Bloomberg Sees the Writing on the Wall, Scraps Nascent '08 Presidential Bid

Posted by Steve Benen, The Carpetbagger Report at 9:18 AM on February 28, 2008.

Last month, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg led a group discussion in Oklahoma with elders from the Democratic and Republican parties. The whole thing was going to be awesome -- everyone would recognize what a visionary Bloomberg is and how he (and only he) has the unique independent skills to lead the nation during these challenging times.

Except no one really cared. The discussion was a bust, and even hand-picked participants said they had no interest in supporting an independent Bloomberg bid. Outside of Unity08's leadership, David Broder, and Bloomberg's immediate family, it quickly became apparent that no one actually wanted to see the NYC mayor run for president. His "movement" -- I use the word loosely -- had no platform, no policy agenda, no institutional support, and no grassroots support. It was an idea premised entirely on a tactic -- governing without regard for partisanship. Tens of people across the country rallied to the cause.

Today, in a New York Times op-ed, Bloomberg officially scrapped the idea.

I believe that an independent approach to these issues is essential to governing our nation -- and that an independent can win the presidency. I listened carefully to those who encouraged me to run, but I am not -- and will not be -- a candidate for president. I have watched this campaign unfold, and I am hopeful that the current campaigns can rise to the challenge by offering truly independent leadership. The most productive role that I can serve is to push them forward, by using the means at my disposal to promote a real and honest debate.

In the weeks and months ahead, I will continue to work to steer the national conversation away from partisanship and toward unity; away from ideology and toward common sense; away from sound bites and toward substance.

The irony, of course, is that the most glaring omission of Bloomberg's initiative was even a hint of substance. He would identify serious challenges, but refuse to offer policy specifics of any kind. It was an ego-driven political party that offered literally nothing in the way of ideas, as if "independent solutions" was a serious answer to pressing issues. It wasn't.

Consider the lede of Bloomberg's piece:

Watching the 2008 presidential campaign, you sometimes get the feeling that the candidates -- smart, all of them -- must know better. They must know we can't fix our economy and create jobs by isolating America from global trade. They must know that we can't fix our immigration problems with border security alone. They must know that we can't fix our schools without holding teachers, principals and parents accountable for results. They must know that fighting global warming is not a costless challenge. And they must know that we can't keep illegal guns out of the hands of criminals unless we crack down on the black market for them.

The vast majority of Americans know that all of this is true, but -- politics being what it is -- the candidates seem afraid to level with them.

So, what do we know of Bloomberg's ideas? He's for creating jobs, fixing immigration, improving schools, fighting climate change, and cracking down on illegal guns. Wonderful. How would Bloomberg approach any of these issues? With "common sense solutions." And what might they be? They're the result of "independent thinking." And what does this thinking produce in the way of policy specifics? They produce "innovative ideas, bold action and courageous leadership," and a move away from "empty rhetoric."

You get the point. There's just nothing there. Maybe Bloomberg had real positions on real issues, but if he did, he went out of his way to keep them secret.

I'd like to think Bloomberg's official departure from the race might leave some kind of impact, but I'm afraid I know better.

Tagged as: bloomberg

Steve Benen is a freelance writer/researcher and creator of The Carpetbagger Report. In addition, he is the lead editor of Salon.com's Blog Report, and has been a contributor to Talking Points Memo, Washington Monthly, Crooks & Liars, The American Prospect, and the Guardian.