The meaning of accountability, according to Michael Bloomberg

Yesterday, at a City Hall press conference, our billionaire Mayor called a question from a reporter "one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard." What was the question? Whether he would agree to limit his campaign spending, given that he had just said that it should be clear where he stands on various issues after seven years in office. See the video below.

He also said it would be an "outrage" if he agreed to take public financing -- which would limit his expenditures considerably below the $100 million he's expected to spend.

According to the AP, "Bloomberg at first would not even acknowledge that he has a re-election operation in place, despite the fact that his team of pollsters, strategists and advisers moved into its headquarters last month

The Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent mayor, who has been reluctant to even talk about his re-election effort, at first tried to direct the question "to the campaign." He then denied that there is one.



The Mayor has often claimed that accountability will only be fulfilled if the current governance system remains unchanged, giving him essentially dictatorial authority when it comes to our schools -- because the voters can always choose not to re-elect him. But what kind of meaning does this hold, when he seems intent, as in the past, to outspend his opponents ten to one?