Least Important Endorsement Ever From Michael Bloomberg

Mayor Michael Bloomberg comes out and endorses President Barack Obama. It isn't very bold for Bloomberg to endorse Obama after exit polls show the President winning in swing states. Bloomberg is the political equivalent of a baseball fan that roots for the San Francisco Giants after the team was up three games in the World Series.

Bloomberg's endorsement calls for a bipartisan utopia that doesn't exist. That is an interesting statement coming from a man known to steamroll over the New York City Council.

Presidents Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan both found success while their parties were out of power in Congress – and President Obama can, too. If he listens to people on both sides of the aisle, and builds the trust of moderates, he can fulfill the hope he inspired four years ago and lead our country toward a better future for my children and yours. And that's why I will be voting for him.

Republicans don't feel that the Iran-Contra hearings was a bipartisan love fest. Ditto Democrats for President Clinton's impeachment hearings. I find it hard to believe that someone as smart as Bloomberg actually believes his own bullshit.

Quote of the Day

"It is also true, incidentally, that America is very low-tax compared to other developed countries. So nobody likes to pay taxes, everybody says ‘my taxes are too damn high,’ and they’re right, except that if we want services and the services we want — we want to protect democracy, you have to have men and women who are willing able to go overseas and able to be supplied…I pay my taxes and I get pretty good value for my taxes. I live in the greatest democracy in the world."

Obama and Republicans won't offer universal health care. However, they have no problem giving companies $700 billion-a-year to offer health insurance to their employees. Repealing the tax subsidy of oil companies would save $18 billion. The list goes on. Republicans won't allow these tax breaks to be repealed and Obama isn't going to fight them on the issue.

Mayor Bloomberg Gay Marriage Speech

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg gives an outstanding speech on why it is time for the state of New York to legalize gay marriage. Bloomberg notes New City City's in the gay rights movement with the Stonewall riots.

Quote of the Day

"New Yorkers should be free to love whomever they want. It’s not the government’s business to tell people who they can be married to."

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg

If we can get President Barack Obama to back the same position. In Obama's defense, he ended "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Advancing Opportunity in New York City

The Center of American Progress hosted the "Advancing Opportunity in New York City." New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg established Center for Economic Opportunity. CEO used innovative methods to deal with poverty. Bloomberg came to Washington to talk about the program.

Afterwards, there was a panel discussion. Derek Douglas is Special Assistant to President Barack Obama for Urban Affairs. Linda Gibbs, Deputy to Mayor Bloomberg for Health and Human Services. Ron Haskins, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution and former poverty advisor to George W. Bush. This is a fascinating discussion on how to address combating poverty.

The early achievement of CEO have been getting people to get their GEDs. Getting people into college. Unemployed single parents now have careers.

CEO's goals:

• Breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty by investing in human capital development.

• Giving the working poor a toolbox of programs and supports that will help them move up the economic ladder and out of poverty for the long term.

• Offering youth who are out of school and unemployed, and those who have a history of incarceration, better chances to gain the skills and work experience they need to succeed.

• Intervening early in the lives of children age 0-5 to break cycles of poverty.

• Breaking down silos within government to promote new ways of collaborating, increasing efficiency, and making better use of limited
resources.

• Using data and evaluation to improve programs and allocate resources based on measurable results.

• Sharing lessons learned and advocating on a national level for strategies shown to make a difference.

I would love to see a program such as this in Tampa. Unfortunately, Pam Iorio has been obsessed with the sidewalk to nowhere.