Posted on 06/19/2007 3:40:02 PM PDT by neverdem
Associated Press
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg left the Republican Party on Tuesday and switched to unaffiliated, a move certain to be seen as a prelude to an independent presidential bid that would upend the 2008 race.
The billionaire former CEO, who was a lifelong Democrat before he switched to the Republican Party in 2001 for his first mayoral run, said the change in his voter registration does not mean he is running for president.
"Although my plans for the future haven't changed, I believe this brings my affiliation into alignment with how I have led and will continue to lead our city," Bloomberg said.
The 65-year-old mayor has increasingly been the subject of speculation that he will run as an independent in 2008, despite his repeated promises to leave politics after the end of his term in 2009. He has fueled the buzz with increasing out-of-state travel, a greater focus on national issues and repeated criticism of the partisan politics that dominate Washington.
This is a breaking news update. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg left the Republican Party on Tuesday and switched to unaffiliated, a move certain to be seen as a prelude to an independent presidential bid that would upend the 2008 race.
The billionaire former CEO, who was a lifelong Democrat before he switched to the Republican Party in 2001 for his first mayoral run, said the change in his voter registration does not mean he is running for president.
WHOA! When did you come back?
Your being redundant.
"He's a damned fascist. i.e. left wing loony" will do. ; )
Fairly recently. Where are you these days?
Wow, really, Bloomberg was a Republican? I hadn’t noticed with all the radical liberal leftist ideas and policies he embraced and promoted.
Just scan all of the posts on this thread and particularly post #25 and you will see what I mean. It will be so easy to run against both the Democrats and Republicans using the resentment expressed by many conservatives as a countervailing force.
If nothing else, remember he is a serious, intelligent man who had this to say according to the NY Sun:
During an appearance at Google's headquarters in Silicon Valley yesterday, Mr. Bloomberg said the televised debates among the presidential candidates have been, in essence, a waste of time.
"They have absolutely nothing to do with the job and the qualifications. And they don't tell you anything about whether or not any of those candidates would be good or bad presidents. What they really say is, did they memorize their notes of ‘What to say if …' and whether their staff was able to anticipate," the mayor said. "If you look at both debates, they pandered, what I would argue, the same ways."
Mr. Bloomberg said the presidential candidates were exploiting the threat of terrorism, and failing to deliver solutions to problems such as illegal immigration, health care, and education.
"I think that none of them are addressing those issues," the mayor said during an exchange with reporters after the Google talk. "The press really is not doing its job of holding their feet to the fire. ... The tough questions are not what are you in favor of, but how are you going to get it through Congress?"
Mr. Bloomberg painted a picture of politicians in Washington dithering as America runs aground. "The country is in trouble," was his grim refrain.
The public critique of the presidential contest could be part of an effort on Mr. Bloomberg's part to lay the groundwork for an independent presidential bid. However, he insisted yesterday that he plans to serve as mayor through 2009 and then return to private life.
Contrary to what has been said, he will be a formidable adversary and it is unclear which party he would hurt the most and it is also unclear as to what his actual chances are.
Like minds Clemenza!
Thank the Good Lord!
Don’t let the doorknob, etc....
Lawrenceville, NJ, near Princeton. Don’t have much time for political activism, but am divided between Romney and Fred.
And if he runs, and picks Maria Kennedy Shriver as his VP, they will win California among a few other states and the GOP will do an end run and win the presidency. Bloomberg/Shriver ‘08. LOL as I type this.
What would it take to solidify your stance as a backer of Fred?
I’d tell him, “Don’t let the door hit ya in the butt on the way out!”
:-)
What the hell are you doing all the way down there?
I sure wasn’t. Nothing Bloomberg ever said indicated he was even remotely conservative. He is for more gummint, no guns, more tootifrooties, loves abortion on demand, etc. He is likely an open borders advocate. To hear him speak causes one to think he and Her Thighness must have been separated at birth.
What makes you think he would pick Shriver as VP? Inside scoop?
Working for a major financial firm with a large campus down here. Still make it to the city on the weekends though.
Hard to picture you *not* in the city!
AS IF
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