Via WCBSTV:
(CBS) NEW YORK CBS 2 HD has learned New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is leaving the Republican party and has announced he is currently unaffiliated with a political party.
The move will clearly begin advancing rumors that the mayor is gearing towards a presidential run, which he has denied in the past.
In a statement, Bloomberg said:
“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. 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.”
On Tuesday, Bloomberg was in California attending a conference at the University of Southern California along with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The pair appeared on this week’s cover of Time magazine.
This only makes it ‘official.’ Bloomberg left the party a long time ago. In fact, I’m not ever sure if he truly was a part of it.
Will Chuck Hagel be next, to complete a future ‘Independent’ presidential ticket?
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No, he never truly was. He was a lifelong Democrat who ran for mayor as a Republican, because he couldn’t have got the nomination from the braindead NYC Democratic Party.
Almost certainly.
Comment by Leslie @ 6/19/2007 - 8:17 pm
Which leaves the question, what’s in it for independent voters? How do we structure our organizing to so that the candidates, including and esepcially Bloomberg (given his history with independents) related to independents on our terms - e.g. showing they’re more concerned about changing America and transforming the political process than getting elected.
For more on the history of independents and Bloomberg (I agree with you that Bloomberg was never a traditional party man), read The Bloomberg Story (by Jacqueline Salit who ran his independent campaign in New York)
Comment by Gwen @ 6/19/2007 - 9:46 pm
The link to The Bloomberg Story is
LINK
Comment by Gwen @ 6/19/2007 - 9:47 pm
“The Bloomberg Story”
Yeeeawwwwnnnnnnnn….’scuse me. Which way is the wind in midtown Manhattan blowing today?
With an ego as big as his wallet, this clown can only syphon off liberal democrat MSM attention. And that’s a good thing. Am I wrong?
And what exactly is an independent? Those who are truly fed up with the two party system or those who want to make a one-time election ’statement’ and waste their precious vote? My guess is that an independent is one who would most likely not be voting anyway.
Look, I did the same with John Anderson in 1980. And what a mistake I made.
Comment by CZ @ 6/19/2007 - 10:40 pm
I echo the other posters here; Bloomberg never was Republican, he changed parties so he couldn’t lose in the primary. There’s a 5 to 1 ratio in NYC of Dems to Reps, and all he had to do was out-spend Herman Badillo.
Comment by Tom TB @ 6/20/2007 - 5:18 am
“Bloomberg left the party a long time ago. In fact, I’m not ever sure if he truly was a part of it”
Riiiight Bloomberg was “never” a Republican so the GOP won’t feel sad about him leaving.
Sure no sour grapes there.
Don’t be sad though after all you still have the “independent” Joe Lieberman on your side.
Comment by lee @ 6/20/2007 - 9:28 am
Indeed, they won’t.
Indeed, there aren’t. The sooner RINO Republicans leave the party, the better, as far as I’m concerned.
Next?
Comment by Sister Toldjah @ 6/20/2007 - 9:34 am
That’s a great comment lee. Considering Bloomberg was a democrat then a Republican then an independent. Was the democratic party sad to see him go?
As far as Lieberman, they ran him out of the party when he exercised a little bit of thought on his own against the party doctrine. That says a lot, doesn’t it?
Comment by NC Cop @ 6/20/2007 - 1:29 pm
Yes let’s remember how devastated the GOP was when Lincoln Chafee lost his election.
Then after he lost he came out and said he was thinking about switching parties as he has more in common with the Dem party. It is time for the people who vote with the Dem party to become Dems. Good Lord I just wish the GOP would get off their butts and start seriously looking at these people who call themselves “Republican”, and if they don’t meet the standard of over half the party platform to tell them to take a hike.
A few of weeks ago, the GOP called me for a donation. I told them that if this immagration bill goes thru I will stop giving to the Republican party until it figures out that it isn’t the illegal aliens they are asking for funding from.
As far as Bloomberg goes, I was shocked to find out he was a Rep, and I could really care less that he left the party. Just another RINO who needs to go to the Dem party. God Speed Mr. Bloomberg. - Lorica
Comment by Lorica @ 6/20/2007 - 1:31 pm
The GOP has never run anyone out of the party like the Dems do. If there were and actual membership secretary, I’d like to be it. People like Bloomberg, who couldn’t buy the party, and David Duke would not be able to call themselves a Republican, nor would Lincoln Chaffee.
Actually, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, and Chuck Hagel would be getting a warning before I revoked their membership.
Comment by PCD @ 6/20/2007 - 2:11 pm
I’m soooo devastatated by losing another RINO
Comment by Gerry Shuller @ 6/20/2007 - 3:08 pm
Bloomberg’s another nanny-state liberal who thinks the government should tell you what to do in nearly every aspect of your life - what to eat, what to drive, where to live, what you’re allowed to say or think. That means he will be perfectly at home in the Democrat party. Good riddance.
Prediction: he will get some face time in prime time at the Dem convention in 2008, unless he’s decided on an independent run for the White House by then.
Comment by Great White Rat @ 6/20/2007 - 3:45 pm