Mayor Michael Bloomberg used his first public appearance since announcing switching from the Republican Party to being an independent, a press conference celebrating the alleged success of his 311 program, to showcase his policy creativity to the media.

Bloomberg’s aware that his leaving the Republican Party would confirm to the media, his current constituents and potential presidential voters, that he’s pursuing an independent Presidential candidacy, despite saying wink, wink, I’m not running, and knew the world be watching his first appearance after making public his official political independence. This is why Bloomberg is using a press conference honoring 311, a program that he is particularly but unjustifiably proud of, as the location of his personal Presidential Debutante Ball.

Bloomberg hoped touting 311 success would perpetuate the myth that he’s a non-partisan problem solver. But the emperor has no clothes. 311 is useless.

This is so typical: I finally wrangle a press pass to PDF, courtesy of Andy Rasiej and Micah Sifry, and come down with a frigging summer cold. Argh.

So, in lieu of some more substantive analyses, some snapshots.

First of all, if there was any consensus, it is that Tom Friedman's role as doyen of America's foreign policy correspondents does not speak well of us. Someone pointed out, in conversation, that the man's brilliant insights into the minds of other countries usually arrive when he interacts with those who serve him; thus, all the heart-warming anecdotes about taxi-drivers or hotel maids with Bluetooth. Friedman's oeuvre - let me at this point confess to owning his most recent book - is glossy, uplifting, and more often than not, utterly beside the point, a repetitive list of business-school bullet points extolling the gleaming marvels of globalization. Yes, the earth is flat - whoopee, we've noticed. Apologize for the practices that brought the world the Friedman Unit, and redeem yourself, Tom.

Well, it was certainly interesting to meet the faces behind (or rather, hovering over) some of those keyboards. Here are just some random observations.

Ben Smith wasn't there, perhaps because he's out stalking republican Senate candidate whashisname again, on the off-chance that the latter opens his mouth. The results of this will then wind up on the front page of the Daily News.

Scott Sala of Urban Elephants is actually a quite likable – if pronouncedly short – fellow. Seems altogether pleasant.

Certain bloggers really need to work on their verbal brevity.

Others who think newspapers are going away after four hundred years are, frankly, ahistorical to a shocking degree.

Mr. Gur Tsabar is equally pleasant, though what I presume are his republican leanings render him deeply suspect. Just kidding. [Update: Someone emails that to describe Gur as a republican amounts to calumny, since he is, indeed, a Democrat. I guess this particular private joke wasn't all that funny. Apologies.]

Chuck Schumer is wary of The Daily Gotham? What? For the record, I worship Chuck and would argue that he should be cloned. Chuck Schumer kicks serious ass; god alone knows we need, want, must have more people like him. (Cue Atlantic Yards carping from the single-issue, first-Mattera-then-Suozzi-supporting crowd. Two words: blow me.)

I have already endorsed Andrew Rasiej in a speech I gave about him at City Hall.

This is another campaign that became heated if only for the fundamental rift in the grassroots as to what the role of the public advocate should be. Let's call them the civiroots. The civiroots support Siegel do so because he is an astounding legal force in the city and his profile could not have risen higher after his defense of protesters during the RNC. This side of the grassroots want a defense attorney.

On the other side of the grassroots people are looking for a candidate that understands that government has to be fundamentally changed, to the core, through the way they practice government on a daily basis. The techroots look at the internet as the roadmap to a new democracy. Those who support Rasiej believe like me that this is where the political beef is right here, right now. For New York City, the most important city in the United States to fall behind in the uses of technolgical innovations in government is a sign more of the state of our democracy than the incompetence of bureaucrats. That's why changing how people interact with the NYC government should be the #1 priority of not just New Yorkers but all Americans as well.

That's why I am voting for Andrew Rasiej.

The e-mail read : Do you want to go down to Washington and lobby Capitol Hill about the muni-wifi ban. I didn't even blink ... Hellyeah. Count me in.

So here I am, on my way to Washington to fight Preserving Innovation in Telecom Act of 2005 (Introduced in House) [HR 2726 IH]]:

To prohibit municipal governments from offering telecommunications, information, or cable services except to remedy market failures by private enterprise to provide such services.

I'll tell you why this is important later in the day. I have to run now ... and, believe me, it has nothing to do with tech.

[ Ed: So, I almost fell my playground bench while I read the email asking to present Rasiej at the steps of City Hall for the launch of WiFi. I'm still ferklempt. Here's the speech I wrote that same morning. ]

I am honored to have been asked to introduced Andrew Rasiej here at the steps of City Hall for the launch of "WiFi NY". When I was asked by the campaign to introduce Andrew and "WIFI NY" and talk about universal internet access from its educational importance, I immediately thought about how New York City is probably one of the wealthiest cities in the world when it comes to educational and learning opportunities. If you think about all the museums, theaters, galleries, club --all the art, culture and entertainment institutions we have here in the city-- you could easily fulfill your liberal arts education just by connecting to them and participating in their offerings. But the opportunities do not end there. We have hundreds of trade organizations, think tanks, research institutes; that make NYC their home base. And thousands of books, magazines, newspapers, journals and newsletters are produced here in New York City, the publishing capital of the world. And I thought about how all these resources, by default, can be found on the web. That is, if you have access to the internet.

Andrew Rasiej understands that after September 11, New York City families access to information, that New York City's citizen's right to know should not be limited to their ability to buy a computer, stand in line to use it for 30 minutes at a local library, sneak some online time while at work or hope for their kids have access if any during their one hour a week of computer time at their public school.