Memo To Obama and McCain – Bloomberg Excellent Choice For VP
You heard it here first, or I should say, you heard it suggested here first. Here’s something that can make for an even more exciting fall campaign.
Barack Obama and John McCain should seriously consider Michael Bloomberg as their choice for Vice Presidential nominee. This is not an option for Hillary Clinton because two New Yorkers on the same ticket might not sit well in certain areas of the country.
Just think what a master stroke this would be. Bloomberg is considered the ultimate independent, a man with progressive views who thinks outside the narrow range of Washington politics. He is very popular and has been a Democrat, Republican and Independent. The man has batted the political cycle, and has run the most complex government (outside of the U.S. government) for over 6 years.
Bloomberg would complement an Obama ticket with an eastern political independent, a man with economic prowess and an individual who could offer magnificent leadership and advice.
For McCain, Bloomberg would offer a powerful Eastern base and a professional who could turn heads and get votes. If McCain wins, he would have a professional at the ready. Although 72 is more youthful today than it was 20 years ago, it is vital for McCain to have the best choice for VP.
This is the year of the “different” campaign. This may be the year for bold choices, designed not just to win, but to govern.
Bloomberg may make a difference on someone’s ticket.
Comments(18)
I don’t know Larry. Bloomberg would draw a blank look here in Arizona and would go over like Antonio Villaraigosa would go over in New York. Just my personal opinion.
The only ticket Bloomberg has considered and recently ruled out is McCain’s. He said he’s not a very good #2 man, and when asked if he’d take VP if McCain promised only one term, he said he’d never be able to get that in writing. There’s no chance of Bloomberg for VP Larry, but he’d be great for either candidate if he were willing.
McCain would be wise to pick an econimic expert who’s highly regarded and not currently an active politician, someone with such economic gravitas that it puts to rest McCain’s admission that he knows nothing about economics. Someone way outside the beltway- a success in the private sector who wants to now give back.
Obama should pick John Corzine for demographic, economic, and well-tested leadership reasons. Corzine also has a very nice beard, and we all know beards make for a great vice president. None of the candidates have been pandering to the bearded- not yet at least!
Interesting info for you Hillary and Al Gore fans. Sorry for length.
For those who don’t know… Capt. Denny Keast flies for UAL and flew many SAM’s (Special Air Mission’s) for the White House.
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I flew four Presidential support missions in the C-141 out of Dover AFB, DE.. Two for President Johnson and two for President Nixon.
Johnson was a first class jerk and on the two occasions I flew for him, if the Secret Service and their Liaison in the Pentagon hadn’t intervened, we would have had to stay on the airplane for hours while he, (Johnson) was off somewhere. Nixon never required that and the four (4) stops we made with him he was cordial to the Secret Service and to me and my crew.
We had a neighbor when I lived in DC, who was part of the secret service presidential detail for many years. His stories of Kennedy and Johnson were the same as those I heard from the guys who flew the presidents’ plane. Yes, Kennedy did have Marilyn Monroe flown in for secret ‘dates,’ and LBJ was a typical Texas ‘good ole boy’ womanizer. Nixon,
Bush 41, and Carter never cheated on their wives. Clinton cheated, but couldn’t match Kennedy or LBJ in style or variety.
The information below is accurate: The elder Bush and current president Bush make it a point to thank and take care of the air crews who fly them around. When the president flies, there are several planes that also go, one carries the armored limo, another
the security detail, plus usually a press aircraft.
Both Bushes made it a point to stay home on holidays, so the Air Force and security people could have a day with their families.
Hillary Clinton was arrogant and orally abusive to her security detail. She forbade her daughter, Chelsea, from exchanging pleasantries with them. Sometimes Chelsea, miffed at her mother’s obvious conceit and mean spiritedness, ignored her demands and exchanged pleasantries regardless, but never in her mother’s presence. Chelsea really was a nice,
kindhearted, and lovely young lady. The consensus opinion was that Chelsea loved her Mom but did not like her. Hillary Clinton was continuously rude and abrasive to those who were charged to protect her life. Her security detail dutifully did their job, as professionals should, but they all loathed her and wanted to be on a different detail. Hillary Clinton
was despised by the Secret Service as a whole.
Former President Bill Clinton was much more amiable than his wife. Often the Secret Service would cringe at the verbal attacks Hillary would use against her husband. They were embarrassed for his sake by the manner and frequency in which she verbally insulted him, sometimes in the presence of the Secret Service, and sometimes behind closed doors. Even behind closed doors Hillary Clinton would scream and holler so loudly that everyone could hear what she was saying. Many felt sorry for President Clinton and most wondered why he tolerated it instead of just divorcing his ‘attack dog’ wife. It was crystal clear that the Clintons neither liked nor respected each other and this was true long before the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Theirs was/is genuinely a ‘marriage of convenience.’
