Michael Bloomberg, mayor of New York City, like his predecesor, thinks himself the indispensable man. Giuliani, after 9/11, considered seeking an extension of his second term to lead the city in its hour of trial as, he thought, no one else could. Even he didn’t do what Bloomberg did. Bloomberg, financier and billionaire – a very successful mayor, as was, despite his many shortcomings, Giuliani – believes himself the man to guide New York through the fiscal challenges of an imploding economy.

He thinks, methinks,  Hey, I’m a billionaire, no?  Clearly I know money. And I work the job for a dollar a year. What shape of benevolent philosopher king art I?

So in a very undemocratic spirit, he enlists the New York city council – a collection of very interested parties – to overturn the term limits that had been imposed on all of them by popular vote. (I am a successful mayor. I am a billionaire. I am so urbane. I am indispensable!)

Now, once again throwing scores of millions of his own dollars at a campaign run outside the city’s campaign finance system, he resorts to dirty tricks against even non-entity potential challengers. (Challengers? I have challengers? Is that allowed?) Nixonian. And with the aide of the Democratic Rove – Howard Wolfson.

Beware the man who seeks to change the rules for himself and who won’t move on.