Mike Bloomberg leaves GOP

No surprise, he was never one of us to begin with. He switched parties so he wouldn't have to deal with a tough primary in his mayoral run, and the limosine leftists and yuppies in Manhattan would back a white guy liberal "Republican" (John Lindsey) with a "tough on crime" stance over a minority or labor democrat.

NEW YORK - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Tuesday switched his party status from Republican to unaffiliated, a stunning 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 GOP for his first mayoral run, said the change in 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," he said in a statement.

I think Bloomberg is running in 08. He can't run as a republican since he has no chance - not to mention that anyone who would think about backing him would back Giuliani who is more charasmatic.

He's always been a domestic leftist with a neo-conservative leaning foreign policy, and most of the candidates he's supported over the years (both parties) lean that way. Joe Lieberman was his favorite last year.

I would actually rather see a leftist Democrat (Capital D) win than Bloomberg. My politics in general are almost a complete 180 opposite of Bloomberg. That said, I hope he runs, since he'd be a John Anderson on steroids. I discussed the possible 2008 run awhile back - Bloomberg - Hell no!

Mike Bloomberg in 2008? Hell no!!!

This will be interesting if nothing else. Bloomberg has billions of dollars and would be a credible 3rd party candidate.

The Telegraph from London, England has an interesting write up on him.

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire businessman and mayor of New York, is building the foundations for an audacious third-party presidential candidacy that would transform the 2008 race for the White House.

The Daily Telegraph has established that a senior aide to Mr Bloomberg has held three lunch meetings with officials from the Independence Party, during which detailed discussions took place as to how a third-party bid could be launched.

Kevin Sheekey, Mr Bloomberg's special adviser and chief political strategist, first met Frank MacKay, the New York chairman of the Independence Party, for talks in November at Manhattan's Four Seasons hotel.

Two further lunch meetings took place in quick succession early last month over steak and seafood at the city's well-known Bobby Van's restaurant.

Mr MacKay declined to confirm or deny whether the meetings had happened but said that he thought Mr Bloomberg would make an "excellent candidate".

Meanwhile, a source closely connected to the New York mayor's inner circle said: "He thinks he could be a great president. Mike Bloomberg has got $500 million to spend and he is supremely confident."

Mr Bloomberg, 65, would be likely to run as a social liberal and fiscal conservative with signature issues such as environmentalism and gun control.

Bloomberg would be so bad that I'd rather see Hillary Clinton win than this joker. Bloomberg calls himself a Republican, but was a democrat before he decided to switch parties to avoid a primary in his run for mayor of New York when Giuliani retired. He generally backed Northeastern politicians in general and recently, his biggest support was for Joe Lieberman.

Bloomberg is a epidomy of a big government activist. He raised property taxes and income taxes in New York. He supports a commuter tax. He's banned smoking, and banned trans fats in cooking. He's also a major supporter of gun grabs, and pushes for lawsuits against firearms manufacturers. He also is known to support illegal tactics in sting operations, in an attempt to attack gun dealers in Virginia. He was recently shot down (pun intended) for that by Virginia's AG. This guy is flat out bad news if he wins.

Bloomberg is also like Bush and Kennedy when it comes to illegal immigration. He supports it and supports amnesty.

For all the bad news he'll be, I do hope he runs on a 3rd party platform. I think he'll take a lot of votes away from democrats, particulary in affluent areas. He'd make things a lot easier for the right in New York (homer), Connecticutt (NYC Suburbs), New Jersey (NYC suburbs), Illinois (North Shore), Pennsylvania (Philly Burbs are full of rich liberals), Virginia (Fairfax area), Florida (Palm Beach County, Broward County, part of Miami), California (coast), Oregon (Coast), Washington State (coast), and to a lesser extent, North Carolina (The Triangle), Wisconsin (Madison area), Michigan (Ann Arbor and Oakland County), Ohio (Columbus area), New Mexico, Iowa and Nevada (The latter three are usually decided within 1%). He'll also peel off many Jewish voters as he'd be the first credible Jewish candidate for president in a general election. Think of the Lieberman effect in 2000 Florida, as well as a New York connection. Overall, I can see Bloomberg getting 5-10% nationwide with higher numbers in the Northeast. Even at 5%, it could make things a landslide for the GOP, or swing a close election our way.

If he does run, I think this will be John Anderson all over again. Anderson took votes from Carter and made Reagan's 1980 win a landslide. This could be good news for the GOP....unless a left leaning candidate is the GOP nominee. Then it will be big problems.