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Mayor Bloomberg's Coy About the White House
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 13, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 13, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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Did Mayor Bloomberg brind the Country Music Awards to NYC to get some of the heartland vote? Earlier this week, the Norwalk, CT paper "The Hour" asked our Mayor about his presidential aspirations, if any. Mayor Bilng said, "Absolutely not... And anybody who's running will say exactly that." Plus, he made it clear he could pay for a presidential run. Well, duh - he could probably pay for a couple presidential runs, but we thought he was going to become a full-time philanthropist!
Mayor Bloomberg was in Chicago over the weekend to give the convocation address at the University of Chicago - was that a veiled Midwestern swing? Like his speech at Johns Hopkins, he criticized the current state of politics and asked graduates to be independent thinkers. Tere's an excerpt:
...travel outside the “friendly confines” of this campus and you’ll find objectivity, common sense – and independence – lacking. And let’s be clear: both ends of the political spectrum share the blame. And both seem unwilling to change.
That job is left to others. In fact, that job is left… to you.
Yes. Your mission – if you choose to accept it, Class of ’06 – whatever career path you may take – is to fight that fight, to maintain a healthy skepticism and an honest integrity and to never let go of the American spirit of independence.
In a world that will bombard you with analysts, pundits, self-styled “experts” – and relentless advertisers – you must stand tall because when it comes to protecting speech, thought, and expression, you are the next generation of freedom fighters.
And heaven knows – your country needs you now, more than ever.
And he opened with, "It’s great to be here in Chicago – “Oprah-land, USA,” home of “duh Bears,” and my favorite band, the Blues Brothers! Where is John Belushi now that we need him?" Anyway, if Mayor Bloomberg were elected, he's probably refuse to live in the White House and end up buying a swank townhouse nearby.
Would you vote for Mayor Bloomberg if he ran for President? Would it matter if he ran as a Republican or Democrat?
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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