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Could Bill de Blasio be the next mayor of New York? Could Bill de Blasio be the next mayor of New York?
(6 days later)
Name: Bill de Blasio.Name: Bill de Blasio.
Age: 52.Age: 52.
Appearance: Middle-aged human male.Appearance: Middle-aged human male.
Never heard of him. Never heard of him? But he's New York City's public advocate!Never heard of him. Never heard of him? But he's New York City's public advocate!
Wha? It's a kind of municipal ombudsman.Wha? It's a kind of municipal ombudsman.
Beh? Like a watchdog keeping an eye on the mayor's behaviour.Beh? Like a watchdog keeping an eye on the mayor's behaviour.
I thought that was the media's job? No. We're basically just entertainers these days.I thought that was the media's job? No. We're basically just entertainers these days.
I see. Entertain me then. De Blasio is going to be mayor of New York.I see. Entertain me then. De Blasio is going to be mayor of New York.
Hahaha! Irony, yes, very good. Say one thing, mean the opposite. No seriously. He's almost certainly won the Democratic nomination, pending the official count, and then he is almost certain to win the main election in November.Hahaha! Irony, yes, very good. Say one thing, mean the opposite. No seriously. He's almost certainly won the Democratic nomination, pending the official count, and then he is almost certain to win the main election in November.
Crikey. What are his politics? Very liberal. He got arrested during the campaign for protesting against the closure of a hospital. He wants to raise taxes on the rich and spend money on the poor.Crikey. What are his politics? Very liberal. He got arrested during the campaign for protesting against the closure of a hospital. He wants to raise taxes on the rich and spend money on the poor.
I see. A bit like Trotsky. I thought those guys always lose in US elections? They do.I see. A bit like Trotsky. I thought those guys always lose in US elections? They do.
So what makes DiMarzio … De BlasioSo what makes DiMarzio … De Blasio
Sorry. What makes De Blasio so popular? He's not Michael Bloomberg or Anthony Weiner.Sorry. What makes De Blasio so popular? He's not Michael Bloomberg or Anthony Weiner.
Well neither am I, but no one's ever made me mayor of anything. Nor will they with that attitude.Well neither am I, but no one's ever made me mayor of anything. Nor will they with that attitude.
What's so unappealing about Michael Bloomberg anyway? He's a Republican billionaire who's been mayor for ages.What's so unappealing about Michael Bloomberg anyway? He's a Republican billionaire who's been mayor for ages.
And what's so unappealing about Anthony Weiner? Well, Weiner famously had to resign as a congressman in 2011 when it was revealed that he had a habit of sending naked pictures of himself to various women other than his wife. After a comeback, he was doing well in this year's Democratic race until it was revealed that he still had a habit of sending naked pictures of himself … etc etc. What De Blasio looks like naked has never been considered.And what's so unappealing about Anthony Weiner? Well, Weiner famously had to resign as a congressman in 2011 when it was revealed that he had a habit of sending naked pictures of himself to various women other than his wife. After a comeback, he was doing well in this year's Democratic race until it was revealed that he still had a habit of sending naked pictures of himself … etc etc. What De Blasio looks like naked has never been considered.
Right. So how did he end up winning it? Well his liberal credentials are impeccable. Usefully, his wife is black and used to be gay, which neutralised the black candidate Bill Thompson and the gay one Christine Quinn. He's also well connected, with the support of Susan Sarandon and Alec Baldwin. Plus he was backed by SEIU, the city's largest trade union.Right. So how did he end up winning it? Well his liberal credentials are impeccable. Usefully, his wife is black and used to be gay, which neutralised the black candidate Bill Thompson and the gay one Christine Quinn. He's also well connected, with the support of Susan Sarandon and Alec Baldwin. Plus he was backed by SEIU, the city's largest trade union.
OK. So he's basically an American Ed Miliband? There's no need to be rude.OK. So he's basically an American Ed Miliband? There's no need to be rude.
Do say: "Everybody loves an underdog."Do say: "Everybody loves an underdog."
Don't say: "Provided they can can remember who he his."Don't say: "Provided they can can remember who he his."
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