Seriously, if Bloomberg/Steyer want to stick around as also-rans in the Dem primary, I don’t see them doing much damage. It’s infuriating though, because if they wanted to effectively fight Trump they could take the money they’re sinking into vanity runs and use it to buy anti-Trump ads in swing states. They only become a serious threat, and will hand a second term to Trump, if they decide to run third party in the general.
Bloomberg doesn't have to run third party to do real damage. There is a distressingly large swath of Democrat and liberal voters who think running a center-right billionaire is exactly what we need to do right now. A friend of mine, for example, loved Tom Steyer--right up until news broke yesterday that Bloomberg was going to run.
What's the attraction, you (and I) ask? Well, he's a billionaire and he's smart! And he doesn't like Trump! And that, apparently, is all it takes these days for far too many otherwise sensible people.
I'm wondering if he can bring out the opioid victim vote, though. Restricting the size of sodas is a weakness in his appeal to a certain demographic who subsists on big soft drinks as a substitute for hard liquor and real food.
I know those voters are out there, but hopefully in the context of the primary, Bloomberg will only leech Biden/Buttigieg voters, potentially helping Bernie/Warren. Hopefully. We’ll see.
Hahaha, no, this is much closer to reality than one might be inclined to think.
But, you know, we only get as much of a democracy as our masters allow us unless we force them to give more. And it’s not like the Founders were keen on any real democracy.
Brilliant. I hope Bloomberg becomes a candidate if only because we might get to see Fred Armisen do him 'speaking' Spanish. "Los blancos amor Homeland!"
My impression of Buffett's "voice" is no doubt colored by years of reading his letters to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, but your Buffett isn't anything like the man who excoriated the leveraged buyout companies of the 70's; their spawn - the private equity companies and hedge funds; and the derivatives/CDOs short term debt swindlers of the 2000's. He might be friends with Gates, but then again he said in a commencement address, “If you get to my age in life and nobody thinks well of you, I don’t care how big your bank account is, your life is a disaster.” He could've been talking about Trump and several of the other billionaires in your vignette.
I've always said "eat the rich" - and I'm not fucking joking. No, we don't have to actually put pieces of their cooked fat asses down our gullets - but we can sure roast them over a nice fire and prep them as if we were. They're evil. Anyone who has a billion dollars did a LOT OF FUCKING EVIL to get it.
Power corrupts - why this dumb ass country of ours won't trust their own elected government but put unanswerable rich fucks up on a pedestal is a prime example of propaganda having eating everyone's brains in this country. Well, except for the esteemed folks on this list of course.
Oh, by the way... I cancelled all my subscriptions to various sites a month ago or so and since then I've been letting it percolate to decide if I want to re-subscribe. So far only you and Charlie Pierce are making the cut. I just can't quit ya man. :)
It will be nice when the people who long for a businessman in the White House finally look at the three big businessmen we've actually put in the White House, and notice that they bat .000 at the job. Do I believe Bloomberg would be better than Hoover, W, Trump? Sure! Sure, he'd be at least as good as Nixon -- why, maybe he'd even be another Cleveland! What a man to rally around.
I'm glad the focus has sharpened the lines. People are still soft when it comes to rich people deserving what they have. They just don't understand this is not about peasants having their vegetable patch expropriated. The wealthy are not meritorious. The majority just gave the game over to the wealthy and accepted less power, less money, de facto second-class status over decades, and now the piper is waiting for hell to pay. Unleash the dogs of class war and cry havoc!
*endless screaming*
Seriously, if Bloomberg/Steyer want to stick around as also-rans in the Dem primary, I don’t see them doing much damage. It’s infuriating though, because if they wanted to effectively fight Trump they could take the money they’re sinking into vanity runs and use it to buy anti-Trump ads in swing states. They only become a serious threat, and will hand a second term to Trump, if they decide to run third party in the general.
