Independents are Tilting Decisively Towards Dems -- What Do You Think is the Reason?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070923/ap_on_el_ge/irked_independents

Answer 1

The reason is the statistics, there is a huge anti-war sentiment and people feel that because Democrats are supposed to be the "progressive party" things will change.. but they don't realize that Both parties have failed.. The neo conservatives of the Republican Party support a failed war on false pretenses. The democrats were elected into congress in 2006, with nothing to show for it. The current democratic candidates just dance around the issue of Iraq and continue to play the blame game. Neither Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama has a proper exit strategy outlined for Iraq. Not too mention they both support full amnesty for illegals and both voted for the Patriot Act, which is a direct infringement on our privacy....

Many will express their disgust in our current government, but simply not voting is not the solution. This election is crucial for us, if we ever want to see a change. This is the time we need to be more involved than ever. I went from supporting a democrat, to not even wanting to vote.. to researching all the candidates until I finally found a solution. He is anti-war, wants to lower taxes for the middle class and poor, voted no against the Patriot Act, voted no against the amendment banning gay marriages. He believes the United States should have a non-interventionist foreign policy where we trade and negotiate with other countries instead of fighting useless wars where so many innocent people die. He wants to drastically reduce the debt the United States is in and restore our country to the democracy it once was. Finally we have a voice for the people. One that isn't backed by corporations and lobbyists. but by the people.. Ron Paul is a man of his word. Just check his track record. He knows where he stands on the issues, unlike other candidates whose stances seem to change from week to week. I truly believe he can boost the morale of this country and restore a democracy for the people not just for the elite...

Paul is a man with principles, Beside him, most of the Republicans look like charlatans, and the Democrats who are allowed on television and in the New York Times look like spineless cowards. They look like spineless cowards not because they favor peace (they don't), but because they refuse to stand up to Bush and Cheney. Paul stands up to Bush and Cheney. NOTHING is more powerful than that in today's politics, and he does it.And if we had the courage of our convictions we would put everything we have into backing him. Not only might he win, but our backing him now might force the Democrats in Congress to act like they believe in something, and force other candidates to improve their positions

Answer 2

Unemployment. It's not like they magically changed their minds about major issues - the GOP is still full of crazy social conservative wackos, the Democrats are still strongly tied to unions and are willing to support higher taxes to pay for healthcare and social security, etc. The only difference between now and 2 years ago is that 2 years ago Republicans were in power and the economy was in the tank, and today Democrats are in power and the economy is in the tank. Don't think for a second that if Republicans win the mid-terms, and then the presidency in 2012, AND the economy is still in the tank, the independents won't turn around and start supporting Democrats again. Far more than Republicans and Democrats who tend to vote ideologically, Independents are very likely to vote against incumbents when things are bad and for them when things are good.

Answer 3

I think the Republicans have painted themselves into a corner. It's getting harder and harder to justify the continuation of 'Reaganomics' as more and more people realize that it doesn't help -them-, it only serves to concentrate wealth. People are seeing that the Repubs are good at winning elections but bad at actually governing. And as things get worse, people don't want the government to leave them alone, they want it to help them.

President Bush is really to blame. He was the 'dream' Republican candidate, but his administration has been just one scandal after another. An unbiased observer (if there was one) would have a hard time pointing to anything Bush has done right! There is hardly anyone he hasn't offended in one way or another. Republican leaders in Congress can't criticize him so they really look like they don't know what's going on.

The War in Iraq is not the only problem. The war has helped Bush incredibly. He is losing popularity not -because- of the war but -despite- it. If not for the war (and 9/11), Bush would have dropped to the low 20s in popularity and stayed there. Check out this chart:

http://www.hist.umn.edu/~ruggles/Approval.htm

The biggest mistake Bush made was in trying to avoid his dad's mistake. He discerned (perhaps rightly) that his dad didn't get a second term because he lost his 'base'. So Bush II concentrated on his base and lost everyone else.

But that's the way it works in politics. One side gets too arrogant, can't fulfill its promises, people are angry and vote for a change. The pendulum swings the other way. It's about time!

Answer 4

As an Independent, I can only speak from my own point of view and here is how I see “it”.

The fact that anyone disagreeing with “the G.O.P. agenda” is somehow not a patriot… this alone is enough to repel most freethinking people. I think this is also turning loyal “Republicans” into political shoppers searching for something less radical, something more “mainstream”.

When the Republican Party learns that most Americans are not right nor left, the sooner their party will rebound.

Answer 5

Education

Answer 6

Very interesting article. In '06' New Hampshire went bluer than blue by winning the governors office, both congressional seats, the state senate, the house, and the executive council...first time in over one-hundred years. I suspect this blue wave is going national in '08'. Go Hillary!!!

Answer 7

They want out of the war and thats their first priority. The republicans run primarily on an antiabortion antigay prowar program and that narrows their possible voters quite a bit. They dont really have a sound economic plan because anyone thats prowar doesnt mind trashing this economy.

Answer 8

it seems like every election the indies and everyone else for that matter, are tilting toward the democrats...it's why they do those polls, mainstream media is very pro-democrats, they figure if they present polls showing that, it will encourage other to get on the bandwagon...this isn't rocket science!

Answer 9

Because they are terrified that they will have to put up with 4 more years of crooked policies .

Answer 10

unless republicans can get away from my party right or wrong,even when they are so wrong,the shift will cause a greater shift toward the democratic party.