Chelsea was much closer to her father than her mother, even after the Lewinsky scandal, which hurt her gravely. Bill Clinton did in fact have charisma, and occasionally would smile at or shake hands with his security detail. Still, he always displayed an obvious air of superiority towards them. His security detail uniformly believed him to be disingenuous, false, and that he did nothing without a motive that in some way would enhance his image and political career. He was polite, but not kind. They did not particularly like him and nobody trusted him.
Al Gore was the male version of Hillary Clinton. They were friendlier toward each other than either of them were towards former President Clinton. They were not intimate, so please don’t read that in. They were very close in a political way. Tipper Gore was generally nice and pleasant. She initially liked Hilly but soon after the election she had her
‘pegged’ and no longer liked her or associated with her except for events that were politically obligatory.
Al Gore was far more left wing than Bill Clinton. Al Gore resented Bill Clinton and thought he was too ‘centrist.’ He despised all Republicans. His hatred was bitter and this was long before he announced for the Presidency. This hatred was something that he and Hillary had in common. They often said as much, even in the presence of their security detail. Neither of them trusted Bill Clinton and, the Secret Service opined, neither of them even liked him. Bill Clinton did have some good qualities, whereas Al Gore and Hillary had none, in the view of their security details.
Al Gore, like Hillary, was very rude and arrogant toward his security detail. He was extremely unappreciative and would not hesitate to scold them in the presence of their peers for minor details over which they had no control. Al Gore also looked down
on them, as they finally observed and learned with certainty on one occasion. Al got angry at his offspring and pointed at his security detail and said, ‘Do you want to grow up and be like them?’ Word of this insult by the former Vice-President quickly spread and he
became as disliked by the Secret Service as Hillary. Most of them prayed Al Gore would not be elected President, and they really did have private celebrations in a few of their homes after President Bush won. This was not necessarily to celebrate President Bush’s election, but to celebrate Al Gore’s defeat.
Everyone in the Secret Service wants to be on First Lady Laura Bush’s detail. Without exception, they concede that she is perhaps the nicest and most kind person they have ever had the privilege of serving. Where Hillary patently refused to allow her picture to be taken with her security detail, Laura Bush doesn’t even have to be asked, she offers. She
doesn’t just shake their hand and say, ‘Thank you.’ Very often, she will give members of her detail a kindhearted hug to express her appreciation. There is nothing false about her. This is her genuine nature. Her security detail considers her to be a ‘breath of fresh air.’ They joke that comparing Laura Bush with Hillary Clinton is like comparing ‘Mother Teresa’ with the ‘Wicked Witch of the West.’
Likewise, the Secret Service considers President Bush to be a gem of a man to work for. He always treats them with genuine respect and he always trusts and listens to their expert advice. They really like the Crawford, Texas detail. Every time the president goes to Crawford he has a Bar-B-Q for his security detail and he helps serve their meals. He sits with them, eats with them, and talks with them.. He knows each of them by their first name, and calls them by their first name as a show of affection. He always asks about their family, the names of which he always remembers. They believe that he is deeply
and genuinely appreciative of their service. They could not like, love, or respect anyone more than President Bush. Most of them did not know they would feel this way, until they had an opportunity to work for him and learn that his manner was genuine and consistent. It has never changed since he began his Presidency. He always treats them with the utmost respect, kindness, and compassion.
As for Bloomberg, he’s far too strong a personality for either McCain or Obama. They want someone to take a backseat. To be seen and not heard. Besides his party flip-flopping would hurt him and the ticket. It’s not about qualifications, it’s about being a good, silent soldier and helping in states the presidential candidate needs help.
At the end of the day, both McCain and Romney will bury the hatchet and their pride and settle on a McCain-Romney ticket. McCain gets someone strong on economy. Romney get springboard for 2012. It’s in best interest of McCain and Republican Party.
The only reason Bloomberg was a Republican was because they had a spot open on the ticket for mayor and the Democrats had already chosen their loser.
Bloomberg has always been a limousine liberal Democrat.
It’s funny how Republicans are called the “party of the rich”, yet most of the ultra-rich in this country are limousine liberal Democrats, like Bloomberg, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, George Soros, Ted Kennedy, 99% of Hollywood.