Bloomberg doesn't have to run third party to do real damage. There is a distressingly large swath of Democrat and liberal voters who think running a center-right billionaire is exactly what we need to do right now. A friend of mine, for example, loved Tom Steyer--right up until news broke yesterday that Bloomberg was going to run.
What's the attraction, you (and I) ask? Well, he's a billionaire and he's smart! And he doesn't like Trump! And that, apparently, is all it takes these days for far too many otherwise sensible people.
“I support him because Other People will vote for someone like that. We’ll even win back the Reagan Democrats this time!”
I'm wondering if he can bring out the opioid victim vote, though. Restricting the size of sodas is a weakness in his appeal to a certain demographic who subsists on big soft drinks as a substitute for hard liquor and real food.
I know those voters are out there, but hopefully in the context of the primary, Bloomberg will only leech Biden/Buttigieg voters, potentially helping Bernie/Warren. Hopefully. We’ll see.
Sure a DINO and boring version of Old Joe Biden (but older). Sure, he'll do well.
Hahaha, no, this is much closer to reality than one might be inclined to think.
But, you know, we only get as much of a democracy as our masters allow us unless we force them to give more. And it’s not like the Founders were keen on any real democracy.
Loved the passenger pigeon line.
It illustrates their evil evilness :)
Edited: Bilderberg goes Zuckerberg with Buffers and Bezos & Billy G riding shotgun...what could go wrong?
"Pale Malefactors Of Great Wealth To Decide Nation's Fate In Ego-Filled Room"
Brilliant. I hope Bloomberg becomes a candidate if only because we might get to see Fred Armisen do him 'speaking' Spanish. "Los blancos amor Homeland!"
El Bloombito! https://twitter.com/ElBloombito?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Trumpacabra y Pencedejo!
Love it. Thanks for the link.
My impression of Buffett's "voice" is no doubt colored by years of reading his letters to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders, but your Buffett isn't anything like the man who excoriated the leveraged buyout companies of the 70's; their spawn - the private equity companies and hedge funds; and the derivatives/CDOs short term debt swindlers of the 2000's. He might be friends with Gates, but then again he said in a commencement address, “If you get to my age in life and nobody thinks well of you, I don’t care how big your bank account is, your life is a disaster.” He could've been talking about Trump and several of the other billionaires in your vignette.
Also, fuck Mike Bloomberg.
Thanks! I'll keep your notes in mind for next time.
"Also, fuck Mike Bloomberg."
Why stop with Mayor Mike (who did such a great job making NYC welcoming to tourists and plutocrats)?
I've always said "eat the rich" - and I'm not fucking joking. No, we don't have to actually put pieces of their cooked fat asses down our gullets - but we can sure roast them over a nice fire and prep them as if we were. They're evil. Anyone who has a billion dollars did a LOT OF FUCKING EVIL to get it.
Power corrupts - why this dumb ass country of ours won't trust their own elected government but put unanswerable rich fucks up on a pedestal is a prime example of propaganda having eating everyone's brains in this country. Well, except for the esteemed folks on this list of course.
Oh, by the way... I cancelled all my subscriptions to various sites a month ago or so and since then I've been letting it percolate to decide if I want to re-subscribe. So far only you and Charlie Pierce are making the cut. I just can't quit ya man. :)
“Vote Bloomberg, the Real Billionaire candidate!”
It will be nice when the people who long for a businessman in the White House finally look at the three big businessmen we've actually put in the White House, and notice that they bat .000 at the job. Do I believe Bloomberg would be better than Hoover, W, Trump? Sure! Sure, he'd be at least as good as Nixon -- why, maybe he'd even be another Cleveland! What a man to rally around.
Oh, damn, I forgot to add: "Fuck their feelings!"
I'm glad the focus has sharpened the lines. People are still soft when it comes to rich people deserving what they have. They just don't understand this is not about peasants having their vegetable patch expropriated. The wealthy are not meritorious. The majority just gave the game over to the wealthy and accepted less power, less money, de facto second-class status over decades, and now the piper is waiting for hell to pay. Unleash the dogs of class war and cry havoc!