Bloomberg Abandons Republican Party

NYC Mayor Changing Party Registration From Republican To Unaffiliated

(CBS/AP)  New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg switched his party status from Republican to unaffiliated Tuesday, WCBS-TV reports, 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 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.

Despite his coyness about his aspirations, the mayor's decision to switch stokes speculation that he will pursue the White House, challenging the Democratic and Republican nominees with a legitimate and well-financed third-party bid.

Bloomberg has an estimated worth of more than $5 billion and easily could underwrite a White House run, much like Texas businessman Ross Perot in 1992. Bloomberg spent more than $155 million for his two mayoral campaigns, including $85 million when he won his second term in 2005.

The 65-year-old mayor has fueled the presidential buzz with increasing out-of-state travel, including New Hampshire last weekend; a greater focus on national issues and repeated criticism of the partisan politics that dominate Washington.

"The politics of partisanship and the resulting inaction and excuses have paralyzed decision-making, primarily at the federal level, and the big issues of the day are not being addressed, leaving our future in jeopardy," he said in a speech Monday at the start of a University of Southern California conference about the advantages of nonpartisan governing.

A Bloomberg entry would roil the already volatile and wide-open race to succeed President Bush.

"If he runs, this guarantees a Republican will be the next president of the United States. The Democrats have to be shaking in their boots," said Greg Strimple, a Republican strategist in New York who is unaligned in the race.

The belief among some operatives is that Bloomberg's moderate positions would siphon votes from the Democratic nominee. Others say it's not clear and his impact would depend on the nominees.

Former Democratic Party Chairman Donald Fowler said Bloomberg would be "a disturbing factor to both parties," but the mayor would probably draw more Republican votes simply because "Republicans are more disenchanted than Democrats."

"Democrats are pretty happy with their candidates," Fowler said. "The Republicans are absolutely in disarray."

He called Bloomberg "an exceptionally capable guy" who is "hard-nosed and accomplished," but argued that the obstacles for a third-party candidate are so daunting that it would be nearly impossible for Bloomberg to win.

[sjc_1]

Mayor Mike is right. He has struck a resonant chord in the country. This is like when Reagan was in office in the later part of his first term. No one wanted to say anything, because he seemed so popular.

Now no one wants to say anything because they may be labeled as unpatriotic or have their phones and email monitored. This is a very scary development and one where elimination of citizens rights can be done all in the name of national security.

This has a feel of McCarthyism in the 1950s. Name names or you will be blacklisted and labeled a communist supporter. Now if you try to explain why some of the Arab world may hate us, you are branded as someone trying to make excuses for them.

[gunownerdan]

Aristocracy
a government or state ruled by an elite, or privileged upper class.

Oligarchy
a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.

Plutocracy
a government or state in which the wealthy class rules.

Vote for your favorite one!

[fredgrad2000]

I'll take an independent, or a Moderate from either party, that can heal this 50/48 divide we have and that will remain from a divisive election won by a polarizing candidate (i.e., Hillary, and wacko lefty like Edwards or any far right GOP-er). There's candidates from both parties that could be "uniters" in terms of winning a real mandate (Richardson could win a number of previously "red" states; and either Giuliani or McCain could win some "blue" states depending on their oppponent) - which is what we need after two close elections and 8 years (come 2009) of a media that has exploited that division and made it worse (excessive Bush-bashing, only negative news by MSM; right-wing talk radio being nothing but fire-breathing)...

[gkc99]

More of the same ol' crapola from Mr. Slick. They all whine about partisanship, like they don't create it all the time when it serves them.

And please, Lord, not another dipstick New Yorker. Every right thinking person hates them all. As they say, if you were on fire, a New Yorker wouldn't stop to spit on your to put it out. Spit or something else.

Send Bloomberg back to his swimming pool filled with gold coins.

[bellal-2009]

Oh, big deal.

[feelfree1]

The Republican Party drifts even further towards irrelevance.

