"Poll: Political independents outweigh partisans" By JENNIFER AGIESTA, Associated Press

[applegrove]

Poll: Political independents outweigh partisans

By JENNIFER AGIESTA, Associated Press

http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2012/06/04/poll-political-independents-outweigh-partisans

"SNIP.......................................................


WASHINGTON (AP) — Call it a pox on both the Republican and Democratic houses.

More Americans now call themselves politically independent than at any point in the last 75 years, according to a new poll. The survey also shows that those who do align themselves with a party are more ideological and have become more polarized than at any point in the last 25 years, particularly on issues important in this year's presidential and congressional campaigns.

Party loyalty, however, only goes so far; neither Republicans nor Democrats say their own party is doing a good job standing up for its traditional positions.

Five months before the November elections, the Pew Research Center poll released Monday sheds light on how the electorate feels about the nation's two major political parties. And sour seems to be an understatement.

The results indicate a collective thumbs down to both the Democratic and Republican Party, showing that an unprecedented 38 percent of adults rejected both parties and call themselves independents. Only 32 percent now say they are Democrats and 24 percent now call themselves Republicans.


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[SoutherDem]

1. But independents are not always independent.

I know a lot of "independents" who vote Republican more than some die-hard Republicans do. I am not sure how much of this is real independent thinking than it is not wanting to be identified with what they feel are extremist, even if they vote with them. At least that is the way it is in my area.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. That's how it is here in Utah...or was at one point...

I believe, at least at one point, most voters here were registered independent and yet they almost always universally voted Republican. I think they do it to say, "hey, I'm not a partisan! I'm a registered independent!", even as they turn around and vote straight Republican.

Here's an article I found and I was right:

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=20715990

[SoutherDem]

3. My favorite saying is "I vote for the man not the party".

But, it seems they are always Republican. I call them Closet Republicans.

[otohara]

6. The Most Uniformed Voters

are so-called "independents" - I remind them, they are "unaffiliated" and let the rest of us choose who the candidate will be and there's nothing "independent" about that!

[woo me with science]

4. "Neither Republicans nor Democrats say their party is doing a good job standing up

for its traditional positions."

People are waking up to the fact that our parties are being purchased and too often don't represent us anymore.

[dinopipie]

5. I have yet to meet a Liberal or Progressive ‘Independent’

All the ‘Independents’ I have meet are RW and the one thing each and everyone of them have in common is that they are selfish pricks.

No I am not talking about someone like Senator Sanders either who has to use the Independent moniker for political reasons.

I am taking about voters who self ID as Independent.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

7. Bullshit! Republicans are too ashamed of being Republican so they shield themselves

from "criticism" by calling themselves "Indpendent." Also, they want people to *think* that they are objective and independent-minded thinkers when they really aren't. Many of them call into liberal talk shows on the premise that they are "independent" and that BOTH PARTIES DO IT! But everything that follows from that is an attack on the Democratic Party. Hmmm... I wonder why.

The Independents on the Democratic Party side tend to be more liberal than the Democratic Party. That was the reason why I was an Independent for so many years. But I would challenge folks to be honest: Independents have been overtaken by Republicans posing as Independents. Liberal Democrats who are fed up with the Democratic Party typically turn to the Greens or some other liberal organization.