For about 20 years, Ray Keating wrote a weekly column - a short time with the New York City Tribune, more than 11 years with Newsday, another seven years with Long Island Business News, plus another year-and-a-half with RealClearMarkets.com. As an economist, Keating also pens an assortment of analyses each week. With the Keating Files, he decided to expand his efforts with regular commentary touching on a broad range of issues, written by himself and an assortment of talented contributors and columnists. So, here goes...

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Republicans Should Be Saying, “Run, Mike, Run!”

by Ray Keating

The 2016 election should be a big moment for Republicans. After all, a divisive, failed Democratic presidency is coming to an end, and either an ethically-challenged, lefty candidate with lots of baggage or a crackpot socialist will be the Democratic candidate for the White House.

But things have not gone the Republicans way, so far.

A strong field of GOP candidates was transformed into a circus when a narcissistic, flip-flopping, populist, former-Democrat reality TV star jumped into the race for the party’s presidential nomination. And according to poll after poll, a significant chunk of GOP voters have abandoned whatever conservative principles they might have had and signed on with Trump. Why? Because … well … they’re pissed off and Trump is a recognizable personality who also seems mad and … well … what the hell! As a result, the media has focused on the Donald Trump dramedy, rather than on the many problems with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

But it’s (hopefully) a long road to either party’s convention, and (hopefully) much can and will happen.

The most interesting developments in recent days have been reports that Michael Bloomberg, business billionaire and former New York City mayor, is thinking about mounting an independent run for the White House. Republicans should be chanting, “Run, Mike, run!”

An independent Bloomberg run would be a big plus for Republicans. But how can that be? After all, as Gerald F. Seib wrote in The Wall Street Journal this week, “The hole in the moderate middle is wide enough that former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has begun pondering whether the conditions are right for a presidential run as an independent, centrist candidate…”

“Centrist candidate”? Only a liberal in the media could call Michael Bloomberg a centrist. As evidenced from his time as mayor, Bloomberg is pro-abortion, anti-Second Amendment, pro-tax hikes, a big government spender, and regulator extraordinaire as illustrated by his desire to dictate the size of sodas.

Most people, I think, can see that Michael Bloomberg is no centrist. In addition, Bloomberg has a bit of Trump in him in terms of being a party switcher, as Bloomberg was a Democrat, ran for mayor as a Republican, and then for re-election as an independent.

A Bloomberg run for president would clearly split the Democrat vote, and help pave the way for a Republican win. So, here’s a possible plus for Republicans this year.

But then again, this all should be quite obvious, so it’s unlikely that Bloomberg will actually jump in the race. He has dabbled with such things before.

However, if we want to play the game-changing independent run, why not go all in? Bloomberg runs; Hillary gets the Democrat nod; Republicans come to their senses and turn away from Trump to a sane, true conservative candidate, such as Marco Rubio; and Trump throws a tantrum and also runs as an independent. A wild four-way race. Would that officially make the U.S. a political basket case?

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Mr. Keating is an economist and novelist who writes on a wide range of topics. His Pastor Stephen Grant novels have received considerable acclaim, including The River: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel being a finalist for KFUO radio’s Book of the Year 2014, and Murderer’s Row: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel nominated for Book of the Year 2015.

The Pastor Stephen Grant Novels are available at Amazon…



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