News Headlines for Independents
By Nancy Hanks | Related entries in In The News, Independents, News, Politics, PollsINDEPENDENT VOTERS
Continued look at who independent voters are/are not and Obama’s poll numbers…
- A reminder: Most ‘independent’ voters aren’t (LA Times/Top of the Ticket)
- Sick and Tired of Republicans and Democrats? New Parties Say They Offer Alternatives (By James King, Phoenix News Times)
- Pa.’s Sestak plans Tuesday announcement (USA Today)
- Poll: Pennsylvania ranks 20th most Democratic state in the nation (Erik Westervelt, Phildadelphia Opinion Polls Examiner)
- Political Party Affiliation: 30 States Blue, 4 Red in ’09 So Far (by Jeffrey M. Jones, Gallup)
- Zogby/O’Leary Poll Reveals Majority of Voters Will Oppose Senators Who Vote to Confirm an Anti-Second Amendment Supreme Court Nominee (Press Release)Â Â NOTE: Included here because the Zogby/O’Leary poll purports to speak for independents…
- Obama’s Ratings Slide Across the Board – The Economy, Health Care Reform and Gates Grease the Skids (Pew Research)
SCHWARZENEGGER/OPEN PRIMARIES
Calif Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger is determined to leave a legacy of reform — particularly open primaries, which would give more power to voters
- Schwarzenegger is unpopular but undaunted (George Skelton, Capitol Journal, LA Times)
- A State of Confusion editorial: State needs fixes to avoid a repeat (Sac Bee) As for the Legislature itself, an open primary in place of the partisan nominating system we have now might help elect more moderate lawmakers and lead to a more consensus-oriented body.
For more independent news, see The Hankster, where the independents are.
This entry was posted on Monday, August 3rd, 2009 and is filed under In The News, Independents, News, Politics, Polls. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
August 4th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Would love to see an article that asked a more probing question then Are You Sick and Tired of Republicans and Democrats? Maybe we’re just sick and tired of parties all together! Stupid to keep referring to us as swing voters. How about calling us independent Americans.
Still — glad to see independent politics of all brands and stripes get some coverage. Long overdue.
August 4th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Take a look at this quote – The 1992 book “The Myth of the Independent Voter” uses psychological research and voting pattern analysis to show that self-proclaimed independents often align along party lines.
This quote that was used in the article verifying that “independent voters really aren’t”, is 19 years old!
Plus, how would most Independents and independent minded folks vote if we wanted our vote to have an impact? The last time I looked there were two national parties to choose from – and in this election we had an independent minded candidate who stood for changing the culture of politics, not for bipartisan business as usual.
Check the stats – Indies made history by electing Obama in the primaries. Indies played a crucial role in electing the first African American President. Yes, we voted for a Democrat, but that doesn’t mean we’re Democrats! Following the election our numbers swelled and continue to do so! Indies are a growing force for reform.
Hats of to Donklephant – always on the cutting edge.
August 4th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
I couldn’t agree more! Things have been changing relatively rapidly and the partisans are grasping at straws to try to hold on to the clubhouses. Maybe the American people are finally starting to listen to our first President — who was, after all, a nonpartisan independent!
August 4th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Between the last election cycle (2004 / 2008) I changed my party affiliation to NO PARTY from Democrat because I wanted to send a message to the Democrats that business as usual would not work, if it meant getting steam rolled by the right again.
This election cycle, I will be fulfilling every Republican’s worse nightmare and registering well before the primary, so that I might pass judgment of their possible candidates early and / or make them think they are leading a movement to the right.. unless of course either of those are illegal, then I’m merely saying it to watch their heads explode. ;-D
August 5th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Biggest boost for independents/moderates in California: when legislative districts get redrawn after the 2010 census, they don’t get drawn by the legislators themselves. Meaning that they are less likely to be almost exclusively “safe” districts, and thus will put a premium on nominating more moderate candidates who can win the general election.
August 7th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I absolutely agree. This is consistent with my anecdotal observations. The country breaks down to roughly 1/3 honest partisan Dems, 1/3 honest partisan Reps, and 1/3 that claim to be independent. Of the “independents” I doubt that there is more than a third who have ever switched their partisan preference on a Presidential vote. That is where you flesh out the closet partisans. On the Presidential vote. My guess, is at most you have 15% of the electorate who have ever pulled the lever for a presidential candidate that is not their partisan preference.
Justin – Have you ever voted for a Republican Presidential candidate in a general election?
August 7th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
mw,
No, I’ve never voted for a Republican Presidential candidate. Let’s look at the choices I’ve had since I turned 18…
Bob Dole
George W. Bush
John McCain
Do you think anybody in that group speaks to my generation?
Here’s who I may consider voting for in the future if they run…
Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Charlie Crist
Jim Douglas
Mitch Daniels
Michael Bloomberg
Colin Powell
Thoughts?