“...and yes, I am a cut above the apparatchiks in BOTH parties.”
Look, it’s clear you wanted to show how superior you are. Alignment to a party is merely a means to an end. Most people have some disagreements with their chosen party. I’m fiscally conservative, to a point, and a little less socially conservative than most here. But, I align with the GOP because there’s a better chance of a good outcome with them than with liberal Democrats, (redundant, I know, there are few moderate Democrats).
Those that voted Democrat in 06 and 08 to punish Republicans, punished the country.
MOST independents don’t have a guiding set of principles. The are soft and easily led. Independents aren’t superior, in most cases, they are gutless.