[goldesprit]

Quote:
"I have filed papers with the New York City Board of Elections to change my status as a voter and register as unaffiliated with any political party."
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg

He is as "unaffiliated" with being Republican (in the Bush sense of dangerous fascism) as the days of the year are unaffiliated with a calendar.

He will be a closet Republican- deliberately running to confuse things.
PERIOD.

Think about what Ralph Nader actually accomplished in the election where Bush ran and won.

And please think twice, or things won't be alright.

[forthepeopl1]

the people party is here already,are you ready

JULY 21 2007 IS WHEN AMERICANS WILL BE FREE AGAIN

EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO HELP WITH THIS SHOULD BE TALKING TO ALL MEDIA OUTLETS AND TELLING THEM THAT AMERICANS ARE READY TO TAKE WASHINGTON ON AND ITS NOT A FEW AMERICANS ITMILLIONS OF AMERICANS THAT WILL TAKE BACK THERE COUNTRY..

I AM WILLING TO GIVE MY BLOOD FOR ALL AMERICANS TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK TO WHAT OUR FORFATHERS WANTED.

AM A VET AND AM READY TO TAKE CHARGE OF THIS AMERICAN BOYCOT/COOP IF WE THE PEOPLE DONT DO THIS NOW WE WILL BE GIVENING UP ON OUR CONSTITUTION AND WHAT ALL OUR VET HAVE DIED FOR..

DAVID A BELANGER,VET US ARMY,[e-mail]

ok so wants to join in on this great american REVOLUTION


they cant kill millions of americans at once so if we charge them all at once we will win and take them out and hang them all..

just like in the old days of the west...hang them from the trees in front of the whitehouse and see how many start telling the truth about what they have done to all us americans..


if the american NOW dont stand up and start a NATIONAL REVOUTION ON THIS WASHINGTON BULL S/H/I/T/ THEN we as TRUE AMERICANS can say nothing!!!

its time to take all this *** and take our government back now..

they are the ones that started this and we will finnish it now..we the people will take our country back and everyone in washington can sit there and thinks we the people are ok with what they are doing..

[rlenham-2009]

Gosh, I changed my party affiliation to un-affiliated too but am not one of the aristocracy. I think a strong third party in this country would be a good thing. To continue as we are with the animosity and partisan politics that currently exists will be a disaster.

[lorinkundert]

Good, one less lib to pollute the party

[lorinkundert]

It's time to put the two dominate parties to rest, neither one has any interest in what the people want.

[ubrew12]

I'm very interested in his candidacy. Many have said that elections need to be changed so as to be not so dependent on buying 30 sec spots from the media. We need to go back to reading about and listening to our candidates; not being brainwashed at HUGE expense. Maybe Bloomberg, with his independent wealth (not beholden to either of the Party machines), can pull this reform off. Unless someone can, and soon, our democracy will continue to deteriorate.

[creeper00]

Poor Mike can't seem to make up his mind. "I was a Democrat before I was a Republican. But I'm an Independent now."

That's what I love...consistency.

[katg21]

I'd be interested in hearing him out.

[cfin5]

Bloomberg thinks he can go to any state in the union and do whatever he dang well pleases for his own political views sake......Hmmmmm, that sorta' kinda' sounds REALLY FAMILIAR! Yep, he qualifies to run for president too I guess. Move over guys and gal, here comes another one just like most of ya......Oh! Don't forget to tell him to bring a Bible since it is almost 4th. year political sabbath time again. Be sure and memorize John 16:3 too!

[realpatriot1]

fredgrad2000,

I'm with you, I hope we get 2 or even 3 candidates that operate on a higher level than what we've been accustomed to since the 80s.

[stevex47]

the republicans have a great term for this:

FLIP-FLOP

[sandy19731]

I was hoping he would run with Chuck Hagel (R-NE), would have been more interesting.

[sero5]

Bloomberg: A band leader without a band.

[prinzowhales]

Just what the election needs...another mainstream candidate who fancies that 'partisanship' is at the root of all our ills.

