Uber billionaire Bloomberg stomps on lesser billionaire Trump

By choosing Hillary Clinton to carry their presidential banner into the general election battle, Democrats showed this week that what they did eight years ago wasn’t a fluke or a one-off.

The 2008 Democratic National Convention made history when it nominated an African-American for president. The party then rallied to make Barack Obama the first black president in the history of this nation.

Four years later, Obama won re-election with an impressive margin over Republican Party insider Mitt Romney.

On Thursday night, in formally accepting the nomination, Clinton became the first woman in history to be the standard-bearer of a major political party.

Meanwhile, the Republicans, who had 17 candidates to choose from in the primaries, including a black doctor, two Hispanics and a female chief executive officer, chose as their nominee a white man who has never served in office.

The 13 million-plus voters who enabled Donald Trump to ride roughshod over the 16 other candidates, including Ohio’s popular governor, John Kasich, were swayed by his argument that his success in business – and his lack of experience in government – make him ideally suited to lead the most powerful nation on earth.

Thus, while Democrats were writing another chapter in the history of presidential politics, members of the Republican establishment, who were largely locked out of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, were left to wonder how they lost control of their party.

As has been noted by this writer in the past, the Grand Old Party has gone to POT (Party of Trump).

Clinton has deep roots in the government. She served as first lady of Arkansas when her husband, Bill, was governor; as first lady when he was president for eight years; as a U.S. senator from New York; and as U.S. secretary of state under President Obama.

Obama delivered a forceful endorsement of Clinton when he addressed the convention Wednesday. There also were rousing speeches this week by first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, former President Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, whose primary campaign for the nomination inspired legions of progressives within the party, especially those in college.

The outcome of the primary election has left a bitter taste in the mouths of Sanders’ supporters, but he made it clear during his speech to the convention that he is supporting Clinton and urged his followers to do the same.

Thus, the general election offers voters a clear choice: a Republican nominee touting his experience in the private sector as a billionaire businessman; or a Democratic nominee, described by President Obama as the “most qualified” individual ever to seek the presidency.

But while history was being made at the DNC in Philadelphia, this writer believes the most poignant moment of the four-day event came when former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg stood at the lectern and spoke the following words:

“I’m a New Yorker, and New Yorkers know a con when we see one.”

Bloomberg, a self-made uber-billionaire, was talking about Trump, a lesser billionaire. Bloomberg is estimated to be worth more than $40 billion. Trump has boasted he is worth $10 billion.

Bloomberg, who told the raucous crowd he has been a Republican and a Democrat and is now an independent, whacked away at Trump like he was a diamond-encrusted pinata.

“Now, we’ve heard a lot of talk in this campaign about needing a leader who understands business. I couldn’t agree more. I’ve built a business, and I didn’t start with a million-dollar check from my father. Because of my success in the private sector, I had a chance to run America’s largest city for 12 years, governing in the wake of its greatest tragedy.

“Today, as an independent, an entrepreneur and a former mayor, I believe we need a president who is a problem-solver, not a bomb-thrower; someone who can bring members of Congress together, to get big things done. And I know Hillary Clinton can do that, because I saw it firsthand.”

Bloomberg talked about the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York and how Clinton, as senator, worked with Republicans in Washington to ensure the city got the help it needed to recover and rebuild.

“Throughout his career, Trump has left behind a well-documented record of bankruptcies, thousands of lawsuits, angry shareholders and contractors who feel cheated, and disillusioned customers who feel ripped off. Trump says he wants to run the nation like he’s run his business. God help us.”

With that one speech, Bloomberg blew apart Trump’s main reason for seeking the presidency.

Nonetheless, his true believers will not be dissuaded. They are too impressed with his private jet.

But thinking voters will take to heart these words from Bloomberg:

“Truth be told, the richest thing about Donald Trump is his hypocrisy.”