Bloomberg Redux: We Don’t Need No Stinking Term Limits
So Mayor Bloomberg is going to try and knock down the city’s term limits law and run for a third term. Hmmm... Let’s kick this around for a minute.
Bloomberg’s justification for this is that he, being a super successful billionaire businessman, and all, is uniquely skilled to see New York City through the current financial crisis. Well, yes. And no. Yes, he’s certainly worked Wall Street to his clear advantage in the past. A man doesn’t pull down a sweet $10-billion just being lucky. So he knows the mechanics of it all, at least the mechanics as they once were. Read more after the jump.
But.. and correct me if I’m wrong here… isn’t it the old mechanisms of Wall Street that are being blamed in large part for the current mess we’re in? And isn’t the country currently rising up against the gazillionaires who milked the system to the point where pouring in $700-billion may or may not get things back on track? How could another gazillionaire like Mayor Bloomberg be the one to take a new approach that takes into account all of us non-gazillionaires?
While you ponder that, ponder this: considering his immense wealth and experience in the business/political arena, Bloomberg should have been better positioned than anyone TO SEE THIS COMING! The city he governs is so reliant—overly reliant, many are saying—on the revenues that flow from Wall Street, it would behoove any top city official to keep an eye on the financial industry based here, and warn folks that big trouble is coming down the pike. But I don’t seem to recall Mayor Bloomberg sounding the alarm on this. If he couldn’t see it coming when he’s that close to it, how can we expect him to be The One who could clean things up?
And there’s the question of ego. Bloomberg seemed to take extreme joy in being considered as a possible presidential or vice presidential candidate. When things didn’t go that way, and with term limits looming, he was faced with a return to the private sector and, he had always claimed, a life of philanthropy. But when you’re at the center of the world, I’ll bet it’s hard to face up to being a regular guy again, or at least as much of a regular guy as a billionaire could ever be. How much of this anti-term limits agenda is about Mayor Bloomberg wanting more time to see us through these troubles, and how much is it about a man who can’t stand the thought of heading to the sidelines?
As we all know, Rudy Guiliani tried this after 9/11, pushing the idea that he was The One who needed to override voter-approved term limits, because we needed him in those desperate times. New Yorkers saw right through that one, and Rudy’s trial balloon was shot down immediately, even after he’d become a world-wide icon for his actions in the immediate wake of the terror attacks. We’ll find out in a few days how those same New Yorkers feel about another mayor who says he’s the one to best lead us through this crisis. Mike Bloomberg is a man who’s governed very solidly, and who is used to getting what he wants. But I don’t think this is a slam dunk.
What do you think? Leave a comment and tell us.
Comments: 11
Bloomberg now wants to be Pope. The rules have been put in place to prevent this.
Bloomberg for ruler of the New World Order! Give me a break ... we did fine when Giuliani Americas Mayor (BTW ... that makes me Gag .... HE WAS HORRIBLE FOLKS!). I'm actually really concerned with the way that our elected officials have been using our moments of need to promote their won self interests and benefits. Not only would Bloomberg benefit from this extension but so would City Council members and there are folks that need to leave office. I leave my job and never stop being a part of the mix. If Bloomberg can't help New Yorkers when he is just a regular New Yorker and not mayor. He is no help to New Yorkers at all. How about helping our communities. He could open an organization dedicated to helping folks start businesses or to learn how to become a public servant. Greedy, money hungry and ego maniacal is all I see.
We do not need to change anything that what Bloomberg, said when our last mayor wanted to extent his term after 911. He to believed that he was the only one who could see us through such tough time. It was not true then and its no need to change anything now.
Its another case of one becoming drunk with power and not wanting to give it up. Good-by Mr. Bloomberg, you have had your two terms now it time for you to move on.
There is no doubt that a return to the humble private sector is not at the top of Bloomberg's list. But who is a truly viable candidate to replace him?