Bloomberg is still riding Rudy Guiliani’s coat tails in NYC. Rudy fixed the city, and Bloomberg has just managed to not break it again (yet).
Does anyone know where Mr Obama stands on Reparation.Has anyone asked him this.
I haven’t seen or heard anything about him addressing this issue.If someone knows.please let the rest of us know.I am very interested in this answer.
rm 8:31-that is the nothing more that alot of gossip and b.s.,you took up a lot of space with that trash,what a waste of time,what nonsense,you sound like a oldlady.
Larry, I’m tired of billionaires “dabbling’ in politics…they truly believe they are “above’ the rest of us, when they haven’t seen an electric bill in the last 10 years! Look at the gifts King Jon Corlio has brought to the people of New Jersey…more and more spending of “other peoples’ money”!
Oh, Larry, hopefully you will do some research on the Clinton era documents that 3$Bill and his lawyers are now reviewing. I know you don’t care for me harping on the Sandy Berger thing, but the latest word on the street is that the reason why the Clintons sent Berger to steal certain documents at the national Archives was becasuse those documents were proof that Hillary was activly permitted to participate in highly classified national security meetings, even though she did not possess the the proper security clearance for such high lecvel meetings. Keep in mind that Sandy was the National Security Advisor at the time and he should have klnown better. Sandy could have jail time tacked on to his theft of secret documents escapade of a couple of years ago…the Republican AG did not want to pursue the matter becasue it owuld look very bad for this nation, so they swept it under the rug and allowed Sandy to get away with 3 years propbation. Now you know why Hillary was so quick to reward Sandy and hire him as her campaign ‘advisor”. Larry, where there is smoke, there is fire!
Corzine is a poor governor and would be a terrible VP choice.
Bloomberg is a great idea especially for Obama if he is serious about building a true coalition.
All of the candidates could use Bloomberg because NONE of them have any economic experience.
Guliani saved NYC? That is a joke. He was exposed as the fraud that he is in this election (and in past statewide NY elections).
Reparations? Are you serious? No national candidate would ever support something like that.
“Clinton has also been fighting for her delegates in Michigan and Florida. She won both states, but they were stripped of their delegates for scheduling their primaries too early.
Clinton and other candidates had signed a pledge to not campaign in either state after the Democratic National Committee’s decision.
Last month, Clinton released a statement calling on her party to seat both states’ delegates at the national convention this summer.”
Pat, the Democrat-Media Complex will never ask Barack Hussien Obama his stance on reparations, or any controversial issue for that matter.
They are like giddy tweener girls at a Hanna Montana appearance around Obama.
They don’t care where he stands on any issue, they just know he’s their guy and won’t do anything that might make him falter.
It’s the same with many of his supporters – they can name none of his accomplishments, qualifications, or positions on most issues. He’s a blank slate and they just project their own views onto him. If he were ever actually pressed for specifics, people would start getting more realistic about him.
Larry, you must be on vacation. The fodder for thought that you pump out has been less than stimulating. A zombie could come up with better subject matter. Bloomberg as McCain’s VP, COM’ON
give me a break. The same for Obama. After your blurbs on Al Gore and Joe Lieberman I guess I should have guessed Mike Bloomberg.
Larry, you must be on vacation. The fodder for thought that you pump out has been less than stimulating. A zombie could come up with better subject matter. Bloomberg as McCain’s VP, COM’ON
give me a break. The same for Obama. After your blurbs on Al Gore and Joe Lieberman I guess I should have guessed.
thanks joe,I really do feel the same way that you do,but people need to get real,this is serious,it’s not playtime
this our lives and the lives of the rest of the world.I don’t know who you support
but I for one do not want to leave the running of the free world to a bunch of no nothing kids,who don’t even know where africia is located(to be politically correct,not all kids are no nothings)
These guys wouldn’t touch Bloomberg with a ten foot pole. Are you nuts? The last thing a President of either party needs is a loose cannon VP. Hurray for Mike, he’s an independent, but as a potential tie-breaker, which way would he go? If you had a 50/50 Senate (you hve 51-49 now with one I and one guy halfway in a grave), Obama would be crazy to select him.
I think that Obama should select Farrakahn or Rezko! I don’t he will !
Barack Obama takes heat over NAFTA memo, Rezko
Clinton questions rival Democrat’s credibility
By Rick Pearson and John McCormick
Tribune correspondents
1:52 AM CST, March 4, 2008
AUSTIN, Texas — On the eve of critical primary contests that could effectively end the protracted quest for the Democratic nomination, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton focused the presidential race Monday on credibility and whether the Illinois senator’s vow to rework a controversial international trade pact was a politically motivated promise.
