Hey Fred Thompson, don't start picking out drapes just yet

The 2008 presidential race is barely underway and I'm already depressed. After vascillating back and forth between Barack Obama and John Edwards about fifty times, I keep coming back to John Edwards, although I still have some nagging distrust of his metamorphosis from Southern Dream Democrat to populist, and he hasn't given me that "YES!! This is the guy!!" feeling that I had the first time I saw Howard Dean on Press the Meat in late 2003. As for Obama, I'm finding that he doesn't wear very well. His campaign staff seems inexperienced, and I'm still seeing a cautious, creeping Joe Liebermanism to him that bothers me. And the thought of another Clinton administration, particularly one run by Hillary the Warhawk, makes me want to stick an icepick in my own forehead.

So unlike much of the political blogosphere, which is at least giving lip service to being just THRILLED with our choices (and of course compared to the pantysniffers and bloodbathers that constitute the Republican field, anyone would look good), I have been facing the 2008 campaign with more dread than excitement.

But today things look if not better, at least more interesting, because New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is leaving the GOP and registering as in independent:

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Tuesday switched his party status from Republican to unaffiliated, a stunning move certain to be seen as a prelude to an independent presidential bid that would upend the 2008 race.

The billionaire former CEO, who was a lifelong Democrat before he switched to the GOP for his first mayoral run, said the change in voter registration does not mean he is running for president.

"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," he said in a statement.

Since he hasn't really talked about his plans for the future, this sure looks like a fairly significant toe being dipped into the 2008 waters.

At the very least, an independent Bloomberg candidacy would be interesting. Rudy Giuliani has crowned himself the King of 9/11, but it's this diminutive little billionaire Jewish guy who did the heavy lifting of bringing the city back. Bloomberg is pro-choice, favors stem cell research and gun control, and while you may not like some of his ideas, like ridding the city's restaurants of trans fats and smoking, or his new congestion pricing plan for the city's bridges and tunnels, you can't say the man isn't capable of thinking out of the box.

Conventional wisdom would indicate that a guy with this kind of record would pull more from Democratic than from Republican voters. But Republicans this time out don't seem enamored of ANY of their candidates, which is why the dour, lazy, and intellectually lacking Fred Thompson is now leading the Republican pack. With McCain in free-fall, Giuliani sounding more and more fascist every day, and Christian conservatives uncomfortable at the thought of supporting a Mormon, Thompson is the blank slate on which Republicans can paint their vision of their party's future -- or more accurately, its past. But once he throws his hat into the ring, the fact that Fred Thompson is a dumbass will become as clear as day to all but the most deluded kool-aid drinkers.

All this is of course why a Bloomberg candidacy would be so intriguing. He doesn't have to worry about money; he could put a billion dollars into his campaign and not have to give up so much as a manicure. He has a business record that makes Mitt Romney look like the proprietor of a lemonade stand. His social issues stands made even Rachel Maddow and David Bender giddy on this evening's Rachel Maddow Show. And he's not a nut or egomaniac spoiler like Ross Perot or Ralph Nader. If Bloomberg gets in it, he's in it to win it.

There is a lot to dislike about Bloomberg. His elitism and insensitivity during the December 2005 transit strike was appalling, and it's hard to imagine him representing Americans who are not of Wall Street. It's even harder to imagine him coming up with a plan for universal health insurance and health care that doesn't involve shoveling a shitload of money into the pockets of United Healthcare and Bill Frist's hospitals.

But I have to tell you, this is one staunch progressive that if the Democrats nominate Hillary Clinton, will give Bloomberg some heavy consideration. I may not vote for him, but I'd certainly give him a look.