So I won't try. From an article on today's Politico.com:"The angry independent wins
Ideologues and hard-core partisans dominate the leadership of both parties and the cable TV debates. But it’s the independents who are the deciders in most elections.
This voting bloc has swung decisively against Democrats, starting this past summer. A review of polling in Massachusetts, in other states and nationally shows the same thing: By about a 2-to-1 margin, independents have turned on Democrats.
A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll found that two-thirds of independents would prefer Republicans controlled Congress. The same polls show the voters don’t even like Republicans. A CBS News poll showed only one-third of independents approve of Obama’s handling of the economy — a nearly 20-point drop in less than one year.
In all three big Democratic losses this past year — in New Jersey, Virginia and now Massachusetts — better than 60 percent of independents said they backed Republicans.
It would be a mistake for Republicans and Democrats to chalk this up to the health care bill. Independents consistently tell pollsters they aren’t happy with anything Washington is doing when it comes to the economy and domestic issues.
For the foreseeable future, the wrath of independents will hit Democrats hardest."
Ideologues and hard-core partisans dominate the leadership of both parties and the cable TV debates. But it’s the independents who are the deciders in most elections.
This voting bloc has swung decisively against Democrats, starting this past summer. A review of polling in Massachusetts, in other states and nationally shows the same thing: By about a 2-to-1 margin, independents have turned on Democrats.
A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll found that two-thirds of independents would prefer Republicans controlled Congress. The same polls show the voters don’t even like Republicans. A CBS News poll showed only one-third of independents approve of Obama’s handling of the economy — a nearly 20-point drop in less than one year.
In all three big Democratic losses this past year — in New Jersey, Virginia and now Massachusetts — better than 60 percent of independents said they backed Republicans.
It would be a mistake for Republicans and Democrats to chalk this up to the health care bill. Independents consistently tell pollsters they aren’t happy with anything Washington is doing when it comes to the economy and domestic issues.
For the foreseeable future, the wrath of independents will hit Democrats hardest."
Now, the only thing I would add here is that some of the angry Independents need to start running for office in 2010 so that repubs (so often devoted right-wingers) aren't always the only alternative to the leftist dems. Of course, in past American political history, it's typically been very tough for Independents to successfully run for statewide and federal offices. But in case you haven't noticed, this ain't 2004, 1994 or 1984. There's something going on now that I've never seen in my lifetime: Independents, non-liberal dems, and non-conservative repubs -- many of whom have never been vocal or politically active in their entire lives -- are risin' up, makin' noise, and telling these two parties that we have had it with the political system over which they preside. (And I don't think either party yet has a full understanding of what's going on here). As the top of this blog frequently states, "We Are Relevant. And We Are Everywhere." Now we just need some new options in terms of the candidates for whom we can vote in these elections. That's my vision and my dream. Let's start makin' it happen!
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