Blex Bluthor
Jun. 20th, 2007 09:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sdelmonteThis is a political post. Something I rarely do. So it's cut-tagged.
Who's Blex Bluthor, you might ask? That was what I called Mike Bloomberg in a fit of lame humor six years ago, when he announced he was running for mayor on his own (very large) dime. At the time, he struck me as just another vain, egomaniaical billionaire, the real life analogue to Lex Luthor, who ran for president in the DC Universe as an independent and won in 2000. I dismissed him fast, thinking all that money wouldn't buy him a win in the real world, even if he ran as a Republican, even with Rudy's blessing.
Then things changed on 9/11, and suddenly Bloomberg emerged as the heir apparent to America's Mayor. I still didn't think he would amount to anything, but I understood why he won.
Six years later, and I will admit I was wrong about him. In fact, I voted for him the last time around. Not as a Republican, as he was also on the ballot as an independent for people like me who didn't want to ever touch that GOP lever. He's impressed me more often than not. Yes, he embraced the Republican Party and the Godawful War, especially at the 2004 convention. Yes, he's often a bit paternalistic, a man who like his predecessor thinks he knows what's best for all of us. And he's not exactly Mister Charisma, lacking the common touch of an Ed Koch or a Bill Clinton.
But he's pro-gun control, pro-immigration, pro-choice. He banned smoking in restaurants to protect the health of workers. He's advocating congestion taxation and other rather broad measures to cut greenhouse gas emmisions. He's probably even in favor of gay marriage, though the jury is out on that. He refuses to talk about his beliefs - I suspect that he's an atheist. He keeps calm all the time, treating crises in a manner that reassures. And he's competent, as are the people who work for him.
In short, I think he's a great mayor, and when I heard that he might run for president, I approved. With the caveat that he ran as an independent. Because even a competent Republican is still part of a party I abhor.
Yesterday, Bloomberg quit the GOP. He's apparently thinking about running for president as an independent, on his own money again. I don't love this idea. I'm still antsy about billionaires in the White House. But these days you either have your own money or beholden to someone else. And otherwise, I can't see anyone who is running I would rather have in charge. He's proven himself as mayor, he doesn't have the baggage that Hilary does, he's more experienced than Obama, and he isn't afraid of anyone.
Which isn't to say that I'm saying right here and now that i will definitely vote for him. I still hope Gore gets into the race. Or that the Democratic candidate who emerges is a stronger one than I expect. And if it really seems that a Republican will win if the Democrat and Bloomber split the vote, I stay with the stronger candidate. But he's more appealing than anyone else running, and if the Democrats are really that scared of his appeal, they'd better get working now on improving their own.
All I know if that, to my shock, I can live with a billionaire in the White House if he's the best face out there. And that he's no Lex Luthor after all.
But if you think I am wrong, about Bloomberg or the Democrats running, you have time to convince me otherwise.
Who's Blex Bluthor, you might ask? That was what I called Mike Bloomberg in a fit of lame humor six years ago, when he announced he was running for mayor on his own (very large) dime. At the time, he struck me as just another vain, egomaniaical billionaire, the real life analogue to Lex Luthor, who ran for president in the DC Universe as an independent and won in 2000. I dismissed him fast, thinking all that money wouldn't buy him a win in the real world, even if he ran as a Republican, even with Rudy's blessing.
Then things changed on 9/11, and suddenly Bloomberg emerged as the heir apparent to America's Mayor. I still didn't think he would amount to anything, but I understood why he won.
Six years later, and I will admit I was wrong about him. In fact, I voted for him the last time around. Not as a Republican, as he was also on the ballot as an independent for people like me who didn't want to ever touch that GOP lever. He's impressed me more often than not. Yes, he embraced the Republican Party and the Godawful War, especially at the 2004 convention. Yes, he's often a bit paternalistic, a man who like his predecessor thinks he knows what's best for all of us. And he's not exactly Mister Charisma, lacking the common touch of an Ed Koch or a Bill Clinton.
But he's pro-gun control, pro-immigration, pro-choice. He banned smoking in restaurants to protect the health of workers. He's advocating congestion taxation and other rather broad measures to cut greenhouse gas emmisions. He's probably even in favor of gay marriage, though the jury is out on that. He refuses to talk about his beliefs - I suspect that he's an atheist. He keeps calm all the time, treating crises in a manner that reassures. And he's competent, as are the people who work for him.
In short, I think he's a great mayor, and when I heard that he might run for president, I approved. With the caveat that he ran as an independent. Because even a competent Republican is still part of a party I abhor.
Yesterday, Bloomberg quit the GOP. He's apparently thinking about running for president as an independent, on his own money again. I don't love this idea. I'm still antsy about billionaires in the White House. But these days you either have your own money or beholden to someone else. And otherwise, I can't see anyone who is running I would rather have in charge. He's proven himself as mayor, he doesn't have the baggage that Hilary does, he's more experienced than Obama, and he isn't afraid of anyone.
Which isn't to say that I'm saying right here and now that i will definitely vote for him. I still hope Gore gets into the race. Or that the Democratic candidate who emerges is a stronger one than I expect. And if it really seems that a Republican will win if the Democrat and Bloomber split the vote, I stay with the stronger candidate. But he's more appealing than anyone else running, and if the Democrats are really that scared of his appeal, they'd better get working now on improving their own.
All I know if that, to my shock, I can live with a billionaire in the White House if he's the best face out there. And that he's no Lex Luthor after all.
But if you think I am wrong, about Bloomberg or the Democrats running, you have time to convince me otherwise.
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(no subject)
Date: Jun. 20th, 2007 02:41 pm (UTC)Thank you for posting this.
I've been sort of curious and skeptical about Bloomberg since I heard he was considering a run and then even more curious after hearing about the party affiliation switch the other night.
And *sigh* I am also hoping for Gore to enter the race (whether as a Democrat or Independent) and am frustrated with the other Democratic candidates at this moment.
You've given me food for thought and a place from which to start gathering more information.