2016 Postmortem

Garrett78

(10,721 posts)

14. I guess I don't understand your first point.

Thu Dec 22, 2016, 11:39 AM

Dec 2016

We've become extremely polarized. So-called "independents" are actually extremely partisan, even more so than party-affiliated voters from decades past. Simple as that.

As for genuine swing voters, the percentage is small. Precisely how small is hard to say, but small enough that one can't base a presidential campaign on swinging the swing voters. They're not only small in number but dispersed across a huge country.

The focus has to be on turning out the base, combating voter suppression and attempting to engage those who aren't engaged (the 40% or so that doesn't typically vote in presidential elections and the 60% or so that doesn't take part in mid-term elections). Trying to identify and sway the smattering of swing voters would be a poor use of resources.

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The time has come to once again address the myth of the "independent" voter. [View all] Garrett78 Dec 2016 OP

I'm an Independent swing voter who always votes for the most moderate candidate NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #1

But you're the exception to the rule. Read the articles in my post. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #2

Kasich doesn't say crazy shit. Ace Rothstein Dec 2016 #3

Yep. The GOP has become so batshit crazy that some confuse Kasich with moderation. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #4

Like I said...people like myself typically vote for the MOST moderate candidate NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #8

And, like I said, that you consider Kasich to be a "moderate" is both sad and scary. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #9

Compared to Bernie he IS moderate NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #16

Economic justice already dominates the Democratic Party platform and message. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #20

If not for "school choice" my disabled child would not have gotten to go to school at all NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #21

"The left" doesn't object to online schooling or alternative public schools. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #23

Online schools, magnet schools and charter schools are all part of school choice NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #34

Magnet schools are totally public schools LeftInTX Dec 2016 #28

They are part of School Choice in Florida NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #37

IF 43% of Americans are independents, and 6-9% are voting against their party leaning more than... aikoaiko Dec 2016 #5

Most are more partisan than party-affiliated voters were in the 1970s. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #6

I don't understand the significance of the comparison to the 1970s. aikoaiko Dec 2016 #7

I guess I don't understand your first point. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #14

The reason I'm an Independent is because things about BOTH parties irk me NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #12

Again, read the articles I posted. The vast majority of "independents" are strongly partisan. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #13

There is a difference between being A moderate and being MORE moderate than someone else NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #17

I get you on the marijuana issue. I personally won't vote for anyone who's not pro-Prohibition Crunchy Frog Dec 2016 #15

Would not break my heart if it were illegal NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #18

We tried that little experiment. Crunchy Frog Dec 2016 #19

I know it was tongue in cheek NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #22

I made no assumptions about you and alcohol at all. Crunchy Frog Dec 2016 #24

Alcohol is already legal, marijuana is not, nor should it be NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #35

Like I said. Prohibition does nothing to stop people from actually using. Crunchy Frog Dec 2016 #38

The more people push for legalized recreational use the more I regret voting for medical use NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #39

i seriously question the authenticity of your post. Marijauna is neither physically or Exilednight Dec 2016 #33

Yes it is... NoGoodNamesLeft Dec 2016 #36

Probably an affect of my local demographic... Wounded Bear Dec 2016 #10

There are more "independent" Republicans than there are "independent" Democrats. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #11

I do not think much of BlueMTexpat Dec 2016 #25

They aren't wishy-washy, though, and that's the point. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #26

It's true that most of them have already BlueMTexpat Dec 2016 #27

You seem to be talking about supposed undecided voters now. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #30

I would think all americans would be independent voters. AllenJordan Dec 2016 #29

That's the myth of who "independents" are. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #31

K & R SunSeeker Dec 2016 #32