A chat with CIA-Boren and its drop the Republicans and take up with the Democrats again. Of course he's for amnesty and open borders--afterall, this is not Israel, where even the original Palestinian inhabitants are not allowed to return...

[tomtomasters]

He still supported the War. A bit late if you ask me Mr. Mayor. Going to buy your way into office, instead of stealing it? What about JP Morgan and your connections to them? How is it that they get the Freedom Towers contract when they were the brokerage firm that sold all those CAll and PUT options on the airlines used on 911? Do you think Silverstein, Guiliani, and Bush have something to do with 911? If you become President will you do a reinvestigation to 911?

[norcalruss]

What another billionaire independent candidate? The last one, a buffoon by the name of PEROT, spent about fifty million dollars to get zero electoral college votes and came in last place in every state except for Maine. Maybe Bloomberg will get Jesse the BODY Ventura as his Veep so that he at least may carry Minnesota

[shanev137]

If I was a republican, I'd leave the republican party too.

[bdfriedman0]

Hey--I deserted the Republican party in 1979--long before anybody ever heard of Michael Bloomberg--and I didn't get a front-page headline, article, and photograph. Shouldn't CBSnews.com run a riveting feature about how I, `way ahead of my time, was the forerunner for what Bloomberg is just getting around to doing now?

[xrayy]

I think he would be a better person for the presidency than most of those running now.

[xrayy]

I think he would be a better person for the presidency than most of those running now.

[processor2]

YAWWWWWWWWWWWN

..

[menofoz]

NO, you know why? You defected just in time to elect the worst Prez ever Jimmy Carter!

Posted by badaxmofo

Carter vs Bush

It was the GOP party f/ing things up during the Carter Admin. Between the GOP and some Democraps somethings bound to go heywire.

As president, he could not get Congress to pass his proposals for tax, welfare, and civil service reforms even though they were technically sound. Nor could he gets bills passed creating a consumer protection agency or means to contain rising hospital costs. Being an outsider might have been an advantage in getting elected when much of the population was disgusted with the Washington establishment but it meant that he did not know how to get things done. And bills are passed through politics, through wheeling and dealing, not because they are technically sound. Some sais his problem was that he approached problems as an engineer.

He did accomplish some things. The Departments of Energy sand Education were created, the former prompted by the energy crisis created in 1973-74 by the decision of OPEC to double petroleum prices and then double them again. His energy bill, however, was killed by the oil and gas lobby who, naturally, wanted as few restrictions on their activities as possible. Carter did cut some costly congressional pork barrel bills for dam and water projects but this cut his support in Congress because it made it more difficult to "buy" votes.

[hypnotoad72]

This is the same man who has started his green initiatives (e.g. hybrid cabs).

Unlike Al Gore who talks a good talk but then we hear his electric and heating bills plus that infamous picture of him trying to look smart in front of no less than THREE large monitors, with a TV on in the background...

Given the choice of Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, or Michael Bloomberg, the choice is crystal clear.

[roach9703]

Now, maybe we will go from the Bloomberg Market Minute to the Bloomberg Four Year Boredom.
Or... maybe with his positions he could prove that
politics has strange bedfellows or
he could make a great date for Hillary.

[roach9703]

Now, maybe we will go from the Bloomberg Market Minute to the Bloomberg Four Year Boredom.
Or... maybe with his positions he could prove that
politics has strange bedfellows or
he could make a great date for Hillary.

[hmmagain]

is it true that fixing a leaky pipe in manhattan first requires three hundred well wishets and second is highly likely to involve a chainsaw cutting through the living breathing art and craft veggie tacos and veggie teas just to gain access to the wall that conceals the pipe?

[sparks224]

"Unlike Al Gore who talks a good talk but then
we hear his electric and heating bills plus..."
Posted by hypnotoad72

You Idiot,
Gores message is not to use less power but to get it from a different source.

