Bloomberg...let me get this straight

[Policenaut]

I don't follow NY politics closely but here's what seems to be the short story. Bloomberg thinks he is the only man who can help NY weather the economic crisis so he implores the city council to allow him to run for another term in office (making it 3). The council first votes to reject an amendment that lets people vote on the matter. Then the council approved Bloombergs plea and now he can run for a third term. Bloomberg spends almost $100 million and wins the election by 5% tonight.

How do New Yorkers feel about Bloomberg and the process that led to his third term? The whole deal sounds like shenanigans to me but maybe I have overlooked something.

 

[marksman]

Maybe you overlooked that a majority of voters knew that Bloomberg spent gobs of money and knew that the City Council decided to undo term limits to let him run again, and voted for him anyway.

I'm not sure what shenanigans you think occurred. Do you think Bloomberg actually bought votes?

The bottom line is his challenger, former Comptroller Bill Thompson, really found very little to criticize about Bloomberg's actual governance of New York City. NYC is the safest big city in the country, and despite being the epicenter of the current recession, is weathering the crisis remarkably well, all things considered. When "Bloomberg lawfully overturned term limits" is the most you have to offer, you really don't have a lot.

 

[Puppycow]

What would people say if it were Hugo Chavez using such methods to change the constitution to get rid of term limits? Or President Zelaya of Honduras?

I guess that New York City is now a banana republic.

 

[ponderingturtle]

What would people say if it were Hugo Chavez using such methods to change the constitution to get rid of term limits? Or President Zelaya of Honduras?

I guess that New York City is now a banana republic.

So is the US as a whole, just look how long some of the fossils in the senate have been there.

Presidential term limits make more sense to me than mayoral or legislative term limits.

 

[Darth Rotor]

I guess that New York City is now a banana republic.

They have always been slightly bananas, now its a matter of greater degree, not kind.

 

[WildCat]

I would love to see mayoral term limits here.

And the system here is so rigged in favor of the incumbent it's almost impossible to mount a challenge. One glaring example: 50,000 signatures are required to get on the ballot. And in reality you'd need at least twice that, because every single one will be challenged in court.

Yes, we are a banana republic.

 

[marksman]

What would people say if it were Hugo Chavez using such methods to change the constitution to get rid of term limits? Or President Zelaya of Honduras?

I don't know. Let's get Hugo Chavez and President Zelaya to do that and see what people say. Then we can see if anybody on this thread takes an opposite view in that other thread and then... profit?? I can't remember how that internet meme goes.

So, did you have a comment on Bloomberg or were you just using this as an opportunity to use a thread about Bloomberg to bash unnamed hypothetical people who may or may not make comments on a thread about Chavez and Zelaya?

 

[ponderingturtle]

I would love to see mayoral term limits here.

And the system here is so rigged in favor of the incumbent it's almost impossible to mount a challenge. One glaring example: 50,000 signatures are required to get on the ballot. And in reality you'd need at least twice that, because every single one will be challenged in court.

Yes, we are a banana republic.

Funny how I was thinking of Chicago as an example of why term limits for mayor might be a good thing in some locations. BUt I am not sure it is term limits that are needed, but rather more agressive prosecution.

If it is Boss Daily vs Mayor Daily is it an improvement if he Pulls a Putin?

 

[WildCat]

Funny how I was thinking of Chicago as an example of why term limits for mayor might be a good thing in some locations. BUt I am not sure it is term limits that are needed, but rather more agressive prosecution.

If it is Boss Daily vs Mayor Daily is it an improvement if he Pulls a Putin?

Oh, no doubt he'll get to pick his successor.

But in the meantime, I wish someone would get a lawsuit going over our elections laws which for all practical purposes shut out everyone except the choice of the party bosses. And in Chicago that means the Democratic Party.