Here's something I wrote last June, after Mike Bloomberg switched his party affiliation to Independent, fueling speculation that he might run for President. (Re-posting this gives me time to work on my Miley Cyrus post.):
I have a major political crush: His name is Mike Bloomberg. And now it looks like he may make a run for President as an Independent.
First a quick word about former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani: It's fashionable to trash him as a mean, divisive guy who unfairly exploits the grief that occasioned 9/11 and the gratitude all of us felt for someone who was in charge at all.
Giuliani is all of those things. But he did something monumental with New York before 9/11. He took a city that certainly felt out of control and showed that it could be governed. A gigantic feat. I would have been perfectly happy if Time Magazine had selected him as Man of the Year - again, for what he did pre-9/11. (And to those who say they miss the "earthiness" or "grit" of the former Times Square: Please move to Newark.)
Without Giuliani there would be no Mayor Bloomberg, because without him, New York would be a messy house divided against itself every which way - the kind of morass that no one with Bloomberg's talent would want to manage. The rewards would be too meager.
All that said, Mikey has done Rudy one better. He's built hugely on Giuliani's New York. The economy is hot, the crime rate continues its decline (as it rises elsewhere in America), and my clothes don't smell after a night trolling the bars. 311, the city's free information line (a Bloomberg brainchild), works beautifully. I used it to find the nearest center for a flu shot after my own doctor ran out last year. And that center? Clean as a whistle.
And he's done it all without the meanness, without the race-baiting, and without the Giuliani-ish petty squabbles that defy common sense. (Remember Giuliani wasting time battling the Brooklyn Museum over crap? Literally, crap.)
COMMON SENSE is the guiding principle of Bloomberg. It's the opposite of partisan. (Have you looked at your party's platform recently? A crazy quilt of contradictory stands, a patchwork of sops thrown to different special interests.) Bloomberg is Post-Partisan. Check out his stands on free trade, taxes, immigration, and gay rights.
Some are bothered by Bloomberg's quality-of-life proposals, especially the plan to remove trans-fats from the city. Sorry, maybe my love for Mikey is blind, but I'm on board. In case you haven't noticed, America is kind of - what's the word? - obese.
The disadvantages Bloomberg faces:
He's short, it's true. Shorter than all the other candidates. (5'7" according to most accounts.) Short candidates don't do well. But he's taller than James Madison (5'4") and Madison authored our Constitution.
The New York Times article announcing his party switch says that's he's never been a "personable" campaigner.
All I can tell you is that I'd never been so charmed by a politician as I was by Bloomberg's performance at this year's Inner Circle dinner - the annual event at which City Hall reporters roast the Mayor, before the Mayor performs. Performing the lead in "Mayor Poppins" (a parody of "Mary Poppins"), Bloomberg was in all his dorky glory. (Click here to see Mikey sing and dance.) He won everyone over - and he didn't have to wear a dress.
Run, Mikey, Run! I'll keep the light on.
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
Mo's Blog Roll
Resources
I Like Mike
Posted Dec 31st 2007 12:00AM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Politics, Rudy Giuliani, Mo Rocca, Mike Bloomberg
Add your comments
Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.
When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.
To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.
Mo's Video
The Sound of a Smoke-Free Barack...Almost two years ago we speculated on how Barack Obama's voice would change if he stopped smoking. ...
Most Popular Stories
- Don't Like Goodbyes...
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Is it Time to get some Cheerleaders?
- How NOT to give an Oscar Acceptance Speech
- Could Jim Belushi Win the Nobel Peace Prize?
- Spring Break Sexy T-Shirt Removal Training!
- Quest for the Crown 5: Plastic Wrap to Make you Less Fat!
- Quest for the Crown 4: Work Those Heels!
Most Commented On
-
Coming Soon
Recent Comments
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Edward Baker on Catholic Church Releases Pedophile Coloring Book
- Roert Dean on General Clark is Absolutely Right!
