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This is why Im a socialist. Socialism doesnt support this type of behavior like capitalism does. Capitalism doesnt care about this republican as long as he doesnt stop making someone else money. When that happens they feed him to the dogs. Funny how this country is full of Christians who pray to a homeless man on sunday and ignore another on monday...just a thought

This is in response to the interpretations of my statement on June 19th.

To coolio, ny ny: Ron Paul is a good man, but not the "Breath of Fresh Air" I was referring to. He espouses much of the Republican Party rhetoric that has pervaded our government for the past seven years and has predominated his representation since he "entered politics" in 1971.

To Evan of Boca Raton, FL: Mayor Bloomberg may not be my mayor, but he has my attention. Although I am from New York, I moved to North Carolina 18 months ago. If Mr. Bloomberg chooses to seek National office ~ he has to appeal to the National constituency. This appears to be the case as the responses, in the CNN Political Ticker, are primarily from non-New Yorkers and appears to be largely favorable.

California NonPartisan Initiative Introduction
California’s General Election, November 2008,

NonPartisan Independent candidates
HUNDREDS OF THEM!!
CA Assembly, CA Senate, US Representative and even President candidate(s)

On May 14, 2007 California Attorney General website listed the Initiative Measure to achieve this goal.
http://ag.ca.gov/initiatives/activeindex.php?active=A Select: # 07-0019

SECTION 1. Title This Initiative Measure shall be known and may be cited as the:
“California NonPartisan Candidate Qualification Act”
SECTION 2. Findings
The people of the state of California do hereby declare their no confidence frustration with (1) partisan political malfeasance and (2) duopoly polarized partisan political party failure to produce desirable visionary candidates of viable eclectic-pragmatic leadership competence.
SECTION 3. Purpose
This California statute disenfranchises or eliminates existing multiple incongruent Election Code procedures of Signatures-in-Lieu, Nomination Signatures and Write-in Candidate Qualification Signatures for nonpartisan General Election candidates, and, creates a new aligned signature gathering process for state wide and district nonpartisan candidates, including a default write-in candidate qualification means.

The whitepaper introduction is at: http://www.NonPartisanPatriot.com

We invite your interest in this Initiative Measure. Attorney General Jerry Brown will release the official Title and Summary in 25 to 30 days. The official press release will include who is our "Charlton Heston" media spokesperson.

Our email address is: Independent@NonPartisanPatriot.com

Sincerely,

Connor Vlakancic, Advocate, CAO
California NonPartisan Independent Committee 501(c)4

More like Bloomberg / Chuck Hagel. Hagel has been stepping on a lot of republican toes and is one of the only republicans to be resolute about getting out of Iraq.

How about a Bloomberg/Colin Powell ticket?

Dan From Williston: Schwarzenegger can't run as a VP candidate, so you can eliminate that ticket. Bloomberg/Hagel looked like a possibility about four or five months ago, but haven't heard much from Hagel since.

the best part of bloomberg is the team that he would likely bring with him from city hall in nyc to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave: klein, grimm, crowell, skyler, harris, gibbs, donovan, wierson, oliver, kelly, friedman and the list goes on

Bloomberg is a determined man.

Now, the interesting question would be:

"Could Al Gore do the same... AND... could the two create a running ticket together?"

Food for thought.

Bloomberg/Sshwarzenegger would bring a lot of excitement to this election!

Given the mainstream media already has chosen who should be nominated, and thus won't cover the lesser known candidates, thus preventing people from hearing their issues and possibly supporting them. This election needs some real candidates that that the entire country can unite behind.

Bloomberg is the formally Republican, Mayor from NYC with actual credibility on terrorism and national security. Bloomberg had to take over the messes left by Giuliani, and has done a great job in solving them.

Giuliani did nothing to fight terror, yet it is the bedrock of his current presidential campaign.

Bloomberg made his own riches and is an extremely competent business. His daddy never had to bail him out of job after job after job after job after war after 911 commission.

Yes Bloomberg was a RINO, and everyone knew it. If you support someone's beliefs it shouldn't matter what party they claim. Republican Senator Trent Lott said that the country would be a better place if Pro-segregationist Strom Thurmond was elected president, even though at that point in his life Thurmond was a Democrat. In yet another ironic twist Lott was one of the first and biggest Republicans to call for the dismissal of Rumsfeld, yet he is now adamant that Congress make no judgement about the legal violations of the current A.G.

It's amazing how all of you who live in states other than New York say you would vote for him in a heartbeat because he has done so much good for NY. I didn't know people in North Carolina were under the governance of a Mayor in New York...And to the guy that says this ensures the GOP nominee will win, what are you thinking??? Republicans are jumping off the sinking ship called the GOP faster than illegal immigrants are sneaking into our country and you think this is good for your party? Haha!

"Great, he’ll run as an INDY, thereby ensuring the GOP nominee wins!"

Wow, what brash ignorance. This man could only leech off GOP votes... therefore, I hope he does run, not that any of the Repuglican candidates stand a whim of a chance anyway.

I’s quite disconcerting that someone can pull a switch and change their core values whenever it is convenient for them, Democrat or Republican.

