So, a few weeks back, I read this article which called out how Bloomberg was gaming the DNC’s debate rules to avoid being put on stage to answer questions about his candidacy and policy positions while still being able to flood the media landscape with advertising to bump his polling numbers. The article suggested the DNC change the rules to force Bloomberg to explain himself on stage. That sounded logical and reasonable.
The other day, I read this article which reported on the DNC’s decision to change those rules so that Bloomberg could be at the next debate. There are a whole bunch of people who think this is a terrible idea and a terrible precedent to set. That also sounds logical and reasonable.
For my part, I’m torn on the whole thing. I do think he should be forced to answer questions and deal with on-stage challenges from the other candidates in real time…but the optics of the $300k donation to the DNC is really, really bad.
What do you think?
Now that Bloomberg is set to be on-stage, rather than fight it (though it does smack of buying your way into the race), I just want Warren and Sanders to tear him apart so badly that he goes back to his reservoir of money crying.
And then he gets wealth-taxed, hard.
I think that it’s a terrible idea to change the rules at this stage, especially to expand the field.
I also think this is going to help Bernie and hurt Bloomberg. There’s not a single person deciding between the two of them, but he could pull from the other moderates. Meanwhile nothing highlights Bernies message better than a billionaire oligarch (sorry Jason Johnson of the Root) buying a spot on stage. And there’s no chance Bloomberg looks good up there, so actually having to defend himself is going to crush him.
Meanwhile, this will only serve to remind voter of the struggles puppies face being taken seriously.
So, Bad for DNC legitimacy, Good for Bernie, Good for Puppy, Bad for Bloomberg, Bad for Moderates, Good for Warren.
You say that, but the very moderate boomer Democrats whom I regularly interact with are like, pretty interested in hearing from him. They’re considering him – knowing full well he has bought his way in.
I know a couple of people interested in Bloomberg. The only things they know about him are from his commercials. At least do some research folks! Of course his own ads are gonna make him look good.😠
I know. They’re like “I saw that ad and I liked it! 9/11!” I do like that he’s been buying ads for impeachment and general anti-Trump ads. Someone needs to be doing that (come on, Bloomberg and Steyer…).
Right, but they’re not considering him against Sanders. He’s going to take his support from the moderates, and fracture them further.
If people are voting ideologically, you’re probably right. It remains to be seen if they are but here we are!
*Without rules, there’s chaos gif*
As you can see, I take my pup very seriously.
I’m still anti Bloomberg on stage because of all the other vastly more qualified candidates who ended up getting left off stages, some of whom are out of the race. Like, Julian Castro not being on the last stage he was still running for…fuck that. I understand the reasoning for wanting him to answer for himself, and I think maybe the debate rules should have changed past a certain point (and everyone should have known that ahead of time). But I’m flat out disgusted he is going to get the platform on a debate stage when others more deserving have not. He’s going to get up there, say a bunch of shit about being a job creator and how great capitalism is, and make his appeal to disenchanted Republicans and centrists. People will like it, he will benefit from it.
So fuck him into a hole.