Mayor Michael Bloomberg used his first public appearance since announcing switching from the Republican Party to being an independent, a press conference celebrating the alleged success of his 311 program, to showcase his policy creativity to the media.

Bloomberg's aware that his leaving the Republican Party would confirm to the media, his current constituents and potential presidential voters, that he's pursuing an independent Presidential candidacy, despite saying wink, wink, I'm not running, and knew the world would be watching his first appearance after making public his official political independence. This is why Bloomberg is using a press conference honoring 311, a program that he is particularly but unjustifiably proud of, as the location of his personal Presidential Debutante Ball.

Bloomberg hoped touting 311 success would perpetuate the myth that he's a non-partisan problem solver. But the emperor has no clothes. 311 is useless.

For non-New York readers, 311, which New Yorker City residents can dial like 411 directory assistance or 911 emergency services, is an information system designed to help people navigate the government maze. Sometimes it's useful, mostly it's not, often directing people to call the same agency whose action or lack of such inspired the 311 call to begin with. But the primary reason why 311 is a joke is that Bloomberg does't let 311 operators have internet access. I first mentioned this in the blogosphere in a comment on Andrew Rasiej's Huffington Post blog in 2005. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-rasiej/the-power-of-many_b_5892.html

This dumbfounded me. Their job is to provide more extensive information than directory assistance but they don't have the most important tool for providing such; internet access.

I confronted Bloomberg at a Staten Island appearance a few weeks later and asked him about 311 lack of ability to get online. First, he denied this and then glibly defended the policy of not allowing 311 operators web access,"We don't want them shopping at work. He thinks it's more important to prevent workers from occasionally goofing off at work than to have a tool that will help them serve his constituents. I blogged about this in greater detail in this forum a few weeks back. http://dailygotham.com/blog/roy_moskowitz/mayor_bloomberg_won_t_allow_311_operators_internet_access_because_he_s_afraid_they_d_shop_at_work

His refusal to allow internet access to 311 operators is evidence that he's a control freak as is his denial of children the right to store cell phones in school lockers for emergency calls. I'm not talking about students disrupting class with obnoxious ringtones as Mayor Mike is concerned could happen, just parent sanctioned access to cell phones when needed. As with 311 operator web access, small potential abuses of technology are more salient to him than their far greater utility.

This tendency to micro manage those under his charge, 311 operators, students or all of us if the electorate buys into the fairy tale of him being a non-partisan technocrat and elects him President, is dangerous on a national level. The current administration has trampled on the constitution and I suspect Bloomberg would as well if he perceives an individual liberty as an excuse to commit crimes as grave as shopping at work or calling home.

This type of behavior is much closer to that of the Republican Party Bloomberg abandoned to become an independent than the Democratic Party he left because he knew he couldn't get its Mayoral nomination. Republicans brag that they want government off people's back. They do if by "people" they mean corporations. Republicans define preventing government interference with our lives as removing regulations that protect the environment or consumers but inhibit profits. They think nothing of limiting personal freedom (unless it involves the right to own automatic weapons that no one needs for self defense or hunting. However, to his credit, Bloomberg's been a vocal gun legislation supporter. ).

I'm a strong supporter of John Edwards. But I will support Hillary, Obama, Richardson, Gore or whoever else wins the nomination. This is why I won't demonize any of the contenders and help give Republicans fodder for the General Election. There are Democrats out there that are thinking of supporting Bloomberg if their first choice doesn't get the nomination. That would be a big mistake.

Democrats voting for Bloomberg will most likely be helping the Republican nominee, not helping elect the current New York Mayor.

Bloomberg is perceived as a RINO (Republican In Name Only) who never abandoned the ideals of the Democratic Party when he crossed over to the dark side for the Machiavellian purpose of winning a general election when he could not win the Democratic Primary. True Democrats should not be swayed to support him because of this not completely accurate perception of him combined with his gun control support and liberal social views, even if the Republican nominee is guaranteed to finish third and I doubt that Rudy, McCain, Thompson or whomever the Republicans nominate will finish behind both the Democratic Candidate and Bloomberg.

Bush and Fossella are two other reasons for Democrats not to vote for an independent Bloomberg Presidential candidacy.

Bloomberg endorsed Bush, the worst President since and possibly worse than Herbert Hoover in 2004. Bloomberg raised $75,000 for Republican 13th Congressional District incumbent Vito Fossella, who used his campaign money to fund Aspen ski vacations and pay for radio ads ridiculously comparing Democratic opponent Steve Harrison (I was Harrison's communications director during the campaign) with Osama Bin Laden.

Fossella, the De Facto leader of the Staten Island Republican Party, who voted the party line in Congress 90 percent of the time, ironically tried positioning himself as "independent" during the election. In his lit and on the web he called himself an "Independent Fighter" and intentionally left out his party affiliation. Some of his myspace buddies even asked which party he belonged to. While we're discussing Fossella's myspace page, among the people Vito friended was a woman named Moist Paula.

Fossella is among the few that have publicly said they believe Bloomberg when he says switching parties does not signal his candidacy. I forget if it was either former NYC Mayor (and Democratic turncoat) Ed Koch or ex New York Republican Senator Al D'Amato who said on New York Political talk show Inside City Hall, that he believes Bloomberg won't run and then added if you believe that I have a bridge to sell.