Bloomberg : Debates a Waste of Time

[Boom_70]

Is Mike going to Run? I would take a hard look at him.

Bloomberg: U.S. 'Is in Trouble'
On the Coast He Chides Candidates

By JOSH GERSTEIN
Staff Reporter of the Sun
June 19, 2007


MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Mayor Bloomberg is decrying the state of the 2008 presidential race, faulting the major party candidates for offering shallow, simplistic prescriptions, and scolding the press for failing to demand more from those seeking the White House.

During an appearance at Google's headquarters in Silicon Valley yesterday, Mr. Bloomberg said the televised debates among the presidential candidates have been, in essence, a waste of time.

"They have absolutely nothing to do with the job and the qualifications. And they don't tell you anything about whether or not any of those candidates would be good or bad presidents. What they really say is, did they memorize their notes of ‘What to say if …' and whether their staff was able to anticipate," the mayor said. "If you look at both debates, they pandered, what I would argue, the same ways."

 

[Gold]

I think he's right.

All the debates tell you a lot of times is who has debating and speaking skills, and how well the staffs have prepared the candidate with talking points and one-liners. It doesn't give you any idea of how well somebody would do once they hold office.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

I'm really hoping for that Hagel-Bloomberg, or whatever ticket. I'd look hard at Bloomberg too.

 

[John]

Well, Bush sucks at debating and speaking, and he's been an awful president, so maybe they do tell us something.

 

[DanOregon]

Gotta back John on this one. Debates are more or less a job interview. If a candidate can't express what he believes in and where he or she wants to take the country. I think they are the root of our democracy. You can be a little-known candidate but kick ass in the debate and improve your chances, gain more support and money and become more well-known.
If a candidate isn't prepared for a debate, why would I support him or her? And what does that tell me about what kind of job they would do if they gain office.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

W did OK in business school, too.

Mike harbors delusions. I want to pass him on a New York street, so I can blow cigar smoke in his face.

 

[Perry White]

W did OK in business school, too.

Mike harbors delusions. I want to pass him on a New York street, so I can blow cigar smoke in his face.

I bet you love the proposed congestion charge, too

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Utterly-regressive tax, no matter how the Midget attempts to spin it . . .

 

[Ben_Hecht]

. . . not to mention, another bureauracy established . . . at an annual maintenance cost of close to half the projected income. Why bother?

 

[HejiraHenry]

Bloomberg: Campaign a Waste of Time

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Bloomberg: Campaign a Waste of Time

Just APPOINT me, already.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

And he just dumped the GOP. He's now unaffiliated. I like him more already. And I think you guys wont' want to read Time Magazine this week.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Have no doubt he'd be delighted to run in a 3-way. I have this week's Time where it belongs . . . close to the water closet.

 

[Perry White]

Bloomberg: the new John Anderson?

 

[Gold]

Gotta back John on this one. Debates are more or less a job interview. If a candidate can't express what he believes in and where he or she wants to take the country. I think they are the root of our democracy. You can be a little-known candidate but kick ass in the debate and improve your chances, gain more support and money and become more well-known.
If a candidate isn't prepared for a debate, why would I support him or her? And what does that tell me about what kind of job they would do if they gain office.

It's really not a job interview because how many job cnadidates can negotiate on the terms of the interview/debate.

Similarly, you probably wouldn't hire somebody for a manager job based solely on an interview. You would check out their past record and maybe ask them how they would handle a situation based on a set of facts, seeking an analysis.

 

[heyabbott]

Well, Bush sucks at debating and speaking, and he's been an awful president, so maybe they do tell us something.

It tells us that democracy has failed in America.

 

[BYH]

Is President Mike going to take lots of weekend trips without telling anyone where he's going--and then complain when people want to know where he is?

Nice to see he was interviewed for this story in California. Thanks for paying such close attention to the city you "run," Mike.

He's a world-class joke regardless of party affiliation. I'll go Republican because I can't beat Mark Green! No, wait, I'll go independent because I can't beat John McCain or Mitt Romney!

 

[DanOregon]

Gold, in the debates so far the sponsors/broadcasters have dictated the terms of the debates.I I guess you missed the Fox News debate question asking candidates how they would handle an attack on a mall with another pending and a terrorist with information on the attack in Guantanamo. If they're not job interviews they are the closest voters get to them. And I've found these early debates to be much better than the general election debates that do have negotiated terms.

 

[Gold]

Gold, in the debates so far the sponsors/broadcasters have dictated the terms of the debates.I I guess you missed the Fox News debate question asking candidates how they would handle an attack on a mall with another pending and a terrorist with information on the attack in Guantanamo. If they're not job interviews they are the closest voters get to them. And I've found these early debates to be much better than the general election debates that do have negotiated terms.

In the general election, there are negotions on the debate terms including how many debates there will be, when they will be, and on the format.

In the presidential primary election, no candidate has any leverage to dictate terms. In that circumstance, regular people should have the opportunity to ask questions.

 

[Boom_70]

I agree with Mike - the debates are a waste of time. I have more respect for the canidates who thumb their nose at them instead of performing like trained chimps on command.

I predict that many of currrent crop of canidates will flame out because the country will be sick of seeing them long before election takes place. Canidates like Gore or Blloomberg - sitting it out so far, can jump in and fill the vacum.

I think Bloomberg is pragmatic thinker with a 20,000 foot view of country. I would compare him to someone like Teddy Roosevelt- the canidate. Big picture thinker with tons of money who does not need to job.