What/Who is an independent?

[ukchris82]

What is an independent?

If an independent usually vote democratic does that make them a democrat?

If an independent usually vote republican does that make them a republican?

[Joe Republic]

I do not vote for parties.  I vote for candidates.  If it so happens that most of the candidates I've voted for have shared the same party (which is inevitable), it is merely a coincidence, and certainly nothing that I've ever recorded.

[MODU]

I do not vote for parties.  I vote for candidates.  If it so happens that most of the candidates I've voted for have shared the same party (which is inevitable), it is merely a coincidence, and certainly nothing that I've ever recorded.

^^^^^

I hate the parties, but I am more conservative than liberal, so I will tend to lean to the right on my views and candidates.  It's the nature of the two-headed beast.

[Sam Spade]

There are very few "real independents".  Most of them consistently fall into one party or another in their preferences eventually.

What I prefer is "independent" thinking.

[TheGlobalizer]

There are very few "real independents".  Most of them consistently fall into one party or another in their preferences eventually.

What I prefer is "independent" thinking.

...and fall back out, methinks.

I liked Bill Clinton's rhetoric on the campaign trail when I was young and naive; I then leaned strong R until the Rs chose morality over fiscal restraint.  Now I'm split between the Rs' unwillingness to treat foreigners as equals and the Ds' unwillingness to trade with foreigners fairly.  I think my ideal would be to have a D prez with an R legislature.  Fat chance of that.

A lot more people call themselves independent than are actually independent, tho -- that's for sure.

[bullmoose88]

What is an independent?

If an independent usually vote democratic does that make them a democrat?

If an independent usually vote republican does that make them a republican?

What about Republicans who often vote Democrat and Democrats who often vote Republican?