"the prospect of an independent candidacy from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg continues to generate the most speculation."

" .. Romney has emerged as a serious contender for the Republican Nomination. He has a gold plated resume, a great family,(whatever that means!) and a life time of experience in turning unsuccessful businesses around."

With thinking and statements like these it is little wonder that the U$A is today in such dire straits. With that once-great republic (mis-)'managed' by a cynically ruthless, autocratic plutocracy, the notion that today's U$A is a 'democracy' is a sick joke! The ideal of 'One man, one vote" long ago lost its relevance with the dominance of the Senate and House of Representatives by extremely wealthy 'players', such as the billionaire Mr Bloomberg and his ilk.

Romney may well have ".. a life time of experience in turning unsuccessful businesses around.", but it will take a lot more than 'pragmatic' horse-trading, deal-making and union busting to turn around the gross socio-economic divide and civic decline that characterises today's 'land of the free' ... market!