- Lisa on Meet Thomas Beatie, The First Pregnant Man
Mo's Bio
Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.
Top News Headlines
Political Machine Blog
- Pew Center: Leaked Climate E-mails 'Do Not Reveal Scientific Misconduct'
- After Runoff and Recount, Kasim Reed Is Mayor of Atlanta
- Does Ireland's Abortion Law Violate Human Rights?
- Obama Gets an 'Unsatisfactory' Grade on the Economy
- Kasich Pulls Ahead of Strickland in Ohio Governor Match-Up
- Rachel Uchitel Survived 9/11 -- Can She Survive Tiger?
- Specter Leads Sestak in Pa., but Toomey Is Ahead of Both
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1.
Glad that he can sing and dance, but what are his views on the issues?
cdnbirch at 2:15AM on Jun 20th 2007
2. obama puts alot of words out there. but where is the experience he thinks he has? just like a rooster, a lot of crowing, but, hey, he thinks he is the king of the other chickens, KING ME !!!!!
G. Garlington at 9:48AM on Jun 21st 2007
3. lol.....wow!
NotSoInnocent at 1:58PM on Jun 20th 2007
4. Well, I've had no qualms against Bloomberg although I never considered him presidential material. He's a fine 'candid-Jew' as Jon Stewart put it and I suppose he's got some good ideas. Perhaps he would make a decent president for the most part but if you ask me, if he runs then it just adds more wackiness in this already overcrowded race to the White House. A White House James Madison didn't get to enjoy because the British burned most of it down in the War of 1812. But a billionaire musical loving independent president who supports same sex marriage could just be what this country needs... or maybe not?
Zombie Madison for President!
Your friend Blayze O'Brien from the Bee
bobrien at 11:26AM on Jun 21st 2007
5. Mo, my friend, you are sadly mistaken about the accomplishments of Rudy Giuliani... he is an evil man...
NYC imrpoved IN SPITE OF Giuliani and much of the success can be attributed to OTHER mayors, like David Dinkin's "Safe Streets, Safe City" campaign (admittedly - probably the ONLY good thing Dinkins accomplished).
Remember, Rudy is the guy who hand picked that other jem of a guy , Bernie Kerik and recommended him to Bush to be our next head of Homeland Security... talk about hubris!
Nice try at screwing over the country Rudy...
Myself... I am waiting for the next Whig candidate to step up... it's been a long time since 1856, 2008 might just be our year!
Lefty at 1:22AM on Jun 23rd 2007
6. If all I read about Mr. Bloomberg is true, then in my opinion he is not outspoken or speaking his mind, he is arrogant and crude. He certainly is not a lover of women when expressing statements like those I read. He is a " User "...........There is a big difference between being frank and obnoxious. I have never been so disgusted in my life. With an attitude like that he is thinking about running for President? He ought to know, money cannot buy everything, it cannot buy class or respect.
Bella at 11:46AM on Jul 30th 2007
7. Aw Mo,
Maybe. But since the end of the year is coming soon, thought this was worth a mention:
"Test, test, 1,2,3…hello?
Listen: my name is Kurt Vonnegut and I’m speaking to you from the grave.
Well, no, not exactly from the grave. That would be quite extraordinary since
I am dead and what not, and the technology has not quite caught up with us dead folks yet. Actually, I am speaking through a friend’s voice—someone whose
life apparently I have greatly influenced, even though I cannot recall ever having met him.
Of course, the mind reels when you’re buried in as much work as I am right now.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that I don’t see how Hank Kimball could do any better
or worse than anyone else who is running for President. That’s hardly a ringing endorsement,
I know. Call me a cynic. But I will let you in on a little secret—something you can only understand from my perspective, (no matter what your political affiliation is): It is better to invest in someone who looks toward the future than in someone who lives in the past. For what it’s worth. Poo-tee-tweet."
Kurt Vonnegut
November 11, 1922--April 11, 2007
God Bless You Kurt
JB
Jay Bigman at 11:33AM on Dec 31st 2007