MONEY CAN’T BUY LOVE

There’s an old saying: those who marry for money earn it.    Can a mansion and a yacht make up for a miserable love life? By the same token, do Bloomberg’s paid  supporters love him for himself, or for his money.? Small donors to any candidate are much more apt to get out the votes for the person  they believe in.  Therefore,  big money can’t buy love.  And it doesn’t send people to the polls.

Bloomberg flopped in February Debate: Money Can't Buy Love
Except for Bloomberg, all of the candidates stirred the soul and warmed the heart of their supporters. Money can’t buy love.

If you watched the Democratic debates, you could see why each candidate has a base of supporters who love him or her. For example,  Buttigieg appeals to people who value civility and intellect.   Warren is an attack dog.  Her fiery rhetoric appeals to those  who want a ton of freebies including health care and college tuition. Sander’s socialists  want to eliminate capitalism altogether.  He’s passionate, and articulate, and loved by his supporters.  Biden is suave, sophisticated, knowledgeable and personable.  Klobuchar is just a good old girl who appeals to the working class.  And she’s the only woman who doesn’t mind wearing a skirt.  She’s witty and sharp.

 Except for Bloomberg, all the candidates on that debate stage were  people who have  campaigned to the point of exhaustion.  They’re seasoned and personable.  Each, in their own way, is able to stir the soul and warm the heart.  If any one of them wins the nomination, they will have earned it.

What could we say about Bloomberg ?  As the mayor of New York for three terms,  there must be something the voters liked about him.  But I didn’t find him all that appealing. I guess that thing about the non disclosure agreements, and the women he treated like dirt had me against him from the get go.  Sexual harassment is one thing, but when you chew out women for getting pregnant, and suggest that any old “black” could take care of your baby, you’ve lost me.

He had no warmth or charm. He’s came across as condescending and defensive. Sorry, Bloomberg.  money can’t buy love.

Can Bloomberg Buy America?

This is probably one of the scariest things I’ve seen in all my years of observing politics. Here is a man who is on the Democratic national debate stage tonight because he bought his way in.   He didn’t campaign or talk directly to real voters.  He just threw out a bunch of money that he had no other use for.   Just as people who live on the interest and dividends from unearned income,  he’s trying to win the election on unearned–bought and paid for–supporters.    The question is:  Can Bloomberg really buy America?  Are we that gullible?

can Bloomberg buy the Deomcratic nomination for president?
Bloomberg can afford a great acting coach to teach him how to simulate compassion for women.

Bloomberg doesn’t even have to come up with a set a policies or beliefs.  He can just hire some experts who will do that for him.  They say he hasn’t been a strong debater.  Money could change all that.  Wearing an earpiece is illegal. But,  with billions of dollars to spend, it’s highly possible he could acquire a high tech hearing device invisible to the naked eye.  Watch and see If he pauses even slightly before answering a question.  They claimed Hillary wore an  earpiece  in the debates with Trump, but it was never proven.  Anything is possible when you can afford the best.

Former employees say that Bloomberg fostered a corporate climate that was degrading to female employees.  As an example,   in a lawsuit,  one employee claimed that when a female employee got pregnant, he asked her “What the hell did you do a thing like that for?” . On another occasion, the lawsuit said, Bloomberg berated a female employee who had trouble finding a nanny. “It’s a f—— baby! . . . All you need is some black who doesn’t have to speak English to rescue it from a burning building.”

To overcome his appalling history of  mistreating female employees, he could  hire  some great drama coach to show him how to fake emotions like empathy,  compassion, and kindness.

Can Bloomberg buy America?  It remains to be seen.

 

 

 

BLATANT AGEISM DURING DNC DEBATE

If you’ve followed my blog, you know I’m not a big fan of Joe Biden.   But in this case, I’m defending him against what he was subjected to last Thursday night on television. Senator Julian Castro’s mean spirited attack on Biden’s memory was a sign of blatant ageism during the Democratic National Committee debate.

