Assessing Bloomberg’s chances as an independent for the presidency

Former New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, whose wealth is estimated at $35.6 billion, is considering an independent run for the presidency, The New York Times reports.

Bloomberg, 73, is said to be unhappy about Donald Trump’s (wealth $4 billion) dominance on the Republican side and, for Democrats, Hillary Clinton’s stumbles and the rise of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

No independent has ever won the White House, but has the two-party structure of U.S. politics fallen into such disarray that Bloomberg has a chance, especially given his wealth?

There are more independent voters (42 percent) in the U.S. than there are Democrats (29 percent) or Republicans (26 percent).

So it would seem to indicate that there’s room for an additional player.

But, more important, we should make a portion of the $2.4 billion spent on presidential campaigns go to something worthwhile, rather than wasting most of it on filling arenas and the airways with political promotion.

Impose a surcharge of 15 percent on all spending and use the proceeds to contribute to something important like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Let the rich and super PACS keep spending their big bucks, but use part of it for something to really get excited about, helping the kids who need it.

It could be a win-win for everybody.

Michael Bloomberg has name recognition and the financial wherewithal to practically purchase the White House, were it for sale, much less just settle to occupy it for four years as president.

His entry into the political arena is just an offshoot of being another showman for the Barnum & Bailey Circus — all theater.

His potential bid for president, under the banner of “independent,” would only polarize our existing two-party system and, of course, his only benefit would be a tax write-off for his campaign.

Pushing his $35 billion as the vanguard for his political and presidential aspirations won’t resonate with voters. It’s an exercise in futility.

I’m not keen for most of the candidates, but I have a liking for Gov. John Kasich of Ohio.

However, if Bloomberg decides to run late, I think he may have a shot!

If it would be Donald Trump or Bloomberg, I would vote for Bloomberg!

Remember Bloomberg trying to ban oversize sodas in New York?

He’s staunchly anti-Second Amendment.

Why would anyone want such a dictator in the most powerful office in the world?

Bloomberg would be a viable, well-funded candidate, drawing votes mainly from the Democratic nominee, presumably Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders.

In my opinion, this would greatly increase the chances for victory by the Republican nominee.

However, in voting for Bloomberg, the voters need to be aware of his track record of micromanagement of everything in their lives, like soft drinks, etc., as he did in New York.

The two-party system would never be threatened by a Bloomberg run.

Both parties control the structure of Congress, the states and the allocation of delegates in presidential contests. No independent has a chance at the White House because the structure of our system is inherently closed to outsider runs.

Bloomberg is a fiscal conservative and socially liberal. He would essentially irritate both conservatives and liberals in an election where ideological purity seems to be more important. See the rise of Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The last thing we need in this country is another billionaire trying to buy this election.

Remember the days when you could tell your children that anyone could be president someday? Well, that’s no longer the case.

Today you need to compile a war chest of half a billion dollars to be competitive. Get the money out of politics and we’ll have a chance of restoring our democracy.

If it’s Trump or Sen. Ted Cruz against Hillary Clinton, Clinton will win and other candidates will be irrelevant.

But if it’s Trump or Cruz against Sanders (both parties nominate extremists), a centrist independent or third-party candidate will have the best chance in history.

However, Bloomberg’s not the guy. Who wants some ex-Wall Street, anti-gun, anti-soda New Yorker telling us how to live?

For myself, if it’s Trump or Cruz against Sanders, I’ll vote for the Libertarian. I might just do that anyway.

But my vote makes no difference. Texas’s electoral votes will go to the Republican, no matter who it is.

This story was originally published February 5, 2016 at 5:48 PM with the headline "Assessing Bloomberg’s chances as an independent for the presidency."