Michael Bloomberg announced Sunday he is running for president, bringing a narrow following but boundless bank account to the crowded Democratic primary.
The 77-year-old former New York City mayor, positioning himself as a centrist alternative to Joe Biden, launched his candidacy in an online video that is part personal story, part attack on President Donald Trump.
“I’m running for president to defeat Donald Trump and rebuild America. We cannot afford four more years of President Trump’s reckless and unethical actions. He represents an existential threat to our country and our values,” Bloomberg declared in a statement Sunday. “If he wins another term in office, we may never recover from the damage.”
It's also been announced that Bloomberg's media empire, Bloomberg News, will not investigate he or his Democrat rivals. Only Trump will be subject to such scrutiny.
If Bloomberg does indeed secure the Democrat nomination, he'll perfectly personify every criticism Trump has lobbed towards the media establishment. And to make the debates even more of a show, Trump should take sips from a 2-liter bottle of Coca-Cola every time Bloomberg speaks.
- On Monday, President Trump welcomed to the White House a German Shepherd named Conan, the dog who was instrumental in the killing of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdad.
Y'know, I'm certain there were heroic canines during the Obama years. Why didn't any of those animals receive the courtesy of a White House visit?
Oh, right.
- This Saturday's Wisconsin Badgers-Minnesota Gophers tilt is likely the most consequential Gophers football game in my lifetime, maybe even in the history of the rivalry (one in which both teams are sporting a 60-60-8 all-time record in this matchup). Not only is Paul Bunyan's Axe (currently in the Gophs' possession) at stake but so too is the Big Ten West championship and possibly a berth in the Rose Bowl. As such, the highly popular ESPN college football pregame show College GameDay will broadcast live on the U of M campus.
Despite the fact Minnesota is at home and ranked slightly higher in the AP Top 25 poll (#9 to Bucky's #13), Wisconsin opened up as a 2-1/2 point favorite. I can certainly understand the rationale given the Badgers have endured a tougher strength of schedule as well as the field at TCF Bank Stadium being subject to potentially sloppy weather conditions. With a good chance of snow this Saturday afternoon, Bucky will put to good use it's potent running attack, which is 7th best in the country in terms of yards per attempt (5.6). Meanwhile, the Gophs' potent passing offense could face significant challenges in inclement weather.
There's no question that the National Football League is more popular in this country in terms of TV ratings and attendance at games. But for my money there's nothing better than the pageantry of college football, particularly in rivalry week. Let's do this!
------------------------------------------------
I'm a Badger fan, but I almost want the Gophers to win, because it would mean a trip to Pasadena for a fan base that has been waiting for nearly 60 years.
ReplyDelete