[sparks224]

As far as I'm concerned he will still have to wear the scarlet R.
No decent human being could ever embrace such a malignant political philosophy.

[fizzal-2009]

He isn,t going too make his own electric too? is he? Not just after spending a lot of cash for new elecric cable under the city.

[fascistusa]

Party affiliation does NOT matter.

Democrats are Republicans Republicons are Demoncrats. It's a ONE PARTY SYSTEM.

Watch "Zeitgeist" on google video.

The Truth Shall Set You Free.

[sparks224]

"He isn,t going too make his own electric too?..."
Posted by fizzal,

No, he's getting it from renewable sources. Try turning off the Fox Noise Channel once and a while.

[sparks224]

"Party affiliation does NOT matter..."
Posted by fascistusa

The one thing that W and the neo-cons have proven over the last 6 years is that party affiliation DOES matter.

[harp1963]

Another greed monger from the Republican Party, trying to change the surface of his true colors.

[xzavierbrown]

why dont we start a party that IS NOT MADE UP of career politicans who jumped off a sinking party like the RNC and the DNC..

all they are doing is covering up the same sh*t smell with a new cologne

[sparks224]

He should be forced to wear a scarlet R wherever he goes for the rest of his life.

[sparks224]

It's funny to hear all the disenchanted Republicans come out and say "oh they're all the same, they're all the same"

[sparks224]

I have a great idea, let's just vote for the guy we'd like to have a beer with........oh, wait, that could turn out to be a disaster.

[feelfree1]

Why doesn't Clinton add Bloomberg to her ticket?

They would have no trouble, at all, buying the
(s)election, and the Party merge would be complete.

It could be an all-9/11-Uber-Oligarchical good time!

[navyretired2]

What we need is Jack Ryan from the Clancy books to take over the presidency like in the book...

A guy with a clue, who isn't affiliated either way, self-successful but not stupid rich, somebody with the balls to punk congress with hard facts they cant deny, with all the dirt on all the jackasses in BOTH parties, somebody with international respect as a hard-nose, zero-tolerance butt-kicker who'll gladly smoke a criminal in protection of family and values, a guy who really gives a SHlT about this country and its potential value in shaping the world...

Lemme stop there...its already impossible.

[jn122736]

I knew the republican/bush apologists would all be bad-mouthing Bloomberg for this. But not one of them had anything bad to say about him while he was still listed as a republican Mayor of New York.

Speaking of flip-flopping I personally have voted in every presidential election since JFK in 1960, and the only times my choices did not wind up in the Whitehouse was in 2000 and 2004 (all the more reason to believe Bush stole the election in 2000 and maybe 2004 also).

Anyway I guess, under today%u2019s rules, I would be considered a flip flopper, but then I have always saw being willing to changing ones mind, as facts change, as a sign of integrity and intelligence.

[navyretired2]

Sad part is...the candidate I described below could even exist...but most Americans in their blind partisan skew on everything, wouldn't see it...we fail.

[navyretired2]

Posted by jn122736 at 10:53 PM : Jun 19, 2007

Totally agree with you. Except when somebody (particularly politicians) change their mind on something, everybody from the opposite party flock to it like vultures about how they have no guts and virtue, never taking into account that people learn different things that can further shape an opinion on something, possibly reversing previous paradymes.

Limited thinking really sucks, proven SHARPLY over the past 6 years.

[prinzowhales]

It does not matter to which party Bloomberg chooses to belong. Just as Queen George relied on a bipartisan Congress to jetison the Constitution and march this country off to an undeclared war, Bloomberg--an arch-oligarch-- stands for the same kind of villany. He, like the party-less Lieberman of Connecticut, backed Bush and continue to support the kind of policies that Bush is pushing--from amnesty to the Stupid People's War.

[seven-pesos]

evangelicals...

america's evil christians!

evangelicals are bad for america.

bush, swaggart, falwell, robertson, reed...

all southern, all christian, all republican, all snakes...

slave state bush loving christian snakes.

nothing good comes out of the south!