New York, NY – Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Thursday confessed he harbors an incurable crush on…Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
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At a news conference, a reporter quizzed the mayor on his reaction to the cover of this week’s New Yorker. The cartoon depicts Mr. Bloomberg gazing lovingly at himself in a heart-shaped vanity mirror. A box of Valentine’s Day chocolates sits nearby; a card reads: “To me.”
The mayor’s reaction? Mr. Bloomberg gushed. In Yiddish it’s called kvelling.
“I thought it was great,” he said, adding: “I thought it was cute looking in the mirror…. I’ve said this a thousand times—I like what I see in the mirror. I hope everybody here does.”
The mayor, who turns 69 on Valentine’s Day, took a moment to regale reporters about why he’s so fond of himself: “I get up in the morning and I work as hard as I can. And my kids have turned out great.” And he was just getting started: “You know, I’m a lucky enough guy to have made a lot of money, and I’m giving it all away and making a big difference.”
The billionaire businessman, who has three times been elected mayor and has even eyed the White House at times, said the New Yorker cover is a special honor because only an elite few appear there. Previous covers have featured President Barack Obama and the Pope, the mayor noted. “And if I am in that company, boy, I guess I should have a very big smile on my face,” he said.
The mayor, one of the nation’s most generous philanthropists, said he’s particularly satisfied with his charitable giving. Last year, after delivering a commencement address at his alma mater, Johns Hopkins University, he said many of the graduates thanked him for scholarship money he provided.
“I haven’t forgotten that,” said the mayor Thursday, after reminiscing about that moment.
The illustration was drawn by Barry Blitt, who has contributed more than 40 covers to the New Yorker since 1992, including the famous depiction of Mr. Obama and the first lady fist-bumping each other. It was Mr. Bloomberg’s first time on the cover, but he is not the first mayor to be featured. His predecessor, Rudy Giuliani, was also a cover model.
In an email, Mr. Blitt wrote that he doesn’t view the cover as “mocking” the mayor. “I’m delighted to hear the mayor likes it,” he said. “He’s obviously got a good sense of humor, and I support him if he decides to seek a fourth term.”
What could be a bigger honor than appearing in a publication that Obama appeared in. How his head doesn’t explode is beyond me.
How can Barry Blitt even contemplate a fourth term for Mayor Bloomberg, after the snow removal fiasco of December, 2010? New Yorkers are not going to be forgiving, when they go to the polls in November, 2013.
This guy is disgusting- when is his term over? -12 years of hearing his kvetching and utter arrogance is enough – Us New Yorkers should have a revolution to get rid of our
“King”
Thank you #2 and #3 – how anyone would re-elect someone who is clearly out of touch with your average resident is insane. Don’t want to compare him to Mubarak, but……………!!!
This picture is just too apt.
To posters 2, 3, and 4, I’m sorry to be pouring cold water on your high hopes and grandiose wishes, but you ask how anyone can vote for king mike again, hmmm let me see if I can help you there, maybe the same way you new york dummies voted him in for a third term, I’m sorry to say this, Couse no one is willing to admit, but we have seen this coming for a long time now, his arrogance and dictator attitude isn’t new, it was very prevalent in his last term as well, and the way he got the rules change and bought the election, so I’m not worried but you dumb new york liberals will figure out a way to re’elect this guy. Have no fear.