Obama also said he has nothing new to tell reporters about his friend and former fundraiser, political insider and real estate developer Antoin “Tony” Rezko, whose trial on federal corruption charges began in Chicago on Monday.
With voting Tuesday in the big delegate prize states of Ohio and Texas, as well as in Rhode Island and Vermont, Obama looked to extend a nearly monthlong victory streak. Clinton, who earlier considered Ohio and Texas as must-win states, said she was already looking at the next major contest in Pennsylvania on April 22 and beyond.
“So, I’m just getting warmed up,” the New York Democrat said.
But much of the heat didn’t come from a shift from chilly Ohio to last-minute campaigning in humid Texas. Instead, it involved a top Obama adviser’s recent visit with Canadian officials that included a discussion of the North American Free Trade Agreement, a trade pact that President Bill Clinton considered a signature accomplishment, but one that now has been the subject of calls for renegotiation by both candidates.
Obama and his campaign had initially denied a Canadian television report from late last month that Obama’s top economic adviser, Austan Goolsbee, had met with Canadian government officials in Chicago and told them Obama’s call for reopening labor and environmental rules in NAFTA was merely campaign rhetoric.
But on Monday, The Associated Press obtained a Canadian government memo that detailed a meeting Goolsbee held on a variety of issues, including NAFTA.
What the memo said
“Noting anxiety among many U.S. domestic audiences about the U.S. economic outlook, Goolsbee candidly acknowledged the protectionist sentiment that has emerged, particularly in the Midwest, during the primary campaign,” a consulate staffer wrote, according to AP. “He cautioned that this messaging should not be taken out of context and should be viewed as more about political positioning than a clear articulation of policy plans.”
Obama’s campaign said that Goolsbee described his remarks as being mischaracterized in the Canadian memo. And Stephen Harper, the conservative Canadian prime minister, denied opposition party questioning that accused him of trying to sabotage Obama’s campaign. Harper told the House of Commons that the government, through its embassy in Washington, indicated “its regret at the fact that information has come out that would imply Sen. Obama has been saying different things in public than in private” on NAFTA.
Since the flap began last week, Goolsbee has not responded to calls from the Tribune for comment, and the campaign did not make him available Monday.
Clinton had been under fire from Obama in economically troubled Ohio for previously defending NAFTA and then calling for environmental and labor reforms as part of her presidential campaign.
Speaking to reporters to begin the day in Toledo, Ohio, she accused Obama of pursuing “the old wink-wink—don’t pay any attention, this is all political rhetoric” strategy of saying one thing for political benefit while privately saying another.
“Apparently, what seems to have occurred is that the Obama campaign had Sen. Obama in Ohio making speeches against NAFTA and having his chief economic adviser making it clear in Canada that he doesn’t really mean it,” she told an Ohio-market TV station. “I think that raises real questions of credibility.”
Seizing a potential opening in trying to hold on to Ohio support that had been slipping in the polls, Clinton also began airing radio ads hitting Obama on the issue.
In San Antonio, Obama acknowledged that when he said his campaign had not had contact with Canadian officials on NAFTA it was based on “information I had at the time.” He said the campaign did not “reach out” to the Canadians.
But Obama noted a portion of the consulate’s memo on the meeting with Goolsbee backed up his campaign position. It said Obama was “less about fundamentally changing the agreement” and more in favor of strengthening and clarifying “labor mobility and environment” as “more ‘core’ principles of the agreement.”
“So, this notion that Sen. Clinton is peddling that somehow there’s contradictions or winks and nods has been disputed by all the parties involved,” Obama said. “What’s not disputed is that Sen. Clinton and her husband championed NAFTA, worked on behalf of NAFTA, called it a victory, called it good for America, until she started running for president. That’s indisputable. That’s a fact.”
Rezko friendship scrutinized
At a news conference, Obama was peppered with questions about his relationship with Rezko, who is accused of pressuring firms seeking state business or investments to pay kickbacks or campaign contributions. He said Clinton’s campaign has pushed the story even though there have been “several hundred” news stories about him and Rezko.
“The fact pattern remains unchanged,” said Obama, whose campaign has donated to charity more than $150,000 in Rezko-related contributions. “Tony Rezko was a friend and supporter of mine for many years. … He supported not just me but many Democrats and Republicans.”
Obama, however, wouldn’t disclose how many fundraising events Rezko hosted for him or who attended, saying such requests “can just go on forever.” As his news conference came to an end, reporters continued to shout questions about Rezko but Obama walked out, saying the campaign was “running late.”