I don't understand Independent voters.

[Jackpine Radical]

Like, why do they want to do in their own Social Security & Medicare?

Why do they want to keep those stupid wars going?

Why don't they want the rich to pay a little more tax, but prefer to take that burden on themselves?




At least that's what I assume they want; otherwise why would a Democratic President be using these initiatives to woo them?

[KamaAina]

1. A lot of so-called independents are really repukes

but are (rightly) too ashamed to admit it in public. :eyes:

[elleng]

2. Don't 'assume.' They're independent,

not influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion, conduct, etc.; thinking or acting for oneself: an independent thinker.
not subject to another's authority or jurisdiction; autonomous; free: an independent businessman.
not influenced by the thought or action of others

[Recursion]

3. There's not one single bloc of "Independents" (hence the name) but there are some broad outlines

of what they do and don't like.

Like:
Winning wars
Having a job
Taxing people richer than them
Social Security
Medicare
Indirect housing subsidies (mortgage interest write-off, etc.)
Gay men and lesbians (see below)

Don't like:
Not winning wars
Not having a job
Taxing themselves
Welfare
Food stamps
Direct housing subsidies (section 8, etc.)
Medicaid
Deficits
Immigration
Outsourcing
Bailouts
CEO Bonuses
Homosexuals (seriously -- polls using the phrase "gay men and lesbians" do 20 points better with the general public than polls using "homosexuals")

There's no party that gives indies all of what they want (not surprising since some combinations are self-contradictory).

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Gee thst is LEFT OF CENTER, so why continue going right?

[Recursion]

10. Did you read both lists? (nt)

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Yes and it is left of center

In fact, remove labels and the county is pretty left of center... Political scientists have made this finding repeteadly. Add labels, due to propagsnds. It moves right.

[jtown1123]

4. Independents don't want to cut SS or Medicare. So it is puzzling to tout that

as a way to woo them.

[daleanime]

5. Most don't.....

The 1% is using the 10% to lie to the 70%.

[leftstreet]

6. Obama knows he doesn't have to campaign this time

The election is his

When he actually DID have to campaign he talked 'universal' healthcare, JOBS!!! programs, taxing the rich, and warning us of Hilary's evil desire for insurance mandates.

[Proud Public Servant]

8. Independents aren't hard to understand

Nor do they deserve the vilification they sometimes get from Left and Right.

Independents -- the ones I know, anyway -- seem to be folks whose political beliefs align with the Dems on some issues, the GOP on others. These include groups that used to be called:

Reagan Democrats (blue collar social conservatives)
Truman Democrats (economic and social liberals who believe in the National Security State)
Rockefeller Republicans (free market-loving social liberals)

The problem with Independents is that they tend to respond to the loudest voice, and the GOP shouts "It's Abortion! It's Gays! It's Taxes!" louder than we shout "It's Jobs! It's the Common Good! It's Justice!" Or maybe that's not the problem with Independents; maybe that's our problem.

[EFerrari]

9. Thank you.

[texshelters]

11. I am not sure what independent voters you are talking

about, and what effect they, we, could have.


http://texshelters.wordpress.c​om/2011/08/03/defending-the-po​wer-elite-in-america-against-t​he-interests-of-the-people-the​-case-of-the-united-states-gov​ernment/


Peace,
Tex Shelters

[BlueDemKev]

12. Does Anybody?

:shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug:

[elleng]

14. fwiw, I considered myself to be 'independent,'

not registered either way, for a long time; thought it foolish to attach a label to myself, aligning myself w some group with which I would undoubtedly disagree on some issues/matters. I maintained this, while voting straight Dem, until I found a candidate I wanted to support in Primary, at which time I registered Dem. That candidate? Paul Tsongas.

[dtexdem]

15. Great tactic: insult a large part of the electorate.

I DO understand many independent voters because I have been one myself -- too far to the left of the Democratic Party to consider myself a Democrat. And the way things are going, that COULD be where I'll decide to go again.

[Jackpine Radical]

18. Wow, just wow! I'm not insulting Independents.

I'm trying to insult a particular politician who is acting as if he believed that independents want the things on my list.

I keep trusting that people will get my sarcasm--sorta feel I'd be insulting people's intelligence if I used a sarcasm thingie--but I keep forgetting how up tight everyone is these days (and for damned good reason).

[housewolf]

16. A lot of people just don't want to be pigeon-holed into a political party

Many just prefer their independence. Maybe they feel burned by both parties. Maybe they prefer to vote for the individual they think will do the best job rather than voting for a party. Many don't have strong political leanings one way or the other. Many are turned off by the extremes of both parties. Many can see both sides of an issue.

For many people, the world isn't black or white, Democratic or Republican, right or wrong. Many people have a capacity to see merit on both sides and have difficulty weighing and making a choice.

Many just can't abide partisan politics, particularly when practiced as it has been over recent weeks.

[EFerrari]

17. I believe the OP has his tongue firmly in his cheek.

[Jackpine Radical]

19. Thank you, Beth.

[EFerrari]

23. I was listening to Thom one day when he was explaining Obama

in terms of independent voters and it made zero sense. Independent voters want what we want, jobs.

[Bandit]

20. I am an Independent and don't want any of the things you listed.

You paint with a broad brush my friend.

[Jackpine Radical]

21. Sarcasm gone awry.

It never occurred to me that anyone would imagine that most independents or much of anyone else who isn't in the ruling class would really want those things.

[JI7]

22. independents aren't all the same, most are not informed and just go by what feels good at the moment