Althouse: "In a technical move that could be viewed as a prerequisite to announcing an independent bid for the presidency..."

March 4, 2016

"In a technical move that could be viewed as a prerequisite to announcing an independent bid for the presidency..."

"... former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s personal website was recently transferred to an independent web server — away from servers run by his company."

35 comments:

eric said...: If he runs, and Hillary and Trump are the nominees, I expect a fourth party to emerge, or more.

For example, I expect Romney to run. Or Cruz or Rubio, although, I don't think it's possible in most states once youve lost in a primary.; 3/4/16, 8:37 PM
madAsHell said...: Because he doesn't want his web site hi-jacked by some script kiddy?? So, at least he's smarter than Hillary.; 3/4/16, 8:38 PM
rehajm said...: A private server! Is he running as a Democrat?; 3/4/16, 8:38 PM
YoungHegelian said...: Ya wanna know why I think Bloomberg seems to be seriously moving in the direction of a run?

It ain't got nuthin' to do with Trump. Most Republicans aren't going to vote for Nanny Bloomberg even if he paid them to do it. No, it's because he sees Hillary's implosion on the event horizon. Hillary voters will vote for Bloomberg, fur shure, fur shure.; 3/4/16, 8:44 PM
dreams said...: "A private server! Is he running as a Democrat?"

He was a lifelong Democrat before running for mayer of NY.; 3/4/16, 8:57 PM
gspencer said...: Was just muttering to myself as I drove home tonight, "Ya know, I just have too much control of my life. I'd like to have my direction from some of our politicians. If only one of them would emerge from the pack and point the way to the future. If only."

Then some guy honked at me as I drifted into another lane.; 3/4/16, 8:59 PM
Zach said...: It makes sense. Hillary is vulnerable, Trump and Sanders would be guaranteed losers, and Cruz or Rubio might not be able to unite the party.

If there were ever a year for a man with lots of money and no constituency to run, it would be a year where both major parties have weak candidates.

If Trump gets the nomination, I predict at least one "True Republican" splinter candidate. Otherwise, too many down ballot candidates would have to go on the ballot with Trump and be tied to his inevitable downfall. So you could easily see four candidates!; 3/4/16, 9:24 PM
Zach said...: There's also a real danger that liberal New York billionaires would be underrepresented with only Hillary and Trump to take care of their interests.

Won't someone please look out for the billionaires?; 3/4/16, 9:27 PM
Curtiss said...: He's too short.; 3/4/16, 9:28 PM
Michael K said...: "No, it's because he sees Hillary's implosion on the event horizon. Hillary voters will vote for Bloomberg, fur shure, fur shure."

I agree.

Hillary is in big trouble. Even Democrats are starting to figure that out.; 3/4/16, 9:46 PM
Fabi said...: Who wins in a four candidate race of Bloomberg (I), Trump (I), Clinton (D), and Rubio (R)? Other (R) considerations could be Bush, Romney, Ryan or Kasich, but I don't think it matters in the previous scenario.; 3/4/16, 9:52 PM
mccullough said...: I'll be voting for Ross Perot; 3/4/16, 10:40 PM
HT said...: Zach said...

It makes sense. Hillary is vulnerable,

Washington Post:
"Breaking the numbers down demographically makes Trump’s path look even steeper. In 2012, Romney easily won the non-Hispanic white vote, but it wasn’t nearly enough to overcome his poor showing among Hispanics, who broke 71 to 27 percent for Obama. A recent Post-Univision News poll found that 80 percent of Hispanics have an unfavorable view of Trump. Given that the electorate is expected to be less white than it was in 2012, Trump would have to win an unprecedented share of the white vote to stand a chance. Furthermore, Trump’s campaign has a poor record of setting up the competent field operations needed to boost turnout among his base of support."; 3/4/16, 10:47 PM
David said...: Just how many candidates from New YorkCity can we stand. Bloomy, Donald, Hillary (sorta) and Bernie. Vermont my ass. Bernie is total New York as are a lot of Vermont voters. Talk about hostile takeovers.; 3/4/16, 10:55 PM
David said...: Can't blame Citizens United for Trump or Bloomberg. In fact they are good evidence of why Citizens United was correctly decided.; 3/4/16, 10:57 PM
Bay Area Guy said...: Run Bloombeg run! He will take votes from Hillary (I believe); 3/4/16, 11:37 PM
Birkel said...: If he announces before the Republican convention, the odds of a brokered convention go up.; 3/5/16, 12:07 AM
buwaya said...: Everyone commenting here is deluded, each in his own way.
The situation is chaotic, and no-one has sufficient information to use for developing a position. Not that such information or a considered position would do much good in chaos. And this applies also to the major players. It's not a bit clear what the optimum outcome is or should be. It's all contingent.
In this situation, the best attitude is to trust to God, or the deity of your choice. Fortuna seems apt. Pray, or make sacrifices.; 3/5/16, 12:24 AM
walter said...: He will take my trans fats from my cold, dead...; 3/5/16, 12:43 AM
chickelit said...: Bloomberg better get a move on because I think Trump fever is breaking out in California.; 3/5/16, 12:51 AM
averagejoe said...: Since that time at the IRS when the progressive mobsters had to shred their hard drives, they've become more sinister and more brazen about avoiding public scrutiny and disclosure. Openly corrupt, and it won't cost them a single vote, cause that's how democrat party progressives roll...; 3/5/16, 1:24 AM
Steven said...: Who wins in a four candidate race of Bloomberg (I), Trump (I), Clinton (D), and Rubio (R)?
Well. All assuming this Bloomberg (I), Trump (I), Clinton (D), and Rubio (R) scenario:

