it may cause those voters who are anti-war and anti-fascism to vote for Ralph Nader, while John McCain starts writing his inaugural speech. Personally, I'd rather see a running mate who is anti-war, yet brings serious military credibility, such as Gen. Wesley Clark.

Michael Bloomberg + Vice Presidency = BAD IDEA.

His VP choice will either be a woman(Sibelius maybe) or someone with a military background such as Webb to offset McCain's military experience or someone noted for their foreign policy experience.

Bloomberg could only be viable as Treasury Sec, IMO.

Lousy choice as VP.

Bloomberg is a big 'Ole Corporatist with a capital "C".

We don't need more Corporatists----WE NEED PROGRESSIVES.

CORPORATISM=THE ILLNESS

SMART PROGRESSIVISM=THE CURE

My dream ticket is OBAMA/DEAN.

OK, not much chance of that, I'll concede.

But I'd settle for OBAMA/EDWARDS.

But please, GOD, save us from The Corporate CROOKS!!!!

Here is why a Bloomberg-Obama ticket makes perfect sense...

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/02/28/2008-02-28_barack_obamas_dream_ticket_mike_bloomber.html?ref=rss

Great article to read.

Michael Bloomberg is a VERY respectable man, in word and in action. He cleaned up NYC's taxi system with hybrids. Meanwhile, other environmentalists on corporate boards, still huff and puff and only blow their own credibility down.

An Obama/Bloomberg ticket certainly sounds terrific...

This ticket doesn't make sense to me. Obama is already polling much higher than McCain in blue states (obviously) and is even polling higher against McCain in New York than Hillary is. What I have been astonished by is in recent polling between Obama and McCain, they are tied in Virginia and Colorado, Obama has a lead in Iowa(+9), Nevada(+4), New Mexico(+7) and N. Dakota(+4). But in some strong republican states McCain isn't leading by much over Obama. He only has a 3 point lead in S. Carolina and S. Dakota. Even more fascinating is states like Utah and Montana. When it's McCain against Hillary he beats her by 38/40 points. When it's Obama against McCain, McCain is down to 7 points in montana and 9 points in Utah. In Idaho McCain is beating Hillary by 37 points but beating Obama by only 3points. Same in Nebraska. McCain beats Hillary by 28 points but is only leading Obama by 3.

Obama needs a VP that can reassure voters in the midwest and Virginia and S Carolina. If he does that he may win states the democrats (with the exception of Howard Dean) never thought were possible. I think his Vice President should be either a military guy like Webb or Zinni or someone with a little pull in the midwest. I love Claire McCaskill but I don't know if enough people know her. Bloomberg would be best as an economic advisor.

This chat with Bloomberg is the start of Obama's journey toward becoming the nominee. Trying to balance the ticket with someone from the right, however, can only weaken the change platform and should be avoided. The anti-war ticket has to be really strong especially since Rice or someone like her may be on the other ticket. Let's not fool ourselves or get tricked into another political rut or tailspin. The meeting in itself shows Obama open to all ideas; but make no mistake, Bloomberg is a republican. Bloomberg's supporters, the ones who wanted him to run for president, are not friends of either the democratic party or we the people. We"ve seen this tactic before. Remember when McCain the republican pretended to be Kerry's political ally and talk spread about a Kerry/ McCain ticket? After enough publicity spread to confuse the party lines, McCain went back to the republicans; Kerry looked weak because he had bought into McCain"s staged temporary turncoat status. As for VP, Obama should consider all his options, men and women. But he must consider Clinton for VP. And he should consider other women besides Clinton as well. How about Barbara Boxer out in California? She was one of twenty-two or so senators who voted against the war after Byrd gave his speech to rally the democrats against it.

Wheeeee doggies ! ! ! ! What a fabulous potential for this country. The US could soar again, and like never before! People with brains and convictions of good will. At the helm to navagate this country back on track ! Those with the same old BS need not apply !

Obama can't even bring unity to the liberal wing of the democrat party, let alone the entire dem party. How can this guy bring unity to the entire country?

Why all the hating on Bloomberg? He's a perfect balance to Obama. And the fact that he's pro-war is irrelevant to me. What about the other issues? The guy sure knows how to make $$$$ and business deals that work. Domestically, I think we could use that. Back to the war thing: Bloomberg would be VICE PRESIDENT in this scenario, so he's not making ultimate decisions but could provide a good counterbalance. He's run this country's largest city, which is like being govenor in most states.