Once a person  hits 70 , they’re apt to be a victim of ageism, whether they  realize it or not.  It could happen when the sales  person at the electronics store spouts a bunch of techie-speak, and shakes his head in amusement when you ask him to translate  in plain English.  Or  the rental agent at your vacation apartment puts you in a shoddy, overpriced place and refuses to give you a refund or find a better place. Then,  the mechanic at the tire store who  says you need a new tire, even though you  actually just need a small  repair. These are things that don’t happen to men and women under 50.

To tell the truth, I don’t remember much about the DNC debate.  There was a lot of talk about free healthcare.  Bernie Sanders ranting and raving, and Elizabeth Warren promising us the moon with no tax increases.  (Hello: Have you talked to your Italian and Canadian friends about their tax rate?)

But three salient moments remain in my memory.

First,  Julian Castro verbally  pummeling Biden , accusing him of forgetting what he just said.  What was the point of that? Except to say: “you’re too old and senile to be  president”.

 Mayor Pete was the voice of reason crying in the wilderness
Once again, Mayor Pete was the most rational candidate when defending Joe Biden

Second: , Hoosier Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s rational  response:   “This is why Presidential debates are becoming unwatchable. It reminds everybody of what they cannot stand about Washington…poking at each other…” .

Third,  when Minnesota senator   Amy Klobuchar,  said, ,” I don’t want to be president for half of America—I want to be president for all Americans.  I want to represent all of this country, not half of it. “

Amy Kloubucher seemed like the most sensible candidate at the DnC debate
Amy Klobuchar said what is needed to bring this country together

Sadly, if you look at the Vegas Odds on the 2020 Election, you will find that Buttigieg and Klobuchar are way down on the list of those predicted  to win.  Apparently, common sense, courtesy, and respect are no longer an asset when running for president.

DISAGREEING WITH LIKABLE CANDIDATES

After watching the Democratic debates, I find myself disagreeing with the three most likable candidates.

I really like Pete Buttigieg.  I think he has the perfect style befitting a president of the United States.  He’s cool, calm and collected.  He’s intelligent and articulate.  He appears to be kind, tactful and diplomatic. And, I’m proud he’s a fellow Hoosier.  But do I agree with his proposed policies?  Not so much.  Here are his policies I don’t like:   open borders, popular vote.  I like the idea of Medicare for all, but don’t think it’s  economically feasible right now.  Maybe later.

Mayor Pete came into the debate as a lightweight underdog, but came across as a classy intellectual
Mayor Pete came into the debate as a lightweight underdog; he came out as a classy intellectual

Obviously, an octogenarian’s opinion  such as mine will not be mainstream.  Most Democrats seem to like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, but they strike me as far too strident.  When Bernie starts shouting and waving his arms, I’m afraid he’s about to have a stroke.  Elizabeth is a fireball speaker, but somehow, I don’t trust her.   Even Canada doesn’t offer a free college education for all.  I can’t imagine how we would pay for that, or all the money that would be wasted on kids who don’t want a college degree so much as a free ride for four years.

Biden?  Way past his time.  And, I don’t like his touchy-feely-smelly style with women.  Kamilla Harris?  I don’t see a former prosecutor as presidential material. The way she attacked  Biden  during the  first debate may have been her break out moment, but I think it was mean spirited  and uncalled for.

Booker and Gabbard have that likability factor

Besides Buttigieg, I like the way Tulsi Gabbard says it like she sees it—but her plan to pull out of Afghanistan is worrisome.    Cory Booker  reminds me of a better looking Obama.  He’s got that spark, but his  minimum wage plan is myopic.  $15 an hour in my city would result in a much different  lifestyle than in The Big Apple.

After watching the Democratic debates on television, my top likability picks are Booker, Buttigieg and Gabbard.   But if I ever met them face to face, we’d have to agree to disagree.