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Quitting The Party
I am so tempted to do what Mayor Mike did yesterday. Quit the party. I've been a registered Dem for at least 20 years. But this year I am so sick of both parties and partisan politics, that I am almost done. All it will take is another crappy Presidential nominee from the Dems and it will be over. And it sure looks like that's where we are headed.
Now Mayor Mike's another thing entirely. I know everyone thinks he's got no shot at the White House in 2008. So what. He's what I long for in a candidate. Pragmatic, action oriented, driven to make a difference, and centrist. If he runs, he's got my vote, my support, and whatever else I can give him.
Comments (16) | Posted June 20, 2007 in Politics
Comments
The only way an independent would have a chance is if both major parties have fatally flawed candidates, and then how could he govern? Appoint from both parties and get shot at from both sides?
What a bizarre election it could be with a NY senator, mayor and ex-mayor as the candidates.
Bloomberg would credibly challenge Giuliani's fictional narratives about what he did in NY and on 9/11.
(if Giuliani somehow fails to self-destruct...he's the only candidate with a more complicated home life than the Clintons...squeaky clean except for his corporate clients and links to guys like Kerik...thought he had already imploded on the pro-abortion, pro gun control thing... gotta love the GOP choices, nutty Rudy, nobody Romney, uberhawk but wobbly conservative and possibly pre-senile McCain)
I don't see much good from a Bloomberg candidacy, unless he makes some important points, positions himself to garner support from Republicans and then throws support to the apparently inevitable Clinton-Obama ticket.
(Not that I love Hillary, she has all of Bill Clinton's negatives, only a little of his political skill, and none of his empathy and charisma. But at least she seems mostly reasonable and competent).
Posted by: druce | Jun 20, 2007 10:13:09 AM
Bloomberg is a political opportunist in the worst way.
He was a registered Dem until 2001, then he decided to switch parties in order to jump to the front of the line for the NYC mayors race (he wouldn't have survived the dem primary). 9/11 came and he rode Rudy's coat tails into office.
Then, when he sees that the public is moaning about the current 2 party gridlock he jumps ship again. Now he is an independent? What's next, is he going to become a Whig?
I respect Bloomberg's business ability but his political motivations seem to move with the wind.
Posted by: jmb173 | Jun 20, 2007 11:50:29 AM
Neither party has a hint of an interesting candidate so far...except for Ron Paul.
Democrats are proving themselves to be great as minority whiners and obstacles, but terrible leaders.
Republicans are pathetic and trying to decide whether to support who has (right or wrong) done everything that he stated he would do in the 04 election...where they supported him unconditionally.
The entire federal government has been stomping on the Constitution for decades...and people are starting to take notice because of their hatred for Bush.
Ron Paul may have no chance, but he's got the Constitution at heart...and my vote.
Posted by: Andy Swan | Jun 20, 2007 12:43:51 PM
Whenever given the opportunity, I vote for the independent candidate simply to ensure that eventually we will have more than just 2 choices. Should Mike indeed run(fingers crossed), I'd vote for him whatever he calls himself!
Posted by: Jill | Jun 20, 2007 12:50:17 PM
Bloomberg gaves us the infamous Summer of Hate in New York - when he shut down half the city to pander to a bunch of lying war-mongers. Can't forget that one, ever.
Posted by: Tom W. | Jun 20, 2007 1:17:27 PM
Hillary winning the democratic nomination is the GOP's wet dream and really the only thing that can save them in 2008.
If the democratic party is foolish enough to nominate Hillary they're doomed. The only scenario I see Hillary winning the general election is if Rudy is the GOP nominee, the evangelicals are appalled by Rudy (abortion, gay rights, divorce, adultery, cross dressing and so forth) and run an independent that the social right votes for.
As soon as people realize that Fred Thompson's kids from his first marriage are older than his second wife, he'll wane.
Posted by: Erik Schwartz | Jun 20, 2007 1:22:36 PM
I've been an Independent since I was old enough to vote. It was easy to make that decision at the time since I lived in Wisconsin, an open primary state. Ideologically speaking, I'm a (very liberal) Democrat, but, I'm against the party system because I feel uncomfortable attaching myself to a party. In my opinion, it's better to to attach one's support to important issues than a party.
I admire Mayor Mike but couldn't bring my self to vote for him while he was attached to those wretched Republicans. He's done a great job and has a good chance at my vote now that he's come to his senses.
Posted by: Lisa | Jun 20, 2007 1:25:06 PM
In the end, the Bloomberg candidacy would have the same effect on the Electoral College results as the Nader candidacy. That, to me, is an extremely bad thing. I can't think of circumstances under which a Bloomberg candidacy would wind up benefiting our country.
Posted by: Peter | Jun 20, 2007 1:52:54 PM
The two party system is killing America. I've been waiting for you to bail on the Dems, I don't hate blog them as much as the GOP, but neither party is healthy. One is actively ruining America, while the other waits their turn to get nothing done for the next four years.
Posted by: jackson | Jun 20, 2007 1:55:33 PM
How about Fred for prez?
Posted by: Jill | Jun 20, 2007 2:11:50 PM
Fred:
Be a vc and rank order the dems in level of "crapiness;" after your anniversary celebration of course. Really enjoy the blog by the by.
MPC
Posted by: mpc | Jun 20, 2007 6:39:46 PM
From a game theory standpoint our form of voting leads to a two-party equilibrium.
Whichever political tendency fields an extra party/candidate splits the vote and loses.
So...if you want to split be prepared to lose. You can hold your nose and find a way to vote for a candidate with broad appeal, or cast your vote for the candidate who reflects your views more exactly, and help your least desired candidate get elected.
Thank the founding fathers for making it that way, and thank Nader for providing the demonstration.
If you want an equilibrium with more than two parties you need a different voting system, ie a parliamentary system or ranking in order of preference/crappiness.
Posted by: druce | Jun 20, 2007 7:22:27 PM
I feel the same way (I left the Republican Party years ago). I have been wondering if Web 2.0 technologies could offer us a way out of this abyss? It is a platform to get intelligent, wealthy, passionate people together and perhaps do something about it. Perhaps Uberblogger Fred Wilson can plant the seed?
Posted by: Mark | Jun 21, 2007 7:19:48 AM
The thing that sucks in NYC, as I can attest to, though, is that you can't vote in either primary.
Mike's got my vote!
Posted by: Charlie | Jun 21, 2007 7:34:26 AM
Fred me love you long time
Both parties are full of tools and the same old crap. The only candidate that has any real crediblity is Ron Paul. Someone who actually stands for the constitution and has never voted to raise taxes. Simple.
http://www.ronpaulnation.com/tv.html#bloomberg
McCain - sleeps with Kennedy(I mean siestas)
Hillary - socialist tool
Guiliani - corrupt
Gore - wack job
T.Thompson - politician to the core
Obama - clown
Romney - corporate puppet
F.Thompson - who knows?
Biden - shoot me now
Kucinich - cuckoo for cocoa puffs
Lieberman - enough!
Posted by: Hockeydino | Jun 22, 2007 12:15:49 AM
The problem in New York City with registering in a party other than the democratic party is that you will have very little - if any - input in City and some State elections. But for what is hopefully an anomily of the last four mayoral elections, the winner of a democratic primary election in New York City will win the general election. The races for local offices (city counsel, comptroller, public adovate, borough president, assembly, senate, and a few others) are decided in the democratic primary. By opting out of the democratic party, you would be withdrawing from any meaningful participation in the elections that, arguably, affect you most immediatey.
Posted by: robert | Jun 25, 2007 10:22:52 AM
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