I don't agree that he could have or should have "warned" the rest of us about the current financial crisis. There are so many contributing factors to this whole situation. The Feds have their hand in this fiasco too. Maybe the Feds should think about repealing the changes to the banking laws that were enacted over a year ago. You know, those laws that made credit card payments double for anyone with outstanding credit card balances. The only ones helped in this country by those new credit card laws were the banks. Look where we are now!!
Hello...just found you from Mel's blog....so went back and read some of your recent blogs...Everything clear now....Please remember these things in the next couple of years...If you lay down with dogs you get up with fleas...Mr barrack......second as a community organizer was for the minority....Certain people like you and mel think you are safe....remember housing in russia after their revolution...remember cuba..remember south africa....you people will be the number one enemy when the wealth of this country continues to be given away...I don t know your background but I can tell you I have worked for my property...oh yeah sometimes 3 jobs at once..I realize that comes as a shock to people who are either born into good circumstances or think only the minorities count...but I can tell all you socialist lovers out there.....I paid every penny for my education including my masters at 50 years old...this after both my husband and I and my children saved.....got alittle sport scholarship and all 3 of my children worked the entire time they were in school...there were no hand outs...no 3 wk vacations to other countries as mr barrack...(funds for same un explained)..in other words ....this entitlement business..and now to the point were white people have a differant set of standards on the words we can say compared to the words minorities are permitted to say...and I am not talking about racist words ......no words like joe six pack...give me a breck...will end saying no matter what is told to me by socialists and raving liberals.....no one can control what I think....come down to palm beach...watch the am.noon and evening news....see who is doing all the violent crime....but oh...I guess i made them do it while i was raising my 3 kids ...all getting an education..paying for it...saving my money....paying for a home....now thanks to the frecks like barney franks I can not even sale...and oh yeah...my taxes and insurance on the same house....greater then 14,000 year ...this so everything can be written in spanish and pay for breckfast lunch and multiple after school programs because again...its whitey fault these people can t take care of themselves let alone their children....
The arrogance of this man. I agree he should have seen this coming and PLEASE get rid of this
Dictator of a Police Commissioner. Crime is up
and he is sending NYC Cops overseas. Didn't
anybody tell this guy that is what the FBI and CIA
does. He too,does what he wants, like his boss.
i dont know about you guys, but i like Bloomberg, he kept the city safe and i really hope he does run again.
Great blog Jim...congratulations:-)
I think during uncertain times such as the current financial mess we're in, we might want the stability of having Mayor Bloomberg stay on for another term; but it's time to go...give another candidate a chance.
Great blog Jim...congratulations:-)
I think during uncertain times such as the current financial mess we're in, we might want the stability of having Mayor Bloomberg stay on for another term; but it's time to go...give another candidate a chance.
The point is not whether he is the most viable candidate to help us through this crisis. The fundamental issue here is that this man believes he can with his money trample the democratic principle that govern us. The city council has overruled the will of the people. That is antidemocratic. We should all be very concerned about our democracy.
October 24, 2008
Dear Mr Watkins,
I totally agree with everything you've written up above. For years now I have noticed the telltale signs that the economy was weakening, and that all was not right with the housing market. And if I could see them, Bloomberg should have been able to see them as well. And so I am writing to express my profound disappointment in the City Council's decision to place the current "Term Limit" rule in jeopardy by placing Mayor Bloomberg's name on the ballot again despite the fact that the will of the people has already made its opinion on the matter clear, and decided by popular vote that we do indeed prefer term limits to remain in place.
For the mayor to imply that only under his leadership will we emerge from this financial crisis is absurd and part of the "fear tactic" of our current administration.
Therefore, I would like anyone concerned to know that I cannot in good conscience cast another vote for our current mayor, or for anyone who was involved in trying to overturn what we as voters have already decided was in our best interests.
I believe this act was utterly, completely, and profoundly un-democratic, and possibly illegal!
It was undoubtedly unethical, especially when you consider that many of those who cast votes to extend term limits will be directly affected themselves by this ruling.
But I guess only time will tell whether or not the court system has the guts to stand up to the mayor.