Bloomberg Won't Run for President

Which he announced today in a NY Times Op Ed piece. In it he charges the candidates to tell America the truth about the issues facing the nation and to work towards common sense solutions to solve America's problems.

from the NY Times:

WATCHING the 2008 presidential campaign, you sometimes get the feeling that the candidates — smart, all of them — must know better. They must know we can’t fix our economy and create jobs by isolating America from global trade. They must know that we can’t fix our immigration problems with border security alone. They must know that we can’t fix our schools without holding teachers, principals and parents accountable for results. They must know that fighting global warming is not a costless challenge. And they must know that we can’t keep illegal guns out of the hands of criminals unless we crack down on the black market for them.

The vast majority of Americans know that all of this is true, but — politics being what it is — the candidates seem afraid to level with them.
...
More of the same won’t do, on the economy or any other issue. We need innovative ideas, bold action and courageous leadership. That’s not just empty rhetoric, and the idea that we have the ability to solve our toughest problems isn’t some pie-in-the-sky dream. In New York, working with leaders from both parties and mayors and governors from across the country, we’ve demonstrated that an independent approach really can produce progress on the most critical issues, including the economy, education, the environment, energy, infrastructure and crime.
...

The changes needed in this country are straightforward enough, but there are always partisan reasons to take an easy way out. There are always special interests that will fight against any challenge to the status quo. And there are always those who will worry more about their next election than the health of our country.

These forces that prevent meaningful progress are powerful, and they exist in both parties. I believe that the candidate who recognizes that the party is over — and begins enlisting all of us to clean up the mess — will be the winner this November, and will lead our country to a great and boundless future.

First I think Bloomberg isn't running because of the likelihood of a McCain/Obama race. Simply put there won't be enough independents left for him to stand a chance of winning. Additionally he is right. We need leadership that that transcends partisan points of view and works towards common sense solutions to the problems at hand. Will we get that after an Obama/McCain race? I'm not sure. But what I do know is that regardless of who wins we'll get a leader that doesn't automatically disregard a potential solution to a problem because of the messenger's party affiliation. And that may be the best we can hope for right now.

What's Bloomberg Waiting For?

I think I've figured it out. Simply put he's waiting to see who the nominees are. By that I mean that his candidacy wouldn't have the same traction in an Obama vs McCain race as it would in a Clinton vs Romney or Giuliani race.

Bloomberg Won't Run

From Reuters:

Bloomberg says won't run for president

By Daniel Trotta

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he cannot win the U.S. presidency and won't run, the strongest statement to date about his intentions for the 2008 presidential race.

Bloomberg previously had said he had no plans to run, which failed to quiet speculation that he was planning an independent bid for the White House.

In an interview with Dan Rather of HDNet television to be aired on Tuesday, Bloomberg was asked if he was running and if he was going to run for president. He answered "no" to both questions.

He refused to categorically rule out any future run, then added: "The answer is 'no.' ... If somebody asks me where I stand, I tell them. And that's not a way to get elected generally. Nobody's going to elect me president of the United States." more

I was hoping he'd run as I believe he would have really shaken up the establishment regardless of if he won or not. However with him out of the way Ron Paul is now free and clear to run as an independent once the GOP passes him over as the nominee.

h/t to Memeorandum

Unity08 and Bloomberg: Perfect marriage?

From The Politico:

Few in the political world are more keenly interested in the ramifications of "Mike's Big Move" -- as New York's Daily News proclaimed Mayor Michael Bloomberg's decision to sever his ties with the Republican Party -- than former Carter White House official Gerald Rafshoon.

He and his partner, Hotline founder Doug Bailey, are the proud parents of Unity08, a group conceived to offer an alternative to next year's Democratic and GOP nominees by building a "coalition from the middle" through an online convention.

And Rafshoon told Politico that Unity08 has been holding secret conversations with three candidates interested in running for Unity08's nomination.

(snip)

The party's platform has been focused on offering solutions to globalization, campaign finance reform, the national debt, energy independence and terrorism.

Bloomberg touched on some of those issues Wednesday when he told reporters at a New York news conference that "the big issues keep being pushed to the back. ... I'm going to speak out on those issues. By not being affiliated with a party, I think I will have a better opportunity to do that."

Ever coy, Bloomberg said he has the "greatest job in the world," but he also said of the race for the White House: "The more people that run for office, the better." full article

In my opinion they'd make a interesting combination. Particularly should there end up being a Bloomberg/Obama ticket turned out by Unity 08's online primary as each has what the other lacks in regards to experience and charisma. Plus Bloomberg also might get the Reform parties nomination (Remember them?) should he decide to run. It'd end up being the smartest thing they've done since not nominating Pat Buchanan for President in 2000.

Bloomberg Leaves GOP

From the NY Times Blog:

Michael R. Bloomberg, a longtime Democrat who switched to the Republican Party to run for mayor of New York City in 2001, announced this evening that he is changing his party status and registering as an independent. His office released this statement at 6:05 p.m. (EST):

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.

A nonpartisan approach has worked wonders in New York: we’ve balanced budgets, grown our economy, improved public health, reformed the school system and made the nation’s safest city even safer.

We have achieved real progress by overcoming the partisanship that too often puts narrow interests above the common good. As a political independent, I will continue to work with those in all political parties to find common ground, to put partisanship aside and to achieve real solutions to the challenges we face....
(Snip)

Although the mayor has insisted again and again that he has no plans to run for president, several of his top aides — especially his chief political adviser, Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey — have made no secret of their desire to see him enter the 2008 race. full article

That would be the first step in Bloomberg preparing to run as an independent. I would love to see him run if only so he could shake up the two major political parties. Many pundits agree that 2008 is prime pickings for an independent. Bloomberg's ability to self finance and therefore not be beholden to any special interests along with his record of bipartisanship makes him one of the more intriguing potential candidates.