U.S. Political Independents Don't Exist, and If We Do Exist, We Don't Matter

[Ser Clegane]

Well Ser, to give you an example, in New York State the primaries are closed, so unless you register you cannot participate. I went ahead and registered as an indie for a simple reason; so that the politicians in my district would see that there were some independents. Letting my non-affiliation flag fly, as it were.

So other than a registered Democrat/Republican the registered Independent does not get the right to actively participate in the nomination of a candidate - but the registration rather serves the purpose tto demonstrate that you consciously did not register as Democrat/Republican as opposed to not registering because you are not interested in the whole election process anyway?

Just paraphrasing to make sure I understood it

[Lemur]

[T]he registration rather serves the purpose to demonstrate that you consciously did not register as Democrat/Republican as opposed to not registering because you are not interested in the whole election process anyway?

Not exactly, no. My intent is that when the politicos look at their district maps, they will see a percentage of independents. I think that's healthy for them.

And to be honest, I have chronic problems with both the Dems and the Repubs, and have no desire to be affiliated with either.

[drone]

So other than a registered Democrat/Republican the registered Independent does not get the right to actively participate in the nomination of a candidate - but the registration rather serves the purpose tto demonstrate that you consciously did not register as Democrat/Republican as opposed to not registering because you are not interested in the whole election process anyway?

Just paraphrasing to make sure I understood it

Here in Virginia, we have open primaries. Independents can vote in one party's primary (chosen when they get to the polls), which allows us to add votes for a more moderate candidate that may not appeal to the hardcore base.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Here in Virginia, we have open primaries. Independents can vote in one party's primary (chosen when they get to the polls), which allows us to add votes for a more moderate candidate that may not appeal to the hardcore base.

This varies from state to state, as the comments of Drone and Lemur suggest.

You don't really "register" as a party member in VA. You simply choose your party ballot and select as appropriate at the polls. I'm an unregistered GOP-type, but voted for Hillary in the VA pres primary as a favor to Louis (and because I thought the GOP had a better chance against her than against Obama -- which proved to be true).

[drone]

You don't really "register" as a party member in VA. You simply choose your party ballot and select as appropriate at the polls. I'm an unregistered GOP-type, but voted for Hillary in the VA pres primary as a favor to Louis (and because I thought the GOP had a better chance against her than against Obama -- which proved to be true).

I'm also an unregistered conservative, but my voting patterns have gotten more cynical. Lately I've been either voting against incumbents (regardless of party affiliation), or voting with the aim of gridlock.

[KukriKhan]

U.S. Political Independents Don't Exist, and If We Do Exist, We Don't Matter

I think Lemur accidentally, but precisely lasers-in on the message, and intent of that study: at this particular time in US history, there's a sizeable movement within the Democratic Party that says: "To hell with bi-partisanship and the Natering Nabobs of Negativism! We'll get this boat turned around ourselves!".

That it gets published just before the State Of The Union Address is significant to me. You can argue the science and provenance of the numbers cited, but the underlying message is to the Dem leadership, I think: "go it alone".

(And it's a trap. Bush fell into the same swamp.).

[Subotan]

@ Kukri http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...soaring-speech

I'm not making an argument or something, I just thought you might find it interesting

[KukriKhan]

Yeah, that's a good find Subotan The drumsbeats are getting louder.

And speaking of Clinton, the Missus (angling for 2012?) won't be at the SOTU address tonight.