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Bloomberg Rips Into Candidates Over Global Warming

Says Dealing With Issue On Internet Is Not Good Enough

NEW YORK (CBS) ― Mayor Michael Bloomberg may say he's not running for president, but his attack on the candidates Monday looked like something right out of a presidential campaign.

The possible independent candidate went to the United Nations to talk about global warming and slammed all the presidential wannabees for falling down on the issue.

"Global warming demands immediate action," Bloomberg said.

Mike Huckabee won't drop out and leave the GOP field to John McCain and Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are in a bitter battle, so in Bloomberg's eyes it was a perfect time for a slap down for all of them for lacking plans on global warming. Because, after all, Bloomberg has become Mr. Global Warming.

"This is the future of our children and our grand children and they should face the issue and they have not been doing so," Bloomberg said.

Asked why the presidential candidates are not talking about climate change, Bloomberg sneered at the political gridlock gripping Washington. Bloomberg said he thinks the candidates should make global warming a higher profile issue.

"Unfortunately we have a system where nobody wants to say to anybody you have to stop doing something, or change something or pay for something," Bloomberg said, "where all we want to do is say you can have something for nothing."

Just how important is global warming to the mayor?

"This is just as important as stopping nuclear proliferation," he said. "This is just as important as stopping terrorism."

Is there room for Bloomberg jumping into the race at this point?

"He's got the money so there probably is," said Pamela Dockery of White Plains.

"Is there room? I don't know, so many people don't like McCain," added Larrie Majors of Manhattan.

When asked if thinks Bloomberg should run for president, Markus Derowe of Manhattan said, "Yes, I do, because he's a person who can accomplish things and he won't be too much into the politics of the presidency."

And Monday the mayor did soften his "I'm not going to be president stance." He might want to be president of the General Assembly.

To be fair, all the candidates deal with the issues of global warming or energy independence on their web sites.

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