Giuliani who? Bloomberg's the man...

Yesterday's State of the City by Mayor Mike Bloomberg should be a beacon, not only to all GOP leaders across the nation, but to all leaders of all parties.

As you know I'm a registered Democrat, though on occasion, I, like any good rational American citizen should be able to cross partisan lines to elect and praise those from other parties who's views I respect and are reasonable. In the past I've voted for Ross Perot (during his first campaign before he fully lost his mind) and in the past year I voted for Mike over his lame duck opponent Ferrer. Since he's taken the reins of New York City I've been extremely impressed on his record, his statesmanship, and his compassion. For such a rich guy he's been able to make me believe that he's more of a man of the people than such self-endorsing populists like the weasely Gifford Miller. He's a guy who knows that big business can be a boon to the average man, as long as the average man is respected, and further more can see both of those things as a series of long term goals. To me he's a return to what true conservatism should be--not some draconian set of morals, but fiscal and personal responsibility. Something that Bush and his cronies need to investigate. Former mayor Giuliani is given way too much credit for his supposed "helping the city to overcome 9/11/" status, for much of the reason that Bush is given that same status. But unlike Bush, Bloomberg took the ideas of the 9/11 commission to heart and installed many of their suggestions and more into the NYPD, making our new police force not only the best ever in the city's history, but one of the best intelligence forces on the planet, that is looked to by nations for counsel and support. When the Federal government didn't provide for our safety Bloomberg took it on his team to seal the holes, and he's done it well. And at the same time he's made our city safer from international threats he's also cut down domestic crime to some of the lowest levels on record, lower than the Giuliani administration, without the humiliating "Street Sweeps," or Gestapo tactics that our former mayor brazenly used. If people want to know why Mike took in so much of the Latino and black vote in NYC last year all you have to look at is his track record when it comes to dealing with people. When a black or Latino has been unjustly shot by police he finds time to deal with both sides, and shows respect, and respect will get you votes.

In yesterday's State of the City he's continued on this far reaching, compassionate path. In light of several cop killings he's declared a war on illegal firearms in the city, calling for a Megan type law for those who have gun related crimes, stiffer sentences, and more technology to seek out gun crimes when they occur. I would have also like to have seen added to this more legislation and penalties for gun dealers, but it's a start for a problem that his haunted this town long before 9/11. Speaking of which he's asked for the time table to be stepped up for Ground Zero development, something that should have been dragging its feet for years, and has vowed to build seven new academically selective high schools in the city, creating more space for students to succeed at higher levels than before. While I've had issues with the way that Bloomberg has reformed NY schools, I still say that I commend him for at least trying something new with a department that was tremendously stagnant. I'm not sure that standardized tests are the way to go, but with the way that the Board of Ed was being managed, any change is a step in the right direction, and creating schools, instead of prisons is always aces in my book.

The only thing I can say I have an issue with Mike on is his proposition that Union workers should pay more into their Health care funds. Now this is a direct response to the TWU/ MTA war that's brewing right now, and while I think that more care should be taken to provide workers with appropriate health care I understand that as Mayor, Bloomberg's first priority is to keep the city running, and that this is an issue that primarily is out of the Mayor's hands. Affordable, universal health care is a Federal problem, and until they get on the ball in providing some type of system that addresses this issue everyone will be behind the 8-ball.

Damm did I just praise a Republican that much? Well I guess I can't let Bush and Cheney and DeLay, and Frist, and Santorum, and Rice, and Chambiss, and...well you get my point, spoil the entire barrel.

Obama--McCain for President!

You can read the entire State of the City speech here:

http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/searchlight/20050111/203/1243