Bloomberg Ratings Plunge, Will The Comeback Kid Strike Again?

Independent (UK) ^ | 6-13-2003 | David Usborne

[blam]

As Bloomberg's ratings plunge, will the Comeback Kid strike again?

By David Usborne in New York
13 June 2003

A plunge in the popularity of Michael Bloomberg, the Mayor of New York, is spawning renewed speculation that the Democrats will resort to their one nuclear weapon at the next election in 2005 - and that weapon is Bill Clinton.

Rumours resurfaced this week that the former president - who heads a foundation based in Harlem focusing on issues such as the international Aids crisis and world peace - is seriously considering a challenge to Mr Bloomberg. A local Democrat asked him if the gossip was true; Mr Clinton refused to say "no".

He still enjoys a near superstar status in Manhattan, where Democrats outnumber Republicans five to one. "Is he popular in New York? You bet," commented Maurice Carroll of the Quinnipiac Polling Institute.

Mr Bloomberg faces deepening political difficulties. Not of his making is the city's budget deficit, set to hit almost $4bn (£2.4bn) next year. But his response to the crisis has hurt his popularity rating, which is now at 34 per cent. Steps taken by Mr Bloomberg include raising property tax by 18.5 per cent and seeking cuts in the public services. New Yorkers have been increasingly irritated by other Bloomberg initiatives, including his ban on smoking in bars and restaurants and his instructions to police to issue fines for the smallest infractions.

One sign that the Clinton-for-Mayor scenario is taking root can be seen on the late-night television comedy circuit. NBC's Jay Leno quipped: "It's perfect. The city that never sleeps and the man who sleeps with everyone."

Anyone hoping to run New York City must by law be a resident within its five boroughs. Currently, Bill lives with Hillary in Chappaqua, a suburb about 30 miles away. If he moves into town, it could, of course, be for marital reasons. Or it could be for political ones, in which case it would be time for Mr Bloomberg to watch his back.

[rs79bm]

Bloomberg is a Democrat anyway. Some of the things he's done in office have made no sense.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

He still enjoys a near superstar status in Manhattan, where Democrats outnumber Republicans five to one.

Well of course, he's a democrat. He can forget about winning any Republican challenge to him in the primary. I doubt too many will be fooled twice.

[Cicero]

New York only gets a good mayor once every 30 or 50 years, when the voters get so desperate they finally vote out the usual rascals. Things have to be so bad that even the welfare queens are willing to vote for a change.

The next to last good mayor was Fiorello LaGuardia, and the most recent was Rudi Giuliani. We probably won't see another good one until some time after 2050. So, would the people of New York elect bill clinton. Yes, probably. Will he run? I doubt it.

[lepton]

Rumours resurfaced this week that the former president - who heads a foundation based in Harlem focusing on issues such as the international Aids crisis and world peace - is seriously considering a challenge to Mr Bloomberg.

Yeah right. Clinton settle for that?

A local Democrat asked him if the gossip was true; Mr Clinton refused to say "no".

Of course he wouldn't. It's free attention, and adulation without risk.

[Husker24]

I almost wretch, when I say this........but, I actually think Clinton would do a better job than Bloomberg.

[rmvh]

Mr Bloomberg wants to eliminate the educated, middle economic class (as in France)..so that the rich (like him)....stupid or not... can do what they want with the population.

[cake_crumb]

I can almost see him getting desperate enough for another taste of power and respect that he'd be tempted to run...if nothing else comes along.

[Ronin]

Can Rudi run again? God knows they need him back.

[Ronin]

To tell the truth, I think Clinton would be a perfect fit for the Mayor of New York. It would give him all the ego scratching and glad handing, not to mention access to young-willing-women his dispicable soul craves.

It is a job that he could step into with glee. Sure, it's a smaller stage than POTUS, but as long as he is the biggest fish in the pond, that doen't matter as much.

He would have his motorcades again, his fawning adoring fans, his black-tie dinners, his media spotlight, and instant access to all of the upper-crust dining rooms and salons that have sort of closed themselves to him since he lost the White House.

Heck, he would convince himself that being Mayor of New York is even BETTER than being POTUS because he gets all the perks and enough of the National/International spotlight without all the negative scrutiny.

Sad to say, New York would love him. Or at least a lot of New Yorkers would. Whether or not he would actually get any work done, or if there would be anything left of the ciy afterwards, is another question.

[blam]

"Can Rudi run again? "

I believe so.

[OhhTee5]

I'd love to see him run...think of the risk he'd face if he didn't win.

I don't think he'd want to take that chance. To win the presidency twice and then loose a mayoral election in one of the most liberal towns in America would be devestating.

That would be too great a threat to his political mo-jo. If he lost he would be seen as truly a political has-been that needs to go away, and all the James Carville's and butt kissing media in the world wouldn't be able to put humpty-dumpty back together again.

Right now he can bask in his popularity (such as it is), because his popularity hasn't been challenged in a real contest. Sort of like everyone thinking a person's a great ball player only to see them strike-out repeatedly. They fade very quickly from view.

I think the fear of him becoming yesterday's news is greater then his desire for another office and therefore, he doesn't have the guts to try it.

[dead]

Clinton would do a better job than Bloomberg (both are better than Mark Green.)

Besides, what harm could he do? Sell nuclear technology to New Jersey? Pack the school board with liberals?

It doesn't matter. Unless Guiliani runs again (which he won't) the city is headed for the shitter.

After it falls apart, the president should just appoint a retired general to keep the peace and shoot the looters.

[dead]

You're right of course. This is about as credible as the president of Oxford story or the Secretary General of the UN story.

We should have a pool for what poptential job his spinners will leak next. I'll take President of Columbia University, with a second pick for President of the Motion Picture Association.

And I'll go out on a limb and say that the recurring role on "Will and Grace" rumor that I just made up this instant will actually come true.

[cake_crumb]

I believe Rudi can run too, but am not that clear on NYS law...but wasn't it a problem with CONSECUTIVE terms that forced Rudy not to run for an extra one (though the people of NYC would GLADLY have given him another one)?

[NeoCaveman]

Bloomberg is a goner. Heck he's a liberal Democrat who avoided a primary fight. I could care less who proceeds him.

[cake_crumb]

"We should have a pool for what poptential job his spinners will leak next."

LOL...that's about the size of it. Remember when he came up with that CONVIENT VIAL of botulism at the peak of the anthrax mailings? It was so pathetic in it the NEED for attention it broadcast. Kim Jong il is less pathetic when he threatens nuclear war whenever President Bush isn't paying enough attention to him.

[arasina]

I lived in Manhattan for about 4 years and loved it. Rudy Giuliani was Mayor. I became disgusted in November, 2000. Guess why. (Hitchary the Carpetbaggin' Liar was elected.) Used to sing "New York, New York!" with a passion. Now it's "New Yuck, New Yuck."

Bloomberg's what my father would have called a "sawed-off stinker."

[decimon]

The next to last good mayor was Fiorello LaGuardia...

LaGuardia?

"An industry that cannot pay its workers a decent living wage has no right to exist."

"You cannot preach self-government and liberty to people in a starving land."

"Only a well-fed, well-housed, well-schooled people can enjoy the blessings of liberty."

[krunkygirl]

excellent analysis