You can't be serious. A meaningless label doesn't change your core values. His values have been pretty consistent. His soul is the same; he just keeps changing his socks. No biggie. I would definitely vote for him.

I'm eagerly anticipating Bloomberg's candidacy. Not only is a he a very successful businessman, he's also done remarkable things as the mayor of New York. (Bloomberg is the real reason for NYC's recovery after 9/11 – a fact that Giuliani is desperately hoping to hide from everyone outside the Tri-State area).

It comes down, though, to the fact that he would self-finance. This is the bottom line to me:

So long as the Presidency is for sale to the biggest spender, we might as well vote for the man who's buying with his own money.

Can you imagine a President with no big fund-raisers to "thank" and no donors to "honor?" Somebody who isn't beholden to special interests for campaign cash?! What a miracle THAT would be!

This isn't so much a switch in core values as much as its a sign that a nation as varied as ours can't be described by the two party system. Few people fit comfortably as being true Democrats or true Republicans. There are shades and amalgamations of the two that really put an individual outside of the scope of either. Bloomberg making this choice is probably more honest of him that staying in the Republican party because its more convenient and easier.

Well, as an Independent, there's no Republican to vote for and only Obama tempts me from the Democrats. I guess it depends who he would be running against, to tell if I'd vote for him – and that's how it's supposed to be, vote for the best candidate.

Gore/Bloomberg?

I'm a Democrat...I'm a Republican...I'm a mayor with as many major accomplishments as Barak Obama...wait...I'm somone who has no chance winning the Presidency or any other office. Bloomberg, go back into finance.

I don't see any real reason to do this unless he's planning a run for the White House. There's been a lot of speculation about a Bloomberg/Hagel or Bloomberg/Schwarzenegger ticket. Would certainly be an interesting third choice.

Bloomberg isn't really a republican anyway. He hasn't "changed" his core values by dropping the republican tag. He merely used the party for funding, contacts and support. Now he doesn't them. Nobody in New York is surprised by this. Bloomberg has always been more of a libertarian anyway, and by the way he used to be a registered democrat.

I hope you run for president... you;d be better at it than any republican or democrat in the running right now. What this country needs is someone to unite... not divide or scare. Finally an intelligent choice for 2008!!!

If you want a breath of "FRESH" air, then just look at ron paul, Kathleen Boyle.

we certainly do not need this man as president.

I think Gabrielle from Providence, RI has lost it. He isn't switching any core values. He's changes his label to more accurately reflect his core values. Wow, why can't this nation recognize those among us that are truly sacrificing for the public good and respect them rather than try to bring them down. This is why politics disgusts me these days.

Great, he'll run as an INDY, thereby ensuring the GOP nominee wins!

More Republicans should try this...(like rats from a sinking ship...)

Being a New Yorker, I applaud the Mayor and only hope that his vision isn't trampled by all the others that are "stuck in the mud" with their own self importance.

It's about time that this country had someone at the top that has a real commitment to the people of this country and not to a special interest group or their bank balance.

I always thought Bloomberg was a "closet" Democrat. He has done a great job and would certainly add to the ticket.

You knew he was up to something when the tour started other several other states.

Sure enough he dropped the bomb.

Spells disaster for the Republicans... Ross Perot all over again. Though they seem to be struggling right now with current set of candidates. Might be a moot point, maybe that's why he did it.

Gabrielle in Providence:
Where did he mention becoming a Democrat? Also, what are the core values of Democrats and Republicans?

I can think of numerous things about Bloomberg, that when viewed independently of others, could put him on either side.

Fortunately, the world isn't as black and white as so many of you towing the partisan lines seem to think that it is. It's this sad frame of mind that our two party system has indoctrinated into too many voters (and non-voters who refuse to support either side because they differ on so many things with both)

Bloomberg is not changing his core values – if anything he has been consistent from the beginning. Why must we use labels such as Republican and Democrat to define what values we hold? I think this is a bold, gutsy move and would vote for him for President in a second

Bloomberg running would be interesting.... I would listen to what he has to say and would vote for him if Hillary was the Dem nominee.

Looks like Michael Bloomberg may be a breath of "FRESH" air. The other candidates have become stagnant. It certainly would be welcomed to have a new and updated outlook in the political arena. Most people are tired of the "business as usual" philosophy. I just hope that if he runs on the Independent Party ticket, he does not become a "spoiler", something we have seen in the past. Actually, I believe he has been a "Democrat" all along. Let him come forward so that he has the time to be seen and heard. He has some really great ideas and has done a remarkable job governing the City of New York.

we need this man as president

While Bloomberg remains steadfast in his statements about not running for the presidency, his actions clearly indicate otherwise.

While there is a niche for a candidate like Bloomberg, he may end up being a sightly more relevant Ross Perot.

But who knows. It's still very early in the campaign, and when Bloomberg was asked about how much a campaign would cost and was told $500 million, he simply replied, "Okay."

The best thing about the CNN Political Ticker is its concise writing and up to date news!

I's quite disconcerting that someone can pull a switch and change their core values whenever it is convenient for them, Democrat or Republican.