2008 Update: Bloomberg Finally Comes Out

The controversial mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, has finally decided to show his true colors with a statement made yesterday: "I have filed papers with the New York City Board of Elections to change my status as a voter [from Republican] 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." That last part is very true.

The now former Republican who followed Guiliani as the mayor of New York has been anything but conservative. Bloomberg is not only a supporter of extreme gun control legislation, but has also initiated gun control legislation in NYC that he attempted to enforce outside the city itself (and got into a lot of trouble for it...where was the media on that one?). He also advocates and has pushed for increases in public health care at the taxpayer expense and is a supporter for the legalization of marijuana. The list goes on:

In his 2001 run, he made education the centerpiece of his campaign, pledging "to do for education what Giuliani did for public safety." Over the last five years, despite $4 billion in additional spending and three harrowing reorganizations of the original "reform," the student performance has been basically flat. The public safety progress under Guiliani has remained stagnant under Bloomberg.

He is a standard liberal when it comes to social policy: Throw money at the issue until it goes away. That may be a bit generalized, but its true. He does not look for comprehensive solutions that improve life for everyone, he sees the problem and spends as much money as possible to try and wean the consequences off those who are most effected. All this does is institute the idea of handouts and freebies supported by the government and we see the same problems emerge that come out of give-away welfare systems. Guiliani had social policy done right: Reform and institute programs that work towards self-elimination via work and opportunity.

Now the first mayor of New York to also be the city's wealthiest man is now speculating a run for the White House, although he stated yesterday that there will be no such run. This is contrary to past statements where he said he would be willing to invest over $500 million of his own money into a potential campaign. If you look at it politically, it would be a smart move to try and enter the race from his (self-proclaimed) moderate stance since both major political parties are currently carrying large amounts of negative baggage.

Best case scenario for us: He stays in New York and fades away once his terms are up in 2009. Even if he chooses to run in '08, his weak plans and policies simply won't get him elected.

Quick Note: The above photo is an actual advertisement from the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws (NORML). See the campaign here.