The presidential race took a sad turn for me on Friday when I read Michael Bloomberg's op-ed in The New York Times declaring that he absolutely will not run for president in 2008. After this announcement, I left all my "Bloomberg for President" Facebook groups forlorn. But do not fret-after only a little bit of searching, I found and joined an Obama/Bloomberg group.

For almost a year now I have been telling everyone interested in hearing my opinion that the Honorable Michael R. Bloomberg, mayor of New York City, is the right man for the presidency.

As a general rule, I hate politicians universally. I hate the rhetoric, I hate the pandering, I hate the lies. Hillary, Obama and McCain have embodied all of these things recently. We see the politics of hope, the politics of fear (I almost pissed myself when I saw Hillary's "red phone" ad), and the politics of pure stupidity (10,000 more years in Iraq?). But we have not seen meaningful discussion, solutions or action. Bloomberg wants to change that.

Bloomberg aides have said that the mayor had planned to spend up to $1 billion if he had decided to run for president, the Times has reported. In his op-ed, Bloomberg addressed several specific policy issues and encouraged candidates to work towards solutions and bipartisanship. It seems likely that any candidate willing to throw the mayor a bone could see a serious increase in campaign donations.

The first issue Bloomberg mentioned is also the one about which I currently care the most deeply: global trade. For all you free-traders out there, this last week has been particularly harsh on us. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have both threatened to back out of NAFTA if terms are not renegotiated. This is no bueno. En serio.

Fortunately, Obama and Clinton are probably lying through their teeth about their NAFTA stances. There is even some speculation that an Obama advisor has been talking to Canadian officials, letting them know that any crazy anti-trade talk in Ohio will not translate into actual policy.

Global warming, the earth's single greatest crisis today, also made it on the mayor's list. He described the fight against climate change as "not a costless challenge," and he could not be more spot-on. Alternative energy sources will be expensive, changing your lifestyle will be inconvenient, and government policies that will protect this earth may seem intrusive. But if this planet is to remain inhabitable, we have to make sacrifices.

To fight carbon emissions, Clinton, McCain and Obama support cap-and-trade programs, which are good. But Bloomberg supports carbon taxes, which are better. Cap-and-trade will create a bureaucracy that taxes will not. Taxes will also be more flexible and manageable, and, of course, will raise revenue. And, as Barack Obama explained to a confused Bill Richardson in an early debate, the cost to consumers and to businesses will be identical in both plans.

Sadly, all three top-tier candidates endorse a good policy instead of a great policy. Bloomberg believes this is because, in the current political system, politicians lack the courageous leadership to level with voters and enact bold actions.

In recent months, the campaigns have gotten nastier and have brought out the worst in three of the country's best politicians, all of whom have histories of bipartisanship and centrism. Help out Bloomberg, and the country, by keeping the candidates talking about the issues.

And if you really want your candidate to become the next POTUS, be aware that vice-presidential candidates can self-fund their campaigns, and that Bloomberg is worth an estimated $11.5 billion.

Fun fact: The last former mayor to become vice president was Calvin Coolidge of Northampton, Massachusetts. He became president two years after winning the vice presidency when Warren G. Harding had a stroke. No worries, though, Obama is looking quite vivacious.

Bloomberg is perfect for the country and for Obama. He has the experience and the know-how and will stop telling people what they want to hear and get down to business. Oh, and don't forget about the money.

It's probably time for me to start another Facebook group ... or maybe I'll go out on a limb and hang a banner from a tree in front of Wheeler.

Tags: ELECTIONS 2008 COMMENTARY