From Ross Perot To Ralph Nader To Joe Lieberman To Bernie Sanders To George Wallace, The Proud Independent Tradition Continues

I’m shocked. After all, he’s been a Republican for nearly seven years now:

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York announced this evening that he was quitting the Republican Party and changing his political affiliation to independent.

The announcement came after Mr. Bloomberg gave a speech denouncing partisan gridlock in Washington, stirring renewed speculation that he is preparing to run for president in 2008 as an independent or third-party candidate.

“I have filed papers with the New York City Board of Elections to change my status as a voter and register as unaffiliated with any political party,” he said in a statement issued while he was in California delivering political speeches.

“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,” the mayor said.

Mr. Bloomberg, a billionaire businessman, is a former Democrat who won the New York City mayoralty in 2001 by running as a Republican against Mark Green, the Democratic candidate. He easily won re-election in 2005.