Between sore-loser laws and early filing deadlines in a number of states, Trump cannot appear as an independent on the ballots in a lot of places. If he fails of nomination as a Republican, he can't win enough electors to get a majority under any vaguely plausible scenario. And if it goes to the House, well, no way is the US House going to pick him, even if he got the most electors.

Bloomberg's viability as an independent is largely a function of whether Hillary gets indicted. If she does, after she's nominated, he makes tremendous sense as a 'replacement'; the whole D establishment lines up behind him, and he probably wins because Trump undermines Rubio more than him. But there's the chance it goes to the House, in which case the delegations voting as states elect Rubio.

If Hillary doesn't get indicted, she probably wins, since nobody votes for Bloomberg, and Trump undermines Rubio more. But there's the chance it goes to the House, in which case the delegations voting as states elect Rubio.

[In scenarios where Hillary fails of nomination, Bloomberg potentially can transform his independent run into a run as the D nominee; if Sanders manages to win the nomination, Bloomberg can split the D vote to keep Sanders out of office.]; 3/5/16, 2:11 AM
cubanbob said...: ""In a technical move that could be viewed as a prerequisite to announcing an independent bid for the presidency...""

Another vanity campaign for a candidate no one wants. Still, if he wants to spread his wealth on media buys and a campaign infrastructure what is the harm? A lot of people could use the income as these Obama-Democrat times are a bit tough.; 3/5/16, 4:12 AM
Humperdink said...: David said: "Just how many candidates from New York City can we stand. Bloomy, Donald, Hillary (sorta) and Bernie...."

Add a dash of DeBlasio, a sprinkling of Chuck Schumer, a pinch of Cuomo (pick either one) and you could have quite the picture of New York's finest.; 3/5/16, 6:14 AM
David Begley said...: New York values rule!; 3/5/16, 7:07 AM
SayAahh said...: Penis envy; 3/5/16, 7:13 AM
tds said...: If all Bloomberg understood about the presidential race so far is, that this year billionaires stand a chance, then good luck.

If, however, Bloomberg sees Hillary's indictment coming, then it actually makes a lot of sense. But only if he has large hands. Otherwise he stands no chance.; 3/5/16, 7:28 AM
traditionalguy said...: Just how long are his fingers? Only his manicurist knows for sure.; 3/5/16, 7:36 AM
Skeptical Voter said...: Just what we need--another bozo billionaire from New York wants to jump in the race. Didn't he hear Mittens speech?; 3/5/16, 8:04 AM
Fabi said...: Thank you, Steven. I was also thinking about write-ins for Trump. I doubt that would be a viable national strategy, but the laws of political physics are malleable this year!; 3/5/16, 8:14 AM
Big Mike said...: Oh great! Just what we need -- three left of center billionaires from New Yawk running for president! Maybe a fourth party can win the other 49 states?

Okay, maybe Hillary Clinton isn't a billionaire. I read that she had to take a quarter million from her campaign funds for "necessary expenses." That would be her next round of plastic surgery, I suppose?; 3/5/16, 8:43 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: Let's get one thing straight - the Clintons are not yet billionaires. Personally, they were only able to acquire a bit more than a hundred million while selling US foreign policy (plus another half a billion or so in their personal foundation). This makes them centi-millionaires like Mitt Romney and AlGore. The Presidency is the big score for them, which is their best shot at joining Trump and Blomberg in the more elite billionaire category.; 3/5/16, 10:28 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: Bloomberg cannot win the Presidency. His attraction mostly ends at the NYC boundaries. He exhibits all that is bad about New Yorkers, and why they are probably the most hated demographic in this country. And to think that if he ran, all 4 would kinda be firm there. He is hated throughout much of this country maybe even more than Hillary, if that is possible, because of his pushing his anti-gun actions. Lot of us around the country are dealing with the after-effects of his millions being spent in our states to take our gun rights away. No, he isn't going anywhere, but would be welcome to the race to take some of the anti-gun votes away from Hillary.; 3/5/16, 10:37 AM
Big Mike said...: @Bruce, don't get huffy.; 3/5/16, 2:13 PM
Zach said...: Breaking the numbers down demographically makes Trump’s path look even steeper.

I didn't say Hillary was vulnerable to Trump. I said she was vulnerable. Her voters aren't overly loyal or attached to her, and Bloomberg would be running as another moderate Democrat.

If he were going to be a viable candidate, he would need to peel off a certain fraction of Democratic votes and hope that the Republicans can't coalesce around a single candidate. A strong Democratic nominee rules that out. A weak nominee gives him a window.; 3/6/16, 12:24 AM