The other day I was listening to a popular Canadian radio talk show. I caught the tail end of a segment discussing the possibility of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger joining forces to run for President/Vice President. I chuckled when my Canadian wife asked if they could do that since the Governator isn’t American born. I assured her they were running a spoof since the VP is kind of/sort of like first runner up in a beauty pageant. They have to be ready, willing, and able to step in if the winner is unable to complete their term.
Today, I read Mayor Bloomberg has handed in his GOP card and picked up one that says Independent. There is a better than faint possibility I chuckled too soon and have something else to add to my “Gee, I Didn’t Know That” list.
To tell you the truth, I don’t know a heck of a lot about either one of them. What happens in NYC, or California, holds little concern for me and even less interest. I have to admire the Governor for taking a lot of muscle and not much discernable acting talent and parlaying them into a fortune. I’ve read that the good Mayor has a major problem with firearms so that takes him off of any potential list for me. I hate judging a person on one issue, but the Second Amendment gives us the most important right there is – the ability to defend not only ourselves, but also our other rights.
What do you think will happen if they do pair up and make a run for the Oval Office? They certainly have the money and the face recognition to throw dust in the faces of most of the hopefuls from both parties. What kind of impact do you think it would make on the race?
It’s Wednesday, June 20, 2007 and I’m not sure what my opinion is. I’d surely like to hear yours though.
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See also (courtesy of MemeOrandum): City Room (NYT); Crooks and Liars; The Reaction; MyDD; All Spin Zone; Dr. Rachel Maddow (Air America Blog); The Moderate Voice; Donklephant
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Thank you to our friends at RealClearPolitics for including this post in their REAL CLEAR BLOGS – Wednesday Morning Edition blogger roundup -
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2:54 am on June 20th, 2007 1
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3:20 am on June 20th, 2007 2
A far as I know the twelfth amendment makes any Bloomberg-Schwarzenegger ticket impossible because it requires the VP to meet the same “natural born citizen” requirement as the President.
It’s too bad really, because Schwarzenegger’s liberal social views and conservative/moderate fiscal views are just the sort I could possibly support. But you’re right, Bloomberg’s disdain for the 2nd amendment disqualifies him for my vote as well.
I have to admit though that the idea of a self-financed candidate who can tell the lobbyists in Washington to take a hike definitely has it’s appeal.
9:52 am on June 20th, 2007 3
Arnold has the same disdain for the 2nd amendment that Bloomberg has, just not quite as virulent.
I’m rather curious. If Hillary Clinton is the party nominee, would independent leaning Democrats vote for a Bloomberg led ticket? Personally, I don’t see Bloomberg having much impact on the Republicans at the national level. Any state that Bloomberg would do well in with centrist Republicans probably was going to go with the Democratic candidate anyway. What might be interesting would be if Bloomberg did well with Democrats. Unlike Ross Perot, whose votes came primarily from the Republicans hide, Bloomberg might actually draw enough from both parties to win a state or two. Imagine the hue and cry from either major party when the President is selected by those arcane alternative methods specified by the constitution. Not to mention the real possiblity of a Vice-President belonging to a different party.
11:43 am on June 20th, 2007 4
Dustin: I don’t see how A.S. could run. If memory serves there was some talk a couple of years ago of trying to do away with the need to be a natural born citizen. Don’t think it would fly.
Chuck: It would be interesting to see which way Bloomberg siphoned votes went. I’m thinking, if H.C. is the candidate, they would result in a Repub victory unless they run a total loser – which most of them seem to be.
3:56 pm on June 20th, 2007 5
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5:24 pm on June 20th, 2007 6
Buff
Speaking as a loyal Right-Wing Deathsquad Softball league member, I can say that our entire outfield along with 2nd and 3rd base said that they saw little difference between Rudy, Jonny Mac, and Bloomberg, to the point of sitting this one out. Our first baseman, pitcher and catcher all said that they could vote for Rudy if they had too. The shortstop of course went for Ron Paul. So when you talk about a dearth of GOP candidates, as manager, I quite agree.