I really hope it's the other way around for our sake....
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.
He is a socialist
No, no information. I just thought earlier that it would be the smartest thing for him to do, and it would be the best thing for the GOP because it would throw California out of the Dims column. Maria Shriver, of course, would run as a 2-for-1 candidate, and this ticket may actually come in 2nd to the GOP candidate.
A pleasant experience to see you back NGC!
One never knows what prompts someone to leave the scene.
Now I know the worst of thoughts is a non-concern. /smiles
Welcome back!!!
I’m not a RINO and I left the GOP way before Bloomberg did.
Bloo Who
And I was wise enough to leave when I had the chance! LOL!
And Shriver would split the women’s vote if Hillary happens to sneak through to her nomination. Another GOP plus.
They should have a RINO party and a Republican Party. There’s a dual track right now and thank God for the House. That’s where some real republicans are standing up for Americans.
Thank you! It’s great to see you again. :)
It would be nice to see them look like two New Yorkers in a shouting, honking fender bender. It will make the Republican look that much better.
And if he does run for president he will definitely take many more votes away from the dems than the Repubs. He’s Hillary’s nightmare. I can only imagine the stress level at Hillary’s campaign HQ now.
To paraphrase Khaled Hosseini, p1$$ on the beard of that monkey.
No, he just switched parties.
LOL! - Not quite:
but he will amuse the hell out of everybody.
C’mon. This writes its own jokes.
With initiatives like this, Bloomidiot will never be prez, thank goodness:
Idiocy reaches a whole new level....
NYC Poor to Get Cash for Good Behavior
Jun 19, 12:39 AM (ET)
By SARA KUGLER
NEW YORK (AP) - Poor residents will be rewarded for good behavior - like $300 for doing well on school tests, $150 for holding a job and $200 for visiting the doctor - under an experimental anti-poverty program that city officials detailed Monday.
The rewards have been used in other countries, including Brazil and Mexico, and have drawn widespread praise for changing behavior among the poor. Mayor Michael Bloomberg traveled to Mexico this spring to study the healthy lifestyle payments, also known as conditional cash transfers.
In New York, the two-year pilot program with about 14,000 participants will use private funds Bloomberg has raised because he did not want to spend government money on something that is highly experimental. More than $43 million has been raised toward the $53 million goal, Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs said.
The theory behind cash rewards is that poor people are trapped in a cycle of repeated setbacks that keep them from climbing out of poverty. A person who doesn’t keep up with his vaccinations and doctor’s visits, for example, may get sick more often and struggle to stay employed.
Bloomberg, a billionaire Republican, said he believes paying people in such circumstances to make good decisions could help break those patterns. The program “gives New Yorkers in poverty a financial incentive to look ahead and make decisions that will improve their prospects for the future,” he said in a statement.
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