2016 Postmortem

Bjorn Against

(12,041 posts)

3. Independents are the people whose votes you need to win

Mon May 2, 2016, 08:41 PM

May 2016

The author of the OP is obviously a person who wants Democrats to lose every single election because it is impossible to win an election without independent votes.

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Who are "independents" really? Unbiased, critical thinkers? [View all] Garrett78 May 2016 OP

OMG!!! guytonfox May 2016 #1

Hello. bigwillq May 2016 #18

Some just dont feel represented by the parties in power ShrimpPoboy May 2016 #2

Agreed, it's not a monolithic group. Garrett78 May 2016 #15

Independents are the people whose votes you need to win Bjorn Against May 2016 #3

I'm not sure where you get the idea that I want Democrats to lose every single election. Garrett78 May 2016 #10

Well you are not going to get any independent votes if Democrats push crap like we see in the OP Bjorn Against May 2016 #14

What's insulting about my OP? Garrett78 May 2016 #16

The fact that you suggest they are a myth is insulting Bjorn Against May 2016 #17

I put the term in quotes because clearly not all are "independent" in any true sense. Garrett78 May 2016 #21

If a person does not belong to a political party they are an independent Bjorn Against May 2016 #26

Sure. Garrett78 May 2016 #29

What? The OP is not saying that at all. brush May 2016 #51

Yeah, I addressed that above. Garrett78 May 2016 #57

And they are the largest of the electorate at 44% of all voters. floriduck May 2016 #79

They aren't united, though. Garrett78 May 2016 #81

I agree. But that could change based on the bizarre nature of this years election. nm floriduck May 2016 #82

Most "Independents" I've met are Libertarians. Most of them are racist and callous. Hoyt May 2016 #4

Might have a lot to do with it. nt villager May 2016 #7

People who refuse to vote for labels and think for themselves. Tierra_y_Libertad May 2016 #5

That applies across the spectrum. Garrett78 May 2016 #19

It would be interesting to see a long term sadoldgirl May 2016 #6

It would. Garrett78 May 2016 #23

People like me, who have been loyal Democrats for over 4 decades, Zorra May 2016 #8

I can't recall making a pro-Clinton post. Garrett78 May 2016 #12

I am registered as "unaffiliated", or independent of any party. Life member of int'l union,.... dmosh42 May 2016 #83

Then there are those of us who think the Democrats really suck, and the Republicans... immoderate May 2016 #9

+++ frylock May 2016 #13

What are your interests? Garrett78 May 2016 #20

Fair wages, fair trade, renewable energy, common-sense drug laws, non-interventionism. frylock May 2016 #22

Sounds like Green Party to me. FWIW, I support those things, as well. Garrett78 May 2016 #25

I register as a Democrat. I mostly dislike the Democrats but... immoderate May 2016 #41

Sounds like Bernie to me. And my issues as well. JudyM May 2016 #40

I'm registered as 'No Party Preference' because I have no Party preference. frylock May 2016 #11

Blowing in the wind. LiberalFighter May 2016 #24

"Or because they are 'liberal' on some issues and 'conservative' on others." CompanyFirstSergeant May 2016 #27

Or...they are just simply able to think for themselves without having to be told how to think. n/t michaz May 2016 #28

See post #19. Garrett78 May 2016 #30

Guess this proves my point! n/t michaz May 2016 #32

Which is what? Garrett78 May 2016 #34

Some people are better at thinking for themselves than others. michaz May 2016 #37

I don't have much issue with any of what you just wrote. Garrett78 May 2016 #38

And add all that to being able to think for themselves and you will have it. michaz May 2016 #39

Okay. Garrett78 May 2016 #42

Obviously any one that chooses to can be an independent. It is their choice. But michaz May 2016 #46

Some people are just not that engaged... Yurovsky May 2016 #31

Absolutely. Garrett78 May 2016 #33

They are 40% of the electorate AgingAmerican May 2016 #35

But most typically vote for one party or the other. Garrett78 May 2016 #36

They are 40% of the electorate AgingAmerican May 2016 #45

Yet most are, in fact, party loyalists. Garrett78 May 2016 #56

Some people are registered Independents because they are sick to death of the bjo59 May 2016 #43

I'm an indy pinebox May 2016 #44

Registrared Green for over twenty years but changed it to (D) for Bernie in California nolabels May 2016 #48

Most Dems favor all those things you listed brush May 2016 #53

me too and I'm with you 100% dana_b May 2016 #63

Independents are fashionistas. randome May 2016 #47

Well. Do you want to offend an entire voting bloc? VulgarPoet May 2016 #49

Wasn't the point of the OP that independents aren't actually a bloc in any real sense? nemo137 May 2016 #55

Exactly. Garrett78 May 2016 #58

Interestingly, LWolf May 2016 #50

I don't think you can generalize that way. People are independent for all kinds of reasons. yellowcanine May 2016 #52

I've done the exact opposite of "generalize" in both the OP and throughout this thread. Garrett78 May 2016 #60

The many independents I know are thoughtful, discerning free thinkers democrank May 2016 #54

I am unenrolled but never call myself an independent. I do have a bias for Dems as that is the only seaglass May 2016 #59

Agreed. Garrett78 May 2016 #61

No they are not a voting bloc. Trying to create a political party around independents would be seaglass May 2016 #62

"because they think it gives the impression that they are unbiased, critical thinkers" dana_b May 2016 #64

Do you really not think that's true for *some* who self-identify as "independent?" Garrett78 May 2016 #65

your entire post is insulting to indys n/t dana_b May 2016 #66

You didn't answer my question. Garrett78 May 2016 #67

I never suggested any such thing dana_b May 2016 #68

If I give a variety of reasons why people self-identify as "independent"... Garrett78 May 2016 #70

Or we're to the left of both major parties. eom TransitJohn May 2016 #69

There is no "we," though. Garrett78 May 2016 #72

So I'm not allowed to include myself in a group I self identify with? TransitJohn May 2016 #73

Of course you can. Garrett78 May 2016 #76

You exposed your limited thought process. Oops! pdsimdars May 2016 #71

By pointing out that there are a variety of reasons why people self-identify as "independent?" Garrett78 May 2016 #74

They are a group of voters the majority of whom will not vote for Clinton... leeroysphitz May 2016 #75

Just as a majority didn't vote for Obama in 2012. Garrett78 May 2016 #77

Are party loyalists unbiased? Are they critical thinkers when they vote for a label? Tierra_y_Libertad May 2016 #78

It's hard to say. Garrett78 May 2016 #80

There are no facts, only interpretations. Friedrich Nietzsche Tierra_y_Libertad May 2016 #84

Agreed. Garrett78 May 2016 #85

Does it matter? They represent 39% of the voting public, and Socialism appeals to them. lumberjack_jeff May 2016 #86

Socialism appeals to *some* of them. Garrett78 May 2016 #87

Enough do that it's vitally important to the DNC and the Clinton campaign to keep them out. n/t lumberjack_jeff May 2016 #88