I think that I have figured out a possible way for Mike Bloomberg to win re-election in 2005. And we should be cheering this issue on.

Bear with me here.

Let's look at some facts about NYC, shall we?

1. NYC is overwhelmingly Democrat. 5-1 Democrat to Republican ratio in the state. That's ridiculous. Well, not for me, 'cause I'm a Democrat. But still, that's pretty decent odds, right? Don't ask me why we have a Republican Governor, I'll explain why we have a Republican Mayor shortly.

2. These Democrats aren't typically moderate. No, we're the in-your-face liberals. C'mon. You don't live on an 24 square mile island or adjoining boroughs with more than 8 million people from all over the world, 7 million rats, and 10 million pigeons without being slightly liberal.

3. Mike Bloomberg isn't really a Republican. For those not joining in from the Apple, Hizzoner (the mayor) switched parties to avoid running in the crowded Democratic field in 2001. He was one of the major donors to Gore/Lieberman in 2000 and many Republicans and conservatives speak of him with a bit of snide.

4. For those of you living under a rock, Bloomie is a BILLIONAIRE. The man spent $78 million on his mayoral campaign - out of his own pocket. For a liberal responsible donkey like me, I appreciated the fact that he didn't run with anyone in his pocket. In fact, that was one of his campaign "things" - he wasn't a normal politician, he didn't have special interests, only the city mattered to him. For a city facing some serious problems in 2001, including a spiraling budget gap, the businessman was a good choice - especially if you weren't particularly fond of Mark Green (the Democratic Mayoral candidate in 2001).

These are just the facts I wish to highlight in this argument.

Many of you may not be aware that New York City is on the verge of being the next "battleground", if you will, in the fight for gay marriage. Click on that link. Check it out. Basically, a Manhattan judge ruled that it was unconstitutional for the state to forbid gays from marrying - that the state constitution did not specify marriage, therefore, no one could bar anyone from marrying anyone.

Side note: does that mean I could marry my pinkie? I'm just curious.

Back at the ranch...

Now Mr. Mayor, as he has been apt to do - much to the chagrin of his campaign staff (trust me, I was there), has made a contradiction of himself. He told reporters that he personally believed that gays should be given the same freedoms as heterosexuals and that government should not create laws to forbid people to marry, no matter who was marrying whom. Yet, he also said later that he would appeal the judges' decision to the Court of Appeals, the highest court in the State.

Um. I don't get it.

Well, I sort of do. His argument, which starts to make a little bit of sense, is that he wants to force the state to make a decision "so that people will have a right once and for all to know where they stand." He does not want the situation they had in San Fransisco where the mayor married all of those gay couples only to have it overturned months later.

Sure, he's worried about his re-election. And he's probably feeling some heat from his Republican friends.

But I wish to call attention to those facts I listed above.

1. New Yorkers may be mostly democrats, but if given the right reasons to re-elect a Republican, they will do it. Case in point: Giulani. If he wants to win re-election, he has a better chance of siding with the 5-1 Democrats.

2. The chances of his favorable rating going up if he stands up for civil rights will most likely go upwards fast. Remember the liberal factor here.

3. He's not really a Republican. Sure, he's raised a lot of money for them, but he has always said that it isn't about party or politics, it's about doing what's morally right. Dante said it best: "The hottest places in hell are reserved for those, who in times of great moral crisis, retain their neutrality." If it wasn't for people standing up for morals, we would still have slavery, segregation, male-only voting, and awful events like the Holocaust. I'm not taking this too far - when some people have rights and other don't share the same rights, then there will always be oppression.

4. Because he will self-finance his campaign again, what difference does it make if he pisses some people off? Sure, there will be plenty of Catholics and religious folks calling for his head, but those ladies in the Upper East Side will, at best, stay home on election day, leaving the same situation as 2001 where he was elected because Mark Green lost. That's probably important to remember. He won because Mark Green and the Dems made a mistake that upset a lot of party members (present company included) that they stayed at home on November 2nd. This could work in his favor if he has a strong challenger, which is likely. But the democratic challengers are also supporting gay marriage.

Does this make sense? Isn't it kind of obvious? I think so.

If he wants to avoid the political mess that will begin to ensue over his contradiction of word and deed, the other, less controversial method might also work to gain favor - and yes, I'm talking about Civil Unions.

Sure, it's not marriage, but at least it's better. With civil unions, gay couples can at least be acknowledged. NYC would never have that horrible consequence where gay 9/11 survivors who could not collect the benefits of their lost loved ones because they were gay. While a lot of people might be against gay marriage, they aren't against gays having rights - I'm talking about New York here, people. I'm fully aware of those folks who don't want gays to have any rights at all.

I mean, come on. Go with your conscience, Mayor. Go with your morals. Go with your instinct. People may never believe what you say, but they'll always believe what you do. You can't be for people having rights and then fight against them having those rights. Shit or get off the pot.

And not only will you be making a huge statement for civil rights, mark a place for yourself in the history books, you just might keep your job.

"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead