June 19, 2007

Can't we all just get along?

I am in LA for a bipartisan love-fest that would make the true believers on the wings gag if they could hear what its being said here. Last night featured NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg, the billionaire Republican who is thinking about running for president as an independent. He was introduced by LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the middle-class Democrat who usually acts like a Democrat but has always gotten along well with Republicans. Today Bloomberg introduces Villaraigosa (maybe he will say his name right this time) and then Gray Davis introduces Arnold Schwarzenegger for his keynote address. The topic obviously is the public's alleged disgust with partisanship and politicians who stick to ideological principles rather than compromising and accepting half a loaf. The title of the conference is "Ceasefire."

Also on the speakers' list for today: Matt Dowd, the political strategist who helped elected Bush and then was the key guy in Schwarzenegger's re-election campaign. The whole thing is sponsored by the Annenberg School of Communications at USC and was hatched at a dinner Villlaraigosa threw for Bloomberg at Wallis Annenberg's Century City home last fall. Not clear where it is leading but the money and power gathered at the Getty House last night would make an independent presidential candidate an instant player in the 2008 race.

Actually, Bloomberg dining alone would accomplish that. His speech was ok but not great, a lot of platitudes even as he insisted that this is not the time for platitudes. He did talk about the tough decisions he has had to make on the public schools, taxes, health care, greenhouse gases, among other things. The message was strong but his delivery leaves a lot to be desired.

Posted by dweintraub on June 19, 2007 7:09 AM